Don't own Naruto .o.o.

"talking"

'thinking'

'Past'

Warning for language!

Note: This chapter is six days after this last. So it's the following tuesday, and the banquet is that coming saturday.

The day after Sasuke set the princess straight about their work relationship, that's how she kept it. She rarely spoke to him, and at some points she didn't even want him near her; which he was fine with around the house, but outside of it he didn't like. She didn't even want him to accompany her to school, so he was stuck shopping with her mother, or spending most of the time shooting the hell out of the targets in the shooting range in the basement.

Today however something wasn't right. Sasuke was just coming up from the basement when Sakura threw open the back door and ran through the kitchen in tears. It bothered him slightly that she was crying, but what really was setting off alarms in his head was the fact she was home in the middle of the day. The slamming of a door upstairs signaled that she went either to her room or the library next to it; he wasn't sure which, but he didn't really care at the moment. But that would come back to haunt him that night when the family sat down to dinner.

She wasn't there, which her mother frowned upon, "Naruto where is your sister?"

"I don't know, I didn't see her come in this afternoon, maybe she went to the mall with her friends," Naruto wasn't really paying attention as he moved the pickled radish around on his plate.

"Uchiha, have you seen my daughter today!"

Sasuke bit his tongue so he wouldn't snap at the woman for treating him like a pet, "I believe she has been in her room all afternoon."

"What do you mean by that? What time did she get home?"

"Around noon Uzumaki-sama."

"And you didn't bother to inform me of this earlier because?"

"It wasn't my place to speak of the young Uzumaki-san so openly."

"That's no excuse! When one of my children is in trouble I expect to be notified about it!"

Sasuke didn't miss Naruto's eye roll at her over dramatic statement. "I shall be wiser next time."

"As you should, now go up there and find out what is wrong with her!"

'What? Did she just send me to do that?' But Tsunade was adamant about her decision, and Sasuke found himself standing in front of Sakura's bedroom door. He knocked once... and no one answered,'She can't possibly be sleeping, it's too early to be in bed.' He knocked again, yet still no answer, Sasuke was beginning to think she snuck out while no one was looking; but one look at the weather outside he knew that wasn't happening.

It started to rain at three that afternoon and only got worse as the night went on. It was now poring and thunder and lightening could be seen and heard outside. Sasuke was really tired of standing in the hall like an idiot, so he opened the door and stepped in, not bothering to announce his presence.

There were no lights on in the room and he was having a hard time seeing anything. Luckily his target was sitting in the window seat next to her bed, and the light that was coming through the window was enough for him to make it over to her... the bad thing was she was still crying. She either didn't hear him come in, or just blatantly ignored him because she didn't move at all.

'This is ridiculous, she needs to get over herself,' he thought she was still upset about what he said to her last week; but it turns out that wasn't the case. "Uzumaki-san?" Again she didn't answer him, he didn't like being ignored like this; so now he decided he would wait until she spoke.

"He's gone," it took nearly a half an hour later, and most of his patience, but Sakura finally spoke; the only problem was... what she meant.

'Who's gone? Who is she talking about?' Sasuke racked his brain for an answer he wasn't sure of. As far as he knew she didn't know many men, and the ones she did know she was related to. And by 'gone' what did she mean? Gone as in left the city, or gone as in dead gone? And if they did die, Sasuke should have heard something. He knew it wasn't Naruto because he was down stairs, and if it was her father everyone in the city would have known by now; and Sasuke was certain that Tsunade would kill herself if he died... so that only left.

"Sai's gone," a whole fresh set of tears came forth as she thought back to that morning.

'Flashback':

Sakura was met by Ino and the others in the parking lot that morning. "Sakura where's Sasuke-kun?"

"Hello to you to Ino. Uchiha-san is at home, I don't need him staring at the back of my head for seven hours while I try to concentrate on sensei's lecture."

"Oh trust me Sakura, he doesn't stare at your oversized head; I see his eyes roaming a lot lower."

"Ino, please not now I have a headache," Sakura waived her off and headed inside the building.

Kakashi-sensei was extremely late, and judging by the expression on his face when he came in... the news he had wasn't good. "Kakashi-sense why are you so late again!?" one of the guys asked as his group of friends began to snicker at his question; something told Sakura this wasn't a laughing matter.

"The reason I am late is because the rest of teachers and I were informed this morning that a fellow student of yours is no longer with us." Immediately heads started looking around to see who was missing in the room. Kakashi noticed this too so he clarified what he said, "A fellow student from the first class passed away last night."

