Welcome to: The Demon's Cherry Blossom
Well, I've been watching Naruto all weekend and now I'm going to attempt my favorite pairing in the whole entire series, and that is Gaara X Sakura. I've kinda been having this idea flopping around and maybe it will turn out good I hope so. I think I'll enjoy it no matter what and that's what counts. Please be nice, this is my first Naruto Fan fiction, and I hope it won't be my last.
Chapter one: The Three Gennin.
The wind blew gently through the green leaves, stirring up some of the dust across the road. Three figures were seen from a distance perched on the railing of the old red bridge, slightly outside the great village of the Leaves. It was peaceful, and quiet, the birds chirped as they spread their wings and took to the skies. The river made slight noises as the waters rushed gently against the small rocks. It seemed nothing could ruin this moment of tranquility, nothing but a short ninja with an even shorter patience level.
"Ah, Man!" the short figure growled as he kicked a pebble into the flowing waters. "How is it every time Kakashi-Sensei tells us to be an hour early he's always an hour late! The shortest one shouted in frustration as he adjusted his headband again and brushed some blonde strands of hair out of his face. His blue eyes narrowed as he looked up at the sun. It was nearly noon. "I didn't even have time to eat breakfast this morning, all because of stupid Kakashi-Sensei!"
"Hey, Loser." The small boy in the orange jumpsuit turned towards one of the figures that leaned up against a pole in a casual way. "Shut the hell up." A growl erupted out of Naruto Uzumaki.
"Who do you think you are acting all cool and relaxed over there!" Pointing a finger at the figure, the youth sighed and closed his eyes. "I know you're just as annoyed as I am Sasuke!" the black haired boy snorted and turned away from the bothersome ninja. He glanced out of the corner of his eye, and found the other remaining ninja with pink hair to be staring at him. Both of them are quite bothersome. If she's not drooling after me, he's trying to outdo me. Stupid losers. "Hey, look at me when I'm talking to you!"
"Naruto! Stop being such an idiot, even though I know you can't help it!" The third figure shouted at the blonde as Naruto grinned sheepishly at her.
"But Sakura, I'm hungry and Kakashi-Sensei isn't even here yet!" Sakura cracked her knuckled as Naruto shifted slightly to the other end of the bridge. The wind picked back up as a small pop was heard.
"Yo?" The three ninja's turned to the sound and stared in frustration at the man before them. Half of his face was covered up like always. His headband tilted slightly to one side of his face, covering up his eye. His other eye, however; wrinkled in amusement. The man stepped across the bridge to his three students. In his hands was a half-open pink book.
"Kakashi-Sensei what took you so long? I'm starving!" Naruto growled as his eyes twitched a little.
"Whoa, easy Naruto. Would you believe I got lost?" Balling up his fist Naruto launched himself at his teacher. Kakashi sighed and put away his book. "A Thousand Years of Death!" His fingers poked the attacking Naurto in the behind sending the young and restless ninja into the river.
"So where were you at Kakashi- Sensei?" Sakura asked as she soothed out her red ninja outfit. Sasuke had also turned his attention to his teacher as Naruto's voice was heard from under the bridge.
"Jiraiya had a sell on Come Come Paradise, I couldn't resist. No training today since I have a lot of reading to do, but before you go I have very important news." Glancing out of the corner of his eye he saw a soaking Naruto making their way towards them.
"You bought more of those pervy book, Sensei?" Naruto asked with disgust as Kakashi smiled underneath his mask.
"I have very important news for the three of you. You are to participate in these years Chuunin Exam."
"Chuunin Exam? What's that?" Sakura sighed as she looked at Naruto hopelessly.
"Naruto you idiot didn't you read or do any of your homework at the Ninja Academy? The Chuunin occur two times a year. A team of three Gennin-level students who enter the Chuunin Exams have a chance to increase their rank from a Gennin to a Chuunin. High ranked ninja called Jounins act as proctors for the exam."
"You're as smart as ever Sakura." Kakashi comment lightly as he waved goodbye to them and started to walk off.
"Hey! Kakashi Sensei? When do the Chuunin exams take place?" Stopping in mid-step Kakashi turned slowly around.
"There's a funny thing about that Naruto, but we have two days. I've been meaning to tell you guys but something always came up. Have a nice day!" With a poof their teacher was gone.
"Can you believe this? I can't believe he waited until the last second to tell us when these stupid exams were! Oh, Man! I'll never be ready to compete by then. I have to get training!" Naruto zoomed off towards the Ramen House for some lunch.
"So Sasuke-Kun?"
"Hai?"
"It looks like we have the whole day off would you like to help me train?" snorting the boy walked off across the bridge.
