A/n: HEY everyone!! I've finally got the next chapter and I know the first one was like SUPER shot but it was what I wanted because I couldn't start this chapter anywhere but where I did and I will have to admit I love this chapter. If you ask me Sakura is too kind for her own good lol. You will all see what I mean but yeah here's the next chapter!! Enjoy!!
Please Review!!!!!
Gaara just stared at the blonde boy in his presence almost in utter disbelief. "Ok so let me get this straight" he said holding up his hand. "You want me to leave my village to go help you rescue someone I hate?" he asked hoping his friend was joking around with him.
"Yeah that's pretty much it" Naruto nodded happily. Sakura slapped her hand on her forehead. She pushed Naruto aside and looked at Gaara.
"Look Kazekage-sama I am really sorry to have bothered you, we found our friend and our other teammate is not here. Tsunade-sama gave us permission to get anyone we wanted to assist us because this is not an official mission. She suggested someone who had an undefeatable defense and apparently this idiot thought of you" she gulped her small fear of the Kazekage kicking in.
She knew how he had changed but that image from their childhood always played in her head when she was around Gaara. He watched her as she played with her fingers and tried to get up the courage to speak her mind to him.
"Well, I know that it sounds unreasonable and I know you don't like Sasuke but you really are the strongest person I can think of too and it would really mean a lot to both of us if you helped us" she bowed her head.
Gaara stared at her in surprise and then disgust washed over his face, Sasuke. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, "Fine. I'll help you"
Sakura shot up with a bright smile, "Really?!"
"Awesome!" Naruto cheered. "Alright we should leave as soon as possible so you should pack soon" he said rushing over to Gaara and dragging him up.
"Ok, ok Naruto I will. But I have to clear it with the council, so how about you go pack for me and you make up some story to tell the council that you need me alright" he said to Sakura.
She nodded and Naruto ran out the door. "Come on" he said holding the door open for her. She walked through the door and followed him down the hall. 'Wow I haven't seen the Kazekage in a long time . . . he's gotten really cute' she blushed at her thought. Her mind went to Sasuke and she was determined to think up the perfect lie. The faster she moved the faster she would come to Sasuke.
Gaara opened the door and Sakura followed in seeing all the faces of the Suna council. 'What is my name again?' she asked herself loosing all confidence she had just had.
Gaara looked at her and saw her panicked face, "This is Haruno Sakura she is a shinobi from the leaf and it is an urgent matter that I join her and Uzumaki Naruto on a mission . . ."
"About the Akatsuki" she interrupted him and gave him a thankful look for saving her butt. "My village has discovered an Akatsuki base, we think it might have their plans, but we need the strongest people we can find. Naruto is the carrier of the nine tails and Gaara has the one tail. Both of them and I are going to go and investigate the base" she said taking a deep breath and hoping they would buy the lie.
"Kazekage-sama are you sure you want to go to the people that almost killed you?" one asked.
"I am, I want to get them back and save our village from their countless attacks that will surely come, I'll have Naruto and Sakura they are both more then capable of protecting themselves and each other. Temari can be my temporary while I am gone" he said sounding very political.
"Alright Kazekage-sama we will send some shinobi with you,"
"No" he ordered. "A normal squad is made of a three man cell, it's best to keep it small. I want to end this once and for all" he told the council.
"But Kazekage-sama,"
"No!" he glared at them all. "Just trust me I can handle this, all I want is for the village to be safe and I know Temari can do that in my absence" they all nodded and Gaara turned to Sakura and let out a sigh. She stared up at him and followed him as he left the room.
'Wow, he's a really good Kazekage. A lot better then Tsunade' she rolled her eyes thinking about her alcoholic sensei. 'He didn't lose his cool at all and these people tried to kill him when he was little, he sure has come a long way' she smiled and felt at least somewhat more comfortable around him.
"Ugh Sakura" Gaara said, she hadn't even realized she was ahead of him. She turned to look at him and answer but apparently he was going to warn her about the stairs she was about to trip down.
She stared down at the ground as the sand held her in place. "You might want to watch where you're going" he suggested. Gaara walked over beside her and had his sand push her up. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Sakura nodded really embarrassed now, he probably thought she was even more of an idiot. First the council and now this, "Sorry" she muttered.
"For what?" he said questioningly.
She just sweat-dropped 'Wow could he have changed more?' she asked herself. "We should probably get to my house so that Naruto doesn't destroy it" he said passing her and going down the stairs. Sakura nodded and followed silently.
'Come on Sakura you need to be better then this, the Kazekage of Suna is helping you get the love of your life and he doesn't even like Sasuke! Say thank you!' she yelled at herself.
By now they were already out on the scorching streets of Suna. "Um Kazekage-sama," she began.
"Please don't call me that" he said simply. She just shut her mouth tight and wanted to punch herself in the face.
