Kintsukuroi

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Chapter 11: Preparations

An hour after Daybreak

The pair on the couch, laid in a compromising position to anyone who were to witness them.

The redhead laid on the couch, legs stretched out, one was straight on the cushions while the other rested on the hardwood floor.

The pinkette, deep in her REM sleep, nestled between Gaara's legs, right cheek against his chest.

The display was innocent yet intimate.

Gaara shifted his left arm so that it was resting on the small of Sakura's back, said girl shifted her face into the crook of Gaara's neck, near his pulse.

It was Sakura's soft breathing that lured him from his meditative state.

Gaara opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings, noting that he was still in Sakura's living room by the decor and music that still played in a soft hum.

The small hairs on the back of his neck stood at end, as he felt Sakura's breath fan against his skin. Gaara's eyes widened as he felt internal panic set in.

' What if she wakes up and realized I've over crossed my boundaries.. she would have me labeled as Ero...'

Gaara's breath hitched in his throat as Sakura shifted against him and lifted her sleepy face. As she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her ministrations slowed into a halt as she began to realize she was currently laying on top of none other than, Sabaku no Gaara.

Her eyes went frantic, searching for an excuse or way of apology.

Gaara was too engrossed in the color of her eyes. They were vibrant and glossy. Her emerald eyes looked at him, pupils dilated as they slow adjusted to the light. He attempted to tear he eyes away but then felt a soft hand place itself upon his cheek, caressing his sun kissed skin.

Gaara momentarily closed his eyes, consumed in the feel of another human touching him, unaccustomed to the caress. When he finally opened his eyes again, their eyes locked, viridescent green met with emerald.

"... Sakura.. do not be the cause of new scars..." She understood what he meant.

The conversation last night brought many things to light: His Uncle, his family, his childhood.

She leaned closer to Gaara, and when she was only a hair's breadth away:

" ... I wouldn't dream of such a thing..."

She pressed her inexperienced lips against his inexperienced ones.

Gaara held and pulled the pink haired kunoichi against his chest more, his hand although hesitant explored anything that, did not invade her virtue.

After Sakura wound her arms around Gaara's neck, his hands caressed her clothed back, but after working up bit of courage, he worked his hand under her tube top, rubbing and massaging the soft flesh that laid beneath his finger tips.

His hands went from her lower back, up to ,but not excluding, her shoulder blades, sides and hips.

The kiss had evolved from hesitant and inexperienced to hot and hungry, once Gaara felt the tip of Sakura's tongue touch his.

Their tongues danced and fought amongst themselves as their collective breathing came and left in short hot puffs.

Sakura was the first one to break the kiss. Gaara stayed seated and watched with hooded eyes as Sakura repositioned herself so, she was straddling him. She didn't skip a beat and pressed her lips against Gaara's again, the action eliciting a groan from said redhead,which made her knees quiver.

Now that they were chest to chest.

Gaara's hands, ran from the middle of her back to her hips, the action caused Sakura to scooch herself closer to him whilst still in his lap. The action made him shudder and grip her hips.

'T-this is getting out of hand.. Fast..'

Gaara inhaled sharply as Sakura continued to grind her hips against his. She was gripping his shoulders, while her face stayed burrowed against his neck. The feeling of her trembling lips against his throat was making his thought process more difficult.

She pulled Gaara into a hungry kiss.

It wasn't until Sakura moaned at the feel of something hard jutt against her lower region, did Gaara break the kiss, begrudgingly.

Sakura rested her forehead against his, panting as her hips continued to grind against Gaara's hardening appendage.

'Sakura..'

Sakura panted as she opened her eyes to examine the sand user, who had a dusted path of pink across the bridge of his nose.

Gaara's own trembling hands attempted to stop Sakura's grinding, but found that his hands only egged her on. He tightened his grip on her and forcefully grinded her clothed area roughly against his erection, only to hear her moan his name desperately.

The sound made Gaara swallow hard. They shouldn't be doing this, not like this.. Not right now. He found that he couldn't bring himself to stop her, so he knew he had to do something that would make her freeze in her tracks.

"..S-sakura.."

The rosette haired teen stopped to turn hooded eyes to him still in a trance.

Once they locked eyes, again the blush that nearly matched his hair appeared on her face. She realized that her hips were moving on their own accord and stopped.

" I-i.. should ..wake... Temari..." embarrassed and still trying to regain her breath.

Gaara nodded in agreement, but couldn't tear his eyes away from Sakura's lips.

