---Six years later---

Today I would meet my new sensei with my new team. Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke. I couldn't wait until I arrived, I had so slow my pace several times to keep from showing up all sweaty and gross.

Gaara seemed to think that I had focused my mind to much on my new teammate, Sasuke, but he thought like that anytime I was around boys.

"Boys run only on hormones." He had said. I just laughed. We were the best of friends ever since that day at the school. I still haven't seen him though, but he is always there for me. Although I wish he would talk to me around other people so they would believe me.

They all say that I'm crazy and should be put on some kind of medication. I just turn and go talk to Gaara, almost to prove to myself that he's real. But, what I found so interesting was, that no matter where I was, he would always be around for me to talk to.

When I was walking toward the school room that I had been told me meet my sensei in, I heard that oh so familiar voice coming from somewhere above me.

"I don't know why you're in a hurry, you're just going to be stuck that the Uzumaki idiot." I smirked to myself, today I felt like irking Gaara just a bit.

"But it's not him who I'm looking forward to meeting today." I grinned. "Sasuke is on my team, and is the hottest guy ever." Gaara knew I liked him a little, but I guess is was a sore subject, since sand started to follow me as a I walked. Gaara has the amazing ability to control sand. Something about his birth, he had never really talked about himself that much. He said there was nothing to tell.

"Must we talk about him? He annoys me." Gaara said angrily. "But I thought I annoyed you? Are you replacing me?" I smiled really big, he would know I was teasing. That's what was so great about him.

"Hn." Gaara 'hn-ed'. I never really understood what he meant when he... um... said that? Was it even a word? I shook myself from my thoughts as I approached the right classroom. Inside were Naruto and Sasuke in the middle of a glaring contest. I just rolled my eyes and walked to a seat in the front.

After awhile, Naruto and Sasuke began a shouting contest, I just plopped my head on the desk and prayed to whoever was up 'there', to please end the torture soon.

I blessed the person who answered me when they quieted down, now Naruto was sneaking over the door with an eraser in hand.

"Naruto, what are you doing?" I asked him, slightly annoyed. He just grinned and placed the eraser over the door. "That will teach our sensei to be late!" He hopped back to his seat near the window and, for once, sat still.

tick tock

tick tock

tick tock

"That clock on the wall is getting very annoying..." I jumped out of my seat at the sound of Gaara. 'What's he doing? Can't they hear?' I snuck a peak at my teammates and, thankfully, they hadn't moved at all.

"Gaara, what are you doing?" I hissed softly around me, not know what direction he was in. I heard him chuckle. "They can't hear me Sakura, I'm talking in your mind."

'How can he do that?' I thought myself, at least I thought I did.

"It's something I was born with." (1)

'Really? Interesting. How come you never used it before?'

"There was never a need."

I snapped out of my conversation, when the door opened, dropping Naruto's prank right on the person who I assumed was our sensei.

"I can't believe he fell for that." I said more to Gaara then anyone else. "Indeed." Naruto just laughed until he fell out of his chair. Our 'sensei' ran his hand through his silver hair to shake out the chalk dust before he walked fully into the room, and stared at us for a few moments. (2) Strange, he wore a black mask over his face, and his hitai-ate covered his left eye. How mysterious.

"Yo." He said with a small wave. "I'm Hatake Kakashi, your new sensei." Great, this guy was to be my teacher? He wouldn't be able to win at hide-and-seek! How were we supposed to learn how defend ourselves? Naurto seemed to think the same thing, for he complained loudly for a long time. I just spaced out until Kakashi-sensei took us outside.

"All right, I want to hear your name, your likes and dislikes, and your dreams."

'This guy must be crazy! There is no way that I'm saying anything!'

"You, with the pink hair. You can go first."

'Shit.'

"Well... My name is Haruno Sakura. I like..." 'Well, I can't really say what I like now can I?' To throw them all off, I forced a blush and glanced over at Sasuke. It's not that I didn't like him. I did, I just would rather not say what I liked out loud. So I continued with the next question.

"... And I dislike people who don't believe in others, and my dream is to become a great kunoichi."

"Is that really your dream, Sakura?" I hesitated, but why shouldn't that be my dream? I needed to become strong, I hated being weak. I just wanted to be like everyone else.

'Yes. It is.'

