Sakura slammed her hands down onto her desk. The teacup tipped over and rolled off, landing with a crash. It startled the workers by the door. Tsuki entered with her grandmother, Hana, carried a change of clothes as Tsuki brought a tray of food. Both women felt unsettled at Sakura's openly angry expression.

"Sakura-sama, we brought you some food and a change of clothes."

Sakura calmed down and slowly let out a strangled sigh. She sadly smiled at them.

"Thank you."

A knock came and Itachi entered. He gave her a long look in her formal royal attire. The ladies left her things and bowed before leaving. Itachi came over and began to undo her robes.

"You look different."

"You don't like it?"

Itachi let down her trapped hair.

"I didn't say that. However, there is a particular look I do enjoy greatly."

Sakura smirked.

"Would it involve our bed and lots of sweat on our bodies?"

"It would indeed.."

Her robes dropped to the floor and Itachi gave her a very appreciative look. Sakura rolled her eyes and put her causal clothes on. Itachi took notice of the broken cup on the floor. He gave it a raised eyebrow.

"Something go wrong with the council?"

She gave out a sigh.

"There is no easy way to persuade those men. I'm not just going up against them though. I also am flying head first against ancient protocol. If I want a loophole, I'm going to have to find one. Not only that, but I also have to meet with the new councilman today."

Itachi gave her a serious look.

"Should I kill him?"

"I'll let you know. Until then.."

Sakura picked up a scroll and handed it to Itachi.

"Pein would like you and Kisame-san to handle this."

"Why am I receive order through you?"

Sakura sat in her chair, and gave him an equally serious look.

"Whether you like it or not Itachi, since I've returned to my royal status, all village funds are now back in my hands. Kenji-san is no longer in charge. Plus, you all are living in my home."

"Hn."

"Don't hn me Itachi. I know you don't like it."

"I like it in bed."

Sakura gave a slight blush.

"Get out before I throw you out."

Itachi chuckled and left her office. Sakura sat back and rubbed the bridge of her nose. A headache was slowly creeping its way forth. She closed her eyes trying to work out the growing frustration. Nothing was working and the last option that laid before her. Sliding open the drawer on her right side, Sakura looked at the red, gold trimmed scroll. Growing in anger, she slammed it shut.

Sakura calmly put down her teacup and looked at the slightly nervous man, sitting across from her. He was slightly shaking, and she was worried he was going to spill his tea. This new councilman was only a few years older than her. His brown hair fell a little over his green eyes. Looking at his file, his name was Ouji Kei. The name took her back to a similar boy, and so many years had passed since then.

"Ouji-san, is there a particular reason why you wished to become part of our council?"

"Hai Hime-sama!"

Sakura raised her hand and smiled at him.

"It's okay to just call me Sakura."

"Oh, but I couldn't Hime-sama."

She chuckled. They were so similar.

"I always wished to be able to serve the royal family somehow. I'm not very strong."

The image of the dead boy that appeared before her made her panic. Sakura lurched forward.

"That's not true at all! You're stronger than you think."

Kei had been caught off guard by her outburst. Then his surprised expression turned into a gentle, grateful smile.

"Thank you... Sakura-sama."

Both blushed then smiled at one another. The happiness filled the room, and then a knock came at the door. Sakura bid in whoever, and Kenji walked in. He smiled at Kei as the young man bowed before leaving. Kenji turned seriously to Sakura.

"What?"

"If Itachi-san saw that smile..."

He shivered. The reminder of her lover's jealousy upset her. Sakura frowned and glared at Kenji. Sometimes it came in handy, and other times it was just plain nuisance. Kenji caught her glare.

"What? I'm not going to tell him. Do I look like I have a death wish?"

Sakura sighed. She directed her hand to the now vacant chair, and Kenji sat down.

"What's bothering you Kenji-san?"

"I had a feeling you've been bothered by the reason for collecting the orbs."

Sakura gave him a serious look that edged on menacing.

"Before you start, they had strict orders not to kill your friends."

"Kenji-san..."

A sharp knock came at the door.

"Kenji-sama, Uchiha-sama and Hoshigaki-sama have returned with the items you requested. They say to come quickly!"

"What did you do?"

Kenji rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"I thought it was an order from Pein."

Kenji waved his hand dismissively.