He nearly kissed her again when he witnessed her worrying her bottom lip.

Until she got out of his lap, face as red as a tomato.

'I should go too..' Gaara mentally added before getting up as Sakura headed toward her stairs that lead to her room.

" ... Will I be seeing you later?..." she asked, nervously. Gaara lifted and adjusted his gourd on his back.

He almost smiled. The sound of her voice contrasting greatly of her previously bold behavior of grinding her hot space against his stiff member.

He looked at Sakura with an invisible raised brow instead.

" Oh right!.. Today is the Cherry Blossom Festival... Konoha goes all out for the festivities.. I was wondering if you were going later.. after visiting the hot springs with the rest of the guys.. of course!" Sakura rocked nervously on the balls of her feet.

Sakura's heart stopped when she caught Gaara smiling tenderly at her.

" Until later then..." With that he disappeared in a whirl of sand.

Once she was sure he was gone, she hopped onto the couch, a look of pure bliss danced across her features. She laid there reminiscing, unaware of the third eye that watched her, said watcher's smile only proceeded to become more prominent, anyone looking would have noticed the slightly sharp canines, Gaara hid behind normally closed lips.


Sakura POV - 7:25 Am

She reveled in the feeling of butterflies that fluttered in her abdomen, at the thought of having someone of the opposite sex, she connected with on various levels.

Sakura couldn't wipe the dreamy look off her face as she reminisced about the lip lock she shared with the crimson headed sand chunin.

Sakura made her way to her room door, knocked a couple of time before opening said door. Sakura walked into her room, surveying Temari's choice of attire to sleep, or should she say lack of attire.

Sakura nudged the sleeping bare backed blonde on her blanket covered thigh.

" Psssst.. Temari.. wake up! Guess what today is?" The blonde rolled onto her back, looking at the pinkette, surely racking her brain to see what was the reason of waking her so early, the blonde's mouth broke out into a vibrant grin.

"Happy Birthday Sakura!" Sakura bowed in gratitude, smiling at her friend's great memory.

" Yep.. so .. Wake up.. we're going to eat an adequate breakfast.. meet the girls at the Hot Spring district.. relax.. talk.. then at night!.. we' ll get dressed here!.." Temari rubbed the sleep from her eyes and wrapped the blanket around her body as to not flash Sakura on her way to the bathroom.

" I'll just go and take my shower then.." but before Temari could open the door, Sakura stumped said ninja with an intimate question.

"... Is ...there anything in the world like the feeling.. o-of you two... you know.." the rosette girl stuttered. Temari smiled at herself, thinking of her first time with the lazy Nara boy.

Temari turned the door knob and opened the door, but left Sakura with some food for thought.

"... Nothing compares... when it's the one you love..." Sakura placed a hand over her beating heart, asking herself if she was in love with the red headed jinchuuriki.

Her mind instantly fell upon the couch incident and the artistically framed kanji on Gaara's forehead.

' I'm falling in ...love'


Nikko Inn - 7:35 am

Gaara reached Nikko Inn in record timing. He reappeared at the entrance of the inn and walked toward his shared reserved room, all the while his attention was focused on the mental conversation that was being held in Gaara's mind about said pinkette.

'.. I bet you want me to tell you what your body is going through...' Gaara scoffed.

' Just because I've never been touched.. doesn't mean I don't know when my body is aroused..' Gaara finished, as he slid open the door to his room, then effectively shutting it behind him before placing his gourd on the floor, he then walked to the kitchen and filled a glass of water from the tap and chugged it down.

'... What is your course of action pup?... Women are frail attention seeking nymphs.. be careful.. now that she knows she can set your loins ablaze, she will use it against you.. The bond between man and women is a weapon for the woman.. take caution in what I say boy..'

Gaara shook his head, taking what his Ichibi said with a grain of salt as he headed to his co-joined room with two beds.

One of which Kankuro's sleeping form currently occupied.

' I thought you were growing fond of her.. now you are telling me things to get rid of her?.. Make up your mind..' Gaara replied respectfully.

'Boy.. you are not wrong.. but..' Gaara paused as he opened the linen closet to get a clean towel.

'... Shukaku..?' Gaara asked cautiously.

' Love.. is the inadvertent attraction to beauty.. This girl is very beautiful and rare..'

Gaara awaited for Shukaku to make his point before asking.

'.. Then what's the matter with her?..' Gaara asked, still unsure of the point his Ichibi was trying to make.

