"She doesn't have the clearance level to hold such sensitive information."
"I agree. She has no ties with the Kazekage or Orochimaru nor is she a spy. We did the necessary research on her."
"Should we let her go?"
"Yes. She's useless to us. She doesn't know anything."
The wooden door opened wide and a tall man stepped into the almost empty room where Sakura sat with her hands on her lap on the only chair in the room. She looked right through him. The man moved his lips, words came out of his mouth but they were lost in nothingness because Sakura's ears clogged from the shock. He cracked his fingers and managed to draw her attention to his face.
"Did you hear me? You can go. I called your parents to pick you up."
Sakura nodded. Her father gestures for her to follow him wordlessly. They cut the chaos with their calm walking through the village. People ran desperately in all directions saying meaningless things for Sakura, such as "Hokage-sama died" and "Orochimaru tried to kill him, but be lost his hands in the process."
"You disappointed me, you know?" Kizashi told his daughter as soon as he closed the door of his house behind him. "I wasn't expecting you to cause such shame for me."
Sakura didn't say anything. Kizashi sighed.
"Go to your room. You're grounded."
Sakura followed the instructions without protests. What could she say? No matter what she said would be pointless. She went into her room and started walking in circles on the carpet before she looked at her wrist and saw the bracelet from that traitor and sadness got the better of her. Knots made of tears traced the contour of her pale face when she took off the bracelet and necklace and threw them onto the desk. She sat on the floor, in the farthest corner from the window, sandwiched between the wardrobe and the wall. She hugged her knees to the chest and tried to cry as quiet as possible so her dad wouldn't hear and get even more upset with her.
...
What happened was that foreign shinobi tried to steal and kidnap citizens of Konoha while the Hokage was fighting for his life and all jonins were busy saving the citizens. Some ninja that signed up for the chunin exams tried to protect Konoha but they were either arrested on alleged spying, others died on duty. Things started looking bad for the Kazekage. He orchestrated the fiasco because his people were starving and they were in need of fertile land to sow, land the Kazekage was hoping to obtain from Konoha. However, the jonin were much better organized than he had originally thought and had defended the country from most attacks. Foreign shinobi died, which meant their villages were going to demand answers to which Konoha would have said that Suna is to blame. Therefore, resulting in villages standing together to attack Suna which would become a carcass that fed many hungry vultures. Even if his youngest son would agree to defend the village using Shukaku, he wouldn't stand a chance against the other tailed beasts together. The Kazekage switched sides again, in favor of Konoha. He ordered his soldiers to help the exact people they had previously attacked. He ordered the capture of Orochimaru and his spies. They weren't successful in catching Orochimaru, but Sunan shinobi offered Konoha all of his spies on a silver platter. Everyone was confused. Despite the mutual hate, shinobi of both Konoha and Suna obeyed orders without question. The leaf didn't afford to complain and risk escalating the conflict between the 2 nations, especially when the Hokage was dead, so they shut up and swallowed the shame.
Gaara and his siblings felt bad and ashamed for finding themselves in such a shameful position, but they couldn't show it. It wasn't like them to show it to the world. Gaara felt very lonely in his soul. He was aware Sakura had broken the connection between them. He wanted nothing more than going straight to her and explain everything. He was ready to do anything she asked of him, but there was no chance to slip through the barriers of ninja guarding every street. Konoha was in a state of emergency and no stranger was allowed to wander the streets. The jonin received orders to kill anyone who acts suspiciously, anyone who doesn't look like a Konoha citizen without verifying if they were an actual threat or not. If Gaara were to risk it, he would have died and the already frail treaty of peace would end. Gaara was forced to retreat to his country after the Kazekage made a deal with the Leaf elders to report to the other villages that Orochimaru was the single cause for foreign ninja's deaths.
Kankurou and Temari were afraid to say anything to their brother. He looked pretty unstable. Temari was rubbing her hands against each other behind her back while she staring at her brother's nape as she was trying to imagine what was going on in his head. Kankurou purposely stood closer to his sister to protect her in case Gaara lost control.