"Why so you can stare at me all day?" In another poof of smoke Sasuke was gone. Something wet slide down Sakura's face as she tried to hold it together.
"Why are you always so mean to me Sasuke? I'm your teammate." Sakura sighed to herself and started across the bridge in the direction Naruto had gone. A few petals from a nearby Cherry Blossom tree blew onto the dirt road as Sakura continued deep into the heart of the Leaf Village, Konoha. She glanced at the cheery, smiling faces of the fellow villagers.
"I don't even know why Kakashi- Sensei even bothered. I'm not strong enough to be in the exam. I can't even keep up with Sasuke or even Naruto."
Cha! Why think like that? With me you can do anything! Cha! Believe in yourself you loser! IF you ever want Sasuke to like you, then you need to prove it in the exam!
"The only thing I'm good at is Chakra control. That's it, that's all. They all call me the Chakra sack, that and Forehead girl, or Billboard Brow. I'm not good for anything else."
Cha! Chakra is everything to a ninja! All you have to do is refine your other skills and then you'll be a force to be reckoned with CHA!
"If only it were that simple." Sakura sighed as she looked up to where her feet had led her.
"Well, Well, why so glum Forehead?" Sakura glared at the blonde hair girl waving at her from the flower shop as she passed it.
"Nothing, Ino Pig." Ino growled but then brightened up.
"I saw what happened. Did you really think he would train with you?" Sakura snorted as Ino walked beside her.
"Hai." Ino stopped and looked at Sakura.
"Hey, Sakura, it's ok ya know. I'll train with you if you want."
"Ino, do you think I should quit being a shonobi?" Ino stared at her childhood friend and now a rival as her mouth dropped open in shock.
"Why do something that stupid Bill board Brow?" Sakura didn't even respond to the nickname Ino usually called her to get her fired up.
"Ino, I think I'm too weak to be on Team 7 anymore. All I do is slow Sasuke and Naruto down. They're not even in my level anymore, and Kakashi- Sensei just told us about the exam coming in two days. A team of three must go, If I don't go then neither does Naruto or Sasuke, but the truth is Ino, I have no desire to go. I'm useless as a teammate. I can't protect anybody, the only reason I became a ninja was to impress Sasuke, but it's clear to me now. He'll never love me, there's no use in trying only to keep failing."
"Sakura, that's not true. You're a great ninja. You have many skills to offer. You've come this far, don't give up. If you do who am I going to knock out of the final round?"
"Shut-up, Ino-pig, You act like you've already won." Ino snickered as grinned at Sakura.
If you give up think about it. I'll fight in the finals and prove to Sasuke that I'm the better ninja for him, because I didn't give up, I didn't quit! My teammates can count on me to do my job!" Sakura's hands balled up into a fist.
"You think so Ino-Pig! I'll show you! I'll prove to you I can be just as good, even better! I'm sick of following in your footsteps, I'm not going to quit! What was I thinking? I need to go against you that way I can pound you into a bloody pulp!"
CHA! Yea, that's the way! Our Way! Our Ninja Way! We'll show her together! Cha!
"Oh, dream on, Sakura. You couldn't beat me even if you tried!" Sakura growled and started to move away from Ino.
"Just you wait in two days from now, Ino-Pig, you'll be the one losing." Sakura turned away and started towards the training grounds. Ino watched her go, smiling to herself.
"There's no sense in letting such a beautiful flower wilt away and die." She continued to watch Sakura walk away. "There's no sense in letting you down again Sakura." Ino waved at Sakura's back before returning into the flower shop. The young female ninja stomped through the alley way as her insides flared.
"How dare she say such things!"
Cha! Yea! How dare she say that Sasuke is going to be all hers! We'll show them! We'll show them all! Right Sakura. But you should thank Ino. It was her that strokes the fire of your hatred of losing to her. She's the reason you'll continue to try your best, just like Naruto. Both of you have been branded failures, but you're still determined to prove to the world what you can do. Sakura were once a wilting Cherry Blossom and Ino saved you. Now she saves you again, and you don't even realize what she's done for you.
"Right! I've got to train extra hard these next two days! I've got to show that Ino-Pig who's boss! I'm going to be the best and beat her no matter what!" Something startled Sakura as she glanced up and saw Naruto with the Third Hokage's grandson, Konohamaru.
"Come on Boss! You'd promise you'd play ninja with us today." Inner Sakura's voice filled Sakura's head again.
How lame is it to be a ninja and play ninja?
"Tell me about it." Sakura agreed as she walked closer to Naruto.
