Title: From Winter To Spring
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from the anime, Naruto, but they are superb story fodder, aren't they now?
Summary: After the first time Sakura took part in the chuunin selection exams and failed, she tried once more before undergoing intensive training to better herself, while Naruto and Sasuke both passed and moved on. Their team split, but now that Sakura's all alone an unlikely antihero steps up to make her exam taking team complete: Gaara of the Desert. (GaaraSakura as best as I am able, which may not be very promising, because it is my first fanfiction piece ever.)
Chapter 2: Wake of Confusion
Gaara left her standing in the training ground, alone and not quite sure what was going on in Konoha. In an attempt to shake off the pain aching in her wrists and mind, Sakura went on her run before she returned home. Her apartment was silent and empty, but it was home and she loved it. She hunching slightly from exhaustion as she entered, taking her shoes off at the door before whispering, "Tadaima…"
Even though she knew no one would answer. With an inward sigh, she trudged to the front room intent on passing out for the night, with or without dinner.
Her plans were foiled; however, for three people waited in her front room. Tsunade, the fifth and newest Hokage, sat at the small coffee table with Kakashi, the teacher she had shared with Naruto and Sasuke at one time, and both her mentors glanced up when she entered the room. The third occupant stood leaning against a wall, his black rimmed eyes meeting hers without a hint of emotion. It was unnerving, that pale blue-green gaze going straight through her skin and into her brain, but she only broke the stare when Kakashi cleared his throat.
A rough, low comment from Gaara, surprised everyone. "Okaeri… nasai."
"What?" Tsunade asked him, confused.
"She said 'taidaima' when she walked in. The proper reply is 'okaeri nasai'," he muttered, turning his head to stare at a spot on the ceiling. Everyone in the room remained silent, unsure if they had heard Gaara correctly. After a moment, he seemed to remember something and turned his gaze back to Sakura. "What took you so long?"
"I had to finish my training exercises for today," she replied before the situation fully sunk in. Reassessing the scene with a sweeping gaze and she demanded, "What the hell are you all doing here?!"
"We're here to talk to you about something very important, Sakura," Kakashi explained, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Please, sit down and join us. This shouldn't take very long to explain."
The hell! They're in my house and they tell me to sit down?! The arrogance!! "I'll stand, thanks," Sakura managed from behind a rather large, toothy, utterly fake smile. A blood vessel pounded in her temples, threatening to burst if she became any more annoyed.
Gaara's eyes remained locked on her the entire time she fought to keep her quick temper from bursting through the surface. Surprising. I though she was more prone to outbursts. She's actually trying to keep her pettiness in check.
Tsunade sighed as Sakura stuck her hands on her hips and waited semi-patiently for an explanation. "The chuunin selection exam is coming up again in a few days. I came to tell you that Kakashi-sensei has re-entered you in the exam. This will be your third time taking the test, correct?"
Taken aback at the urgency in her voice, Sakura answered the Hokage, "Yes, Tsunade-sama. I didn't know I was entered, but if I am then this will be my third attempt. However, this time I don't have a team that can go through the exam with me. Naruto and Sasuke passed on their second try; we're barely a team right now."
Nodding as they listened to her half-hearted protests, Kakashi and Tsunade exchanged a glance. Then they both glanced at Gaara, who blinked twice at their unwarranted and unwanted attention.
Sakura quirked an eyebrow at the two older shinobi at her table, confused as to why they were suddenly examining Gaara. True, he was sort of strange looking, what with his raccoon eyes, messy hair that had obviously never been washed OR combed, and the sad fact that he was very short when she mentally compared his height to that of other guys. She too glanced at him, but having found him to be unreceptive to their stares, returned her attention to Tsunade and Kakashi. "What's the big deal? Why's Gaara here anyway? I haven't seen him since the first time I took the exam, and he wasn't exactly the friendliness person to be around then. He still isn't, from what I can tell so far."