Meanwhile, Gaara was secretly calling Sakura by her name in his mind. Over and over again, he refused to believe their connection was lost forever. Anything would have been better than this heavy silence. He would have preferred is Sakura yelled at him or cursed him. At least it would allow him to hear her voice.
...
Three days later, Sakura appeared at Sakura's window, in the middle of the night and waited there until she noticed his chakra. Sakura got up from the floor and walked to open the window and let Sasuke step into the room. The first thing Sasuke noticed was that Sakura was no longer wearing the sand bracelet and necklace for they were on the bed. He smiled and immediately thought of a way to take advantage of the situation. He finally had the upper hand.
"You don't deserve what had happened to you."
"Mhm." She looked to the carpet, her side facing him.
"I mean it. I know you would have never betrayed us. That Ino has a mouth too big."
Sakura burst out crying and threw herself at his chest, her fingers clutching the thin fabric of his T-shirt. Sasuke smirked and embraced her with false sympathy. His left hand caressed her head while his right hand held her back. Sakura wasn't aware that the cursed mark that Orochimaru had placed on Sasuke, changed him. He let Sakura cry in his arms all the while whispering encouragements in his ear.
"I really don't understand why Gaara did this. How could he do such a thing? I thought we would be together forever." She mumbled against Sasuke's T-shirt.
Sasuke made faces when he heard this, but gave his best to reply calmly:
"It's better to find out now rather than later. A few years later would have been too late. Someone who betrays once, always betrays."
"Maybe you are right...Who knows?"
"I suspected he was up to something the moment I laid eyes on him."
Sakura put some distance between them to be able to look Sasuke in the eyes.
"He manipulated you, Sakura."
"No, I don't think so."
"He only wanted to find out about Konoha and when he saw that you don't give him anything, he abandoned you."
"You're wrong. He is not like that." She was getting angry.
Sasuke stretched his arm to try to wipe the tears on her cheek, but Sakura frowned and took a step back, leaving his hand hanging. Sasuke unhappily retracted his hand before he continued:
"Everybody saw it. How come you are the only one who doesn't see it?"
Sakura crossed her arms over her chest and felt fury get the better of her.
"Maybe this isn't the right time to be talking about this." Sasuke's tone softened because he was trying to keep Sakura on his side.
"Yes, exactly. I want to sleep now." Her tone irritated him, but he clenched his fist and calmed down while Sakura turned her back to him, wiping her tears.
"Sakura, you can count on me. I will never disappoint you. Reach out to me if you need anything." He spoke with his back to her, facing the window.
He avoided physical contact as she seemed on edge. He went to the window and jumped outside. Sakura closed the window and pulled the curtains to shield her from the outside world. She fell onto the bed with a thump. Her hand felt weirdly light without that bracelet. Her glassy eyes looked at the bracelet that was next to her and Sakura decided to take her into her hand. She passed it from one hand to the other, thinking if she should wear it again. She missed Gaara. She didn't like not hearing him. Three days had already passed from the attack. Should I put it on or not? What if Gaara will take advantage of this and think that he can do the same next time because I forgave him so easily? No. She put the bracelet back down on the bed. I'll wait some more...But I don't want to stay without him...And she started crying again.
...
Gaara sat at his desk in his room. Temari knocked to ask if he is upset, but he didn't reply to her, not because he was mean, but because he was scared he might scream at her or talk to her in a bad manner which would make her fear him again.
"Gaara...I am your big sister. Let me help you."
Gaara felt she had no intention to leave soon, so he sighed and did his best to calm down and answer:
"Thank you, but I am fine. You can't help me."
Temari gained a little courage and got closer to him. When she was right behind Gaara, she saw that he was scribbling something on a piece of paper, but she didn't have time to read because Gaara anxiously covered it with both of his hands.
"Boys never let girls help them." Temari happily said.
Something in Gaara's aura changed and Temari took her hand off his chair to bring it to her chest.
"Older sister, I will come to you if I ever need help. Please leave me alone now." Gaara said slowly as he was bent over the desk, the paper on which he wrote a few lines plucked from his heart, aside from scribbles, well guarded by his hands. He didn't want to share these lines with anyone expect Sakura.
