Chapter Four-Part One

We arrived to Suna by the next morning, but I feel like I am wide awake. I can't help but to be weird, uneasy is a better word, about the fact that something is following us. At the moment we are heading forwards to talk to Gaara, the Kazekage of Suna, and Naruto is hoping from foot to foot. Sai looks bored and tired. Kakashi is hard to tell with that damned mask covering his face.

I'm tired, hungry, and I really want to freshen up. I don't like sitting, standing, or walking when I feel like this. I most likely have sand in every inch of my clothing.

"Sakura-chan, glaring at the desert isn't going to make it go away." Naruto says as he falls in step with me.

"I just want a bed, Naruto, so go fuck off." I snarl at him and he backs away.

I'm not only known for my strength in Konoha, but also for my temper. I think that is why Jiraiya has a thing for calling me 'mini-Tsunade' at random. Well, she has been like a mother in these past years, but it's not like she goes around expressing it.

We reach the Kazakage's building and Kakashi leads us right in. Naruto is starting to leap around again, which isn't a surprise, and I find myself sighing(again). Sai and Kakashi don't even seem to really notice.

We quickly cross the room and start up the stairs when I stop. It seems like something is watching us. I turn to see nothing, but I just scan the area to be sure.

"Sakura, are you coming?" Kakashi calls out from above and I call out, "Yeah, be there in a minute!"

I take one last look over the area, inside the building and outside, before I hurry after my comrades. I have to run three steps at a time to get to the top floor, which is where Gaara's office is at, and sometimes I find it very annoying to run all these steps. I was here before when he was kidnapped and had Shukaku extracted from body, thus killing him, but he was brought back to life after killing Sasori, his partner self-destructed, and Sasori's grandmother brought Gaara back to life with a jutsu that gave her life for his.

I quickly take lead of the group again and I turn to Naruto when we are in front of the Kazakage's door. I keep a stern look on my face as I look them all over. I finally say, "Alright, we'll be going in. Naruto, stay calm. This is the Kazakage, not Gaara. He is a busy man as of now and he doesn't need you crushing him to death with one of your hugs. When he is not as busy, when it is NOT close three in the morning, is when he will be back to Gaara, and it is then that you will be able to catch up with him. Do I make myself clear?!"

Naruto shrinks away and nods his head. I smile and I turn to the door. I lift my hand, but before my hand connects with the door I hear a, "Enter."

I open the door and we all walk in. I bow before his desk, as does the others, and then we straighten. I then see Temari and Kankuro standing before their younger brother. The red-haired leader is standing before his desk and he is staring at us with tired eyes.

"GAARA!!!" Naruto wails as he leaps forward.

"Naruto!" I cry out as I try to grab him, which is a bad thing, because I trip.

I whack his foot. He twists in the air. He collides with Gaara. Gaara tilts back wildly. He knocks his siblings over with the huge sand holder on his back. They all hit the large, never-ending, pile of paper on his desk. Then everything seems to go in slow motion.

Naruto's hand hits the papers. The paper wobbles Jello-style before 'exploding' off the desk in a storm of papers. They all land on the ground, as in the humans and not the paper, and I see the look in the sand wielder's eyes.

"Nar-u-TOOO!!!" he screams and sands gushes out of the gourd with vengeance.

I watch as Temari and Kankuro both try to pull away from their angry little brother, but it doesn't really happen. I look at Kakashi and he looks at me. Then he says, "You warned him."

I turn my attention back to the scene and my eyes widen. I instantly have to hold down my laughter at the sight. I think there is a little something they haven't noticed yet.

Naruto is penned down under the Kazekage. The sand has his wrists held above his head and it also has a hold on his legs. All in all, adding their red faces, I'd say it looks rather…intimate.

"G-Gaara?" Naruto asks softly and the red-haired man seems to suddenly become deadweight as he falls completely on him.

"Gaara?!" both his siblings cry out and rush to his side.

"I'm fine." The Kazekage says softly as he rolls onto his side adding, "All that work…done for nothing…"

"That's why you hide your papers when you know Naruto is coming, Gaara-san." I say and he looks at me.

"I'll remember that." He replies as he stands up and then he looks down at the blond under him.

"Gaara, are you gay?" Sai suddenly asks and everyone seems to hold their breath.

"Excuse me?"

"I asked-"

"I know what you just said!" Gaara snaps out and I find myself watch the two of them as Sai then says, "Then why did you have me repeat it?"

"I didn't."

"Okay, Gaara, we are hear on the mission. I'd like details of all that has happened, status reports on health, and the number of students without a teacher." I interrupt and he turns his gaze to me.

"A virus hit the city, happens every few years. Our medical team is short at the moment. About a third of the city is hospitalized. There are about thirty students without anyone to teach them." He answers and I frown.

"So, where are we staying?" Naruto asks and Gaara looks down at him.

"You'll be staying at my home." He answers and I raise a brow at him.

"I don't think it is a good idea to put the Knuckle-head with Gaara in the same building." I say and Kakashi just says, "It'll all play out the way it has to."

"He didn't answer." Sai says and we all look at him, but then Gaara says, "I am not gay, Sai, so don't ever ask me that question again."

"Hai." Sai replies and I look between them with a raised eyebrow.

Gaara, over the next hour, gives a full report as we help clean up the mess we all helped make. I also help organize the papers and put them on the table in the corner of the room with the help of Temari. Along the way Gaara gives us the keys to our rooms, a map of Suna, and a tidbit of information on the citizens themselves.

After we get done we all retreat to our rooms. I head to the shower first. I think that I deserve the privilege of calming down, unwinding my muscles, and clearing my head after a long morning.