"Well, um . . . Gaara," Man that was weird, "thank you"
He stopped and looked back at her, "Its fine, we all have reasons for doing things"
"Well what's your reason?" she asked walking up beside him and they both continued on.
"You don't need to concern yourself with that" he told her looking off into the distance.
Sakura sighed and just continued beside him. "So," he rubbed the back of his head and looked in the opposite direction of her, "You still obsessed with the Uchiha?"
"You mean Sasuke?" she blushed.
"Yeah that's what I said," he retorted.
She huffed, "No you said the Uchiha" she corrected.
"Maybe I don't want to call him Sasuke, I find it more appropriate for me to call someone I hate by the last name" he said angrily.
Sakura stopped herself before she could say anything else and kept telling herself, 'Shut up stupid he's helping you save Sasuke!'
"I'm sorry, call him what ever you want" she said forcing a smile.
He just shook his head and walked ahead of her. She ran a bit to catch up, "What is it?"
"First of all you don't want me to call him what ever I want, it would hurt your feelings and I don't want to do that and second don't be so defensive if you do something I don't like, it's not like I'm going to not help you," a small smirk came across his face.
"I'll just kill you" he snickered.
Sakura shook her head and gave a small laugh even though she wasn't sure if he was being serious or not. He slowed down and opened a huge front door and Sakura just stared up in awe. He held it open for her and they both went in.
"I'll just go make sure Naruto got all the right things and I'll be right back down, if you're hungry the kitchen is right there" he said turning away from her and disappearing in a swirl of sand. A thought occurred to her as she stared at the spot he had just been.
"Why didn't he just tell me to stay at his office and do that?" she wondered but shrugged it off. "Whatever" she mumbled and sat herself on one of the couches.
-
Gaara looked through the bag Naruto had packed for him and nodded. "Wow Naruto you actually packed all the things I needed" he laughed as Naruto grinned.
"So," Naruto's grin grew. He nudged Gaara and giggled like a girl. "How was it with Sakura?" he asked begging for details, "Did you make you move?"
Gaara glared at the blond and just shook his head, "I told you I wasn't going to do anything" he said calmly.
"Oh come on Gaara, your so much better for her then Sasuke. Not to mention you're a Kazekage, your hot, and you're like the strongest person on the face of the planet . . . other then me of course" he laughed rubbing his finger under his nose.
Gaara just stared at him with a freaked out look. "What?" Naruto asked.
"I'm going to ignore the fact that you just called me hot and that you think your stronger then me, because that is impossible" he gave the blond a small smirk.
"Well I am," Naruto said laughing triumphantly.
"You wanna test it out right now?"
"I thought you'd never ask," Naruto smiled and made the hands signs and three more Naruto appeared. Gaara's sand erupted around him and got ready to strike.
The door slammed open and Sakura glared in at the two, "How did I know you two would be retarded like this"
Naruto's clones disappeared and Gaara's sand eased back into his gourd. "I would have won," Gaara said turning away from Naruto.
"Yeah right," Naruto said charging at him. Sakura's fist made contact with Naruto face making him fall to the floor.
"I. Don't. Care." She huffed and glared at Gaara's back. "Are you ready?" she asked through clenched teeth.
"As ready as I shall ever be," he assured her and grabbed his bag. "Come on Naruto," he said as he walked passed the crying boy. Sakura followed Gaara out and Naruto jumped up chasing after the two.
They walked out the front door and headed for the gates. "Hey Sakura don't you think that Sasuke is just so emo, I mean you deserve someone better . . . someone who is undeniably in love with you, kind like G-" Gaara stomped as hard as he could on Naruto's foot. He sent him an icy glare that went unseen by the tear filled eyes.
"OW!" he yelled holding his foot. Gaara smirked and walked ahead as Sakura just stared at Naruto.
"Gosh Naruto you call yourself a shinobi and you cry over stubbing your toe" she shook her head and sighed.
"Yeah Naruto, suck it up" Gaara said in a mocking manor.
"You know what Gaara you just wait!" Naruto warned as if he had revenge planned.
"Whatever" Gaara said continuing ahead. They exited Suna after a talk with the guards and headed toward the land of earth. Sakura trailed behind Gaara and Naruto behind her.
"It's so hot out here" she complained shielding her eyes from the unyielding sun. Almost as soon as the words left her mouth shade covered her and she saw Gaara's sand blocked out the sand for her.
"Oh you didn't have to do that," she blushed poking her fingers together.
"It doesn't bother me, not like I have any other use for it at this point" he shrugged.
"Hey Gaara I'm hot too," Naruto said.
The red head didn't answer and only continued on doing nothing about it. Naruto huffed and crossed his arms in a pouting gesture. He smirked and looked at Sakura, "So Sakura I have another to add to the list of the people who like you"
Gaara tensed but tried to act casual. "Really now" Sakura replied quite uninterested in the matter.
