BANG.

The door burst open, pretty much shocking everyone in the class.

In came Sakura, followed by Naruto and Shino.

"…So, our teacher finally comes back." Kiba said. The dog on his shoulder barked.

Sakura gritted her teeth. "No pets in the classroom. Out."

And she pointed at the open door to prove her point.

"He's not just any dog… He's Akamaru." Kiba snarled.

Sakura looked at the dog. Akamaru?

She sighed. "Fine. But I don't want Akamaru to disturb my class, understand?"

Kiba looked surprised. What is the lady talking about? Normally I'd be forced to get out…

Sakura didn't notice Kiba's expression, though.

"Okay, class." Sakura said loudly. "I'm sorry for…running out earlier. We have a new classmate named Shino."

Everyone turned to Shino.

Shino nodded. "Pleased to meet you."

"Alright… Where do you want to sit, Shino?" Sakura said in a friendly tone.

Shino went over to a seat right in the back and sat down.

Sasuke raised his eyebrows. Does that girl have a split personality or what? She was practically screaming earlier and now she's so calm and composed…Humph. She's no fun at all.

Sakura beamed. "Flip to pages 23 and 24 of your textbook…"

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"That Sakura is one weird girl,'' Kiba said as he took a drink of milk.

"She's our teacher, Kiba." Lee said, taking a bite of his salad.

"Well, I think she's great." Naruto declared. "I met her on the way to school."

"…Really?"

"Huh?" Naruto blinked as he saw Sasuke glaring at him from across the table.

"How was she, then?" Sasuke asked.

The entire table went silent.

"WHAT? ARE YOU HAVING A FEVER, SASUKE?" Naruto yelled in shock.

"What are you talking about?" Sasuke frowned.

"Well, for one thing, you never expressed interest in anyone before…" Lee said thoughtfully.

"Isn't he the same as Shikamaru then? I mean, Shikamaru isn't interested in anything either…" Naruto started.

"Hey, stop talking about me like that, will you," Shikamaru said in a bored tone. "I like to play chess, okay?"

Kiba looked at his milk thoughtfully. Sasuke's interested in Sakura?

Naruto, meanwhile, was thinking the same thing. Oh shit, Sasuke's interested in Sakura.

This is bad news.

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"…That went pretty well!" Sakura sighed. She was sitting on a bench in the garden, eating her lunch.

As she nibbled her sandwich, she thought of Sasuke kissing her again.

Even though he took away my first kiss… He's still very good-looking! Wait…What am I thinking?
CREAK.

"Huh?" Sakura said as she heard the creaking sound of the swing. Someone was on the swing…

It was the red-haired boy again. And he was still carrying that weird gourd.

Sakura gulped. She realized how hard her heart was thumping in her chest. I've to get outta here fast.

CREAK.

"….!"

Sakura gasped when she saw sand surrounding her. …Where in the world did the sand come from?

The boy was still swinging on the swing.

Sand had gone around Sakura's feet, binding her to the ground.

"…What…!"

The boy swung even harder. The harder he swung, the tighter the sand seemed to become…

Sakura could only stare in horror. I can't move!

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Sakura gasped as a kunai came out from nowhere, speeding towards the red-haired boy…

But a barrier of sand blocked the attack, sending the useless kunai onto the ground.

"..."

The boy had stopped swinging. He stood up and looked at Sakura.

For the first time, Sakura had a good view of his face. He had dark circles around his eyes. He also had green eyes like Sakura's.

Then something seemed to hit her. It was fear. Paralyzing fear.

The sand had loosened, but Sakura couldn't move.

Move! Run away from this place!

Her legs didn't obey.

"…Sakura. Stay put."

Sakura turned around in shock. It was Naruto. He was the one who'd thrown the kunai.

Sakura didn't respond.

"… What do you want?" Naruto asked the red-haired boy, glaring at him.

The boy closed his eyes and the sand binding Sakura's legs became tighter.

"GAARA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" It was another voice.

A guy with purple and white makeup all over his face came leaping into view, followed by another girl with four blonde ponytails.

"Gaara, no!" The girl gasped.

"Stop it." The boy added.

Sakura almost cried out in pain. The sand was hardening.

"Please, Gaara, do it for your sister. Please stop it. Please?" The girl pleaded.

Gaara glared at Sakura's feet.

"Please!"

"…Alright." Gaara said in a low tone. His face was expressionless.

The sand binding Sakura released and spilled to the ground. Sakura fell to her feet, trembling.

"…"Naruto was glaring at Gaara. Gaara still remained expressionless.

"Let's go." The girl said quickly. The guy nodded, and the trio leapt off.

"…Are you okay?" Naruto asked Sakura.

Sakura was still trembling.

That guy… I can't take it…He makes you feel… Like you're going to be killed any minute…

Naruto pulled Sakura up. "It has always been like this—Whoever saw Gaara would react like that… Huh?"

Sakura was crying.

"What… the… don't cry! You're a teacher, you know." Naruto said hastily.

Sakura reacted by hugging him.

"…Gasp?" Naruto was wide-eyed.

"It felt… like… I has going… to die…I don't want to die…" Sakura yelled, her tears wetting the back of Naruto's shirt.

"…You-you're not going to die… Get a grip!" Naruto muttered.

Sakura still hadn't stopped crying.

Naruto sighed, and started patting her back awkwardly.

"…It's going to be all right… You know…"

"…!" His voice…

"It's going to be okay."

Then Sakura pushed herself off Naruto, startling him.

"I-I'm sorry." She spluttered, blushing.

Naruto was blushing furiously, too. "Y-Yeah, no problem. If you happen to see Gaara anywhere, run like the wind, okay?"

Sakura just laughed nervously. "O-Okay."

Author: I'm still having a writer's block, even after I wrote this chapter. Please don't say this chapter sucks… Please don't… (SasXSaku fans: Don't worry, I'll be writing about their pairing, too.)