A/N: Well, here's the next chapter. I'm so happy with my reviewers! The amount of reviews went up to normal. With that aside, please excuse the lameness of this chapter. It's the result of writing after sitting in a room for 4 hours straight testing. But tests are over now so I'm extra happy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the other characters.

Summary: Sakura is sent to Sunagakure on a mission to train the medic ninja there. Yet, there is one little problem…She'll be living with the Kazekage and his family. Will she survive long enough to complete her task?

Chapter 8

Three weeks later—144 days left…

Temari was worried. She knew all about the threats from Iwagakure and how it was keeping her younger brother on edge. Those threats were directed at the people of the village, threatening their safety. Her brother just couldn't stand that.

Her gaze drifted from the piles of papers in front of her to the slouched form of Gaara. He was reading another treaty request, an intent look on his face. His scoffed and crumbled the paper, throwing it over his shoulder.

"Can they get any stupider?" He commented.

"Apparently, they can." She replied. "You should read the one from the Country of Grass."

"If I do, I might get sick."

A grin appeared on Temari's face. Her brother's sense of humor never ceased to amaze her. One minute he was scowling, the other he was making fun of something, all without a single facial expression.

He glanced at over the pile of documents and sighed. "Do we have to read more?"

Just as she was about to reply, the door to their conference room burst open.

Several panting shinobi led by Kankuro ran in.

"There are Iwagakure ninja rapidly making their way towards the village! They come in attack!" Shouted the puppeteer.

"Are you positive, Kankuro?" Snapped Gaara.

"Positive. I confirmed it myself after the lookouts told me."

Gaara's eyes darkened as he picked up his sand gourd. "Temari, you watch over the village for now. Kankuro, lead the shinobi into battle. If I tell you to retreat, you retreat."

A chorus of "Hai!" ran out in the room. Kankuro sped away, a mere blur, followed by the group of ninja.

Temari was about to leave when Gaara's voice stopped her. "Get Haruno and keep her close. She's to heal who ever is injured."

"Hai!" The sand nin sped away. Please be careful, Gaara…

&&&&&&&&&&

Sakura was sitting in her usual chair at the front of the room, observing as her class attempted a medicinal jutsu used in battle. It could cut the tendons in a muscle and render a body part of the enemy useless. They were pretty good for first timers.

Just as she was about to start reading a rather interesting book, a flustered Temari burst in.

"Dismiss your class and come with me!"

The unexpected command startled the kunoichi. The class froze and looked nervously between their pink haired teacher and the sister of their Kazekage. Sakura emerged from her sudden shock and firmly nodded.

"Aiko, I want you to take the others and prepare the emergency rooms. Make sure every single seal is correct. Keep them practicing the jutsu and keep a lookout."

"H-hai, sensei!" The girl turned around and began gathering up her classmates.

Sakura threw on her black jacket and sped out with Temari. "It's an attack on Suna?"

The other girl nodded. "Gaara's given me orders to keep you with me in case someone needs to be treated."

They sped through the city, heading to the Kazekage's offices. Sakura stopped suddenly. "I'm going to the battle itself."

"Don't!"

Temari's protest was a cry on deaf ears. The medic was gone before she could blink.

&&&&&&&&&&

Kankuro ripped off the scrolls from his back and set them on the ground. Within seconds, he had his three puppets surrounding him. With a jerk of his hand, Sanshouo set off, its tail swinging wildly. Each swing knocked at least two shinobi off their feet.

Using Kuroari he captured several shinobi. He launched Karasu into the air and watched as it separated, forming swords with its body parts. It sped back down and the swords slid neatly into Kuroari. The screams of the ninja echoed in the desert. Smirking confidently he reasembled both puppets and continued his fight.

Sand wrapped around a man and tightened.

"Sabaku Kyu!" Gaara's hand closed and the man was dead within seconds. He continued on his way, cutting down the numbers by many.

As he was about to initiate Dersert Coffin again, he spotted pink hair. Sighing he killed the man and sped towards the girl. Sakura stood frozen by the gates of the village. She would cringe every time someone collapsed at the hand of another.

He loomed up behind her and said, "Why are you here? I gave Temari specific orders."

Sakura turned around, masking her surprise, and responded calmly, "I thought I would be of better help here." Someone slammed into the wall; she flinched.

