Sasuke groaned and reached over to hug Sakura, but once again, she wasn't there. When he suddenly heard a gut-wrenching cough in the bathroom, he sat up, "Sakura?" He spotted a hand wave towards him from the lit room, "are you okay? It's five in the morning..."

"Y-yeah, I'm fine..." Sakura panted weakly, "I guess I'm just reacting to something I ate last night..."

"I told you not to eat all those plates of dango..." Sasuke chuckled as she wiped her mouth and walked drowsily back out and flopped lazily onto the bed, sprawled across his legs, "you're sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, don't worry about me." She climbed under the blanket, "we should just head back out tomorrow. Try to visit more of the villages. Maybe go visit Gaara?"

"Well." Sasuke laid back down and stroked his hand up and down her arm, "I already went to visit him when you were with Aoba."

"Ah, I see." She giggled, "maybe somewhere else, then?"

Sasuke smiled. The two laid on their sides, facing each other, their legs intertwined under the thin blanket. He moved his hand from her bare arm to her face and stroked her cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "you're sure you're okay? Don't lie to me."

"I'm fine. I swear." She moved in closer and hugged him, nestling her head under the crook of his neck, then kissed his chest, "you don't have to worry about me."

"Okay." He hugged her and stroked her hair.

Soon, her breaths evened out in deep slumber. He scanned her unmoving face as her chest rose and fell slowly. Then his gaze fell down to her stomach, right up against him. He shifted to make a small space between their bodies and reached down to touch her flat tummy.

Someday... You'll be a mom, and I'll be a dad... And when that day comes, I know we'll both be ready. I have no thought as to how to take care of a baby, boy or girl. But I know that I'll do my best to make you both happy, and finally pay you back for everything you've done for me, despite all the things I've done to you.

He thought back to when he stood behind her, his Chidori aimed at her back. He clenched his eyes shut at the thought of it. Then he grabbed at his left shoulder.

"Are you sure you don't want to wait for the synthetic arm that Lady Tsunade and the medical team put together? It's working with Naruto."

"Yes. I'm sure." Sasuke glanced over at Sakura as she prepared their dinner a couple of days before they left the village, "I don't think I could live with myself if I got this arm back."

"It's a good thing you're ambidextrous." Sakura chuckled, "I'm not going to make you get it if you really don't want it."

If I'd gotten that arm back... Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut as he watched her sleeping face, that conversation playing back through his mind. How could I live with the thought that I nearly killed the ones I love with this arm? His mind returned to its state of ease when he snapped from his conscience and hugged Sakura tight once again. And this time, he fell asleep along with her.

_________________________

Morning quickly came, and Sasuke and Sakura had just left the hotel they were staying at.

"Alright." Sakura stretched her arms out and sighed, "where do you think we should go?"

Sasuke leaned his head back and shut his eyes.

"Remember Sasuke: Happy wife, happy life."

"And that's coming from a guy who doesn't even have a love interest."

"Yes, but..." Kakashi smiled, "I have a family in my Squad Seven, don't I? Happy squad, happy family, happy life."

Sasuke looked at her, "wherever you want to go."

"Ah!" Sakura chuckled, "a-are you sure?"

"Of course."

"Then." She showed him the map, "let's go back to the Land of Waves. Now that we've got the Asekatsu out of the way, we can finally just relax with Inari and Tazuna and catch up more."

He smiled, "then we'll go there."

He's so submissive now... What could I've done to deserve this? She grinned happily, taking his armless sleeve, "then let's go."

The walk lasted a few more hours before they crossed the border of the Land of Fire and proceeded to cross over to find a small town that provides boat rides to the Land of Waves.

I feel so vulnerable... Sasuke glanced around. It's been way too peaceful. Not that I'm complaining, but it's the calm before the storm... I know it. My life just sucks that much, all this is bound to fade away some day...

"You know, I was thinking next time, we could go more east, where the Land of Waves is. I feel in the mood to go to the beach and just relax." Sakura continued, "do you think we should get something for our friends? Naruto and Hinata would probably like a gift or souvenir. Maybe Ino, too."

Sasuke nodded casually, then suddenly paused.

"Sasuke?" Sakura looked back at him, "Sasuke, is something wro..." She paused.

"You sense it too?"

"Yeah, I do." Sakura glanced around, "something's not... Ack!"

"What?"

Sakura turned and grabbed Sasuke's hand, and with her free hand, she performed a hand sign and shut her eyes, "release!"

Genjutsu... Sasuke gasped. But when did...

Sakura rubbed her forehead, "Sasuke..."

"Maybe you should stop eating all the rice balls..." Sasuke muttered as he rummaged through his pack, "we're running really low on food."

