(A/N) Greetings! Nanowrimo is two days from now, and I won't be updating during that time! Updating any fics, to be clear. This one ain't getting updated again cause it's ending today. ...I'll stop putting my foot in my metaphorical mouth and stop talking. Do I remember the exact order of the fights? No. Do I care? Also no.

Naruto ended up dumped with some random special jounin that clearly was in no way qualified to teach Naruto. So Naruto ended up ditching the guy to hang out with Kankuro.

Kakashi had absconded with Sasuke, apparently to teach him a few jutsu or something, and Sakura had been left to her own devices. Which she was salty about. Well, whatever, she'd manage.

She ended up practicing with Gaara most of the month, the cursed seal having shot his chakra control that was already shoddy, to Kaguya and back. So Sakura helped him with that, and he showed her some moves with her dust.

But finally the big day arrived. The day of the finals was here.

"Ready?" Gaara murmured, quietly lacing their hands together.

Sakura squeezed his fingers gently. "Yep! Let's crush them and fight at the top!" He looked mildly uncomfortable, and she squeezed harder. "Hey, look at me, we'll do fine. Even with the chakra mess and stuff."

"It's not what I'm worried about," he muttered.

"You and Sasuke aren't going to kill each other," she huffed, somewhat exasperated. "And I'm not going to die against that weird sound nin."

"Still not it," Gaara said, sighing. "It's nothing. Let's go." He let go of her hand and walked ahead.

Sakura looked after him worriedly. What on earth could he possibly be worrying about? It was just the finals, wasn't it?

Well it appeared her opponent wasn't showing up, which honestly, rude, although she supposed that since he was dead she could excuse him. Oh well, she'd just have to fight someone in the next round, and it gave her an advantage so she really couldn't complain.

"You got this Naruto!" Sakura shouted, waving after him. He waved back, and she grinned, settling against the railing to watch the match. "He won't have any difficulty," she told Kankuro, who was standing next to her.

"'Course not," he agreed, smirking. "He wouldn't lose to a stuck up Hyuuga."

Sakura giggled. "Indeed. If he did, I would be concerned."

"And I would be offended," Kankuro replied easily. "Because that's just insulting to our training over the last month."

Sakura laughed, patting his shoulder. "Naruto won't let you down."

"He'd better not," Kankuro said, frowning. Then he grinned. "If he does I am kicking his butt into next week after this."

"Go ahead," Sakura said, giggling. "I'll leave you to it. And distract Kakashi."

"Thanks, you're a true friend," Kankuro said, patting her shoulder.

"You're welcome," Sakura replied, laughing.

"And there he goes," Temari sighed, coming to stand next to Sakura. "Five, four, three, two, one-" she was cut off as the proctor declared Naruto's win.

Sakura beamed at her teammate, waving wildly. He'd done well. Now it was Kankuro's turn.

"Kick butt," she told him, smirking. "I'm sure Naruto'll return the favor if you're beaten by the Aburame."

"I dunno, seems pretty tough," Kankuro trailed off, looking thoughtful.

Sakura punched his arm. "As if. Now go. Show em what you can do."

There was an odd silent exchange between Temari and Kankuro, and Sakura narrowed her eyes.

"If you yield immediately out of the gate I will personally try and murder you," she threatened. "And I will get Naruto to help me."

Kankuro paled slightly. "Alright, alright, I'm going already!"

Sakura smirked as she settled back against the railing. "You'd better do well."

He stuck his tongue out at her, but left to enter the arena.

"He'll be fine," Temari said, shaking her head. "Dad won't even notice I bet."

Sakura wondered what their dad wasn't noticing, but simply shelved it under 'what was weird about this day.' She'd get answers later. Probably. Hopefully.

"Hey Sakura!" Naruto said, coming up to her. "Did you see me!? Did you see me win!?"

"Yes Naruto, it was very impressive," Sakura replied easily, patting his head. "I was very impressed. You'll have to ask Kankuro how impressed he was when he gets back up here."

Naruto nodded firmly, eyes glittering. Sakura was almost curious about how he managed that. "Hey, where's Sasuke?"

"There's one of his hawks now," Sakura said, pointing it out. She covered her arm in silver dust for the hawk to land on. She took the message off of the hawk's leg, handing it to Naruto to read. "What's it say?"

"Kakashi's keeping him late, please ask the Hokage to push their match back. Blame Kakashi later, he's been appropriately warned," Naruto read off.

Sakura glared in the general direction she knew Kakashi and Sasuke were. "He's dead."

"Of course," Naruto agreed easily. "I'm gonna go give this to the Hokage, so give me a moment."

Sakura hummed in agreement, watching him disappear. "So rude of Kakashi though," she remarked to Temari. "Not all that surprising honestly, but still."

Temari hummed slightly, watching the Kage booth closely. Sakura traced her line of sight to the Kazekage, who didn't seem to be paying any attention.

"Looks like you're right," Sakura joked. "He won't notice."

Temari hummed distractedly.

Sakura eyed her, but remained silent. What was bothering her and Gaara. She could see her friend fidgeting in a corner in a random show of anxiety, which was weird.

She found out what the fidgeting and the nervousness was about when feathers started falling from the sky during Gaara's match.

Temari's hands were shaking when she turned to Sakura and Naruto. "I should probably explain. Break the genjutsu, and I can."

Sakura pulsed her chakra, feeling Naruto do the same. Around the arena people were falling asleep, slumping in their seats. "Alright, what's going on."

"Suna's invading," Kankuro bit out, approaching them. "We were going to tell you…" he trailed off, sighing.

"Never found a good time to," Temari admitted quietly. "We're sorry."

Sasuke and Gaara joined them in the area.

"What was the original plan," Sakura asked quickly.

"There isn't anything we can do to stop it," Temari warned. "Gaara was supposed to kill or incapacitate Sasuke, then in the confusion of the genjutsu, we were supposed to escape and take Gaara outside of Konoha to release Shukaku and start destroying Konoha."

Sakura frowned. "Did you know anything else about the invasion?"

"Just that we're being aided by Sound," Kankuro admitted. "We're sorry for not saying it sooner."

"It's fine, nothing you can do now," Naruto replied immediately. "We can ask for you to have refuge here after the invasion maybe, but maybe take off your headbands."

Kankuro pulled off his hood, tossing it aside. Temari and Gaara undid the knots of theirs quickly, letting them fall to the ground.

Sasuke put his fist forward. "Let's not die."

"We won't," Sakura replied confidently, putting her fist next to his.

Gaara's followed. "I will ensure our safety with my sand."

Kankuro, Temari, and Naruto all followed suit, with their own promises. They would make sure not too many people died. And that just maybe, there'd be a village to live in after this was all over.

(A/N) I'm leaving you there. Too bad if you don't like it. Assume what you want. Byeeee! Have a happy All Hallow's Eve!