A/N: Okay, I know this is kind of weird to have a Sakura and Gaara pairing but I just had a lot of fun writing it so please R n R.

Prologue

"Haruno, Sakura, your orders are to go to the hidden sand village and rendezvous with a ninja there. He will then lead you to their kazekage to give you both your final orders. You two must work as a pair to accomplish this mission. Is that understood?" The Fifth proclaimed. "Hai" this was the stern answer from a ninja with pink hair that now grew past her waist and dressed in a black ninja outfit that complemented her porcelain skin.

As soon as the Fifth dismissed her, she began to head home to pack her stuff. Before leaving the house, she glanced at the picture frame that shows her former team. A quick smile then she headed towards the great gate of the hidden village of the leaf. The gate opened to reveal the wilderness ahead. Sakura sprinted towards the forest and jumped from tree to tree with great agility showing great mastery of molding her chakra in her feet. While doing so, her thoughts played again her mission- to rendezvous with a ninja in the hidden sand village.

Who would this ninja be? I hardly know anyone from that village. No matter I told myself I would do my best ever since the three man team broke apart. With that thought she suddenly became depressed I wonder how they're doing. I heard Naruto is still training to control the demon fox while Sasuke is still with the Fifth purifying his blood from Orochimaru's poison curse. She herself had changed from the crying little girl before to a mature ninja now. When in a mission, she now arranges her hair in a way that it wouldn't be a hindrance to her unlike before when she always prefers to have it untied. Shaking her head from all the realizations and depression, Sakura focused on what lies ahead.

Finally, the hidden sand village was seen through the end of the forest. She stood in front of the gate to pay respect to the village and as soon as the gate keepers saw her forehead protector, they immediately opened the gates. As she stepped inside, she saw someone with a huge gourd in his back and his arms across his chest. Sakura could only stare in disbelief. Gaara was the ninja the fifth was talking about? What kind of mission would this be if it includes Gaara and me? "You were a teammate of Uchiha, Sasuke and Uzumaki, Naruto, correct?" he asked coldly. "Hai, Haruno, Sakura." this was her only reply. "Follow me then." He said as he turned his back and sprinted to their kazekage's office.

"You are both here in to accomplish mission from the hidden leaf and from us as well. There is a new village in the southwest of the forest of fate. We want you to go there not just to investigate but to make new allegiances as well." The hidden sand's kazekage proclaimed. "Why only the two of us?" Gaara asked rudely. "Because you two are enough, if we send more than two they might see it as a threat. You two are the representative of your village." The kazekage replied easily. "What will we do if they reject our offer of peace?" Sakura finally said. "You are to return without hurting anyone from that village." He replied turning his head from Sakura to Gaara. "And if we are attacked?" Gaara continued. "You are allowed to defend yourself but not to kill anyone. Is that understood?" The kazekage finally rose from his seat. "Hai" both ninjas knelt and disappeared.

"Is this wise, sending Gaara and that girl from the hidden leaf to a very important mission such as this?" one of the kazekage's advisers asked. "This mission challenges not only the physical aspect of those ninjas but something much, much more. Tsunade chose that girl because she is incredible in analyzing things and molding her chakra the way she wants. She even said that Sakura could beat her if she was trained further. Also…" "Also?" the adviser inquired. "Also according to Tsunade, she is perfect in every way to somehow…how should I say this? "Complement" Gaara's skill and personality." The kazekage said as he looked to the open window revealing the desert eating the sun. "They're perfect."