Chapter Twenty-Six: True Love

"Once you found the one you'll love for the rest of your life, don't let her go. Because not every man on earth lived to have one."

-MistyAnnE_04

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Sasuke's POV

Have you ever felt your world suddenly pause and went on a slowmotion before you could even object? Well, that's exactly what I'm feeling this very moment. The people I'm passing by became a blur and all I could even think about is how shitty time is.

Kiss her exactly at midnight.

My inner reminded me for the hundredth time. "What time is it?!" I frantically asked a random ANBU officer, catching my breath. He nervously glanced at his wristwatch and answered, "11:50 pm, s-sir.."

"Shit."

Why does time have to tick so fast? And why does distance have to become such a burden right now? I sighed and ran as fast as my tired legs could take me. Only now did I realize Sasori's true intentions while we were fighting earlier.

He wanted to lure me to the other end of the village. He wanted to make the fight longer. He sent that Genbo to make it successful.. he wanted me to fail. He wanted Sakura dead..

But how did he find out she was in deep sleep? Maybe the traitor told him. Maybe Tobi-sama mentioned the missing sleeping potion.. who knows.

Your Queen... is dead.

No..

Whatever he did, I am going to make sure that they'll rot in the deepest pits of hell!

The moment I stepped into the castle, I ran for the staircase, almost tripping every once in a while. I felt the beads of sweat slowly dripping down my face and as I reached Sakura's bedroom door, a crying Ino Yamanaka greeted me. Beside her is their eight-year-old son.

"W-What happened?!"

I held her shoulders and unconsciousy shook her, demanding for answers. But before she could even open her mouth, my eyes darted to the slightly opened door. I rushed inside and saw Karin with a tear-stained face.. Suigetsu and Juugo were silenty standing in a corner as I entered.

My feet nailed on the floor as I studied my wife's appearance.

She was pale... too pale for the liking.

Just then, Shikamaru placed a hand on my shoulder and lifted an empty syringe. My eyes widened...

"We found one of our officers dead in front of the queen's room.. when we barged inside, we saw Genbo injecting some kind of poison on her left wrist. He got away and as you know, Naruto and his troop chased him sir. Karin checked her vital signs and..."

The redheaded female stood up and shook her head hesitantly.

"T-The poison he injected spread throughout her body, Sasuke... i-it's too late.. in a few more minutes.. s-she'll be...."

"NO!"

I immediately cut her off and ran to Sakura's side. Only then have I noticed Miko and Yumi lying on her other side, crying.. the two looked at me with eyes full of sympathy, sorrow and pity.

"K-King Sasuke.. King Sasuke....."

"Meoow.."

I gritted my teeth and grabbed my wife's wrist. I fetched out a kunai from my pocket and made a small cut on her skin. After that, I threw the kunai away and sucked her blood out in an attempt to get rid of the poison.

I spit blood out, my lips tinted red of the liquid.

I gazed at Sakura's sleeping figure.. "Sakura.. come on.. don't you dare leave me!" And continued on what I was doing.

Shikamaru spoke behind me.

"That's not gonna work, Sir.. the poison is----"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" I snapped at him and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. I tightened my grip on Sakura's hand, feeling her skin go cold.

I panicked and cupped the sides of her face.

"No! P-please.... Sakura!"

There! See? You're the king and I'm your queen..

The corner of my eyes heated up. I felt my body tremble at the mere thought of losing her forever.. what's a king, without her queen? "W-Wake up.. Sakura.. m-my queen, please..."

I cried.

I don't care how vulnerable I look! I just want her to wake up.. I want to see her smile at me again. I want hold her hand until sunset and wake up at dawn with her skinny legs wrapped around my waist. I want to smell the sweet scent of her pastel pink hair and compliment her even when she looks like a mess.

I want... no. I need her.

Slowly, I placed my hand on her belly, recalling what Shizune told me earlier. Wake up, Sakura.. we're still having a baby.

"True love's kiss."

A deep baritone voice pulled me out of my reverie. I spun around and saw Tobi-sama staring at the sleeping pinkette. My brows furrowed, and then I remembered the potion Sakura drank.

"W-Will it still work?"

The orange-masked man glanced at his wristwatch and shrugged. "Tobi thinks it's worth a shot. One minute left until midnight, King Sasuke. "

I nodded and the room grew silent. Mentally, I did a countdown and took in a deep breath to calm myself down.

It's worth a shot.

And when the full moon finally reached it peek, the giant clock tower located at the center of Konohagakure resonated. It was at that very moment did I leaned in and gave Sakura Haruno-Uchiha, a soft kiss full of hopes, dreams and most important of all,

True love.

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