This wasn't the sort of reunion she wanted.

Then again, no one could have predicted the future of that night.

[Name] approaches Suna, growing nostalgic at the sight of the village behind it's walls. However, she is met with a bloody scene:

Dead, torn-up bodies of guards littering the entrance of Suna. She had joyously entered, and backed out immediately from the scent, ready to heave on the spot. However, the commotion beyond the walls kept her strong, and she races through the nightmare. Sand flitted from above and she is taken back once more. From below she could see sand being manipulated to catch an object in the sky. She took off on the rooftops watching the strange bird zip around, avoiding the clutches of Gaara. However, in less than a minute she spots him retreating into a shell of sand. She spots the bird's rider. A black coat, red clouds, blonde hair and an injured arm. She then spots Kankuro and a group of men watching on top of a building.

"Kankuro!"

"[Name]? You're back?!"

"What the hell?" Along the roof stood guards prepping for back-up. Most recognize her, their captain is the only one who looked displeased to see her. "Hey, you shouldn't be outside. Go on with the other villagers."

"I-"

"He's right," Kankuro approached her, asserting himself. "The last thing Gaara would want is for you to get hurt. Come on," he reached for her arm, but she backed away. He isn't in the mood to argue and snatches her wrist, "Listen-!"

An explosion's roar is deafened by a large shield made of sand.

She could hear cheering from afar, but she is stricken for the worst. The distance covered along with his own defense, must take a bulk of chakra. From their distance, they can still see Gaara's fortification still in piece, and then suddenly, a blast. The sand dismissing itself, gliding over Gaara's unconscious body, the bird went for it's prize. That's when [Name] broke off from Kankuro, taking one giant leap, inviting the wind to guide her safely. Her sight locked on the rider. His bird's tail wrapped around Gaara. Everyone watched as her body dispersed, and reformed at a great length in just a second, her opponent in her range. She had one shot before falling. His hand already had something prepared from the moment she jumped. The two ran on time.

"Lotus style: Flower Needles," the name covering up her real motive as she moved her hands to perform another signal "Flora Release: Tracer Spore Techinque."

"Hmph."

A shower of petals gathered around her, suddenly bending it's broad shape to thin, and then propelling to her target. His paper bombs had the form of tiny spiders, a few cut down by her needles, but most sticking themselves onto her arm. The two exchange a glare, knowing their aim was perfect, as if submitting to their future wounds. However, he held a smirk, for they both knew she would take the most damage, and her petty needles is not going to do anything for Gaara's release. However, she grins to herself, knowing she caught him. The spores will painlessly dig into the man's skin...making him traceable. Smoke, the smell of burning skin, the pain so great, she could feel herself fading as she fell straight down. When she was caught, she was nearly gone.

Kankuro is calling her name, she struggled to open her lids, but they merely flickered. There's a clamor of other unknown voices, "Don't worry, I promise you. I'll bring Gaara back. As my duty as his older brother, as my duty as your friend." She stayed until the end of his sentence, and finally gave up on holding her consciousness.


"I extracted most of the poison, but I have to make an antidote for the rest..."

"What do you need?"

"Wait, what about her?"

"...that girl? It's not necessary, she wasn't poisoned."

"She did take harsh damage from the bombs. Knocked out for three days."

"[Name]-chan..." a familiar voice pitied her.

"Wait, you know her, Sakura-chan?"

"That's because..." the voices are clearing. "...she had the idiotic sense to tackle the enemy head-on!" a white ceiling, a white bed, an old lady. Her lids fluttered, someone hovered over her, calling her name. It's not the same crabby voice that was criticizing her, she would rather not be listening to Chiyo at the moment anyhow.

"Who is she anyway?"

There's a soothing touch spreading throughout her body, her strength returning. Her sight and hearing no longer muffled. "Basically, Gaara's girlfriend," someone responded with a teasing tone.

"What?!"

Unconscious for three days once more, her luck sure hasn't changed. She shot up by the mention of his name, frightening those around her bedside. Remembering the flutter of wings... Her attempts meant nothing and have done absolutely nothing but harm to herself. Even if she laid a scratch on the man, he still got away. Temari spoke words of relief, but the replay of her memories blocked them out. "There was a white bird," she recalled. It seemed as if the room contorted. Her eyes trailed up her arm scarred with burns, a fair hand held her burnt one. "Temari..."

