"Since we formed an alliance with the Village Hidden in the Leaves last summer their academy and ours have decided to participate in a small cooperation. Each of you will be writing a letter today to a 3rd year student PenPal from the Leaf. I have written a few prompts on the back board for those of you who may not know where to start or don't care enough to think of what to write on your own. I shouldn't have to remind you, do not tell them anything about how we run or maintain our village, the strength of our shinobi or anything too personal about yourselves or your families. You have the rest of the hour to write. I will be sending the first letter for you as will the sensei of our sister class in the Leaf, after that, you may correspond as you wish or stop all together. As such, please write your addresses on the top of the letter or at the bottom under your signature."

Gaara twisted his pencil over and under his fingers nimbly thinking what he would write. He glanced up at the board. Stupid, he thought. Who cares what someone's favorite color is or what their favorite food is. Most children his age held no interest for him, but Garaa wasn't a normal 10 year old. He was the Kazekage's son, and Jinchiriki of the One Tail, Shukaku.

Almost one hour later Garaa still hadn't written anything yet. He simply didn't know what to write. He didn't talk much because most people didn't talk to him. The one person who he used to talk to was gone, dead, he had killed him when he was only 6 years old. Yashamaru, his uncle. Garaa looked at the clock in the front of the classroom. Dnag it, he grunted, he needed to write something or he wouldn't get a PenPal of his own...and he really wanted one.

Dear PenPal,

I don't know what to write. Most people don't talk to me because they are scared of me. I don't really talk a lot to anyone. I had someone I used to talk to, but they died. I have always wanted a PenPal but again, I don't know what to write. I'm sorry. I hope you don't hate me. I promise to write more, when I think of something.

My favorite color is blue. My favorite food is curried liver. What is your favorite color and food?

Sabaku no Gaara.

Garaa hesitated, should he have written more? He didn't know what else to write. He folded his letter in half and placed it on the sensei's desk.

That afternoon as he walked home from the academy with his brother and sister he wondered what his PenPal would be like, if they would be a boy or a girl, if they would like his letter. He was excited to get a letter of his own, he couldn't wait.

Earlier that same day in Konoha…..

"Class, I have wonderful news! Starting today you each get a PenPal from Suna! It's part of our new alliance to strengthen our bonds across the nations. Please take the next hour to write a letter to your new PenPal. They will be handed out at random to a 3rd year class in Suna. Make sure to include things like your favorite color or your favorite food. You have the rest of the day to write, hand them in before you leave and I will mail them for you. After you receive your letter from a student just like you in Suna, you can send out any letters you wish on your own with your parent's permission, so make sure you include your address." Iruka Sensei smiled at his students.

Sakura hummed with excitement, what fun! She had always wanted a PenPal, and what was better than having a PenPal from somewhere exotic like Suna! She couldn't wait to start her letter. She picked up her pencil and began scribbling as fast as possible.

Dear my new Suna Friend,

I was so excited when Iruka Sensei told us we were getting a PenPal. I have always wanted a PenPal from somewhere exotic. Suna must be beautiful. I want to hear all about it. What is it like there, what do you do, where do you play, what games do you play, what do you eat, are there any trees? I have so many more questions to ask you but I don't want to be annoying.

There is a boy in my class, his name is Uchiha Sasuke, he says I am the most annoying person in the world and that I talk too much. I think he hates me sometimes. He is so cute though, I can't help but love him. He has the darkest eyes I have ever seen, and his hair is sooo cool, it is spikey and sticks out in all the right places, and his voice, he is soo hot. Do you have hot guys in Suna? Oh, I just thought of something, you might be a boy. If you are, you don't want to hear about how in love I am with Sasuke right? I'll wait to find out if you are a girl or a boy before I gush anymore to you about how hot he is.

Our teacher told us to tell you about ourselves. I have pink hair and green eyes. I was born in Konoha and have never been outside the gates of the village. My parents are merchants but I wanted to be a shinobi with my best friend Ino! I'm not sure if I will be a good shinobi or not but I love some of the outfits shinobi wear so I'm going to try my best! My parents aren't from any shinobi clan so a lot of the kids at the academy look down on me, not to mention my hair.

