Okay people I think I finally have a plot going here. Let's see how this sudden plot like idea forms out into a lovely but rough story ne? ^^' As I said this story will be done by the time your reading this and at this point I'm just making sure I can write this out and not get writer blocked and then get stuck with another unfinished story which I so don't need. So lets roll with this and see what happens.

~~Kyo~~

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto or it's characters.

Chapter four:

When Sakura woke her teammates were still asleep which was, given the circumstances was normal, so she removed herself from them as easily as she could and not wake them. She then dressed getting ready for the day. She had to meet Tsunade around three so she had time to kill, perhaps she would go train with her old team or have breakfast with Ino and the girls. While she debated her day she brushed her teeth almost ready to run out of the house when she felt someone in the door. It was of course Itachi who almost always woke if she was no longer in bed.

" Don't forget to go to the Hokage tower at three." Itachi said arms crossed. His hair was a mess and lose from it's usual tie, all that black hair fell around his bare muscled shoulders like silk rain. She nodded as she finished brushing her teeth and rinsed her brush and the sink.

" If you have nothing to do we could have breakfast." She raised an eye brow. She glanced at Neji he waked up grumpy as he always was in the morning waking alone. How sad was it that none of them could sleep with out each other? Maybe that was what made them good ninja, cautious and all that.

" Of course you did promise your old teammates that you would train with them and then go to lunch with them." Neji said at Sakura's frown. Yeah she had agreed to Sasuke's request.

" Then we shall eat and then meet with them, train and then have lunch before you have to go to Lady Hokage. I have nothing but paperwork to do today." Itachi said smirking. She sighed though smirked as well. She glanced to Neji who nodded he had nothing to do either.

Thus they went to eat breakfast and then they found Kakashi and her old team. They were at the training field already just warming up when the three of them arrived. Sasuke look startled to see his brother, and Naruto was just happy he crushed her in a hug when he saw her and Kakashi smiled happily at them his usual grin. Sai just sort of watched this with a weird look.

" Sakura-chan I'm so glad you came! You should have told me you had a mission to pick up Gaara and Kankuro!" Sakura smiled at him as he let her out of his bone crushing hug.

" That was classified information." Itachi said walking up to her side as Neji followed suit nodding to Kakashi.

" I hope you don't mind us coming to train with you Kakashi." Neji said with a slight smirk. Kakashi grinned as usual.

" Not a problem. I would be happy to let you teach these three something useful while I go help the helpless." Kakashi said and poofed away. Naruto gaped at the spot his sensei disappeared, only smoke was left.

" He left us?" Naruto shouted. Sakura smiled.

" That's Kakashi for you. Off to read his perverted books." She said with a slight smirk to Itachi who chuckled. Sasuke didn't get the joke Sakura and his Ani shared, but he didn't like that look she wore. Not toward his Ani that was.

" Alright then who do I get to spar with first!" Naruto said grinning while he put his hands on his hips and eyed his new opponents. Sakura shook her head.

" You'll have to be nice to us today Naruto I have to report to the Hokage." Naruto looked surprised but smiled none the less and put his arms behind his neck lazily. Regardless of Sakura being sarcastic obviously Naruto didn't catch that, she was serious though. She was sure their Chakra was good and ready, but she herself was still stiff. She would more then likely stick with Taijutsu today to limit her chakra use in case Tsunade asked her to the Hospital later.

" How about the oldest chose who's going to be sparing with who?" Neji asked with a incline of head to Itachi who looked over at his teammate with a raised eye brow. Sakura hid a smirk.

" We did come to spar with Kakashi team after all." Neji said with a smirk knowing Itachi didn't want to spar with his brother or the blond moron Naruto. Thus it left Sai.

" I'll spar with Sasuke." Sakura said with a smile to the younger Uchiha who looked definitely surprised. Naruto pouted. He wanted to spar with Sakura.

" Then I can spar with Naruto." Neji said leaving Itachi with Sai. Itachi nodded his approval of the pair off and they set to it. They gave each other enough space so Itachi took to the forest as did Sakura and Sasuke, while Naruto and Neji stayed in the clearing.

Since it was only a spar Sakura figured it wouldn't be too bad to not use anything but Taijutsu, and Tsunade always complained when she tore the field apart with her chakra enhanced punches. Sasuke never took her fighting skill seriously and it always ticked her off, he never wanted to spar with her because of that reason so Sakura took it upon herself when ever she could to spar with Sasuke. Besides she had a alternative motive today. She wanted to know what Sasuke was thinking following them around mainly her though.

Of course she had only been back in the village for a day or so and he hadn't followed her or her team, so she wondered if he was going to keep at his following her and why he was just now taking such a stalkerish view.

