Leo: It's been a while, ne? Sorry about the wait; I was having some difficulty putting this chapter into words and making sure characters were, well, in character. There's not going to be any SasukeXMisaki for a while since he's on Orochimaru's side now so bear with it. Chapter 40 was the last chance for voting so here are the scores:

Gaara: 20

Sasuke: 14

Leo: I was a bit surprised that the Gaara vote jumped so dramtically but, oh well, it is what it is. So this is now a GaaraOC story. Sorry to all the Sasuke fans who voted but majority wins. Disclaimer time!

Itachi: Leo doesn't own Naruto and she never will.

Leo: Unfortunately. Commencing story!

Misaki's POV

"So, Gaara, can I ask a question?" I broke the silence as we eventually reached the gates of Konoha.

"…Hn." Though he didn't make eye contact I knew he was listening.

"You kind of left before I got the chance to say goodbye, so…have you found something you want to do yet? You know, since you don't live to kill anymore." I questioned curiously. I'd been wondering for a while how Gaara was doing ever since he left Konoha. I already knew he was stronger now from the showdown with Kimimaro but I wondered if he'd found something he wanted to aim for.

"Yes, I've been meaning to ask that too. Gaara-san, have you found a purpose yet?" Lee seemed just as eager to know as I was.

"…I want to become the Kazekage." He said. I halted in my steps, for a second there I could have sworn he sounded like a certain knuckle-headed ninja; albeit a much calmer and less knuckle-headed one.

"Eh?" Kazekage?!" Lee seemed surprised by that.

"…Did Naruto inspire this dream?" I quickly caught up to him wanting to know the reason behind such a big goal.

"…I've seen how much the people of the Leaf acknowledge Uzumaki Naruto. I want the people of my own village to stop fearing me and start to acknowledge me too. I believe his strength comes from the acknowledgement of the people surrounding him…one day I want to be like that too; accepted as the protector of the people close to me." Gaara said.

I smiled. "I know you can do it. Frankly, there aren't a lot of people who are stronger than you Gaara." I chuckled at the last part.

"We'll support you, Gaara-san!" Lee patted Gaara on the back friendly though Gaara shot him a strange look.

"Lee-san! We told you not to leave the hospital! We've been looking all the over the village for you!" We turned to see a medic nin from the hospital come running up to us with Genma and in tow.

"Misaki, Tsunade-sama, was asking about you, Naruto already came back but you didn't arrive with him. He's worried you know since the medic nins didn't retrieve your body…isn't that a sand nin with you?" Genma fiercely glared at Gaara when he finally noticed him standing next to me.

"Hello to you too, Genma." I said dryly, "Gaara came to help us he's part of the reinforcement for Sasuke's retrieval."

"He better be." Genma huffed, "Hurry up and get your butt to the hospital."

"Roger that, sir. By the way, Genma, did Naruto manage to bring Sasuke back?" I asked.

Genma's face suddenly clouded over; he looked away, avoiding eye contact. I tensed.

"Sorry, Misaki…" All he did was mumble before he quickly started in the direction of the hospital.

I swallowed. It was impossible, Naruto couldn't bring him back? I walked in a daze towards the hospital about to find out for myself.

"N-Naruto!" I flung open the hospital room door, my eyes crazed.

"Misaki! Where were you?! The medic nins said they didn't retrieve you or Lee's body." Naruto's eyes widened when he saw I was in one piece. I took in his appearance, he was all bandaged up and he seemed tired both physically and mentally. Nonetheless, he smiled at Gaara. "Oi, Gaara. It's good to see you!"

"Good to see you're in good condition, Misaki." Shikamaru smiled a relieved smile though he seemed a bit tense.

I was silent as my eyes flickered around the room. Sakura was in the corner holding back tears. Shikamaru was sitting on the chair next to Naruto's bed calmly. I flicked my eyes to the window not wanting to look anyone in the eyes as I asked my next question.

"Naruto. Is Sasuke back?" I asked breaking the short silence.

Naruto's eyes widened for a second before he looked away, that was answer enough. I shut the door and bolted down the hallway.

Naruto's POV

"Misaki! Wait!" Shikamaru went to get off the chair. I grabbed his wrist quickly.

"Don't. Leave her be. She needs to be alone right now." I intervened. Shikamaru furrowed his brow questioningly.

"But Gaara already went after her." He pointed out.