"Yes but..." She sighed as her palm glowed green over her aching head, "I have a migraine..."

"Well." Sasuke scratched the back of his neck, "let's just be a little more careful... Should we stop?"

"No!" Sakura stood up, "we're just about to cross the border! Let's not stop now!"

"Okay." He sighed in defeat, then started tugging at the bandage on his arm, "I need to change this."

"I can help you." Sakura stood up, hand still on her head, "does it hurt?"

"Only a little."

"Okay. Hold on, let me get the bandages. Take off your cloak." Sakura set down her own pack and went though it as Sasuke started taking his cloak off.

"Please, can you spare any food?"

"Hm?" Sasuke glanced down at the young boy that held out his tiny hands, "Sakura..."

"Oh?" Sakura turned on her heel and gasped at the sight of such a sickly child, "hi there. What's your name?"

"Kwani." The boy rubbed his eyes, "do you have any food?"

"Here." Sakura held out a small portion of rice, "this is all we have. Is there anything else we can help you with? Maybe help you find the nearest village?"

"Thank you." He took small bites from the portion, "it's fine. Ah, where are you going?"

Sakura leaned down to meet his level, "we're going to the Land of Waves. Do you want to come with us until we can find your parents?"

"My parents..." The boy bit his lip, "they're gone. I can't find them."

"Sakura..." Sasuke glanced over his wife, "we should be careful..."

"Yeah, right..." memories of Aoba and Akane returned to her. She didn't want to make that same mistake, "I'm sorry, Kwani. We can't take you this time, but I wish you well."

"But..." the boy was near tears as Sakura stood up straight and started walking away.

"I'm sorry..." She glanced back at the boy but continued walking. Just as she did, her migraine suddenly vanished, "huh?"

"What?"

"My migraine..." Sakura touched her head, "it's gone."

"Hm." Sasuke looked at his arm, "my arm doesn't hurt anymore either..."

"Weird..."

Sasuke groped at the cut in his arm. That explains it...That boy...

"Urk, Sasuke..." Sakura groped at her head and fell to the ground, "ack! My head!"

"S-Sakura, calm down." Sasuke dropped to his knees and wrapped his arm around her, "we've been in that Genjutsu for hours... How did we not notice it?"

"I... I don't know..." Sakura strained painfully, "my head... Wha..." She looked down at her hands, "my chakra... It's not..."

Sasuke immediately stood up, "who's out there?!"

"Sasuke-Senpai."

'Senpai'?! What the hell?! Sasuke peered into the woods and saw a small, feeble frame make its way out into the open, "you!"

"Don't hate me." The young boy smiled a weak smile, "I've been following you two."

"Why?" Sasuke unsheathed his katana, "I swear, if you pull any move."

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

Before he knew it, the boy crumpled to the ground, blood dripping from his mouth.

"Very well done, Kwani. A shame you didn't live long enough to see your parents again." another man walked out following the boy. He used his leg to shove the unmoving child out of the way and walk up to Sasuke, "Sasuke Uchiha."

"What the hell did you do to the kid?!"

"Oh, him? Well." The man slipped his hands into his pockets, "he was just a little parasite I picked up through town the other day. It's amazing what these kids are willing to do for food or shelter. Maybe if he'd actually taken you both out sooner, he could've lived to see his parents again. What a shame, hm."

Sasuke stared at the dead boy, then felt Sakura clench her fist in his sleeve.

"How could you..." She panted, "do something to such a young boy? You heartless piece of trash!"

"Well." He tapped his chin, "he's not my boy, so I don't have the will to care."

Sasuke lowered his voice so that only Sakura could hear him, "Did you sense this guy coming?"

"I didn't... Sorry..." She breathed hard as Sasuke helped her up, "you'll get the hell out of here if you know what's good for you!"

"Well." The man shrugged, "I can't help it. It seems that our strongest power couple is now only one strong Genin with a useless burden at his side."

"Why you..." Sakura gritted her teeth so hard, her tongue bled, "you don't know who you're dealing with!"

"Tsk." Sasuke shut his eyes, "no need to expend so much energy on this guy. He's not worth it."

"No... You're wrong. Sasuke Uchiha." The man pulled out a hand and pointed a finger at the two, "My name is Watori Iza. I'm your worst nightmare..."

What...

At the snap of a finger, the man disappeared, and surrounding Sasuke were ravens.

"Sasuke!" Sakura screamed as she clutched her head, "ack!! I can't... My chakra... It's not...!"

"Sakura!" Sasuke turned around. He heard her voice, but she was gone, "Sakura?!"

Damn you, Iza! What the hell did we ever do to you?!

"Sasuke."

No... That voice... He turned around, his hands trembling, and sure enough, the man he hoped it wouldn't be was standing right behind him, "Ita..."

