How is everyone doing in quarantine so far? I know COVID-19 really steals so many precious moments for this year's 2020. For some reason, I think it is for the benefit of everyone in the world today. Most likely, I'm able to focus on writing stories and getting them done ASAP.

Anyway, please read & review!


Gaara halted at the moment of arriving down the circular bottom pit. He was standing and glancing around slowly.

Then, he noticed a hand lying on the crumbled rocks from a few metres away and hurried himself over to see the figure.

In just about ten seconds, his face became horrified when his eyes started to widen at the sight of the lifeless body of his dearest friend.

There, he saw her hair displayed out with blood dripped in the corner of her mouth.

The red-haired Kazekage was standing traumatized and his breathing became shallow. He started to shiver as he was walking towards her uneasily, calling out her name.

"Sakura…" He bent on his knees until his eyes were examining the severe wounds that afflicted upon her chest and stomach. He sat down and gently lifted her body, then cupped her cheeks. Closing his eyes, he placed his head on the side of her neck, remembering the times they fought and argued.

FIRST FLASHBACK:

"You really want to go fight the Akatsuki? Do you know how dangerous they are? You and the leaf squad need to understand the circumstances," the red-haired Kazekage reasoned out.

"I don't care!" The pink-haired kunoichi said out loud, much to his bewilderment and she continued on. "What if this is the kind of path that we've chosen? For once in your life, just hear me out."

"I did. If you want to go, then go as you wish," the red-haired Kazekage gestured his hand out to the door.

"Fine!" The pink-haired kunoichi said vehemently and exited the room as she covered her eyes with her hands and sob quietly.

Gaara watched her run out of the office and felt downhearted. He thought in his mind that it was for the better of her safety and protection that she needed. He wasn't afraid of Sakura wanting to battle the Akatsuki. In fact, he was very much afraid of more.

END OF THE FIRST FLASHBACK

SECOND FLASHBACK:

The pink-haired kunoichi was constantly giggling and avoiding Lee tickling her sides. She dodged them until she retaliated back at him.

Kankuro and Temari were watching them tease each other at the balcony in awe while they were talking about them at their lunch table.

"He seems to really like her," the purple-faced ninja smirked.

"Hm. Obviously. I mean these two have been friends since their Ninja Academy school," the four ponytail-haired kunoichi pointed out, then she took a bite of the romaine lettuce from her plate.

Katsumi rolled her eyes at them and smirked sarcastically. "I would definitely agree. They look better as a beastly couple. Right, Gaara?" She turned on her right side to look at him, but he was staring at them off into space, much to her confusion and annoyance.

She then snapped her finger in front of his face, alerting him back to reality.

Clearing his throat, Gaara was blinking his eyes a few times and said. "Yes. You are right…"

Both of his siblings were shaking their heads at them silently and puffed out in wearisome.

"Whatever you guys say," Kankuro commented, cracking a fake smile and trying to hide his anger.

Temari gave him a warning look, but he shrugged off completely.

The red-haired Kazekage, on the other hand, was secretly glancing at the two friends laughing and enjoying each other's company, causing him to feel envious. He noticed how Lee was very kind and caring towards Sakura and he wondered to himself if what he was feeling was something else. He does have Katsumi by his side, but he was beginning to question himself if he made the right choice.

END OF THE SECOND FLASHBACK

FINAL FLASHBACK:

After the dinner was over, the birthday party was still on at night for the leaf squad and the sand siblings. A few of them decided to play chess games, whereas the others decided to play cards on the table. They were all cheering, laughing, joking at each other gleefully at their winning and losing rounds. As for the pink-haired kunoichi and the red-haired Kazekage, they both went outside her house for a night stroll to get some fresh air and have different conversations.

"So, did you like the present I gave you?" He asked with a warm smile.

"No. I don't like it. I love it," she answered with a grin and giggled softly. She was holding onto the pictures of them, then slid them inside her mini book she was carrying. "Look at us. You look so much happier than before. Not to forget that you went dark during our chunin exam days."

