Kenji shivered as he felt Orochimaru's snake eyes on him.

"Your father was my first choice, but now I see it was for the best that he betrayed me. You will grow up nicely and make a delectable…companion in the meantime." Kenji couldn't breathe as he felt Orochimaru's long fingernails stroke his soft cheek. "Who knew Sasuke and that little brat would make such a good combination?"

Tears came to his eyes as Orochimaru's hand move to his shoulder, shifting aside his shirt. "Please don't."

Orochimaru's tongue slithered out of his mouth, and he let out a vile laugh. "You'll learn to appreciate it in time." His tongue traveled its way up the boy's spine, and Kenji felt as if time stopped. He started counting the number of tiles on the wall. A hand slipped underneath his shirt, and he couldn't even let out a scream.

A banging outside the door disturbed Orochimaru from his enamored state, and he smiled. "Wait here, precious. I'll be back."

Kenji began to cry as soon as no one could hear.

Itachi and Kisame checked upon the remaining forces left in the lair. There were still so many, and there was no time to be gentle or merciful. Kisame had some fun for the first time in a while, decapitating more than a few heads. Itachi did not bother torturing the lackeys, it was hardly the time for that. Sasuke killed anyone who dared to oppose him. Still, there were too many. There was no time at all. Itachi turned to his brother. "Go, Sasuke. We will handle this."

Sasuke paused, still not trusting of Itachi. Was he really helping him?

"Sasuke, please. You don't want to lose anymore family." That sent a painful pang into Sasuke's chest, and he nodded and trudged ahead.

Rudy was not in good shape now; Sakura could tell. He was breathing heavily and muttering to himself. He laughed maniacally, and Sakura took a step back. He was fucking crazy. This guy was fucking crazy. "What did you say to me?"

"You made me kill my only friend left. Sho was the only one left!"

Sakura's muscles tensed, and she nearly spat at him. "Who the hell are you talking about."

"You know who. He should have never taken care of you."

Sakura's eyes widened. "Koga." She saw red. "You killed the man who took care of me while you held me hostage?" She started trembling in anger. "You fucking monster."

"My master renamed him Sho. That's his name! You fucking bitch. I'm going to kill you!" he roared. He charged at her, screaming so loudly Sakura could hear something inside him rip. She gathered chakra to her fingertips. She was going to give this man, this man who stole her son from her, the most painful death anyone could ask for.

Kenji was escorted back to his room by the man in glasses, and he desperately scratched at his skin, trying to remove the feeling of Orochimaru's hands on him. He was red and bloody, but he still felt that man's germs on him.

"Please." He whimpered. "Please someone save me."

Itachi revived the Anbu that were laying on the ground in pain, allowing Kisame to take care of the rest of the small fry. He was clearly enjoying himself, and Itachi wasn't going to interfere with that.

The ANBU shot him a dirty look, but he was unable to move. Luckily, Itachi was kind and had a soft heart, so he continued to heal the injured leaf shinobi.

"Why do you save me?" the masked man asked, and Itachi just shook his head and smiled. "What does that mean?" he demanded, coughing as it became easier to breathe.

"You are from my village. You are loyal and brave. That's good enough for me."

The ANBU went silent, his head lowered.

Sasuke silently stepped into Orochimaru's "throne" room. Orochimaru was there in his chair, as per usual. Although Sasuke was shrouded in darkness, Orochimaru greeted him with that same, malevolent smile.

"Welcome home, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke cringe at the sound of that gravelly yet high voice. He ignored the greeting and walked out of the shadows. "Where is the boy?"

"Oh, your son? He's been escorted back to his room. He's being treated very well, I promise you that."

Sasuke's hand moved to his sword, and he slid it out promptly. "I've wanted to do this for so long, you know. Finally, I have a good excuse."

Orochimaru sneered at his pupil. "Go ahead and try it."

Rudy was gasping in a pool of his own blood, and Sakura was leaning against the wall, panting in pain. She clutched her side and sat down, keeping a close eye on her fatally injured enemy. She sent chakra through her fingertips, and she sighed in relief as she felt the wound closing. Painstakingly, she stood up and withdrew her kunai from its pouch. She staggered to Rudy and stood over him, watching his eyes go wide in fear.

