Rasa banned gambling. He wasn't the type to waste his money this way, but many of his subordinates started fighting with their wives because they didn't bring home any money. They started coming to work late, tired and angry. Rasa couldn't count on them anymore. These were low rank ninja, but there was a risk of others taking after them and where would that path lead to? Rasa was a radical and principled man when it came to himself and his own security. If Suna were to be attacked, Rasa wouldn't be able to use those mindless ninja gamblers. Rasa's safety was always at risk because he held the power. Therefore, Rasa ordered his son to banish the casino mafia out of the country because he knew Gaara was untouchable.

Gaara went by himself to the heads of the mafia. Of course they threw all kinds of objects towards the boy, but none of them touched Gaara. He stood still while waiting for the enemies to run out of energy. They eventually left after cursing Gaara, who didn't mind them. After the mafia left the casino, Gaara destroyed the building, turning it into dust so that nothing was left of it.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"

"If you try to rebuild them, I will destroy them again and again. It's so easy; I don't need more than one finger for this."

"What? You have the guts to talk to us that way? You don't know who we are, boy! Or else you would run when you see us. You think you are untouchable! Find out you aren't!"

"And if you try to open your business someplace else, I'll kill you!"

Gaara's murderous look gave them shivers. They kept cursing Gaara for the eyes of the world, but they have been walking backwards all this time until they all evaporated.

Gaara looked at the sky and smiled. It was a good sunny day in Suna and he was happy.

"Sasuke! Quit stalling! What are you doing there?"

"Naruto, you idiot! I'll be right there. What an annoying loser!"

Sasuke moved his hand and the snake understood that it has to go away. Sasuke stood up. He was angry because he didn't have enough time to send a message to Orochimaru because of his teammate. He shoved his hands in his pockets and turned to walk towards Naruto and Sakura, who were still waiting for the always late Kakashi-sensei.

Gaara liked eating ice-cream. He decided to buy one while he was talking to Sakura.

It's your turn to move.

I know. Let me think.

You also know that I can see every move you can think of, right?

Gaara. Just be quiet for a minute, please.

Fine. Fine. No need to hurry. I don't have anywhere I need to be until next week. Take all the time you need.

Sakura was laughing. Gaara was in a good mood, too. He was strolling on the street with his hands clasped behind his back while looking at the sky with his sunny face.

"Do you understand what you have to do?"

"Yes. I have to put a poisonous pill in his favorite ice-cream."

"Which is?"

"Vanilla."

"Good."

The man put the jar full of poisonous pills into the fridge and slipped a pill into the ice-cream he was going to sell to Gaara. The mobster left through the back door of the store before Gaara entered and asked for the usual.

"One vanilla ice-cream, please."

"Yes, sir. Coming right away. Please have a seat."

Gaara sat at a white round stone made table. The chair was also made of stone, but it was covered in light brown leather so the customers wouldn't catch a cold from sitting on it.

I win again!

Let's play again.

No. I don't want to.

Please, Gaara.

I have already won twice. How many more times do you plan on losing?

But I won one match. I want a rematch.

I can't play until tomorrow morning.

Please, just one more round.

No. I propose a draw.

Ok.

"Here is your order, sir."

"Thank you." Gaara took the spoon in his hand.

The waiter was looking at him very closely. He seemed stiff too, as if he was waiting for something. Gaara frowned and shooed him away:

"You may take your leave. I will call you if I need anything else."

"Yes, sir." The waiter bowed and left quickly.

Gaara, what are you eating without me?

Ice-cream.

What type?

Vanilla.

Try a chocolate one.

Why would I do that? I like vanilla.

You never listen to me. She pretended to be upset. First you beat me at checkers and now you don't want to taste my favorite ice-cream.

Gaara took a deep breath before he yielded. He wasn't angry or irritated. He was more amused.

Fine, just this time to make you see I am not a bad boy.

Sakura giggled, so any traces of regret disappeared from his face.

"Waiter!"

"Yes, sir."

"Bring me chocolate ice-cream. Today I decided to try something new."

"O-of course. Coming right now."

See? I did what you asked of me. Don't ever say I don't listen to you.

I won't. I won't.

The waiter struggled in vain to get another pill out of that jar. He mistook the freezer with the fridge and now the whole jar was frozen stuck. He couldn't dislodge it, so he brought Gaara his order poison free.

You never play with me.

It's not true.

Did you see how I beat you?

Do I have to remind you that I won 2 games and you lost? He ate the first spoon of ice-cream.

You didn't. In the end you said you want a draw, so you have 1 and ½ points, just like me.

I only said that so you leave me alone.

Sakura laughed wholeheartedly while Gaara happily ate his ice-cream. Chocolate ice-cream was not as bad as he thought, but maybe a little too sweet for his taste.

Gaara?

What is it? You became serious all of a sudden and we were getting along so well...

Sorry, it's nothing bad.

Gaara relaxed.

I was wondering if we could break the connection a little.

Gaara stressed right away. His invisible brows furrowed and his mouth was a straight line.

Not for long. Just tomorrow. You know, my mom will take me to the doctor and...

Did you get hurt?

No, it's a girls' thing and I am ashamed to talk to you about it.

Aha.

I am not lying. The doctor is going to ask me many embarrassing questions and I will have to undress...

Gaara's face became tomato red and he interrupted her.

I will block your thoughts about that event, don't worry.

Sakura was skeptical. She wasn't a fan of his solution.

Will you?

Sakura, I meant what I said. I am a man of my word. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable around me, but please tell me if it is anything serious or if you're hurting. I want to help you.

