Konohagakure

7 years earlier

Sakura closed her eyes and let Konoha's breezy wind blew against strands of her silky pink hair. She patted her growing belly and thanked God for letting her be in Konoha. Suna was hot enough to cause her mood swings every so hour. After a few hours of debating and arguing, Sakura was relieved that Gaara had agreed to let them spend her pregnancy days in Konoha.

"Sakura!"

She jolted a little hearing her name be called all so sudden.

"Ino… don't scare me like that."

"Its not advised for a kunoichi to not be alert you know?"

"Yes I know… but I'm taking a time off from being a kunoichi."

"That is a lame excuse. Once a kunoichi always a kunoichi! So, where are we going?"

Sakura rolled her eyes after hearing Ino's 'once a kunoichi always a kunoichi' since Ino was the first one out of the rookie nine who stopped being 'active for mission'.

Tugging Ino's arm, Sakura began walking to the eastern side of Konoha and this is when she decided to drop the bomb.

"We are going to Tanaka Satsuki's boutique. I have an appointment."

Ino let her arm go immediately, "You what? Are you trying to say that your wedding kimono is actually designed by Tanaka Satsuki?"

Tanaka Satsuki was a well-known designer from the Wind country. Famous for her feminine yet strong style of designs and her ability to make her designs suit different climate and condition, she became the first ever designer to have branches in three different villages. Sakura and Ino used to stare at Tanaka's display window not daring to go inside and getting a seizure from seeing the price tags.

Sakura smirked loudly "I know you are going to go ballistic on this one Pig. That's why I asked you to come with me."

"You are one cruel whore Sakura. I hope you burn in hell….not wearing Tanaka's dress of course. Its way too precious"

Sakura laughed at hearing Ino's sadistic sense of humor. "Whatever pig, I know you love me. Anyway, it's kind of annoying because I have to keep coming to the boutique to get measured since my body keeps changing"

"You mean kept on getting fatter and fatter?"

"INO!"

"I'm kidding, really!". Ino laughed and gave her best friend a reassuring look. One that says 'at least you are getting married' kind of look.

They stopped at an exquisite looking building with several mannequins dressed up in the most beautiful kimonos and yukatas under the sun. Ino's jaws dropped into awe, "Sakura, this is where the daughters of feudal lords shops! Completing 5 S-rank missions won't even be enough to pay for one kimono!"

Before Sakura had the chance to explain herself, a loud thump landed behind them complimented with an intense and angry chakra.

"I thought you were staying at home," said a deep stern voice. Sakura sighed and turn to answer her worried significant other. "Yes, but not until I realized that I have to do something very important."

Ino moved aside not wanting to be in between a lover's quarrel or be anywhere near an angry Gaara.

"What could be so important for you to leave without giving me a message?"

'What a waste, these beautiful kimonos are going to be buried in sand!' Ino sighed as she stepped even further away from her friend's side.

Noticing that Ino's presence was no longer near her Sakura shook her head, 'Gee, thanks Ino for backing me up on this one'. "Well it's quite important you see… because I have to, well not have to. But I need to get my measurement done" Sakura felt so stupid when she heard herself stutter.

"Measure for what?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Noticing that Gaara's pale face looked so tense what with his jaws clenched and brows furrowed, Sakura realized that he must be damn worried for her.

"For our wedding. That's why I didn't want to tell you!" Sakura pointed at the boutique behind her. Looking at her apologetic face and her half-pouted lips, Gaara began to ease up a little. Pulling her to him and looking down at her he dully said, "Fine. You don't have to be so… clandestine about it. Kankurou would have told me you went here."

Sensing that the angry chakra has faded away, Ino stepped closer to the two of them, "Gaara-kun, aah gomen gomen, Sakura is always like that. Secretive and everything ha-ha-ha-ha… but what does Kankurou have to do with all this."

Glaring at Ino's use of her overfriendly 'kun' he replied "Kankurou is…somewhat…close to Tanaka Sayomi, Satsuki's daughter." Gaara snickered as Kankurou's voice of 'Sayomi is hot stuff' resonant in his head, "We believe that the family deserve the best and Sakura deserve the best. The Tanaka's cater to our need."

"Oh yes, I totally agree!" Ino nodded her head vigorously.

Sakura laughed looking at her friend. "Well, we better go in now Ino, and you…" staring up to meet his jade eyes, "stay outside," she finished with a whisper and a squeeze to his strong strapping arms.

Grunting yet obeying, Gaara leaned against the store window.

"Be quick."

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Ino looked at the paper in her hands. None of her memories of that day had helped her track down the sly villains who were after Sakura.

After the incident, Ino had retrained her self and put her name in for missions. She is now a member of team on a long-term mission of investigating. Sakura's incident was too weird because none of them knew what the motive was.

Ino looked at the words at her paper. Everything was starting to get blurry and that is when she realized that it hurts her so much. Tears were swelling in her eyes and the blonde kunoichi made no attempt to wipe it away.

'Baka… forehead. I miss you…'

She remembered Sakura was 5 months pregnant on her wedding day and she looked so radiant with her pink locks falling against her pale green kimono. She even remembered how Gaara's face looked like when he saw his future wife. Ino was pretty sure Gaara's heart skipped three beats.

Suddenly Ino felt rough hands wiped her tears and whispered, "Ino, there has been a development."

She looked up, "Shikamaru… really? Our people acquired new intelligence?"

Wiping her tears with both of his thumb he nodded and smiled caringly, "Yes".

Immediately sitting up and putting Shikamaru's hands away, Ino tried to regain her professional composure back.

Sighing dejectedly, Shikamaru produced two sets of scrolls from his jounin vest and laid it down for Ino to read.

Mouthing the words on the scrolls in top speed, Ino's eyes landed on the important bit of the scroll. "This is impossible. It couldn't be Naruto or Sasuke. It must be Sakura"

"Yeah... It's troublesome…" he said idly "because we don't know yet who they are and their current location."

"We have to request permission from Tsunade to go to Sunagakure and warn the Kazekage!"

"It's done. We are leaving in two…"

Before Shikamaru even finished his sentence, Ino had leapt up the window jumping from roof to roof.

Better tell Neji we are leaving….

Shikamaru rolled the scroll back and put it back into his pocket. It's content still ringing soundly in his head.

Intelli-scroll kon86579-3764-2738

"There is a speculation which has led investigators to believe that a group of erred shinobi is in possession of a prophecy stating that the union between a former single-tail Jinchuuriki and a shinobi under the guidance of the legendary sannin will fruit one line of powerful kekkai-genkai. Investigators were also led to believe that the line is a big threat to the enemy yet a gain for the current Konoha-Suna-Kiri alliance. Investigators recommend a rapid suit to be made. End"

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