Me: Hello everyone! Here is chapter 14. School's sadly not out for me yet (Stupid snowdays) and I have a project in english I should be doing but I wrote this instead. So Enjoy!

I don't own Naruto…

*****************************TIME SKIP****************************

A girl around 16 was running through the trees, going from branch to branch nearing her destination. She had completed her mission and was on her way home. This was her test and she was determined to make her family back home proud. Her mother put a lot of faith in her for her special test, and it could cost her posistion if she failed. But she knew her mother wasn't concerned about that, she wanted her daughter back.

The teenager grabbed her neck as pain shot through it, causing her to slow down as well. But looking through the trees again she saw it. Her home. Forgeting the pain she raced on, her home in sight. As she got closer she saw the gate and a group gathered there, for her, some possibly to go after her if she failed. But this was the homestretch and she wasn't going to fail.

"You can't get me that easily." She whispered to herself, lightly touching the mark on her neck.

Now in view of everyone at the gate of her village, she saw her mother and her aunt. Let's not forget her father figure, and all her friends as well. Slowing to a walk to not run into everybody, the girl made her entrance. None of them were looking at her, they appeared to be arguing.

"This was a mistake! She is of value to the village and you practically gave her up to Orochimaru's hands!" A council man shouted at Tsunade.

"She's not going to go to him! Sakura wouldn't do that!!" Naruto defended his sister.

"And how do you know that for sure? She left you once didn't she?" Another council man countered.

"Because..." Naruto trailed off as the words of the council man sank in.

"Because I'm right here." The girl said, getting everyone's heads to turn to her. The girl smiled and waved at everyone as they stood in shock. "Miss me?"

That's all it took to get tackled into a hug. The girl laughed at her brother as she was spun around.

"Glad to see you too Naruto." The girl told him before he finally let her down but still hugging her his head buried in her shoulder.

"I knew you would come back, Sakura." Naruto whispered to her as she felt something wet. Pulling away to see his face Sakura smiled wiping away his tears.

"Smile Naruto, tears don't suit you." Sakura said to him. That's all it took for him to break out into a grin that he was famous for. Sakura smiled back before she was pulled away into another hug.

"You've had enough time Naruto, it's my turn." A familiar soothing voice snapped at him. Sakura just giggled and hugged back.

"There's enough of me to go around." Sakura teased.

"I don't care, I don't want to be last to hug my own daughter!" Tsunade stated before leaning down to whisper something to her.

"I knew you wouldn't let me down." She whispered and Sakura good hear the joy in her voice as she said that. Sakura broke away and smiled. Tsunade smiled back then ruffled her hair. "Good job Squirt. Mission is a success."

"I hate when you do that." Sakura half-heartedly growled at her mother, fixing her hair.

"Sakura Haruno do not think you are done yet." Shizune called before embracing her in a hug.

"I didn't forget about you aunty Shizune." Sakura said. Once let go she was approached by her father figure Kakashi. They had gotton close after her house arrest, he stopped by to help her with curse seal. He even trained her a little in her back yard so she didn't get too bored. Then of course after she was off house arrest she got to work at the hospital, her returning patient was Kakashi from always overexerting himself in missions. She would scold him that he would get himself killed one day, he would give her a small smile from under his mask then go back to his book. Yes he was like the father she lost and she was like the daughter he never had.

Kakashi smiled at her under his mask, his book no where in sight although she knew where he kept it.

"Good job Sakura." He said softly to her. Sakura smiled before engulfing him in a hug knowing he wouldn't do it otherwise even though he wanted to. Rubbing her back like a father would, he hugged her back. After letting go Sakura searched the crowd for a certain person with red hair. Not her sensei, she knew he was sent on a mission before she even got her's and wouldn't be back for another week. No she was looking for her quiet teammate. Sakura turned around about to ask Naruto where he was when she saw him. He had been a few feet behind her with his signature smirk on his face.

"Looking for someone." It wasn't a question, he knew very well what she was doing, he just wanted to rub it in. Letting it slide Sakura ran into his arms, that he had as close to welcoming to her as he can get, not having his arms crossed against his chest like normal and allowing Sakura to slide her arms around his torso with his wrapping around hers.

"Did everything go okay Sakura?" He asked quietly so that only she would hear. He wasn't talking about her mission but rather her test laced into her mission. Her curse mark. Letting go enough to see his face she answered.

"It acted up, but I knew it would. Just thinking about coming home to everyone made me forget about it." She explained to him. He nodded before letting her go.

"More people want to see you, go on Sakura." Gaara said to her allowing her to reunite with her other friends.

"But Gaa—

"I'll catch up more with you later at Ichiraku's with Naruto. You already know he's going to want to celebrate." He anounced cutting her off a small smile on his face, more of his true happiness shone threw his eyes though. Smiling back Sakura nodded.

"Deal. You ditch and I kill you." Sakura teased. Gaara nodded.

"You could try." He joked right back. "I'll be there, Sakura."

"Good. See ya later than Panda-kun!" Sakura said to him before running of to her other friends.

Meanwhile…

"Seems like our little Sakura is allowed to go out on missions again." A snake like voice announced with a sadistic smile on his face in the midst of the shadows

"Would you like me to do anything Lord Orochimaru?"

"No Kabuto, let's just see how strong our Sakura has gotton." Orochimaru said.

"Yes Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto said before leaving.

"Orochimaru when's my training." An arrogant voice demanded.

"Such impatiance as always, Sasuke-kun."

"I didn't come here to play games, I came to get power." Sasuke sneered.

