Wind and Fire

by chakragoddess

Kankuro and Sakura have been on each other's radar for quite a while (she did save his life, after all). Now there is a new threat on the edges of the Land of Fire. A disciple of Sasori has emerged and only a joint team of Sand and Leaf shinobi are equipped to handle it. A get-together story in the setting of a major mission to defeat this new enemy.

1. Chapter 1: Sakura's Dream

Hello everyone. After a much-needed few month break and not much motivation to write about any particular story-line, something finally caught my attention. Here in the US, Shippuden recently started over on TV from episode 1. So I watched it and this pairing came to mind. How do most romances start? Well, normally there is just a notice of the other person...and a sparking event of some sort. And for some reason, you gravitate towards the other person. Yeah, yeah - it's definitely starting to click.

I'm starting this out a little unconventionally...with a couple of dreams. Dreams are interesting because not only can you recall what happened on particular days, but you remember what you felt and what you were thinking as well. So things will really get going in chapter 3.

So I hope you enjoy this...I'm sure it will not be too long. Just the start of a new relationship - nothing too in-depth.

And remember...thoughts are written in italics.

CG

OlOlOlOlOlOlOlO

Once the confrontation was over, Sakura made a beeline to her small apartment in central Konoha. Once she had entered and closed the door, she paused for a few seconds to take inventory of what had just happened.

That could have been bad, she thought to herself. She took two deep breaths then proceeded to take off her shoes before leaving the doorway.

Sakura Haruno was a rookie genin who had only recently graduated from Konoha Academy, the school that trained the newest shinobi who would protect and serve the Leaf.

I really need to learn to control my temper better. Damn that Naruto and his little wannabes. If it hadn't been for them, I never would have been put in that situation.

She made her way to the bedroom so she could undress and prepare for a shower before hitting the sack. Kakashi-sensei, her leader for team 7, had already called a meeting early tomorrow morning.

The hot water felt great hitting her skin. She enjoyed how the warmth felt on her sore muscles after a solid day of effort. When she had finished, she turned off the water and opened the curtain. She stared at her immature body in the mirror.

It's still hard to believe we can do what we can being so young. Although she and her teammates were only almost thirteen years old, now that they were genin, they were asked to work just as hard as the adults did. Now that they were shinobi, life would be full of missions, training, or other service for the Leaf.

She exited the bathroom and put on her robe.

Sand shinobi, eh? I thought that one with make-up was going to pummel Konohamaru. I know they have permission to be here, but they still give me the chills. That one with the make-up was pretty mean, but honestly, that one with the gourd and the tattoo on his face...he was downright frightening.

She re-entered the bathroom to dry her hair.

What's up with the make-up anyway? She thought of other shinobi she had seen over her short lifetime. She had seen weird hairstyles and weird ways of incorporating the headband, but never make-up...and certainly never on a man.

Finally, she climbed in between the sheets of her bed and laid there for a moment before closing her eyes.

I guess it doesn't affect me either way. Naruto was excited about the chunin exam. But there's no way we're experienced enough to be recommended for that. Right?