I know it has been a while since I updated; I'm sorry about that. I've been quite busey with other things. I'm sorry this chapter isn't that long; I thought you guys at least deserved an update, no matter how short it was.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

AGES:

Sakura: 13

Gaara: 15

Hinata: 15

Naruto: 16

Ino:16

Kankuro: 18

Temari: 17

Shikamaru: 19


"Excuse me?" Sakura asked as the figure who had spoken stepped out of the shadows. The figure had dark blue hair and even darker eyes.

"That mark on your face," the boy muttered again. "It looks as though you have been hit..."

Sakura shyly hid her face with her right hand as she looked away from the stranger. "I am just rather clumsy," Sakura said as she turned back towards the moon. "But I am sorry, I do not know your name. I am Princess-"

"Yes I know who you are Princess Sakura," the raven haired stranger muttered. He was wearing a black shirt and black pants. "I am Prince Sasuke; of Sound."

Sakura let out a light gasp and scooted back against the railing of the balcony. "I am sorry Prince Sasuke," Sakura said as he moved closer. "But I do not believe you belong here at this castle; our Villages are at war."

Sasuke ignored Sakura's warning as he stepped closer. "You are simply beautiful," Sasuke said as he brushed a strand of hair behind Sakura's ear. "You must be mine."

Sakura backed up even closer to the railing; half of her body was actually resting on the railing. Sasuke followed her movements, and soon he was leaning over her. "I'm sorry Prince Sasuke, but I am betrothed to one of the Sand Princes," Sakura said as Sasuke's lips moved closer to her own.

Sasuke's movements stopped as he stared Sakura straight in the eyes. "We will have to change that then won't we," Sasuke said. He started to move his face closer to Sakura's until he was suddenly forced back.

Sakura landed on her bottom; her back leaning against the railing while she was on the ground. She saw that Sasuke had been pushed a good twelve feet away from her; Sakura sighed in relief.

"You will leave my betrothed alone, Uchiha," Sakura's savior from in front of her said. He was standing indifferently with his arms folded against his chest.

Sasuke appeared to let out some form of a hiss. "Gaara," Sasuke's voice slithered out like a snake. Sakura turned her face to try and get a good look a Gaara. He had crimson red hair and teal eyes. He had amazing bone structure and appeared to be semi-well built. He was unbelievably beautiful, and Sakura's breath hitched in her throat.

"Now that Sand and Leaf are allies," Gaara's cold voice spoke again. The coldness of his tone actually brought Sakura back to reality, and caused her to shiver. "That means we are both at war with Sound. I would leave here before you end up lose your life, Uchiha."

Sakura watched as Sasuke's eyes appeared to change colors. They were now a vibrant red, and Sakura tried to shrink back against the railing even more. Sasuke's eyes darted from Gaara back to Sakura. "You know I will be back Sabaku," Sasuke threatened. "She will become my bride; mine."

With that said; Sasuke walked to the railing, gave Sakura one last glance, and jumped into the forest below. Sakura stayed against the railing; her eyes were shut tightly. Gaara sighed and walked over to her. "He's gone now," Gaara's indifferent voice spoke. "You will stand; I want to see what my soon to be wife looks like."

Sakura's emerald eyes opened; they were glistening with tears. She used both hands to push herself off the ground, and stood. She wiped some unseen dirt off of her dress while Gaara's gaze moved from around her body to land on her face.

"Did he hit you?" Gaara asked; his voice sounded angry.

"No," Sakura spoke up quickly; she brought her hands up in defense. "I am rather clumsy, and I fall quite often-"

Gaara's body was in front of Sakura's in less than two seconds. His hand lightly cupped Sakura's bruised cheek; she cringed. "This is from someone's hand," Gaara said; his piercing gaze landed on her eyes. "Did he hit you?"

"No," Sakura said as light tears began falling from her eyes. "He didn't hit me."

"Who did?" Gaara asked. Sakura's eyes were locked with his fierce teal ones. "Do not lie to me."

"It was-"

"Sakura!" A voice was heard from the balcony door. "Thank God I finally found you!"

Sakura smiled lightly and brushed the remaining tears out of her eyes. She took one last glance into Gaara's eyes, and then walked passed him to Hinata. "Hey Hinata-Chan," Sakura's voice turned to a fake cheerful; Hinata seemed a little to happy to notice.

"Sakura I met my future husband!" Hinata said with a smile. She took Sakura's hand and led Sakura through the balcony doors; Sakura looked back only to see Gaara was gone. "His name is Naruto, and he is a really nice guy-"

---

Gaara hid behind the balcony door as Sakura left with her sister Hinata. Gaara let out a shaky breath, and closed his eyes. After taking a few more minutes of night air, he followed after Sakura and Hinata and entered the ballroom. He glanced around the room until he spotted Naruto. He was sitting in the corner with both Kankuro and Shikamaru; they all seemed to be smirking like idiots. Gaara sighed and walked over to them.

