The sky was a mural of pink, red , and orange when everyone met up outside the forest. The only losers of this round were Ino and Shikamaru, which was odd to see but it wasn't much questioned. Sakura, Itachi, and Gaara came out together. Sakura was the only one who really showed how bushed she was, panting and hunched over. While Gaara and Itachi seemed just fine, if not breathing a bit heavier. Sakura looked at them both "I swear if I didn't know better I'd say you two just came from a brisk jog!"

Naruto was laying on the ground panting as apparently Sasuke had lead him on a genjutsu based wild chase the entire time. Sasuke was leaning against a tree, not much phased but thanks to Sakura's medical eye she could tell he was worn out from running and keeping up the complex justsu she imagined he used to keep Naruto busy for so long. The Blond seemed like an idiot, and in his own way he was, but it took more than your normal B-rank genjutsu to keep him trapped all day.

Ino and Shikamaru seemed…tense. Both of them refusing to make eye contact with each other, meaning something happened between the two. She'd have to pester Ino about it later; hell if the blond girl got to get away with pestering Sakura like that then she could to. Neji and Tenten seemed fine and Rock Lee was wired as ever.

It was Hinata, who seemed physically drained as well, who spoke up "How about we all go for some tea-"

"I vote for Ramen!" Naruto said jumping up, finding energy from some unknown place.

"No more Ramen!" I boomed "You eat that stuff way to much! It's not healthy for you in the slightest yet you eat it more then you drink water!" I said between pants.

"But Sakura its delicious!" he argued.

"So is cake and sweets but you have to eat it in moderation! We're going for tea and so help me if I catch you at ichiraku ramen I'll shove spinach down your throat by force!"

Most of everyone was heading off now that Naruto's Ramen dreams had been crushed by spinach. It was agreed however that a change of clothes and clean up were in order and everyone seemed to stink of sweat and some a bit of blood. Itachi and Gaara, who both looked above the very idea of body odor, were no exception. They all parted respective ways to their houses in order to get cleaned up and enjoy tea together.

It just so happen that Gaara's guest house, provided by the village for diplomats, was in Sakura's direction. The two walked mostly in silence as the sun set over the buildings and the market started to pick up with people getting off work. A warm summer wind moving through her hair, alleviating some of the bothersome heat she felt after their training.

Out of the corner of her eye Sakura couldn't help but envy the Kazekage at that moment. He walked tall and proud, eyes focused ahead and spiky red hair barely mused. Even after their training he looked as prim as ever. While she had hair sticking out in all the oddest places and knew she stunk of sweat and dirt. She wasn't ashamed of her appearance but anyone would be envious of him right now.

"You're a piece of work," she said without thinking.

"…I see," he said not really sure how to take such a comment out of the blue but didn't think it could be good by her tired tone.

"Whoa I mean..jeeze I should explain myself.." she groaned "I mean I'm envious of you."

He looked at her "…envois of my title of my power?" he asked going for the most logical response.

"Well I can't say I'm envious of your title really, I've seen Lady Tsunade's work load and I defiantly don't envy it. My job is hard enough as is with my load of paperwork." She laughed "And yeah I have to say your natural talent as a shinobi does have some envy but I wasn't talking about either of them."

"Then what do you mean?" he asked now intrigued, although by his tone you'd think him indifferent unless you were Sakura who had more than enough practice dealing with strong silent types.

"The fact you can train and fight like you did but still be as clean looking as you are now." She stated blatantly and looked at him, her already Jade eyes gleaming with envy "Its not fair I've be dreaming of being able to walk out of these fight's like nothing and here you do it on your first try. Hell I smell worse then I look and I cant even smell you at all!" she huffed.

"That's because your upwind of me." He stated, as if on cue the wind hit her from behind again. Her face blushed, not having even thought about the direction of the wind being a factor.

"…well I look stupid now." She said laughing awkwardly, her face still blushing with embarrassment.

"Not really, you're a medic not a tracker. In Suna the wind's direction holds more attention since it can mean sand storms or rain." He explained.