"Nevermind that. Sakura, where did you hide it?"

Sakura gave him an irritated look.

"Where do you think I hid it?"

Kenji sighed.

"This is bad."

Sakura repeated her question.

"What did you do?"

"I'll explain later. We should get out there and make sure they don't do anything foolish."

However, when they arrived in the courtyard, they were already too late. In her impatience, Naomi had opened the forbidden scroll. It's partner, a blue orb, was glowing in Kisame's hands. This scroll had the ability to tell the exact location of the god's orbs. Sakura recognized the locater and extractor immediately. She had no time as the scroll read the location of Suzaku's orb.

"That's weird. It says it's already here."

"What the...?"

The orb instantly shot up and electricity shot out. Then with amazing speed, it flew into Sakura, whose bodice glowed red. Sakura flew back hit a wooden pole. It slowly began to make its way into her body. She let out a painful scream. Electricity shocked her body over and over, trying to wear her down.

"Sakura!"

Pein and Konan appeared, after hearing Sakura's ear-piercing screams. Itachi and Pein both reached for her, but an electrical shock sent them back. As she continued screaming, Sakura tried to grasp onto anything. Her eyes began to roll back as the pain increased. Flames shot out in a massive storm. Everyone had to back up quite a bit. Suzaku emerged and tried to approach his guardian, but the extractor shocked the phoenix. Finally, the orb was slowly ripped from Sakura's body. The extractor had the red orb wrapped in electricity. Angered, Suzaku let out a mighty cry. Both orbs came back to Kisame, who now wore gloves, and Sakura's body, who had been hovering, fell to the ground motionless.

"Sakura!"

Kenji tried to make it to her side, but stopped as Suzaku descended beside her. With great gentleness, he nudged her but Sakura did not move. Itachi felt his blood run cold feeling that Sakura's chakra had stopped moving.

"Her heart has stopped its beating."

All eyes turned to Kakuzu. No one doubted him. After all, hearts were his specialty.

Nasake, who was with Kazaya, at a joint truce talk, dropped her pen. Her eyes faded to a pale green. No one could shake her out of the trance. At the same time, Yuu's eyes had done the same thing, and she had entered the same trance. Shinrai was also in a trance with his eyes white. Tsuki's eyes had faded to a pale blue. All of guardians felt the passing of Suzaku's guardian. Shocking their neighbors, they all spoke the same phrase.

"Suzaku's guardian, Haruno Sakura, had died."

"No!"

Sakura's aunt held back a nearly hysterical Tsuki. Itachi couldn't move. Suzaku let out a pained cry. He took swift flight, and just as fast, Kenji made to Sakura's body. Turning her to lay flat on her back, he checked for a pulse. When receiving none, Kenji pushed electricity into her hand. Then slamming down onto her chest, Kenji jump started her heart. Her body was shot up, and Sakura gasped for air. However, Suzaku had been blinded by grief and rage, and he prepared for a massive attack.

"Sakura!"

Seeing her aunt point to the sky, Sakura directed her attention up. Her stomach took a dive seeing Suzaku's state of grief. With great strength, she stood and made her way to Kisame. He gulped nervously seeing her face of anger. Grabbing both orbs, Sakura instantly crushed the extractor, cutting he hand in the process. She let the blood run down over her right wrist, where the mark of a phoenix glowed. Then she let the blood soak into the red orb of Suzaku. However, not even her blood could appease Suzaku any longer, and she knew what she was going to have to do.

"Hana!"

The older woman quickly brought Sakura a expensive looking katana. Naomi looked stunned.

"You said no one allowed to touch that."

Sakura thankfully took it in her other hand. Letting go of the orb, it floated in front of her. Her eyes bled to a pale red and Sakura unsheathed the word. Its red blade shined and everyone waited in awe to see what was about to happen.

"Void it."

Her chakra gathered an then burst out so fast and so powerful it distorted the area and time around her and Suzaku. When the others could see again, Sakura and Suzaku were both gone. Kenji looked to his wife and using water in the air she created an open gateway, but they could only look in. Sakura stood defiant against an angered god.

"Sakura!"

"Nanako close it now."

"But Sakura-chan..."

"Close it!"

Her angered shocked Nanako so much that the window snapped shut. It shook everyone and Itachi felt cold. Something was bound to happen to her.

