Disclaimer: So I do not own Naruto or its characters whatsoever. Got that, good.

Notes: Hey. So this is my first Naruto fic. Hope you like it.

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As they came to a clearing in the forest, Team 7 came to a stop. They were on D-class mission, guarding the outskirts of a small village a day away from Konoha. It was nothing that big; the village had problems around this time of year with robbers and had asked the Hokage for some protection. Just another routine mission, but everyone on Team 7 was happy to be out and traveling again.

"Alright, Naruto and I will go to report to the village, Sasuke go get some firewood, and Sakura scout the area and secure a perimeter," Kakashi said and started walking away with an orange book in hand.

"Hear that teme, I get to go to the village and you have to get wood," Naruto grinned.

"Leave Sasuke-kun alone, Naruto," Sakura glared at the blonde before turning and looking sweetly at the dark-haired boy.

"Dobe. I am not the one being babysat," Sasuke retorted, ignoring Sakura all together.

"Would you like me to make some shrimp ramen for dinner, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked affectionately.

The only reply was a bland 'keh' and then Sasuke was off. Sakura sighed, eyes still looking longingly on the spot where her crush disappeared.

"Shrimp ramen sounds delicious, Sakura-chan," Naruto cheered, breaking her from thoughts of the good-looking Uchicha.

"You do know Kakashi-sensei left don't you?"

Naruto looked to where the white-haired ninja had headed off to.

"I'll catch up with him in no time, cuz I am the great Naruto Uzaki!" Naruto proclaimed and gave a victory sign before he turned and took off after his sensei.

Sakura smiled and shook her head at his childishness. Sometimes she wondered how someone like Naruto would be able to become a ninja. But he was strong. She had seen evidence of his power time and time again. His and Sasuke's strengths were constant reminders that she was weak and needed to get stronger. It was something she wanted to prove to them and herself. And she wanted to be able to be there for her team, be a help and not a hindrance to them in battle- be able to protect them.

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Getting to work, she started on setting up a perimeter for them to make camp. She was nearly done when she saw a glimpse of red ahead of her. She went around and from the back so she would not be detected.

The problem was that when she tried to come up from behind, she could not find the person. Walking forward silently, she looked around, but saw no one. All she saw was the forest floor, thick tree trunks, and empty branches above.

Then a person stepped out from a tree right in front of her. She took in the pale skin, jade eyes, red hair, and gourd with wide eyes. 'He's far from home, isn't he? Wonder what he is here for.' Shaking herself mentally, she decided to greet him. She had seen him fight and she thought it best not to be rude.

"Gaara-sama," she acknowledged, but he did not respond and so they just stood there until she grew impatient.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

When he remained silent, only looking at her with a cold, blank expression she started to get angry. 'He probably thinks I'm not worth the time,' she thought angrily.

"It's rude to not reply when someone is speaking with you."

"Weak Kounichi," he stated.

Sakura blinked, surprised at first that that he spoke at all and then furious with his answer.

"What?!" Sakura fumed.

"You are weak, and you are pathetic for following the Uchicha like a pathetic fool," the red head said looking down on her like she just something annoying and in his way.

"I love Sasuke-hun," she said defensively.

"Love is weak," he said blankly, as it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"No it is not. I love him and someday he will love me the same way," Sakura raised her chin brashly.

"The Uchicha seems to know it is a stupid to waste his time with such a weak kounichi as you."

The way he said it in that cold voice made something crack inside her chest. That cold voice reminded her of Sasuke-kun's, and it brought up all her doubts about Sasuke never liking her and that she would always just be a weak kounichi with a huge forehead.

All her life she got picked on for one thing or another; her pink hair, being so skinny, her big forehead, not being strong enough. She tried to get stronger, tried to ignore the taunts, and did whatever she could to win Sasuke-kun's affections. And she got stronger and she had started to grow into her body, but she was still weak compared to her teammates and she wasn't and probably never would be as pretty as Ino.

And here this emotionless weirdo had the nerve to taunt her like everyone else. She felt the anger build with the hurt until it came tumbling out of her mouth, aiming to hurt him like she did.

"I hate you!"

She hit him, her ring scratching deeply into the skin of his cheek. The cut was unintentional, she had forgotten she had a ring on, but Gaara did not know that.

'I'm dead meat.'

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Hehe, gotta watch your temper with Gaara. So what's the verdict, should I keep going?