Several hands shot up, and the gang in the back just all started shouting out questions at the same time; it was a little hard to understand because it just sounded like a roar of voices, but Kakashi knew the one question that was on all of their minds. "The student's name is Yahiko Sai."

'S-Sai-kun... no... it can't be... Sai,' Sakura fell back into her chair and her friends raced to her side.

"Sakura!"

"What happened to him sensei?"

Sakura couldn't bare to hear what caused her dear friend's death, she jumped out of her seat and ran from the room; in a panic she ran to the bathroom thinking she would be sick. She was so upset the nurse had to send her home.

'End Flashback'

'The kid's dead, Karin finished her mission... that means.' Sasuke was jolted from his thoughts when Sakura jumped off the window seat and screamed, such a pained, blood curling scream, he was surprised her mother didn't come busting through the door.

"I don't understand! Why did he die? He wasn't sick, I just saw him yesterday, I talked to him in the hall, he told me... he was looking forward to the banquet. He was my best friend, we've known each other since we were kids, how could this happen to him?" Sakura fell to her carpeted floor and continued to cry.

Sasuke approached her side when she hit the floor, but not because he was worried she had injuried herself; what really bothered him were her tears. He didn't know why, but seeing women cry always affected him on some level; it probably had to do with the relationship he shared with his mother. She always cried when his father was away, and he tried to make her feel better the best a child can; that sense of vulnerability scared him.

Sakura at this point didn't care who was there to confort her, as long as someone was there. The moment he knelt down, she fell into his chest and continued to cry. Sasuke didn't like his personal space to be invaded by anyone, so when she touched him he immediately stiffened up and was going to push her away. But he didn't... his body was disobeying what his mind was telling it to do, and he pulled her closer. 'Why am I allowing her to lay all over me like this... Karin isn't even allowed to touch me unless I say so.' Despite his inner turmoil, Sasuke didn't let her go; he stayed with her practically laying in his lap for another twenty minutes.

During that time he found himself drifting off and out of character as he rubbed small circles on her back to calm her down. He questioned himself for doing this, but again didn't stop. Her cries turned into soft whimpers and then eventually nothing, which is when he realized she had fallen asleep.

'She falls asleep in the arms of the man that was sent to kill her... and yet I can't find a reason to do it.' Sasuke was fighting his insticts and tried to find one flaw this girl may have; he's had almost two weeks and he just couldn't. He knew now that Karin had taken out her target, he would be receiving a call from Orochimaru to end this girl's life; he didn't care if she was innocent, and he would hold Sasuke to his word until the job was finished. That's all it really was after all, a job that he got roped into doing after he agreed to give his life to Orochimaru for helping him gain the strength he needed to avenge his family.

That was the only reason he was killing all these people, and the fact that he despised the councel for betraying him. Yes, the very councel he is helping Orochimaru take control of, is the one that betrayed his family.

Around seven years ago, when he was eighteen and in high school, Sasuke discovered the real reason why his father was never in his life much since he was a small child. His father and uncle were both members of the councel, and very high up at that.

Back then children didn't know of the councel until their first adult birthday, but only sons... daughters were never to know at all. So when he turned seventeen the previous year, Fugaku took him to his first meeting. Some of the members weren't present at the time, and if he remembered correctly Jiraiya was on of them. But his uncle, being the leader, went ahead as scheduled.

The strong voices and arguements each member made drew Sasuke into the debate himself, but of course not being a member yet, he couldn't voice his opinion on the matter. But he was determind to be at his father's side at the table the following year. Fugaku of course was thrilled to hear his son wanted to joind in the 'family business'... Mikoto of course wasn't, but she couldn't do much about it.

So now eighteen, and almost out of high school, Sasuke was ready to join the elite councel and rule tokyo's underground; however, like in most stories, fate intervened. Sasuke's uncle Madara, who again was the leader, had no son of the correct age to take his place; so once his nephew came to the table, it would have been only a matter of time before he took over... and Madara didn't want that. At the time Sasuke was too kind hearted to handle the darkness of mob life, and if he came to power, Madara knew the reputation he built for the councel would have come crashing down.

So to stop this from happening Madara set up a hit on his own brother to keep Sasuke from joining the table. (Note: The only way to join the councel is by being born into it. If your father dies before you join your family is killed to keep their secrets. The only other way in is if there is an empty seat, and the leader places you there... that's how Orochimaru got in with Jiraiya.)

