Gaara's POV

Something's not right. I have this feeling that won't give me peace, as if something bad is going to happen. I have never felt it before, but now I can almost touch it. It's like a ball that moves and twists in my stomach. It won't let me sit down, so I stand up, facing the door, ready to kill anyone who dares to come into my room to kill me. Why do I feel like I am about to die? Doesn't matter. I am the strongest ninja, nothing can bring me down. As hours pass by, I feel more and more on edge. My hands are itching. I have been focusing for so long, that my head has started to hurt. I have to survive!

Sasuke's POV

Last night I sharpened all of my knives. I was so happy, that an unimaginable feeling of calm enveloped me. I usually stare for hours at the puddle in the Uchiha neighborhood before going back into the house to have a shower and sleep. It's the puddle where I used to practice my fire ball jutsu to make my father proud. The puddle is still red from blood and it stinks, but I can't stay away from it. If even a drop of my mother's or father's blood is there, I feel closer to my parents by just standing on the pond. My eyes have gotten so used to the dark, that it's become harder to see in light. I am not doing that today. Today is a happy day. The first day I am happy ever since I have become the last Uchiha alive because Orochimaru's plan is going to happen tomorrow morning. A step closer to the sweet revenge I crave. After I polished my weapons, I looked at them proudly and polished them again and again until the sun rose. At dawn I felt my blood pressure go up. My adrenaline is running wild. I stood up, stuffed my pockets with all of my weapons in pouches that I attached to my neatly ironed trousers and headed to the Hokage Tower.

Kankurou's POV

"I hope I'll get there it time. Please God, let me get there in time!"

I am running and panting like a hen without a head. My brother's room is in the other side of the building. I am all wed from sweat. I barge into his room, crushing the door and fall on my chest on the floor. Gaara's sand moves to attack me. He has a murderous look in his eyes.

"On the ground! Now!"

He is slow in realizing what is happening and it takes a while before he manages to call his sand back before it kills me. I bet he thought I am an intruder.

"Gaara! Get down!"

Why is he looking at me as if he doesn't understand? The window behind Gaara was shattered by the arrow which was about to pierce his heart. Luckily for him, Karasu's sword redirected it to one of the walls. Gaara half turns to the window. His sand didn't even have the chance to react. He got down on the floor and covered his head with his arms. I covered his back with my doll. I can always make a new doll, buy my brother is irreplaceable.

A gust of wind made all the arrows go back to where they came from. Thank God for Temari! Her wind barrier is impenetrable as long as the enemy stands in front of her. I stood up and went to my brother. I pulled him up from the floor and dragged him outside the room.

"We have to get out of here!"

"Kankurou, what's going on?"

We both started running up the stairs, where I came from.

"The village is under attack."

"Who is the enemy?"

"Sasori. Dad found out that Sasori collaborated with Akatsuki to capture the tailed beasts."

Gaara frowned.

"Dad called the troops and tried to kill Sasori, but he had help from the outside."

"Do you mean father is fighting for me?"

"Not really. He is fighting more likely for your power. He doesn't want to hand in the secret weapon of the village. Everyone would attack us like vultures if you disappeared."

"I see. Those arrows weren't Sasori's because I know his."

"You don't know him, little brother. I spied on him while he was training. He managed to create projectiles that move faster than the speed of sound. You are lucky I got to you in time, otherwise..."

"Are you saying my sand armor is useless? Should I take out Shukaku?"

I didn't know what to answer him. What if this is exactly what the enemy wants? What if Gaara doesn't let Shukaku out and he gets killed by some arrow? At least the arrows won't be able to kill him in beast mode. But what if the monster controls Gaara and not vice versa?

Sasuke's POV

ANBU soldiers gathered around Hokage Tower like ants. I feel the fear of the citizens and I feed on it. They have always wanted my clan to die. They don't know the fear the Uchiha clan had to constantly live in, fear that they could be wiped out from the face of the earth anytime. It's time for them to know. When Pain appeared in the village, terrorizing everyone with questions about Naruto's location, I watched with satisfaction from the shadows. Tsunade is fighting Yahiko right now. I am waiting for the right time to ask Tsunade to let me take Sakura and go find our colleague to fight together against Pain as a whole team. I can't ask her now because she would say no. I have to wait until she becomes desperate enough to not think too much and allow me to do anything I want. Until then, I'll just sit with my hands in my pockets and watch Pain's clones snap the villagers' necks. The air tastes like dust mixed with metal and sweat. The sweat of a man who knows he is close to dying smells different. Interesting! I never would have thought. I just have to make sure Sakura doesn't jump in their way and gets killed before I take her to Orochimaru. I will trade her for power. I will pay the price of power with her blood.

