Chapter ELEVEN
The pinkette let out a feeble cough and collapsed against the Uchiha.
Sasuke slowly pulled his arm out, nothing really registering in his mind. He kept an arm on Sakura's shoulder to support the girl.
"Saku...ra?" Sasuke slowly looked up, meeting the confused gaze of Gaara.
"Gaara-sama." Sakura slowly tilted her head back. "I'm so sorry."
"Sakura?" Gaara's sand stopped moving, settling to just hovering over the redhead. "Sakura?"
Gaara's sand began to move slowly towards them. Sasuke instinctively jumped back, and Sakura collapsed into the cushion of sand that appeared beneath her. "Sakura?" Gaara gripped the girl's shoulder.
He then went quiet. A growl sounded form deep within his throat. The sound was very unlike his usual tone, and Sasuke and Naruto both paused. Sand began to pool around Gaara's feet. The Jinchuriki tightened his grip on Sakura, who was now completely limp.
...Tanuki Neiri no jutsu...
And Gaara closed his eyes.
Sasuke, who was now out of chakra, could only sit and watch as Gaara's sand slowly shifted and began to take form or something. He soon recognized it to be a tanuki. It kept growing and growing, until it easily towered over the trees. Beside him, Naruto was meddling with something.
"Ah hah!" Sasuke turned around, just in time to see a puff of smoke, and a small toad appeared in front of Naruto.
Sasuke let out a sigh of annoyance, then turned his attention back to the huge sand tanuki.
He was out of chakra, and couldn't fight. Besides, he doubted that the Chidori would do much damage to such a large foe. He could see Gaara's form slouching over on top of the Sand tanuki's head. He was slouched over, and half his body was hidden in the sand. Sakura was buried in the sand in front of the redhead.
The sound of something going on behind him made him turn around again. His eyes widened in shock.
"Sasuke-teme! Hurry!" Sasuke glanced upwards, to where Naruto was clinging onto the neck of the huge toad. "We need to stop that Gaara-guy!"
Without hesitating, Sasuke jumped next to his teammate. Questions could wait.
"Gaara-sama!"
Said redhead looked up from the sand castle he was making. "Sakura!"
The pinkette scrambled over he sand towards him. "Gaara-sama, I was wondering what this was." She held up a red ball.
"It's a ball." He said, remembering what the other children had been saying. At Sakura's curious look, he told her about how it was used. They then spent the rest of the day playing with it.
"Sakura!" Gaara glanced around his room. "Where are you?"
He sensed something above him, and Gaara looked up. Sakura was hanging off the ceiling by the soles of her feet. She suddenly let go, flipped neatly and landed in front of him. "Did you call for me?"
Gaara nodded. "Yeah!" He grinned. "Yashamaru said he'll take me to get ice cream." He exclaimed. "You should come with us!"
"Ice cream?" Sakura asked as she fell in line behind him.
Gaara nodded. "It's very cold." He told her. "And very sweet."
"Look, it's the monster boy." Gaara flinched, and slowly glanced up. Yashamaru had gone to finish some business given to him by the Kazekage, and Sakura had been on a mission given to her by the Kazekage.
A boy slightly older than him loomed over him. "Why are you here?"
Gaara recoiled. "I-I..."
The boy smirked. He picked up a rock, and got ready to throw it, when multiple gasps were heard. The boy let out a screech of pain that attracted the attention of everyone around them.
Gaara saw Sakura standing behind the boy, his wrist in her tight grip. "What are you doing?"
The boy dropped the rock, and Sakura released him. The children spent no time in running towards their parents, who shot them disgusted looks.
Gaara didn't care. "Sakura! I thought you were on a mission."
Sakura blinked at him. "I just completed it." She offered him a gentle smile. "Now, Gaara-sama, what would you like to do today?"
"Can we play in the sand?"
Sakura nodded. "Anything you wish, Gaara-sama."
Gaara felt a stinging pain on his cheek, and his eyes flew open. The blond boy, Naruto, loomed over him, his fist drawn back. A little behind him stood the Uchiha. Gaara's eyes widened in surprise, for just a moment, before sand began to encase the two Konoha Genin.
The two struggled, but were pulled further and further into the sand.
Then, Gaara noticed at change in the blond. Red chakra began to leak from him, the chakra slowly beginning to break through his sand. Naruto charged towards him, but Gaara managed to stop him a meter or so away from him. Naruto swung his head back, and Gaara felt pain explode in his head as the blond's forehead connected with his own.
