A few days had passed since Sakura learned she lost her abilities. She felt lost , confused even, but at all with peace with the conflicting emotions. She knew she had a strength of her own but she really just missed the feeling so charaka in her fist.
She looked up to her right and gave a small smile. Her and Gaara were walking thru the Hidden Leaf hand in hand. He smiled back down at her calmly. Things in the leaf were peaceful. Almost as if things were frozen in a state of harmony.
"Sakura, if you could go back in time... would you change your mind about me?", Gaara asked worriedly. " Maybe at the beginning I would have but not now.", she looked uo at him and saw Gaara:s features softened. "So if I were to ask you to marry me today, you would?", he looked down upon her. " Yeah. I would.", she smiled at him. He beamed a quick smile an they continued their path.
"Hey Gaara? Why do you think Naruto been acting the way he has?", she blurted out. " Well , us charaka beast, have animalist intincts. He is a male of age. If I had to put my thoughts on the subject , it woukd because he needs a companion. To us that would be a mate. ", he explained.
" A mate?", she inquired. She saw Gaara start to sweat. "Well you know a commited partner. You as a matter of fact you are my mate. It's just a deeper bond than wife.", he nervously chuckled out. Sakura beamed him a smile. ," So Naruto is just lonely.", her voice saddened, "You know there is a certain white eyed lady who just adores him."
"Is that so?", he peeked back down at her. " Sure is! Hinata as a matter of fact. We really should intervene. I bet they would be good mates! Hinata a nice quite girl but she is strong. Bet she could whip that Naruto into place!", She beamed at Gaara. Then his face darkened.
"Aboustly not. I do not want you anywhere near the nine tails until he has mated. He simply keep going after you until he is. If he even lays one finger on you, I will blow him to bits with my sand.", Gaara growled. A cold chill went thru Sakura. " But if he doesnt find a mate, then whats to stop him from going after me?", she whispered out.
"For you to be mated.", Gaara growled out. " Oh so you mean married? That's only three weeks away! You can protect me!", she tried to lighten his mood. He suddenly crushed her against his chest. "I will always protect you. With every fiber in my being. With every breath in my body. You are mine , that entitles me to defend you. I take it as an honor to have you."
"Gaara, I-I ..." she whimpered into his chest. "Heh. I know Sakura. I love you to." He crushed her closer to him. He swore to never let harm befall her. Never to let anything happen. Then an explosion went off and smoke rose.
In an instant he had Sakura bridal style leaping to the hokage building's cellar. "Gaara.. what, what was that?", she whimpered out. " The Leaf is under attack. Now ssshhh my dear.", he choked out.
He took her to the back room in the cellar. "I will be right back, lock the door. I will knock 3 times pause then knock 5 more times. Then listen for a whistle. Only then may you open this door. If anyone dare try to break in, there is a hidden hide away under the bed Crawl into it an shut it. Lock it. If I must I will break in if you do not answer when I return. There is jewels in that closet that are used in Suna an Leaf ceremonies. Anyone that breaks in will think the door is locked for that reason. You must stay quite ", he then turned away an walked out the room. He then heard a click an smiled as she followed his orders.
He rushed outside , scanning all the cellar with his sand for intruders..There were none..Not even a rat nor spider. Relief felt him for now. He burst out an saw ninja running towards the gate walls.
He leaped straight up into the hokage's office. " Lady Tsuande what has happened?!", he demaned. "I don't know but our walls are damaged. Where is the emerald?", she looked arounf worriedly. " The emerald is in the closet." Smirking at the hidden language for Kage's. She just asked where Sakura was, he in return confirming in the cellar. She let out a sigh of relief then turned her gaze to the window.
Meanwhile:
Sakura sat in the hideaway under the bed ready to lock herself in. She hears foot steps coming her away. Then the door knob tried to twist. Quitely she shut herself off locking it tight. She could hear the door slam open.
"Heh I don't sense any charaka. My eyes don't see it either. Just what is in this room", a familiar voice spoke. Sakura's eyes widened as she forced herself not to make a sound. Sasuke. He continued walking around the room. Sakura's eyes shut tightly an her teeth biting dowm hard on her cheeks. If she made a sound, he would find her.
She heard him sit on the bed. More than likely using thous deadly red eyes of him to search for her. " Boss!!!", she heard a female's voice say. "What is it Karin?", he replied in an annoyed tone. " I was eavsdropping on the Kazekage an Hokage. They said something about emeralds in a closet.", she panted out.
Sauske stood lazily an opened the closet doors. "So this is why this room is locked. Jewels an sacred tools. Don't touch Karin, this is not what we came to retrieve. Were looking for Sakura Haruno. "
Sakura barely stopped herself from gasping. "What is so special about this hussy?!", she heard the female screech. " She is you replacement. You heal but are horrible fighter. I can't always protect you..She is strong in healing an in fighting. ", he chuckled almost fondly ," She used be useless." "I can fight!!", the female screeched again.
" Let's go Karin , we have no bussiness here in this cellar.", Sasuke started walking out. "Sasuke their is someone in here. I hear breathing." , she blurted out. "I know but there isnt any charaka in that person. No need dragging civilians into this. It is more than likely nothing but a child hiding in fear.", Sasuke then walked out the room. Karin following along behind him.
Sakura waited a while then let out a breath. She debated leaving the cellar but decided it be safer if she didn't. Fear over took her as she started sobbing. They were after her for abilities she no longer had.