I sat watching them, my cyan eyes filled with malice towards this pathetic race. They were weak, backstabbing, and disgusting bunch who would do anything to get ahead in their short lived lives. Hatred burned within me as I continued to watch the mortals' interactions from my place high in the universe. Hatred was not uncommon. In fact, that was the thing that surrounded me. I am not a god nor am I a demon though any who have had the horror of coming in contact with me would say I was close to the latter. I did house a beast in my body; the Shukaku, the source of my hatred.

I couldn't completely blame the beast harbored inside me. I hated because they caused me to hate; I destroyed because my anger made me destroy. The humans deserved it after what they did to Naruto, the One of Determination. He was the only one who accepted me for who I was although the other Ones refused to acknowledge me. I was the most monstrous out of all of them, but Naruto was there; he spoke to me like I was his equal. He was my only friend.

I crouched down on the white nothingness of the galaxy the Ones inhabited as my anger spiraled into despair. I fisted my blood red locks and closed the orbs that had never seen sleep before; Naruto's bright smile haunting me once more as crystal tears ran down my porcelain skin. I could smell his spicy scent as if he were standing next to me. The pain of losing the only person who accepted me was unbearable; and I would make them pay. That human woman would die along with everyone within a hundred miles of her. She would parish for betraying Naruto's love; luring him to momentarily sealing his powers in order to **** **** to her. That ***** would be destroyed for having those ninjas kill my best friend while he was in his human state, unable to defend himself.

Those bastards. I didn't even know why they would want to kill Naruto in the first place. Perhaps he shouldn't have told his little toy that he was a One. Maybe then he would still be with me. After all, the humans knew what we were capable of after living with them for a couple of centuries. Too bad that arrangement hadn't worked out as planned...

I stood to my feet, venom dripping from the expression on my face. I would destroy them all in the most amazing way. Those filthy humans had no one to blame, but themselves. They took Naruto away from me and I, Gaara, would make sure they paid for their mistake in blood...

(_V_)2,000 years later...(_V_)

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" a young kunoichi cursed as she sped across the open field as fast as her chakra enhanced legs would let her.

Six ninjas from the Sound Village were hot on her trail and were gaining fast. After a solo infiltration mission had gone horribly wrong, Sakura Haruno found herself surrounded by the shinobi of the village. It was apparent that their leader knew the Leaf found him a target and had taken precautions. Despite the fact that Sakura had used a transformation jutsu, which had now dispelled from her lack of chakra, in order to pretend to be one of the maids.

Everything had been going according to plan. Sakura had taken the appearance of a maid who she knew had the attention of one of the ninjas that surrounded Hideki Takahashi, the one who was working for Orochimaru. The maid didn't return the man's affections and for obvious reasons. He was handsome, but his hands often wandered greedily to places they shouldn't.

While pretending to be the woman of the ninja's affections, she slipped in a few harmless questions about who he worked for and what he did during a faked night of passion. The word faked, because Sakura had put the man in genjutsu. It was a bit humorous to watch him humping away at an empty bed.

The questions must have made her suspicious and while Sakura going down the walkway outside with a basket full of laundry, twelve ninjas came to oppose her.

She held her facade as long as possible, but it was too late. They knew she wasn't from their village and then tried to capture her in order to make her tell where she was from. It was a hard struggle with being out numbered so greatly, but she managed to take out half of them and make her escape.

Sakura's lungs were burning as she tried to hurry and get to the forest that was beckoning to her teasingly. If she was able to get some cover there was a better chance she would be able to get away. It seemed like because she didn't know the terrain, her adversaries had allowed her to run this way knowing she would have nowhere to hide. With her strength fading, it would probably only be moments before she was caught if she couldn't get some cover.

Hearing a familiar whistling sound, the Leaf Ninja jumped aside, trudging to dodge the rain of kunai and shuriken.

I can't dodge them all! Sakura thought frantically as she stumbled.

The female shinobi tried to quickly regain her footing, but it was too late. White hot pain exploded in her back and right thigh as four of the projectiles hit their mark. Sakura cried out clutching at her injured leg and came to a skidding halt in the tall grass; pain pulsated from her leg and back.

She turned on her side and began to heal the injuries in her thigh while pulling out the shuriken of her body, her teeth gritting with pain. The remaining six ninja smiled at her when they stopped a few feet away.

"Looks like you're caught."