"Come on, Konohamaru! I've got training to do today! I've got a big exam to train for! My stupid Sensei didn't tell me about it until today! I have two days to get ready for it!"
"I don't care Boss! You promised to play with me today!" Naruto growled and tried to shake the young boy off his leg.
"How Lame Naruto." The younger of the two realized she was there and adjusted his goggles on top of his head.
"Whoa! Who's that boss?" Naruto blushed and started to mumble thing underneath his breath. "OH I get it!"
"Get what?" Naruto asked as Konohamaru winked and stuck out his pink finger.
"She's your girlfriend!" Naurto laughed as a light blush appeared across his face.
"Well ya see, hehehehehe." Sakura growled as she cracked her fist and slugged Naruto into the nearby fence.
"Hey! What kind of girlfriend are you! Boss are you ok! You're really mean and ugly too!" Sakura was just about to walk away when his had to go and say something like that.
Damn Brat! Teach him a lesson, Sakura! CHA!
"I intend to." Cracking her fist again she lunged forward and punched Konohamaru into the wall with Naruto. Walking away Konohamaru whispered quietly to Naruto.
"Boss, you're girlfriends mean and weird." Naruto nodded in agreement as he watched her go off.
Sakura continued to walk until she reached the old training grounds. Glancing up at the sound of a voice she halted her walk and stayed behind a nearby tree.
"Come on Lee! You'll never be ready for the exams at this rate!" Sakura peered out from behind the tree as she stared at the two figures at the training ground. They looked almost exactly alike. Both eyebrows were big and busy like hairy caterpillars. Both wore orange leg warmers with something underneath. Their hair was cut in the exact same way. Where they related in any way?
"Yea, Gai-Sensei!" The younger one shouted as he split a giant rock in half. The older one looked very pleased and flashed the younger one, Lee, a dazzling smile.
"Yes! That's it Lee, You're finally mastering taijutsu!" Finally deciding to make her presence known Sakura stepped out from behind the tree and started to make her way over past them to where the high trees were, just to refresh herself in her chakra control. Rock Lee was in the middle of splitting another rock when his eyes caught sight of a flurry of pink hair walking his way. His jaw dropped as the sight before him. Never in his life had he seen such a beautiful creature. He missed the rock completely and nailed his Sensei instead.
"Lee! You idiot! How do you expect to be ready for the exam if you're acting like this!" Gai-Sensei yelled at his student as he turned to find out why Lee had become so distracted. He grinned and elbowed Lee, as Sakura continued toward them.
"Lee, I should have known. You take up just like me! A real ladies man you may say." Sakura stopped in front of the two and them and bowed slightly.
"I apologize for interrupting with your training, but I am asking for permission to use the training area as well." Staying bowed Gai threw back his head and laughed.
"Of course you can use the training area. I am Gai-Sensei and this is my student Rock Lee." She straightened herself up and smiled at Lee.
"Hello Gai Sensei, Rock Lee, I am Sakura Haruno of Team 7. My Sensei is Kakashi." One of Gai's eyebrows twitched as he looked at Sakura.
" Do you mean Hatake Kakashi?" She nodded as Gai turned his back on her muttering to himself. Lee grinned and took the time to properly introduce himself.
"Hi, I am Rock Lee of Team 9 with my companions Tenten and Neji Hyuuga. You said you were in Team 7. Is it true that Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha are in your team?"
Boy, he isn't the brightest color in the box is he?
"Hai. They are. Please excuse me now Lee, I must go train." Lee watched her go as drool slide down his chin. Oh, man he had to have her as his girlfriend. She was so wonderful, what little time he had spent with her only fueled him on, more! If she was taking the exams then he wanted to prove himself to her! He would do it!
"Gai-Sensei I need to train harder!" Gai looked at Lee funny, but shrugged it off.
"Come on Lee, it's enough training for one day. We'll call it a night. Go home and get well rested for tomorrow. We'll go over the basics with Neji and Tenten." Lee nodded and started off. "Lee?"
"Yes, Sensei?"
"Your house isn't near those trees."
"Oh, right Sensei! See you tomorrow!" Lee took off towards the town ad Gai snickered and watched the young girl run up another tree.
"So she's practicing chakra control. That must be the Sakura Kakashi has been telling me so much about." He shrugged it wouldn't hurt to go and check her out. Smiling to himself he started towards the trees.
"Just a big higher!" Sakura ran up the tree again using her chakra and marked a spot higher than the last one. Jumping down all the way at the bottom she wiped the sweat from her face and grinned. "Wow, I've really gotten better." She closed her eyes to try and concentrate on maintaining the chakra to walk up the tree, instead of running. Something brushed past her ankle forcing her eyes open. At her feet was a small pile of sand. "How strange. Sand piling up like that." She kicked it aside and once again tried to concentrate on getting her chakra up. A pair of green eyes with black rims watched from the treetop above.
