Authors note at the end. Enjoy, love you guys!

I had no idea how much time had passed since Shisui had knocked me out in the forest outside of Konoha, all I know is that when I woke up, it was because of a certain spirit was yelling my name.

Sakura! Wake up, stop being lazy.

I groaned as I rolled over in the bed I was laying in, feeling way too comfortable to really get up.

Five more minutes mom.

First of all, how dare you. I am one hundred percent man, thank you very much. Second of all, there is something you need to know.

My eyes snapped open with a start after my senses had come back to me.

Senbonzakura?

Welcome back to the world of the living.

Ugh, my head is killing me. What happened?

You were knocked out by the Uchiha, Shisui, before you were brought back to the village and got administered to the hospital, your teammates are here too.

What about Gaara? What happened to him and his siblings?

That's what I was trying to tell you, there's a few things you need to know, but I'll start with this. Suna is back on good terms with Konoha.

What!?

Yes, it turns out that the Kazekage was an imposter, the real Kazekage has been dead for some time now, being replaced by Orochimaru who was in disguise. He's the one who called all the shots, Suna was only a playing piece and have since been forgiven for not knowing that their own leader was killed and replaced by an S-class criminal from Konoha.

The Kazekage is dead? Suna is without a proper leader?

Unfortunately yes. Konoha is taking partial responsibility because it was Orochimaru. The Sand siblings are also here in the hospital. Temari received a few broken bones from the battle with Gaara, and Kankuro was completely chakra depleted. Gaara's wounds have healed and is going to be discharged later this afternoon.

I see. That means we have to do something then, right?

What do you mean?

I mean about Gaara.

What are you going to do, attack him in his room?

No! Just about the opposite really. Gaara believes that he's a complete monster because of his village. They don't see him as the only thing keeping their village safe, they see him as an abomination. But their wrong, and Gaara needs to realize this. He needs to understand that there is more to him than the demon sealed within. The first time I ever met him, when Kankuro had attacked Konohamaru, I saw the look on his face. He was tired.

Because of the dark circles around those eyes?

No, more than just physically, and from lack of sleep. I mean mentally. I can pretend to know everything of what he's gone through, but I can at least sympathize with him being an outcast. Because I was an outcast too, even without a monster sealed away inside me. I mean, besides you of course.

I'm a MAN, Sakura.

He needs to know not everyone thinks of him so negatively.

Did you just ignore me?

So I'm going to help him.

You did, didn't you?

Let's go!

Why you little...

I ignored the yelling from within my head as I quietly unplugged myself from the machines I was attached to before grabbing my sword and made my way over to the window and cracked it open.

Do you know what room he's in?

Senbonzakura?

Fine then, be that way. I'll just figure it out myself.

I crawled out of my window and sent chakra to my feet and walked up the side of the hospital and began checking every window I walked past before a conversation caught my attention.

"The Third Hokage was Killed in battle against Orochimaru. His funeral will be held tomorrow after noon."

What? The Third Hokage is dead? Is the Fourth Hokage still alive?

That was another thing I was going to tell you.

Oh, now you decide to respond.

The Third Hokage temporarily came out of retirement after hearing about what was happening to the village, choosing to fight his own student instead. He managed to seal the use of his arms away through a forbidden jutsu that cost him his own life in the end. As for the Fourth Hokage, he is alive and well, he's currently arranging the funeral for his predecessor.

Are you ignoring me now?

Shh, pay attention.

Why you little...

I once again pulled myself from my conversation with Senbonzakura in favor of listening to what else was being said.

"Temari and Kankuro should be healthy enough by then to make the journey back to Suna. We cannot leave later than that, we have a lot of cleaning up to do, as well as find a new temporary leader until we select a new Kage."

"I see, is that all then, Baki?" Came the response of the exact person I was looking for.

"Yes Gaara-sama. If you have nothing else for me, I shall take my leave."

"Very well, you may go."

Sama?

Sama?

Jinks.

Senbonzakura sighed and I knew then I had won whatever little banter we just had.

He seems to have mellowed out since the last time we saw him.

It does doesn't it?

The man he was talking to is gone now, you can make your move.

Right.

I continued walking until I came to the open window I heard them talking in, only to see Gaara already looking in my direction as he lied in the hospital bed, almost as if he was expecting me to come though the window.

"Uh..."

"What are you doing here?" He asked. All of his previous killing intent that I used to feel just by looking at him was almost gone. Almost.

"I came here for a few reasons actually," I began after clearing my throat. "Gaara-sama." I added as an after thought only to have him narrow his eyes at me.

"You've been listening for a while then, have you?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"That depends on what you define as 'a while'." His eyes narrowed further as sand began circling him.

My eyes widened as I jumped all the way in and to the other side of the room as some of his sand came towards me. It felt off though, there was no killing intent, just curiosity as his sand moved incredibly slow, almost as if teasing me.

However, I wasn't planning on taking any chances. I placed my hand on Senbonzakura and drew him quickly.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura." Petals immediately came to counter Gaara's sand as the two forces began pushing at each other gently. It appeared as though neither one of us were trying to truly fight.

What the purpose of this though, was still beyond my comprehension.

"You said you came here for a few things." I nodded my head slowly. "Fine, I'll answer your questions, as long as you answer mine." I frowned, but again, I nodded.

