The first thought Sakura had about Suna was that it was damn hot. It wasn't so much an opinion as it was an indisputable fact. The notion remained true to this day, years after her initial visit, on her fifth trip to Suna.
It was that very same thought that popped into the young kunoichi's head every morning as she stretched awake in her rented room. It was that thought that reminded her every day - she was not at home.
She didn't regret becoming the ambassador to Suna. She loved the village, and many of its people. However, there's just no place like home, and for Sakura home was Konoha.
As Sakura was musing on about Konoha, there was a knock at the door. She sighed, recognizing the harsh pounding as Temari's. As former ambassador to Konoha, and current assistant to the Kazegake, it was her job to make Sakura feel welcome. The Konoha nin couldn't bear to tell the older kunoichi that she was failing miserably.
"Sakura? You're needed for a meeting!" the woman called through the door.
"I'll be right out," Sakura replied, scrambling out of the bed to get dressed. She grabbed the nicest looking clothes out of her pack and hurriedly donned them. She quickly slipped on her shoes and nearly ran to the door.
Temari gave her a once over. "Your shirt's on inside out," she pointed out.
Sakura looked only to see that her shirt was not inside out. She glared at Temari, who smirked back at her "Made ya look!"
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Very funny."
Temari smiled and turned on her heal. "Let's go, Gaara doesn't like to wait."
Sakura followed. She had picked up Kakashi's terrible habit of tardiness, and had learned the first day that the Kazekage would not tolerate it. He had been slightly upset about it, and coming from him it was scary.
Gaara was no longer the horrible mosnter who had nearly destroyed Lee's career as a shinobi. He didn't carry the ichibi inside if him anymore, but was by no means a lesser shinobi. He was probably one of the strongest leaders Suna had ever had... And he scared the shit out of Sakura.
Temari had caught on the that fear from the start, and had promised Sakura that nowadays, he was practically harmless. She had also sworn that she would try to stay at Sakura's disposal so that her contact with the scary boy was limited. That was when Sakura grew to genuinely like Temari.
But the fear remained as she stepped into the Kazekage's conference room. She was greeted, and returned the 'hello's' with a 'good morning,' and took her seat. A few moments passed before her emerald eyes met the jade of the Kazekage's.
"Thank you all for being prompt and present," Temari began, before taking her seat at Gaara's side.
Temari explained that the meeting was mostly about the current shortage of medical ninja and supplies due to the sudden increase in attacks on Suna ninja around Wind's border.
Sakura had not known about this, but immediately offered her assistance. No one argued, and she caught an expression of gratitude on the Kazekage's face, returning it with a small smile.
"Well that nearly solves the staff problem, but what about supplies?" Temari pointed out.
"Konoha is more than willing to donate supplies to an ally in time of need. But honestly, i believe the primary concern should be the attacks, and the motives behind them."
Gaara nodded, but the other council members looked a little shocked. Sakura guessed that they were either flustered by her certain, authoritative tone, or were surprised that she had a genuine concern for Suna's people. The last ambassador, they had discovered, hated Suna.
"Haruno-san is right," Gaara agreed, "Squads should be set up around the boarder of wind country."
"Konoha, I'm sure, will be willing to set up some of our own ninja along the border of Wind and Fire," Sakura chimed in, "A messenger should be sent to inform the Hokage."
"You seem quite confident in our alliance, kunoichi," a man whose name Sakura had not caught chimed in.
The Konoha nin glared at him, "You may call me Sakura, or Haruno. 'Kunoichi' is not a name, it's an occupation," her tone had an obvious hint of anger in it, and the man visibly shrank away from her. She continued, "And I am so confident because I am personally aquainted with the current Hokage, the current Kazekage, and the future Hokage. The friendship between sand and leaf is concrete, and i would stake my life on it."
Everyone seemed taken aback by her brash statement, and she realized she may have gone overboard.
"If no one has anything else to add, this meeting is adjourned." the Kazekage said, feeling the need to end the awkward council.
Sakura noticed the man that had doubted her leave quickly, and smirked to herself. She was standing when she felt a hand on her arm. The kunoichi was a little surprised to see that hand belonged to Gaara.
"If you would accompany me to my office," he half asked, half ordered.
Sakura looked to Temari, but knew that the Sand kunoichi could not save her from the wrath of the Kazekage, even if he was her little brother. She sighed and nodded, following the red haired man to his office.
Sakura immediately jumped to her own defense. "I know that was out of line, Kazekage-sama, and I'm very sorry, I just-"
Gaara held a hand up to stop her. "You are not in trouble, Haruno-san."
Sakura blinked. "I'm not?"
She didn't know he was capable if smiling, but he did. It was small, and tentative, but Sakura didn't fail to notice that it made him incredibly more handsome.
"I actually wanted to thank you," he surprised her, "Suichi's been acting up in council meetings lately, and it was good for him to be put in his place."
"Oh," Sakura replied, simply, "Well, in that case, you're very welcome."
The smile returned for a moment, but then it was time for business. "A messenger will be sent tonight to Konoha. I would like for you to write the message, requesting precautionary troops on the border of our countries." Sakura nodded, "You will begin at the hospital tomorrow. I would like for you to work the evening shifts, because they are the most in need of assistance."
"Understood," Sakura smiled at him, but he didn't return it.
"Thank you, Haruno-san," he said, dismissing Sakura.
The medic turned to leave, but stopped and tyrned back to the Kazekage.
"Hey, Gaara," she called. The man looked up at her. He didnt realize that it was possible to emphasize the lack of an honorific, but some how this Konoha kunoichi had managed just that. She continued, "You can call me Sakura. We've known each other long enough to drop the formalities. And honestly, I've always found it to be just an excuse to claim difference." She thought for a moment. "Unless of course, you're too mysteriously superior to think if me as an equal..."
He smiled his tiny smile again, "I agree, Sakura. It is strange to refer to someone you know well so formally."
She smiled her bright smile at him, and left without another word.
Sakura stood from her desk and looked out the window. She had already written her official letter about the reserves along the border, but she could not for the life of her put down everything she wanted to say to her friends back home on paper.
If she had it her way, she would simply go to Konoha and inform them of the Kazakage's plans herself. Then she could just talk to everyone in person. But that wasn't going to happen. She was needed in Suna as ambassador, and now, as a medic.
She sighed and sat back down at her desk. Maybe a short nap would help. She set her head down, staring in the general direction of the window, and eventually fell asleep.