A/N sorry for literally disappearing for 4 years, life is wild. But recently re-read this story and I really want to complete it. If you're still reading this, thank you for your patience and support. Please R&R

3 Shinko

"Speaking in Japanese"

Thoughts

[Speaking in English]

Inner Sakura/Gaara etc

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Recap ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gaara rolled over, and removed the bedsheets from his head, looking at his cousin.

"What's your plan?" He inquired.

"It's quite simple actually, you challenge Sasuke to a one on one fight, and winner takes all. Meaning whoever wins gets both his territory and that of his rival's and the loser get noting, and has to admit defeat, and the loser cannot court Sakura."

Gaara blinked at him. "So basically instead of using Sakura to determine who wins or loses, we just have a fist fight."

"Exactly, you fight like two men are supposed to. None of Pein's petty little mind games. Just straight to the point."

Gaara nodded. It made sense.

"And it still adheres to the conditions of your deal with Pein," Sasori continued "All you have to do is get Sasuke to surrender Taka's territories to us, and if you defeat him he would have to, he would lose hi pride and his right to be the leader of Taka."

Gaara sat up in bed as the gears in his brain started turning. "You're right,"

Then another problem dawned on him "but how does this fix things with Sakura?"

This time it was Sasori's turn to sigh. "Well, you can't force her to date you, and she's not a trophy to be won. It is her choice whether she wants to forgive you or not, what you have to do is swallow your pride and ask for that forgiveness."

Gaara nodded, finally knowing what he had to do.

Watch your back Uchiha

Sakura made her way back home and flopped on her bed, leaving her overnight bag from Ino's at the foot of her bed. She stretched and sighed, rolling onto her back and staring up at the white ceiling above her. The afternoon sun sent golden rays of light across her room. Sakura could not shake the nauseated feeling in her gut. She was betrayed. Made a fool of. Used. She didn't know what was worse, what had happened with Yahiko or this. To make matters worse the fact that Pein probably approved of Gaara's plan made Sakura want to vomit. Why were boys so vile? The ache in her chest soon turned into molten hot rage that coursed through her veins. She needed to work some of her frustrations out.

Sakura decided to go to the local gym and work out in order to alleviate the white-hot rage that was threatening to consume her. She needed to hit something. She threw on some simple workout clothes; a pair of black leggings, a green sports bra and a loose light purple tank top. She then packed a simple white tee and jean shorts to wear later, as well as a water bottle, towel, gym shoes, socks and toiletries. After throwing on her burgundy and pink windbreaker Sakura hefted her bag onto her shoulder and headed downstairs.

"Kakahi?" She called out hoping her uncle was home. He hadn't greeted her when she came in but she assumed he was taking an afternoon nap. She heard a faint reply from the kitchen and walked toward the room. Her uncle was there, back turned to her as he was stirring a pot of what looked to be soup.

"Can I borrow your gym membership card?" She asked

"Why don't you just get your own membership, so we won't have to keep going back and forth?" He replied, raising an eyebrow at her as he turned from his cooking. Sakura rolled her eyes but couldn't help the grin on her face, the burning in her veins subsiding at the good-natured tone of her guardian. When he wasn't being silly, Uncle Kakashi was a very good parent figure.

"If I get my own then I'd have to pay for it, and since you're my guardian you'd be the one paying. If I just used your card, we both get to use the gym for the price of one card. Besides when was the last time you worked out?" She quipped

Kakashi's eyebrow twitched at her last statement.

"I'll have you know I'm in tip top physical shape. But you're right. It's in my wallet somewhere on my nightstand." He turned around and grabbed a jar form the spice rack and poured its contents into the pot.

"I meant to ask, why are you back so early? I was expecting a call asking to stay another night at Ino's." Kakashi began stirring the soup again.

Sakura was glad that he couldn't see her grimace. Should she tell him what happened? No, then he'd want Gaara's head on a plate. But what should she care? It's not like anything was going to happen between them anymore. Not after what he'd done. She felt the nagging feeling of her Inner disagreeing

You still like him, hell you pretty much lo-

Shut up! Sakura thought Why the hell would I even CONSIDER seeing him again after his betrayal!

Maybe it's not as bad as you think, I mean we haven't even talked to him about it

Who's side are you even on?! What's there to talk about anyway?

Hey don't blame me, I'm just a projection of another self in your psyche

Ugh you're such a-

Sakura's inner quarreling was interrupted when she heard Kakashi call her name.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his forehead crinkling with a frown of worry.

Sakura sighed and weighed her options of telling Kakashi or not.

"If I tell you will you promise not to freak out?"

Kakashi turned the stove off and gave his niece his undivided attention.

"I can't make any promises but I'll try my best."

Sakura nodded and proceeded to explain how Gaara is apparently working for Pein/Yahiko, and Sasuke is their rival and Gaara and probably Pein using her to get back at Sasuke.