'... Nothing.. but I know.. letting her go.. is going to be... devastating..' The ichibi chuckled mirthlessly and faded into the dark corners of Gaara's mind.

Gaara shook his head and grabbed a white towel from the linen closet, as Gaara made his way to the bathroom in their conjoined room, Gaara sent a hard kick to the side of Kankuro's bed, waking him with a start.

" What the fu-!.. Gaara!.. I hope you have breakfast or a good reason to wake me up ..this early in the damn morning!" Gaara looked at Kankuro, blankly.

" What happened to the food you were supposed to buy and bring for us to eat last night?..." Kankuro sat up and stretched lazily, groaning in satisfaction when he heard a satisfying pop come from his back. He scratched his bed head, a look of shame upon his face.

" Damn.. It totally slipped my mind after I walked Ino home.. " Gaara openly sucked his teeth in disgust at his brother's poor judgement in time for satisfying his sexual urges.

Kankuro read Gaara's expression and waved his hands dismissively.

" I didn't have sex with her if that's what you're thinking.. Jeez Gaara... I thought you had enough faith in me and my self control around girls.."

Gaara looked at his older brother skeptically, who in turn sighed and sat at the edge of his bed.

" Okay.. I'll tell you what happened... So remember when I said:..."

"I'm going to get actual food.. I'll be back..Anyone want anything?" I went to head out and Sakura's best friend Ino stood up from her seat and stood next to me. She then said "Sakura.. I actually have to go.. It's getting late.. I'm sorry.."

Then Sakura was like ' No it's cool.. see you tomorrow.. Hey by the way.. maybe Kankuro can walk you home since.. he's like leaving and stuff'

I look at Ino and shrug, not thinking too much about it. Ino though, asked me if it was okay, which I told her, 'nah I don't mind.'

She then gave me this weird flirty smile and opens the door, saying her goodbyes and good nights.

Kankuro looked at his younger brother to see his he followed him so far. The response he received from Gaara was nod of his head to continue.

" Okay so then she was asking me questions to .. I don't know.. Get to know me better.. I guess:.."

' How are you enjoying Konoha so far'

"Stuff like that she would ask me..." Gaara crossed his arms and listened to his brother's tall tale.

" So then.. I feel like she's coming on to me so I'm thinking.. I can't let this progress any farther.. she'll break my heart, but I would break hers.. so I.. broke it to her..."

Gaara's eyes shone with a spark of amusement. It took him a lot of concentration not to laugh at his brother's foolishness.

" What did you tell her..?.. I'm curious.." Gaara admitted. Kankuro sighed as he prepared himself to tell the other half of his tale.

" I said...:

" Ino.. I know you want to fall madly in love with me.. but I can't allow you any closer to my heart than you already are.. You're of Konoha... and I of Sand.. this will never work.. my blue-eyed darling..." Kankuro exhaled like a hopeless romantic, while Gaara's emotionless facade was cracking.

'... Is your brother really that delusional..?'

Shukaku's response was burst of laughter from Gaara.

Kankuro sat in silence, staring at his younger brother in amazement, a bittersweet expression made it to the puppet wielder's face.

' ..I don't think I've ever heard Gaara laugh.. '

Kankuro smiled as he saw he brother, doubled over, clutching his abdomen as he laughed.

Kankuro shook his head and continued with the story.

" Oh.. you haven't heard the best part... her response .." Kankuro noted how his brother laughter degraded to a soft chuckle as to allow Kankuro to finish with his story.

" I received the hardest slap.. I've probably.. ever had.." Gaara's mouth rested in a predatory grin, with the thanks of his slightly pointer canines.

Gaara shook his head and headed to the bathroom to take a shower.

Kankuro thought back on Gaara's behaviour and curiously stroked his chin, scratching at the the light stubble that grew there on occasion.

' Something must have happened at Sakura's house.. he didn't even come home last night..'

Kankuro was pulled out of his thoughts by Gaara began to yell over the spray of the shower, the plan of the day.

" Kankuro.. Sakura was wondering if we could join in on the Cherry Blossom festivities that will be held tonight.. First she wants us to meet her and some other konoha ninjas to the Hot Spring district.. I'll be out momentarily.. find out what you are going to wear tonight.. and be prepared to bathe after me.. It's required by the Hot Spring district to bathe before arriving and before entering their natural hot spring pools..."

Kankuro stared strangely at the bathroom door, replaying what his young brother said, one thing stood out.

