The first thing Sakura noticed in the morning was how upset her stomach was. She felt nauseous, a sour, acidic feeling, and minor pain. She didn't eat anything that would bother her, but maybe something in her fridge had passed it's expiration date a little. It was tolerable in any case.

Moving to the mirror, she looked at herself. She had grown over the last couple years. Not a lot taller, but in other ways. Her body had changed, becoming more womanly as well as her face, which lost that childhood roundness. It wasn't just she who had grown. All her friend's had changed too, taller, more adult versions of themselves. Even Naruto, who just came come from his training journey, had become more of a man.

It left Sakura wondering. What did Sasuke look like now? Would she recognize him? And what about Gaara? He had been changing since she first met him. Even the last time she had seen him two years ago, he was the same height as her, gaining on her. Had he become taller now? Broader? How much had he changed?

Word had gotten out that he had become Kazekage. When Sakura heard, she couldn't be happier for him. So he found a place in the sun, she had thought. He was no longer that sad, crying boy.

Yet. She still thought of him a lot. More than she thought of a certain rogue ninja. It confused her. Why did she think of him? He had found happiness now, right? What more could she do for him that he hadn't done for himself? But to say she was meant to do anything at all was the assumption of a six year old girl. So given the fact that Gaara worked it out on his own, it could be said that it was a fluke to see him in a dream. That it never meant anything at all.

Sakura hissed as her stomach lurched. She couldn't be doing this right now. She had to get herself together. Today her new team will begin a first mission. Kakashi, Naruto, and herself, the new team 7.

After getting ready, Sakura left to meet up with the other two before they receive orders. As usual, She was the first to make it on the scene, followed shortly by Naruto. Kakashi arrived late, but was it any surprise.

When they were given their mission, Naruto refused. He hadn't changed at all, wanting something more ambitious to prove how much stronger he had become. It was annoying and childish, but it was Naruto after all.

Just as Tsunade was reaching a boiling point, A decipher ninja ran in, calling the attention of the Fifth Hokage and the entire room. "The Sand's Kazekage has been taken by an organization called the Akatsuki! We just received message."

Sakura felt her heart plummet. The Kazekage... Gaara...

Tsunade's voice broke her despair. And just like that, they were reassigned. They were to find out more about the situation and join up with the Sand.

Determination took over and Sakura could see the same look on Naruto's face. This was more like it. They wouldn't just sit on the news, they were going to do something about it.

As they made there way on the three day trip to Suna, Naruto spoke passionately of the man they aimed to retrieve. He went on about their bonds as hosts of monsters. How alone Gaara had been, and Sakura remembered the pain she felt from her dream. It was so intense that even she could feel it as if it were her own.

Listening to Naruto and re-experiencing the pain of a boy, Sakura's chest gripped tightly, new pains straining her heart. She tried to ignore it, but it magnified as they traveled, paired with her already upset stomach. So she decided to use it to strengthen her resolve. They were going to get Gaara back. Between herself and Naruto, they would not be stopped on this mission.

Sasori and Deidra were defeated. Naruto lay Gaara down in a field and Sakura approached him. Deep inside her heart began to ache. The feeling she had for three days had inexplicably stopped before entering her and Chiyo's battle with the Red Sand, and now it began again for a different reason.

Kneeling, she touched the sides of Gaara's neck, feeling for a pulse she already expected to be gone. The truth was, Sakura had her suspicions about the discomfort and pain she had felt. It lined up so well with how these events had played out. When Gaara died, her pain stopped. It stopped because his stopped.

There was nothing coming from the man on the ground, not even the weakest sign of life. Sakura couldn't cry, she wanted to, but nothing came. She turned her head and got up. It seemed everyone knew what it meant.

Naruto got angry and sad all at once, yelling at Chiyo about what they had done to Gaara, putting a monster inside him. He lemented that it was always Gaara who had it so hard. He screamed and he cried. Then Granny Chiyo stepped forward, walking until she was at Gaara's side. She dropped to the ground and place her hands on him, lighting up with chakra as she performed a jutsu.

Then Sakura knew, somehow knew why she couldn't cry. It was because Gaara's time hadn't come. Fate. The word ran through her head. Sakura was tied to Gaara. She didn't know why, but it had always been that way. The tears he shed, that spilled from her own eyes in the night. His pain as he was dying, constricting and twisting within her as she sought to save him. The strange calm over his death when she knew she had stronger feelings toward the man then to just feel detached from it.

Did people belong to a mystical design? How interconnected and woven was this life? Naruto had a connection to Gaara, but so did she. And just what did it mean? She dreamt of him before she even knew he existed. What did that say for their bonds? She felt his pain, just how close were they?

Naruto questioned Granny Chiyo aggressively, but dropped down on the other side of Gaara after Sakura revealed the truth to him. "She's bringing Gaara back."

Naruto's voice called his name and when his eyes opened, he wasn't lost anymore. Naruto stood over him smiling and all he could do was say his name back.

The world was silent as he looked around, then suddenly thunderously loud. A crowd of Sand villages stood around him cheering, crying, laughing. Happy? Happy that he was alive? They acknowledge him now. It was all he had wanted and now it was here. He was stunned, looking around at all the faces, shouting his name and thanking the heavens.

His eyes fell on pink and the woman who belonged to the color. She looked different. She looked like a woman, beautiful even though she cried.

Sakura. He searched within himself and noticed an absence. The demon that dwelled inside of him, inside his head, was gone. As he looked upon this ninja, this woman he never understood, he saw she was crying. Crying not for him, but the elder in her arms.

He knew what had happened then. Gaara remembered fading away. He also remembered coming back. That blankness. It was death. This elder was a medic and it was rumored that she had mastered a jutsu for bringing back the dead.

She had died to bring him back.

In the Chaos of his revival, his attentions was drawn back by his sister, and a couple girls shoving Naruto out of his way. In the background, he heard voices confirm what he had gathered and looked back to see Sakura mourning the old woman deeply. He didn't know why she did, but clearly they had gone through something together. She didn't hold her like a stranger, but as a dear friend close to her heart.

Gaara struggled to stand, but buckled, too weak to manage. That's when he felt Naruto, assisting him when he couldn't do it on his own. With his help, Gaara stood in front of Sakura and the body of the elder. Sakura lock eyes with him, surprised that he had neared. He then addressed the crowd, his eyes still with her. "Everyone. Let us prey for Granny Chiyo."

And they did, everyone, Sand and Leaf, bowed their heads and closed their eyes in respect, allowing for a moment of silence.

Gaara couldn't handle carrying himself, supported by his brother and Naruto as they headed back to Sunagakure. On the way, everyone filled him in. He learned of the defeat of two members of the Akatsuki. Deidra, who took several people to bring down, and Sasori, who was felled by none other than Sakura and Chiyo. The pinkette's sorrow made more sense then.

He hadn't heard from her, she stayed a ways behind, walking with the coffin of the elder. Glancing over his shoulder, he searched for her in the crowd. Her head was hung down, but she seemed to register his attention, looking up to lock eyes with him briefly. Her tears had dried, but her sadness remained. Before turning away, Sakura held her head a little higher. She looked stronger in that moment.

Kankuro had told him that Sakura had also used her poison expertise to save him from death. This woman was a force to be reckoned with, who saved his life, his brother's life, and defeated a member of Akatsuki.

He remembered the ethereal look in her eyes. He had known since then that she would be something to behold as it stirred something in him. What was it she knew? That which she said he wouldn't believe. Did she understand it now? Would she tell him someday?