She nodded appreciatively "That's true…oh!" she perked up seeing a shop of some sort. He watched as her face went from the look of a working mind, one to be rivaled when put to its fullest potential, to that of a enthralled child in under half the time it took Kankuro to think up inappropriate jokes to bug Temari.

He watched her go over to the shop, an open window with bags of leaves and produce outside on display. "Yuko!" she said to an elderly man who had been sitting on a wooden chair only moments ago.

"Sakura! Good to see you little Lady!" he said taking his cane and making his way over.

"Same to you! Gaara this is Yuko, he's a travelling tea salesman who bunks in Konoha for a month each year." She said introducing Gaara to the short old man. He wore a grey and forest green men's kimono with a white apron and a cane.

"Pleasure to meet you young man. Sakura has told me a bit about you, glad to finally meet the legendary Kazekage." He said with a smile.

"Nice too meet you too, although I wish I could say Sakura has told me about you," he said surprised that she had mentioned him to any of her civilian friends.

"It's quiet all right!" he waved it off with a grin. "Oi! I brought some of the special tea blend ya like Sakura." He said shuffling into the back.

Gaara looked at her "You talk about me?" he said genuinely surprised and a bit flattered. They have never been what could normally be called close.

"Yeah I hope you're not offended. Yuko is my God father, he spends most of his time on travels collecting and selling tea blends and special medicines. He come back for a month every year and admittedly I'm the one who buys most of his stock." She chuckled.

"Its fine, I was just surprised." He said and looked to see Yuko back with a box labeled 'Sakura's Tea'.

"Here you are! The tea maker gave me a bit extra too and said for you to take care." He said handing her the box.

"Thank you very much." She said digging out her wallet.

"Don't bother Missy. It's on the house, after all your birthday is in a week Consider it an early gift."

"Oh! Thank you very much!" she said enthralled with the little box "I'd love to stay and chat but I need to get cleaned up for dinner." She said starting to leave.

"Eh? Are you too dating now?" he asked looking them over.

Sakura's face went red and Gaara's as well, he looked away while Sakura was left to tell Yuko otherwise, much to her firm embarrassment. The old man laughed and waved them off telling them to be safe.

They walked on faces red and feeling an awkward tenseness. She inwardly groaned at the tense air and hated it, a perfectly swell evening ruined in a sentence. She was about to say something but Gaara beat her too it.

"It's your birthday next week?" he asked not looking her in the eye though.

"Yeah, the 13th…heh funny how my birthday lands on a Friday the 13th huh?" she chuckled trying to ease the mood even more.

Meanwhile Gaara was making plans. She had been kind to him and even flattered him at the idea that he was a close enough friend to be discussed with family.

When no response came from him Sakura hushed up and looked away feeling guilty. He was mad or embarrassed or perhaps both. She'd have to make it up to him later on. Before she knew it she was at her home though and pulled from her thoughts.

"Oh! Umm this is my place." She said pulling Gaara from his thoughts when he realized she was moving away from him. He looked at it and while he had expected a apartment he was greeted with a home. Nothing like his own in size as it was quiet small even. It clicked in his head that, despite being a shinobi, Sakura was not of upper birth like many of her team mates. He didn't know much about her family at all. Everyone he knew around her was from Shinobi families, many having secret techniques of blood line abilities. She had none of this and for all he knew she was the only Shinobi in her family. And yet she had probably surpassed those friends who were of shinobi birth and trained to be the best. Something so many, born of shinobi heritage or civilian, were envious of. Even Naruto had an edge to her and he had to admit this new depth to his vision of Sakura was interesting and almost alluring.

Skra noticed his examining and for a split second felt small. Being examined and sized up didn't nother her normally but when it was somebody close to her and a Kazekage who had overcome so much more then she could understand she couldn't help but feel small. "So ummm…yeah sorry about Yuko. He means well really but he sometimes jumps to conclusions..especially in my love life." She groaned.

"It's fine," he nodded.

"Okay well..see you at dinner okay?" she said opening the door.

"Sakura," he said stopping her.

"Yes?"

"I think you actually smelled quiet lovely today." He said and walked off leaving a stunned and blushing Sakura behind him.