They faced off and of course Sasuke would not turn on his Sharingan because he didn't think with her he would need it and was right for right now. She wouldn't really use anything other then Taijutsu anyway, unless of course it turned serious like her spars with Itachi and Neji always did, for some reason they went over board then.

She could already hear the battle starting between her current teammates and old teammates. She could hear Naruto shouting believe it all the way over here, and shook her head. Sasuke was waiting for her to start but she never liked being the first to attack so they watched each other for a long while, thus a long time passed, and still neither moved.

She was in full battle alert mode while he was staring at her trying to figure her out for a different reason then the spar. It wasn't everyday he could get her alone to talk to while her teammates were off busy with his own.

" So Sakura." Sasuke said and she flinched at his voice not ready for him to relax his posture and lean ideally against a tree. She frowned at him.

" Do you not want to spar?" She asked putting her kunai away, he swallowed hard, he hadn't even see her take that out. Could it be when she flinched she had removed it from her weapons pouch at her thigh?

" I do just want to ask a few thing first." Sakura didn't mind that. They had already been standing here for over ten minutes and Neji and Itachi would be done shortly with their opponents. She wanted to ask him why he was following her anyway. Maybe he would give away what he was simply by asking her the things on his mind.

" Alright what do you want?" Sakura asked as she put her back on the tree close enough to lean on. She crossed her arms under her ample breast.

" Are you going to take my mother seriously?" Sakura thought back to what Mikoto had asked of her. Ah marriage. Though that couldn't be what's bothering Sasuke considering that had been only a few days ago and he had been stalking her for at least two weeks.

" Are you volunteering to become the one I marry then?" The blush across his face had to be as clear as day but he chose to ignore it as he did most things he didn't like.

" No. Just curious." He said slightly looking away and then she finally understood. She shook her head.

" You don't have to worry Sasuke. I won't become your sister, and I won't take your place or steal your brother." He flinched. When she said it out loud it seemed shallow and childish to be worrying about it.

" I enjoyed going to see your mother and father because they reminded me of my parents. I guess it wasn't right of me to take your parents away from you just because I no longer have mine." She turned and shook her head.

" Besides I doubt anyone really wanted to marry me just for me not because of who I am to the Hokage, or my skills." She disappeared like Kakashi had earlier leaving him to wonder why he even brought it up.

XXXX

Sakura appeared at the Hokage tower in Tsunade's office. She was kneeling as usual but Tsunade hated when she did it. It was habit from ANBU. Tsunade was drinking again but she looked more angry then drunk. She looked to Sakura and sighed heavily.

" I knew some day something like this would happen." She said to Sakura. They were alone in the room, and Sakura frowned. What did her teacher want from her?

" Sakura I have a mission for you. I hate to get you involved into this problem but we have no choice. You are the only one I can ask of this. This mission is dangerous and it will involve your future and your life. Will you except it?" Sakura nodded. She would do anything for Tsunade and her village. She was loyal to her village and loved it dearly. If Tsunade was to give her a mission she would always except it.

Sakura awaited the Mission details. When the Hokage didn't speak for a very long time Sakura glanced up and met Tsunade amber eyes. Serious and sad.

" Sakura Haruno you mission is to marry the Kazekage and become his wife." Sakura's eye went wide.

" I really wished you would have listened to me and married like I asked of you all those years ago. I knew this would happen some day or another and our ally would be in need and I would have to give them one of my girls. I just wished it wasn't you, but your the only one I can trust to handle and complete this mission. I really wish you had listened to me, you would have married for love and not this...never this." Tsunade downed more Sake and rubbed a hand over her wary eyes.

She had to marry...Gaara?

" You understand your mission Sakura?" She nodded. She never thought this would ever happen though as much as she didn't like the idea of leaving her village and going to Suna she would do as her Hokage asked and complete this mission. She would never fail not even if it involved this.

" You will become the Kazekage's bride and live in Suna. You will be under the Kazekage and do as he wishes. This will create a bond like no other between the two villages and build up Sunagakure. There has been an uprising and Gaara is having a lot of trouble keeping his people in line under him. This will help him and bring our villages closer. Gaara trusts you. He wanted you to find him a bride he trusted your judgment, but I'm sure he won't mind you being the bride." Tsunade said and poured another shot.

" We will meet with Gaara after Temari's wedding to announce this decision. For heavens sake Sakura please find someone to marry before then, I can always find another if you are already going to wed someone else, but being single the elders will not like me sending the next best thing, you are my best Kunoichi Sakura. If you want to stay here you have to find someone respectable to marry in one weeks time." She paled. Either way she had to marry someone.

Though she would rather marry someone in her village and live her as usual then go to Sunagakure and never live in her village again, nor be a ninja here. She winced but bowed and disappeared back to her house. She sat on her bed with a hand over her eyes. What was she going to do?

