This chapter will focus on moments with Gaara, Sakura, and Sasuke with a bit of blood-limit. Ideas came from HinataHyuuga2124, Iridescent Rain, Kallou, and some seriously overactive plot bunnies with more creative energy than is sane for a person, seriously.

Until we reach the bottom!

Annabelinda

Chapter: Febuary:

Sub-Chapter One: Fields of Thoughts

One of the worst things about Suna, or the worst thing about Suna, was the fact that no matter what, one couldn't find a patch of grass to lie in. No, they could not, which left our little cherry-blossom alone in a sandbox after having chased away all the kids, mainly with the help of Akuma.

This meant they both sat there, Sakura on her back looking up at the abnormally cloudless sky with Akuma nestled on her stomach, happily asleep. The entire situation left the kunoichi with a slightly puzzled expression as she let her mind drift.

Somehow, Sakura had managed to 'escape' Naruto's hawk-like gaze and escape where nobody would be able to find her, not even Gaara who knew all of her hiding places. Nope, that just left the confused girl and content raccoon to do whatever it was they wanted while in the confines of a sandbox. Why Suna needed a sandbox was quite beyond Sakura, but she brushed off the thought with a bigger one.

What was the connection between lightning and wind? And what was the connection they had with her? Those thoughts had consumed Sakura for the past half a month, leaving her brain exhausted at the end of each thinking session. She couldn't figure it out. Lightning was weak against wind, but what did that have to do with anything? That was the only connection Sakura could possibly find.

Closing her eyes, Sakura sighed. The last half month had also been spent working with the blood-limit, which was starting to become easier to control. With great concentration, Sakura could activate her eyes and become fully aware of the wind, but barely aware of everything else. Naruto, of course, rarely let her even practice, unaware of just how much harm he was doing.

Ramen-girl was a pain in the butt too. Every time she came around, she would secretly give Sakura menacing warning looks to stay away from Naruto! And then she would drape herself across his arm, which Naruto seemed to enjoy, but something about his body language explained perfectly well to Sakura that he didn't.

"Sakura?"

Crap, of course he would know where she was. Stupid Uchihas.

"What, Sasuke?"

"You had Naruto worried, thought maybe you had run away."

"Psh, like I would run away. Sometimes Naruto has an overactive imagination."

"I was worried too."

"Yeah, why?"

"If we can't find you when you activate it, how do we make sure you don't die?"

Sakura shrugged, opening her eyes and leaning upwards into a sitting position. Akuma was abruptly dropped into her lap, which sent him into one of his chattering lectures. "What do you want, Sasuke?"

"You have been sitting in the sandbox for six hours, Sakura, time to come home."

"I wouldn't call it home, but whatever."

She carefully transferred Akuma to her shoulder, where he kept up his lecture, and followed Sasuke. "I was sure Gaara would be the one to find me."

"I know you, Sakura."

"He seems to know me too."

"Now you're being a smart allik."

"Are you telling me to be something I'm not?"

"Sakura…!"

"Fine, fine, I'll cut the smarty comments. But remember who can run who through walls, kay?"

"Hn."

"I assume Gaara was watching me too?"

"Hn!" Gaara stated, materializing on the other side of Sakura. "I arrived five minutes after the Uchiha."

"Ha, told you, Sasuke."

"Hn."

The kunoichi rolled her eyes at the two boys. "What is it with you two?"

"What?" Sasuke asked when Gaara remained silent.

"The whole Hn thing!"

"What about it?"

"Is it even a word?"

"Hn!" Gaara replied.

"What does it even mean!" she retorted, going into lecture mode now that Akuma was done. "It is like you are dismissing my question or statement whenever you use it, it's annoying."

Sasuke eyed Sakura's hair, noticing the sparks starting to fly. "Calm down."

"I will not calm down!" She snapped, giving Sasuke a glare. "I don't appreciate being 'hn'ed all the time, ok? Am I not allowed to be upset for five seconds about something you two do constantly!

"I mean, do you guys even care how alike you are? Other than your hair, chicken-butt has more fashion sense than you, Gaara, but that is beside the point! You guys could be personality twins, and it's beyond annoying! So stop with the Hn, ok? PLEASE!"

"Hn!" they both agreed.

"Oh, dear, kami!"

Watching Sakura's retreating form, Gaara turned to Sasuke. "What did you do?"

Sub-Chapter Two: Push

Sakura wove through the people in the tower, trying to make it back to the apartment with her giant stack of books. Yes, several books on several random subjects. After nine months, Sakura was officially bored.

Akuma looked down at the pile of books before jumping on top of them and settling down.

"Ach! Akuma, I can't see! Get off the books!"