"I missed you, little brother."

"N-no... It's not... It's not you..." Sasuke looked around, his Sharingan activated, "y-you're dead!"

"I know." Itachi walked up to him, "but I'm back, and I have a favor to ask of you."

"Wha..." Sasuke stared as Itachi's hand reached up to his face, "I-Itachi..."

"These are my eyes." He murmured.

Sasuke waited for his fingers to meet his forehead. Suddenly, Itachi's left hand shot out and held Sasuke's neck firmly as his right hand hovered over his Rinnegan.

"Allow me..." Itachi smiled a crazed smile, "to take them back."

"Sasuke!!"

Sasuke rubbed his neck and gasped roughly for air, then he froze when he recognized that scream, "Sakura!"

He turned around and saw young Sakura Haruno from their academy days, "Sakura!" He reached out to run to her, but no matter how fast he ran, he could never get closer.

"S-Sasuke..." She cried as her form slowly changed to her Genin days, "please... Come back... I love you..."

Sakura...

"I want to help you..."sixteen-year-old Sakura cried, "please don't turn us away!"

"Sakura..." Sasuke felt tears escape his eyes, "I don't want to... Sakura, please!"

He suddenly saw a dark figure come up behind her, his left hand glowing with the Chidori. He watched in horror as the hand pierced through her back and let her fall.

"Sakura!!" Sasuke cried, then froze, "wait... That..."

"Pa..."

A faint cry pierced through the hazy darkness that Sasuke suddenly found himself in.

"Her name..."

"Pa...!"

"The name we talked about the other day."

"Papa!"

Sasuke peered until he saw a young Genin training on her own.

"Papa!" She called, "come train with me!"

"I'm sorry, I'm busy right now." The taller figure standing next to the girl started walking away.

"You never have the time!" The girl shouted, "Papa, why don't you ever spend time with us?!"

The man didn't turn to look back at his daughter. He continued walking without another word. With that, the girl fell to her knees and cried.

"What..." Sasuke stared at the scene that played before him, "what is this... Iza! Come back! Where did..."

He felt a surge of energy in his hand, and when he did, the darkness faded away, and Sasuke was standing back in the forest, Sakura panting below him and clutching his hand, "S-Sakura, what did you..."

"Hm." Watori Iza still stood not too far from them, "I guess she still has enough chakra to break the Genjutsu... That was my strongest one, too..."

"Sasuke... Are you..." Sakura's voice was barely audible, "are you okay?"

"Sakura was that..." Sasuke knelt down beside her and cupped her face, "was that the last of your chakra?!"

"D-don't worry..." She wheezed, "I'll be... Fine..."

She collapsed in his arms, and he caught her before she could hit the ground.

"Ooh, bummer, hm..."

Sasuke glared at the man, his Sharingan blazing, "Watori Iza, was it? You need to shut up, before I shove you down a hole."

"Ooh, menacing." Watori smirked, "so, Sasuke Uchiha." He unsheathed a katana just like Sasuke's, "I could spare you and your little girlfriend, only if you give me your Sharingan."

"You think you can just persuade me to give my eyes up just like that?" Sasuke sneered, "if you think that, then you're clearly an amateur at all this, and I shouldn't even give you a second thought."

"Well." Watori snickered, "you should try again, Sasuke." With the snap of his fingers once more, everything around Sasuke felt to have cleared, and the pain in his arm returned, "welcome to reality."

Sasuke looked around, and when he did, Sakura wasn't in sight, "where is she?!"

"Who?"

"You bitch!!"

"Whoa, careful." Watori waved his finger tauntingly, "wouldn't want something to happen to your little girlfriend while I have her on a short leash, hm."

"What are you..." Sasuke gritted his teeth, "you'd better let her go!"

"Or what?"

"You'll be sorry." Sasuke peered into Watori's eyes, only making him laugh.

"You're such a douchebag! Your Sharingan isn't enough to put me under a Genjutsu, you know."

What...?! But...

"I've trained my eyes, you see?" He laughed, "your Genjutsu is ineffective against me, hm."

"How the hell is that?!"

"You see, a friend of mine... He invented this device in the heat of hatred for a certain Uchiha." He examined his fingernails absent-mindedly, "a device that could train the eyes to withstand a Genjutsu of any level. I perfected this device, and look where I am now. I'm impervious to any Genjutsu, and I can create the strongest Genjutsu the world has never seen."

"Who other Uchiha are there besides me? Who's your friend?!"

"I believe..." Watori grinned, "Hm. I believe his name was... Deidara."

Him... Sasuke stared. He's the guy I fought... That weird art enthusiast with the detonating clay... He had something against Itachi, that's right...

