She cleared her mind. Focus. Breathe. Now! Her eyes opened and she jumped high. She threw a kunai but missed her target. He was fast. But she knew his movements. She didn't need any special ninjutsu. He threw a shuriken at her, which only just cut a few strands of hair off. She threw another one but this one she missed on purpose. All she needed was for him to let his guard down, even just slightly. He did, as she predicted. Before he could react, she was behind him with a kunai to his throat.

"Now, where's the other one?"

"I'm not telling you!" He gasped as she held the kunai even closer, to the point where it almost broke the skin.

"I was thinking out loud, I don't need you to tell me." She smiled. She quickly tied him to the tree trunk and left him. It didn't take her long to find the other one. This time she went for an all out attack. A whirlwind formed around her hand and took the shape of a blade.

"Give up?"

"Alright, you win, again!" He sighed.

"I know you guys can do better than this."

"We've been at this for days now, come on. Can't we just take a break?"

"We fell behind in our training, you know that Seito."

"But don't you think making up for two weeks in three days is a bit much?"

"Two weeks of training is a lot. Which is why it's important to catch up. We need to push ourselves. We're top Ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village. This should be a piece of cake for us."

"Mmmmm, cake." His belly rumbled.

"Is that all you think about?"

"I think calling us too ninja is a bit much considering we've only just graduated."

"Yet look how much we've achieved in a short space of time. Let's go get Senji and then we can get food."

"Don't tell me you left him in that tree?"

"Relax, he's fine."

*meanwhile*

"Ahhhhhhhh!!!! Get me out of here!" Senji began to have a full blown panic attack and then finally fainted from the stress.

Back in the village they felt something was different.

"It's that time. You guys go eat, I'll join up later." Sayuri leapt into the air and was out of view in seconds.

"Huh? Time for what?" Senji turned to Seito.

"No idea. Let's follow her."

Deeper in the village there was an altercation between Leaf village ninja and some ninja from the Village hidden in the sand. Konohamaru was in trouble. In the blink of an eye Sasuke's rock was intercepted by Sayuri. It was like she appeared out of thin air.

"Now now boys, there's no need for that." She smiled. "Sasuke, it's not like you to get involved in something like this."

"Why are you defending him?" He asked her flatly.

"Starting a fight now would make a bad impression, would it not?" She turned to Kankurō. "I would really appreciate it if you would put the young boy down, Kankurō." She smiled at him, which stunned him. He grumbled.

"Do as she asks, Kankurō. You're an embarrassment to the Village." A voice came from behind Sasuke.

"Y-yes Gaara. I'm sorry." He was clearly terrified. Sasuke was curious how this guy had come up behind him without making a sound.

"Thanks for backing me up." She was still smiling.

"Wait, you already know these guys?" Naruto shouted.

"I guess you could say we go way back."

"What rank are you?" Sasuke asked her. Sakura looked towards Sasuke then to Sayuri, wondering why he would ask her such a question.

"What do you mean, Sasuke? They graduated with us, they're only genin?"

"Sakura's right. For now..." he became more curious about her. She was too good for a genin.

"Hm. A skilled ninja like you, that's a surprise."

"Like I said, for now. All that is about to change. They're here for the same reason. You do know what's happening, right?" She laughed because she knew they didn't have a clue. Their silence confirmed it. "You guys never seem to know what's going on. It's the Chunin exams. Shinobi from other villages compete too, and this year, Konoha is hosting. They will have passes to prove they have permission to be here." The sand siblings flashed their passes. Naruto's posture eased.

Gaara was now stood with his siblings.

"We should go." He said coldly.

"Wait. I'm curious, what is your name?" Sasuke asked him. He turned.

"I'm curious about you too. My name is Gaara of the Desert."

"And I'm Kankurō."

"My name is Temari."

"What is your name?" Gaara asked him.

"Sasuke Uchiha." Gaara's eyes widened slightly then returned to normal.

"Bet you're curious about me too?" Naruto butted in.

"I couldn't care less." Gaara turned away to leave. Some people were approaching. It was a group of guys from the village.

"Hey Sayuri, since you're back from your missions, how's about you and I go on a date?" One of them asked.

"No way, you should go on a date with me!" Another said.

"Don't waste your time on them, go on a date with me!" Another added.

"She won't be going on a date with any of you." Gaara interrupted. "Because she's already going on a date with me." This took everyone by surprise, including Sayuri.

"I am?" She was confused. "I mean, yeah what he said. The group of disappointed guys left. Sayuri turned to Gaara.

"You didn't have to do that, Gaara." She sighed. "But thank you."

"I'll see you at 6." He turned and began walking away.

"Wait, you're serious!!" She blushed a little. Kankurō and Temari stared at each other in disbelief.

"You always said you would show me around your village one day."

"Of course. Uh, I'll see you at 6 then, meet here?" He continued to walk away. Temari and Kankurō looked at each other, completely baffled by what just happened, as were Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke.

"What the heck was that?!" Naruto shouted at her.

"Shut up." She didn't even look at him, she just left.

At her home, Sayuri's nerves were getting the better of her. Seito and Senji knocked at her door. She pulled them in and explained that she'd never been on a date before and had no idea what to wear.

"Just wear a dress?" Senji suggested.

"Wow, you're being helpful for a change!" Seito joked.