'... Since when did he start calling her just Sakura?.. ..' He thought not noticing hearing the shutting off the shower, Gaara reappeared walking out the bathroom, clad in nothing but a white towel around his waist.

" Hurry.. we have to be there at around 10:30 .. It is currently 9:00.. if you hurry.. we can have something to sustain us until the festivities tonight.." Gaara added, while looking through his drawers full of clothes.

Gaara pulled out a casual burgundy-maroon T-shirt, with the sand insignia printed in the back and right short sleeve. He slipped his undergarments on while the towel still hung across his slim waist.

He wore a loose, yet comfortable fitted pair of black cargo pants, with 3 pockets on each pants leg. Gaara then used his towel to dry his crimson locks as best he could, not fretting to much, knowing they will dry straight.

Kankuro had since been hopped into the shower, rinsing the sleep from his eyes as he contemplated the sudden familiarity his brother had toward the Hokage's apprentice.


Sakura POV- 10:05 am

Sakura took one good look at the time and hastily began to pick up the mess left behind from last night's gathering.

Sakura was fitting the reusable bowls in the dishwasher when she saw it.

"... Woah... this is beautiful..." Sakura reached for the pink, rose quartz tear shaped pendant that was hidden on her serving tray. She lifted the unearthly glowing gem, and saw a message hanging by a tag, it read: 'Otanjōbiomedetōgozaimasu..' (Happy Birthday)

Sakura smiled at the precious gift, and quickly ran up stairs to put it away safely, in her mother's jewelry box. Sakura headed to the front door and looked at the time, then proceeded to call out for the fan wielding mistress.

" Temari!.. It's 10:20! Hurry up! I don't want to be late!" Sakura heard a loud thump by a string of curse words, followed by approaching footsteps.

" Yeah, yeah!.. Hold your horses!..." The blonde fan wielding wind mistress barked back as she finally made it to the front door, Sakura took the time in examining his friend's outfit.

Temari wore black tank top, with a kimono-styled jacket that was a beautiful sky blue, she wore a long skirt that had two slits on the side, like a tunic, but reached to her ankles, white strappy ninja sandals adorned Temari's feet.

" Ready?.." Temari asked checking out the Chunin's choice in clothing. Sakura wore a chinese styled shirt, the sleeves and stitching were all done in black, as for the main shirt, it was red with a symbol in the middle, translating to double happiness in chinese.

Temari, smiled at how the cherry blossoms and their branches added a nice touch. She wore an off white pair of pants , that stopped mid-calf. Sakura's hair was in it's usual style.

The aforementioned rosette haired konnichi, nodded and opened her front door, only to lock it behind Temari and herself, they both rounded the corner into the ally, all the while talking of who might be their already, as they made their way toward the Hot Spring district.


Hot Spring district- 10:35 Am

" Hinata! Tenten!... Ino!.. You've all made it!" the birthday girl exclaimed after hugging all her friends.

" Happy Birthday Sakura-chan! " The weapon mistress exclaimed as she pulled out a gift. Sakura looked at the gift, a tender smile appearing on her face at the kind gesture.

" Arigato Tenten!.. You didn't have to.." said girl with the two buns in her hair smiled excitedly.

" Open it!.. I want to see your reaction!" Sakura opened undid the bow and opened the box, her smile widened at the contents inside the box.

Sakura's eyes watered as she saw a beautifully engraved close ranged samurai sword.

" Tenten..." The sheath had golden cherry blossoms engraved into it, the blade itself was black with a tint of pink in the steel.

The handle was expertly woven with red cloth, providing the most excellent of grips, on the blade there was an engraving that read, heaven. Sakura pulled Tenten in a bear hug, embracing her tightly.

" I love this so much.. I can't wait to hang it up.. " Tenten rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.

" Don't mention it!... I don't know about you.. but I'm more than ready to get into the hot healing waters that await me!.. I know, Lee, Kiba, Shino, Chouji, Neji, the new guy Sai as well as Shikamaru are in there already.. I guess your brothers are running late, Temari.." The sand kunoichi shrugged her shoulders and followed Tenten in to the hot spring establishment.

"Probably.. I'm not waiting for them.." Sakura looked worriedly down the path she knew lead out from Nikko Inn.

" S-sakura.. let's go inside.. They m-must be just.. running late is all.." the lavender eyed byakugan mistress suggested.

Sakura looked at her violet hair colored friend, smiling at the heiress, knowing she had her best interest at heart. Sakura nodded and followed Hinata into the women's side of the hot springs.


