(I know it's been a long time. Thank you for your patience)

It was the next day. The five ninja were close to their destination now. They were traveling through the treetops, quickly making their way through the forest. They had been traveling for about three hours now. Naruto was happy, she was happy because Sakura was happy. Things had gotten very strange yesterday, but at the end, Sasuke had gone to talk to Sakura. Sakura hadn't told the orange-clad ninja about the details of their conversation. "That's between me and Sasuke." She had told her.

'It doesn't matter how mean he is to her, she always forgives him.' Naruto thought to herself as she watched Sakura as she leaped from branch to branch a few meters in front of her. 'But she is happy again. So that's good at least.'

"We're here." Kakashi said as the five reached the edge of the forest. Kakashi stopped and so did the others.

Beyond the tree line there was a vast empty plain. In the distance Naruto could see the great sand desert stretching out. At about 300 feet from the edge of the forest two ninja stood on top of a large rock that had seemingly been pushed out of the ground.

"GAARA!" Naruto declared in shock as she pointed at the red haired boy.

Next to Gaara stood his elder sister, Temari, leisurely leaning against her oversized fan.

"Ninja try not to show themselves Naruto. It might not be a good idea to shout at everyone we meet." Kakashi proposed.

"Naruto is such a ditz, right Sasuke?" Sakura asked.

"Come on Sakura-chan. I'm not the only one who is shocked, right? Right?" Naruto asked looking around for support from the others.

"Well, it is surprising." Neji did admit. "Despite that, you should try and show more restraint in the future."

"I don't think that's going to happen." Kakashi declared shrugging his shoulders. He leapt down and out into the open. The other four hesitated, but followed their leader.

Sasuke glared kunai's at Gaara.

Gaara in turn just watched the five, his arms crossed. "I wanted to see you." He said after a while. "I wanted to see you, Naruto."

"Why?" Naruto asked confused. "I mean... we're here about a mission, right?"

"We were told that sand ninja would be waiting to meet us here." Kakashi interjected. "I take it you are the ninja we were supposed to meet."

"That's right." Temari replied, swinging her fan around before letting it rest against her right shoulder. "My brother asked for your team specifically."

Gaara leaped down from his rock and walked over to the group, his sister following behind him. "So, the story I heard is true. This isn't an illusion?" Gaara asked Naruto.

"What" Naruto asked surprised. "Oh!" She continued, realizing that Gaara hadn't seen Naruto since she had changed. "Hmmm. Well. You know, it's true that I look like this. But inside I'm still very manly." She explained, patting her chest. "So in a way it is an illusion, believe it!"

"Girl or boy, he... or she is still a weirdo." Temari remarked to Gaara.

Gaara didn't acknowledge his sister's words. "Orochimaru didn't kill you. That is good." The sand ninja remarked with a blank expression. Gaara stared at Naruto intently, his face not displaying emotions of any kind.

A drop of sweat rolled down Naruto's cheek. Gaara was really awkward, but it looked like in his own way he was trying to be friends. "I'm not going to let myself get killed so easily." Naruto tried to boast.

"Can we really trust these guys?" Sakura whispered to Kakashi.

Kakashi shrugged again. "It's the mission. So lets keep an open mind."

Sasuke let out a 'hmpf'. He still owed Gaara a rematch.

"The event is tomorrow." Temari explained. "Several kings will be present. The sand have provided all sorts of security. But the leaders insisted that other villages would be present to protect them. That's why you are here."

Kakashi nodded his head. "Sounds sensible enough."

"During the party we'll be disguised as guests. We have a hide out nearby with everything we need to disguise ourselves. We have invitations for six, so one of..."

"I'll sit out. These sort of events aren't my thing." Kakashi said as he stroked his mask.

"That is fine. We'll lead you to where we will be staying." Gaara said.

The mission was finally starting proper. But Naruto had never imagined that she would meet Gaara here.

Less than an hour later they had arrived at a cottage, the younger leaf ninja were scanning their new environment. Clearly none of them entirely trusted the situation.

"If we wanted to have you killed, you'd be long be dead." Temari told them, sounding annoyed.

Sasuke and Neji met her eyes, seemingly both wanting to challenge that statement.

Sakura looked worried, glancing around her nervously.

"Don't worry Sakura-chan, I'll protect you!" Naruto stated.

Sakura only now noticing just how nervous she looked, shot Naruto a glare. "I'm not afraid! And I don't need protection, I'm a kunoichi too."

Naruto brought up her hands. "Ah. Ehm, I didn't mean it like that."

Temari slammed her fan against the wooden floor. "Do you ever stop?" She asked. "There is some food waiting for you in the main hall. You each have your own room, figure out who sleeps where by yourselves." She reached into her robes and tossed Kakashi a set of keys.

Kakashi looked at the keys and then back at Temari. "If it's alright with you, I'd like to cover the details of the mission with you."

Temari passed her younger brother a glance.

Gaara in turn didn't react, he just stood there, almost like a statue.

"That's fine." Temari said to Kakashi. "Let's go." She gestured for Kakashi to follow her.

"Right! Lets eat!" Naruto shouted. "I'm starving."

Sasuke started towards the main hall, deciding to take the lead.

"I bet I can eat more than you." Naruto told Sasuke.

The raven haired boy looked away and just continued on his way.

"You're going to get a stomach-ache again." Sakura said.

"Naruto." Gaara said, finally speaking after having remained silent ever since they met at the edge of the forest.

The four leaf ninja turned around, each of them inspecting Gaara.

"We should talk..." Gaara continued.

"Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of all of us." Sasuke said, turning to face Gaara. "Don't think I've forgotten what you tried to do last time." Sasuke glared at Gaara with cold eyes.