"At least one of you woke up," smiled her friend, Sakura appeared before her, proceeding to heal her.

"Sakura? You too?" she also recognizes Kakashi in the corner who casually waves at her.

"We were sent once we got the message from Lady Tsunade," she explained. "[Name]-chan...your skin."

"It'll heal, eventually," she promises, her eyes drifting from Chiyo to the blonde in the room. His bright blue eyes wide and observing her rise, "You..."

"Yeah, that's Naruto," Sakura said cheerily.

"Huh?" he reacts to his name, "So, you're the one everyone's been telling me about?" He holds out a hand, a slight grin.

"Ha, same here," she takes it, the mood lightening until they hear a sound of pain beside her. "Kankuro?!"

"Sorry..." a voice croaked, everyone's head turned to see Kankuro rising stiffly. He first turned to [Name], a slight smile to hide his agony, "I couldn't keep my promise."

Their awakenings was a glimmer of hope.

Everyone gathered around him, Sakura already spouting instructions for his recovery. Temari grinning from ear to ear along with Naruto. [Name]'s bed squeaked from her sudden movement as she rushes beside him. His torso is wrapped in bandages, his make-up removed, his hair tangled, he eyes her from head to toe, "...you look like shit."

"Least I don't stink like it," she sits at the end while Sakura hurries to pass him a glass of water. Temari sighs, leaning on [Name]'s shoulder, relieved at least one of her brothers are fine. Naruto is unfamiliar with the Sand Siblings being so friendly and casual. "What happened?"

He told his side of the story, mentioning another Akatsuki member, a former Sand village ninja, Sasori. She is once more unfamiliar with the history, but sees Chiyo revealing shock on her face for once. Sakura had left with Ebizou, the other half of the "Honored Siblings" to prepare an antidote. Naruto grew impatient, as he listens to further details from her side as well. Kakashi suggesting to use his sharingan to find Gaara. That's when [Name] remembered and exclaimed, "I did mark him!"

"Mark? Like Akamaru mark?" asked a disturbed Naruto.

"Oh my god, you're as clueless as Sakura described."

"Hey, what now?!"

"My spores, when I teamed up with Kiba or Shino they were able to trace them using scent or bugs. If it were me to find them, my spores deplete and excrete chakra, leaving a trail, however..." her confidence shattered. "...it's been three days correct? The effect only lasts for five..."

"We have two days before we lose them, huh?" says Kakashi.

"Then, what are we waiting for?" Naruto has been prepared to leave at any given moment, his bag never set on the floor. "It should be no problem then, right?"

"...[Name]," Kankuro calls to her, "Good job."

"...thanks."

"Naruto," he remembers the pompous "brat" who just seemed to have gotten taller in his opinion. However, this is the boy who changed Gaara for the better, "...I pass on the responsibility to you." He places a hand on [Name]'s shoulder, "For the Sand Village, for Temari and I, for [Name]...for Gaara."

"Don't sweat it, I'll definitely bring him back, I promise you," she could feel and hear his determination. "Here's one thing to know about me, I never go back on my promises."

This is Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto, she continued to envy him.

"I'm so glad...we finally get to meet," she hides a tear that forced itself through. "...I'll hold you to it then."

He nods, scratching the back of his head with a light laugh, "Of course! I mean, I hope we can be good friends since you're Gaara's girlfriend?"

"...huh?" she realized she had neither approved or denied that fact. "Uh...no."

"Oh, good."

"Why?"

"I...feel like I would be the one to get one first."

"Oh? How's that working out?"

"I mean, there's Sakura-cha-"

"Pass," the said "Sakura-chan" instantly shuts him down as she carried an antidote. Chiyo had fallen silent after the mention of Sasori, [Name] turned to her, wondering if she should interact with her. The conversation took a serious turn regarding the matter, "What do you think the Akatsuki want with Gaara?"

"Probably the same reason they wanted Naruto, to extract the beast," explained Kakashi.

"...that would mean," she remembers the Chuunin Exams. "No," she hid a sob, the danger coming more and more in reality. Akio coming into view once more, she gulps, feeling the awful anxiety creep up again. It had been stored away from her mingles in Konoha, her promotion as a jounin. Her illusions falling away again. However, through the tears that were able to escape, she bit her lip, "Naruto, you better hold your promise, please. I don't think...I can afford to lose him."

