I do not own Naruto.
The spell of bacon filled the house with it's wonderful aroma. This is what drove Sasori to get out of bed.
After venturing down the steps and into the kitchen, he ended up finding not only his bride to be, but also her friend Ino.
"Hey Sasori." Ino greeted him simply.
He didn't really mind that she was there because she usually is on her days off. "Hey Ino." he greeted back, then walked over to see what else Sakura was cooking.
"Good morning to you too." Sakura greeted him after he hugged her from behind.
"Good morning." he replied, then took a seat across from Ino at the table.
Shortly after Sakura served them breakfast, and they all dug in.
"So Sasori, Naruto was telling us about some new arrivals. Some draft thingy." Ino told him. "When are they going to be here?"
"I'm not completely sure, but I think it's today actually." he enlightened them while taking a sip of orange juice.
"Well that should be fun. I know Naruto was really excited about not having to fight the same people again. Is this exchange permanent?" the pink haired medic asked.
"No, it's only for the fight, then they are leaving for the next place."
"Will they be participating in the fight tonight?" Ino asked again.
"Ya they will be. It's just going to be practice for them though. They will really be fighting in the event in two weeks." he replied.
"You better hurry up then, you don't want to miss practice." Sakura informed him with a smile.
"Alright," he said while getting up and kissing her goodbye, "will you be there tonight?"
"Ya. I'll probably be sitting with Kiba, Naruto, and Neji." she replied. "Alright." he smiled then messed up her and walked out the apartment door.
"What is with that! Everyone always messes up my hair!" Sakura pouted.
"Because it's fun." Ino stated simply, then went to do just that but Sakura swatted her hand away just in time. This time it was Ino's turn to pout.
"Anyways, what are you going to do today?" Ino asked her friend. "Probably go get some groceries. Then Sasori's match tonight. Unless I get called into the hospital again." Sakura replied. "You going tonight?"
"Yes, I think so." the blonde replied.
"Okay, well I think I'm going to go to the store before everyone else gets there. Coming?"
"Sure." Ino replied.
As they walked down the busy street, they noticed a lot of people that they didn't know.
"Must be the drafters." Sakura kind of whispered to her friend before they started to make their way through the huge crowd.
"Ya. Funny thing is, their all looking at you." Ino whispered to her friend.
"Nah, I think they are looking at you." Sakura answered. Ino only gave Sakura a look that said 'open your eyes, they are clearly staring at you.'
"What? It's probably just my hair. It's very unnatural looking you know. And bright." she told her friend, who in return just rolled her eyes. "Or it could be that you're just gorgeous." Ino said matter-of-factly.
"Ino, I am not gorgeous." Sakura replied.
"Whatever you want to tell yourself." was Ino's only reply.
"Hey Sakura! Over here!" someone was screaming from somewhere in the crowd. She knew exactly who it was from right off the bat.
"Hey Naruto." she greeted her hyperactive friend. "What, no 'Hello' to me?" Sasori asked from behind Naruto.
"Oh, I didn't see you, but no. You don't get a greeting." Sakura teased him.
"Go ahead Sasori, tell her." Naruto said proudly with his arms crossed and a huge grin across his face.
"Tell me what?" Sakura asked confused.
"He wants me to tell you that potatoes are actually magical." Sasori said with a sigh.
Sakura just rolled her eyes and grinned, "Whatever you say Naruto."
"Yes! See! I was right! Ha! In your face!"
"Calm down Naruto, you're gonna hurt yourself like last time." Ino informed him.
Naruto just hung his head in shame. "I come here today just to train, and I end up getting insulted." Naruto said. Sakura just laughed, "Well, we better get going before the store gets too crowded." she told the boys.
"Alright, just be safe." Sasori replied and gave Sakura a kiss that made his point in letting all of the other men know that she was his. After all, the guys were clearly still staring at her and whispering to one another.
Then Sakura and Ino ventured off once again, trying not to get lost. It wasn't as hard this time because now the men made a passage way to let her through, they knew they didn't have a chance now.
By this time the girls had made their way out of the huge crowd and somehow ended up at the market's entrance.
"That was insane!" Ino shouted at her friend. "I know. The crowd was HUGE." Sakura answered.
X
"Bread, butter, milk, I think that's all." Sakura sighed a sigh of relief.
"Alright, well what now?" Ino asked.
"I guess we will check out and go get something to eat or something." Sakura replied. "Sounds good to me." her friend agreed.
"We should go get some ramen, then shove it in Naruto's face later." Sakura said. "You are such a terrible friend." Ino replied.
"I know." she said with a grin.
"That hit the spot. I'm sure Naruto's going to love hearing that we went to his favorite food stand without him." Sakura teased.
"Ya. Hey! Look over there." Ino said while pointing to a group of very handsome men.
"And? Ino, I'm engaged now." Sakura said while shaking her head.