"Hey Gaara!" Naruto yelled as he stood up from his seat. "Gaara! We're over here!"

Kankuro's fist connected with Naruto's head. "He knows where we are you idiot," Kankuro muttered. "He actually looks like he's coming over here."

"Ow," Naruto muttered as he rubbed the top of his head. "You guys are so abusive! I'm going to go find Hinata-Chan!"

Before Naruto could go bouncing off, Gaara's hand prevented Naruto from doing so. "We have a problem," Gaara spoke quietly. All three other brothers leaned in to listen closely. "Sasuke Uchiha was here."

"Not that snooty bastard Prince from Sound!?" Naruto yelled. A couple of guests looked over to the quad of boys; Kankuro placed a hand over Naruto's mouth, and nodded for Gaara to continue.

"He seemed to have an attraction to my...to... Sakura," Gaara stumbled over the correct word. "It appeared as though I had arrived in time, though, and actually scared him off."

"That means his brothers are probably here as well," Shikamaru said with a sigh. "I say we stay near our Princess at all times, tonight. We don't want anything else to happen."

Naruto nodded eagerly; Kankuro's hand prevented him from speaking. "Okay then," Shikamaru said while standing. "We better go find them then."

---

Sakura smiled as Hinata kept ranting on about her betrothed. "Naruto has the most beautiful blue eyes, Sakura-Chan," Hinata said. The two girls were seated near the piano; the pianist was playing a lovely tune that caused Hinata's head to nod with the music. "He's very outgoing, and-"

"Hinata, Sakura!" Ino's voice came from behind them. The two girls turned to see their two elder sisters come up and sit beside them. "Have you met your betrothed yet?"

"Yes," Sakura said with a semi-smile. "We both have."

"What are they like?" Ino asked with a smile. "If they're anything like Kankuro," Ino blushed here. "They're all brothers meaning they should all be a lot alike, don't you think?"

"I think Gaara was quite different from any of the other brothers you have described," Sakura said quietly; she wasn't sure what expression to wear on her face, so she kept her small smile.

"Temari-Chan," a voice spoke up over the girl's chatter. "Would you like to meet my brothers?"

Temari smiled. "Sure Shikamaru," she said. Shikamaru stood next to Temari, and pointed to each brother as they walked over. "This is Kankuro, Naruto, and Gaara."

"It's a pleasure," Temari bowed respectfully to them. "These are my sisters Ino, Hinata, and Sakura."

"Would you like to grab some food, while we accompany you?" Kankuro asked as he walked to stand next to Ino.

Both Sakura and Hinata shook their heads, but Ino and Temari both went.

"Umm, hello, Gaara," Sakura said while looking down at the tiles of the floor. Gaara's fierce gaze had not left Sakura's face since he had first seen her.

"Hey Hinata-Chan," Naruto said weirdly. The two held hands and looked back to the other 'couple.' "This is your sister Sakura, Hina?"

"Yes," Hinata said with a smile. "This is my younger sister Sakura-Chan. Sakura-Chan, this is Naruto, my betrothed."

"It's a pleasure, Naruto," Sakura said while bowing lightly in respect. She did not look up at Naruto, for she could still feel Gaara's eyes on her.

Naruto elbowed Gaara in the gut. "Stop staring at her," Naruto whispered loudly into Gaara's ear. Gaara turned and glared at Naruto.

"I will do whatever I want to do," Gaara said as he took Sakura's wrist, and began walking away from Naruto and Hinata.

"Where are we going, Gaara?" Sakura asked as Gaara's hand tightened on Sakura's wrist. She cringed a little, but didn't voice her pain.

Gaara didn't reply as the two walked through the ballroom, and then into the hall. Gaara finally let go of Sakura's wrist, and then looked pointedly at her.

"You were going to tell me who hit you," Gaara said while backing Sakura against a wall. Sakura took in a deep breath, and then glanced up into Gaara's eyes. "I do not like to repeat myself; tell me now, and do not lie."

"It was my... my mother," Sakura said quietly while staring directly into Gaara's eyes. Gaara's immediately turned angry.

---

"It was my... my mother," Sakura said quietly; Gaara's blood began. How could a mother hit a child such as this? Fathers were different; they were suppose to enforce rules through abuse, not mothers.

Gaara grabbed Sakura's wrist again, and dragged her back through the ballroom. He sighed quietly when he realized he didn't know where he was going.

"Where is the throne room?" Gaara's emotionless voice asked.

"It's through the door over there," Sakura's voice was still quiet. Gaara began dragging her towards that door. "Why are we going there?"

Gaara still answer as he opened the door, without knocking, and slammed it shut just as dramatically.

"What is the meaning of this?!" The Queen yelled from her comfortable position in her throne. Kakashi sat next to her; his eyes noticing Sakura immediately.

"What's wrong?" Kakashi asked as Gaara walked into the room.

"Your wife hit my future wife," Gaara said. "This must not and will not happen in the future. I have come to make sure of this."