I looked towards the door, and gaped. "What?!"

Misaki's POV

I took the steps down the stairs three at a time attempting to get out of the building. I needed to be outside; I needed some fresh air and desperately. I shot past the front doors ignoring the small shriek of the nurse at the front desk.

As I burst through the doors I didn't bother to look up I just kept running. The raw stomping of my feet against the ground was somehow comforting, I willed myself to focus on the rasping of my breath as I struggled to keep up my quick, steady pace. Maybe if I ran hard enough I could outrun the shock.

Eventually, I came to a stop, my hands on my knees as I tried to catch my breath. I looked up to see the one thing I didn't want to see. I choked as if I'd just been punched in the stomach. The gates of Konoha. The absolute last place I wanted to be right now and the last place I'd seen Sasuke before Orochimaru claimed him.

I plopped down on the bench too tired to try and run away again, I tried to calm my racing heart and cope with the shock that Sasuke was gone. I heard a familiar voice.

"Misaki." Gaara. Just as eerily cold and calm as ever. I grit my teeth suddenly feeling angry.

"Why'd you follow me?" I glared defensively.

Gaara shot me a curious look before sitting down at the bench. I glared at him some more willing him to leave. When I realized glaring would do nothing I voice my thoughts. "Go away." I growled out.

Still he didn't move. I ground my teeth angrily even more annoyed by his silence. Until he spoke up. "Was he that important?"

I looked at him caught off guard for a moment before I looked down at my hands tightly gripping the fabric of my shorts. "Of course. He was a comrade."

"Why didn't you stop him?" he asked.

"What do you mean why didn't I stop him? Do you think I wanted him to leave? It's because nothing I said could've stopped him!" I snapped at him. Still Gaara stared out the gates as if this was the most casual conversation in all the countries.

"Then why not use physical force?"

"B-Because it's not my place." I said warily. Naruto had been the closest one to Sasuke, both in relationship and strength; it only made sense for him to beat some sense into Sasuke.

"Wrong."

"What do you mean wrong?!" I stood up angrily.

"Even if you did beat him, he would just keep trying to leave; no matter what you tried you knew he was gone." Gaara explained. I growled.

"No. It's my fault. I should have tried to stop him; I should have alerted Tsunade-sama earlier. Maybe then he wouldn't have made it to the border." I ground my teeth.

"Maybe. But he would've left anyway." Gaara spoke up. I turned on him fury present in my eyes.

"That's not true! What do you know! You didn't know Sasuke, not like I did. He was a teammate, a comrade! Comrades never leave each other, or let each other leave and that's exactly what I did. I let down Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi and every other ninja in this village! I failed!" I exploded in an angry fit, jabbing my finger at him as if that would convey the hurt and guilt I was feeling.

Finally, Gaara made eye contact. "Even if I didn't know him like you did. I felt the same loneliness as him. The feeling of loneliness, hurt, suffering, and guilt. I felt it. The feeling of wanting to protect my loved ones, and the need to get stronger. I feel it. I know that if it was to avenge his loved ones he would leave this village."

I flopped down onto the bench; Gaara's eyes shifted back to the gates. I bit my lip wrestling with my emotions. I held back the tears pricking the back of my eyes.

"Damn you, Sasuke." I cursed Sasuke for making me like this, making me into a weakling. I never wanted to be the kind of person to break down.

"I'm strong, dammit." I growled in frustration as if that would stop my need to cry. I knew I was dangerously close to succumbing to it.

"It's okay to cry." Gaara murmured. I shut my eyes; that was the last straw. The floodgates opened. I cried openly, blubbering and sobbing my guilt and anger away. Eventually, I found that I was leaning against Gaara and crying into his shoulder. I closed my eyes and tried to stop trembling.

'I'm going to get stronger, just you watch Sasuke. I'll bring you back. Just you wait. For everyone's sake. I'll bring you back.'

Leo: Bit of Gaara X Misaki goodness right there. Thank the authoress. This is kind of a random piece of information but when Naruto says he's happy to see Misaki in one piece I thought of the manga One Piece and I noticed Naruto and Luffy kind of act alike. They both eat a lot. Naruto, ramen; and Luffy, meat. And they're both knuckle-headed idiots who have a power unique to them. Naruto with the nine-tailed and Luffy with the Gum Gum fruit. Haha, sorry about my rant there. But small things like this kind of distract me. Please review! :D