There is this one girl Ami, she is a bully and picks on me all the time. At least I have Ino though, she sticks up for me. She is blonde and smart and beautiful and isn't scared of anyone. I want to be like her. I get nervous and scared a lot and it makes me cry sometimes. It's hard to fit in with pink hair and not being from a shinobi clan. Sometimes I wonder if it is worth it. At least I have Ino.

Well, I think I have written enough. I don't want to scare you away with too much right away! Write me back okay?

Haruno Sakura

Sakura got up from her desk and placed her letter on top of several others that had been handed in. She was so excited that she wasn't paying attention when Ami stuck her foot out and tripped her. Sakura fell and hit her knee on the next step, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Shinobi don't cry." A voice behind her scolded.

Sakura turned to see Sasuke looking at her with disgust evident in his face. Her face turned red and more tears fell from her eyes. She hid her face and ran back to her seat as Ami and her friends snicked loudly behind her.

Ino met her after class by the door and they walked home together talking about what they thought their PenPals might be like.

The next week in Suna…

Gaara waited in excitement with the rest of the class as their sensei handed out the letters one by one. Gaara looked down at the pink paper the sensei had placed on his desk with interest. Pink paper? He picked his letter up and began to read. A smile spread across his face the more he read. His new PenPal had written almost five times as much as he had. He would have to make sure his next letter was much longer.

It was a girl. Garaa blushed as he read the description of herself. Pink hair and green eyes. She sounded beautiful. Garaa had never heard of someone having pink hair before. He had seen many people with green eyes, his own eyes were an unusual shade of green, almost teal color and his hair was red. He supposed to some he might look rather different but in Suna, he wasn't that much different than his uncle Sasori or his father.

Garaa frowned as he read about how his new friend was bullied but was glad she had her friend Ino there to help her. He knew what it was like to be alone. He didn't have any friends but no one picked on him...he was the Kazekage's son, and the Jinchiriki. People ran from him, whispered about him, but picked on him...no, they didn't do that. Tried to kill him? Yeah, but not pick on him.

His eyes narrowed at how she wrote how in love with this Sasuke boy she was. What was this feeling? He didn't know so he ignored it.

Garaa read through the letter three times before picking up his pencil. He looked at the top again, "Dear my new Suna Friend", he had a friend now, and her name was Haruno Sakura. Gaara smiled to himself and began to write.

Baki, Gaara's sensei watched him from the front of the class with an odd expression on his face. Garaa had been smiling while reading his letter from the girl from Konoha. Baki knew the last time Gaara smiled was when his uncle Yashamaru had been alive, over four years ago. Baki had read all of the letters before handing them out to his students. He had chosen each letter for each of his students not handing them out at random like the two academy's had agreed he would do.

He had chosen that particular letter for Garaa thinking the boy would find the girl annoying and not wish to continue writing to his PenPal. Baki had been wrong, the boy seemed to really enjoy the letter and what's more, was excited to write back. This was bad Baki thought to himself as Gaara continued to write to the girl. Garaa had other things to focus on than ridiculous pink haired girls from Konoha.

The next day in Konoha…

Sakura nearly jumped out of her seat to grab her letter from Iruka sensei when he had called her name to the front of the class to get her letter from her PenPal in Suna. She hugged it to her chest as she ran back to her seat, this time aware of the foot that hung out into the aisle to trip her, deftly jumping over it to Ami's disappointment.

Sasuke watched and smirked, so she learns from her mistakes, he thought to himself as the pinkette ran past him to her seat.

Sakura sat down in her seat and immediately unfolded her letter and frowned, it was so short. Her frown grew as she read her letter. People were scared of him? Someone he used to talk to died and now he had no one? Hate him? Why would she hate him? At least he told her his favorite color and food. Sakura sighed. She had been hoping for a longer letter, one more like the one she had written but she still smiled because she still had a PenPal and it sounded like he wanted to keep writing even if he didn't know what to write or write that much. She picked up her pencil and pulled paper from her folder to start her next letter.

The following week Sakura was in her bedroom after school doing her homework when there was a tapping on her window, it was a hawk, a desert hawk. Sakura rose from her desk and opened her window. The brown hawk hopped inside presenting a wrapped parcel on it's leg to her. She took the small package form the hawk and thanked it with a smile and a small bow. The hawk screeched loudly and flew away.

