Chapter 21

Sakura watched in horror was the machine blasted a hole through the Oto Nation's capital city wall and the army ventured in through the debris.

It's foolish for her to feel pity, it's foolish for her to say anything. These are enemies of the nation, she knew better than speaking up.

Especially when the machine firing various fire bombs throughout, with soldiers Sasuke brought from the capital constantly adding fuel and fire to each bomb. It seems to know no limits, firing at all directions, harming civilians.

Obviously the city did not expect such an attack. Under normal circumstances battles would end at city walls. Surrender was an option and negotiation talks would be in place immediately after. Sasuke have chosen an unconventional route and begin to demolish the city and everything else stood in his path.

And he did it without a sliver of emotion.

Sakura sat by his side as the carriage rolled over the ashes and corpses, and the tank rolled from the north entrance of the city, all the way to the end.

A capital city is the heart of a nation. Sasuke have drove a stake through its heart.

Sakura felt sick and want to puke again. She turned away and stopped looking.

When they were done, Lord Rasa came up to Sasuke and asked, "your royal highness, the Oto leaders have fled a few hours before.. this city has nothing else left to offer."

Sasuke stared him down, "Kill anyone else still alive within the city."

"Including civilians?"

"Naturally."

Lora Rasa hesitated.

"Do you have a problem with my command?" Sasuke asked coldly without any honorifics.

Sakura pulled on Sasuke's sleeve, "Your royal Highness, it's really hot out.."

Sasuke turned to look at her.

"When it's hot out, plus all the corpses that doesn't get buried, they will either leave in the sun to rot or be dumped into the river.. and with all the rotting, this is how plagues start. Plagues will spread airborne..."

Sakura plead with him, "think of the civilians in our own nation, they will catch the plague, and with constant traveling between cities.."

Sasuke thought it made a lot of sense.

"Let's turn back. Send a message to the Oto, they're allowed to come and collect the corpse of their fallen soldiers." Sasuke said.

And the carriage drove back with the death machine and an army following.

Everyone cheered as they walked back, and all Sakura could see was smoke and corpses.

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That night there was a huge celebration. Many roasting fires were set up almost immediately and there's whole roasted lamb, pig, chunks of beef and various huge plates of dishes. Everyone gorged themselves on the foods and there was dances all over. Tenten was part of the dance troupe for the entertainment of the Suna soldiers, then Suna presented their own dance troupe.

Suna's culture and customs are vastly different from the Capital due to climate. The dancers who are performing are wearing veils and very revealing clothing. Soldier of Suna were cheering them on while soldiers from the capital sat and stared, they did not know it was possible to dance like this outside of a prostitution street.

Sakura sat at a corner with Tenten. Both are eating and talking about their day. Sakura was still bummed about the battle. It seemed like a bad video game simulation but when she saw it with her own eyes and felt the heat and smell the blood in the air, she felt sickened by the whole thing.

Tenten agreed. And she felt lucky to not have witnessed the thing.

"Why did the prince bring you though? Just to show the machine?"

Sakura frowned, "maybe it's his way of showing off."

"Or intimidation." Tenten pondered thoughtfully, but quickly casting the idea aside and start chewing a rack of ribs, "I never ate like this! There's something freeing and vulgar about using hands!"

Sakura blinked, as if reminded by the intimidation sentence, she looked up at Sasuke who sat in front of the fire eating from a jade plate. He noticed her looking at him from far away, and he locked her gaze.

Sakura shuddered internally. She wanted to break off the eye contact but couldn't. At last he smiled a little, waved his hands and motioned for her to go over there.

Sakura quickly stood up, and said to Tenten, "be right back."

She walked timidly past all the partying soldier and went over to him. He looks mesmerizing in the dark, adored in battle robe and silk, while light from flames ricocheting off his eyes. His face is still emotionless, but somehow have a lighter and softer feel to it.

He extended his hand, allowing her to touch him, "come here." He said, smiling finally.

She's at arms length, and her entire being melted a little when he smiled at her. For the first time she felt warmth inside, radiating outwards.

She raised her hand and caught his, and fell into his embrace. It was a cold night, and he wrapped his robe around her hugging her tightly.

At the same time, a soldier serving trays of delicacies two meters away threw his tray on the ground, dashed over to the Royal Prince when he was not looking, and pulled out a small dagger.

By the time other people have noticed it it was too late. The dagger was the size of a man's hand and he concealed it nicely. It was only when he's dangerously close to the Royal Prince when someone yelled, "lookout!"

Sakura was awoken from his mesmerizing trance, and quickly pushed Sasuke away out of embarrassment, and this push resulting Sasuke to fall back a couple of steps, while the dagger went through the silk robe, and into her arm.

The assassin never knew who he stabbed, for he commuted suicide almost immediately after. Sasuke kicked away him away while still holding Sakura's arms when she fell down onto the ground, in shock and dismay.

The entire party became a rioting of a mess while Lord Rasa attempted to maintain clam and peace, and Sasuke carrying Sakura back to the tent while ordering for medics.

"Shhh, it's ok." Sasuke sat her down on the bed and peeled away the clothing on her arm, revealing a bloody mess. He quickly used several clean clothes to wipe away the excess blood.

Sakura was still in shock. Tears were pouring from her eyes and she didn't even know it.

When he was pressing some clothes down for her, she found her voice and asked, "will I die?"

He looked into her eyes, "of course not. I won't allow it."

She saw the panic in his eyes, and smiled softly at him, "it doesn't hurt, not really."

He held onto her other hands and kissed her fingers, "you pushed me out of the way, I- wait, it doesn't hurt?"

"It feels kind of numb, actually." She muttered.

Sasuke removed the clothes and the raw flesh wound appeared in their sight.

The wound was not a simple knife wound. The knife was laced with poison, because the wound turned black, with ugly spider leg like black veins radiating from the initial stab.

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A/N: Merry Christmas my lovelies, someone suggested character tags. How do I do that? What's a character tag?