Male's Hot Spring: Outdoor Onsen

" Ahh.. doesn't the hot water make you feel.. youthful..."

Chouji grunted in response as he munched on a bag of chips.

" I feel like a steam dumpling in here..." the insatiable round ninja added.

" You look like a dumpling..." his teammate Shikamaru added, tiredly, causing Kiba to howl in laughter.

Shino's interest perked up, once he noticed the Jonin's condition.

" I doubt being a Jonin makes you this tired... Elaborate.. why are you so exhausted all the time..?" Shikamaru took a swig of sake that was floating around in a tray.

" Women... are exhausting..." Shikamaru started, unbeknownst to him, the ladies' Onsen can hear them, clearly, despite the divider.


Women's Hot Spring: Adjacent Outdoor Onsen

Temari's face was crimson at the comment she heard her significant other say, effortlessly.

Luckily she was able to chalk out her blushing face to be from the heat and steam from the hot springs she was currently soaking in.

Hinata blushed, not used to hearing the Jonin so easily moved to say such things.

The women stayed silent and listened to the boys next door.


Back to the Male's Outdoor Hot Spring Onsen

" Haha.. Who's the lucky lady..?" Kiba countered. Shikamaru took another swig but not the bait.

" That's between her and I..." Kiba splashed the lazy genius with water.

" ...So lame.." Shikamaru shrugged and exhaled slowly. The rich rice alcohol was getting to him.

" Can you at least tell us, what's so exhausting..?" Shikamaru, grinned and sat up, willing to say that much.

" Well.. where she comes from there's- O-oh.. Ohayōgozaimasu, K-kankuro-san... Gaara-san.." Shikamaru stammered. Kiba greeted the two towel cladd sunagakure ninja and waited for Shikamaru to continue.

" Uh.. Maybe later Kiba..." The canine like ninja refused the answer.

" No dude.. come on.. It's not like she's here.." Shikamaru gulped, sweat dropping as he replied mentally to Kiba.

' Yeah.. but her brothers are here.. one of them knows where we stand.. the other.. I don't even want him to find out..' Shikamaru sighed as he was splashed out of his thoughts by another splash of the comforting hot spring water.

" Okay... fine.. but.. don't expect a lot of detail.." the lazy genius forewarned.

The mutt like ninja nodded, and flashed Shikamaru a toothy grin, said ninja sighed.

"So apparently.. there's a technique that originates in a village... Where the man is able to make.. a 'spring' come out of a woman.. it's supposed to be.. uncontrollable.. but it makes women damn near lose their minds.." Shikamaru mumbled close to Kiba's ear.

" What are you talking about..?" Kankuro asked as he stepped in the hot water slowly, allowing his skin to adjust to the temperature, while Gaara strides in, the heat unaffecting him.

Shikamaru's eyes widened, he stammered and panicked as he tried to find an different answer, but Kiba answered for him.

" Oh nothing.. Shino had asked Shikamaru.. why he always seems tired.. Shikamaru said.. it wasn't his job that was exhausting him.. it was a woman.." by this point,

Shikamaru's blood ran cold before as he reactively covered Kiba's mouth.

Despite Kankuro already knowing full well the woman the genius was referring to was his sister, and the 'exhaustive' activities, were about the unspeakable sexual acts they must have been participating in, since their arrival to Konoha.

Instead of revealing the mystery woman, Kankuro decided to clarify what they were discussing.

" The action you speak of.. is the perfect stimulation to a woman's g-spot.. I was taught to know.. that spot.. holds a lot of power over women.. All men in Suna are required to study about it to better stimulate it.." Shikamaru released the breath he was unknowingly holding.

Everyone in the onsen leaned closer, almost expecting to be given the blueprints of the women's erogenous zones.

Kankuro soaked a small cloth in the hot water, and rested it on his head. Once he got comfortable, he noticed how quiet it was, and then noticed all the Konoha men surveyed him and his brother.

The air was tense, the question that hung in the air was asked by none other than, Neji.

" So... How does one go about.. achieving the ultimate female orgasm.." Everyone looked at Neji, taken back from the informal, and wildly inappropriate question.

Kankuro grinned and shrugged.

" Konoha doesn't have a course in satisfying their women?.. I guess Suna has the advantage there.." Kankuro stated, taking a swig of sake.

" I bet you guys.. that they both have small penis'.." Sai added.

All the male ninja in the room became silent at Sai's comment. Kankuro's eyebrows furrowed at the insult.