Kakashi was silent the entire time she explained the situation. "And you haven't kicked Gaara's ass for this yet?" he tried to hide the surprise in his tone.

Sakura sighed. "I'm surprised too. It's just that… I really like Gaara, or- liked him."

Kakashi sighed and nodded. Cursing his poor niece's bad luck. She had fallen for not one but two delinquents and associated ones non the less.

"I'm sorry things have been rough for you, especially since they seemed to be looking up once you moved here." Kakashi said, placing a comforting hand on his niece's shoulder.

"Although I don't approve of his… activities…" Kakashi began "I think there may be some value in confronting Gaara. At least to maybe give yourself a sense of closure. And maybe it wasn't his idea to hurt you, you did say that Yahiko is his boss."

Sakura frowned. She was still too hurt to be thinking of giving that jerk the benefit of the doubt. She was tired of being played like a fool.

"Just think about it," Kakashi said before giving her shoulder one more reassuring squeeze. He then stood and said he'd get the membership card for her.

Sakura's thoughts and feeling swirled around inside her like a hurricane. What if Kakashi was right and there was some sort of misunderstanding? What if Gaara was just as bad as Yahiko and wanted to use her? She remembered the way his jade eyes flashed with pain when he saw her in Ino's kitchen. Maybe he was sorry. Maybe she should give him a chance to explain himself.

But she was still hurt, she was still angry. She needed some time to sort out how to really felt about Gaara and then approach the situation.

Kakashi returned to the kitchen, wallet in hand as he rifled through the various cards he had. "Ah here it is!" He exclaimed triumphantly, handing Sakura the bright red and blue gym membership card. He then flipped through some bills he had, handing Sakura some money.

"I should be giving you an allowance anyway," He shrugged.

Sakura smiled and thanked her Uncle, kissing his cheek as she headed out.

"You sure you don't want a ride there?" Kakashi asked "It's going to get dark soon."

"I'll take my board there and I'll call you to pick me up if I'm too tired to board back," she called over her shoulder as she grabbed her longboard and opened the front door.

Once her feet hit the sidewalk Sakura was off. The warm air was beginning to get a slight chill as it transitioned from afternoon to evening. The sun was lower in the sky and cast warm rays of orange and deep pink across the sky.

Sakura passed by the school as she got closer to the plaza where the gym was. She thought about asking the girls to join her but decided it would be better to clear her head alone.

When she arrived, Sakura showed the front desk clerk her membership card as she walked into the automatic doors. She nodded at Sakura as she passed into the doors that led to the locker rooms. She knew that Kakashi used the last 4 digits on his member card as his pin to his locker. She opened it and stuffed her bag in, after taking about her gym shoes and putting her regular ones in. She grabbed her earphones and phone from her jacket pocket before placing it on top of the bag and closing the locker. She made her way into the main room. There were the usual treadmills and other workout machines, and at the back was a small boxing ring. Sakura walked towards there, hoping someone would spar with her since all the punching bags were taken. There was a box of gloves near the edge of the ring, Sakura took a pair of red ones and began adjusting the wrist straps when she saw Sasuke and two other guys enter the room from the back door. One was around the same height as Sasuke with pale skin and white hair with a slight blue tint that reached his jawline with a choppy fringe. His eyes were a light purple and his teeth were pointy and shark like. The second guy Sakura couldn't recognize was about a head taller than the other two with spiky orange hair and amber eyes, he was slightly more tanned than Sasuke and the white haired guy.

Sasuke's eyes locked with Saukra's as he climbed under the ropes and into the boxing ring.

"You box?" He asked raising a brow slightly with his signature smirk.

Sakura narrowed her eyes as she replied

"Don't you remember me boxing you upside the head a couple weeks ago? Or did I give you brain damage?" She wasn't necessarily annoyed at the Uchiha but his tone came off as mocking to her.

The white haired guy burst out into loud laughing. "Woah Sasuke, you telling me she kicked your ass! Oh I would have paid to see that shit!" He grabbed onto the orange haired guy's shoulder as he was laughing so hard he couldn't stand straight.

"Shut it Suigetsu," Sasuke said sending him a glare. He turned back to Sakura

"You alone?" He asked her, glancing quickly behind her for a shock of red hair.

Sakura's jaw clenched and Sasuke noticed.

"Yeah, what about it?" She countered. Sasuke shrugged noncommittally.

"I was just wondering if your guard dog was around."

"Gaara isn't my guard dog," Sakura snapped stepping into the ring, silently challenging the Uchiha

"Sorry, I meant your boyfriend," Sasuke let the disdain drip from his lips as he uttered the word

"We're not…" Sakura paused. What was Gaara to her now? "He's not my boyfriend." she concluded. It wasn't a lie, yet something in her gut tugged when she said so.

Sasuke tried to hide the smirk when he saw the turmoil flash in Sakura's eyes. It was obvious they had some sort of falling out.

This is where we can get on her good side now. Sasuke's inner chimed in

Hn.