Sakura looked down at the small package wondering what it was. She untied the string that bound it together, the canvass fell apart revealing a letter and a small vial of sand that glowed and moved within the confines of the glass.

"Wow, beautiful." Sakura said as she held the vial up to the light of her window watching it swirl and move before her eyes. She set the vial down and picked up the letter.

Dear Haruno san,

Please do not be alarmed by my hawk. I wished to get my letter and my gift to you safely. The sand in the vial is special as you no doubt may have guessed. It is my special sand, infused with my chakra. It will protect you, against your bully Ami. I know it is forward of me but I wanted you to be safe. Uncork the vial, my sand will do what is needed.

I enjoyed your letter. I am sorry you cry. I used to cry a lot, when I was lonely. I don't as much anymore, but sometimes I want to.

My sensei told us not to reveal very much about ourselves but I don't think that is fair when you have told me so much about yourself. I only ask you to keep it between us if that is okay. Please write me back so I know you promise not to tell anyone about what I write you and I promise not to tell anyone about what you write me. We can be friends, special friends, that one one else knows about. I don't want to tell anyone about you, I want you all to myself. I don't want you to tell anyone about me, that way I can tell you everything or anything.

I always wanted a friend like that, that I could tell anything and everything to. I want it to be you.

Sabaku no Gaara.

Sakura picked up the vial of sand again. She hesitated for a moment, then uncorked the vial of sand. The sand floated up into the air and sparkled like gold and diamonds then fell to her wrist and settled in the most intricately beautiful design of desert flowers and thorns. Sakura cooed and waved her wrist back and forth, the sand held it's form as she waved her hand.

"Wow!" Sakura smiled at her gift from her new friend, picked up her pen on her desk and pulled out a fresh sheet of paper.

Sabaku San,

Please call me Sakura as we are now such good friends. I promise not to tell anyone anything you tell me, and I appreciate you promising me the same. Thank you for the gift, it is beautiful, I love it. I have never seen sand do this before, it is wondrous and magical. It makes me think of diamonds in the sand, and stars in the sky, it glitters and moves, I am fascinated by it, thank you!

Write me back as soon as you can now that I have promised. I can't wait to learn all about who you are and I promise to reciprocate, I want you to know all about me too!

You didn't answer my questions to my last letter, were you waiting for me to promise? I understand if you were but now that I have promised, write back okay? What do you mean by it will protect me? It is a beautiful gift I am very happy to receive it, please don't think I am complaining but I don't understand how something so beautiful could protect me.

Thank you again for the gift! I will treasure it always.

Sakura chan

Sakura folded her letter up and placed it into an envelope with Gaara's address on it. She hopped off her chair and ran down the stairs calling out to her mom that she was taking a letter to the post office and that she would be right back.

As Sakura made her way slowly down the street past the market to the post office she ran into her least favorite person, Ami.

"Hey loser." Ami stepped in front of Sakura sneering at the smaller girl.

"Where is a loser like you headed, it's not like you have any friends besides Ino." Ami made fun of her.

"I'm...I'm going to the po post office." Sakura stuttered looking at her feet.

"For what? Who could you possibly be writing?" Ami snatched the letter from Sakura's hand.

"Hey!" Sakura protested but Ami just smirked and pushed her.

Sakura fell to the ground hard and started to cry. The sand around her wrist started to shift and move. Ami drew her foot back to kick Sakura but the sand flew from Sakura's wrist, encased Ami's foot and threw her away from Sakura. Ami skidded to a stop twenty feet away, Sakura's letter still clutched in her hand until the sand moved toward her, moving in between her fingers and the letter, removing it from her grasp and floating it back to Sakura who stood and took it. The sand fell gracefully back down to circle once again around Sakura's wrist forming the desert flowers with thorns.

Ami jumped to her feet, eyes wide and ran away as fast as she could, looking back over her shoulder at Sakura only once before disappearing down a side street.

"Wow!" Sakura stared at her new bracelet in amazement. She needed to get something for Gaara now. She didn't know what, nothing she could buy him would compare to the gift he had given her...but she was going to try.

