"Saku-chan!" He calls to her shyly. He watches as her head shoots up and looks for the speaker. "Saku-chan, over here!"
It is then she spots him, a joyous smile alighting her usually downcast face.
"Gaara-kun!"
She runs over to him, and hugs him. He feels that blossoming feeling, the one he only feels with her. What was it called…happiness? Yes, he remembers now. Yashamaru told him about it one time.
"What are you doing here?" She asks as soon as she lets go of him. He feels his smile slip down. Sakura takes note of his silence.
"Gaara-kun, what's wrong?"
"I…I ran away…"
Sakura's bright eyes widen as she gasps.
"Why?"
"Yashamaru was mean to me…He yelled at me…and called me annoying…" Gaara mumbles out. He bites his lip, and looks down to hide his tears.
"What will you do now?" She asks. Here. This was the moment he was waiting for. He looks up, a determined look on his face, though he can feel himself shaking in fear.
"Saku-chan…w-will you run away with me?"
Sakura blinks owlishly, surprised.
"W-what?"
He looks down again, and shuffles around. He shouldn't have asked. He shouldn't have asked. She's going to say no…He shouldn't have asked.
"Where will we go?"
Gaara, surprised to hear a different answer from the one he was expecting is silent for a pause, before he answers animatedly.
"The Land of Lightning! Yashamaru told me about it!! He said it's really beautiful and pretty and happy!!" Gaara talks excitedly, telling Sakura of the tales Yashamaru had told him. He can see her eyes start to shine at the idea.
"Let me get my bag, before we go, okay?" She asks. Gaara nods, happy that she agreed to go.
"Hold it."
A girl steps out of the shadows.
"You're not going anywhere."
There stands Temari, glaring at her little brother. Gaara straightens up defiantly.
"No! I want to go!!"
"Think of how angry Father will be when he finds out you ran away!"
"I don't care about him. He doesn't love me!"
By now, sand has started to rise from the ground. Sakura takes hold of Gaara's hand.
"Gaara-kun, calm down. Temari-san, will let us go…" She turns her innocent eyes towards the other woman. "…Right?"
Temari looks at the sand, and then at Gaara, her eyes moving back and forth as she thinks. Her shoulders slump.
"Fine."
The sand slowly starts to fall down.
"But, I will go with you. I don't want to be responsible for the death of you kids."
The two kids squeal and yell their happiness together, while the nine-year-old Temari shakes her head.
"So…which way is the Land of Lightning?"
Silence.
"Yugito-sensei, is it true that we're going to participate in Konoha's Chuunin Exam this year?"
The cat-like woman looks up to see her black-streaked pink-haired student run and screech to a stop in front of her. She raises an eyebrow.
"Oh? You've heard about it already?"
Sakura smirks.
"Library gossip."
Ah yes, Sakura was the unofficial librarian, having spent so much time there studying that it had become a second home. Thus, she got onto good terms with the real librarian who just happened to be the Raikage's niece, and got a lot of the gossip.
"Of course. Yes, Kumogakure has decided to try another peace alliance with Konohagakure, so they're sending some genins there as a sign of their part that they trust us. We happened to be one of the ones chosen. Have you told Gaara and Temari yet?"
Sakura is about to shake her head when two PUFFS pop into place, revealing Temari and Gaara.
"Sorry we're late. What did we miss?" Temari asks. Sakura jumps on the chance to share the gossip.
"We're going to participating in Konoha's chuunin exams!" She exclaims, catching the two's attention.
"Really? What's the reason?" Temari asks, interested.
"We're trying to build an alliance with Konoha again." Yugito answers. Temari's eyes start to sparkle at the prospect of facing new enemies to beat up. She then seems to realize something and turns toward Sakura.
"Hey, isn't that where you're from, Sakura?"
Sakura nods, a nostalgic smile of her face.
"Yeah…it'll be fun to see all those kids again…" Her smile turns evil. "…And get revenge, of course."
"I'm helping." Gaara says. Sakura flashes a smile at him.
"Of course. I wouldn't dare do anything without you."
Yugito decides that it's time to go.
"You guys brought your bags like I asked you to, right?"
They all nod.
"Okay then, let's go."
They reach Konoha that night, the first thing they do being going to the hotel, checking in, and going to sleep. The next day is their day to explore.
Before the three go off, Yugito tells them not to wear their forehead protector. They understand why.
Sakura is the tour guide, as she (tries) guiding them around, and showing all the places that she remembers from her memory.
