Gaara knocked on Naruto’s door. When he received no reply, he said, “Naruto, are you there?” Gaara heard a rustling and opened the door. Naruto was sitting in his bed with the covers drawn over his legs. He had left his jacket on the floor and was wearing his white tank top. The whites of his eyes were red. He looked at Gaara, “Hey.”

Gaara walked over to his friend, “Hey.” He sat on the bed next to Naruto. Gaara looked at Naruto waiting for him to speak. Naruto simply gave his devil-may-care grin and bared his shiny, white teeth. Gaara felt his heart ache for his friend. He put his hand on Naruto’s shoulder and squeezed it gently. “What’s wrong?”

Gaara had been trying to be as delicate as he could be. Naruto had always been there for him. Naruto had showed him that he could change. If it were not for Naruto, he would not be alive, let alone as happy as he was now. He wanted to comfort his friend in his time of need.

Naruto scrunched his face as if someone had hit him in the stomach. He sniffed and tears poured down his cheeks. He looked at Gaara and Gaara threw his arms around his friend. Naruto cried into his friend’s shoulder. He sobbed with the reckless abandon Gaara had come to know from him. Gaara felt his heart grow heavy, he had never seen his friend this sad, yet he heard of it. He was told that when the Akatsuki had killed him, Naruto was the one who seemed to hurt worse. He was so used to Naruto’s reckless happiness that this hurt him worse than almost anything else did.

Gaara felt himself on the brink of tears, “What happened, Naruto?” Naruto sniffed and squeezed Gaara closer to himself, “Hinata.” He said it again, the pain shattering his voice, “Hinata!” Gaara hugged his friend, “What about Hinata? Weren’t you two together before?” Naruto sniffed, “Kiba.” Gaara felt a sheer horror creep into his chest.

“She--she cheated on me with Kiba!” Naruto sobbed. He clutched at Gaara’s shirt, “She slept with Kiba,” he added, “while I was gone on missions.” Gaara held his friend close to him. Hinata had seemed so happy with Naruto. He knew Naruto was happy then. Naruto whimpered, “They’re getting married next week.” Naruto pulled away from Gaara and stared at him with his blood-shot blue eyes, “She’s pregnant with his baby!”

Gaara looked at his friend. He had been lucky to find someone like Sakura, and to have her so close much of the time. Gaara held Naruto’s hand, “You don’t have to leave for Konoha with Sakura and me if you don’t want to.” Naruto shook his head, “I can’t runaway from this.” Naruto grinned again with false enthusiasm, “Besides, I want to be there when you finally propose to her.”

Gaara shook his head, “I have to ask for permission from Lady Tsunade first.” Naruto’s face stretched. “Are you insane? Just marry her already!” Gaara shook his head, “That’s her mother; I need to ask permission to propose from her first.” Naruto slapped his forehead, “I can’t tell if you’re noble or just stupid.” Gaara smirked, “Maybe both.”

“Well,” Gaara said with slight haste, “do you want to come with me to pick out her ring.” Naruto leapt out of the bed, nearly tripping over the covers. He stepped on Gaara to swing his arm to pick up his orange jacket.

“Of course I would!” he chirped. Gaara cringed when he saw Naruto’s blood-shot eyes. He smiled nevertheless, “We’ll, were should we go?” Naruto looked at the ceiling thoughtfully as he buttoned his jacket. He looked at Gaara, “We should go to a jeweler.”

Gaara nodded, “After you.” He said this gentlemanly with a slight air of playfulness. Naruto answered in a girly voice, “Why thank you kind Sir.” Naruto laughed. Gaara was glad Naruto was laughing. The two left joking and laughing at anything that was on their minds.




Sakura looked through her bags one last time. She fiddled with the zippers, opening and closing them. “I don’t want to go,” she said. She looked out her window and felt a chill crawl along the skin of her back. Sakura felt as if something big was about to happen. Something bad.




Gaara and Naruto had been out for two hours. They were exhausted. “Just one more place,” Gaara hissed. He had only seen gaudy jewelry all day. Everything was unlike Sakura. He needed something special like her.

Naruto pointed out a silversmith’s, “Just have it made!” Naruto was hungry and it caused his temper to flare. Not only that, but his feet hurt. Gaara’s feet hurt as well.

“Fine,” Gaara said. Let’s just have it made.” He was hungry too. The two walked into the smithy. The smith was shriveled and the color of burlap. His hair was white but his eyes were sharp and kind.