Later that night Sakura lay in her bed thinking of what she could give Gaara. She had read a book once with a prince and a princess. The princess when she was a little girl gave the prince who was her childhood friend a lock of her hair. They got seperated by an evil king who wanted the princess for himself. Her prince found her though, because of that lock of hair, he had gone to a good witch who had given him a spell to put on the lock of hair, to help him find his princess. He found her, defeated the evil king and then they married and lived happily ever after.

Sakura wasn't a princess and she didn't think Gaara was a prince but she thought the lock of hair was a good idea. So she got out of bed, went to her desk, pulled a pair of scissors from her drawer, picked a lock of hair from the back of her head, and cut. Sakura smiled at the pink lock in her hand. She tied it with a black ribbon and placed it in an envelope. She would send it with her next letter.

It was five days before Sakura got her next letter from Gaara. She had been waiting and waiting for what seemed like forever. She had been sitting by herself reading in the park when the same hawk that had delivered her last letter came to her again. He flew down and perched on the back of the bench she had been sitting on startling her enough for her to drop her book.

"Oh!" Sakura said in surprise.

If hawks could laugh she was sure this one would be laughing at her. It stuck it's leg out to her for her to take the letter and flew away before she could thank him. Sakura was pleased to see the letter was several pages long this time and opened it eagerly and started reading.

Dear Sakura chan,

I am so glad you have accepted me as your friend, I don't think you know what this means to me. You have Ino and other friends I am sure but you are my only friend, my special friend. Now that we have promised one another to keep everything to ourselves I feel much better answering all and any of your questions about myself and my home. I will start by answering the ones you asked in your previous letter.

Suna is surrounded by sand because it is in the middle of the desert. I don't get to play a lot of games, I train most of the time I'm not in the academy, but when I was little I used to play with my uncle Yashamaru, he is the one I used to talk to before he died. I eat lots of things, mostly the liver curry dish I told you was my favorite, but I like peaches too. They are rare here in Suna so I don't get them very often. No trees in the desert, none. I hear Konoha has many trees, it sounds so different than here.

I have a brother and a sister, they are both older than I am. They don't like me very much and I don't talk to them a lot. They are scared of me like everyone else. I can't tell you now why they fear me but maybe I can later, it isn't that I don't want you to know,I am not sure how to explain it to you.

Do you read a lot, I read a lot. I have a favorite reading spot in Suna, it is the East Gate, it looks out over the largest sand dune in the desert. At night, when the moon is out, you can see all of the stars because there aren't any village lights by the East Gate. I like to go there at night to look at the stars. I don't sleep very much so I have a lot more time to do things than most people. I don't mind most of the time, sometimes it makes it hard to concentrate on things, and control my moods. Baki, my sensei says he will teach me how to control my power but he won't tell me what that means yet.

You wrote that you didn't want to be annoying. You could never annoy me Sakura. I am not sure what kind of person this Sasuke is but I think you are wonderful just the way you are. You sound so beautiful, pink hair and green eyes. I have red hair and teal eyes.

If you haven't figured it out by now the sand I sent you protects you when it senses danger around you. Since it is infused with my chakra it is infused with my will. If you like, infuse some of your chakra into it so it will be infused with your will too. If both of our chakra is infused into the sand, we will be connected as long as you have the sand with you.

I have to go now. I am training with my sensei. I promise to write to you again soon! Thank you Sakura, for being my friend.

Gaara

Sakura hugged the letter to her heart. She couldn't stop smiling. He liked her just the way she was! Even Ino teased her and tried to get her to come out of her shell, to be more like herself but Sakura was just too shy, too self conscious but Gaara...he liked who she was, the real her. She didn't realize, before his letters, how wonderful it felt, to have someone like him in her life.

She jumped up from the bench and ran home to write him back and send the lock of hair she had cut the other night to him. If she would have looked back, if she would have looked up when she had been reading on the bench she would have seen him.

Sasuke jumped down from the tree he had been resting in above the bench Sakura had been reading on. He watched as she ran all the way home and wondered who her PenPal was. He hadn't bothered writing his back, he didn't want a PenPal. He did want to get to know the pink haired girl better, he just didn't know how to tell her.