The red-haired Kazekage chuckled and nodded in agreement. "I know. I must be very scary to everyone at that time."

The pink-haired kunoichi placed her finger and thought out loud as she looked at him observantly. "You were pretty much vulnerable and just wanted to fit in. I'm glad I've found you because the two of us were on the same boat."

"Hmm. I certainly agree," he said until he took both of her wrists gently to make eye contact and continued on. "Listen, I'm so thankful for everything you have done for me. I want to do the same."

Sakura blinked her eyes blankly and smiled sincerely. "You don't have to. With you being around is more than enough. I care a lot about you and I don't want anything to change our friendship."

Gaara gazed at her and nodded mutually. He then slowly wrapped his arms around her, much to her surprise. "I swear to take care of you… I will never let anyone else harm you because you have given me strength and purpose."

The two stood frozen on their spot while the moon and the stars were out, especially when the birds were flying across the sky.

The pink-haired kunoichi tried to hide the blush from her cheeks and returned her embrace.

"Gaara…" she whispered softly.

"Hmm. What is it?" He asked.

"Thank you. You're important to me…" she said wholeheartedly whilst closing her eyes.

END OF THE FINAL FLASHBACK

The red-haired Kazekage had his eyes closed when tears were already dripping down from his cheeks and clenched his teeth tightly in his own mind, saying. "What have I done? This is all my fault… I should've never let you go."

Suddenly, he began to scream as his jaw tightened furiously and holding her body closely to his.

"Noooooo!" His loud cry was echoing through the surroundings and smashed the ground into pieces using his fist. "I failed to protect you! This is all my fault!"

Then, the sand began to swirl in a huge tornado form, which his two siblings have noticed. Both of them arrived and were shocked to see that their younger brother was losing control over his emotions.

"Gaara!" Temari gasped shockingly and hurried herself over to where he was.

"Bro! Stop!" Kankuro yelled in panic as he ran towards his direction.

Unfortunately, the tornado didn't stop as it eventually grew stronger, much to their fear.

"Shit. Even without his One-Tailed beast transformation, he is still capable of manipulating his own power to the very extent…" the purple-faced ninja thought in distraught.

He shielded his face with his arms and began to lecture him. "Gaara! You got to stop! I know how much you are hurting right now the way we are all hurting. Bro, if you can all hear us, please do! It is agonizing to feel and mourn the loss of our friend, but letting our emotions get in the way will not solve the problem. At this point, we will lose if we do not choose how to act right. Do you honestly think that our parents and uncle Yashamaru would be happy to see you going on a rampage?!" Kankuro paused for a moment and continued on deeply. "Do you want to go back to the old Gaara that you used to be or do you want to be the leader that everyone is looking up to?! Come on! Tell me! I'm here for you! Temari is here! We are right here. We are not going anywhere and let you become the monster again…!"

The four ponytailed-haired kunoichi's eyes started to tear up and added in by raising her voice with grief. "Gaara! Let us all share the pain with you! Please… We need you. The others need you! We understand how you feel. Losing Sakura is the most devastating. It's almost as if… I lost a little sister…" She trailed off of her words when she was crying uncontrollably.

From that moment on, the sand tornado had died down slowly on the ground where Kankuro and Temari sighed out in relief. The two made their way towards Gaara, who was still holding Sakura's dead body close to him.

Kankuro removed his hoodie and was comforting Temari on her back with his hand. They looked down on them and couldn't help but feel sorrowful at the sight of her.

Concurrently and somewhere in the deserted area, the green leaf ninja was sulking like a turtle on the way back to his own division squad without bothering to contact Guy-sensei. Then, a bright mini cherry blossom flower was flowing in the air as it was descending down on his left shoulder and onto his left hand, puzzling him in suspicion.

"What? What is this?" He asked himself in mind and came to realize the familiar scent.

"What?! No way!" He became alarmed after he listened to her voice recording inside the flower, which further astonished him at what he discovered.


TO BE CONTINUED...