"What do you mean for a change?!" Senji pouted. They always managed to make Sayuri laugh. It relaxed her a bit. She put on a long, dark blue dress that had the symbol of the hidden leaf adorning it. She still had on her headband and necklace. She put on a little makeup. Just a natural look as she always goes for.

"Beautiful!" Seito and Senji approved.

"Hey Sayuri..." Senji finally wanted to ask her after all these years. "You have all these clothes with your family's symbol on it, but you never wear them?"

"Is that a question or a statement?"

"I'm just wondering why? And why keep them if you're not going to wear them?"

"It's complicated. I can't wear them for a few reasons but I also can't seem to throw them away." She left for her date. He was right on time.

"So, what should we do then?" Gaara was still dressed in his usual clothes.

"Well, you hungry?" She asked him.

"I could eat."

"Alright, I know a good place." They began walking through the village and made it to Ichiraku Ramen.

"Is this a popular dish in the hidden leaf?" He asked, staring at the bowl.

"I guess so. Naruto always goes here, so does Senji."

"Naruto?"

"That loud blonde guy you saw before. I know he seems annoying at first. He's a total knucklehead. But he shouldn't be underestimated. Truth be told, he's stronger than Sasuke. He's not better than Sasuke, yet, but he has more strength within him. Enough about them, why don't you fill me in on your recent missions?" They had a little catch up and ate their ramen.

"That wasn't half bad." His expression was unchanged.

"Wow, such high praise." She said sarcastically.

"It's different that's all."

"I know where we can get some Sunagimo Yakitori. And if you want to see the best of the local scene, I have a favourite place I like to go when I want to be alone with my thoughts." She lead him to the other side of the village, through a small alley and on the other side was a huge pond with a bridge going across it, surrounded by cherry blossom trees.

"This place is always so beautiful and peaceful."

"Do you come here often?" He asked.

"Any night I come back from a mission. And the night before I go on one. I just like to take it in. One minute, I need to feed Konohakame."

"Konohakame?"

"He's the turtle that lives here. Rumour has it he's over 100 years old." A turtles head poked up by the bottom of the bridge and she fed it lettuce and broccoli. "You'll still be here long after I'm gone too." She looked almost sad but still she smiled. "This reminds me of those times in Suna. You know, where we'd just sit on top of your home and relax under the stars. It's just nice to not have to worry about anything."

"I want to ask you something."

"Huh? Yeah, sure?"

"What is it to love someone?"

"You have to ask me such a profound question." She giggled.

"I was wondering because you loved someone once." As he said this her smile dropped. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"I don't mind. I like it when you ask me questions like that. Well, it's complicated, depends what kind of Love. You already know about love for family. Yashimaru explained that to you. But then you got different levels of love. Like, you can love your friends, like I love Seito and Senji, even tho they can drive me crazy, we're a team and we look out for each other."

"My family have never loved me. Instead they fear me."

"I don't think that's true at all. I think Kankurō and Temari do love you. Yes they're scared of you but you're still their little brother, even tho you threaten to kill them half the time." She giggled again. "It's called unconditional love. They're still by your side, aren't they?"

"Because they have to be."

"No ones forcing them to stand by you. You scare the hell out of them, yes, but they still decide to stay with you and to help guide you, as older siblings do. They do it out of love. Trust me."

"And the other?" He still didn't quite believe her.

"Then there's romantic love. Like couples and stuff. Like when you look at someone and you just get this feeling. It's even harder to explain. It's like... warmth. You see that person and everything's okay. Everything about them can captivate you, even their flaws. It's a funny thing, love. Someone could do something terrible and you can still love them. Because you don't get to choose if you love someone, and you can't choose if someone loves you. It's like, you want to be by their side always, and above all, you'd do anything to protect them, because nothing would be more painful than losing them. You get near them and you feel your heart beating faster, you feel happy, and when you look at them... you just... want to... kiss them." She blushed.

"Sayuri..."

"Y-yeah." She turned to face him.

"You have lettuce in your hair."

"Ah!" She was blushing very obviously now. Gaara walked past her. "Uh... thanks."

"We've known each other for quite some time now. I still remember when we first met. You wanted to play with me straight away, even after other children warned you not to."

"Those same children ran past me and pushed me down."

"Tell me. What am I to you?"

"You're my... best friend, Gaara. I always enjoy spending time with you."

"It's getting late. I should take you back home." He seemed slightly dissatisfied with the answer.

"Oh, yeah." Once they reached her home they said their goodbyes.

"I'll see you in the chunin exams."

"Yeah, and thank you, for tonight. I had fun."

"Me too. Goodnight." With that he left. She went inside to find Seito and Senji had let themselves in and had been listening and waiting for her.

"So. Date went well then?" Seito asked her.

"Well well well, what time do you call this, Missy?" Senji put on the 'strict father' act.

"I call it past your bedtime, Senji." She joked.

"What did you do?"

"We went for food, had a walk and a talk. There was a moment I thought he was going to confess but he just told me I had lettuce in my hair..."

"Did you want him to kiss you?" Seito asked.

"Not really... Don't get me wrong, I like the guy but just not in that way. I'm not ready to move on yet."

"I get that." Seito out his hand on her shoulder. She nodded and smiled.

"we've got to get some sleep. We've got a week until the chunin exam so we need to prepare.