"Do you have a demon sealed within you." My eyes widened at the question, not having expected such a thing to come from his mouth.

"No, Gaara, I don't. What made you think I did?"

"During our first meeting, you seemed lost in thought, but not in the sense that your mind was just wondering. No, it was like you were talking to someone in you mind. It's happed several times, almost every time I see you, it's like that."

Busted.

Shut it.

"Like just now." I furrowed my eyebrows before shrugging. I didn't see the real harm in him knowing anyway. Besides, I knew something important about him, might as well let him in on it.

"It's similar, I guess you could say. I do have a spirit in me that gives me certain abilities," I said, gesturing to the blade fragments. "But it's no demon, and it's not sealed inside. It's something I acquired through one of the Sword Scrolls belonging the Village Hidden in the Mist."

"One of the Spirit Scrolls, the ones the Seven Swordsman of the Mist used to obtain their own monstrous swords, it that what you're speaking of?" My eyes widened at his knowledge.

"Yes, I see you've heard of them. Well, that cuts off my explanation time by about... well, all of it I guess. That's it really."

That was very anticlimactic.

Hush.

Gaara nodded his head before he gestured for me to ask my questions, seemingly satisfied with my answer.

"First of all, I wish to offer my condolences on the news of your father." Gaara merely shrugged, uninterested.

"Thank you, I suppose, but I can't say he and I were on the best of terms. Most of the assassination attempts on my life were on my fathers orders. With him gone, I no longer have to deal with him of those he sends after me."

My body went still.

Careful Blossom, his killing intent is starting to come back a bit. I think with his father gone, he's able to let his guard down some, it must be why it's so easy to have a conversation with him right now.

"Well in that case, good riddance." I said, taking in Senbonzakura's words.

Gaara looked at me confused.

"Good riddance? You don't think he was right for trying to kill a monster like me?"

Careful how you answer.

I know.

"I don't see a monster when I look at you Gaara, as a matter of fact, I see the opposite."

"What?" I nodded at the distrust in his eyes, feeling a pang of guilt and anger go through me.

"A Jinchuriki is by no means a demon. Yes the hold the beasts sealed within them, but that's what proves those individuals to be more like a hero than anything else. It's because of those like you that the nations are kept safe. You have them sealed within and only call upon those powers in life or death situations or when you're being attacked. That doesn't make you anything other than human. And if people are too blind to see it that way, then it's their loss."

"Their... loss..." I nodded my head.

"Yes, it's their loss for not getting to know the real person that's keeping them safe. I can't say that I know you really well Gaara, but I can say this. You're no monster. You're just... you. And if you don't know who that is yet, if you don't know who you are, don't settle for what anyone tells you. Figure it out yourself. You'll know for sure when you've figured it out, and if know one else chooses to follow you, then leave them behind and find someone who will. That all you can do."

As I finished speaking to Gaara, the red head looked off through the window and into the distance. Seeming to be lost in thought.

I decided to leave him be and made my way to the door and walked out into the hallway, hearing a quiet 'thank you' as I closed the door behind me with a smile.

"You're welcome." I said before turning to where the stairs should be to get back to my floor and my room without being noticed. Instead I found myself face first in a large pair of breasts.

Startled, I took a step back and looked up into a pair of honey colored eyes with a purple diamond on her forehead.

"Lady Tsunade." I said a bit startled to see her here. "What are you doing in the hospital?"

"I working kid. Minato asked me to stay and heal the wounded from Orochimaru's invasion. So I agreed. I'll be here for at least a week after Sarutobi-sensei's funeral." The blonde explained as her eyes showed a twinge of sadness before the sharpened and stared me down.

"What are you doing here, you should still be in your room recovering." She ridiculed me before her eyes softened a bit. "Also, about what you said in there to that kid, thanks."

I froze for a second. "You heard all that?" She nodded at me.

"Have you found yourself yet?" She asked in reference to what I had said to Gaara just moments ago and shrugged my shoulders and let out a small chuckle.

"Not exactly, I'm still trying to find out who I really am. I've taken a lot of steps forward compared to who I was just after I graduated from the academy. But finding out who I am or who I'm meant to be, I'm no where near there."

"Hmm." Tsunade hummed in understanding as she nodded her head.

"Oh yeah! Lady Tsunade, before the final exams started you asked me to come and find you because you needed to ask me something right? What was it?" Tsunade grinned at me.

"So you remembered, great. It kind of has to do with what I also just asked you. You still interested in finding yourself right, and where you fit in this world?" Confused, I nodded my head. "How about you come with me and Shizune outside the village and train for a few years?"

I couldn't stop my jaw from dropping on the floor.

"What, really?"

"Yeah kid, you have great potential. I can feel it. What do you say, how about you become my next apprentice?"

AN: Guys... one, maybe two more chapters left till this book is done!

Once I finish this book, I will try to get the first chapter out for both of the sequels, just so you guys get an idea and can save the story in your guys' favorite and follows list, that way you'll be notified for when ever I get back from my hiatus.

I will also be going back and rewriting all of Sakura Petals and fix all my errors and grammar mistakes. we'll see how far I get with that before I leave.

Thank you all so much for coming along for this ride, we're almost done!