Two figures stood gazing into the pool that allowed them to see the humans. They watched as the pink haired woman continued to try and fight despite the fact that she was exhausted and wounded. Her bright green eyes had fire burning in them as she fought with all her might not to be captured. She was strong, but there wasn't a chance she would get away...not unless someone intervened.

"Sakura Haruno," one figure with long ebony hair said, his red gaze turning to the other next to him. "She's twenty years old and a kunoichi for the Village Hidden in the Leaves. She's got a strong temper and often hits her male comrades when she grows frustrated with them."

The other did not respond, only gazed at the next mortal he had to protect. She was strange looking with features like hers and that intensity she had could be snuffed out easily. It had been done with mortals he was forced to protect before her.

"Gaara, she is your next project. If you can protect her without killing her in anger, she will be the last human you will ever come in contact with. I am aware of how much you hate them."

"Of course you are Madara," Gaara said in his cold, smooth voice. "It is because of you that I must protect humans in the first place."

Madara turned to the One standing next to him. "Yes. What you did was justified, but could not go unpunished."

Gaara continued to stare at the swimming image of this last human before he was free of this punishment. For almost two thousand years after he destroyed hundreds of people, Gaara had to protect one human for five years of their life then move on to the next. So far he had protected 399 humans. This girl would be his last, but there was something he truly did not like about her. She looked strikingly similar to her. Her hair wasn't the same color, but those eyes...

Moving to stand on the image of his human, Gaara looked at his superior silently as he began to slide into the watery depths, his thin lips tightly pursed with dormant anger.

Sakura couldn't believe she had allowed herself to be caught like this; shamefully tied with chakra enhanced ropes and her pursuers surrounding her. She cursed at her poor luck and shook her head to move coral locks out of her line of vision and quickly began to assess the situation.

Six ninjas surrounded her, smirking as the formed a circle around their captive. Sakura's chakra was used up...yep this situation looked pretty hopeless. She was still out in the middle of the field. They probably didn't want to raise any suspicions by interrogating a girl in the village so it made sense for them to do it out here.

"I'm not telling you shit," Sakura snapped.

"Such a foul mouth for such a pretty girl," The one who she had seduced took a step forward, pulling his shoulder-length chocolate hair into a ponytail.

His name was Akihiko Yoshida, one of Hideki's right hand men. He had all the information that Sakura was looking for, but even so, she hadn't been able to execute her plan before she had been found out. The kunoichi was sure that she was going to be tortured into telling what village she came from so it was a good thing she didn't bring her Hitae-ate with her on this mission. That would have been a dead give-away.

Sakura was dreading what they were going to do in order to get the information they wanted. She was starting to realize that she just might not make it out of this mission alive. There wasn't going to be a back-up squad coming to aide her. Team Kakashi wasn't coming until after she had let them know it was a success. She was physically exhausted and she was out numbered. Sakura wasn't sure what she could do to get out of this.

"I don't think you're the type to tell us what we want to know even if we slice you to ribbons," Akihiko said as he began to unzip his vest, crooked smile on crossing his tanned face. "Maybe we'll use other methods, ne?"

The young woman felt as if she had been drenched by a bucket of ice water. Beryl eyes darting frantically around her, she saw the other five men chuckling and beginning to undress themselves as well.

Oh no...

It was clear just what those methods were going to be as a hand moved up her back and a man on her side with bright red hair licked her neck. Sakura felt completely disgusted, but deep within her, terrified as well. These six men all were going to take her at once and the realization hit her like a punch in the gut. Her heart was racing a mile a minute, a cold sweat breaking out on her skin. Sakura tried to scoot away from their hands, but moved right into another man who was sitting behind her; the one who had put his hand on her back.

Akihiko smiled at her antics as he shrugged off his vest and twirled a kunai between his fingers. "Are you sure you don't want to tell us who sent you? This is your last chance before we have our fun with you." When the stubborn female didn't respond, his amethyst eyes glowed with amusement. "I was hoping you would say that."

Sakura saw him look at something behind her and suddenly all six men were near her, their hands groping every part of her body. The prisoner twisted and turned, trying her hardest to get away from them to no avail.

"Get off me you bastards!"

They only laughed and continued their unwanted assault. Not willing to give up, the Leaf kunoichi landed a sharp kick on the side of one of her captor's head, knocking him out cold. Next thing she knew, her cheek was stinging painfully.

"That wasn't very nice of you," Akihiko whispered softly as his hand gently massaged her stomach. "I'll have to punish you for that."

