Don't hurt me please...(dodges sharp objects) I'm sorry for making you guys wait this long. I had a lot going on, including team practices, writer's block, and Japanese Club stuff I had to do at school. Add in the fact I was failing a class for the longest time, and you can see why It took so long.

(looks at angry Gaara and Sakura) Well, I'll wrap this up quickly, seeing as the characters just want me to get on with the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in any of its forms. It would be nice, but I don't.

Playlist:
Flying High by DJ Splash
River Flows In You by Yiruma
I Hate Everything About You by Three Days Grace
Puppet by Thousand Foot Crutch

Sakura was in the hospital. Normally, this wouldn't bother her. Then again, no one had had more of a hectic day than her. Between the invasion and her boyfriend leaving, Sakura couldn't take anymore scares.

"SAKURA!"

She flinched at the tone in her mother's voice, somewhere between scared and angry.

"Sakura, honey, are you alright? He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"No, mom, he didn't! He would never hurt me!"

Sakura watched her mother's worried face turn to hatred. "Honey, you don't know his record, you can't possibly think…"

"Mom! Just because he has a demon in him doesn't mean he's evil! He just needs people like you to stop looking down on him!"

Her mother held her at arm's length. "Sakura, what happened to you? You know full well how I feel about that matter."

Sakura pushed away from her mother. "Jesus, mom! First you hate Naruto for no reason, then Gaara? What is wrong with people?! So someone's different! It doesn't matter, and it shouldn't matter!"

Sakura's mother had never heard her daughter so passionate about something. As Sakura turned heel and walked out of the ward to intensive care, her mother could only watch helplessly as her daughter transformed from a weak little bud into a beautiful blossom.

A lone figure stood among the dunes, deep in meditation. Red hair whipped about in the wind as he delved deep within himself to find an answer. Gaara was unreachable to the outside world, floating on the astral plain.

Shukaku? Are you there?

Somewhere within his mindscape, a figure stirred lazily.

Hey there, kid. What's up? I hardly ever see you any more.

The entire situation in Konoha is being discussed as we speak. I thought you should know.

You and I both know that they'd never let you two be together.

I'm aware. But that doesn't stop me from trying, does it?

Sakura walked the streets, her anger fading away to a dull exhaustion.

That was uncalled for.

But mom needs to learn that jinchuuriki are people too! They aren't the demons they contain, they're human beings who need the same love and care that normal people need. People need to stop fearing them.

That has to be the smartest thing you've ever thought. Maybe you aren't a little bud anymore...

Hey, stop that! You're starting to sound like Ino!

Hey, I'm just saying that it's a sign you're becoming smarter and more mature. Meanwhile, Sasuke's in the hospital. What do you plan on doing?

Sakura stopped for a second. What did she plan on doing? It was obvious that Sasuke cared about her, but she no longer cared for him. What was she going to do?! She had no clue what to do in this kind of situation! Oh, what she wouldn't give for Ino's advice...even if it was biased advice...

"Hey forehead!"

Sakura turned. Okay, that's just creepy...

Ino stopped. "Hey, listen. I'm sorry about the whole Sasuke thing."

Sakura stepped forward. "You're just now apologizing?"

Ino looked at her feet. "I feel terrible about the whole mess. We used to be friends. What happened to us?"

"Sasuke happened. God, Ino, when are you going to realize that Sasuke is going to always be there to screw things up? He's trouble, and I want no part of him."

Ino looked up at her, blue eyes wide. "Sakura, you've changed. You would've never said that a few months ago."

Sakura glared. "I'm not the same girl from a few months ago. The girl from a few months ago would've blown you off by now. I'm going to give you a chance: you have to earn back my trust that you broke when we stopped being friends. You have to stop being a little girl crushing over some guy who couldn't care less if you exist, let alone how your hair looks or what your new outfit looks like."

Ino felt tears coming to her eyes. "I don't know if I can..."

"Don't try, don't gain. It's your choice. If our friendship means anything to you, you would try."

Sakura turned, and walked back towards her house. "Let me know when you want to try."

Gaara sat in the family room, impatient. Baki had told them all to come inside, that he had news about the real Kazekage. Gaara, however, was thinking about just that.

What happened to him? If the Kazekage at the exams was really Orochimaru, then what happened to the real one? Was he merely a puppet? If so, am I the puppet of the puppet?

Gaara shooed such thoughts away. Like the Kazekage was any concern of his. The Kazekage could burn in hell for all he cared. The Kazekage was merely a weakling, and people still cared where he'd been spirited off to? Gaara inwardly scoffed.

Like he really cared.

"We've found the real Kazekage," Baki stated. That was it. No preamble, no introduction.

"What? Are you sure?"

Baki took a long look at Temari. "Yes."

Kankuro sat up. "What happened to him?"

Baki stared at the three, and Gaara swore he saw a rigid kind of mask form over Baki's face.

"The Kazekage is dead."

I'm a bit ill, so forgive any typos that turned up. School's being suckish at the moment, but hey, it could be worse. Anyway, review and make me feel better?