Sasuke learned of his father's death during his graduation, and knew he and his mother would be killed as well; but... he was unable to reach her in time though. Knowing that his parents' deaths were no accident, Sasuke went into hiding to save his life; and planned his revenge on his uncle. Knowing Madara's personal assassins were after him and with really no place to go, he sought out the only other person that understood him... Hatake Kakashi; his history teacher had once been an cop and trained as a sniper.

It took him some time, but once Madara's men stopped searching for him, Kakashi got him into the police academy. He had studied and trained with Kakashi as he stayed with him, Kakashi even taught him his own secret assassination techniques and how to make hollowed out bullets; that would kill and leave no trace it was as if air put the hole there... with this Sasuke would never get caught with the murder weapon.

It wasn't till his second year when he met the crooked cop Orochimaru. Back then he was just a low lever drug dealer and handled racing bets; but he knew the right people, and was very smart. Sasuke told him his story and Orochimaru told him he wanted to take the councel down; someone that was on it took something from him. So they both got what they wanted, Sasuke would get his revenge and Orochimaru would be able to take control of all the drug trade in the city and eventually lead the councel.

So five years after his father and mother's murders, Sasuke had his uncle on his knees, with his gun to his head. That was how Jiraiya came into power... for now anyway.

When he came out of his memories, Sasuke realized an hour had passed and Sakura was still asleep in his arms. A little shocked her family hadn't come up yet to see what was taking him so long, he picked her up and placed her into bed.

When he came back downstairs, neither Tsunade or Naruto were anywhere to be seen. 'Their worried about her, and yet they don't check up on her themselves.' Just as he thought this, he heard a shriek and thought Sakura had woken up; but he realized the voice was slightly deeper and coming from somewhere on the ground floor.

'That was the mother,' he walked into the kitchen, but didn't enter the den because the study door was open, and Naruto was sitting in a chair in view of the door. Sasuke could Tsunade pacing back and forth behind the desk crying for some reason.

"How could this have happened!? I thought he was under protection, Sakura is going to be devastated."

"I think she was already informed mother."

"What do you mean Naruto?" Sasuke heard Jiraiya's voice coming from the phone.

"We were told she came home from school early today... she never misses a class."

"Jiraiya you must come home, she could be in danger!"

"Darling I can't, I'm trying to get Ishin and his wife out of the country so they are not the next target."

"Our daughter is the next target! Sai is dead, and Orochimaru has just moved up another seat!"

"Tsunade not this again."

"Jiraiya, he is behind this I know it. He's not your friend anymore, and I bet that boy he sent has some kind of order to undertake!"

"I have to agree with mother on this one dad, it's odd that no one has attacked him yet,"Naruto pulled his gun out and began to clean the brass.

"Everyone calm down, I will be home by friday and I will handle this; no one is to make a move until then... and keep Sakura home from school for a while."

"I don't think I could even bare to send her honey, she hasn't left her room since she got home."

*buzz* *buzz*

Sasuke moved away from the door and entered the dinning room when he felt his cell phone begin to vibrate at his hip. Knowing who it was without looking at the caller I.D. he flipped it open, for once in his life dreading the orders he was about to be given.

"It is time Sasuke-kun, Karin has finished her mission."

"The family is suspicious of me still, I wouldn't be able to get near her tonight," he knew that was an out right lie, seeing as how he just spent the last two hours with her.

"Well get on their good side, the banquet on saturday is one of the biggest meetings with other councels from around the world... I want to be the leader by then, you have three days, is that understood!?"

"Hn." Sasuke closed the phone, not bothering to actually give him a straight answer... because he really didn't know what he was going to do. Sasuke heard the click of a trigger being pulled and turned to see Naruto... aiming his gun from across the table.

"Who were you talking to just now Uchiha? Who would be calling you at this late hour?"

Note: Okay, so... Sai died! And Sasuke is having trouble killing Sakura, but what will he do now that he has too? And what will he say to Naruto now that he has been caught? The middle part where Sasuke was thinking about is past was kind of my way of how you got his background, and how he wound up working for Orochimaru, and betraying Kakashi. And I decided not to put Itachi in this story at all... Sasuke was an only kid. Will Sakura be dead, and Orochimaru rein as Tokyo's under world lord?

Special thanks to:
XoXoGOSSIPGIRLoXoX
TragedyDawl (You guessed right! good job, see if you can guess what's going to happen next)
jesselovemeto
I Am The Alter Ego
Luka1Sakura (Be patient... she just may learn)
Keep reviewing, luv it!
And if there are any spelling errors I will fix them tomorrow, it's late and I'm tired. (I will delete this message after I read over the chapter tomorrow).