Note: This story is getting really popular, who would have thought? I thought the style I was writing in would cause confusion so not many people would like it but it seems to have had the opposite effect. I'm happy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor do I own the Naruto storyline.

Chapter Seven:

Tears Fall to the Ground

Bravery.

Fear.

Funny how those two mix together as you face something most dangerous in your life, it's equally as funny to think that these two emotions that often mix together- mean two opposite things. They make me wander sometimes.

The truth is I wander about a lot of things lately that I never really wandered about before.

Its strange isn't?

Its strange how we think about things we never really thought about before when something awful happens.

It depresses me at times.

At the times it depresses me I wander why- the thoughts that plague me now in my dreams- never plagued me before.

Then it irritates me to think that I could have ever been so shallow- that I could ignore what was going around me so much that I never realized these things…

These things that burn themselves inside my mind and will now never leave me.

These things that make tears swell in my eyes even now- two years after the fact.

But as I was saying- they had made him bleed- one thing that was not easy and was practically impossible.

One part of me was angry and wanted nothing more than to tear these rogue ninja's apart, but another part of me was afraid- if they could touch him then I had no chance.

I watched for a minute as two of them advanced on him from opposite directions, my feet- by whatever power that possessed them- moved in an instant flash and I found myself facing a very surprised ninja.

"Just what do you think you are doing girl?" the leader of the pack asked me stopping the two that were about to attack my newest teammate.

I didn't need to look at Gaara to know that he was looking at me, I could feel his gaze upon my back, "By order of the Hokage of the Leaf Village, he and the rest of the sand ninjas are under the protection of his name."

To me the statement had sounded a little to confusing but it was the only thing my mouth would utter- I was shaking from both fear and anger hence my normal speech was alter somewhat.

"And what makes you think we will follow through with that order?" another man in the pack inquired stepping forward, a long sword in his bandaged wrapped hands.

"Sakura," Gaara snapped at me- his voice strained- I had assumed- from pain, "Get out of here."

"And what?" I had asked him whirling around, my rage unhidden, "Leave you alone? You're wounded!"

I looked up at the tree branches at where I guessed Naruto and Kankuro were, then asked of the leader, "Does that mean that you will not comply with the Hokage's order?"

"Does this answer your question?" his response made no sense at that moment until I saw a wall of sand explode from the ground, then I knew he had attack.

Not a good move on his part.

"FINE!" I yelled my rage reaching its boiling point- I motioned my left hand so that my index finger and my thumb formed an L shape and held it above my head signaling Naruto and his partner to help us.

They both jumped down from the birches then I signaled Temari and Sasuke to come out as well this had not been my original plan but it worked all the same.

They had the men surrounded within minutes and I could not hide the smile that had snaked its way onto my lips.

"Alright, alright," the leader backed down, "Retreat."

The three ninja's he had lead vanished but not the leader he still remained in front of me his eyes holding some kind of mischief in them.

We must of stood there for ten minutes our eyes locked on each other until I felt a sharp pain in my right shoulder, I glanced at the spot that was aching to find that metal had pierced it.

I don't know how they had managed to get through our defenses, but I should have known that it had been to easy.

How could have I been so dense?

I don't really know after all they had managed to injure Gaara- what made me think they would give up so easily was beyond me.

As I began to fall to the ground, I felt someone catch me and another person, Naruto I believe- scream my name out.