I will. Thank you!

Don't worry about it.

"Orochimaru-sama doesn't like to wait."

"As if I care. He is the one who needs me, not the other way around. He should wait. We talk whenever I can."

The snake hissed.

"Are you certain? You need Orochimaru-sama to make you strong, or else you are never going to surpass Itachi. Or do you like having your skull crushed against all walls?"

Sasuke gritted his teeth.

"Every time I crawl to you I wonder if Itachi hasn't already smashed your brains."

Sasuke grabbed the snake by its head and squeezed tight. The snake's tail curled around Sasuke's arm and squeezed just as hard until Sasuke let go and the snake followed suit.

"This is the last time I come here. If power is what you desire, you must prove your loyalty to my master by bringing a human sacrifice."

"He needs a corpse he can possess and he makes me do the dirty work for him."

"You only have 3 years. Orochimaru-sama is waiting for an answer from many other participants. If anyone reaches him before you, consider yourself left out."

The snake hissed for the last time before it disappeared into the forest where it came from. Sasuke stood up and stared at the grass by his feet.

"This job is too low for me. I am not going to do it."

His left foot hit a stone and he started walking back to the village centre with a foggy mind.

Where is your mom?

I don't know. She said she has something to do and she left me waiting here alone.

I thought it was a girls' thing.

It is. Don't piss me off.

Fine. Sorry. Just tell me when you need me to block your thoughts.

Not now. Stay with me some more, please. I don't like waiting alone.

That waiting hall is full of women. You told me earlier.

Fine, if you'd rather leave, then you can block my thoughts right now.

I am sorry. I was just joking. Of course I will stay with you. I can't leave my Sakura alone.

Gaara felt proud to be wanted and considered useful.

Sakura, is the doctor a man or a woman?

Woman, why?

I was wondering if she has the right to give you a consult if your mom is not there with you.

I don't know. Why wouldn't she have the right to do it?

In Suna, doctors can't touch underage patients if they aren't accompanied by an adult except for life-threatening situations which I know it's not the case for you right now.

I honestly don't know. I don't think my mom would have left me here by myself if she knew this is true.

Your mother knows best. I can feel you are tense. Is it time to enter the salon? Are you nervous?

No. A man has just sat down next to me.

What is a man doing there? Isn't it a women's clinic?

It is. I think he is here with his wife.

I see. Then it should be fine.

I'd move on another chair, but there is none free.

I don't think he'll do anything to you. Don't worry.

Ok.

Sakura and Gaara kept talking peacefully. The man next to Sakura didn't say anything to her, but as minutes went by, he became more and more agitated and angry. Sakura winced every time that man slapped his thigh with his hand loudly in annoyance. He didn't like that things moved so slowly and he had to go back to work.

"What is taking so long?"

Sakura, don't be scared. He isn't going to do anything to you.

Mhm.

"Good afternoon." An old lady said after she entered the waiting hall. "I will go in just to ask a question."

"I will come with you." The man said.

Sakura looked at him in shock as he stood up from his chair.

"Why would you come in with me?"

"To make sure you are here to only ask a question and not for a consult. I've been waiting here for over an hour and you want to skip the line." He said while following her into the doctor's cabinet.

Sakura released a sigh of relief.

This is unthinkable. He is rude.

I know, right? Anyway, I feel better now that he is no longer here.

Sakua didn't even have time to finish her thought and that man burst out of the room along with the old woman, screaming from the top of his lungs.

"Lady, go home! You don't even know when you were born."

"Of course I do."

He kept screaming: "When the doctor asked you about your year of birth, you couldn't remember."

"That's because I was asking for a friend and I didn't know her birth year."

He is like an animal.

He is only acting this way because there are only women here.

You're right. Don't say anything to him. I don't want him to scream at you, too. I will take care of people like him when you'll be with me. I won't let anyone scare you again.

Gaara, I think it's my turn to enter the cabinet.

Ok, I will close...

"Girl, where do you think you're going? It's my turn!" That man yelled.

Sakura froze after she had just stood up from the chair. She hugged her sides in stress and waited for that man to push his wife into the cabinet.

Oh my God, Sakura! What kind of country is that where an animal like him gives you orders?

"Have a seat, girl." The man pointed to the chair next to him with his index finger and Sakura sat down quietly.

I'll kill that bastard!

No, please don't. You'll get into trouble.

Then I'll at least give him a good beating.

Sakura smiled.

That doesn't bother me. He deserves it.

Of course he does. He enters the women's clinic like a bull and throws a tantrum because he is a man and women can't protect themselves against him? That creature is not human! I am sorry, Sakura, but that country is not a place to live. Why are there only people who order you around like you belong to them? Why are there only people who mistreat, frighten and slander you? Nobody is going to treat you this way in Suna. Let me take you out of there.

Gaara...I can't leave.

Why not?

"Finally! What took you so long?" The man told his wife when she got out of the doctor's cabinet. He helped her put of her coat and they left.

It's my turn now. Don't forget what you promised me.

Of course. We'll see each other after you finish. Pinch the bracelet 3 times so I know you're done. His pulse was high because he was very angry, but not with her.

Note: Cute innocent Gaara and Sakura will share many sweet moments. We are having a break from Sakura's abusive parents in this chapter. Gaara doesn't have a lot of money even if his father is rich. His father doesn't give him any money, so Gaara's only money are the ones he make when he goes on missions. Gaara is going to be rich after his dad is out of the picture.

What do you think about this chapter? Who is going to be Sasuke's human sacrifice?