Sakura stood on top of a mountain that is just outside the village walls. She lets the tears stream down her face as she remembers all the memories she will take with her. The good ones and the bad ones.

Even the ones of Sasuke. She finally gave up hope of saving Sasuke from Orochimaru not long ago. He was pure evil and had had Sasuke under his influence for over ten years now. There was no hope in saving him now and she knew it.

Somehow though, she still just can't see life in the Village Hidden In The Leaves without Sasuke. That is why she left. She hated not leaving notes for her friends and those she knew cared about her a lot, yet she wanted to break all ties with this part of her life. She was sure that Lady Tsunade wouldn't brand her a rouge ninja since she would only use her ninja skills for good use. Yet she couldn't stay home.

She could hear Naruto now. He would be ranting and raving at her that she was making a mistake. That just cause Sasuke wasn't there that didn't mean she had to leave the village as well. But for her, Naruto would always only be a friend. Or a brother. She would never be able to see him as anything else.

She closed her eyes and turned away. That was the last view she would have of her home. She fled down the side of the mountain and ran. As hard and fast as she could. She had to get away from the life that was threatening to destroy her sanity!

x

Etsu ran as hard as her little legs would carry her. She didn't know who these men were or why they wanted her! All she knew was that she had to run. Once her mother realized that she was gone she would go to Lord Kazekage and he would save her!

The three men that followed her smiled as they watched her run. She would be the bait that would bring Gaara out of his village and then Lord Orochimaru would kill him! Along with Lord Sasuke.

When the little girl dipped into a brush patch and didn't come back out they dove down in and found her sitting there. One of them picked her up by her hair and laughed as she squirmed and cried out for help. "It will do you no good kid. No one can hear you."

Then he yelped in pain when a kunai was thrust through his arm and the little girl was gone! All three looked around and then followed the sound of the crying child to a tree. There stood Kunoichi holding the child.

Sakura smiled at the little girl. "It is okay. I am Sakura Haruno from the Village Hidden In The Leaves. You are safe now."

Etsu smiled as she hugged the woman that held her. She was a Leaf Village ninja and they were allies of the Sand. She would keep her safe. "Arigato Sakura."

Sakura then turned a hard glare that she had mastered with Naruto on the three that were laughing as the one that held this girl up by her hair. "Who are you and what do you want with her?"

The one that seemed to be the leader smiled as he stepped up. "Don't you worry our pretty little head about that. Just give the brat back and be on your way. Unless you want to join her. I am sure we could have some of our own fun."

Sakura smiled an evil smile as she sat the child down next to her on the tree limb. Naruto taught her how to do the Shadow Clone Jutsu and she would use it now to keep her safe. "Shadow Clone Jutsu." Then there was another Sakura. The new one picked the girl up and fled to a safe place with her.

The real Sakura glared down at the three. "I was in a foul mood before I happened to hear her screaming for help. Now I get to take all my frustrations out on you!" Then she flew down at them, surprising them at her speed and strength.

Etsu watched as the one girl fought the three men that kidnapped her. She was amazed at the skill she had and how determined she was to save her. When it was all said and done they used tricks to get away from her.

Sakura nodded and her clone brought the little girl down to her. When she took her the clone poofed. "What is your name honey?"

"My name is Etsu"

Sakura looked around. She knew where she was. This was the part of the land that no one lived in between The Land Of Fire and The Land Of Wind. "Where are you from?"

Etsu welled with pride as she smiled. "I live in The Village Hidden In The Sand."

"Do you have any clue why they wanted to kidnap you Etsu?"

"I have no clue. I heard one of them say something about a Lord Orochimaru. But that was it."

Sakura smiled yet her mind was reeling. She knew that Orochimaru and Sasuke had been making threats and small attempts to get Gaara away from the village and sand. Yet she had no clue that they would stoop this low. 'Then again with Orochimaru in the mix this shouldn't surprise me.' "Come on Etsu. I will take you back to the Sand Village myself."

Etsu smiled as she hugged Sakura as tight as she could as she jumped through the trees headed for the desert. And the Sand village, but most of all her mother!

Sakura kept a eye out for anymore goons and a tight hold on Etsu. She knew how much value the children of the Hidden Villages held to the village. The children were the future and she was determined not to let anything happen to this one.

x

Gaara stood in the gate to his village and starred out over the sand with a cold hard glare. Something he had loads of practice with. One of the women from his village came to him and told him that she had been knocked out and three men took her five year old daughter.

He was not about to let anyone get away with that. Not a child, it was not going to happen! He started to step out of the village when he saw the trail of dust and sand coming toward them. The speed was that of a Shinobi. He clenched his fists as Temari and Kankuro took their places next to their Kazekage and brother.

Sakura slowed to a stop when she saw them. Apparently the girls mother woke up and went straight to Gaara. He was there with Temari and Kankuro, apparently ready to go out and bring her back themselves.