"So." Watori crossed his arms, "last chance. Come with me peacefully, and nobody gets hurt. Well, except for you, when I take your Sharingan and Rinnegan."

Sasuke pursed his lips, "where's your proof? How do I know Sakura's with you?"

Watori smirked, "I thought you'd ask me that." He casually walked up to Sasuke with a photo in hand. He held out the image to him, "et voila. Here she is. Pink hair, emerald eyes, correct? Thought so. She's really gorgeous, hm."

A pain in Sasuke's chest pounded hard at the photo. Sakura was on the floor of a dark, cobblestone cell, tied up with a cloth over her mouth.

"Her condition is very weak and she's completely depleted of chakra." Watori explained, "but don't worry, I've got some guys who are taking good care of her."

Sasuke glared at him, "hearing that from you? I would hope not."

"Oh, don't worry!" Watori laughed, "I mean that in a sincere way. We'll keep her alive and in good health. At least until you give us your answer. Come with us?"

Sasuke's hand trembled uncontrollably, "fine. I'll go."

"Wonderful!" Watori clapped, "I'll have my guys prepare a room for you back at our hideout, hm! If you'll please follow me this way!"

Sasuke felt a nerve pop in his forehead as he willingly yet begrudgingly followed the overly-obnoxious Watori Iza through the forest. I swear, if this whole thing is a fraud, I'll tear this guy to shreds...

"It'll be about a night's journey." Watori continued, turning around to face Sasuke and walk backwards, "the hideout isn't far from here, though. We could camp overnight and get there in the morning or be crazy, go straight, and get there in the middle of the night."

"I need to get there as fast as I could." Sasuke muttered, "I need to get to Sakura..."

Watori stared at the Uchiha, then sighed, "of course you do. Hm. I had someone like her, once. Only we actually got engaged."

Sasuke's brow twitched in annoyance, "what do you mean, 'actually'."

"Hm?" Watori gave him a weird look, "I mean, you two are only dating, aren't you?"

"No, asshole." Sasuke growled, "we're married."

"Whoa! Married?! The Sasuke Uchiha actually got married?" Watori laughed, "wow, you're kidding! Where's her clan symbol, though? Uchiha, right?"

"Yes. She's wearing a cloak, so of course, you're not going to see it."

"Ah, right. Right. Aren't you young to be marrying, though?"

Sasuke only gave him a cold glare.

"Okey, I see. Well, you're one lucky man, then." Watori swung his arms back and forth in a carefree manner, "I haven't had anyone to love like that since... Never mind."

"... Hm?"

"Ah, forget it." Watori chuckled, "so, before I take your eyes, would you like to see your wife one last time?"

"Sure."

"Well, you seem super excited." Watori laughed, "maybe you wouldn't care if I killed her, then."

Sasuke didn't say a word. He knew he wouldn't have to see her one last time because he's going to kill this Watori Iza before he could lay a finger on his wife.

___________________________

"Her name's Sakura Uchiha."

"Hang on, Sakura? She's got the pink hair. Is she... That Sakura?"

"No, can't be. That Kunoichi's name is Sakura Haruno. This is Sakura Uchiha."

"Are you two dense? The elite ninja clan, the Uchiha, have black hair. She's got pastel pink. Do you really think 'Uchiha' is really her last name?"

"Then... Do you think?"

"That clan symbol on her back. No doubt about it... She's Itachi's daughter."

"You've got to be kidding me... She's Sasuke's daughter."

"You might be right. He's the last Uchiha in the world, after all. Maybe he married... What's the girl's name? Four-eyes, Uzumaki, bright, tomato red hair..."

"Karin?"

"Yeah, that girl. Though her hair totally does not match..."

"She's still got to be Sasuke's daughter."

"Are you sure she's an Uchiha, though? If she got beat down by the boss... Then she's gotta be ten times weaker than the youngest Genin. We all know how weak the boss is..."

"Shhh! He's going to find out and kill you, you know."

"Oh, who cares. I'd rather be dead."

Sakura slowly lifted her head, "will you three shut up?"

"Oh shit... She's awake... I didn't realize..."

Sakura coughed and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand, "you three really piss me off, you know that?" It took all her strength to pull herself up against the barred, cage door, "get me out of this cage... I'm not a dog."

"No, you're not." One of the men smirked, "you're our toy. And just before your chakra's replenished---"

"I'm going to break out of here and give you three hell. Including the guy that took me in the first place." Sakura threatened, a tint of weakness in her tone still lingered.

"Heh. Whatever."

"And." Sakura gripped the metal bars weakly and swallowed back tears, "I'm not Sasuke's daughter. I'm his wife. And I swear, once I get out of here and my husband finds us, we'll make you regret you ever crossed paths with an Uchiha."