"No stop!" Sakura screamed as she continued to fight the men advancing on her.

Her cries fell on deaf ears as they proceeded to touch her like no man had ever touched her before, greedily roaming over every inch of her inexperienced skin. The terrified woman tried her hardest not to cry when Akihiko rolled down her black leggings. So this was going to happen and there was nothing she could do about it. Sakura was going to be raped by multiple men until she either confessed who sent her or died.

Light blue orbs took in the sight before him. It was disgusting. This made him hate the humans all the more. They would hurt their own kind and from the looks of it, the males were enjoying the torture they were putting the female through. Females were usually deemed fragile or weak compared to males in this realm and the fact that they would take advantage of someone that you already had an advantage over was pathetic. Gaara clenched his fists angrily. He would enjoy killing these fools.

Akihiko untied his pants, crooked smile crossing his features once more. "Hold her down and open for me boys."

His men chuckled wickedly as they did what their boss commanded of them. Sakura couldn't stop the tears that had been threatening to fall and they glittered her cheeks while she watched in horror. This man was really about to have his way with her and there was nothing she could do to stop him. She fought with all her might, letting out exhausted gasps as she thrashed about trying to free herself. She caught a swift fist to her left cheek, snapping her head in the opposite direction and causing blood to trickle from her lip.

"What, this big bad kunoichi can't be afraid of a little intercourse can she?" the male hold her right thigh teased. "It's not like you haven't used your body to get what you want before."

"I've never had sex with anyone to get what I want!" Sakura shouted at them, still attempting to break free.

"Wait a second...boys, I think we have a ****** on our hands," Akihiko mused, leaning forward so he was nose to nose with his victim. "Isn't that true, my little princess?"

Sakura glared at him before spitting in his face. He only chuckled and told her how misbehaved she was. The shinobi began pulling off her clothes, not noticing the sand that was whirling closer on the ground. Not until it began inching its way up their bodies. Sakura's eyes widened with surprise.

"What the ****!" Akihiko exclaimed as he pulled himself away from Sakura, the sand traveling farther up his body.

"What is this boss!" one of his lackeys exclaimed as the sand began to cover his right arm.

"I don't fucking know!" he yelled back.

"All of you disgust me."

The six men turned to see a man standing a few feet away from them. His arms were crossed stubbornly over his chest, the look on his pale face one of slaughter. As Sakura gazed into the eyes of this newcomer, she felt such a cold aura from him. Not just that, but the look in his eyes showed his blood lust. Who was he?

As if Akihiko read her mind, he yelled at the man with blood red hair to say who he was. The man simply gazed at them, held out his hand, and then fisted it. "Sand Coffin."

The sand that had wound its way around Akihiko's lower half constricted. A sickening crunch sounded as blood spurted through the tendrils. Sakura's main assailant was not the only one to scream. The sand had covered the other men as well in different places. Two men around their necks, two more around their chest, and as emerald orbs watched in shock, around the fifth man's head. When the said retreated, there was nothing left of the fifth man's head but bloody pieces of skull and brain matter.

The four accomplices lay on the ground, voicing their pain and despite the bloody show, Sakura found herself smiling. That's what they deserved for doing something like that to her. More than anything, she felt relief at the fact that she had been saved. If this man hadn't jumped in, she would still be in her horrible experience. Still, it was a bit frightening to watch his eyes light up with amusement as he used his sand to crush different parts of their body.

Gaara grew tired of hearing the humans cry for their lives so he covered them in the smooth sand completely. "Sand Burial."

The sound of shattering bones and crushed organs filled the air and then there was silence. The sand moved back towards its owner and entered a gourd that was strapped to the man's back. Sakura looked at the mess that was left. One couldn't even tell they had been people before their end and if Sakura didn't have a strong stomach, she would have lost her lunch at the sight and smell of it.

"T-thank you for saving me," the kunoichi said timidly as she channeled the little bit of chakra she had left into the bruises on her arms and thighs. The cooling sensation helped to dull the aching, but didn't make it go away completely. Sakura still winced when she tried to pull up her leggings that had been precariously shoved down to her ankles. She may have nearly had her innocence taken, but modesty wasn't out of the question.

I was almost raped...