"So you the famous Chakra sack I've heard so much about?" The voice stirred the boy out of his trance as he glanced at the approaching Jounin. He snorted and readjusted the huge gourd on his back. If he stayed then the skilled ninja would pick up on his chakra. He grunted and disappeared in a whirl of sand. Sakura let out a small sigh of relief as she felt the ominous charka leave.
"Hai." She nodded and started back up the tree. Gai watched her from ground level as he noticed the sand that had gathered around the tree.
"That's unusual." He said as he watched Sakura go higher and higher. "She's not doing it." He closed his eyes and tried to sense what chakra it was. "Demonic chakra no doubt, feels like a sand demon." The green eyes reopened and glanced at the two, now at an even father distance. He would wait until the Jounin left. His eyes narrowed as he felt the demonic pulse throw off his concentration. Why am I here?
To remind yourself that you're alive, remember boy?
"So this is the great Leaf Village? Ha! Pathetic!" The fan was shifted to the girls other shoulder. She snorted as her younger brother stopped suddenly.
"What is it Gaara?" The other ninja adjusted his sack as he wiped some sweat away from his forehead.
"Her." The words hissed from the dried lips of the sand ninja. Temari and Kankuro looked and saw a pink-haired girl walking through the alleyway just a little further up ahead.
"Yea what about her, Gaara" The sand piled around at the younger one's feet as his green eyes narrowed at the sight of her.
"She reminds me of Yosh..." Kankuro hissed as he stepped in front of Garra's line of view.
" That's in the past Gaara, don't dwell on it. Besides It's our first day here and already you want to kill somebody. Remember our true plan, Gaara. We cannot afford to draw attention to ourselves." Glaring at the older one's grip. Temari shuffled her feet nervously.
"Stand aside or die." Kankuro's eyes flashed with fear as Gaara cocked his head to the side, staring at the back on the girl's head.
"You wouldn't kill me, Garra. I'm your older brother." Gaara grinned as his eyes widen.
"Would you like to try your luck and find out?" Temari groaned and pushed Kankuro away from Gaara.
"Come on, Gaara, you know he just wants what's best for you." Gaara snorted and looked away at the tree. "I'm your big sister so please just do it for me."
"Hey, Sakura?" Gai called out as Sakura continued to climb up into the trees. Higher and higher, she didn't care how much her body was screaming for rest. She had to maintain the one thing she was good at. Something caught her eye as she stopped on a nearby branch to rest. It was a pile of sand that was formed in the shape of a heart.
"That's so strange." She whispered as the demonic chakra filled her senses.
Cha! Something's not right about this! Get back down to Gai, Sakura. It's not safe here. Somebody else is here.
Sakura glanced at the pile of sand again, only to realize that it had something red simmering around it. Sakura caught a whiff of what it was when the wind blew it scent in her direction. It made her almost want to throw-up. Then she saw an injured bird beside it. She cooed softly at it and fixed it where she was right beside the strange heart and the bird.
"Shush, little bird, it'll be ok. I'll heal you." It was so hard not to command his sand to reach out and snap her little neck in half. With the other ninja there it would be nearly impossible to get away with. He was slightly worried when she sat right next to him and hardly noticed his presence. Even though his sand had left a trail against his will. The bird that he had got a hold of was close to death anyway. He had left it there to see what she would do. A green light shook him from his musings as he watched the girl heal the bird with little effort. Then she turned around and gasped. He instinct was to move and get away fast, but he used more chakra to conceal himself.
"Where those green eyes?" He heard her mutter as she ran some fingers through her hair, causing the scent to blow his way. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes, welcoming the scent. It smelled of cheery blossoms and strawberries. Slowly with her back turned to him he reached out for her hair, longing to touch it.
"Sakura." Jerking back as if he had been burned he glared at the man below.
"I'm coming Gai-Sensei!" She was gone before he could blink. He stared down at her long and hard trying to figure out how she confused him so.
"Sakura, I'm not your Sensei but I think you've trained enough. You don't want to wear yourself out before the big days do you? I recommend you go home and get plenty of rest. The other ninja's from different villages should be arriving tomorrow." The man glanced straight up at Gaara. "Or sooner." She smiled and nodded as they headed back towards the village. When he was sure that they were gone, he dropped from the bushes and sniffed the air again. Her scent lingered, and it pissed him off to no end. He wanted to see her blood wash over him. He cocked his head as he stared at the path she had taken.
