The ages might sound a bit off but hey, it's my story so deal with. No I'm kidding; I'm trying to adjust to this new attitude of mine.

New Ages

Gaara – 19

Sakura – 17

Sasuke – 19

Naruto – 18

If you despise my existence, i hold no grudge.

But to protect those precious to me

I will make no such promise.

Chapter Two - Nine Years Later

"Gaara, can't we stop for one minute." Sakura groaned as they strolled through Konoha. Her legs were killing her.

The red-haired man in front of her snorted and shook his head. They were not going to stop because he needed to get to the Hokage's office immediately. However tempting it sounded to stop, he couldn't right away. The hokage asked for him personally and so he was here for that reason. On his way here he considered many reasons of why the hokage would call for him. That was either for 'war' or for marriage proposals for Sakura. Yeah right, like he'd let any of those pathetic ninja's get there hands on her. He wasn't going to let anyone have her, not even if that mean't giving up his title as the Kazekage. She was rightfully his and therefore he was the one to keep her. As crude as it sounded, he would never let her go, not after what they've been through since children. Not after how far they've gotten together. Not ever.

"Gaara." Sakura continued to whine, that is until she dodged a kunai that swept past her.

Gaara stopped instantly at the new presence and spun around to see Sakura holding her own kunai against some male's throat. "Who are you?." She hissed, ramming the tip of her kunai into his throat slowly.

He didn't respond, instead he continued to stare into her defiant emerald eyes that somehow kept his gaze lingering with hers. She was darn right beautiful, what with her bubblegum pink hair with her matching pink outfit. To top it off were the eyes that threw daggers into his own, eyes that he would never forget even if he used a forbidden jutsu. He couldn't explain what he was feeling, but from the very pits of his stomach something twitched and jumped excitedly. 'She's mine.' He thought moving into the blade only to close some more distance between them. When Sakura noticed his blood started to leak, her eyes grew wide with confusion at his bold move. He didn't seem afraid to die, hence the word afraid. A smirk began to creep onto his lips, this action making Sakura snarl and pull away from him.

'Arrogant prick.' She thought wiping at her kunai. "Answer my question." She snapped drawing her hands to her hips.

The man's smirk widened. "Everyone normally calls me Uchiha." He said disappearing only to be face to face with her. "But you can call me Sasuke."

A wall of sand erupted between the two of them instantly, this making Sasuke jump back confusedly. "That's enough from you." Gaara hissed as he came up from behind Sakura. His arm wrapped around her waist to possessively for Sasuke's liking, all the more reason to piss the red-haired man off.

"So, you must be the great Lord Kazekage that I've heard of, interesting." Sasuke said directing his eyes at Sakura instead.

Gaara growled. "Mock my title all you want boy, but when talking to me." Gaara copied Sasuke's earlier move and was facing the boy in a split second. "Your eyes are to stay with mine."

Sasuke went flying into a wall when a fist made of sand knocked him a few metres away, this causing Sakura to gasp and run to his aid. Gaara grew somewhat confused at her early affection for this boy. "Stop it Gaara, it wouldn't be wise if you started killing Konoha's ninja's, our ties with them is already weakened, one bad move and we'll be at war." She explained helping the Uchiha sit up from the blow. Gaara studied the way she shifted the boy's weight and grew alittle jealous by the way she was holding him against her. She was only allowed to do that with him and no one else.

"You go ahead Gaara, I'll catch up once I'm finished healing Sasuke-kun."

Gaara didn't move, instead he stayed glued to the spot. 'Kun, when the hell did she start calling strangers kun.' He thought crossing his arms in hopes of not crushing the boy with a snap of his fingers. She tended to the boy gently, caressing him in a way that had Gaara seething on the inside, and then when the boy started to stir she stood quickly and hastily made her way over to him. She smiled when she realised Gaara stayed and as a habit she wrapped her arm around his own.

"He'll live Gaara; now let's go before you start hyperventilating." She said with a giggle. Gaara wasn't amused.

He grasped her arm tightly and spun her so that his breath was on her face. "Don't let me hear you call anyone kun again Sakura, understood." He growled, smirking with some satisfaction when she shook and nodded her head up and down obediently.

"Hai, it won't happen again Gaara." She whispered.

He released her from his hold and turned his back on her, this making Sakura sigh and follow after him. 'What's his problem?' She thought daring to glance back at the Uchiha boy only to find he was gone. She sighed heavily once more and continued following after her brother. How much of that conversation did Sasuke hear? Was he following them? She even wondered if the boy liked her alittle, because she for some reason found she was attracted to him. Just remembering how close they were made her blush. If Gaara could see her now he'd probably lock her up in the closest dungeon and make sure she forgot all about him. This was impossible because his face and frame was engraved inside her brain.

'Sasuke-kun, yeah that sounds cute.' She thought giggling alittle.

This giggle didn't go unnoticed however. He couldn't comprehend what he was feeling, but as he followed the pink-haired beauty more violent feelings pushed at him. He wanted her no doubt about that, but then there was the mysterious Kazekage who stood in his way. The man was a force to be reckoned with; he was protective and very possessive of the pink-haired vixen. If Sasuke couldn't tolerate anything -besides Naruto- then it was competing for something he truly desired. He was going to follow them until he met the destination he wanted, and then he was going to woo the girl until she was his. This plan was enough to make him smile, a true smile that left him feeling like a love-sick puppy.

'I don't even know her name.' He thought stopping atop of the Hokage's office window. 'I will get it, even if that means by force.'