Gaara's expression in turn was blank and neutral.

"The sand ninja are our allies." Neji said placing a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "What's in the past is in the past. He's not going to hurt Naruto."

Sasuke brushed Neji off and turned to leave. "If you do try something, you'll soon regret it."

Sakura hesitated a moment, but then followed Sasuke.

"We'll be in the main hall if you need us." Neji told Naruto, before he followed the others.

Naruto watched the three leave, her eyes were focused on Sasuke's back. It was weird. It was almost like he was worried about her. A small smile appeared on her lips. "So, what do you want to talk about?" Naruto asked as she turned to face Gaara.

"Love." Gaara said, looking straight into Naruto's eyes.

"LOVE!?" Naruto shouted in surprise.

"Is that strange?" Gaara asked.

"Wh-what are you even talking about?" Naruto asked backing away, arms flaying around wildly.

Gaara followed. "You don't understand?" He asked.

"Understand?" I'm a guy you know!" Naruto replied, still backing away.

Gaara stopped his advance and frowned. "That's fine by me. Girl or boy, it doesn't matter."

Naruto tripped over her own feet, her face now a bright red. "This is a joke! You're playing a prank on me. I-I-I've had enough. Cut it out!"

Gaara inspected Naruto. This must not have been the reaction he was expecting.

The Uzumaki girl got back on her feet. "I'm flattered, I really am. But this isn't going to work. Don't feel bad, alright?" Naruto continued, placing her hands on his shoulders. "You're still an awesome guy. I mean, you're super strong and that sand stuff is cool too."

Gaara stared at Naruto in silence.

Naruto nodded and patted Gaara on the shoulder. "We had a great talk, didn't we? This was good. Right? Well... I'm going to have something to eat."

"Hmm. Ok." Gaara replied, still wearing a neutral expression.

Naruto turned and left, quickly making her escape. Her heart was racing. She couldn't believe it, how could a guy confess to her? And Gaara of all people. Naruto couldn't help but feel bad for the sand ninja. He understood how he might be feeling. After all, he had been trying to win Sakura's favor for years now. Rejection wasn't an easy thing to take.

'Wait... Sakura has given me the cold shoulder for years now. But no matter what Sakura says or does, I'm not just going to give up on her. What if Gaara is the same way?' Naruto's eyes grew wide. 'What if he doesn't take no for an answer?'

Sakura, Sasuke and Neji were all sitting down and having dinner.

"I wonder what kind of clothes we'll get to wear." Sakura said. "Aren't you guys curious?"

"I always feel weird when I wear those outfits." Neji replied.

"Are you kidding? You'd look great in a suit." Sakura proclaimed. 'Not as great as Sasuke. But still great.' She thought to herself.

"I'm done." Sasuke said, pushing his plate away.

Sakura looked at his plate, he had barely touched his food. "Aren't you hungry? We've traveled a lot these last few days."

"I'm going to go out and do some training. I'll see you tomorrow." This said Sasuke left the main hall and headed back the way they came.

Neji and Sakura watched him go in silence.

Once he was gone Neji smiled. "I guess he isn't so bad."

Sakura passed Neji a confused look. "What do you mean"

"I didn't think Sasuke cared about either you or Naruto. But I was wrong. He does care about you two." Neji poked at his plate with his fork. "You guys are a strong team. Even though those two can be a real handful." He cast his gaze up, a melancholic smile appearing on his lips. "I wonder how Lee and Tenten are doing."

As Sasuke left the main hall, Naruto came storming towards it. Her face was flustered and she didn't even acknowledge him as she stormed by. He reacted on instinct and grabbed her arm as she moved passed him.

Naruto stopped and it seemed that only now she realized Sasuke was there. She looked at him, for once lost for words.

"What are you freaking out about?" He asked. 'Did he do anything to you?' It wasn't like he needed much of an excuse to go after Gaara. And if Gaara had somehow hurt Naruto, it was all the excuse he needed. 'It's not like I would do it for Naruto, it's more a matter of principal.'

Naruto looked away and shuffled her feet nervously. "Freaking out? What are you talking about? I'm not freaking out at all."

Sasuke let go of Naruto's arm. "It looks like you are." He replied with a smirk.

"Shows what you know." Naruto replied. "I am totally fine. My conversation with Gaara wasn't weird at all! It was a normal conversation."

Sasuke in turn just gave the Uzumaki girl a bored look.

"It was a super great conversation in fact." She crossed her arms, a smug smile forming on her lips. "He probably wanted me to help him get stronger. Since I'm such an amazing fighter."

Sasuke's expression darkened. He had almost forgotten. Forgotten just how strong Naruto had become. Naruto had beaten Gaara, the same Gaara who had defeated him in battle. Ever since that day, Sasuke had wanted to fight Naruto. That desire had only grown stronger as the days had passed. And just when he felt like he was ready to face him in battle... 'this' happened.

He imagined Naruto was probably still strong. Maybe she wasn't as strong as she had been before she changed. Maybe nothing had changed. He wasn't really sure. But he could feel it deep down in his soul. Beating Naruto as she was now would bring him no satisfaction.

"Ehm. Are you spacing out?" Naruto asked.

He had gotten lost in thought. "I was just surprised at how bad you're at telling lies." Sasuke explained at last.

"What? It's all true. Believe it!?" She remarked before she headed tot he main hall.

Sasuke watched her go. Eventually he went outside. He tried to lose himself in his training. But no matter how hard he threw his kunai's he couldn't help but think about a certain blonde kunoichi. 'Would things ever go back to the way they were before? And do I want them them to?' Sasuke didn't know.