"I can help you." I was shocked. Gaara, help me? He'd never offered to help me with anything before, this was great! I could get training from Kakashi-sensei, and Gaara! But wait...

'You can? How? Why?' No way it could be that easy!

"I want to help you reach you're dream. I could teach you many things." I bit my lip, why shouldn't I? Gaara is my best friend!

'You promise?' He chuckled

"Promise." I smiled.

"SAKURA-CHAN!" I jumped up when Naruto shouted in my ear. "Naurto! You idiot! That's my ear!" He grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. "Ne, sorry Sakura-chan. I called you're name a few times and you didn't even move!" I blushed when I realized that I'd missed the rest of our teams fellowship time. Oh well, right? It's not that important.

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When Kakashi-senesi dismissed us, I rushed to the nearest training ground, hoping Gaara could train me now so I would be somewhat ready for tomorrow's train with my team.

"Gaara! I know you're there! Let's start! I'm ready!"

Silence.

'That's weird...' So I tried again. "Gaara! This isn't funny!"

Only the wind answered.

A twig broke to my left, I quickly snapped my head in that direction, only to see nothing. 'It was just nothing! Ha ha, just your imagination, Sakura. Get a grip!' Now leaves to my right were rustling, I turned all the way around, my eyes scanning the foliage surrounding me. 'See? You're just paranoid.'

Great, now the leaves in front of me were moving. What ever kind of joke this was, it wasn't funny! The rustling grew louder, and louder.

"Gaara! For the last time! Stop fooling around!"

Two branches were pushed aside to reveal...

Naruto pulling Sasuke.

I slumped my shoulders as my slight adrenaline wound down. Naruto just grinned like the idiot he was.

"Ne, Sakura-chan. What are you doing?" I just rolled my eyes and muttered, "Training." His face was priceless. "But, we're allowed to go home. Why are you training?"

I was about to answer him when Sasuke interrupted our conversation.

"Hey Sakura, who were you talking to?" I smirked, telling them might make them leave so Gaara would come. It's not like they would believe me anyway.

"I'm talking to my best friend Gaara!" I said, giving them the creepiest grin that I could.

"But there's no one here." Naruto pointed out.

"Well, I have never seen him. But he's there." Sasuke just stared at me like I was crazy, and Naruto squinted. "Ohhh." Was all they said.

"Ne, Sakura-chan. Can we train with you?" Inwardly, I was ranting and raving, with the occasional, 'Nooooo!' and 'When hell freezes over!' thrown in there. So, I just backed up slowly. "Gee, Naruto. I would love too! But look at the time," I glanced down at my wrist, hoping he wouldn't notice I didn't have a watch. "I should be getting home! Bye!" I turned and ran full force toward my house.

However, I didn't notice jade green eyes that followed me all the way home.

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AN: I hope this was longer. Sorry about taking so long to update. A lot of stuff has happened. Thanks to Gin-inu for being my first reveiwer.

(1) I'm not sure if Gaara has this ability, but in my story he does!

(2) Also, I haven't seen the episode where they met Kakashi, so I don't know if that's how it went or not. Please forgive me!

Also thanks too: Gin-inu, Heartlessful, JUCHKO, Mind At Loss, terra, DarkAngelB, SweetAssassin, SilverSimoneLady, Magical-Inkable-Pen-Of-The-Rubber-Duckies-Who-Lives-On-Durly-Lane-With-The-Muffin-Man-Duck-And-His-Muffin-Friends-Who-Rock-Solid-Rock, Shawn-chan, moonshine and mustard seed, LostsoulofRegret, Dark Pyro Kiarra, Hao'sAnjul, Gina01, w1cked angel, Silent Kunoichi aka. Fiona McKinnon, AnimeSenko, wolf girl88, windborne, Ali-Baba123, Blizzie-chan, Heartless Ghost, and chobbix

You guys are wonderful for taking time to read my story, I really appreciate it. A generally asked question was if the characters would grow older, as you can see by this chapter, they will. The next chapter will be then they are either 18 or 20.

Preview:

"Sasuke! Why are you here?"

"Yes," A shadowed figure stepped in front of Sakura. "Why are you here?"

Review, flame if you wish. They just make me mad, then add to my depression.

Also, I may not be able to update every week or two. You see, my sister is having a baby soon, so I'll be living with her for awhile.

Thanks again.

blackXheart