1Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and its characters.

BETTER SUMMARY: Shortly after the second war between Konoha and Suna, with Orochimaru behind it again, Sakura was torn in between following her heart and saving the village. Why did she said goodbye to Sasuke? And what does Gaara have to do with this?

Bride of the Village

Chapter 1

In the dark shadows that blanketed the surrounding, someone spoke to herself quietly in a soft whisper, her voice coated with sadness.

"It's been seven years... how much longer do you expect me to wait?"

The young rosette haired 20 year old started to shed warm salty tears. Nearly three years ago, she had an encounter with one of Sasuke's new teammate that goes by the name of Karin. The dark-haired girl mocked her, thinking she was just some petty, girly ninja who does not even know how to throw a punch correctly. Sakura proved her wrong though, hitting her square at the jaw. She came out as the winner of the duel, scoffing at the bloody body that belonged to Karin.

Even though a ninja was not supposed to show emotion, she could no longer hold back her tears. She had held them back for far too long. She then decided that if the raven-haired boy, or should she say man, didn't come back soon she would just forget about him completely.

Then she fell into a deep sleep, her comforter hugging her body nicely.

- - - - -

"Sakura, Sai, Naruto, you may come in now," someone called from behind a door.

"What is it baa-chan?" A young spiky haired blonde asked the 5th Hokage, his eyes squinted that gave him the foxy look.

"Listen up you three. A very important person will be coming to our village and I want the three of you to be his escorts when he arrived. This mission is substantial," Tsunade spoke very seriously.

"Who is this person Tsunade-sama?" Sakura asked her former sensei with a cautious tone.

"He happens to be Gaara of the Sand village. Now you all remember him and somehow is close to him," she looked pointedly toward Naruto, "and I'm sure you remember what almost caused the war between us and the Sand village and how Orochimaru tricked them. He is coming here to make an alliance of peace with Konoha..." Tsunade trailed off, readjusting her seat for a moment before looking at the three of them intently, her gaze landing at the pink-haired woman standing on Naruto's left.

"He is looking for a bride to strengthen the two villages' bonds and in order to keep the amity between the Leaf and the Sand village. It's your job to protect him at all costs. Most of the village wants the Sand village's Kazekage dead. There are a lot of ninjas out to get him so be careful. Got it?" Tsunade spoke to Naruto and Sakura slowly while she closed her eyes to think.

"Yes Tsunade-sama. We will protect him at all costs." Sakura answered the hazel-eyed Hokage.

"You are dismissed, except for you Sai."

After they received their next mission both Sakura and Naruto went their separate ways. Naruto went to speak to Jiraiya while Sakura went to the library to study a new medical jutsu.

But before Sakura left, she heard from behind the oak doors of the Hokage's office something along the lines of 'Sakura's fate will be decided'.

- - - - -

A young raven-haired man was silently thinking to himself, when his thoughts were interrupted by a blonde-haired woman.

"Sasuke… it's been a long time."

"Yes it has been Hokage-sama," Sasuke spoke to Tsunade with respect but not a lot, it seemed as if it was forced. He straightened his composure and looked at Tsunade with intent coal eyes.

"I have lately been wondering where exactly you plan to go. You have achieved your revenge now, and if I'm right, even ended my former teammate's evilness. Why do you still lurk in the shadows, what are you searching for?" Tsunade asked Sasuke.

There was a moment of silence. Sasuke had his eyes closed as if contemplating wether to answer the older woman's question or not.

"Answers... I'm searching for answers that will lead me to the real reason why I still exist. And I'm also searching for an excuse to tell someone," he answered. As he spoke the last sentence, there was a flicker of longing evident in his lightless eyes.

"Well I'm certain I know what you're talking about so listen up. I will allow you to come back to Konoha with less punishment on one condition: you forget about Sakura completely. Her fate will be decided tomorrow and she can't change it." Tsunade paused for a while, trying to let the Uchiha drink in all the information.

"So what will it be Sasuke? Will you keep on lurking in the shadows all alone or will you choose to forget about Sakura? If you come back to Konoha I will assume that you have

chosen to forget Sakura," Tsunade had a very serious face while speaking to the young raven-haired man.

With all that said the 5th Hokage disappeared in a puff of smoke. The moment she left, Sasuke was lost in his thoughts again. As he tried to concentrate on them he couldn't help but look at the cherry blossoms sway with the wind, the moon giving it an ethereal glow. When he looked at the cherry blossoms, he thought of his previous teammate and her rosette hair. Why should he give Sakura up? What did Tsunade meant by her fate already decided? Sasuke had a puzzled look on his face as he realized what he would do and after a long while of thinking he took off into the distant land.

- - - - -

Naruto and Sakura walked to Konoha's gates to meet up with Gaara.

"Who do you think he's going to choose as his bride Naruto-kun?" His young rosette haired teammate asked in curiosity.