XXXX

" I can't believe Sakura-chan just left like that." Naruto said sitting on a large rock arms crossed and pouting he of course sported a lot of bruises from Sparing with Neji. For some reason Neji and Itachi were still there. Itachi had finished his Spar earlier then Neji who just finished with Naruto after almost an hour of constant fighting.

" What do you expect?" Sasuke asked shrugging.

" She had to meet with the Hokage it's only to be expected." Itachi said looking to his younger brother curiously he hadn't a scratch on him. Sakura and Sasuke had never sparred yet what had they been then doing?

" Can we at least get lunch? I'm starving!" Naruto said in tune with his loud stomach grumble. Sasuke sighed.

" We planned on having lunch with Sakura." Sai said offhandedly.

" Yeah she was going to buy..." Naruto looked to Neji and grinned. Neji paled at the look.

" No absolutely not Uzumaki." Neji stood firm, yet not firm enough. Naruto pouted. Neji frowned his eye twitching in anger.

" Fine just to get you to stop." Neji gave in and Naruto grinned and rushed off to get his ramen.

XXXX

Neji was slightly worried when Sakura never came to lunch even though it was well past the time she had to meet the Hokage, though Tsunade could have very well asked her to do her a favor like get Sake or help the hospital out, Neji doubted the Hokage would make her do anything like that right after a mission like the one they had been on just a day ago. So where was Sakura? Did she just go home? Though she said she wished to see her old teammates and have lunch with them, so why would she go home unless she was more tired then she let on, no even then she would make herself go out to lunch, yet she was still not here and they were all finished eating except Naruto who Neji threatened to stop spending his money and Naruto reluctantly stopped ravishing the ramen.

Itachi looked to his little brother who asked if he would come home tonight and he said no of course. Neji knew the Uchiha had as much trouble sleeping at his compound as Neji his. Sakura it seemed was their only sanctuary away, and person to help them both sleep.

" Tell Sakura-chan she has to come to lunch with us next time!" Naruto said waving as Sai said Kakashi was looking for them now. So Sasuke said it was back to training and he would tell their parents Itachi wasn't going to be home again, though Sasuke added their mother wondered why he was never home in the first place. Of course with Sasuke saying that he had also given away that he knew where he was staying thus that he was spying on them like Neji first thought.

When the three nin were gone Itachi and Neji set off to Sakura's place together. Alone they usually never spoke unless necessary they didn't much like each other.

" Why didn't she come to lunch? Do you think the Hokage gave her a task?"Neji asked voicing his curiosity and questions. Itachi didn't pause or anything obviously thinking and wondering the same thing.

" Obviously though I can feel she is at home. It worries me." Neji knew what he meant. Sakura being home instead of with her old team that was weird. Something must have then happened to upset her perhaps.

They both walked into the front door which wasn't locked. They rarely even used the front door, mostly they used the window. Itachi and Neji walked the steps to her bed room and found her laying on her back arms under her head eyes closed though in thought not in sleep. They came in cautiously to not frighten her but it was wasted because she knew they were there she just chose not to react to it. She didn't even stiffen when they came in. She didn't move except to breath and her breathing was even and slow as if she were asleep he wondered how long she had been laying there in thought. She usually didn't think this hard while laying in bed, thus he knew for a fact the Hokage had asked or told her something for her to think so seriously on that she wouldn't even acknowledge them.

Itachi didn't wait for her to open her eyes or even say a word he laid right along side her on her right side like always and Neji figured he would as well he didn't have anything planned today and he enjoyed laying at her side, so he took his usual spot to her left and laid on his back as well. She didn't even move, so he closed his eyes and dozed off, more sleep was always welcomed.

XXXX

Sakura had felt her teammates wonder in an hour after she returned home. She had been thinking since she returned and she had much to think about. She didn't know what to do really. If she did as Tsunade asked and completed this mission she would be married to Gaara and there was nothing wrong with him, she adored the male herself, and she loved Suna, but she had a duty to her own village and she not only liked it here, but belonged here as well. All her friends were here and both her old teammates and current were here. Plus she liked sleeping next to Itachi and Neji as crowed as it was at times, she enjoyed feeling peaceful enough to sleep deeply, she trusted them more then she trusted anyone before.

She didn't think even if she liked Suna or Gaara that she could marry him and leave her village and life here behind. She had a duty to the Hokage as well though to complete a mission once assigned no mater what but Tsunade had given her a choice and a way out it seemed. She just had to figure out if she would take that way out. Was her pride so great that she wouldn't even if she wanted to? She didn't know quite yet but she wondered at times.