"Do your work and stay out of the way." He left her and caught another with Desert Coffin.

She made her way to a fallen ninja from Sand. She checked the girl and healed her grave injuries. Scratches and bruises could stay like that until after the battle.

Frowning, Sakura set to work, her hands aglow with a pink light.

The Iwagakure shinobi were relentless. The fight had moved closer to the village, making Gaara furious. He was determined to keep them away. The fight continued this way, with Sand rapidly gaining the upper hand. After a while, the enemy began to slowly retreat.

Just as Sakura was finishing healing the last injured person, she heard Kankuro shout, "Gaara!"

She spotted them and sped to where they were. Just as she arrived, Gaara left. "Where's he going?" Asked Sakura, watching the Kazekage disappear amongst the sand dunes.

"The ninja retreated and he went after them. He let his temper get the better of him." Responded Kankuro. Worry flickered across his face but was gone in seconds. He gathered up his puppets and with a poof, they were gone.

"I'm sure he'll be alright," Said Sakura, sounding more confident than she felt.

The puppeteer didn't reply. With his help, they gathered up the live sand shinobi and headed back to the village. Temari stood by the gates, gazing around at the battefield impassively. A crowd of villagers had gathered behind her, many looking worried.

"How many dead?" She asked.

"I'd say about 12. But we defeated twice as many from Iwagakure." Said Kankuro.

Suddenly, she seemed the notice the absence of her other brother. "Where's Gaara?"

Kankuro hesitated before answering. "He went after the ninja."

"By himself!"

He nodded. She punched the wall, making a dent. Her hand began to bleed but she paid no attention to it as she ranted. "He wasn't supposed to do that! He's not invicible! He could get really hurt! ARGH!" Temari was the perfect image of a worried sister, except for the fact that she was a rather strong kunoichi.

The villagers were watching the scene with wide eyes. Whispers began to spread through them. "Where's Kazekage-sama? Will he come back?"

Kankuro put an arm around Temari and guided her into the village. He told some shinobi to gather the dead and give them a proper burial before disappearing with a poof along with his sister. They obviously needed to talk about what would happen now.

This left Sakura alone, facing many anxious villagers. "What do we do now!" Shouted a random person.

"Er, just go back to your homes and do normal things." Said Sakura. "Please, don't start panicking or anything. You're all safe. The last thing Temari needs is a riot."

With a slight murmur of discontent, the villagers dispersed.

Not wanting to see the burial process, Sakura lept onto a nearby roof and made her way back to the house.

&&&&&&&&&&

She wasn't surprised to find the house empty when she arrived. She suspected that Kankuro and Temari were meeting with the council members. What Gaara had done was reckless. Sakura sighed and sat down in the kitchen. The kichen was partially dark, the only source of light coming from the window on the far side of the room.

For some reason, she found herself worrying about him. Ugh, she was too kind. All though he had been a jerk to her—jerk being an understatement—he was still a person who could get seriously hurt, especially if he unleashed his inner demon. Sakura lay her head down on the table and closed her eyes.

"I hope he gets back soon…"

"What happened to your hatred of him?" Asked Inner Sakura.

"I don't know." Was Sakura's lame reply.

"Do you like him now?"

"No!"

"Uh-huh, sure…"

"Just go away! Go bother someone else."

"That's not possible because I am in you."

Sakura didn't bother replying. Sometimes having an inner you who mentioned things like that made you think too much about topics you'd rather avoid.

Did she like him? No, definitely not.

Well…he had been nicer after the whole slamming her against the wall incident, as nice as he could be without losing his pride. He hadn't called her an idiot when she tripped and fell; causing the scrolls she had had in her arms to get ruined. Suddenly, she remembered the Chunnin exam incident, when he slammed her against a tree. Had he really changed?

Maybe, he just needed someone to talk to, like Naruto had. He had told her all about his reasons for being so loud: he had wanted to be acknowledged. Gaara needed to talk more. His communication skills sucked. Once he got back, decided Sakura, she would try to get him to open up more.

"If he gets back…" Whispered Inner Sakura.

"If he gets back…" Echoed Sakura unconsciously.

The story will be ending in a few chapters. It all depends on whether or not I can make Gaara and Sakura fall in love without rushing. (sigh) It's going to be tough. Well, if you didn't like this chapter, the next one will be better. Promise.

Remember to review!