Okay, so maybe I lied a little How so, my Outer? I said one more chapter where she is a kid, but I think it'll be when she is a little kid, and at the end...well, you know. I do? Yes. Now, onward. She does not own Naruto. Obviously. Thanks.
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AlaskenWildflower Kitsune-Ame DarkLillyOfTheNight96
A Flower In The Sand
Chapter 6- Home Sweet Home
Tsunade arrived in Konoha the next day. She hadn't stopped once since they had left Suna, and Sakura secretly wondered if her mother had tons of chakra.
It must be the chest...
Nodding to herself, Sakura concluded that thought. The bag on her back could have been red hot because Sakura was just itching to get it off. She wanted to grab Gaara's bear, currently named Sprinkles, and hug it, while sitting down and reading either Temari's book or Kankuro's book.
"I don't know if the Kazekage sent a message to the Hokage about the death of your parents, but even if he has, we must go see him." Tsunade said.
Sakura nodded. "Okay, Mom. Lead the way."
After waving to the gate guards, Tsunade walked through Konoha with Sakura on her shoulders. Many people had become accustomed to seeing Sakura on the backs of both of her parents whenever they came back to Konoha, but this was a new sight.
They had heard the Haruno's talking about how they would find Lady Tsunade and indeed get her to heal Sakura, but when they saw the fabled Sanin with Sakura, they had to wonder: Where were Sakura's parents?
When they had reached the Hokage's tower, Tsunade entered the building. Many of the people had a hello to give, and Tsunade returned them happily. When they had reached the door to the Hokages office, Tsunade knocked.
"Come in!" A voice called.
Tsunade entered and shut the door behind her.
"Tsunade?" The Third asked.
"Hai, Hokage-sama. It is me."
"And, I suppose that Sakura's parents have found you?"
Sakura waved and smiled at the Third.
"Hello, Hokage-sama," she said, bowing her head.
"Yes, I remember when you could barely utter a 'hello'. You have healed wonderfully, Sakura."
"Hokage-sama, I encountered Sakura when we were in Suna. I healed her, but she needed to learn how to walk. I gave her crutches, and eventually, she is walking now. However, I am worried that since she has not trained with any weapons or chakra, and being as how she was sick, she may not be able to become a ninja. She has her chakra system, but it is very weak. And, there's something else..."
"What else, Tsunade?"
"Sakura's parents, the first night in Suna, were murdered by the Akatsuki."
"The Akatsuki! Are you sure?" The Third asked.
Tsunade looked up at Sakura.
"I was hiding under the bed at the time when my mother was killed. The door was blasted open and someone came inside the room. Red clouds on black cloaks was all I saw of the person, but I heard someone else talk from the hallway. Itachi was his name."
"Of course, Itachi Uchiha," The Third said, frowning.
"Did something happen to the prestigious Uchiha clan?" Tsunade asked.
"Sasuke Uchiha is the last living member, besides Itachi of course. Sasuke said that Itachi killed them all just to see if he could do it."
Hearing this information, all Sakura wanted to do was curl up under a blanket with her bear.
"That's terrible. How is he handling it?" Tsunade asked.
"Distancing himself of course."
Sakura pulled on one of Tsunade's pigtails gently.
"Yes, Sakura?"
"Mom, does Konoha have a playground? No offense, Hokage-sama, but I spent everyday at the playground in Suna, and I miss the sand." Sakura explained.
The Hokage raised an eyebrow at hearing Sakura call Tsunade Mom. "Of course, Sakura. I understand. We will talk later, Tsunade?"
"Of course."
Tsunade bowed and Sakura held on for dear life.
"I'm on your shoulders, Mom!" Sakura complained.
The Hokage and Tsunade laughed.
"Sorry, Sakura," Tsunade said, exiting the Hokage's office.
"Wow," Sakura whispered. "This place is big!"
And indeed, it was. The playground in Suna was large, but Konoha's was much bigger.
"I'm glad you like it here, Sakura," Tsunade said, reaching up and taking Sakura off her shoulders.
Tsunade set her down gently on the ground, and Sakura smiled at her.
"Now, Sakura, I have to go back to the Hokage okay? You'll be fine here, right?" Tsunade asked, kneeling down to her eye level.
"Of course, Mom. I have Sprinkles with me." Sakura said, grinning.
"Gaara's bear I assume?" Tsunade asked.
Sakura nodded and hugged Tsunade.