" Oh what.. You want to see it?!" Kankuro added, standing waist deep in the hot pool. Sai stood, a taunting grin on his face.

" Sure.. go ahead and show me your vag.." Kankuro growled and made a move to pounce on Sai.

Kiba, Lee , and Chouji tried to de-escalate the situation, while Gaara and Neji watched from the sidelines.

Gaara's eyes shone with amusement, unaffected by the off handed comment the one known as Sai, said knowing, full well, that Sai was trying to get a rise from him and his brother.

Gaara shook his head, disappointed that his older brother fell for the bait.

Gaara's eyes widen as the exchange of words turned physical, first with his brother, throwing full forced punch.

All hell broke loose then.

The heated exchange turned into a free for all, all the teenagers in the spring were involved.

After what seemed like a solid 10 minutes of fighting, Gaara stood, on the side of the pool, trying to regain his breath, from nearly drowning in the hot water.

Sand clung to the wall from every direction, pinning every guilty party to any surface available.

" I stand corrected.." Gaara heard the voice, of the socially inept paleninja begin to say.

" Megumaremashita... Sabaku no Gaara.." the boy added, loud and clear. Gaara looked down to see that he was indeed skyclad, exposing his just described as 'blessed' nether regions.

The sand user's hand twitched, as so did his right, black rimmed eye. Gaara lifted his hand, menacingly.

"Sabaku ..Ky-Don't!" He heard Kankuro call out, before standing between the two chunin.

" Gaara.. he isn't worth it.. here just take this. Lets just calm down .. we're supposed to be relaxing for tonight!" Gaara heeded in Kankuro's words.

Shino took the liberty of admitting his inner thoughts to everyone in the pool, especially after the charade they just experienced.

".. I wonder what the ladies are up to.."

Chouji shrugged his shoulders and continued munching on his bag of chips, unfazed by what just happened.

" I don't know.. maybe they're out shopping..." he added, as he opened another bag of potato chips. Kiba sweat-dropped, then gulped as he surveyed Gaara's expression, he gulped again once the killer intent in his eyes intensified once his eyes locked with the one known as Sai.

' This is going to be.. a loooong..day' Kiba added, already emotionally exhausted.


With the Ladies in the Women's onsen

Faces were crimson, some out of anger some out of embarrassment.

Temari fumed while her boyfriend, commented about their private sex life, not only in front of mutual friends, but in front of her younger brothers.

' Ooohh.. Wait until I get my hands on him...' Temari fumed silently, replaying what she had in store for Shikamaru's punishment.

The rest of the ladies in the pool, who were : Sakura, Ino, Hinata and Tenten stayed in their very same position but, slack-jawed by the random turn of events from the men's onsen next door.

The ladies then proceeded to leave the hot pool, and bathe their newly soaked skin in the adjoining bath house.

Once inside they discussed what they overheard.

"... I can't believe how much of a pervert that Sai kid is..." The small group of teens agreed amongst themselves.

" Yeah.. Does size even .. matter?" Sakura said nonchalant, which shocked Ino, who's brows furrowed in confusion.

" Is that what you're really thinking about..?" Ino noticed the way Sakura was looking at her and blushed then stuck her tongue out at her cheekily.

"What I'm really wondering.. is.. how big is he...?" she added, curious of Gaara's nether regions.

" Enough Ino.. It's not proper to talk about Gaara in that way.. So, let's drop it.."

Sakura didn't know what came over her, at the mention of the red head, she became angered, damn near territorial.

The blonde, cautiously waved two pacifying hands at her, newly turned 16 year old pink haired, best friend.

" I was only saying... aren't you curious..?" Sakura closed her locker, asking herself the same question Ino just asked her.

Sakura fought a blush to her face and grabbed her things, making her way to a vacant seat, while they cooled off.

" No Ino.. I'm not curious.. I don't see how that information is beneficial to me.." Sakura successfully reciprocated.

The platinum hair ninja sucked her teeth, unentertained by her best friend's lack for the unknown.

" Okay.. okay forehead.. I'll stop.. What did you want to do next?" Sakura took the moment to mentally congratulate herself, before figuring out her next plan of action.

" Well, Temari and I were probably going to see if their is an outfit she would like to wear tonight.. Then we were planning on getting ready at my house.. What about you girls?"

Ino, Hinata and Tenten, expressed that they were going to get ready for the Cherry Blossom festival in their own respected homes, and that they would meet them by the entrance of the festival around 2 pm.

The group agreed and went their separate ways, promising to meet each other at the very start of the festival.