I do not own Naruto, I do own this fic…

The Strength of the Sands

Prologue

Sakura held her breath. Had it been that long since she last saw the Sand Shinobi? Temari was her normal tempermental self as she ridiculed Shikamaru. Kankuro was still playing with his chakra puppets.

But her interest didn't focus on them.

Since she had healed him of a few injuries, since she last told him to take care. Since he showed enough care to warn her of Ino's injuries…

Gaara had held something even Sasuke couldn't touch.

Sasuke was back, of course. He was still the same but not. He was Sasuke but a part of her always wondered how Gaara was doing. Had he healed completely? Had he thought of her?

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Gaara said his little words to a select few leaf villagers as he walked into the gates. He looked to Temari and Kankuro and then back to the temple of the Hokage. He smirked as he remembered Naruto's words of being a Hokage. He didn't doubt Naruto in the least.

People could do anything, right?

But he didn't want to congratulate Naruto. He wanted to thank Sakura again for healing him. A while had passed. He still wondered how she was. But to have wondered if she missed him? If she thought of him? Nonsense. He was a beast.

In the forest, he had almost killed her. If Naruto hadn't intervened, he would have.

And what a pity that would be.

Then he saw her.

She saw him.

He began to quicken his step.

She smiled at his recovered status.

As he neared her, he bowed politely, "Thank you."

She blinked, "For what?"

"Healing me again."

She shook her head and put her hand on his shoulder, almost surprised he didn't pull away from her. He looked at her strangely then. What could be going through his mind, she didn't know. "It's fine Gaara, and again, you're welcome. Stop being nice, you're scaring me." she laughed.

He smirked. He loved her laugh. He hated her lust for a mongrel to him. Uchiha Sasuke. He didn't know what he had right in front of him. Unfortunately…

Gaara would never know that.

The passion Sakura held for Sasuke.

The undying trust in him.

Her love for him.

Gaara would never know it.

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Kage1586

Reviews please!

So! I'm tryin this one out for size! Tell me whatcha think guys! I have recently begun to like the Gaara/Sakura pairings. It's almost impossible, it's fantastically amazing! I even based my myspace off of this! HAHA! Victory is mine!