Sakura felt herself stumble over something, causing her to bump into somebody, which only sent her whirling in an entirely new direction. Soon, Sakura found herself on the ground. A small breeze opened one of the books, flipping several of the pages.

"Sakura, are you ok?"

Feeling a blush coming on, Sakura looked up at Gaara. He was looking down at her with a weird expression, kind of bewildered if you asked Sakura.

"Uhh…yeah, yeah, I'm fine, just carrying books." She trailed off uncomfortably, taking in the sight of all of her books scattered across the narrow hallway. All but one of them landed perfectly so as not to damage them, another had fallen open along the spine or something.

Gaara bent down and picked up several books. Akuma, who had fallen off with the books, settled for curling up on the open book as the two shinobi gathered up the others. Sakura, with the help of Gaara, managed to get the books back into a neat pile in her arms.

"Thank you, Gaara, I appreciate it."

"Hn!"

"What did I say about that?"

"Gomen."

Rolling her eyes, Sakura took a step forward. "Well, thanks again."

Out of nowhere, a small breeze caught Sakura mid-step, sending her flying forward. Books went everywhere, yet again, and Sakura fell into something, sending both it and her tumbling toward the ground.

"Oww!" Sakura moaned, trying to figure out what she was sprawled on top of. "Gaara, where did you go?"

"Here." He muttered, removing the book from his face and looking up at Sakura, who hadn't moved yet. Her butt was bony, and it was hurting his stomach.

"Wow, Gaara, never thought I'd see you get laid in a hallway."

Blushing, Sakura looked up, seeing Kankuro grinning down at them.

"Are the books some sort of fantasy of Sakura's?" he asked, wagging his eyebrows suggestively.

"Shut up!" Sakura snapped, removing herself from the soon-to-be Kazekage. Gaara just glared at Kankuro, sending the following message: Run now, never speak of this, or I will kill you.

"Hehe…" Sakura laughed nervously, scrabbling for her books. "Sorry, sorry!"

Kankuro gave them one more suggestive look before turning around, holding up his pinky, and walking away.

"Sakura?"

"What?"

"You are starring at a book."

"So?"

"As if you are in love with it."

"Am I?"

"Yes, you are."

Sakura picked up the book that had fallen open; the one Akuma was still lying on top of. It was a book about Lightning Country, and it had fallen open on the seasonal page, describing the terrible storms they had in the summer time, especially in their lower regions.

"Look at this!" she murmured, eyes widening. "'Lightning experiences devastating storms where the lightning seems to have a mind of its own, striking everything in its path. Winds gust up to a hundred miles an hour or more, taking down everything not thoroughly weighted. It has been known to pull the roofs from houses."

"Your point?"

"This is the connection!" the cherry-blossom squealed, leaping into the air. "The connection of wind and lightning, it's thunderstorms! And if I can control both lightning and wind, then I can also control…"

"The other elements that make up a storm." Gaara finished for her.

Sakura froze in place, the implications freezing her to the core. That was the point all along, wasn't it? For Sakura to create rain storms throughout Suna, helping the crops grow. That was the key to saving Suna.

Which also meant, in the next three months, Sakura would have to learn how to create a storm.

Sub-Chapter Three: Trouble

"Sakura-chan, are you ok?"

"Yeah, Naruto, what points to me not being ok?"

"You have been lying on the couch for five days straight, getting up only to use the bathroom and find something to eat."

"I'm taking a vacation."

"Gaara says you figured it out."

"Figured what out?"

"How to do it."

"Do what?"

"Save Suna!"

"Yeah, I figured it out."

"And now you are taking a vacation, that doesn't make sense, Sakura-chan." Naruto lectured, revaling in the switch of positions. Usually Sakura was lecturing him!

"Fine, I needed some thinking time, ok?"

"What do you need to think about?"

"Everything, really! Before I went on my whole 'vacation' I was doing meteorology research, ok? There is a fixed amount of water on earth, I can't just create more, and the world doesn't work like that. Even in water jutsus, they don't just create more water, they take it from somewhere. The more heavy jutsus need a water source to supply them."

"I still don't see the problem here."

"Of course you don't. Naruto, in order to create the rainstorm, I would need water, which I would have to take from somewhere. And then, I would have to get the rainstorm here! There are still tons of things I need to figure out, like how exactly to even create a rainstorm, how to move it here, which would require rewiring the air currents without causing permanent damage to some other place. There is so much I have to take into account here, and it's just a little…"

"Overwhelming?"

"Yeah, that's it, overwhelming." Sakura sighed.

Naruto just smiled at her. He sat down next to her, cradling her head in his lap. "Don't worry; everything will work out for the best."