"Okay Suzaku-sama, let's quickly get this done. I have a lover that worried about me."

Sakura stood defiant before the blinded god. Gathering chakra beneath her feet, Sakura leaped up. Tossing the sword, but holding onto the bottom of the hilt, a long wire appeared. It twisted around Suzaku's beak. Catching the sword, Sakura fell down and landed on her feet, but as she did she tightened the wire and pulled forward. Suzaku's beak was shut and instantly he crashed to the ground. The large firebomb he had been creating extinguished.

"This is going to take a bit."

A large group was in attendance at the gate in Konoha. They were saying goodbye to their foreign friends. Shinrai and Yuu were dressed ready for travel. Naruto looked like a dejected fox. He didn't want to see them go. All the others had a slight smile on their face, while trying to hold in their laughter after seeing Naruto's.

"Are you sure you have to go?"

"I'm afraid so Naruto. Yuu and I have decided to return so she can ascend the throne while Nasake-sama may go and finally be with Kazaya-sama."

"Naruto please don't be upset, but after feeling Saku-chan's passing, we all need to work to find Suzaku's orb."

"Why didn't she ever tell us, nor me?"

Yuu turned to answer Tsunade.

"Do not be discourage Hokage-sama. As by divine law, we are usually forbidden from telling anyone that we are guardians. For Saku-chan not to have told you, only showed how much she loved and wanted to protect you all. This type of information causes wars, and the death of innocent people. I'm sure Saku-chan never wants to see that again."

Naruto's ears perked.

"Sakura-chan witnessed a war over something like this?"

"Yes, it happened when Saku-chan's mother was still alive. Saku-chan personally witnessed her peoples' sacrifice to protect her identity and power. It was around this time that mine and onee-chan's otou-sama and okaa-sama lended aid to the kingdom. Our otou-sama had been worried that something like that would happen to us. So he wanted to build up an ally force. Otou-sama had told me that despite their overall victory, the blood that had been spilled was great."

Yuu could still remember her first meeting with Sakura. The small girl at the time, knew she had been the cause. Her face and heart had been overtaken by great grief, and her spirit was broken. Despite that, Sakura's dreaded gift gave her an insight. At that moment, Sakura had named her the next ruler, and not her sister. It wasn't until Kazaya had come into the picture that it made sense. However, that power had frightened them and made Sakura's mother very sad.

"Is there such a reason for us to quickly recover Suzaku's orb, other than Akatsuki?"

Shinrai answered Kakashi very seriously.

"Yes, without a proper guardian, Suzaku will roam the skies, destroying everything in his path as retribution. Saku-chan did not bear a proper heir. So Oblivion will also be in chaos."

"How do we find a proper guardian?

"Saku-chan wrote in one of the scrolls that she left that the orb must come into another guardian's hands first. After that, if the guardians cannot agree on one person, they must all fight. The victor will take the orb as theirs."

Shikamaru yawned.

"Sounds like a lot of work.'

"Yes, Saku-chan had the ability to control all of our gods, despite us being alive."

"Ah, Itachi-san."

Kenji turned to see Itachi behind him His black eyes looked dully at Sakura's uncle. He had not moved from his spot since Sakura's disappearing act. Itachi observed him.

"You're waiting."

"I'm waiting."

Just then, a small void pocket opened. Both men looked at it. Sakura was thrusted through and it closed. They caught Sakura on each side and came to a sliding stop. She grunted in pain and slowly opened her eyes. Reaching up, her uncle took her hand. He yelled for his wife. Tsuki and her grandmother followed Sakura's aunt. Kenji allowed Itachi to lift her. The women gasped in shock. Cuts were all over her body, and her clothes were torn and burned. A few burn marks were on her body, and a deep cut across her right cheek. Blood ran ran down off her war torn body.

"Quickly Itachi-san! We have to quickly deal with the burns or they'll scar."

A few hours later, Sakura woke up in her room that she shared with Itachi. Itachi sat in a chair beside the bed, lightly resting. Sakura's bandaged hand came out from the warm blankets, and weakly tugged Itachi's shirt sleeve. He instantly woke and saw Sakura awake. Moving to sit on the edge of the bed, Itachi touched her cheek. Neither said a word. Then, a knock came and Kenji walked in.

"Ah, I see you're finally awake. Itachi-san, could you give us a minute?"

