Hey everybody! Shadow here. Well this is my first Gaara x Sakura story so I hope you like it. Also, there is one small thing you should know...

I FREAKING HATE SASUKE UCHIHA! *gasp*

I know some of you just left after reading that and I know some of you are cheering. Either way, this story will contain A LOT of Sasuke bashing.

So you know the drill. Blah blah blah, I don't own anything, but if I did, Sasuke wouldn't exist.

Sasuke: ...Fuck you.

Shadow: Hate you too, Teme. Hate you too...

Anyways R&R! I'd love to hear from you guys!

Chapter 1

Outside the window of the van, the scenery was the same.

Trees.

Pines, elms, birches, maples… all withering and turning brown as winter approached. A steady drizzle fell from the sky like tears, creating streams of water that slid down Sakura's window. She pressed her forehead against the glass, a feeble attempt to soothe her pounding head. It was a miserable day.

A drawn out sigh sounded from next to her. Sakura turned to examine the troubled person next to her. Pein was glancing at his smart phone before looking back to the road. He was no doubt checking the address of Sakura's new school. Muttering to himself, Pein put his phone back in his pocket and noticed Sakura's green-eyed gaze was upon him. He grunted and explained gruffly, "Your school seems to be in the middle of nowhere."

Sakura turned away. "I could have taken the bus, you know."

Pein shrugged. "It's your first day. Konan insisted someone should see you off."

"Whatever," Sakura sunk into her seat. "At least my old school was within walking distance."

Pein sighed again. "Look, I know you're upset about moving again. But some things came up and we had to leave. Itachi had a house up here and his family's wealth will keep us protected. You get to go to the finest achieving high school in the country. We are safe and we can keep you happy! Isn't that what you want?" He glanced at the silent pink haired teen. "It was this or risk facing the Anbu, Sakura," he said softly. "At least this way, you don't have to worry about anybody being arrested and you'll be able to live a normal life… which is so much more than we could provide you before." Sakura turned her back to Pein. She knew his reasoning was valid and she didn't want anybody to get hurt. Honestly, she didn't even mind moving. She only wished that it could have waited until she had finished her junior year.

"Whatever." she murmured.

. . .

At last, they reached the high-school-in-the-middle-of-freaking-nowhere. Pein gave a low whistle.

"Man, Sakura! Would you look at that?"

The Kage Gifted Academy was a four-story building of monumental proportions. It was surrounded by cobblestone paths that crisscrossed through elegant gardens of flowers and herbs. A massive fountain stood at the entrance to the Academy, spouting crystal waterfalls into a large granite basin that collected the water and the rain. The students of the Academy were no less stunning. Their sleek white and navy blue uniforms and expensive accessories certainly made them just as brilliant of their surroundings. The impressive Academy, coupled with its well-bred students, made the whole campus seem somewhat out of place in the middle of a vast forest of shriveling trees. The sight was so overwhelming that Sakura sank down into her seat. Pein pulled the van into the Academy's round-about, stopping upon reaching the fountain.

"You ready?" Pein asked.

Sakura nodded, clutching her bag (black with lovely red clouds on it) to her chest. Truthfully, she was terrified. Pein nodded and reached over to ruffle her hair.

"…Have a great day, Sakura."

Summoning every ounce of courage she had, Sakura nodded again and opened the door of the van. Before she got out, she looked at the amazing school once more. The only reason she had been accepted to such a renowned and incredibly expensive school was because she had a higher IQ than any other in her previous school. Her high test scores had attracted the attention of the Academy's officials and they decided to accept her as a scholarship student. Also, Itachi had probably bribed some people with his wealth and family status. Apparently his younger brother also went to this school. Maybe she would be able to meet him. As she hopped out of the van, Pein called out, "Oh! By the way, Hidan will be picking you up this afternoon!"

Groaning, Sakura slammed the door and watched Pein drive away.

. . .

Tsunade shifted through the massive piles of paperwork that had been dumped rather unceremoniously onto her desk. Numerous papers addressed subtle issues, such as the Home Ed class running out of spatulas or the janitor requesting that water balloons should be banned on campus. The rest of the papers were more serious and focused on topics such as the dramatic spike of violence, vandalism and drug use in the school. There were letters from parents, officials and even from the students themselves. If she didn't figure out how to stop all of this trouble, Tsunade's school might be shut down within the next year. There was a soft knock the door of her office.

Straightening, the headmaster of the Kage Gifted Academy called out in an authoritative voice, "Enter!"

A teenage girl with emerald green eyes and somewhat offending pink hair entered the room.

"Ah, Miss Haruno, come in. I've been expecting you." Sakura bowed to the woman.

"Are you Tsunade- Kōchō?"

