The long and arduous week of meetings preparing for the Chunin Exams has finally come to a close. As a nice little surprise, the Fifth Hokage paid for a little dinner party at a local restaurant for the crew who were running the exams.
"Oh wow!" exclaims Naruto, his face grinning ear to ear. "What a spread Granny Tsunade prepared for us. This almost makes all those horrible meetings worth it." Naruto grabs for a piece of pork, but it is taken by Shikamaru.
"Yeah, those meetings sure can be troublesome," Shikamaru replies as he chomps on his prize of stolen pork. "But as much of a pain they are, these exams are very necessary. It will all be worth it, remember how much we learned from them?"
"Heh, yeah. I definitely learned something from those exams," comments Kiba as he takes down some rice in a bowl. "I learned to never attack Naruto from behind with a strong breeze." Everyone in the table lets out a large laugh.
"Man, you guys really haven't changed one bit have you?" Gaara replies with a smile on his face. "I really don't understand what my sister sees in you, Shikamaru. I guess she really likes a challenge." Naruto spits out his food in laughter and Sakura giggles.
"Well Gaara, I must say this is a different side of you," says Naruto. "I mean at the first set of meetings you were all business and very quiet, but as the week went on you have really opened up and smiled a lot. So what is the deal?"
"Uh-umm, well nothing really," answers Gaara. "I guess this past week being around the village has opened up new life in my soul. Something has rebirth my spirit," Gaara says as he gives a slight glance over to Sakura who blushes slightly.
"Gee Gaara, if I didn't know you were here on business it would seem that you may have found a special lady in your life," Naruto comments as he slurps down some Ramen. Gaara's eyes grow wide at that comment as he stares down at his food.
"Who knows Naruto, maybe he actually found time to meet that special someone," Sakura comments as her eyes shift over to Gaara. As their eyes meet, they give each other a slight smile and both blush slightly. Naruto looks up at Sakura.
"What was that you said Sakura? I missed it," the curious blonde ninja says. "Oh, it was nothing Naruto," responds Sakura. Shikamaru looks over at Sakura and the Kazekage and gives a smirk. "Now this may not be so troublesome," he thinks to himself.
The group finishes their meal and walk out of the restaurant. "Hey Sakura, Gaara, we all are going to a movie if you guys want to join us," Naruto asks. Gaara and Sakura look at each, not sure how to respond. Suddenly, Naruto feels a tug at his jacket.
"Come on you knucklehead," Shikamaru says dragging him away. "Let these two be. We have to meet up with the ladies anyway." Naruto starts walking, "Oh yeah, right. But what was pulling me for?" Shikamaru says he will tell Naruto later.
Gaara and Sakura walk off in the other direction. As they make a turn around the corner, Sakura draws near to Gaara, interlocks their arms and rests her head on his shoulder. "So you think they all know about us?" Gaara asks.
"Well, Shikamaru definitely knows. You could tell by his actions just a little while ago," Sakura answers. "And since he is going to tell Naruto, that means everyone will know by tomorrow." Gaara laughs and nods his head in agreement.
The sun begins to set and the night sky begins to flicker with thousand of little stars as the new couple walks down the road. Gaara looks over to see Sakura with her head staring down towards the ground and a view of sorrow in her eyes.
"What is the matter Sakura-chan? You don't look happy," comments Gaara. Sakura releases her grip from Gaara's arm and stops walking. Her lips begin to quiver as a single tear strolls down her cheek. "Sakaru-chan? Are you ok?"
Sakura wipes the tear from her face, "I am sorry Gaara-kun, it is just that this past week has been so wonderful that I wish you didn't have to go back to the Sand Village tomorrow. I know you will be back next month for the Chunin exams…
But I just can't stand to be apart that long. I am going to be so lonely without you here." Gaara looks at the strawberry beauty and lowers his eyes. He then looks up, grabs Sakura's hand and says "Follow me, there is something I need to do."
Sakura follows Gaara down the road to where the fountain is in the center of town. Gaara and Sakura stop as the mist from the fountain forms a rainbow. Gaara then walks over to Sakura and places his hand on her cheek while staring into her eyes.
"Sakura-chan, this past week has been more amazing than anything I could imagine. I came here dreading the week, but thanks to you I feel like I never want to leave. Unfortunately, my role as Kazekage requires me to."
"I know that it seems like this month is going to take forever, but I will be thinking of you everyday. That plus the fact I know I will get to see you again will help the time just fly by." Gaara then takes a small box out of his pocket.
"But before I go, I wanted to give you this." Sakura takes the box from the red haired ninja and opens it. Inside of the box is a gold necklace with a large crystal in the center. "Oh Gaara-kun, this is amazing. You didn't have to do this."
Gaara gives a small smile. "I know, but I wanted to. Hold the necklace up to the light please." Sakura does as he wishes and notices something inside the crystal. "Is…is that sand inside the crystal?" Sakura asks as the gem shines in the moonlight.
"Why yes, Sakura-chan. But this isn't just any regular sand," Gaara replies. "Inside that crystal is grains from the sand that I use in my jutsu. This way no matter how much time apart we are, you will always have a little piece of me with you."
Sakura is so touched by this gesture that she is unable to form words. All she can do is lay a very passionate kiss on Gaara's lips as tears of joy flow from her eyes. As she releases the kiss, Sakura then hugs Gaara as tight as she can.
"So I take it you like the present," Gaara says. Sakura lets out a light laugh as she wipes tears from her face. "Yes! Yes! A million times yes, Gaara-kun." Gaara then extends his hand to Sakura. She takes the hand and they head to the hotel.
Once they reach the hotel, they give a final embrace. Gaara whispers into Sakura's ear, "I promise the month will go by in no time." Sakura nods her head as they separate from the embrace and Sakura heads home. "Thank you, Gaara-kun, for everything."
Next Chapter - "Conflict and Surprise"
The video version of this fanfic chapter can be seen via youtube under the same title or under the channel of bkeller1976.