“Kazekage, it’s a pleasure. How may I help you?” Gaara looked at the jewelry in a glass case but couldn’t find anything that suited Sakura. “I need a ring,” he said hastily, “an engagement ring for a special girl”. The smith nodded, “Sakura Haruno? Suna’s golden girl?” Gaara blushed, “Yes.” The smith put his hand to his chin, “Why don’t I give it to you as a wedding gift, two rings, custom made.”

The smith smiled at Gaara and Naruto. “I have two rings,” he said, “in the backroom. Give me your hand.” Gaara did as he was told. The smith smiled, “What luck you have. What do you want me to set in it? A diamond? A sapphire? An emerald?” Gaara shook his head, “Put her name on it.” The smith laughed, “That doesn’t make much sense.” He grinned, his face like a leather pouch, “But I’ll put your name on it too. They’ll always be next to each other.” Gaara looked at the old man.

“Or better yet,” the old man said quietly, “I’ll just put the kanji for love on it, and I’ll put her name on yours.” Gaara shook his head, “Can you make them the same…please?”

The old man nodded, “That’s actually a better idea.” Naruto looked on, “Hey, Gaara, are we really leaving tonight?” Gaara nodded as he watched the back of the old smith disappear behind a corner. “I’ll marry her in Konoha.”

Naruto nodded, “You should just marry her here.” Gaara sighed, “I have to ask for permission, and then I’ll marry her the day of. We can have the honeymoon here in Suna.” Naruto nodded, “Jeez, you’re serious.”

Gaara looked at Naruto, “I need to treat her properly. She’s special.” Gaara smiled. “She’s the greatest person I’ve ever met. She’s my best friend.” Naruto smirked, “I thought I was your best friend.” Gaara sighed, “It’s different.” Naruto grinned, “I know, you two will be the cutest couple ever.”

Gaara smirked, “I can’t do without her. I don’t think I could live without her. She’s been with me through all of this. I want to be with her until the day I die. I want to have children with her. I want to share the same bed with her.”

Naruto smiled, “You really are a romantic.” Naruto looked at his friend. He had never seen Gaara this happy or alive. Gaara’s eyes shone in his face and his big, white teeth made a silly, goofy grin. Naruto could not be happier for him.




Gaara, Sakura, and Naruto arrived at the gates of Konoha three days later. The three were covered in dirt and debris from their trek. Sakura was the most tired of the bunch.

Naruto led the way to the Hokage’s tower. The guards let the three of them through with polite bows. “It’s an honor to have you here,” they said in unison, “Kazekage Sir, Lady Sakura, and Naruto Uzamaki.” Gaara chuckled as Naruto complained that he was next in line for the title of Hokage, and that he should be called ‘Sir Naruto’.

The guards laughed. Naruto got angry, “Grandma said so!” The guards laughed heartily and shook hands with Naruto. They told him that they just could not picture him as a ‘Sir.’ Neither could Gaara. Gaara saw Sakura conceal a giggle. Neither could she. Future Hokage or not.

The three of them clamored up the stairs. Sakura was about to knock on the door when Naruto burst it open, “Wake up, Grandma!” he yelled, “The Kazekage’s here to see you. Sakura too!” Tsunade was slumped over her desk. A cup of sake was beyond the reach of her hand. Naruto tapped her on her head, “Wake up!”

Tsunade shot up, “Dammit! Naruto! I’m trying to sleep!” She glowered at him. Naruto grinned at her, “Guess who’s here?”

Tsunade smiled when she saw two familiar faces. “What is it, you two?” She smiled at Sakura and grabbed her up in a crushing hug. “Hi, mom,” chuckled Sakura. Tsunade released Sakura only to grab and crush Gaara with her superhuman strength. Gaara chuckled, “Well, I have some important matters to discuss with you, alone.”

Sakura sighed, “What could be so important that I can’t know?” Naruto joined in, “Yeah, Gaara, what is it?”

Gaara glared at Naruto and kissed Sakura, “I just need to talk to Tsunade about some things, and it shouldn’t take long.” Tsunade smiled, “We have all day,” she said, “You two should go spend some time together. Sakura, your old room is still here, you two go rest.”

Gaara saw Naruto wave goodbye. Gaara felt Sakura grab hold of his hand, “Let’s go Gaara, I want you to see something.” Gaara sighed and smiled, “Of course,” he chuckled, “Naruto has to be alone with his lady-love.” Naruto screamed out at their backs, “I heard you!”

Gaara and Sakura linked arms and walked down the stairs, Gaara kissed Sakura’s forehead. “I love you, Sakura.” She wrapped her arm around his waist, “I love you, too.”