Suna or Later ~

"Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us" - Samuel Smiles

The sun in Suna relentlessly burned brighter to Sakura, perhaps it was the sand that soaked up the callous rays and bounced it back onto her delicate skin. She could feel the beads of sweat align her brow, and small grains could be felt in the heel and arch of her sandals. She never really knew why she disliked sand, well until now.

She causally looked next to her to find Naruto enjoying the overheated blaze, a broad smile spread across his mature face. Though his eyes were closed and hands held behind his back that smirk painted across his face knew all too well Sakura was not enjoying the journey as much as he was. Sakura marveled at the fact that his black clothing only further attracted the scorning heat, but he seemed eager to welcome it.

The silence had trailed for quite some time before he questioned, "Amazing how much of a difference our summer sun is compared to other villages. It feels so much more alive here in Suna, eh Sakura-chan?"

Sakura too drained and irritated to debate, purely agreed. When her eyes finally caught a hold of the village gates she practically jogged the rest of the way, much like a little child. Naruto who did not quicken his pace lagged behind her. As she reached the colossal gates two sand shinobi guards stopped her in her tracks. Colossal shuriken shaped spears aimed at her petite frame.

She could immediately tell she was deemed a threat by the stance that the both took, however before an issue could erupt; Naruto was quick to diffuse the situation.

"Easy guys, I am escorting her..", he calmly stated unfolding his arms and throwing up a goofy thumbs up, accompanied by a cheeky grin causing Sakura to roll her eyes. He was still such a kid sometimes.

Both men lowered their weapons to their side bowing in respect and quickly did the same kind gesture to Sakura.

"Our apologies Ms., we did not know you were accompanying Naruto-san."

They promptly stood swirly tiny amounts of sand as they opened the massive gates to the city, a refreshing breeze stunned Sakura for a moment, it blew right into her face, and a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Though Sakura's hair was not long as it once used to be, the wind allowed the ends to spring alive, strands of hair sprang into different directions. She tucked the loose strands behind her ear uniformly only to find that Naruto was nowhere near her vicinity .She scanned around hastily only to find him still standing at the entrance of the gate.

He stood solemnly hands firmly around his neck again, watching her from afar. He could almost swear he saw one of her smiles that used to take his breath away. It crept to the corners of her lips, not one of those forced or fake smiles, a genuine smile from her heart. From the Sakura he used to know.

"What?", she asked a few moments later, kind of worried by his lack of words. Something about his blue eyes struck her.

"I always liked your hair that way, "he muttered out somewhat hesitantly easing his tense frame.

"What?", she asked signally to him that she hadn't heard what he had said.

He merely whipped his head around slightly to clear his thoughts and called out to her again closing the distance between them, "I really should warn you, the fan girls can be quite…aggressive here."

A small snort escaped, "Fan girls? Naruto you can't seriously tell me you would have fan girls from a different village", gently knocking her hand against him to emphasis that his comment had truly made her laugh.

A smirk rose to his innocent face, "What, Sakura-chan I can't have girls swoon over me?"

She let a untailored smile slip to her face, " I believe you mean Gaara's fan girls, Naruto.", she replied straightening her pose.

This stunned Naruto slightly as he had a sly comment to her reply, but was unable to use it when the wild cry rang throughout the air.

"It's TRUE Naruto-kun has COME to visit!!!!" , a frail shriek followed the overzealous statement.

And as expected a line of girls began to form close to the gate entrance causing other citizens to turn their attention to the commotion. It did not take much to have Sakura spin herself around again to find a devious grin growing across Naruto's face. It was as if his eyes were daring her to say something about the situation.

"Oh! Shut up Baka!", she blurt out huskily annoyed by that stupid grin spreading confidently on his face and her apparent lack of words for the bothersome situation.

When she turned her body to the swoon of girls once again they were heading toward them in full force. Hands extended, swoons of cries each trying to outrun the other to reach Naruto. Sakura was actually a bit afraid to get caught in the uprising of fan girls. She remembered what it was like to be one and she knew it could get ugly quick. She once again shifted to Naruto grin fading as the wild hoard approached.

"I'd run.", he half heartily stated eyes looking at the pack of fan girls other than his pink hair companion.

And she honestly did not know if he was joking or serious, but by the look of things she wasn't going to stand around and find out. Her feet reacted quicker than her mind and she headed in the opposite direction of her teammate.

Sakura felt like she was flying as her legs thumped against the hard sand. Her heart was beating wildly and as crazy as it sounded she enjoyed the rush of the wind against her warm face. She could feel the tense muscles and the slight ache in her thighs, but it only caused her to push forward one step after the other.

She had thought she would ever enjoy running again thanks to Gai-sensei, but this was different. This was calming, in some strange way. The ache, the wind rushing at her and perhaps the familiarity of what it was like to be a kid again, though she had to admit it was not Naruto back then that was the one being chased. She shook her head humorously at this, my how times had changed.

She turned a sharp corner and decided it was far enough, she knew after all the fan girls would not be chasing her. She leaned against the wall to catch her breath cursing the sun for gazing down so brightly. The Hokage tower was now easily visible as it stood proudly in the middle of the village. Sakura pondered whether she should just head over or wait for Naruto, who knew if he would escape. Then again she was sure she wouldn't go unnoticed and if another scene like the one from the gates unfolded she would be in trouble. Not that she was unsure if she could handle it, the problem was how she would handle it. She had to admit her short temper had probably also been gifted to her by the Legendary Saanin. Punch now ask later kind of deal. She was torn whether to wait for Naruto or venture on her own.