"I'll see you in a bit, Sakura," Tsunade said, getting up and heading off.
Sakura waved and made a beeline for the sandbox. She sat in the sand, setting her pack next to her. She pulled out Sprinkles and sat him next to her. Sakura sighed.
"I miss you guys already," she whispered.
Sakura drew Gaaras name in the sand, and a large shadow fell across the sand. Sakura erased the name and looked up. Curious emerald eyes met with lazy black ones.
"How troublesome," the boy sighed.
"Uhm...sorry?" Sakura asked.
"I usually lay in the sand and watch the clouds."
"I'm sorry! I'll move if you want..."
"No, no. Just...stay there." The boy said, lying down next to her.
It was silent for a few minutes, before the boy spoke up again.
"So...did you just move here?"
"No. I was born here." Sakura answered.
"Then why haven't I seen you around?"
"My parents and I were traveling in search of Lady Tsunade. I was born so weak, I couldn't do anything on my own. We went to Suna, and I found her there."
"Was that your mom? The blonde woman?" The boy asked, leaning up on his elbows and staring at Sakura.
Sakura shook her head. "That was Lady Tsunade, but I call her my mom now. My parents were murdered in Suna."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. I'm Sakura Haruno." Sakura said, smiling.
"I'm Shikamaru Nara. It's good to meet you." Shikamaru said.
Sakura pulled Temari's book out of her pack and looked at it. Shikamaru noticed the book and faintly smiled.
"You read?"
"My mom used to read for me when I was too weak to do anything. I love books."
"What kind of title is that?" Shikamaru asked, confused.
"I don't know...Temari-chan gave it to me. I'm thinking this might be the monster that all the people hated. The monster in Gaara-kun."
"Gaara-kun?" Shikamaru asked.
"My friend in Suna. My first friend. Besides Temari-chan and Kankuro-san of course."
"So, you're all alone here?"
Sakura nodded sadly. "Yeah. My body's here, but...my heart is back in Suna."
"Well, Sakura-chan, I'll be your friend if you want."
"Really Shikamaru-san?"
Shikamaru sat up and smiled at her. "Just call me Shikamaru-kun, okay?"
"Okay, Shika-kun! And you can call me Sakura-chan."
Shikamaru shook his head and laughed. "You're troublesome, Saku-chan. Do you have another book in there?"
"Yeah. It's on puppets. Wanna read it?"
Shikamaru nodded and Sakura handed him the book. They sat in a comfortable silence, and Sakura relished the happy feeling of having a friend again. Both children looked up when they heard squeals.
"Great," Shikamaru sighed. "Looks like the Uchiha has decided to make an entrance."
"You mean Sasuke?"
"Oh, of course you know him."
"Not like that Shika-kun! My mom and Hokage-sama were talking about him."
Sakura bumped shoulders with him and laughed.
"Besides, I wouldn't leave reading with you for the world."
"Really, Saku-chan? I mean, all the other girls are crowding around him. It must look weird if you're not..."
"Then I will gladly be weird. My friends come first."
Shikamaru grinned and bumped shoulders back with Sakura.
"That's nice. Then I wont be all alone. By the way, why is all your hair in your face and stuff?"
"Oh. I gave my friend my ribbon back in Suna. So he would always remember me."
"Well, here," Shikamaru said, taking his ponytail out. "You can have mine."
Sakura looked at the brown hair tie. "I couldn't take it Shika-kun, it's yours."
"Think of it as something to remember me by everyday."
Sakura took the tie and put it in her hair. Smiling, she turned to Shikamaru.
"Thank you, Shika-kun."
"Hey, you!" Someone called, walking over to the sandbox.
"Huh?" Shikamaru and Sakura chorused.
They looked up to find a blonde girl standing there with her hands on her hips.
"What do you want, Ino?" Shikamaru asked, yawning.
"I was just wondering if this girl knew that Sasuke was here in the park. As such, all of the girls who love him must show their devotion whenever he is around."
Shikamaru turned to Sakura. Sakura was just staring at Ino.
"Well?" Ino asked.
"I don't love him," Sakura deadpanned.
Ino gaped.
"What? You don't love Sasuke-kun? That's just...crazy talk! You're a freak! Just like that Naruto kid." Ino stomped off.
"Naruto kid?" Sakura asked, turning to Shikamaru.
"It's said that he is the Kyuubi container. It's a giant fox that attacked our village about six years ago. He has no family, and he's always all alone." Shikamaru explained.