"This," she bit out. "Is for Koga." Rudy let out a blood curling scream as Sakura stomped on his kneecap, forcibly inverting them. "And this…this is for my son."

The only sound was blood squirting out as the kunai ripped into the flesh, and Sakura's heavy breathing.

Now she could go to her son.

She ran down the hallways, breathing fast. She could sense Kenji, and she could tell he was being guarded. She smashed through walls, not bothering to find the least messy way about it. Kabuto blurred into her vision, and blood spattered all over the wall and her clothes. She slammed the door open.

"Mommy?"

Sakura choked back a sob.

Sasuke stood over Orochimaru's lifeless body, and he looked at the sword in his hand. It gleamed with spilled blood, and there was something gruesomely satisfying about that. He felt Itachi approach, and he turned his head ever so slightly.

"Little brother, the ANBU are waiting outside. Let's quickly retrieve Kenji."

Sasuke agreed.

Kisame led them toward the chakra, sword extended. Itachi protected Sasuke's back, wary of any remaining lackeys.

They arrived to blood painted on the wall, floors, and ceiling. There was a body with a smashed in face with broken glass imbedded in it, and his ribs were visible as his internal organs spilled onto the floor.

Kisame spotted the glasses frame. "Now would you look at that?"

Sasuke's eyes widened. "Kabuto."

They entered the room, surprised to find Sakura already with her son, rocking him to sleep as he cried in her arms. She looked at Sasuke, tears in her eyes. "I found him."

The ANBU encircled the group as they walked back to Konoha. Sakura had healed every one of them, so they were being a little more permitting of pee breaks. Kenji was asleep in her arms, and she held him protectively to her chest. She chuckled fondly as she realized he was getting heavy.

Sasuke looked at his son. How could he have been so blind? He practically abused his own son, and it was ridiculously obvious. He looked to his brother. Itachi was innocent. Though he still felt betrayed, it was a start to having a family again.

Naruto greeted them at the gates. "Sakura, are you all right?"

Sakura nodded. "I'm fine. So is everyone else." She stroked Kenji's forehead. "I think I need to get him to a hospital though, just in case."

Naruto nodded. "That's fair." He turned to Itachi, Kisame, and Sasuke. "The three of you are pardoned for your crimes." Kisame gasped, while Itachi and Sasuke stared at each other, shocked. "I'm being merciful this time, but if you do anything in my village, you will be taken care of. For now, you are not allowed to leave the village without my express permission. I will be releasing your wife and daughter to you, Itachi."

Sakura looked to Sasuke. She was not expecting this. Sasuke…should not have been pardoned. Not that she wasn't happy, but this didn't make sense. Why was this happening?

She shook her head. That was enough. She just wanted to go home. "Sasuke, let's go."

After dropping Kenji off and being kicked out of the hospital, Sakura and Sasuke headed off to Sakura's home in Konoha. She found the key and let them in, sneezing when dust tickled her nose. She drew herself a bath, and Sasuke went in after she was done.

Lying on her bed, she sighed. She had missed this village after all. Sasuke came out of the shower, and he asked Sakura where he could sleep.

Sasuke was worried. It was unlikely that this peace would last, and he did not know where he stood with Sakura. He was going to give her space. However, her response surprised him.

"You can come in and share the bed with me if you want…" There was blush painted upon her pretty face, and Sasuke smiled.

"I'll gladly take your offer."

Kenji woke up sweating and screaming. The nurse told him to quiet down and to not disturb the other patients. He nodded and silently began to cry, hidden beneath his covers.

Naruto looked in from the outside, leaning against the door frame. The boy was dehydrated and scared, but he had not allowed the happy couple to stay with their son. Still it wasn't as if he had no heart, so he ordered an ANBU to stand guard.

Soon, the plan would start.

I'm sooo sorry for the long wait. I've been working on this for a while, but just nothing felt right until now. I really hope you enjoyed it. this ends orochimaru arc.

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