"Sakura. Cherry Blossom." His voice hissed roughly as he licked his dry lips, liking the way her name tasted. "Sakura." He disappeared in a whirl of sand.
"Thank you for walking me home, Gai-Sensei." The man nodded and walked off as Sakura stared at the door to her house. It sure was lonely ever since her parents died, but there was no use dwelling on the past. She reached for the knob with her key that she had pulled out from her ninja pack.
"Cherry Blossom." Two arms wrapped roughly around her as she felt them as they began to squeeze. Yelping out in pain as she felt something crawl up her ninja outfit, she gasped as she noticed it was sand. " My Cherry Blossom." The boy repeated as his grip tightened as he bore his whole frame on her, against the door.
"What do you want with me?" Sakura voice broke as she forced out the words as the boy behind her laughed, pressing up closer to her.
"To snap that neck of yours." He nuzzled his face into her neck, taking in her scent. His grinned only widen as he nipped at the exposed flesh.
"Little Brother!" His head jerked up, as he had been stung. Snarling he pushed himself away from the girl and disappeared into the night, leaving some a heart shaped sand pile behind him. Sakura quickly ran inside her home and locked the door. Breathing heavily she felt her neck where his teeth had been. A shiver ran up her spine as she traced over them, and heard those words over and over again.
"Cherry Blossom." She shivered and quickly got into the shower and prepared for bed. Softly she prayed and turned out the lights. Slowly she let sleep claim her as Gai's words came back to haunt her.
The other ninja's from different villages should be arriving tomorrow, or sooner. Get home and get some rest.
"One in the morning." The boy sat up on his haunches as he watched the rise and fall of her chest. Her scent was all over the entire house. Thanks to his inner demon's abilities he was able to find and locate her house with her scent and chakra trail she had left behind. "I'm not tired." He hissed and he drew himself closer. Peering down at her helpless form. This girl reminded him so much of his uncle. Caring for everything and anything. Oh how he hated it. He wanted to snap her neck in half, and now he could do it. He glanced at the floor at the small heart that his sand had made. He reached up and traced the tattoo across his forehead. "You love, Cherry Blossom, it's scent is all around you. It kills me." He growled softly as she whimpered out in her sleep. It threw him off, for a second he thought she was awake. He jumped when her hand wrapped around his wrist as tears spilled from her closed eyes. He knew if he jerked away the movement might awaken her. He remained as still as possible and watched her turn.
"Protect me." Those words hissed from her soft lips as he narrowed his eyes. He grinned.
You can protect no one, boy. Kill her now and end the pain. She's just like the rest. They'll all betray you in the end. You mother, father, uncle, brother, sister. They all want you dead. Now rid this world of her! Kill her now!
"Gaara." Turning around his eyes met that of his sisters. He looked down at the girl he was bent over and softly got away from the bed, and from the girl. "We told you not to draw attention and this is what you do." Gaara remained silent as he looked at the sleeping girl. "I don't know what your problem is with her, but you'd better find a better way to fix it rather than trying to kill her. She's a ninja student, which means her Sensei could pick up your chakra and hunt you down and kill you, Gaara. Do you understand."
"No one could kill me." Gaara hissed as he reached down and pulled the pink covers up closer to the girls face.
"Gaara?"
"Be silent, your wake the Cherry Blossom up." Temari was speechless as she stared down at the girl who shifted slightly in her sleep.
"Let's go." She nodded and followed him out the door. Before she left she turned and looked at the girl sleeping on the bed. Maybe this one could do what Gaara's mother, father, uncle; Kankuro and Temari had failed to do. Maybe she could make the tattoo on Gaara's forehead become a reality. Gaara deserved to be happy, to be human, to be loved. Temari almost resistant the girl sleeping, she had done something that nobody else had done when they encountered Saboku no Gaara, she had survived.
Well that's the first chapter. I hope it sparked some interest in some Huge Naruto fans out there. I'm trying my best to keep everybody in character, but Gaara's hard as crap. It's like a love/hate relationship. Send me feedback and let me know how you like it. Do you think Gaara's moving too fast? I mean we all know he's unstable with his demon in side of him, and he wants to kill her, but he doesn't and he questions himself as to why? I want Temari to be like wanting Gaara to be happy, and Kankuro to be like focused on the true mission of the sand village. I'm trying to keep it as close to the main storyline of the exams as possible, prob; in the later chapters after the exam I'll tweak it into my own. I hope you enjoyed this first chapter. Please let me know what you think. Criticism goes a long way (Please be good ones) I duh know if I can take bad ones? Ah well that's all part of writing isn't it?