Itachi looked at Kenji then Sakura. Seeing that they had some hostility towards each other, he was curious. Sakura's look though told him that he would be uninvited, so he stood and coldly left the room. Kenji laughed nervously when Itachi passed him with a ark look. She slowly sat up in bed, as Kenji moved towards the chair.

"You made him mad."

"Yes, I imagine I'll pay for that later."

"This is about earlier."

"Yes, you asked a question and I haven't give you the answer yet."

"Why are you collecting the orbs?"

"If I can gather all of them, then there would be no need to use you. The orbs together would be enough power with the tailed beasts."

Sakura sighed.

"So this is how you convinced Pein I see."

"Yes, your cousin doesn't want to drag you into anymore wars."

Sakura rubbed the bridge of her nose in irritation."

"Did you expect me to just hand over mine?"

"Maybe, if you were too distracted with other things."

"Like becoming queen?"

"The thought crossed my mind."

"Unbelievable."

"It's not my fault Orochimaru would push things to work in our favor."

"You mean me ascending."

"Wouldn't you have always done it sooner or later?"

Sakura lost her irritation and looked slightly defeated.

"Yes, this is what runs in my blood anyways."

"Sakura, what will you do? I know of the wall before you, and I also know of the loophole your mother left you. Will you use it?"

She didn't answer and Kenji put a sympathetic hand on her head.

"You're worried about Itachi-san huh?"

Kenji got up an left the room. Itachi was across from the door, arms crossed and leaning back relaxed. He opened his eyes and coldly looked at Kenji. The older man returned it with a nervous smile. As Itachi walked passed, Kenji stood rigid. It wasn't until the door slid to a shut and the lock tumbled, that Kenji let out his held breath.

"So what did you two talk about?"

"Loopholes."

"Loopholes?"

Itachi retook his seat in the chair. He waited for Sakura to answer.

"There is a sure way for me to ascend the throne now, but the price..."

"Is it death? Or torture?"

"Of course not."

"Something of a sexual nature?"

Sakura looked at him deadpanned.

"Only you would think of something along those lines."

Itachi shrugged.

"Then what's the problem?"

"It affects us."

Itachi just stared.

"We'll worry about it later."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Sakura looked doubtfully at him. Itachi pushed her down.

"Rest."

The next day, Sakura, dressed formally once again, stood before the council. At her podium, she faced a large table with twelve men behind it, including Kei. Her family and Akatsuki members stood in the overhead balcony the circled the entire room. Several citizens also filled the seats, while the rest patiently waited outside with anticipation. Rumor was that their beloved princess was sure to become queen this time.

"Why do you stand before us again?"

"It will be another fruitless effort."

Sakura slammed down the scroll that she had kept in her desk. Eleven of the members gasped in recognization. Kenji, Nanako, Hana, and Pein looked concerned, as everyone else was confused. Slightly hesitating, Sakura knew that if she broke the seal, there would be no going back. Briefly, her eyes traveled to Itachi above. Then, with great swiftness, Sakura broke the seal and it unraveled.

"I shall now read what it proclaims. As current ruler, I, Suzaku Sakura, do by decree that I shall ascend the throne this very day."

Deidara looked over a her family.

"Suzaku Sakura?"

"It's her birth name. When formally referring to her before the council or laws, Sakura must use her birth name. There are no exceptions. Haruno Sakura of Konoha has just been killed."

They looked worried now.

"In return for my forced ascension, to compensate the law, I agree to give my marital rights to the council of Oblivion."

Itachi's hands gripped th railing, and gasps were heard everywhere. He now understood her hesitation. Sakura was basically selling her freedom.

"By law, we must accept these terms."

"Yes, I know."

"Then, what is your first order my Queen?"

Sakura calmed her nerves then looked at them with unwavering determination.

"I will now address Sound's unreasonable demand of us. Every village will receive this response. No one will dare make the mistake of underestimating us again. Oblivion will not give in to any nation who will try to invade. All oppositions will be crushed without mercy. We will not aid anyone except our two allies, Rock and Wind. Further demands, will be looked at as a hostile take over and will be met with force."

At the same time, messengers were alerting all village heads of what was occurring in Oblivion. Sakura had made it so there was one hidden operative of each village within the crowd. Each of them did not know of the other.

"This is our declaration of war."