Temari felt powerless and she saddened.
"I see." Temari said in a low voice as she left the room.
Gaara sighed in relief. He didn't like to be bothered when he was very irritated. His fingers flattened the paper against the desk with great care and he read the tear that his soul splayed on the sheet of paper before his eyes.
"My girlfriend is angry
If only I were made her doorkeeper
Then I would make her rage at me
Then I would hear her angry voice
And be a child in fear of her."
Sakura, talk to me, please.
He played with the pen between his fingers while his other hand fisted in the red hair that overshadowed his forehead.
Gaara?
Gaara froze. He dropped the pen from his hand and his eyes filled with tears instantly. He bit the inside of his cheek to stop them from falling.
Gaara? Are you there?
Y-yes, I am.
A few moments of silence followed. Neither of them knew what to say.
How did you...
I am sorry.
They both talked at the same time. Sakura's voice broke. She struggled not to choke on her tears.
For what?
Sakura, it was an order. I couldn't tell you. I am a shinobi, just like you. You know we both listen to orders.
Gaara felt like he was sitting on needles. He didn't know what to say to convince her to not break their connection again.
I am so happy you decided to wear the bracelet again. I was afraid you will never put it back on.
Twin tears rolled down his cheeks and Gaara pressed on his eyes to push the tears back where they came from. Sakura's heart melted when she heard him sniff like he was crying. She was also crying so she decided to be merciful.
Gaara-kun, everything was so grey without you... She hid her face with her knees that she was holding close to her chest and she slowly swung forward-backward.
It was the most difficult for me. I felt like I was losing my mind. Had you been a little late, I would have maybe destroyed my village too.
He realized what he said was stupid, but he couldn't take back his words, so he held his breath waiting for her anger.
Gaara, how can you talk like that? You can't joke with things like these.
I wasn't joking. His mouth kept pranking him.
I can't believe that Hokage-sama died, you left me all by myself and now you're laughing.
I am not laughing.
Talking to you again was a mistake. Sakura placed her hand on the bracelet to prepare to take it off in anger.
Gaara got scared and was quick to respond:
I am sorry. It's all my fault. Please don't leave me. I am lost without you.
Sakura's body was paralyzed.
Sakura, my flower, search my heart and you will know that I am not lying. I tried to convince father to change his mind about the attack, but I failed. I was forced to obey the orders of my commander. I had my eyes on you the whole time during the attack. I protected you. All I could think about was you. It's true that I betrayed your village, but I haven't betrayed you. I would rather die than betray you.
Sakura relaxed a little.
Forgive me for making you cry. I will let you hit me next time we meet.
Sakura started laughing.
I could never hit Gaara-kun.
I promise I won't fight back. You can punish me for my sin.
She giggled.
Gaara-kun, it doesn't work that way.
But how? He would have been glad if Sakura had accepted to hit him because it was easy for him to just stay there and take the blow.
I want you to let me know the next time you plan on doing something like this again.
Gaara cringed.
You know I can't reveal classified information. My hands and legs are tied on this matter.
Sakura let out a deep sigh.
How can I trust you then?
My flower, wait until I become the Kazekage. Only then I will be able to promise that I will never invade or attack your country. Please put up with me until then.
I don't know... She sighed again while playing with a strand of pink hair.
I am a man of my word. Don't leave me and you will convince yourself that I am not lying.
I will consider it. Now that I have heard you, I can finally sleep. You don't know how badly I slept the nights you were gone.
I haven't slept at all.
Oh...I am sorry.
It's ok. Now that you are close to me again, I am happy to just listen to your heartbeat when you sleep. This alone is enough for me. It will make me more relaxed than sleep in itself.
Sakura smiled from one ear to the other.
Show me your beautiful smile next time we see each other.
Ok. I will.
...
Note: I feel the fire burning in your hearts, flames caused by my story. All of you were right about what was going to happen in this chapter. I must say that I have something prepared that I am sure you won't expect, but it must be done. This story will have a happy ending. I wish I could post more often...I sincerely hope you stay with me until the end. Please share your thoughts on this chapter. I will happily read your opinion. Thank you for all the support.