"Got it," he replied without any given hesitance.

Kakashi moves his headband, revealing his scarred eye, "Well...why don't we get a move on then? Guy's team should be here shortly too."

"...good luck."

...

No one could get in the way of her stubbornness. [Name] was wide awake. She turned her head to Kankuro's side, seeing him sleeping soundly, out like a light. Slowly, she rose from her bed, her left arm tautly wrapped, covering the burns as she slipped herself in her outfit. A tight, black crop top, remaining sleeveless. A one-sleeve jacket covering her right arm lined with various pockets inside of the pocket, a thin white string holding it in place. The bag she tossed aside leaned against the bottom of her bed, she stuffed it, along with her pillow underneath the blanket. She freezes, hearing the slight groans of Kankuro, Temari fell asleep while sitting beside his bed. Lastly, [Name] secured her headband before leaving. A nurse tried to stop her, but she easily evaded her, causing a commotion, knowing the siblings are to wake up soon.

She basked in the heat while standing on the balcony, scanning the sky. The spores may be long gone, but the chakra left behind is faintly visible. She smirks, her eyes glued to the sky as excess petals scatter across Suna, the desert, dyeing the barren land with red. Her feet soon met the comfort of grass, hopping onto the branches, the leaves covering the sky. Mindlessly, losing track of the chakra, aimlessly pushing herself deeper in the forest when she came across broken trees. An obvious struggle, they have been cleanly cut in half, she remembers the mention of Guy's team and continues forward. The ground beneath has been shattered. She nearly passes familiar head that sat upon a tree branch. The bird's head, now torn open and hollow. The path ended there, no longer a pinch of chakra left for her to follow. Feeling lost, she kicked at the head, watching it fall and break into pieces to her satisfaction.

"Flower Art: Dance of One Million Petals," she didn't bother to make sure she summoned the correct amount, watching the hundreds of petals replicate and spread. It was a jutsu she used in desperate times for easy transportation, wherever they settled, she could be there in a second. She chose the furthest distance, the sun's rays suddenly greeting her, stepping outside from the shadows of the forest. A large field of grass, a light breeze dancing her fallen petals towards the figures that laid in the middle. She panted, forcing herself to continue on, seeing her flora catching the attention of the group as her petals danced around them. In an instant, she joins them, only to be shocked with Gaara's pale body laid on the grass. Sakura unable to look her in the eye as she attempted to heal him. Chiyo knelt on the ground, Naruto waited patiently for Sakura to speak. She moved forward, Lee placing a hand on her shoulder, she didn't turn to him, but lightly brushed the hand off. She stood by Naruto, who struggled to hold in a sob when Sakura slowly shook her head. The grief didn't hit her as fast as Naruto, it crept along her skin.

He's the first to step forward, "Why...Why is it always Gaara?" Sakura walked away from Gaara's body, incapable of offering any comfort, "Why did he have to die like this?" The warmth seeped away from her, her fingers grew cold as they twitched, "He just became Kazekage..."

Chiyo calls out to him, "Naruto...calm do-"

"Shut up!" as he retaliated his heartbroken expression is revealed. Tears streaming as he bares his teeth, spatting, "This wouldn't have happened if you Sand shinobi hadn't put a monster inside Gaara!" He rambles on, but everything around her becomes muted when she traversed to Gaara. Her movement interrupting Naruto as she knelt over the fallen Kazekage.

His cheek felt cold in her hand, she knew very well, the feeling of a dead body.

"Gaara...I'm sorry," she meant to say more, but the buildup in her throat caused her to croak just from muttering his name. "Ga-" she couldn't say it anymore, finding herself in the same emotional state as Naruto. Remorse, the agonizing jerking of her heart, as if it were being twisted, tugged, she knew it too well, but it wasn't Akio's face she cupped. It was Gaara's, the man she had longed to hold again, to exchange meaningless words that coat over the passage of time, to share a cup of tea with again. To love...

Her lips peck the scar, the chill of his skin disturbed her. Her forehead pressed against his, she gasps, seeing Chiyo at the other side of him, setting herself on the grass, putting her hands over his chest, emitting chakra. "Girl...do you know why I preferred bitter tea?"

[Jutsu]:

wiki/Flora_Release:_Tracer_Spore_Technique

wiki/Flower_Art:_Dance_of_One_Hundred_Million_Petals