GaaSaku

A fan fiction

Prologue

It was such a lovely day as I walked down the streets of Konoha. Everyone was out and about enjoying the weather. I passed by Ichiraku ramen shop. I poked my head in to see if Naruto was in. Of course, there he was stuffing his face full of ramen as usual. "Sakura-chan!!" he yelled out. "Hi Naruto! Having the usual today I see", I replied. "You bet! Nothing like ramen to start out the day right", he said. "So I guess I better be going Naruto. Tsunade-sama needed to talk to me about an important mission that has just been assigned to me", I tell him. "But at least have a bowl of ramen with me before you go", he pleaded. "Sorry Naruto. Next time, okay", I tell him as I headed off to the hokage's tower. I finally make my way up the stairs of the tower. Sasuke was standing beside the door to Tsunade's office. "Sakura", Sasuke says. "Yes what is it Sasuke?" I ask. "After your meeting with Tsunade, will you meet me up on the roof?" he asks me with a smile. "Um okay sure", I reply with a look of confusion. Ever since he returned to the village after the death of Orochimaru he has been acting strange. What could he possibly want with me now after I finally realized I didn't love him? So I just shake my head and walk into Tsunade's office. "Ah! Sakura!! There you are! I was wondering if you were going to make it", she says while she sips her sake. "Ah, I am sorry Tsunade-sama for the delay. Naruto stopped me while I was on my way here and well you know how Naruto is", I reply with a chuckle. "Its alright Sakura. Now lets discuss this mission. The kazekage has sent a request for you to come to Sunagakure. He wants you to stay for at least a year to be the head of the medical staff in Suna. Its actually quite an assignment, I know. But it is important that you accept this mission Sakura. This mission will also help strengthen the alliance between Konoha and Suna", she explains. "But Tsunade-sama! A year?! In Suna? With Gaara of the desert? The infamous sand demon?? The same Gaara that almost killed me during the chunnin exams??" I yelled. "Sakura! Enough!! You are the only one that is qualified for this assignment! Also, he did ask specifically for you. You are my best pupil and you are like a daughter to me, Sakura. I wouldn't let you do this mission if I knew it was going to be dangerous. The kazekage is not what he used to be remember that", Tsunade says while she pours herself more sake. "Okay okay Tsunade-sama. I understand. I will accept this mission. I just hope you are right about him being changed", I reply with a pout. "Well Sakura, you should know full well. You were his healer when he came to Konoha about a year ago when he was badly hurt. Trust me Sakura, you shall see. You may never want to come back to Konoha after you stay in Suna for awhile", she says as she sips her sake. "Well you are right Tsunade-sama. He didn't seem like the old Gaara back in the chunnin days when he was here in Konoha. Since he doesn't have the sand spirit Shukaku, he really has changed. I am sorry I doubted you Tsunade-sama. I guess I shall be on my way now. I will pack and leave tomorrow morning", I tell her with a bow. "Take care Sakura and please write me as well", she says with a smile. "I will. Goodbye Tsunade-sama", I tell her as I headed out the door and down the stairs. "Tsunade-sama. Why didn't you tell Sakura the other part of the mission?" Shizune asks. "Haha! Well she will find out sooner or later. I knew she wouldn't be too thrilled if I told her now. I am sure when she is in Suna for awhile, things will change for her. She will see things differently. There are many beautiful things in Suna."

I was halfway down the street from the hokage's tower when I realized that I had forgotten to meet Sasuke up on the roof of the tower. I make my way back to the hokage's tower and up to the root. Sasuke was sitting on the edge of the roof. "Sasuke", I called out to him. He stood up and walked over to me. "Sasuke, what is it that you wanted? I can't stay long. I have to pack and leave for Suna soon", I tell him. "I won't keep you long Sakura, its just that there is something I need to tell you", Sasuke says while looking at me. "Okay, well tell me", I reply. Sasuke comes toward me and is only a few inches away from me. I didn't like this feeling...it was the feeling of dread. Sasuke wrapped his arms around me and brought me in for a hug. He grabs my chin and kisses me. I push him away. "Sakura? What is wrong? Is this not what you wanted? I wanted to tell you that I love you Sakura. I have always loved you. I want us to be together Sakura", Sasuke says as he tried to hug me once again. "Your too late Sasuke. I waited for you for so long. I loved you and I did everything I could just to be accepted by you and you just pushed me away. After you left Konoha, I decided to let you go. I can't just accept you with open arms, not anymore", I tell Sasuke. "Sakura. I am sorry that I have hurt you many times. Please forgive me. Please be mine", Sasuke pleased while he tried to grab my hands. "I am sorry Sasuke. I can't accept", I yelled then I turned and ran away. "Sakura!!" I heard Sasuke yell my name. I didn't turn back. I was crying while I ran out into the streets of Konoha. I ran past the flower shop where Ino worked. She saw me and tried to stop me but I ran past her and ran straight to my house.

Meanwhile in Suna

"Kazekage-sama. A messenger hawk has just arrived from Konoha", Baki tells Gaara. "Okay. I will be right there", Gaara replies. Gaara makes his way to his office where the messenger hawk awaited him. Gaara takes the message from the hawk's talon. It was a message from the hokage. It read:

Dear Kazekage Gaara,

I am informing you that Sakura Haruno will be coming to Suna. She has accepted the assignment. She will be leaving as soon as she can. Please be expecting her. Also, I failed to mention the other part of the assignment to her. Please forgive me. Please take care of my precious Sakura.

Signed,

Tsunade

Gaara folded the message and put it on his desk. He wrote a quick response and put the message in the pouch on the hawk's talon and the hawk flew off back to Konoha. "I can't believe Tsunade forgot to tell Sakura the other part of the assignment", Gaara says to himself.

Back in Konoha

I rush inside the door to my apartment. I locked the door behind me. I make my way through out the house gathering up the things that I will need for my assignment. I was almost through with my packing when I heard a knock on my front door. I really hope that it wasn't Sasuke. I look out the window. It was just Ino, thank goodness! I open the door. "Sakura!! Are you okay? You ran by the shop in such a hurry and it looked like you were upset. Is everything okay??" Ino asked with a look of concern. "Well not exactly. I am going to be going for over a year to Suna for a mission. Also Sasuke, confronted me eariler and told me he loved me and that he wanted us to be together", I replied. "WHAT!! Are you serious? Sasuke said that? Well what did you tell him? And you are going to be gone for over a year? In Suna...with HIM?", Ino questioned me. "Well you know that I don't love Sasuke like that anymore. I can only love him as a friend, nothing more and yes I am going to be in Suna for a year with the kazekage", I reply. "Well I can understand. Sasuke is a dick. We deserve so much better! You never know Sakura, maybe the kazekage likes you! The last time I seen him in the village he was very handsome! The way he looked at you too!! Its got to be love!", Ino says while she slaps me on the back. "Oh Ino! Don't be ridiculous!! He doesn't see me that way! I was merely just his healer since he was hurt. Also that was over a year ago. I am sure he has a girlfriend by now", I tell Ino. "Whatever you say Sakura, whatever you say. But I guess I will be going now so that you can finish up packing. I will miss you and don't forget to write! I want all the juicy details that goes on between you and the kazekage!!", she says while she gives me a hug goodbye.

I finally finished packing. It was already pretty late so I decided to go to bed. I had a long trip ahead of me. "Bzzzt-Bzzzzzzttt!!" the alarm clock goes off. "Damn! Its already morning?",I say to myself a loud. So I get up and set out for my 3 day walk to Suna.