The thought hit her like a ton of bricks. That sacred virginity she was saving for just the right guy had almost been snatched away from her from some man she didn't even know. Sakura felt dirty, disgusting, and the first thing she wanted to do was scrub her skin raw of the feel of those grungy hands all over her body. Her breath hitched again as the raw emotions that were coursing through her tried to burst free.

Cyan orbs gazed at her coldly. "I did not save you because I wanted to. Do not get the wrong idea."

Sakura blinked at the harsh words that were spoken to her. He sounded angry, but she hadn't done anything to make him be angry with her. If he didn't save her because he wanted to, why did he?

Brushing it off as she struggled to get to her feet, muscles screaming in process Sakura asked, "Well can I at least know your name?"

"Gaara," the red-head answered smoothly. "I have been sent here to protect you. I will be your guardian for the next five years."

"What?" A confused look crossed Sakura's face. Didn't this guy just say he didn't want to save her in the first place? Why would he now claim to be her guardian especially for the next five years? Sakura was grateful that this man saved her life, but she didn't think they would work well together. Despite what had just happened, Sakura was usually very capable of taking care of herself.

Gaara stopped a growl from rising in his throat. It was the same thing every time he had his first run in with a human. They were confused at first, next was unbelief, then there was awe and wonder. This cycle had gotten old the first few dozen times and it wasn't any more amusing now. Humans were such and idiotic race. They couldn't believe things that were right in front of them. Not unless they saw the same thing multiple times.

"I am a One," Gaara continued. "You have been chosen for me to protect for the next five years."

"But why me?" Sakura questioned. Pausing for a moment, she gave a strange look to the person who saved her. "Wait, you're telling me that you're a One. As in the celestial beings?"

"Yes."

"You expect me to believe that?" Sakura cocked her head to the side as she gazed at the taller male.

Gaara clenched his fists tightly at his sides, tendrils of sand began seeping from the gourd. He'd better leave before he tore this insignificant human to shreds and tacked another ten humans onto his punishment.

The being turned away from the woman who had already managed to get under his skin. "It is not my job to convince you mortal."

With that, he disappeared in a swirl of sand. Sakura stared at the spot this man...or One named Gaara had been standing in only moments ago. That guy must have been on something seriously dangerous to think he was a One. They hadn't been seen for thousands of years. They weren't human either. They were immortals to a certain extent. From Sakura's understanding, the Ones would continue to live until someone killed them. That was what happened to the One of Determination named Naruto. His lover was forced by her village to tricking him into sealing away his powers.

A relationship between a One and a mortal was strictly taboo. Amelia loved Naruto, but when the safety of her family had been put in jeopardy, she chose them over her lover. If it had been Sakura, she would have told him and then they could have run off together. That was the ultimate romance story.

Sakura shook her head. She was losing the initial reason for her musings. This Gaara character said he was a One. His powers were amazing, but so were strong ninjas. Was there a way for him to prove he was who he said he was? Was there something that clearly separated the Ones from humans? Honestly, the kunoichi wasn't convinced. There was, however, something different about him. Sometime other than the way he seemed to look at her with fiery hatred.

The young woman began heading back to the village Hidden in the Sound. The man who she was after was still out there so she had to kill him now. Luckily all his lackeys had been killed by that Gaara guy so her job was easier. After all, Hideki Takahashi was not a ninja. He only had money which bought him the protection he needed. After a good bath, something to eat, and a little rest, Sakura would be good to go.

Intending on doing just that and dropping the red-head psycho from her thoughts, Sakura remembered a small river she had to jump across with a burst of chakra to get over when she was desperately trying to escape those men. Slowly limping her way towards the river, the abused woman couldn't wait to rinse herself of the disgusting feel of those mens' grubby hands all over her.

Returning back through the woods, Sakura tried her best to ignore the aching in her legs and headed back to the small cave where her belongings were. She had placed genjutsu on the area so to anyone else, it looked like trees and bushes similar to the rest of the forest. The female kunoichi pretended to look through the bushes, still having enough chakra to sense if there was anyone nearby. She gazed around her, looking up at the sky before turning her gaze back to a small bundle of berries to keep her facade up. When Sakura was sure that no one was around, she stopped her act of picking berries that didn't really exist and quietly slipped into her small cave.

Gaara watched her from a distance, his back leaning against the tree. The more he watched the human, the angrier he got. His mind kept changing Sakura's hair to black, making her look identical to the woman who killed his best friend. This mortal would be the hardest one he had ever dealt with and Gaara was starting to think Madara made it that way on purpose. Fucking bastard.