Sakura had been avoiding Gaara all week. She didn't want to run into the red head because One. He tried to kiss her, which really pissed her off because she had wanted to kiss him back. Two. He wouldn't let her out of his sand room, even though she almost didn't want to leave to see where things went. Three. She had grabbed him and now she knew what he was packing. A whole lot of firepower is what she found out.

Sakura shook her head before the blush continued to crawl up her face. I mean it's not like he wasn't enjoying it! Well, before I grabbed him. After that she had practically sprinted to her room and locked the door.

Sakura had had no more issues with sleep so every morning she woke up early, trained, rushed off to the hospital for medical ninja instructing, work late, wait for the Kazekage to leave his office, submit her daily report then rush back to her room.

This being the end of the week though she was going to treat herself. She had not had a run with Gaara yet and she wanted to press her luck with a little spa day time. Not that there hadn't been many times that she didn't have close calls. She had been using all her skills as a ninja to avoid him at all costs.

Her focus came back to her class. Her 6 students surrounded a patient who had fractured leg. One student stood at the center channeling his chakra into the wounded civilian. Sakura watched the flow of chakra carefully ready to jump in at any moment. This helped her drown everything out. Suna. The kazekage. Jogi Hiko. The mysterious hooded figures. Everything. Sakura heard a satisfying crack and the class sighed in relief.

"Good job, Tajin. That was a perfect heal for that fracture. It's amazing how much progress you have made. That technique is 85% faster in healing this kind of injuries." Sakura beamed at this medical ninja, she had been working closely with for the past week.

"Team, after clearing this patient you are done for the day, thank you for all of your hard efforts this week. Tomorrow you will have off. Please rest up and be ready to absorb more the following day!" She was releasing them an hour earlier than usual. She saw multiple excited looks.

"Yes, Sensei!" The team said in unison as the team scurried off to finish up the patients work and follow up.

"Cutting the training off early today?"

Sakura turned to see one of her students. "That's what I just said. Matsuri, right?" Sakura eyed the brown hair kunoichi. Matsuri was nothing special in looks or in skill that Sakura had noticed. The woman stood in dark shirt with a skirt of the same colour which did nothing to flatter her, should I tell her she needs some color in her life? Gaara had hand picked those he had wanted Sakura to teach. Since she wasn't picking up on medical ninjutsu maybe Sakura could teach her about colors instead. Sakura internally shrugged at least she'd learn something.

"Yes. Why are you letting us off early?"

"To let you rest and recover. I stated that as well. You cannot grow if you cannot learn to listen, Matsuri." Sakura picked up the clipboard of the patient that Tajin had fixed the fracture of. Picking up a pen and reviewing it to sign. "What can I help you with, other than repeat myself?"

"You're letting us off early so you can see my Kazekage." Matsuri accusingly crossed her arms.

Well that is an assuming statement. Yours?What makes him yours?

"You own the Kazekage?Like a dog? So you are calling your Kazekage a dog?" Sakura raised an eyebrow.

"No! That's not what I meant!" Matsuri grew flustered. Sakura watched her searched for more words.

"I'll let him know you said that, after I talk with him privately today." Sakura ginned widely flashing her teeth. Sakura signed the document in her hands and exited the hospital. Leaving Matsuri gapping like a fish.

What a pain. Now she sounded like Shikamaru. She chuckled to herself thinking about the lazy ninja. Like she wanted to meet with Gaara anyway! She'd been avoiding him all week! Thinking of Shikamaru brought Temari to mind. She had rarely talked to the sand sibling since they arrived. She had been on missions continuously since returning.

Maybe she would want to go to the bath house with her. This could clear up things being so tense from traveling together. Speaking of the devil, Temari stood close to the entrance of the Kazekage's tower speaking to what looked like an elder from the council. As Sakura got closer she recognized the man from the market. Had the dark presence come from him the other night?

The conversation did not look to be going well as Sakura approached.

"I am not a child, Tōjūrō. I am not going to discuss this further." Sakura watched as the words came out of Temari her body sharpened. Temari was getting angry.

"Temari. This is the fate of the village. You will dilute the bloodline."

"I told you, I will not discuss this any further." Sakura could tell Temari was about at her breaking point with this man. They must have been discussing this for a while.

"Temari," Temari's jaw tightened, "We will discuss this. The village will turn on Gaara, when they do you and Kankuro must be ready to take his-"

"Temari!" Sakura yelled running up to the two. She smacked a soft smile on her face as to hide her real objective. Get Temari away from this man. "We have to hurry! You promised you'd go to the baths with me!" Sakura did a small bow to the elder Temari had called Tōjūrō. "Sir, I will have to steal Temari away from you."

Sakura hooped her arm around Temari's. Sakura could have swore the man glared at her before smiling politely back. She hadn't imagined the dark presence, it reeked off of this man. "Of course, just remember what we discussed Temari."

The man sulked off down the street and the two stood in silence watching him leave.

"Need a drink?" Sakura tucked a escaped lock of hair behind her ear.

"Yes." Should could feel Temari's tense stance release.

"Drinks then bath house?"

"Yes." Temari's tone did not change. Well this worked out better than expected.

"I'll grab a change of clothes and be back in ten minutes."

Temari nodded her head in response. Tōjūrō seemed to have really put her in a bad mood. Sakura took a mental note to try and avoid that topic as much possible. The two split to retrieve the needed items.

Kankuro stood in the shadow of the Kazekage's building. His training had paid off. The two women did not even detect him. This was perfect! Gaara wanted to see Sakura naked and this was the PERFECT opportunity! Kankuro evilly laughed inwardly.