"I'm not sure, maybe Ino. We will have to see but I do know for sure that he won't be picking you and I will make sure of that!" Sakura blushed as she heard Naruto speak about her.

Over the previous years Sakura and Naruto had grown closer and closer. Naruto had always been the protective brother she never had and she, the caring sister he never had. Gone were the days where she would always beat him up for little things that doesn't deserve the face of her fists.

"Damn that stupid Sai! He is always late for missions!" Naruto complained to the slightly irritated kunoichi beside him. Even Sakura was ticked off with how Kakashi now got a companion of always being late.

Sakura giggled after sometime as Naruto continued to complain about their other teammate. After about another half an hour Sai showed up, and just in time too because right after Sai showed up Gaara showed up too.

The mission commenced as soon as Gaara stepped inside Konoha's walls. They walked casually, although it all seemed strange to Sakura that all Gaara was interested in was things that were about her. His jade eyes that were duller compared to her bright jade ones were always trained on her, shy at first before it seemed to be pretty... possessive should she say. And then the thought occurred that she might end up his bride. She felt horrified just thinking about it. She would have to leave Konoha and forget about Sasuke. However, it occurred to her that she herself wanted to forget about the avenger at the right time, maybe opportunity just showed itself to her.

Before they went down a dark alley, a tear fell down Sakura's face. Either it was from the thought of forgetting Sasuke and getting married to a guy she barely knew, or the fact that she was getting married to someone who does not hold her heart. Maybe it was because of both.

This was what Tsunade meant by her 'fate will soon be decided'.

As they reached the end of the alley way Gaara ordered Naruto and Sai to wait there. The two complied, Naruto a little unsure about it. Then Gaara led Sakura down another alley way. Sakura felt really bad about being alone with someone she considers a 'stranger'.

"What are your real intentions Gaara-sama?" Sakura asked calmly.

"Nothing unimportant. I just want to take a closer look at my future bride. Look at me Sakura-san," Gaara's answer was frightening for Sakura and when she refused to look at him he pushed her up against the wall and tried to put his lips onto hers. She pushed him away before he could, her heart racing fast against her ribcage.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Sakura asked, her breath coming in a fast pace.

Gaara, in a fury, slapped her hard at the face. The palm of his hand hit her right cheek and he felt a tiny feeling of regret upon doing that. But that feeling was crushed as fast as it came.

Naruto ran into the scene just in time to see Gaara in front of Sakura, who had her head still tilted to the side. Gaara had his hand extended in front of himself, looking at it briefly before calmly putting it down back to his side. Sakura straightened herself up and place a hand gently on her right cheek, looking at Gaara with wide, emerald eyes. Naruto did not need an explanation to know what had happened between the two.

"What do you think are you doing?! You can't hurt Sakura-chan!" Naruto was screaming at Gaara when Sai stepped in front of him to stop him from attacking Gaara.

"Naruto, remember what Tsunade-sama told you. This is for the village's peace," Sai replied with a blank look on his face, a hand extended beside him to keep Naruto from advancing toward the Kazekage.

Gaara crossed his arms in front of his chest and smirked slightly at the blonde. Friends or not, it does not matter as long as he got the girl he wanted.

"We will see! I have decided who my bride will be and it will be you, Sakura-san. You will be my bride no matter what." Gaara spoke with his usual expressionless face then he turned to leave and disappeared. He left Sakura crying, Naruto raging with anger and Sai being as calm as he always was.

After a few silent moment and as Naruto approached her to as if she was alright, it was then that Sakura started to run. She ran straight into Tsunade's office to demand an explanation about the one little thing that will cause a huge difference in her life.

"Tsunade-sama what the hell is going on? Gaara-sama said I'm going to be his bride and he even tried to kiss me! Is this what you meant by my fate being decided?!" Sakura was half-confused and half-angered as she spoke to Tsunade.

The blonde woman raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. So Sakura have been eavesdropping during her conversation with Sai. Feeling like she deserved Sakura's outbursts, she decided to let her apprentice's lack of respect toward her pass.

"Sakura I'm afraid you have no choice. Gaara has made up his mind and you will marry him for the sake of Konoha. We need this peace treaty... remember, we are low on our manpower and we can't afford another war breaking off," Tsunade explained.

"Look I'm sorry Sakura. You're the only one who can do it! Everyone's counting on you," the Hokage said, looking at Sakura intently.

Sakura lowered her gaze at the floor of the office, contemplating on what her decision would be. It was true, they are low on manpower ever since another attack from the Sound village came, Orochimaru being the leader once more, but Sasuke was nowhere near the scene. They may have won, but it was barely. A lot of structures were ruined, and everyone was giving all their efforts to rebuild the fallen village. If she agreed to the situation, the chance of another war would decrease, plus the help the Sand village could give to their village. However, in exchange of that would be the rest of her life with the man she does not deeply know and her heart forever broken. On the other hand, she also could not bare the thought of all her village people suffering because of her selfish acts.