His sand began to loose it's form. Soon, it was nothing but sand, which was soon swept up by the wind. Gaara felt himself falling. He sensed a part of his sand move away to catch Sakura. He flipped himself with some trouble, and saw the two Konoha Genin do the same. Gaara landed quite awkwardly, but kept his eyes on the Konoha Genin.
Sasuke had collapsed, no doubt out of energy. He was conscious, but couldn't move. Naruto, on the other hand, was still on his feet. Gaara wanted to go kill the Uchiha, but there was an enemy in front of him, and he would have to take care of the blonde two then flew at each other.
Temari landed beside Kankuro and helped her brother to his feet.
"We're retreating." She murmured.
Kankuro nodded.
"Let's go get Gaara and Sakura."
Gaara couldn't move. His limbs felt heavy, and he just about managed to sit up. Sasuke was sitting up as well, on the other side of the clearing. Naruto was slowly approaching him.
Gaara felt a spike of fear and tried to move backwards, only to send a wave of pain through him. He slowly raised his arms and shook his head. "Don't-don't come any closer." He let out a shuddering breath.
Naruto didn't stop. He did slow, however, his eyes widening in shock.
Gaara felt warm hands settle on his shoulders. Then Sakura was crouching in front of him, facing Naruto. She was bleeding, badly. The wound on her stomach had been healed to some point, leaving behind a scar and the splotches of blood. She was pale from the blood loss and she was swaying on her feet. Still, she crouched, in front of Gaara, her arms spread in a protective manner.
"Sakura-chan..." Naruto breathed out. "You..." He steeled himself, then stepped towards Gaara again.
"You have someone you want to protect, don't you?"
Gaara blinked several times, then his eyes unconsciously moved to Sakura, who hadn't moved once since Naruto had begun talking.
"So, your strength comes from wanting to protect the people precious to you." Gaara murmured. "From wanting to keep them safe."
"You got it!" Naruto grinned. "Being alone is sad. I know that. Most of the people around me aren't there for me. They're there for the Hokage's son. One day, I'm going to make the people of this village acknowledge me for who I am and what I do, not my father's accomplishments and prowess. If I can do it, you can too!" He then fell backwards, and let out a small laugh. Sasuke, who had recovered a little, helped the blonde stand.
Gaara felt something warm bubble within him, and a tiny smile made it's way onto his face.
"Gaara!"
He glanced up to see Temari and Kankuro appear from the trees. He staggered to his feet, and raised a hand to stop Sakura from helping him. "I...I'm sorry."
Temari and Kankuro looked at each other, disbelief in their eyes.
Beside him, Sakura got to her feet, staggering on the spot. "My apologies, Gaara-sama. I...I should have..."
Sakura glanced over her shoulder at him. "I'm so sorry, Gaara-sama." And she collapsed.
First, more info on the Fanfic we're looking for (THANK YOU, silverwolfigther00)
In Ame, Sakura got really close with the ame kids.
Before death at Hanzo's hands, Konan made her promise that she would take care of Yahiko and Nagato. However, later on, they just forget about their friendship with her and just use her.
Sakura killed the amekage (or hanzo, some one in power) to save Nagato and Yahiko, who in turn took the 'blame' and became the new "amekage".
Sakura feels lonely, and discarded, but still have to help them because of her promise to Konan.
Sakura was the one to 'invite' most of the Akatsuki.
Sakura is in Ame (Maybe she grew up there? We don't remember)
There was something about a cave...(We don't think it was very important, but just saying.)
There's an exam of sorts (Probably Chunin?) and while Konan, Yahiko and Nagato are participating, Sakura finds and recruits Zetsu into the Akatsuki.
When they (Sakura, Nagato, Yahiko and Konan) are captured by Hanzo, Konan dies instead of Yahiko. (Something about one female in the Akatsuki?)
GYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Just a few more chapters to go! (Again, is that good or bad?)
Darque: This week is the last week of school for me! THEN IT IS THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS!
Raven: I, on the other hand, have school well into July. At least Darque is coming back to Japan during the holidays.
Darque: Haha. Good luck. Hey, I could help you with the art stuff, if you have any.
Raven:...
Darque: And I can hang around your house, cause your whole family loves me.
Raven:...
Darque: And when you come back from school, we can game!
Raven: Now, that's a good idea.
Read and Review!