Remember, be considerate, but not a suck up.

I know how to interact with people

Yes, but can you do it well? His Inner chuckled. Sasuke decided to ignore him.

"So you wanna spar?" He asked knowing full well that Sakura needed to blow off some steam by the looks of it.

The rosette cracked her neck indicating that she was ready.

Both put up their arms for blocking and slowly began circling the ring, silently waiting for the other to throw the first punch. Sakura decided to go for it, she leapt forward and swung her right arm out, aiming to break Sasuke's block. He ducked and weaved away from the blow, making Sakura catch herself and adjust her stance.

"You think she stands a chance?" Suigetsu asked Jugo.

He shrugged "Something tells me he won't knock her out, he seems to be pulling punches." He replied observing his team leader.

"Yeah?" Suigetsu looked closer at the two, both dodging and throwing punches but never seeming to land one serious enough to end the match.

"But she's holding back too," Jugo continued "I think if they both fought seriously it would be very close."

Suigetsu raised a brow. He highly doubted that the small pink haired girl could take down Sasuke, he thought she couldn't even take him down.

"This is probably his way of flirting," Suigetsu snorted "He probably can't talk to her like a normal guy, I don't blame him though, she is pretty cute."

Sakura was starting to get tired. She had been holding back since it was a friendly sparring match, but Sasuke was as skilled as everyone had said. If it weren't for her stamina she would have been done for awhile ago. It had been quite some time since she had sparred with anyone. After the accident he had to recover and take care of family business, then she was moving in with Kakashi.

"You're pretty good," she said to Sasuke trying to hide her heavy breathing.

"I was just thinking that about you," He replied. He wasn't lying, he was genuinely surprised that she was holding out this long, Suigetsu never lasted more than a few moments and Jugo refused to spar. The most action he had was jumping people who went into Taka territory and those instances were getting fewer because of him.

I wonder if she has good stamina in other areas His inner thought darkly. While he was distracted with trying to answer his Inner, Sakura caught him off guard with a keenly placed left hook. Sasuke staggered for a moment before trying to return a blow when she caught him again with an uppercut and a jab. Sasuke stepped back and re positioned his arms in a better block. Sakura adjusted her stance as well,switching for offence to defense. Sasuke came at her with a left hook then faked her out and caught her with a jab in the gap in her blocking arms. She stumbled and he want for another hit to her face, she bent backwards dodging his fist. The lights of the gym flickered. Both Sasuke and Sakura looked around as the patrons were filing out of the room.

"Oi! Fifteen minutes until closing!" Suigetsu called from where he and Jugo were lifting weights. "We're gonna start heading back now Sasuke!" He nodded and then turned to Sakura.

"Why don't we call this a draw?" He said

Sakura gave him a smile smile and nodded. She felt considerably better after their little match.

"You want a ride home?" Sasuke asked her as he began taking off his gloves.

Considerate, nice job. His inner patted him on the back

Hn, also a good way for me to get to figure out what happened with her a Gaara

And for us to get closer to her. She's vulnerable.

Sakura considered his offer, checking the time on the wall clock. It was almost eight.

"Alright," she replied "Let me change and get my stuff,"

"Meet me out front," Sasuke said as he exited the ring and headed towards the locker room.

Sakura went to the opposite side to Kakashi's locker and took out her stuff. She headed to the women's section for showering and changing. She quickly rinsed off the layer of sweat on her skin and used some of the strawberry body wash she brought. When she was done with her shower, Sakura toweled herself off and put on the clothes she packed. Tucking the white tee into her high waisted jean shorts. She threw on her jacket and outdoor shoes and slung her duffel bag over her shoulder. She exited the building and saw Sasuke waiting for her, leaning against a black Audi.

"You drive?" She asked quirking and brow at him.

"Yeah, got it for my birthday," He said gesturing to the car

"Aren't you too young to drive?" she asked warily as he opened the passenger door for her.

"Many rules don't apply to me" He stated matter of factly. Sakura was getting the impression that he was from a powerful family. It would explain a lot. That's how he could afford all of the expensive martial arts classes, his car and driving at their age. But this made her wonder, if his family was powerful and most likely rich, why would Sasuke be in a gang?

"Your parents must be loaded" Sakura remarked, trying to keep her tone casual and uninterested. The last thing she wanted was for him to get a big head and think she was into him.

Cuz you're into Gaara Her inner teased

NO! I just don't like when he acts so cocky. She defended.

You can't lie to me dumb dumb, I AM you.

"We're comfortable," Sasuke replied as he started the car.

"That's what rich people say," Sakura quipped. Sasuke smiled ever so slightly. Sakura noticed how his lips jerked upwards, similar to how Gaara's would.

"You hungry?" He asked as they pulled out of the plaza.

Sakura was about to say she was fine when her stomach growled.

"I'll take that as a yes," Sasuke said flatly. "There's a place not far from here that has decent food." Sakura felt like the decision was already made she she merely shrugged.