"…and here's Ichiraku, the best—Ah!"
Sakura, as she wasn't really paying attention to where she was going, runs into someone, causing the other person to fall down.
"Ah! I'm so sorry!" She holds out a hand to the boy, recognizing him to be…to be…Uzumaki Naruto! That's it!! The weird loud-mouthed boy!!
The boy takes her hand and gets up.
"Nah, that's alright! The great Uzumaki Naruto cannot be hurt by a—"
WHACK!
"Shut up, dobe."
Another boy comes from behind. Sakura's smile turns into a smirk as she looks upon this newcomer. Ah yes…her old crush…Uchiha Sasuke. As she looks at him now, she realizes how girly he looks.
"U-Uchiha san…that w-wasn't re-really nice…"
It's then that Sakura notices the fidgeting girl behind Sasuke. She frowns, knowing that she's familiar…but can't really seem to remember.
"Haha!! See, even Hinata-chan agrees with me that you're a stinking bastard!" Naruto then suddenly turns back to Sakura. "By the way, I'm Uzumaki Naruto. These are my teammates, Sasuke-teme, and Hinata-chan."
Sakura smiles at Naruto's enthusiasm.
"I'm Nii Sakura. It's nice to meet you. This is my sister Temari..."
Temari gives a nod in acknowledgment.
"…and Gaara."
Gaara, being his usual shy self, just looks away.
Naruto grins.
"Hehe, nice to meet you all. I've never seen you around here. Are you travelers?"
Sakura nods.
"Yes, we've come to take the Chuunin Exam."
It's here that Sasuke and Hinata look up in interest. Naruto's grin only widens.
"Really?? So are we!! Neat!! We might meet up again—Ah, what is it, Hinata-chan?"
Hinata points towards his watch.
"We-we're late."
Naruto's eyes pop out.
"OH NO!!! I'M GOING TO MISS SOME OF MY TRAINING!!"
He runs off, Sasuke following him, while Hinata bows politely before chasing after them.
"Huh. Interesting kid." Temari looks to Sakura. "Know anything about them?"
"Hmm…Naruto was the unofficial dropout of the class, I remember. And Sasuke was the top rookie. However, I don't remember anything about Hinata."
"Naruto…he's a jinchuuriki."
Sakura and Temari both turn to the sudden comment by Gaara.
"Really? Did Shukaku tell you that?" Sakura asks.
"Yes. He believes it to be the Kyuubi."
"Well, we've got some exciting opponents so far, eh?" Temari says cheerfully.
Sakura wakes up the next day, unsuprised to see that Temari and Yugito's beds are empty. She stops by a sleeping Gaara and ruffles his hair, smiling at his peaceful expression. It had taken him so long to learn how to sleep, but with Yugito, he eventually got it, and became a pretty heavy sleeper.
She goes into the kitchen, and sees Temari and Yugito eating breakfast and drinking tea. She stares suspiciously at the food.
"Who made it?" She asks cautiously. Temari glares at her, while Yugito gives an amused grin.
"Sakura, that's very mean of you." She reprimands, making Temari grin childishly. "I thought you knew me better than that. You should know I would never eat Temari's cooking willingly."
"Hehe, that's right—WHAT?!" As Yugito's words sink in, Temari suddenly realizes that she was just insulted. "Hey! My cooking isn't that bad!"
Sakura sits down next to her, and pours herself a cup of tea.
"Of course, Temari. Keep telling yourself that." Sakura grins. "It might actually come true in a million years."
Sakura giggles as she ducks under Temari's whacking hand.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding." Sakura defends herself playfully. Temari sniffs and drinks her tea.
"See if I help you in the exam." She says snobbily.
"Mmm…what happened?" A quiet voice comes out of the corner. "I heart Temari shouting…"
Gaara has awoken.
"Oh, we were just talking about Temari's bad cooking." Sakura answers nonchalantly. Gaara nods and sits down next to Yugito. He stares at the food before looking up at her.
"Temari didn't make this, right?"
"Hey—!"
Ten minutes later, after they had all finished eating and getting ready, the team leaves for the first round of the Chuunin Exam. Yugito gives them a last few parting words.
"…Remember, we're a family. And family stick together."
Silence. She coughs.
"Wow, that was amazingly corny. Congrats." Temari remarks.
"Tell me that you actually had some better advice." Sakura says. Yugito smiles sheepishly.
"Well…it sounded pretty at least."
Sakura sighs, while Temari just shake her head. They part their ways.