Was it wise to get out of this assignment? Did Gaara need her seriously. Was Suna in that much trouble, that he really needed her. She would have to talk this over more so with Tsunade to consider her options here. If Gaara and Suna really did need her in particular so much that she had to go she would do so. She had a week after all, so tomorrow she would talk to Tsunade more, of course she would not tell her teammates nor anyone of this assignment. She didn't know what she would do just yet, and it was no use telling someone to make them worry. Besides Itachi and Neji had never told her things, like their clans wanting them to marry. So she figured why tell them and possibly make them worry over nothing, though in the back of her mind she knew telling them might help her more then harm her. She decided against it.

It was her life and her decision to make she would do so alone. Though after thinking of the mission itself if she were to marry Gaara she then thought to her other option though only slightly different. She still had to marry or at least become engaged to marry this week with out doubt to someone, she would still have to marry someone though she figured she would then have more time then if she had to marry Gaara who she would then have to no doubt marry right away.

Other then the fact she would have more time before she married, she would also be able to continue living here in her home village, though she would still have to give up things she hated to give up, like sleeping between her teammates now. She frowned mentally. Of course she also had to put the fact that she had to find someone to marry in the first place. There were many choices though most she didn't even want to consider. Naruto and Sai along with Kakashi out of the picture completely. She wouldn't marry Naruto for obvious reasons, plus she knew Hinata would be crushed. She would never marry Sai he was too blunt for her. Kakashi as good a man as he was, she didn't think she could marry him and not kill him after a while no doubt his views on sex were twisted enough with those perverted books he always read.

Kiba was nice, but she didn't think she could live with being married to him, he was a kind person but too kind. He was naive in many things. Lee was a good man as well but was with Tenten. Shika with Temari, Chouji with Ino. Shino was nice as well but creepy. She never liked bugs anyway. Sasuke was an option, but she didn't think she could seriously marry the baka. He made her blood boil too much and she was always frustrated with him and Naruto's arguing. He was too much a child still for her to take seriously in marriage. Thus she just cut off all of the rookie twelve and still came up short. Strictly sticking to Ninja males she was limited still even more now.

She always have the option of Shisui as much as she enjoyed his company and as well as they got along, she knew if she had to be married to him she would eventually smother him with a pillow. He was sweet though a player, and perverted. A good man as well as any, but she didn't think marriage to him would keep her sane, though she had to say he was an option had she no one else. He certainly wouldn't object.

Asuma was with Kurenai and Genma and Shizune were seeing each other. Jiraiya was never an option no matter how desperate she ever was. Iruka was sweet, but she couldn't see herself marrying him at all. And just like that she ran out of options. She cursed and it had to have been out loud because Itachi's hand found and touched her arm and she snapped open her jade eyes to look at him to her right where he belonged. She knew with out a doubt Neji would be to her left.

His eyes were onyx and honest, he was clearly wondering what was wrong and he was worried. She sighed and put a hand over her face this was hope less who was she going to marry? Was Shisui seriously her only option now? Good god she rather marry Gaara for all it's worth. She had a week to gather enough information though to decided fully what she had to do, and a week to find someone else to marry if not Gaara. She had no clue what to do or who it would be. She wouldn't marry someone she didn't like unless forced to in a mission, thankfully she did like Gaara though she didn't know if she could find someone she liked enough to marry on her own. If she had found someone like that wouldn't she already have at least considered them for a potential something before any of this?

Of course Sakura had to say she had been more intent on her job as an ANBU then as a woman lately. Since she joined ANBU she knew she had to no longer think like a woman only but also a ninja all the time less she be killed. She could not be caught off guard thus she was always a ninja being a woman always came last, thus why she never settled down even though almost all her friends were. Heck even that lazy Shikamaru Nara was marring already and seriously that was saying something. She honestly hoped she would have a decision one way or another in a less then a week. She hated deciding something on the fly. She rather think things through both ways before she decided one way or another, either way she was going to have to give things up, and one way or another she would never sleep next to both her teammates like this ever again. She winced and Itachi gripped her arm tightly but not tight enough to hurt. He was showing his worry.

She looked over at him and then Neji. There was no use worrying them. Soon she would never sleep next to them again, nor be this close so she would spend every second with them as if it were her last because frankly it was. She turned to face Neji and scooted back, Itachi wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer his body heat was comforting. Neji was asleep but she woke him hesitantly. He opened hazy silver eyes and found her jade. He scooted closer so that their breath mixed and his hand rested on her hip. She was pressed against him and Itachi and knew sadly that this feeling of peace and safety was numbered by days.

End chapter:

Yes I found a plot can you believe it? XDD Sadly still haven't came up with a name. I think I will most likely at the end of this freaking story. It has happened before weirdly enough. So how do you like it anyway guys? Your all wondering why she didn't consider Neji or Itachi in the potential marriage mates right? Haha Well keep wondering cause I won't say. At least not in my notes here you'll find out more with reading hope that keeps you wanting more then ne? XD Read and review along with it will ya?

~~Kyo~~