In the mist of debating, her eyes wondered to a decorative shop across the street, something had caught her eye and she wasn't leaving until she had a good look at it. She crossed the street swiftly and stopped in front of the large glass window. She brought her hand up to the window as if she could reach out and touch it, when a voice broke her thoughts.

"Beautiful isn't it dear."

Sakura lowered her head to meet a petite old woman slightly hunched over with a kind smile. The shopkeeper took a step back amazed.

"Oh my, the gem is the exact color of your eyes my dear."

Sakura motioned back toward the gem necklace; it truly was one of a kind. In all her years of life she had never seen one as beautiful as this, and it truly was the exact color of her eyes. She lowered her head to get a better look at it.

It was a jade green, with tiny diamonds lining the outer rim, it was oval shaped and sat neatly upon a black box.

Suna was well known for their exquisite gems but Sakura had never imagined one as elegant as this. She wanted to try it on, but before she got ahead of herself she did have to ask one thing.

"How much is it?", she questioned curiously eyes never leaving the window.

The sweet old lady thought for a moment as to recollect how much they necklace was really worth, "Only fifty million yen", she sweetly coaxed.

Sakura felt her knees go weak, "Fi-fifty million yen?!", she screamed thunderously as it caused others to stop and look at her in confusion

She blushed slightly as a few set of eyes landed on her, the warmth of the sun and the blush of her own skin was making it rather excruciating. She took a step away from the window, knowing full well she would probably never have that kind of money any time soon if ever.

"It is quite beautiful, just not affordable. I'd have to catch at least four high S-rank criminals.", she whispered to herself.

" Sakura?"

She motioned toward the familiar voice only to find Naruto leaning against the rigid wall, still seeming in one intact piece.

"When I said run I was merely joking though I'm not sure what they would have done if they found out you were with me " , he stated scratching the side of his temple in contemplation of his newly developed thought.

There was a defaming silence when he realized how wrong his words came out; he hastily tried to correct himself of his embarrassing statement.

"I mean not with me, you aren't with me. You know… you are here with me…in Suna…as a guest. They might think you were here, as in here with me…", Naruto quickly stopped talking as he felt like he was babbling like a buffoon.

Sakura covered a laugh, "They would have my head on a stick, wouldn't they? How did you manage to…"

She stopped mid-sentence realizing how handy his father's jutsu really was, "The yellow flash."

This earned an equally strident laugh from Naruto, "Were you…buying something?" He pushed himself from the wall and began to approach her.

He moved toward the window, when Sakura stopped him placing a hand on his shoulder causing him to stop abruptly and turn to look at her, she quickly removed her hand. He would think she was out of her mind for even gazing at something that expensive. .

"Oh no no, window shopping. Just window shopping Naruto"

Before he could dispel any more questions, she hurried him off toward the tower, not looking back at the mesmerizing necklace or the old woman with an all knowing smile spread across her old wrinkled face.

When the gates to the tower were opened the air inside was far cooler; the instant change in temperature caused a slight chill to run up her back. It had been quite some time since she had been here; it almost seemed like a lifetime ago. She gazed around the halls as moments flashed through head.

"Well if it isn't the guest of honor. You know you could have arrived a few days prior, the dinner party is tonight, that doesn't give you too much time to scope out the girls." , there was a slight bit of edge in her calm voice.

The pair turned to face Temari, famous fan nowhere in sight. She had her hands crossed above her chest giving her a demanding posture. She unfolded them and engulfed Naruto in a mild hug, surprising Sakura. Temari was forever grateful to the boy who had changed Gaara from a monster. He risked his life to save someone that she cared about, and for her nothing meant more than that.

Temari likewise however was quite surprised to see Sakura. She had not been expected Naruto to come at all, he hated fancy parties.

"Sakura it is an honor to have you. Naruto didn't tell me he was bringing a date." , she somewhat playfully insinuated

This however caused both Naruto and Sakura to become startled, they were stumbling over their words to clarify.

"We, she and I aren't..", he stared

"Only friends Temari…", she began both stopping mid explanation as they were talking over each other.

Temari gazed back and forth between the blushing duo, who were avoiding any eye contact with Temari, but before she could comment on the matter the grand doors to the tower burst open.

"Here we go again…I'd step back…", Temari stated grabbing a hold of Sakura's hand and hauling her near a corner, as a thunderous noise erupted the room.

Sakura covered her ears with her hands and ducked as large quantities of sand were being tossed across the room. She quickly rose to her feet afraid that they were being attacked.

"Naruto..", she whispered afraid for her blond companion in the mist of all the chaos.

She eyed Temari only to see if she had reacted the same to the attack, only to find the sand shinobi raising her arms in the air to cheer on the noise.

Sakura looked over to find Gaara and Naruto engaged in a sparing match right in the middle of the room. She eased her stance as she slid down the wall stopping only when she sat on the marble floor.

"Bad habit, but who could argue with two jinchuurikies?" , Temari explained as she turned her attention back from Sakura.

After both exhausted men ceased their show of power, Sakura poked her head around the corner. Green orbs still astonishment by the display of power from both men. Gaara's bright eyes motioned from Sakura to Naruto, as if he was trying to read minds. He apparently was not aware that she would be accompanying Naruto.

He gave Naruto a slight look to which no response was needed before striding over to Sakura. He had heard of the current state of the village of sand's medic friend.

"Sakura", his voice smooth.

"Suna welcomes you"

A/N:

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