With Sakura and Gaara. They were led into the small office and sitting before them was the most purest and beautifullest of Hokage's Sakura had ever seen. Apparently it was rare to have such a young Hokage, but then it had its disadvantages, like how that man in the corner with long silver hair was staring down her shirt. The sight of the Hokage rearing up from her seat with her fist digging into the man's face made Sakura shrink somewhat behind her brother. And to think her attitude was bad, this Hokage was even scarier. As if Gaara knew what was wrong, he brought her into his arm and held her close to him, enough to have his chin rest on top of her head. This show of affection did not go unnoticed; the Hokage's eyes seemed to have widened some at the Kazekage's actions.

Sakura frowned. 'Why is she looking at him like that?.' She thought tightening her hold.

'So, it seems he does have a weak spot, this I'll use to my advantage.' The Hokage thought.

"Please, sit." The Hokage said, signalling both to the chairs in front of her. Gaara moved first, and then Sakura moved second to even out the odd numbers inside the room. Besides that man with silver hair, there was a blonde-haired boy in there to, at his side was a man with his face covered and in his hand was a novel that he seemed to have interest in. Unexpectedly another stranger came through the window, a stranger she found herself blushing to when she spotted him.

"You're just as bad as Kakashi-sensei teme." The blonde-haired snapped. "Where the hell were you?."

Sasuke shrugged his shoulders and aimed a wink at Sakura. "I had to stop and talk to a certain girl that caught my eye." He replied standing beside the man with the novel.

Sakura concealed the blush that crept up to her cheeks and turned away. 'Please don't blush, please don't blush.' She thought.

'That boy is playing with fire.' Shukaku hissed as he gnawed at the cage holding him bound.

Gaara inwardly growled. 'Don't test me Shukaku, if it's blood you want then you leave it for elsewhere.'

A sickened laugh sent shivers down Gaara's spine, although he didn't show it. 'Let me out boy, you know you want to. How long before you realise she'll finally see you for what you really are? How long until she finally turns her back on you? Are you willing to let that happen because of that Uchiha boy?.'

'No.' He hesitantly replied.

'Then release me, release me and let me handle him.' Shukaku's offer, no matter how horrifying it sounded, was deliciously tempting to the red-haired man.

Sakura felt her brother tense, a sign that made her squeeze until he looked down at her. She searched his eyes, looked for anything wrong, and that's when she saw it. Cat-like yellow eyes smiled at her then disappeared revealing by obsidian again. Sakura looked to the window hurriedly, a perfect exit for escape, then held tightly to Gaara's arm. If she was going to do this, then she had to help him quick.

"Forgive me Hokage, but i think the Kazekage needs some air." And with that said she managed to take Gaara out the window with her, leaving behind a very suspicious Hokage, apprentice and most of all her ninja's.

"Dammit Gaara, what's wrong with you?." Sakura snapped as they came upon an empty-old house. In there she shoved her brother inside and closed the door securely behind her. She sat him on the ground, and then she tucked him between her legs so that his back leaned against her chest for support. She had to keep him calm, otherwise all hell would break loose and the ties with Konoha will forever be tainted. Gaara started to breathe erratically, a small sign that he was at least trying with some effort to keep Shukaku at bay. She reached for his head and pulled him down, so that his head was resting somewhat between her breasts and her chest plate. Now that she'd arranged a comfortable position to him, she started rocking. He was shivering, murmuring, and twitching against her. This willed Sakura to do the only thing she could do to really calm him. She started singing, an old lullaby specifically made for him by his mother. A ghostly mother that made visits to Sakura when she was 4-years-old.

A promise forever, my promises are true

Gaara my love, my heart is for you

A promise forever, my promises are true

Gaara my love, my heart's only for you

A promise forever, my promises are true

Gaara my love, my heart's mean't for you

A promise forever, my promises are true

Gaara my love, it's always been you

Gaara's eyes opened, Shukaku was gone and yet the anger he felt when Sakura reacted to that Uchiha boy was still their. He glanced up at her, eyes blank when she smiled and he sat up abruptly. Sakura sighed knowing he wasn't going to thank her and so she followed and stood. Upon standing she was pinned to the wall, her arms were held above her head non-to-gently, and her body was between the wall and Gaara.

"Don't ever do that again Sakura, i could've hurt you." He hissed, barricading her more when she tried to wriggle free.

"Gaara." She whined trying to find an escape. "You are hurting me."

Gaara shook his head and slammed her harder, this time he made sure the message rang through. "I mean it Sakura, if you ever do that again, I'll...-"

Sakura's eyes widened. Never had he said those words to her, never had he looked at her like that before. She bit her lip to stop herself from trembling and simply nodded her head in hopes of him releasing her. "I'm sorry." She said looking at the wall which suddenly seemed interesting. Gaara released her slowly and turned his back to her. What the hell? Was all he could come up with?

"Blossom i..-"

"It's ok Gaara, i guess me flirting around isn't making your condition any better." There was sadness in her voice. "I'll make sure to avoid him ok, there's no need to get all protective of me because of him."

She reached for his shoulder and turned him. "I want to talk to you, not to your back." She snapped, retrieving some of that spark he loved to see. "So, are we on good terms again?." She asked flashing him the most brilliant smile she could muster, and in return was given a grin.

"Forgive me." He whispered, taking her in his arms.

'No, forgive me.' She sadly thought as she continued to display the fake smile on her face. 'This must stop sooner or later Gaara.'

End Of Chapter

A/N: Wow, I'm quite proud of myself for getting through with this chapter. Oh and if the song is a bit odd, then believe me i thought it was odd to. Also, I've made Sasuke a bit of a chance taker, so even if Gaara is strong he will still prove to be a challenge in later chapters. I was thinking of putting in some Akatsuki, but then I'll end up mistaking my own story for an X-Itachi+Sakura-X fanfic. Naruto is going to be the same in later chapters, as will Kakashi and others. I understand flames now, so please don't give them, well that's if you really feel the need to piss me off.

To Be Continued...