Gaara's POV

Temari landed in front of us. She travelled in the air, on her fan, like always.

"We're surrounded."

"What's the situation outside?" I asked.

"Father chased Sasori outside the village, but he didn't come back. No, Granny Chiyo is guarding the borders. Even so, many profiteers are trying to kill us to get the power in case Sasori kills the Kazekage."

Temari spoke without any emotions. None of us cared whether father comes back or not. Right now it's important to protect each other. I raised my arm and my sand shielded my brothers' backs. An idiot blindly threw a kunai at us, which made my sister laugh.

"Retreat now and I won't punish you in any way."

Temari turned to me.

"Gaara, you're not serious."

"I am." I looked back at the crowd and kept talking: "I genuinely don't want to use my power on you, but I will if you attack first."

"As if we'd ever believe you. You, the royal family, would say anything to save your skin. Even if we risk our lives, it's worth it if even one of us gets the throne. We would finally stop living with the fear that we won't have food for the next day."

"I am not my father. I always keep my word. I promise to give you enough for a decent living if you leave now, when I become Kazekage."

A kunai flew towards me, but was buried in the sand. I told Kankurou and Temari to stand aside after I thanked them for saving my life. A bold man started running towards me with a sword in his hand. I had to kill him, otherwise the others would have been encouraged to attack us. Some of them were afraid and took a step back when they saw the red sand. I killed everyone who dared to attack us. They would have killed us too if they got the chance.

"My offer still stands. Leave now and you will get what you deserve later. You have my word."

"Is it true?"

"Yes. Have one of you come to me when I become Kazekage and you will convince yourselves that I am not lying."

"Did you mean it when you said you won't kill us if we leave now?"

"Yes. Why risk dying when you can get a legacy for your sons?"

The man who spoke threw his weapon on the sand and backed away step by step, looking me in the eye all the time, until he got to a corner where he took off on a street to the right. When the other saw that the man wasn't harmed, they left their weapons and ran away without looking back. The last ones to go left pretty relaxed. I sighed in relief because I managed to reduce the casualties to a minimum. Dad would be proud of me if he knew.

The whole village was on high alert. The borders were shut down and all commerce was postponed.

We decided to stay watch in turns that night because we didn't know what might happen. I was first, Kankurou was second and Temari last. I know Kankurou well enough to know that he wouldn't wake our sister, but he would keep watch in her stead, so I told him to call me when he feels tired because I don't sleep much anyway.

I entered my room and exhaled long, letting stress seep through my pores. I need to calm down before I call my flower. I don't want to alarm her.

How are you, darling?

Gaara-kun, it's horrible! Pain destroyed the entire village! The is not even one house standing! I and Sasuke are going to find Naruto. I know from Lady Tsunade that he can use nature energy, the only one powerful enough to beat Pain.

No. This can't be. How come my village and Sakura's village were attacked at the same time?

Where are you?

We got out of the village 4 hours ago.

My heart fell in my shoes.

Sasuke knows the exact location. We are going to get our teammate back.

Who else is with you?

Nobody.

Kakashi?

He is helping Lady Tsunade. Sasuke says that if we don't bring Naruto here faster...

Do you at least know the exact location where you are heading to? Does anyone else know you left?

No and only Lady Tsunade knows. It's an emergency!

Wait a second, please.

"Come in."

"Gaara-sama, you received a letter."

"From who?"

"I don't know. There's no signature."

"Hand it over."

I hope you get to read this letter before you get killed. If Sasori doesn't kill you, don't worry, I will. I will send you to prepare the room in Hell for me, too. You'll recognize your ticket to Hell. It's going to be your girlfriend's head. I was so thrilled, that I couldn't wait and I sent you this letter 3 days before Pain arrived. I don't care if you tell Sakura. She won't believe you anyway. She's so stupid! How can you be with her? Even if you are my enemy, I have to admit that you are intelligent. I am curious to see how you will try to save her from my arms. I challenge you, although I confess you should hurry. Maybe I convince her to sleep with me and my next letter to you will contain the witness of her innocence. You have 2 weeks until I slice her throat. I will keep the knife to give it to you as a souvenir.

...

Notes: I bet all of you want to kill Sasuke with your bare hands now:)) What punishment would you like for him?

To my new fan, thank you for leaving a review. I was happy to read your opinion. I am curious to know what you think about this chapter, too.

To all of my fans, thank you so much for reading and leaving reviews. It's a pleasure to write for you. Please keep sending reviews. I am happy to read them.

I know I said we will see some of Sakura's father in this chapter, but it seemed dull to add his scenes now. This is a chapter full of action and suspense. I can't wait to write about Gaara and Sakura's reunion!:D Sorry for the delay.