Lol! U don't know how tired I am. I barely brought myself to get up…! So this is the second chapter! Remember, the Naruto characters do not belong to me!

2. The flower lands

"I honestly don't know why you wanted to come here Shikamaru!" Sakura shouted. "This special trip that the hokage granted us was supposed to be a nice holiday! Not a visit to a desert! I actually thought that this trip would be fun!"

Shikamaru groaned. "Stop being so troublesome. This is the problem with women."

Naruto laughed. "Yeah Shika! Why did you want to come?"

Chouji munched on his packet of barbeque chips. He didn't seem to be interested in the group's conversation. At least not more than his packet of chips. All the group had talked about for the two day trip were things that he couldn't even be bothered to remember. All he knew was that Sakura's whiny voice – especially when she was complaining…almost annoyed him to death. And Ino's not to mention. Also, what bothered him more was the fact that now Sakura might actually be stronger than him…she sure improved under the fifth hokage. She was an experienced ninja now. However…everything she said bored Chouji to death. Until the extent that he would have ran away. But there was no where to run to, in the middle of this isolated desert. All he did was listen to them talk about boring things…and watch the boring desert, the never changing landscape. Konoha was better…much better to him. But now this was interesting. Chouji turned around and looked at Shika. Everyone was by now.

Naruto raised an eyebrow…then he grinned mischievously. "It's not because of that sand chick is it?" His grin only got wider. "I mean…she is hot, if that's what you're after."

Shikamaru turned red. He turned around and stalked off.

"So it is." Naruto grinned. "I have wonderful detection skills…and you Shika…have horrible deception skills."

"Shut up." Shikamaru turned around. "I do like her…and without you horrible friends embarrassing me constantly…I hoped that I could have expected something out of her by the end of these 3 weeks. But now you know, there is absolutely no hope for me."

Sakura clapped her hands and jumped up and down.

"Shikamaru-kun is finally growing out of his I hate women stage!" Ino squealed. "Don't worry Shikamaru! We'll make sure you get something out of her."

She and Sakura made a high five, and then they both screamed with delight.

"What about you guys?" Shikamaru glanced around at the two combined teams. You should know that this trip is the perfect opportunity to find somebody." He glanced warily at Naruto and then at Hinata, who had kept almost silent for the whole trip.

Ino sighed. "Maybe I'll meet a handsome young sand-nin…who's not fat, that is."

Chouji didn't seem to notice her negative comment. He ate the last chip in the packet.

"I wonder what will happen with that sand freak around…you know that person with the tattoo love in kanji on his forehead…Gaara was it?" Ino continued, a crinkle of worry appearing on her forehead. "I wonder if he's still as crazy. He did hurt Sakura."

"That so called freak Ino…I'm pretty sure he isn't…is now kazekage." Shikamaru said.

"I don't know about you…but anybody has a monster in them is obviously a freak." Ino scoffed, her eyes turning away. She didn't get why, but Shikamaru made her feel so bad for even thinking about Gaara as a freak. The anger inside her built up, and words she didn't mean spilt out of her mouth. "He doesn't seem worthy to be the fifth kazekage."

Naruto turned. His eyes were full of pain and understanding. Ino had no idea what she had said wrong to make happy, cheerful Naruto into a sort of solemn…person, almost reminding her of Sasuke as they trudged on. Sakura looked troubled.

"He's no freak…just lonely." Naruto whispered.

Sakura, trying to take her mind off Gaara, looked far off into the distance…haruka kanata…her mind was drowsy now, swarmed with memories, both of Sasuke and that crazed face she had seen…the sand that had drowned the red hair and the face's features, only leaving an inhuman face behind. Bloodlust, she had almost died. Could she ever forgive him? She pretended to look for a while…then suddenly, she saw a gate.

"Guys…I think we just arrived at the middle of nowhere." She smiled, temporarily forgetting her sadness. "And look at that huge building. It's almost like a palace."

They looked up only to see the outline of a round building. It looked new, carefully crafted out of sand. On the top, the kanji for wind was neatly engraved on the top, the symbol shining through the sand, making the dull desert seem somehow different. A gust of wind came their way, making shikamaru's chuunin vest flutter. He sniffed. Through the dust and sand in the air…he could see…Temari.

"It's beautiful." All breath seemed to leave him. But instead, he was looking at the building. Temari looked annoyed.

"But its beauty is no where as pretty as mine." Temari smirked, her face almost distorted in a frown. She wasn't ugly, just unseemingly scary. It made Shikamaru smile. That was exactly what he liked about her.

"Come on people!" Temari bellowed, looking at Shikamaru cheekily. "Let's go to the sand palace. It was Gaara's gift to the people of Suna."

The building shone with pride. It was beautiful. It was something worthy of Gaara's creation.

"Hey Gaara." Naruto smiled. Those two would have a deeper talk, when no one was around. Or maybe when it was just the boys.

Gaara stood there as well, his gourd nowhere to be seen. After all, the whole desert was his weapon. He was wearing black. The old gang, now all older, had switched costumes. Their style was more matured Naruto's suit black rather than the bright orange that hurt Gaara's eyes. He smiled. That girl had changed. Sakura, was it? Her eyes were not so desperate now, as he remembered her, posing to strike, protecting the Uchiha. How could he have done that? As kazekage now, he could barely believe he had gone that crazy. He smiled; thankful he wasn't like that anymore.

Sakura stared at Gaara. He seemed…more normal now. Maybe calmer, with a little less bloodlust. She smiled at him, and almost laughed when she saw his shocked face. His words echoed in his head…

""I want elegance. I want a woman who does not smile when she does not want to. A woman who isn't afraid to risk her life to protect something important. She has to be powerful, but so humble and serene that you would never guess. Something of pure beauty, with her not even trying. Peaceful…Like a flower in the wind."

He smiled again, this time inside. He began to wonder whether his flower had just landed right in his hands.

A short chapter. I don't have enuff time. Such a shame. I so wish I could spend more time on this story. But don't worry! I'll make the next chapter super long and super good. I was doing this while doing maths homework…so please don't insult me.