When the little girl pushed off her she sat her down and smiled.

Etsu saw her mother and father and smiled. She pushed on Sakura to get her to put her down and raced to close the gap between her and her parents. "Okaasan! Otousan!"

Gaara watched as the girl ran past him to her parents. She had many scratches and bruises but for the most part seemed to be unharmed. He turned his attention back to Sakura as she stopped in front of them. "When did you find her?"

Sakura smiled as she watched mother and daughter together. "A few hours ago. In the woods between our two lands. I don't know who they were but there were three of them."

"Did they escape?"

"Hai. They used a poison bomb to do so."

Temari smiled as she hooked her arm on Sakura's. "Well at least you were there to get her back for us. Arigato."

Sakura smiled as she looked over at Temari. The two had become fast friends once they realized that Orochimaru was the one pulling the strings in the Sand Village. They went back to being strong allies again and Sakura had become exceptionally close with Temari. And in a way Gaara.

Gaara smiled a true smile, Which is nothing new anymore. He seems to smile when he feels happy now all the time. And to this day he will still thank Naruto Uzumaki for that one. He nods to Sakura. "I would like to offer for you to stay here for the night. Or as long as you would like."

Sakura started to refuse but then decided to stay. Her stomach answered for her. "Hai. I will stay for a while. I haven't had much time to see Temari lately."

Temari giggled and pulled her on into the village. "Well the first thing that we are going to do is take you to get something to eat."

Kankuro stood next to Gaara. "Why do you think that she was in the land between our land and hers today anyway Gaara?"

Gaara shook his head no. He had an idea but he wasn't sure. He and Naruto have kept in almost constant contact since they rescued him from the Akatsuki. She had never really gotten over Sasuke leaving to join Orochimaru. "I will talk to her about it later."

Sakura found herself sitting up with Temari in the home that she now shared with Kankuro. He was with Gaara at the moment. Temari looked over at her and asked, "Why were you in the valley between our lands anyhow Sakura?"

Sakura cast her eyes down and her smile vanished. "I left Temari. It is not that I think I will find Sasuke and save him from Orochimaru. I know that the Sasuke I loved back then is gone. It is just, I couldn't take the memories of the good times that I shared with him."

"Well what about Naruto?"

"He is with Hinata."

"Lee?"

"Tenten. Besides. I can't see them as anything other than friends, comrades or brothers. I needed a fresh start away from the Leaf Village."

Temari smiled at her friend. "I understand. Trust me I understand that one. Anyway! You could stay here in the Sand Village! The only ones that you really know here are me, Kankuro and Gaara. It would be perfect!"

Sakura smiled. "We will see."

Then an explosion rocked the house. Both grabbed their ninja gear and rushed from the house. What they saw angered both of them. Orochimaru was attacking the village!

Temari ran off to help Kankuro protect the civilians of the village. It would figure that most of their Jonin were out of the village on a mission!

Sakura started to run after Temari to help when she heard a voice that she knew instantly. Sasuke! She turned to see Sasuke and Gaara already engaged in a fight! He looked down at her and the look was one of hate and pure evil. She just closed her eyes and went to help protect the innocent. Gaara would probably kill Sasuke, but that was the not Sasuke she knew.

Sasuke saw Sakura run to try to help protect the innocents. 'Doesn't matter. She will die right along with every last being in this village!' He then turned his attention to Gaara who was there to meet him. "Well Gaara we finally meet again. Last time we were just kids. Lets see how you fair this time!"

Gaara saw the look of sadness hit Sakura's eyes. It angered him even more that this had to happen with her there. When she turned from Sasuke and helped to protect those of his village, he had to smile. Then he focused on Sasuke. "It is time to bring you down. Sasuke Uchiha, you are not the strongest in the world like you seem to think. I will show you that now!"

"Bring it on you freak!"

x

Sakura sat on the roof of one of the tallest buildings in the sand village. Crying. She had not seen Sasuke for three years. Not since she, Naruto and Sai went to find him. Seeing him again dressed as Orochimaru and not as a Leaf ninja broke her heart. He truly was lost to her forever.

The Sasuke that she saw tonight was not the Sasuke she knew. And not a Sasuke that she wanted to be with.

Gaara found Sakura sitting on the roof crying. He felt bad for her. Since he knew that Sasuke was the source of those tears. He raised his hand and the slightest wisp of sand flowed over and pulled her head around to make her look up at him. "He is not worth your time or your tears."

Sakura sighed. "I know he is not. Demo, I can't help it. I haven't been able to erase his memory yet." Then she looked up at him again. The moon was right behind him and her heart stopped. He had a soft, gentle look to his eyes and a warm smile for her. 'You know he is actually kinda cute.'

Gaara then helped her up and walked her to Temari and Kankuro's before he went to survey the damage done to the village and figure out how they got in. though his heart was thumping wildly. Sakura. 'I wonder?'