I want to thank everyone for their awesome reviews! You guys are fantastic! I took a few days off of this story to work on my Bleach fanfic but I promise this chapter is going to be good.

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The Henge no justu (transformation justu) was easy enough to pull off, blending in was even easier. Walking the streets of Suna was beginning to bore the lone traitor shinobi. Waiting for her to come out of the Kazekage building was becoming tiresome.

"Did you hear the Kazekage is getting married? And to a Leaf shinobi no less." One of the passing ladies whispered to her friend.

"Really? I thought his student would have caught his eye a long time ago. She's turned into such a pretty little thing."

'Tch, that's what they think. They fail to realize what they have.' The disguised man thought to himself. Though the thought of someone touching Sakura made his blood boil. He didn't think he needed anyone in his life; all he wanted was to avenge his clan by killing his brother. Unfortunately he was still plagued by the random thoughts of having someone to talk to, to understand him, and reassure him that he was headed in the right direction.

It had always been her giving him complements for the littlest things. Always been her who expressed her concerns for him. And it was her who had confessed her love for him. All that time he had brushed her off; thinking he could live without anyone. After a while he began to miss her smile and friendly greetings in the mornings.

'How could one woman get under my skin so badly?' His thoughts were broken by the emerging of his target. She looked prettier than ever. Her hair was getting long again, and she had gotten taller. This was all to be expected after not seeing her in 3 years. What got the most attention was the small scroll in her hand. So the brat had given it to her. He smirked, deciding his time here wasn't wasted, and he turned to leave. If he didn't return to Orochimaru soon he was going to be given a lecture he didn't feel like hearing.

"You'll be mine soon enough." He whispered to himself.

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The small scroll she had been handed remained in her hand the whole 5 minute walk from the office to her new home. Her thoughts weren't on the scroll at all. She didn't want to spar with Gaara, she had seen him in action many times before, and had no doubt in her mind he would win. His sand had been named the Ultimate Defense for a reason. She jogged up the stairs to the apartment, and let herself in.

'You know if we are going to have kids, there are going to have to be some changes…Wait…What?' she softly tapped the side of her head and tried to shake the thoughts away. This was not the kind of stuff she needed to be thinking about. They still hadn't talked about having to kiss at the wedding yet.

Entering the room she flung the scroll on to the bed while she changed into her work out stuff. Stretch shorts with a sports bra and a light pink tank top. She took out her black gloves and placed them on the edge of the bed, she still had to put her hair up. It was down past the middle of her back again. She'd have to get it cut after the wedding; till then she'd just wear it in a ponytail. With nothing left for her to do she flopped onto the bed; the small scroll rolled down and rested against her cheek.

'Let's find out who sent this.' She grabbed the scroll and brought it in front of her face. The seal gave a soft snap as she broke it.

"Ouch!" she brought her left thumb to her mouth and sucked on the aching digit. It had actually cut her.

"Damn it." She grumbled before opening her message. Her heart sank, recognizing the handwriting as Sasuke's.

Sakura,

Meet me at the top of the south wall at 10 pm the night before your wedding.

Sakura sighed. Heart was torn. She had her mind set in going through with the wedding. Sasuke wasn't coming back so it was about time she moved on. This arrangement was that kick she needed to start the process. Why did he have to return now?

The front door clicked closed snapping her out of her plight; Gaara had finished up the paper work faster than she thought he would.

She shot up off the bed spinning around looking for a place to stash the scroll.

"Crap!" she muttered; deciding to throw it under her clothes from earlier. She'd have to take care of it later. Snapping up as Gaara entered; she pretends to be startled.

"I have to change. Will you wait or go ahead to the training field?" his attention was on his drawers as he pulled out some random articles of clothing.

"I can wait if you want me to."

"Honestly it's up to you. Depends on how soon you want your butt kicked." She picked up on the light and oddly playful tone.

"Oh really?" she crossed her arms and smirked "I think I hear a challenge."

"No, just a fact. No one has ever made it past my sand." He walked towards the bathroom, stopping at the door to glance at her. "I doubt you'd get past it." The bathroom door closed behind him.

"How often are we going to fight each other? Honestly if you ask me the elders should have us trying to work as a team instead of against each other. What good are we as their leaders if we can't work together?" she called to him.

"I agree. We should work on that instead." Stepping out of the bathroom he crosses his arms. The outfit almost reminds her of the outfit he wore when they first met. A fishnet top, under a black t-shirt, black pants, and the white colored sash holding the huge gourd on his back.

"Let's go."

"Um actually…there is one thing…" she could feel her face get warm "Well…you see…I may have to touch you at some point during the training. And I kind of like my arms where they are now."

Gaara couldn't help but smirk. "I'll leave them in tacked."

xXx

Temari watched her baby brother from the shadows of the entry way of the training field. She had watched him grow over these last few years. He was shaping up to be a decent man. His people skills needed help, but he was doing better. He had come thru for his people. He had become their beloved leader. He even had a fan club of girls the swooned over his every move.

She couldn't help but smile. He was doing what would benefit his people now. This alliance was going to ensure both Konoha and Suna made it thru the war. She watched as Sakura explained how she did some of her moves, and in turn he'd reply with how his moves worked.

'They're working on fighting together? Ha! Those two are sure giving it their best.' She thought to herself.

"Ah…Ok…this sand armor…feels…weird…AH! Watch where your sand goes!" The yelling broke Temari's thoughts and she laughed which got the others attention.

"You two make this look so easy." She shouted at them. Sakura waved at her before running over to see her. Gaara followed but at a much slower pace.

"You have the whole city in an uproar. Everyone is wondering why you two are getting married. It's hard convincing everyone this isn't a political marriage. Some of the people I have talked to want Gaara to take another wife. One from his own nation…"

"How many wives does one man need?" Sakura grumbled as her shoulders slumped forward in an almost defeated pout.

"Well all you have to do is convince everyone that you two are in love at the wedding. That should shut them up. Marrying for love is one thing; marrying for politics is another. They want to know the Gaara is still all about his people, but they also want him to be happy. Feeling like they forced him into a marriage would make them feel guilty. So if he took another wife; one that he loves they might make them feel better. I have all the faith in the world you two can pull it off. Unless you want to throw another female into the mix." Temari smiled slyly before give Sakura gentle nudge towards Gaara.

The thought of Gaara taking another wife actually saddened Sakura. She was actually starting to like this new side she got to see of Gaara. She was actually feeling jealous. She didn't want feel like she was the other woman just there to bring their nations together. She found her hand slowly finding its way into Gaara's. Her eyes met his as she locked her fingers with his. He looked slightly confused but her eyes told him everything.

'She's serious!' he realized it. The fierce look in her eyes, holding his hand, and her comment all confirmed it. He had been having mixed thoughts since the other night when he had kissed her. Her skin was so soft, and she tasted sweet. Something had started a fire in him. He had been content just having a better relationship with his siblings, but to have someone he could really be truly close with was an idea that both interested and scared him. Without noticing his thumb was actually stroking across the top of her hand in a comforting manner. What was it about her that made him want to her to be the only woman in his life?

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