"Things always work out for you, Naruto, not so much for me."

They sat there in contemplative silence for a few minutes before Naruto spoke. "I invited Yukari over here after our date tonight."

"Ramen-girl, right?"

"Yeah."

"Why don't you sound happy?"

"Well, remember how she doesn't like you?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot. My mind is on more important things than stupid rivalries." Sakura said, grinning up at him.

"Right…and you two will probably see each other tonight, so…"

"Don't worry about it, Naruto; I won't start anything, even if she does."

Leaning back, Naruto let out a long over-exaggerated sigh. "I just don't know what to do about it."

"Naruto, everything works out for you, remember? In the end, pieces fall into place, especially when they are fitting together for the number-one-ninja-in-surprising-people."

"Yeah, you're right; both of our problems will find solutions."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

(Yeah, I am totally looking at my Naruto World map while I write this part, deciding exactly what to do.)

After her little talk with Naruto and a short nap, Sakura had ended up right back in the library trying to find a map of the entire continent, proceeding to take it back upstairs and spread it across the floor after having moved all of the furniture. After making sure the map was clear and exactly what she wanted, Sakura set to telling Burizu exactly what she needed of her.

Burizu just lazily wound up and down Sakura's arm, agreeing. Now it was time for Sakura's part in the entire thing.

Blood-limit, blood-limit, blood-limit!

Sakura's eyes shot open. Without having to look, she knew it had worked. Burizu was now lazily flying around Akuma, a whirl of purples, blues, and soft pinks.

"I'm ready."

Burizu took the note, lapped around Akuma one last time, and started cycling around the map, showing the exact air currents. They were so many in number, and as Sakura studied them she could see why they functioned. The winds that came up from Tea Country and over into Water Country were what moved the hurricanes into that region, where its waterways provided damage leeway. For instance, if the current were to shift positions, it would ravish Konoha shores, where it would do much more damage than over in Water. The currents that went from Lightning down brought rain into the Oto and Konoha regions, finally moving into Tea Country to help the plants that made the country economically functional.

Everything partook in everything; certain things helped some nations and brought trouble to others, while preserving life everywhere else.

"Hey, Sakura-chan!" Naruto called from the doorway.

"Hey, Naruto!" she replied, not taking her eyes from the map as Burizu ran along it for the twentieth time.

"Hello, Sakura!"

At the feminine voice, Sakura's head snapped up, locking eyes with Ramen-Girl. Said girl shrieked and jumped behind Naruto.

"Naruto-kun, she's possessed!" she screamed, "She wants to hurt me."

Naruto shot a puzzled expression. "Yukari-chan, what are you talking about? Sakura's not possessed."

"She has white eyes!"

Naruto raised an eyebrow as he glanced back at Sakura, who had turned her head back to the map. He caught a peek of Sakura's snow-white eyes. "What'cha doing, Sakura-chan?"

"Mapping wind currents, studying them, finding out what I can change without harming a certain region."

"What did she just say?" Yukari asked.

"She said she is doing what Sakura-chans do, studying."

"What are you two doing?" Sakura asked, marking something down on the large map with a pencil. "Burizu, show me the currents that go to and from Water again."

Naruto walked Yukari over to the couch, which had been pushed up against the wall to Sakura's bedroom. "Why is she talking to herself?"

"She isn't talking to herself," Naruto replied, "She is talking to Burizu."

"Akuma!" Sakura shouted, thrusting her arm outwards to push the raccoon off the map. Winds caught its fur, depositing it at the foot of the couch. "You are going to smear the lines, stay off."

Akuma only started chattering, which went ignored.

Yukari looked down at the lecturing rodent. "That is the freakiest thing I have ever seen. Naruto-kun, make it leave!"

Naruto's eyes darted over to Sakura. "Uhh, you probably shouldn't have said that."

"What?"

Sakura growled quietly, the pencil she was holding in her left hand snapping. "You did not just say that about Akuma."

"The rodent has a name?"

"Akuma is my pet!"

"Looks more like carrion to me."

"There is nothing wrong with Akuma!"

"Other than the fact that he is so unnatural looking it isn't even interesting?"

"Take that back, now!"

"Make me!"

"Well, don't you know how to pick them, Naruto?"

"Don't you bring him into this! Naruto-kun is perfect."

"You know, six months ago, I hadn't pegged you for a snob, yet here I am being proven wrong."

"What, you think you are so great, flaunting your talents before everybody. The word on the street is you are just another whore looking to claim the Future Kazekage as your own."

"That is the farthest thing from wrong I have ever heard. You're the one leeching off of Naruto!"