"Doesn't mean you still can't look. Come on, you know that they are very attractive." Ino said while looking over at her friend. "Ya I guess you're right…just don't tell Sasori." Sakura joked.
By this time, the two girls had gotten the attention of every boy in that group as they decided to walk past them. "You are like a man magnet." Ino told her friend in disbelief. Sakura just shook her head.
"Whatever."
"Hey, it's getting kind of late, what times the match?" Ino asked.
"Six. I should probably go home and get a shower before I go. I also have to go get a book I got Naruto on fairytales and how they are just make belief." Sakura replied.
"His heart is going to be broken, you know that right?"
"He'll get over it sooner or later." Sakura replied simply.
"Alright, well a shower sounds good right now. I'm going home as well to get one and get ready. I'll be at your house around 5:30. See ya!" Ino said as she started to walk away from Sakura. "Sounds good, see you later Ino." Sakura called after her.
"Alright, I got the book and I'm all clean. Now all I have to do is wait for Ino to get here so that we can head over to the fight." Sakura told herself out loud.
As if on cue there was a knocking on the door.
"Come in!" Sakura yelled from the kitchen, and in came Ino.
"You ready?" Ino asked.
"Yes." Sakura replied, then walked out and locked the door behind them.
"There should be some good fights tonight." Ino said. "Ya, there should be." Sakura agreed.
"Wow, this place is packed tonight!" Ino said in total disbelief.
"Hey Ino! Sakura!" the girls turned around to find Kiba calling them. They quickly walked over to him and Neji and sat down beside them.
"Hey!" everyone looked over to find Naruto walking over to them. Sakura met him and after giving him a quick hug, gave him the book that she brought for him. His face was very sad after reading the title out loud, "Fairytales aren't for real". "I'm sorry Naruto, but it's about time that you know." Sakura said while putting a supportive hand on his shoulder. "Be strong young one, be strong." she finished, then drug him over to sit down with her and the rest of them.
"Is Sasori ready for tonight? I don't know how much sleep he got last night." Sakura said concerned, followed by some 'ooo's' "Not like that you idiots! He stayed up last night till I got home. I don't want him being tired and distracted while fighting." She said a matter-of-factly and pouted.
"Ya, he said that he was fine. They should all be coming out soon to warm up." Naruto said seriously.
"So Naruto, is there any cute boys here tonight fighting?" Ino asked, referencing the group of boys that she and Sakura saw earlier.
"Um, I'm not sure I can answer that question." Naruto asked kind of scared. Ino just rolled her eyes and slouched.
"Always trying to hook up." Kiba snorted. "You wanna go dog boy! That's what I thought! Shut up!" Ino defended herself.
"I bet they also had the same idea when they saw you and Sakura walking by earlier." Naruto stated simply.
"How'd you know?" Sakura asked. "I only had to look at all of them just staring at Sakura, up until Sasori made his point." Naruto chuckled.
"I don't know why you people always think that they are looking at me. I'm not gorgeous, I wear t-shirts and jeans every day and brush my hair, it's not really that great of a sight." Sakura defended herself.
"Whatever you say." everyone replied, making Sakura pout even more.
"Here they come!" Ino said excitedly. Sakura sat upright again and started looking for her fiancé.
Ino nudged the pink haired woman and pointed her in the direction of her fiancé who smiled back at Sakura, making Sakura smile in return and gave him a thumbs up.
All of her friends around her suddenly went dead silent. Sakura turned around in shock to see what was wrong. Ino just looked at her and pointed in an unknown direction. "Sakura, look!" Sakura looked over to where she was pointing "Ino, what are yo…" Sakura's eyes grew as big as baseballs.
There in one of the corners stretching with some other fighters was none other than the man who haunted Sakura's dreams. The first person she ever truly loved. Gaara.
Sakura couldn't move, she was frozen in place. And before she could even try to move so he wouldn't see her, it was already too late, he was now staring right at her with shocked features on his face.
Sakura's heart started to beat uncontrollably fast. She didn't know what to do. Should she make a run for it? Fake sickness and go home? But she didn't want to let Sasori down. Plus it wasn't like she could move anyways, she was still frozen in place.
All of the sudden Gaara started walking towards where she was sitting. Now she was really starting to panic.
But as if on cue, a guy announced that they were going to be starting the matches soon, and for all the fighters to get to their designated spots.
Sakura then had the chance to sigh a sigh of relief while watching Gaara retreating back unwillingly.
'That was strange, the old Gaara wouldn't have cared and would've broken the rules. I'm sure he will try to find me after it's all done. That's why I have to try and find Sasori before Gaara finds me.' Sakura thought.
"Sakura, you know what this means…." Ino informed her pink haired friend.
"Trouble." Sakura replied.
There's the new chapta! Things are going to get intense! But you have to read on to figure out what exactly happens! Read and Review! Thanks! c: