A Gaara/Sakura fan story

   Across the lush treetops danced the golden rays of dawn’s first light. The brilliant shards of morning enclosed the village within the forest with such a warmness that even the laziest ninjas awoke with a pleasant smile. The Hokage’s Tower gleamed of the dull colours that everyone had seemed to grow accustomed to as time passed in the large village. Sunlight crept over the stone faces of the lost, but not forgotten, leaders of a time gone past. Doors began to slightly open, revealing shabby sandals worn by those who sought to protect their friends at all costs. The dusty road filled with the silent footsteps familiar to all those who walked that path.
   This was Konoha, the village hidden in the leaves.
   A native resident of the village, Sakura Haruno, was also up this morning, bright and early, even before the sun had rose. Her headband was jerked into position amongst her shiny, pink hair, and her gloves were snapped over hands rough from intensive training. Her leather sandals, usually dusty and dirty, were now polished to a gleam of perfection. As she glimpsed at her reflection in the mirror, a determined look in her eyes, she knew that this was the day. This was the day her master would assign her a new mission, and nothing, or no one, would stop her.
   Sakura rubbed her hand against the lower part of her leg and winced. The sharp pain was still there, but it had decreased greatly from its original mess. On her last mission, she had gotten into such a hard fight that her leg had been snapped. An entire week of recovery had followed, and the injury was too severe for even a great healer such as herself to look after it. Lady Tsunade had forbidden any assignments since then, but today …
   The female ninja tightened her hand into a fist in the air. Her gaze was frightening as she peered into the mirror once more. Oh yes. Today, Tsunade was going to give her a mission no matter what, and she wasn’t going to end up with some E - rank task either. She wanted C - rank. Never again would she walk a dog or help old ladies with their groceries. No. Today, she would get a good mission.
   ‘Naruto wouldn’t settle for anything less, and neither should I.’ said Sakura, admiring the resolve in her voice. ‘I’ll play it safe, telling Tsunade - Sama that I’m all cured. Then, she’s bound to give me something.’
   Sakura nodded at her mirror double and grabbed her kunai pouch. Strapping it to her leg, biting her lip at the pain she received, she headed outside.
   The street was highly crowded as usual. Leaf ninja were crawling everywhere. Even ninja from other hidden villages were here today. Sakura spotted two Sand ninja and a messenger from the Wave Country sitting outside a small café. She wasn’t surprised. With the talk of the Akatsuki looming overhead, guests like these weren’t unexpected. Besides, they were allies with both the Sand Village, and the Wave Country. The Kazekage was sending letters back and forth to the Hokage. Sakura suspected than he was just as worried over Naruto as she was. After all, they were completely alike in every way.
   ‘Watch it, girl!’
   Sakura dodged a scruffy looking man with a hooded cloak, and sidestepped a few crates, turning slightly to look over her shoulder as he hastily sauntered away. She had just managed to catch a glimpse at his headband daggling from his belt. Her heart seemed to skip a beat.
   He was a Sound ninja. Her head swung back around and her pace returned to normal. She kept her gaze on the Hokage’s Tower, her destination in place. She shouldn’t have been so worried to see a Sound ninja here. After Orochimaru had been killed by none other than Sasuke, the Sound ninja were making a few visits on and off to the Hidden Leaf. But she still lost sleep over it. Tsunade had told her not to fret, but secretly, Sakura knew that her master was in distress as well.
   Sakura’s feet echoed against the wooden stairs of the Hokage Tower, her heart having the same effect in her chest. The insides of her stomach felt much too tight for her liking. She didn’t like lying to her master, and somehow, the older ninja always knew. Reaching the door of the Hokage’s office, Sakura’s mouth felt dry. Her hand pressed lightly against the structure of the entrance, until she mustered up enough strength to slide it open.
   Tsunade’s head shot up as soon as the pink-haired girl entered the overly large room, making her light hair sway a little. A frown crossed over her face when she saw the stubbornness in Sakura’s eyes, and she leaned back in her chair. Tsunade never wore her uniform, not even in public. She preferred to be comfortable in the lightest clothes possible, which did not include the Hokage’s coat and cap.
   ‘What now?’ she growled, folding her hands in her lap. ‘I’m not giving you a mission until another week.’
  Sakura scowled. ‘Tsunade - Sama! I’m quite ready for a new mission! A C - rank!’ she stated. She pointed to her leg. ‘It’s completely healed now. I’ve even been pushing some of my own charka to its limits to cure myself.’
   Tsunade did not look overly convinced.
   ‘The last C - rank I assigned nearly cost you your life.’ Her voice was firm. ‘Do you honestly think I’m going to throw you into danger with an injured leg? Sakura, I know when you’re lying to me. I haven’t trained you for three years and not learned anything about you.’
   Sakura’s gaze flew to the open window, away from the eyes of her master. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. Her plan would just be spoiled again, as it always was. There was no way that she would be able to trick Lady Tsunade into giving her a mission.
   ‘Isn’t there something I can do?’ questioned Sakura quietly. ‘Something important? I really hate just sitting around waiting while Naruto is off saving lives everyday.’
   She met Tsunade’s gaze, and her master’s eyes seemed to soften a little bit, but not much. The older woman put her hand to her chin and thought on it, seeing that Sakura’s stubbornness was very similar to her own and would not crack so easily. After awhile of silent thinking, Tsunade spoke again.
   ‘I think I have a good mission for you.’ she said, smiling a little. ‘It’s a long walk, but it will help to strengthen your leg muscles.’
   Sakura’s eyes flashed with excitement as she made her way over to the Hokage’s desk.
   ‘What is it?’ she asked excitedly. ‘A protection mission? Are you going to let me escort one of the High Lords of the Sand Village back to their citadel?’
   Tsunade raised an eyebrow with an amused look on her face. Sakura’s hopes dropped.
   ‘Not quite.’ said the Hokage, unfolding her arms and reaching into her desk. She fished out a piece of paper and passed it to her apprentice. ‘You’ll be going to the Sand Village, but it’s to take Shikamaru’s place as messenger. He’s out on a mission, and I need someone to take my recent reports out. Can you do that?’
   Sakura sighed and re-read the paper in her hands. She placed it back onto the desk and nodded grimly. Tsunade crossed her arms irritably.
   ‘Would you rather stay here?’ she asked sharply.
   Sakura shook her head frantically, seeing her master on the edge of shouting, and straightened her posture.
   ‘No, Tsunade - Sama!’ she said respectfully. ‘I’ll take all of your reports to the Hidden Sand!’
   ‘Good.’ said Tsunade, leaning back into her chair once again. ‘Suna will be happy to hear from us again, and no doubt the Kazekage will be amongst the ones waiting for you the most.’
   Sakura blinked, confused for a moment.
   ‘Why is that?’ she questioned.
   ‘Because,’ said Tsunade, leaning forward and dropping her voice to a whisper. ‘This report is entirely about the Akatsuki.’
   Sakura swallowed. This mission was more important than she thought it to be. If information like that fell into the wrong hands … well, it would be nothing but trouble for the Leaf and Sand. She would have to get there quickly, and without any delays. Fighting was out of the question with her lame leg. It was hard to run on it, but she would manage.
   ‘Are you ready?’ asked Tsunade, passing a package to Sakura. It contained a few scrolls sealed by none other than the Hokage herself.
   Sakura nodded, eyeing the package with a sudden interest. She smiled in her determined way and took the packet from her master, tucking it under one arm.
   ‘Be careful.’ warned Tsunade.
   ‘I will.’ replied Sakura, and headed for the doorway.