"Oh yeah he's one of the strongest shinobi I know and he has a brother and sister and-"
"Naruto I really don't care, you know that I love Sasuke so why bother telling me?" she said looking back at him. His face fell in defeat and he gave up on trying. He rested his hands behind his head and leaned it back.
The sun started setting and the shadow across the desert grew in size. Gaara's sand fell as the sun was now out of sight and no longer was needed. "We should probably stop before it gets too cold" Gaara said stopping and moving his hands creating a flat surface.
He kneeled down and hit his hands on the ground making a small one room hut type thing. "It gets really cold and windy at night, this should do though. I mixed it with minerals from deep beneath the ground" he informed the two gesturing for them to go in.
"See Sakura I told you BEST person for the job. Gaara you are the man!" Naruto cheered going in and placing his things down. He came out with some sticks and Sakura went in setting up her own sleeping bag.
Naruto got a fire started and started cooking ramen. Sakura came out and sat down beside Naruto, "So what are we doing about watch?"
"I'll do it" Gaara said immediately.
She stared at him very confused at what he had proposed, "I don't sleep" he reminded her. "Why take turns when you two need all the sleep you can get, I haven't slept for 22 years" he leaned back and fell onto the sand staring up at the moon.
Naruto handed Sakura the instant ramen and handed Gaara some as well. They ate in silence but it wasn't a horrible awkward silence, all their minds were off in different places.
'I should have brought some pork ramen'
'I wonder how long it will take to find Sasuke'
'I wonder if Sasuke still looks like a douche'
There was a grumble from Naruto, a sigh from Sakura, and a snicker from Gaara. Naruto yawned and piled up the garbage; he placed it in a specific bag and looked at the two. "I'm going to head to bed" he yawned.
"Yeah me too" Sakura said standing with the sleepy blond. "Night Gaara" she said going into the sand hut. He stared after her and then directed his gaze towards Naruto.
"I'm telling you, if she knew she would defiantly be swayed about Sasuke," he told him.
"Don't worry about it Naruto. I can tell that it wouldn't there always someone that ends up with one sided love" he sighed and looked to the sky.
Naruto just looked down at his friend, "You came because of her didn't you?"
He shrugged and refused to answer. Naruto just shook his head, "Well night. See you in the morning" he yawned and headed in with Sakura.
-
Sakura sat up finally after a whole 30 minutes of trying to get back to sleep. She pushed off her blanket and stood up, she remembered Gaara's words but it felt perfect in here. She grabbed the blanket just in case and stepped outside. It was freezing; Sakura wrapped the blanket around her and looked around for the red head.
She looked and saw him sitting on a sand dune right beside their camp. She struggled up the loose sand and stood only feet away from him. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked.
"Yeah . . . can I sit with you?"
"Its cold" was his only reply.
She walked beside him and sat down, "I have a blanket" she smiled and looked down at him. "Aren't you cold?" Sakura asked worriedly.
"Not really," he lied. In truth he could no longer feel his fingers. Sakura looked at his slightly shivering arms and sighed.
"You're a bad liar" she smiled pulling some of the blanket around him. She sat closer to him so it would fit around them both. "If you're cold you could just say so" she said kindly.
She tried to close it around them and her hand brushed against his, "My god Gaara your hands are frozen!" she gasped grabbing them with her warm ones and rubbing her thumbs in circles. He just turned his face away from her and stared at the sand around them.
"I'm sorry," he said turning back to her.
She blinked and had a very confused look on her face. "For what? You haven't done anything to me" she smiled.
"Back then when I hurt you, I never told you I was sorry. It's always bothered me" he admitted.
Sakura was just wide eyed it was if all the tension between him and her melted with those words, "Thank you, that really means more then you think"
She smiled up at him and he tried to give her a small one. "My goodness Gaara your hands are just freezing" she laughed pulling them closer to her. He tried to keep his cool demeanor but it was becoming especially hard now.
After awhile Gaara pulled his hands away from hers, she looked up at him confused with his action. "You should really get to sleep" he said looking away.
"Yeah, I guess I should but you can't stay out here. I forbid it" she said standing up and pulling him up as well. She held the blanket tightly around them and looked toward the small hut. "Come on, I refuse to let you stay out here and freeze" she smiled and started down the hill with him extremely close behind.
"It's really alright"
"No its not" she glared back at him. "Friends look after each other and don't let each other freeze" she said entering the cozy one room hut. He fixed the blanket do it was around her and sat against the wall with the door. She sat in her sleeping bag and looked over at him, "If you go out there again I'll break every bone in your body" she threatened with a smirk.
"Oh really" he smirked back.
"You think I can't?"
"Oh I know you can" he sighed and leaned against the wall. She smiled with triumph and lay down.
"Night Gaara" she yawned and closed her eyes falling asleep quickly.
Gaara stared at her sleeping face and a small smile rested on his face. "You don't deserve her Uchiha" he growled.