Sakura took a deep breath and looked at Tsunade with defiant emerald eyes "Alright, I'll do it. I will be the bride of the village. I will bring peace and harmony to us."

Tsunade smiled proudly at the roseate kunoichi.

"You leave in two days, that's when you will move to the Sand village. I'm really sorry Sakura but there is nothing I can do. I promised him anyone he wanted and he wanted you."

Tsunade further explained the details of how the marriage was going to commence.

After Sakura heard how many days she had left, she answered with a muffled response in which Tsunade didn't understand and then she started to walk away. When she was out of Tsunade's sight she started to run as she shed tears after tears.

- - - - -

Sakura hadn't been watching were she was going and suddenly she ended up colliding with someone and she ended up on the ground with someone groaning beside her.

"Gomen, Gomen! I-I didn't mean to. I wasn't watching where I was going."

The man looked at his side, to find a woman with pink hair and porcelain-like skin, her head bowing down rapidly and was still trying to apologize. Who would have thought, the last person he saw when he left would be the first person he would see after he returned.

"It's been a long time Sakura," Sakura heard a familiar voice as she looked up and was startled to see –

"Sa-Sasuke-kun?!"

Sasuke took in the now-mature appearance of the girl he once thought was annoying. Throughout the time he spent outside the village, behind his heartless facade he displayed on everyone, he had always longed for the village he grew up on. He would always think about the team who considered him a friend, but he just waved those thoughts away.

Then, after accomplishing the revenge that was the main focus of his life all those years, there was the strange feeling that grew up inside him instantly – the feeling of emptiness. It was then that he realized Kakashi was right; revenge won't bring him any happiness. Now that everything was done, he felt that his existence did not matter anymore. He even tried to kill himself once, but a flash of pink ran in his mind and he stopped. After that incident, he could not stop thinking of his former female teammate. She plagued his mind day and night and he felt annoyed by this. He could not get any logical explanation of why it was happening, but he got used to it. And whenever he thought of her, he felt like his existence mattered.

That had started two years ago and then he realized, he had a reserved feeling for the kunoichi all those times. It just took time for him to see that, but he was not so sure about it, if it was love or not. After all, his heart stopped loving when that dreadful day in the Uchiha estate happened.

Now that he was back, he would try to start anew and apologize to one person he owed so much.

Sasuke gazed at the surprised Sakura beside him. Not an expert at such a situation, he felt really awkward but did not showed it. He was uncertain on how to start his 'starting anew'.

"Sakura," said person felt her heart skipped upon hearing that voice say her name, "I-I'm sorr..." Sasuke whispered the last part of that one big word, feeling really uncomfortable since he was not someone who apologizes every time.

Sakura heard it perfectly clear and smiled at him through watery eyes.

Sasuke looked appalled by seeing her smile once again, that one smile always reserved for him. It did strange things in his stomach that he never felt before. With hesitation, he placed a hand on her cheek, feeling its smoothness that contrast with his calloused palm.

"Sakura, I... I l-lo-," groaning with frustration upon being unable to say that one word that was forming in his mind and making him say, he opted into hugging Sakura – tightly.

Sakura felt the heat on her cheeks rose, and she tried to savor the feeling of his surprisingly warm chest pressed against her own. She was perplexed with the new Sasuke before her because for all she knew, he was not someone to just hug a person for no reason at all. But what was he saying before he hugged her? She snaked her arms on his waist, a bitter smile growing on her face when she tried to make herself believe that what he was trying to say were the words she longed to hear from him.

"S-Sasuke-kun..." she tried to say, but her words trailed off into a whisper when she remembered the situation she had agreed on. She was uncertain wether she should say what her heart was shouting or what her mind was advising her to do. She was getting married, for the village and to save herself from being heartbroken once again. Her mind battled that Sasuke could be doing this just for the fun of it, seeing that he liked seeing her cry. But her heart was reasoning that what he tried to confess was deeply true.

In the end, she was the one who made the choice. She must end this before it even began.

"I love you too Sasuke-kun... I've missed you so much. But it doesn't matter now." she pulled herself away from him and tried to stand up.

"What are you talking about?" Sasuke asked with a scanty puzzled expression.

"Sayonara... Sasuke-kun," Sakura said her goodbye to the one person she truly loved and then she disappeared into a cloud of smoke, a lone tear left falling on where she once stood.

She left a confused Sasuke just standing and alone.

They both had just confessed their undying love, with him failing to say the words but managing to show it in actions, but it lasted only for a moment before Sakura said her goodbye.

- - - - -

Hey let me know what you think! I thought this idea would make a cool fanfic! Sorry that Gaara's character is a little out of place and some of the other characters. If you are wondering, Karin and Sai are from the manga and Naruto Shippuuden-Anime. They are characters from the time skip.

. Anyway Plzz Review!!

Story edited by: baby's breath