They wait in the corner of the room, refusing to make contact with any of the other genins.
"Hmmm…We're actually pretty young compared to some people here, aren't we." Temari comments. Sakura smirks.
"Scared?"
Temari scoffs.
"Hell no. I just feel bad since they're going to have their asses kicked by us little youngsters."
"He's here." Gaara suddenly remarks.
"Huh? What are you talking—"
"Sa-ku-ra CHAN!" A voice sings from somewhere. Sakura turns to see a familiar blond-haired kid waving animatedly. She waves back.
"Hey, Naruto!" She runs up to him. "How are you doing?"
"Hehe, I'm pumped! I'm going to—"
BAM!
"Attention! The first exam will begin shortly." Sakura and Naruto turn their attention towards the speaker. They are met with the sight of a grisly looking man, scars running through his face. "I'm your first examiner, Morino Ibiki."
Minutes later, Sakura finds herself seated in the exam room, next to two guys. One is the weirdest ninja she's ever seen, complete with a shiny-bowl haircut and caterpillar eyebrows. The other is none other than Uchiha Sasuke. She looks at both of them.
"Good luck you two!" She says cheerfully. Sasuke has no response and stares at his desk. The other kid smiles a painfully bright smile.
"This is the start…" The examiner, Morino Ibiki, begins to explain the rules. Sakura listens attentively, and almost immediately catches the loophole. She smiles. So this was a spying test.
"BEGIN!"
She flips over her paper, and reads the question, her smirk broadening. Oh, she feels bad for those poor kids who didn't catch the real meaning of the test…She begins to attack the questions.
Within minutes she is finished, and she flips over her paper. She lets out a sigh, and looks around the room, catching sight of very angry green eyes. She quickly sticks out a tongue at Temari before turning back to her paper. Gaara will help Temari eventually.
She waits out the exam, doing any random thing relieve her of her boredom. She spins her pencil, she plays with her hair, doodles on the back of her paper…anything.
And finally, it comes. The tenth question is about to be announced.
(A random scene that popped into my head...there's a huge time gap of unwritten events)
"What is your name?"
It is the white-eyed kid from the Forest of Death. He has an intense look on his face. Sakura looks around, and sees no one else in the vicinity. She points at herself cluelessly.
"Me?"
He nods. She cocks her head to the side.
"Why do you want to know?"
"You are a strong opponent who I look forward to facing."
Oh gosh, he sounds like an excited Temari…except more monotone…ish…
"Hmmm, I will tell you my name on one condition."
He raises an eyebrow. Sakura takes a deep breath and dives in.
"Let me examine the seal on your forehead."
His hand immediately goes up to his forehead protector.
"How do you—Nevermind. I refuse."
He's gone. Sakura sighs.
That didn't go too well…
Another random time skip scene)
"S-sakura? Sakura-chan?"
It's a breathy voice she's all too familiar with. No. She's not familiar with it at all. It's a just a memory.
"Sakura-chan!! I know that's you! Turn around and face me!"
Sakura stops. She refuses to listen. Instead a hand jerks her around.
It's her mother.
"Sakura…" The woman covers her mouth, tears filling up her eyes. Her hand starts to shake unsteadily. "It's really you."
Sakura violently shakes her head.
"No! It isn't. The Sakura you knew doesn't exist. She died when you left her at the orphanage. When you abandoned her!!"
Haruno Narumi doesn't seem to hear. She just repeats over and over, "It's really you…It's really you…"
Her mother takes her hand, and feels it, as if confirming its reality.
"Sakura…Sakura, you've grown up so much…and I missed it…" Her tears flow freely, and the woman moves to give her a hug. Sakura stiffens when she feels wiry arms circle around her. "Sakura…"
She wriggles.
"Let go! I'm not your Sakura!! She's dead!"
"Sakura...I'm so sorry…"
"Shut up!! You don't know what it was like…"
"Forgive me…please…"
"Let go!"
Sakura breaks free and runs away, refusing to look at the broken look of the other woman's face.
No...she runs. She's not going back to the past. She's not looking back.
Somehow, she had ended up in Gaara's arms, soothing circles running their circles in her back.
"Shh…What happened?"
She mumbles and mutters incoherent words as she tries to explain. He understands anyway.
AN: Hmm...summary? Gaara and Sakura are childhood friends. One day Gaara decides to run away with Sakura, and Temari is dragged along. They end up in Kumogakure and is adopted and trained by Nii Yugito. Only then, one day, they come back to Konohagakure.
What do ya think of it?
