This is just another idea I have for GaaSaku coupling. Story is set before the FRS training and after Sasuke / team 7 meeting in Shippuuden. Anything after that meeting is completely my imagination and no longer follows the original storyline. Hope ya like it!

Aska's Bind

Sakura was on her way back to Konoha from an important mission to Suna, doing a check-up on the Kazekage's illness after Shukaku's extraction. Everything was going smoothly and fine until she stepped on a "stone" in the desert and...her life as she knew, was gone. [GaaSaku]

Chapter 1

Sakura stepped into the open desert as she waved good bye to Temari, Kankurou and the two shinobis guarding the entrance to Sunagakure. Her mission here was complete.

Gaara, the young Kazekage of Sunagakure was now in the state of equilibrium and was getting much better after some long and tiring medical chakra stabilization sessions with Sakura for three days. For his sake, she had stayed longer in Suna than what was originally planned, followed with two days of rest and getting her chakra level back to normal. And today was the day to return to Konoha.

She kept walking until she could no longer see the village's entrance. The air was hot and dry, and she knew she needed to hurry if she didn't want to get caught in the sandstorm that would pass the area in the next few hours.

Wind and sand particles flew pass her as she ran. But she didn't slow down and kept a fast pace. Hoping at any stones and tree trunks she could find to help her jump farther, and travel faster.

Her mind though as she ran, was filled with the time she spent with Gaara. Gaara was an ex-jinchuuriki and one would think after losing his bijuu, he would have peace of mind and body. But wrong. A month after his resurrection and being back to the village, things started to go wrong in his body. His skin started peeling and cracking, turning into grains of sand as it drop off his body. The pain —as could be seen in his face— must had been horrible, but there was no blood or injuries that she could find. That was one problem, then there were the nightmares that kept him awake, even when he wanted to sleep, now that he thought he could. Nobody knew what those signs were. Afterall, a jinchuuriki wasn't supposed to be alive after bijuu extraction. Gaara was the first and the only one who got resurrected. So, nobody knew how the extraction would effect his body.

It was her first time to see the almighty Gaara of the Desert in such a tormented state. It was a pitiful sight. But thankfully, Sakura came to the rescue. There were chakra explosions in most parts of his nerves, the worst being at the center of his chakra source. How and why? She didn't know, and that was what she needed to report to her Sensei once she returned to Konoha.

When she treated him, the moment was —for her— something she couldn't forget.

"…his face…his eyes were so— agh!" Her thought was interrupted as something stung her left foot.

She felt like for a second there, electricity crept into her left leg. Still jumping mid-air, she looked behind her to see what she stepped on. It was a large human-sized boulder. Nothing seemed wrong with the boulder. She shrugged, but as she turned to look in front of her, all that was around her rippled and became blurry…

"What the—"

…and darker…

Could it be genjutsu?! She thought to herself as she narrowed her eyes scanning her surrounding and quickly formed the hand seals to break the spell. But to her realization, it wasn't a genjutsu, but something else. That was when she cautiously drew her kunai out of its holster as her other hand started to gather chakra, ready to punch the light out of anyone who was foolish enough to attack her.

Her surrounding was getting darker and there was no chakra presence except hers as she landed on a small sand dune. Biting her lips, she grabbed her kunai tighter.

"Is someone there?!" Sensing nothing when something was definitely wrong, she couldn't help but started to panic. The darkness was starting to get to her, and the desert started to look way creepier than it really was.

"Hey…answer me…!" She wanted to sound angry, but she definitely couldn't hide her fear as she heard her own voice trembled slightly.

Everything was now pitch black. All Sakura could hear was her own gasp as she held her breath in shock and fear. It was eerily silent...a cracking sound followed…and…

"What is— …aahh!!"

[Flashback]

"Good night, Tsunade-shisou!"

Sakura bowed her head towards her sensei and turned around, walking out of the Hokage room, out the hall, out the building, and into the main street of Konoha.

Activities in the village had died down and only one or two people could be seen still roaming the street. She looked up at the clear night sky. It was full-moon right now in Konoha and she could see the pale bluish perfect round object hanging on the sky, shining down onto the street, giving a somewhat eerie yet romantic atmosphere in the village.

It was late, very late, and the only thing in Sakura's mind was to return to her apartment as quick as her legs could carry her and get some much needed rest. She was exhausted after her lengthy report session with the Hokage. Not to mention, she had just returned to Konoha from her latest mission, the mission that had brought her and her team face to face with Sasuke...again.

However, it was apparent from their faces that needless to say, they failed the mission, failed to bring their once-comrade home, and having Sasuke slipped out of their grasps again after 2 years, was in one word, disheartening. Naruto had been depressed the whole day, cursing his own powerless self but Sakura knew too well the blonde wouldn't remain in that state for long. What had happened would only fuel his motivation, because Naruto is Naruto, he simply never gave up...but then again, so did Sakura herself.

"We WILL find you Sasuke-kun, just watch..." The look in Sakura's eyes sharpened and pierced into the gloomy atmosphere of the street ahead. She fastened her pace, finally opted to jump from roof to roof. She slowed down once she was close to the Haruno's residence. Not bothering to use the door, she casually jumped down and slipped into her room with ease from the window opening.

As soon as she was inside her room, sleep was the only thing in her mind at the moment, and sleep she did. Not even bothering to change her clothes or wash, she was in la-la land the moment her head hit the pillow.