Gaara uncrossed his arms, slipping the strap of his gourd off his shoulder and dropping the gourd to the wooden floor with a loud THUMP. He propped it against the wall beside him with one hand before noticing the look of fear and horror on Sakura's face. She had even staggered back a step before realizing that he wasn't preparing to unleash the sand of death upon her. Blinking, he stood up straight, crossing his arms again. She's useless. Look at her, all but pissing herself from fear. Hmph. I should just kill her and put her out of her misery.
As Sakura regained her composure, Tsunade closed her eyes, cleared her throat, and sweatdropped. "I'm not so sure this will be a great idea after all."
This comment forced both Gaara and Sakura to give Tsunade their undivided attention. When the Hokage was satisfied, she stated, "Gaara of the Desert… say hello to Sakura Haruno, your new partner for the Chuunin Selection Exam. Let's hope you both make your lives easier and pass this time."
"What?" Sakura stuttered, unable to completely take in the situation. "Gaara's not from Konoha! How did I get placed with him in a team? It doesn't make sense; I should be with some of the younger genins from this village that don't have a complete team!"
Tsunade held up her hand to silence Sakura's frantic pleas. "You should be honored to serve Konoha like this. This is a direct request from the current Kazekage to our village. You know Gaara's siblings have already passed the exam when they took it again a few years ago. He couldn't participate at the time, since his mentor didn't see it beneficial for him to fight anyone until he achieved a more stable state of mind and was not prone to killing anyone who looked at him funny."
"A request from the Kazekage… why should we honor it? Didn't the sand ninja try to wipe out our entire village only five years ago? Why are we even letting Gaara take the exam this time, it might be a distraction like before."
Kakashi frowned, though it wasn't obvious to anyone else in the room. "Sakura, you underestimate our village's preparation this time. Besides, Gaara came alone: that was one of our conditions, that he not be accompanied by another one of those sneaky sand ninja posing as his mentor. In return, we provide him with the necessary members of his team and a supervising jounin."
"You're serious! This is madness!" Sakura threw up her hands as she stomped out of the room. When she was gone, safely in her room for the moment, Gaara turned to the older shinobi.
"She doesn't seem to like this idea. Perhaps I should return home and inform Kazekage that I won't be taking the exam this year."
Tsunade shook her head while Kakashi stood up and left to talk to Sakura alone. "She'll understand. She's the best ninja participating from our village this time, the best teammate we can offer you. However, because of the amount of power you and Sakura have between the two of you, we won't be giving you a third addition to the team. There's no way we would be able to find one in time."
Shrugging, Gaara turned toward the hallway leading to the front door. "It's none of my concern. I could easily pass the test alone."
He slowly left the apartment, melting into the shadows of the hallway before disappearing through the front door.
From outside the door to Sakura's bedroom, Kakashi stood pensively listening to the short conversation between Gaara and Tsunade. If Gaara truly doesn't care who he is teamed up with, why does it matter to Kazekage? He asked for Sakura by name, even though Tsunade-sama didn't say it... This doesn't bode well.
He rapped his knuckles on the door lightly and a second later, Sakura appeared at the doorway, dressed in a sweatshirt with the Konoha leaf design plastered across the front and a part of sweatpants. "Kakashi-sensei. I suppose you want to talk me out of my decision."
Pondering this, Kakashi shrugged. "I don't need to. You don't have a decision in the matter. The Hokage made a deal with the Kazekage that you would be Gaara's partner and so it will be. I just came to tell you that, if it makes you feel any better, I will be supervising the training between you and Gaara for the days leading to the exam."
"Thanks so much," Sakura drawled, sarcastically.
He waved away her fake gratefulness. "No need for thanks. I'll meet you and Gaara at the training grounds around ten tomorrow morning. Don't be late."
As her mentor walked away, Sakura growled inwardly before returning to her room to go to sleep. You're one to talk.