"I AM NOT LEECHING!"

Sakura was taken aback slightly. That powerful of a retort made it sound as if Ramen-Girl were lying. "I'm done with this entire exchange! Naruto, tell Sasuke, when he gets back from wherever in kami's name he is, that I'll be in his room. I'll leave the cardboard box outside."

"Oh, so you have two lovers, do you? No, I guess this Sasuke would make it three, if not more, whore."

Against her will, Sakura felt the tugging of the winds pushing her towards Sasuke's door, telling her with action to not do something she would regret. How she hated that they were right.

"Whatever!" Sakura retorted lamely before slamming her door shut.

Sub-Chapter Three: Repercussions

"Sakura!" Sasuke called through the door, banging loudly. "I really don't appreciate the fact that you keep running to my room."

"Bet you wouldn't mind if you were in here with me."

Sasuke paused.

"It's not happening, Sasuke!"

"Why didn't you go into your room?"

"My room has a big gaping hole in the wall!"

"And whose fault is that?"

"Yours, you made me mad!"

"Sakura, get out of my room!"

"What, you want your cardboard box, cause I can get it for you if you want!"

"Just. Get. Out!"

"No!"

"Fine, stay in there for all I care."

Sakura heard Sasuke's impatient and angry footsteps walk away from the door, leaving Sakura with a feeling of guilt. She should probably leave his room. Sighing in defeat, Sakura lifted herself to her feet and left the room. She walked right past the brooding Sasuke, who looked up at her in surprise, before storming into the kitchen and examining the contents of the refrigerator.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto's voice asked from the couch.

Turning around, Sakura examined the Jinchuuriki. He looked as if he hadn't slept in ages, with bags under his eyes and hair more disheveled than usual, giving Naruto a look of absolute ugliness. His clothes were in need of a good ironing too.

"What's up?" Sakura asked before rummaging around in the cupboard for an instant ramen.

"Nothin', except for the fact that you have been in Sasuke's room for a long time."

Sakura shrugged, pressing the button on the microwave. "Sorry about that. Ramen-girl just kind of ticked me off."

Naruto sighed as he put his manga book down beside him. "Your explosive nature didn't even compare to how she reacted."

"What did she do?" she asked as she picked up a pair of clean chopsticks, eagerly awaiting a meal. "Care to share?"

Naruto chuckled at Sakura's rhyme. "Well, she started talking about how I hadn't defended her at all, about how I had sided with you, and that I wasn't being a good date. She started ranting about some other stuff, complaining about you, etc. I kind of zoned out of it, like I do with your ranting where I only listen to the key parts?"

"Uh-huh, that's what makes you a good listener. You know exactly how to respond."

"Right, but I had no idea how to respond with Yukari."

Sasuke plopped down on the couch, his face still disgruntled, in a dejected manner. "She was shouting at Naruto for at least three hours. And somebody left me on the couch."

"Weird, I didn't hear her." Sakura stated, thinking back. "I was in a rather somber mood, wasn't really paying attention, fell asleep…"

Sasuke just gave her a glare, as if telling her just how lucky she was while trying not to. "You're annoying."

Sakura shrugged, removing her ramen from the microwave. "Sorry. But girls are just emotional like that. You know, Naruto, Ramen-girl reminds me a lot of Ino."

Naruto's face brightened up slightly at this remark. "You're right, she is! Bet Ino would be easier to deal with, ne?"

Sakura shrugged, relishing in her first bite of ramen. "With Ino, the thing that makes her happy the most is when her current boy-toy takes her shopping. Take Ramen-girl around the market tomorrow or something and buy her something that catches her eye."

"That's a good idea, thanks Sakura-chan."

Sakura nodded just as a knock sounded from the door. With an annoyed expression, Sasuke stood up to open it, revealing a Gaara. He looked like he had gotten some sleep, compared to the other two shinobi.

"What do you want?" Sasuke demanded.

Gaara held out a letter. "From the council." He plainly stated.

"What is it?" Sakura asked, walking over to peer around the door.

When noticing Sakura was present, Gaara bowed to her. "A mission."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Yep, you know it; I just ended at a cliff-hanger, BECAUSE I LOVE THEM! They serve well for Evil Deeds of the day, yeah? I think I got everybody's ideas in here, but if I didn't, go ahead and mention that I left out one of your ideas. Then I will be sure to put it in March.

March is going to be fun, ya want to know why? Well, I can't tell you. You can find out as soon as I manage to finish the chapter. Writing on weird computers is no fun, because I can't blast my music to unknown ridicules heights.

Mouse, Finger, and Review want to go to a bar. Unite them so maybe they can score big and get lucky, yeah?