Morning came…

Birds chirping happily outside the window, the faint sunlight peering through the curtain, wind blew slowly bringing the fresh and cool morning air into the room, the soft sounds of village activities could be heard outside. Everything was peaceful until—

"Yooo, Sakura-chaaan!" followed by loud banging on the front door. "Tsunade-baa-chan has new missions for us. She said it's important! I'm going ahead and wait for you there…and oh yea! I brought breakfast for you! My treat! Cup ramen spicy beef flavor! Yum! I'll put it here ok! I got to run now, see you Sakura-chann!"

The blonde loud-mouth was gone the moment Sakura woke up abruptly. Rubbing and massaging her forehead, her eyes narrowing as she muttered "That baka…" A smile formed on her lips. Naruto was his cheerful self again only in one night, and she thought she too, needed to be just like that. Stop thinking about their unsuccessful mission, stop thinking about Sasuke, for now.

It was another day and another mission again, as always. She grumbled and pushed herself up to sitting position on the bed.

"Wonder what the important mission is. I better hurry." She nodded to herself and flew to the bathroom. Not even 10 minutes had passed and she was already dressed, complete with her kunai pouch and head protector secured around her thigh and pink hair respectively. After a quick glance at herself in the mirror and a nod of approval, she quickly made her way down and to the front door. Not forgetting to grab the ready made cup ramen and finished it before leaving.

In the Hokage office, twenty minutes later…

"But…Tsunade-baachan…" Naruto whined.

"No buts, Naruto. You're not going with Sakura. Period." Tsunade didn't even look at Naruto as she finished scribbling on a medical scroll that Sakura would take with her to Suna.

"Yes, Naruto. You've got better things to do…like…" Sakura finally opened her mouth to stop the blonde's whining.

"Like what? I need to see how Gaara's doing and Sakura-chan, what if you're attacked? What if you got into problems? If you go alone, no one would be there to help! I can—"

"Naruto! Who do you think I am?" Sakura now glaring, shutting up Naruto immediately. "I can take care of myself and Gaara. You need to—"

"Train." Kakashi suddenly showed up in a puff of smoke, still reading his favorite Icha Icha Paradise book. Everyone in the room stopped and looked at him.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Both Naruto and Sakura said in unison. The Hokage stood up slowly before putting a final stamp on the scroll, "Yeah, Naruto. Just like Kakashi said. You need to train." Tsunade said sternly.

"But…" Naruto was about to protest again but Tsunade shut him up.

"Do you know how far you've fallen behind Sasuke, Naruto?"

O-o… Hearing what Tsunade said, Sakura and Kakashi both exchanged a quick glance. "The taboo word. That's got to hurt." Kakashi thought inwardly.

There was silence for a while as everyone stared at Naruto who now stood still, his eyes wide opened as he stared at the floor, his body trembling a little, and his fists hardened.

"…gomen, I can't go with you to Suna, Sakura-chan." Naruto said quietly. Finally turned to Sakura, forcing a smile.

"I think Kakashi-sensei and Tsunade-baachan are right. I'll prove to Sasuke I'm also special, in my own special way!" He smiled again, this time not the forced smile, but a smile of confidence.

Sakura nodded and smiled back. "Good. That's how we all want it Naruto." Tsunade also nodded in satisfaction as her little trick just worked wonderfully. "Kakashi, Naruto will be under your care from now on. I've also discharged Yamato from his missions to help with the training."

"Hai."

"Ok. You may leave now." Tsunade waved her hand lazily.

Kakashi nodded and then motioned with his hand for Naruto to follow him "Naruto, come. Oh, and Sakura…"

"What sensei?"

Kakashi paused and looked at Sakura for a moment and then nodded to his pink-haired student, "You're on your own this time. Do your best."

"Of course. Sensei!" Sakura held her fist in front of her chest for assurance.

"And take this." Kakashi grabbed something from inside his pocket and tossed it to Sakura. She caught it quickly.

"Sensei, this…"

"It's a special made kunai, very strong. It can even smash through metal. Should come in handy when you're out of chakra." Kakashi explained.

"Arigato, sensei…" Sakura thanked her sensei and gave him the sweetest smile she could managed.

"Hmm, very thoughtful of you, Kakashi." Tsunade suddenly said mockingly.

"Ah? Oh! She's my student after all, Hokage-sama. Now I think I should run, meet me at the training ground, Naruto!" Kakashi then formed a hand seal and disappeared into smoke.

"Sakura-chan…" Naruto turned to Sakura, his expression serious. "Gaara is suffering badly, but…I know you can help him, because Sakura-chan is Baa-chan's best student, right?"

"Naruto…"

"Say hi to Gaara from me ok?" The blonde did the nice guy pose and smiled widely, "When you're back, I'll show you my new awesome jutsu! Believe it!" And then he too disappeared into a puff of smoke.

Sakura and Tsunade stared at each other, now that there were only two of them left in the room.

"Well…" Tsunade coughed, clearing her throat. "Now for your mission, take this scroll with you. I've written in there some of the most useful techniques for dealing with one's chaotic chakra concentration that I highly suspect is the culprit. Study it on your way to Suna, and remember…you're only there to treat the Kazekage's illness. This is an A rank mission I can assign only to you, so don't do anything that might lead to problems because there'll be no replacement if anything bad happened to you." The Hokage paused and smiled wickedly, "Not that I'm going to let that happens to my apprentice."

"Thanks, Tsunade-shishou. I'll remember that." Sakura chuckled softly and smiled as she bowed and took the scroll from her Master.

"You have 2 hours to pack your stuffs and leave as soon as possible. If my suspicion was true, then at this rate, the Kazekage has only one week to survive, we're running out of time. I'm counting on you, Sakura."

To be continued.