Gaara x Sakura

~17~

Sasuke sat on the edge of his old bed. He glanced at his surroundings, opaque eyes traveling over his forgotten childhood shuriken and kunai knives. Light filtered in through the curtains; a dull hue incapsulated his surroundings from years of dust collection. Sasuke couldn't bring himself to clean it yet. The memories still echoed throughout the halls of his home. They may disappear if he cleaned. Sasuke propped one knee on the bed, rested his head on his knee, and let out a deep breath. Madara was in Konoha and soon fate would force them together. Madara Uchiha served as a mythical fairy tale for children around a campfire in his younger days. Still, one Uchiha left, no matter how preposterous the chances, piqued Sasuke's interest. Only another Uchiha could understand the lonesome path he chose.

He thought of many questions beginning with the Ones. Why did they exist? Despite his confidence in defeating Gaara in battle, he could sense the hidden power deep within him. Gaara and Naruto harbored a similar power. He contained a beast that fueled his powers. Where did these beasts come from? Also, how did Obito still walk the Earth? Sasuke obliterated him into ash. What poor choices would he chose now? Sasuke stretched and stood then hooked his katana in his waist. He would return to Sakura's and get an update. He planned to interrupt their meeting, but he decided to talk to Madara alone.

Sasuke brushed his dark bangs out of his face before exiting the abandoned home. As he walked outside, he listened to the birds singing. The sun emitted an orange hue over the silent Uchiha barracks. Its warmth comforted his smooth skin. Dark eyes studied each abandoned home, his expression never changing. Despite time's march forward, it still caused aching in his heart knowing they died. After this battle, he planned to rebuild his clan. The Uchiha Kekkei Genkai was the dominant gene, but he did not want another bloodline limit tainting the Uchiha heritage. He required a kunoichi that did not possess a Kekkei Genkai as a wife.

He cleared his head and Sasuke traveled to his old teammate's home. At the front door, the young Uchiha paused and detected chakra inside. He recognized Gaara first with the warm sensation of Sakura's chakra nearby. They must have developed a romantic relationship. That realization surprised Sasuke. He never imagined Sakura could break her obsession with him. Her change in attitude seemed odd at first; now he understood where the fierceness toward him stemmed from. Sasuke twisted the knob to find the door swung open. Sasuke walked inside, his eyes adjusting to the darkened room. He heard the familiar deep snoring from Naruto. His eyes focused and saw him sprawled across the couch, one leg propped up. The blonde's hair was a matted mess, his mouth wide open as he breathed in.

Sasuke planned to wake the idiot up when someone else's presence entered the room. Sasuke looked up to Gaara standing in the hallway, arms crossed over his bare chest. His sturdy gaze showed fearlessness. The youngest Uchiha regarded the red scratches lining Gaara's chest and arms.

"Did a cat attack you?"

The corner of the redhead's mouth curved up into a smile, but he said nothing. The two turned to disheveled Sakura walking toward. Her heavy breathing and body glistening with sweat brought Sasuke's attention. She brushed some of her damp hair out of her face. Sasuke eyes flitted from Sakura to Gaara, realizing where his scratches came from. For once, he didn't have a sly remark waiting on his lips. Pity, she would have been perfect for rebuilding the Uchiha clan.

"What are you doing here Sasuke?" Sakura questioned.

Sasuke's eyes turned to meet the shorter woman's expectant gaze. "You should take a shower first."

"You should explain why you're in my house first," she shot back.

"Lock your door next time."

Sakura's cheeks turned bright red. She whirled around to Naruto's sleeping form. She darted toward him and hauled him up by his hair.