"That reminds me so much of Gaara-kun," Sakura whispered.
"Your friend in Suna?"
"Gaara-kun, I believe, is the Shukaku container. He is called a monster by everyone around him, and his own father hates him. His siblings don't hate him, but they keep their distance. I was his first and only friend."
6 YEARS LATER
Sakura stood beside Naruto as they watched Sasuke walk away. They had finished an easy mission, and all Sakura wanted to do was head home to train some more with her mother, or play Go with Shikamaru.
"Hey, Naruto-kun, I'm going to head out okay?" Sakura asked.
"Going to find Shikamaru or your mom?"
Sakura nodded and smiled. She walked away, hearing Naruto exposing Konohamaru's hiding spot.
"Who was that?" She heard Konohamaru ask. "She looks like a freak. Especially with that pink hair. Who has pink hair?"
Sakura clenched her fists.
My mother had pink hair! Then I think it's time we taught that little runt a lesson!
Sakura agreed with her inner wholeheartedly. Ever since she had found that she had an inner, Sakura was ecstatic. True, it wasnt the same thing as having a demon like Gaara-kun or Naruto-kun, but it still made her different.
Gaara-kun...
It had been six years since she had last seen Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari. She read their books until she had memorized them, and she still had Gaara's bear sitting on her bed just waiting for her.
Sakura growled and turned toward Konohamaru. He stared at her, seeing her furious expression.
"Uh oh."
Sakura chased after him and his friends, while Naruto chased after Sakura.
"Don't hurt him too much, Sakura-chan!"
That's when Konohamaru ran into some shinobi Sakura didn't recognize.
One was dressed in all black with something wrapped in bandages on his back. His hands were in his pockets, and he wore a cat hood on his head.
Cat-hood...?
Sakura tilted her head as she tried to remember. The other one had her hair up in four pigtails. Her hands were on her hips, and she had something large on her back.
"Do you need something?" The one dressed in all black asked.
Sakura's eyes widened as he picked up Konohamaru.
"Konohamaru," Naruto said.
"So, does this hurt punk?" The boy asked, pulling Konohamaru's shirt up tighter.
Konohamaru winced and groaned.
"Put him down, Kankuro. Or you know you'll pay for it later." The girl said.
Sakuras eyes widened.
"Kankuro?" She asked hesitantly.
Both shinobi looked at Sakura.
"Kakuro-san? Temari-chan?" Sakura asked.
Temari looked at the girl with pink hair.
"Pink hair? Sakura-chan?" Temari asked.
"Sakura-san?" Kankuro asked.
Sakura smiled and nodded.
"Oh come on! We have a few minutes before he gets here. Can't I have some fun?" Kankuro asked.
Temari whacked him on the head.
"No, Kankuro. This is Sakura-chan's village. We're in her territory." Temari said.
...he? Was Kankuro talking about Gaara-kun?
Suddenly, Kankuro dropped Konohamaru and held his hand. A rock landed on the ground near him.
"Huh?" Kankuro asked.
"You're a long way from home, and you're way out of your league," Sasuke said, sitting on a branch.
Sakura sighed. Must Sasuke be like this to everyone? Her friends no less!
"Sasuke! Leave Kankuro-san alone." Sakura said.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"Hey punk, get down here," Kankuro said.
Kankuro pulled the bandaged item from behind his back.
"Kankuro! You can't use the crow! This is Sakura-chan's territory!" Temari exclaimed.
"Kankuro. Back off." A new voice sounded. "You're an embarrassment to our village."
"Uh...hey Gaara..."
Everyone looked up and saw a red headed Suna ninja. Sakura smiled as she noticed her favorite red head.
"Have you forgotten the reason we came all the way here?" Gaara continued.
His voice...is so cold. What happened when I left?
"I...no...I-I mean..." Kankuro stuttered.
"Shut up," Gaara said. "Or I'll kill you."
"Ah...right...I was totally out of line. Sorry Gaara."
Gaara looked over at Sasuke and then down to the other ninja.
"I'm sorry for any trouble he caused."
Gaara turned into sand and landed next to his siblings.
"Let's go," he ordered.
"Wait!" Sakura called.
Kankuro, Gaara, and Temari looked at Sakura.
"Don't you remember me, Gaara-kun?"
And here it is!
That was long.
Pish posh. Unless you call 11 pages long. Hehe...
And now I suppose?
Yes! Please review!
If you want her to be happy that is.
BulletGirl-Cheryblossom and Raven