Chapter Twenty: War

"War is an art. It sheds the blood of those who are devoted enough to fight for it."

-Misty

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Shikamaru wasted no time and immediately flew down to fetch the King and Queen----okay, and the garden gnome.

"Don't let them get away!"

Hidan ordered the knights that pulled out their weapons and aimed for the intruders.

"Ino, back me up!"

Ino nodded at Shikamaru and casted a few spells she learned from her master Tsunade. "Ul vetra gamura Hypnosis!" she shrieked and in a instant, the knights dropped their swords and spears, dropping on the floor, unconscious.

Sakura's POV

I smiled at my bestfriend. "You're grown so much, pig!" I said. The platinum blonde riding on another ink bird beamed at me teary-eyed. And when I asked her what the problem was,

"No fair! It's been five years, yet you still look pretty."

I laughed at her reasons and felt Sasuke shift next to me. Shikamaru noticed this, "What's the matter, sir?" Yet my husband fixed his eyes on me.

"I have a bad feeling about this."

Arching an eyebrow at him, "What the heck? Uchiha, we are finally free! We're heading back to Konoha and live happily ever after! What could possibly go wrong?!" I'm frustrated. But you can't blame me!

I turned to the ANBU head officer, "Shika, how did you find us anyway?" He shrugged, "Have my ways, Queen Sakura.... but, err.. I know this isn't a good time to tell you this, but umm.." The brunette paused and looked away.

I suddenly became nervous. "Why? Did the whole Fire Country turn into a junkyard or something? What happened when we were away??" The other officers looked at us with hesitation.

Sasuke gave my hand a squeeze.

But before we could even get a sane answer from these nutheads, I heard Sasori's voice from where we came from.

"The war isn't over yet!"

Glancing back at the crystal palace, even if we were more than fifty feet above the ground, I can clearly make out the figure of a girl wrapped in chains.

My heart sank. Is..Is this for real?!

Automatically, tears streamed down my face. It's been five years since I last saw her... and hell, I didn't think I'd see her again in this situation.

"D-DAISY!"

Sasuke held me back before I could even jump off this bird. Shikamaru ordered the others to leave the place. On the other hand, I was literally twisting in Sasuke's embrace while calling our daughter's name.

She looked so helpless!

"Sshh.... We'll get her back, I promise." My husband tried to soothe me down, but I ignored his words and begged for Shikamaru to take me back in there.

He gave me a sad expression, "No can do, Queen. It's too dangerous. You're still needed in Konohagakure."

I fight back the tears that threatened to burst out again, and sighed. Sasuke was the one to ask, "Why what's happening in Konoha?"

Our comrades glanced at each other until Ino broke the silence,

"We've been under attack for days... and now, Konoha is at it's worst, your Highness."

Sasuke's POV

My jaw clenched at what she said. This is a nightmare. Our daughter has been kidnapped, and now this? We can only deal one shit at a time!

By the moment we reached the Hokage palace, I immediately rushed Sakura to our bedroom. She laid on the mattress and absentmindedly stared at the ceiling. I took a better look at her.

She looks wasted.

Her pink locks are in a mess and tears stained her flawless cheeks. Sakura still had puffy eyes from all the drama she's been through.

Daisy... those bastards better keep her alive or else.

I know I should be paranoid and panicking in a time like this, but seeing my wife so devasted makes me want to erase all her worries---even if it's impossible anyway.

I kept my calm and composed exterior and sat on the side of the bed, touching her arm.

"You should sleep." Lame. I know. But that's what came in my mind first.

She lazily turned to me and whispered in a cracked voice,

"Just leave. Please.."

I heaved a sigh and nodded before exiting the room. But instead of getting dressed in more decent and appropriate clothes, I went straight to my office and studied the village from the large window the overlooked Konoha.

My fists automatically balled at the thought of the Akatsuki nins.

"If you want a war.. then we'll give you one."

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