"Have I not given you that? Have I not trained you like I promised?"

"Hn."

"Your training will continue, Sasuke-kun meet on the training grounds and I will be there shortly." Orochimaru announced and Sasuke left.

"Soon my Sakura, your purpose will be fulfilled." Orochimaru declared before disappearing into the darkness.

Back in Konoha…

"Come on Sakura please!!!" Naruto begged the pink haired konoichi.

"Naruto, no." Sakura stated.

"But I want a rematch!" Naruto whined.

"Another time, I want to enjoy my time with my friends." Sakura told him.

"Promise?" Naruto asked.

"Of course, beating you is my specialty." Sakura teased.

"Yes! Wait a minute, Sakura!" Naruto complained. Sakura just smiled and turned to Hinata.

"How do you stand him?" Sakura asked.

"Love knows no boundaries I guess." Hinata shrugged. The two girls giggled.

"You two make such a cute couple, I'm proud Naruto finally asked you. He's only had a crush on you since the academy." Sakura said causing the couple to blush.

"Ne, Sakura that's not fair. I didn't know Hinata liked me too!" Naruto said pouting. Hinata smiled and snuggled to him, resting her head on his shoulder. Sakura smiled at the couple before turning to her other side and converse with them. Upon turning Sakura noticed Gaara staring at her with amusement.

"What?" She questioned playfully. He just shook his head and went back to eating his ramen, a hint of a smile on his face. Sakura poked his side causing him to jump a little. Gaara turned and glared at her.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?" Sakura asked acting ignorant and poking him in the side again.

"That."

"What?" Sakura repeated the action but her hand was stopped before she made contact. Sakura looked at the hand holding her wrist then up to the owners face. "Let go."

"Let what go?" Gaara asked mimicking Sakura from before. Sakura just tugged her wrist up to get it in view of his face.

"This." She told him motioning with her other hand her wrist.

"No." He told her with a smirk on his face.

"And why not?" Sakura questioned. Gaara leaned closer to her his lips right by her ear.

"I don't want to." Gaara whispered huskily causing Sakura to blush. Gaara smirked at her reaction.

"AWWW! Gaara and Sakura sitting in a tree!" Temari shouted. The two immediately turned to her, Gaara still holding her wrist and cheeks a bit pink and Sakura almost the shade of a tomato.

"Temari…" Gaara growled in warning.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Kankuro continued.

"Kankuro." Gaara said with venom dripping out of his mouth. Gaara stood up obviously angry and ready to attack his siblings. The two gulped, knowing they wouldn't be able to escape if they tried. Sakura stood up as well, her wrist still in Gaara's grasp which had tightened in his anger almost painfully. She moved to get in front of Gaara, blocking his way to his siblings.

"Gaara stop." Sakura told him.

"Sakura get out of my way." Gaara warned.

"How?" Sakura asked as she held up her wrist that was still in his hold. Gaara looked at her wrist but also looked at his hand wrapped tightly around it, so tight that his knuckles were white. He loosened his grip letting go completely to examine her wrist. His fingers marks wrapped her wrist in red against her pale skin. Gaara turned away from her before leaving.

"Gaara!" Sakura called after him. He didn't stop just continued on. Sakura sighed and turned to his siblings. "I'll deal with you two later."

"But—

The ground rumbled as Sakura tapped her foot to the ground using her chakra to send a mini earthquake in their direction before running after Gaara.

"Gaara!" Sakura called out again. No response was returned. "Where did he go?"

With Gaara…

"What do I do father? I hurt her." Gaara quesitoned. "When I'm around her I don't know how to act. She's so different from everyone else."

'She's important to you kid, very important.'

"What do you mean? Of course she's important to me." Gaara questioned his demon.

'You'll understand soon…I think.' Shukaku said to him before disappearing into the depths of Gaara's mind.

"Please help me father…" Gaara whispered.

Sakura entered the clearing to find Gaara with one hand on a stone and his head down. Once she saw Gaara her expression saddened. He was at the Konoha Memoral Stone for ninja's who died or were MIA. His father was on that stone and he came here when he was troubled.

"Gaara." Sakura called out making her presence known, as Gaara turned to her. Sakura approached him slowly, not wanting him to just disappear on her. Upon reaching him she immediately embraced him in a comforting hug. Gaara returned the embrace, holding onto Sakura as if she would disappear.

"I'm sorry Sakura." Gaara told her. Sakura nodded into his chest, rubbing his back soothingly.

"I know, Gaara, I know."

"No Sakura, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't of hurt you." He repeated in her hair. Sakura pulled away and showed him her wrist.

"Gaara look my wrist is fine. See." Sakura told him. Gaara still frowned and took a hold of her wrist.

"Sakura." He said unsure.

"You don't hurt me Gaara. I'm a ninja, what you did to me didn't even register in my head as pain." Sakura explained to him. Then she pulled her hair back to reveal the curse mark on her neck. "This is something that hurts me, and you, you help stop the pain.

"Gaara, you help me everyday. You a major reason to stay in Konoha."

"Really Sakura?" Gaara asked stepping closer to her.

"Yeah." Sakura replied softly as Gaara leaned toward her, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. Sakura began leaning in as well and soon their lips met in a gentle kiss filled with passion.

Me: That's it for now everyone! How was it? I personally enjoyed the end, of course when you're a GaaSaku fan you would. But Orochimaru's cooking up something and we shall find out what was his purpose in giving the mark to Sakura. Anyway tell me what you think and REVIEW!!!! Please.