"I am. Please Haruno-san, sit." Sakura did as she was told. Tsunade leaned back into her chair and examined the young lady in front of her. Teacher recommendation letters informed her that Sakura Haruno, age 16, was a hard worker, incredibly intelligent, kind, and keen on following rules. She was practically the opposite of most of the school. However, while Sakura may very well become the valedictorian of the Academy, she also was haunted by the troubling ghost of painful memories. But no matter how much she felt for any one student, they were still students. And she was the headmaster.

"You understand that this school has a low tolerance for distractions to the student workplace, Haruno-san?" Tsunade stated, dryly.

Sakura nodded. "I read the manual just last night, Tsunade- Kōchō. I understand."

Tsunade clicked her tongue. "Then you understand why I'm going to ask you to wash that dye out of your hair before entering the classroom?"

Sakura ran a hand unconsciously through her waist length hair. "With all due respect, Tsunade- Kōchō," she said, bowing slightly in her seat. "I cannot. It is my natural hair color."

Somewhat surprised, Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Truly?" she asked.

"Truly." Sakura replied.

"Then I will let the matter go." Tsunade stood and strolled over to a large filing cabinet. After opening it and sifting through its contents, she pulled out a manila folder with Sakura's full name neatly written on it.

"This folder contains your locker combination, your schedule, a map of the school and some information from your teachers. First period begins in fifteen minutes."

Standing, Sakura bowed once more. "Thank you."

As she turned to leave, Tsunade called out to her.

"We are aware of your past, Haruno-san. Teachers have been instructed to keep an eye out for anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable. Punishments for any who harass you are… harsh."

Sakura's eyes widened. She wasn't aware that Pein had told anyone about her secret. This woman whom she barely knew was offering her a safety net, one that would protect her from the risk of pain while she was at the school. Touched, she bowed deeper than all the other bows she had previously made.

"Kōchō…" Tsunade inclined her head and gestured for her to leave.

The door behind Sakura swung open with a loud CRASH! Sakura practically leaped out of her skin in terror. She spun around to find herself face to face with deep, kohl lined, sea foam green eyes. They seemed to bore into her own eyes, drilling into her mind, stripping her bare of any secret she had ever had and exposing her soul to the quick. Her heart pounded wildly as she mentally tried to escape the pale eyed glower, but all she could do was stare into those cold, hate-filled eyes…

"Mr. Subaku! Glad you could make it."

Tsunade's sharp voice snapped Sakura back. She wrenched her eyes away and stumbled backwards, panting. Such hate and anger in a mere glance. The thought of what type of person could be the owner of such eyes scared Sakura half to death. Scrambling, she scooped up her bag into her arms and raced from the office, staring at the floor as she went. As she reached the door she pushed past whatever cruel being whose eyes she had seen, bumping them as she fled the room. She ran from the main office and through the halls in an aimless direction, trying to escape those cold, green eyes.

. . .

"Fantastic job, Gaara-kun," Tsunade said, wryly. "You just scared the crap out of our new student." Gaara no Subaku merely stared out the door where the pink haired girl had exited. Interest lost, the red head focused his attention on an object on the floor. Reaching down, he picked up a black pen with a red kanji written across it.

"Sakura…" he said, softly. Tsunade shuddered involuntarily. She didn't like the way he was saying Sakura's name. Turning his emotionless stare to the headmaster, he asked coldly, "Who is she?"

Tsunade gave a sharp bark of laughter. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Gaara blinked slowly at the woman before clasping the pen in his hand and slipping it into the pocket of his unkempt uniform. He then turned to face her fully.

"What do you want?" he growled.

Tsunade pointed to one of the massive piles of paper on her desk. "Your violence is getting out of hand, Gaara-kun. I can't have you beating every person who "looks at you wrong" to a pulp! This is your final warning. Any more rough housing whatsoever and you have yourself a well-earned expulsion. Is that clear, Gaara-kun?"

Gaara didn't seem even slightly affected by Tsunade's warning.

"Go ahead and throw me out," he said. "This place is dull and I am bored of it." Gaara turned and began walking out of the office. Infuriated by the aloof teen's attitude, Tsunade clenched her fists and brought them down upon the desk with a rib-breaking force.

"I'm warning you, Subaku!" she screamed. "You touch that girl and I'll do worse than expel you!"

Gaara continued walking, undaunted.

Tsunade roared. "IF YOU LAY ONE FINGER ON SAKURA HARUNO, SO HELP ME KAME, I WILL KILL YOU!"

. . .

Gaara left the office without a word. As continued walking to first period, which he was already late for, he placed a hand on the pen in his pocket.

Sakura Haruno…. Perhaps this school is not as dull as I originally thought….

Yay! School days! Fun, fun, fun...

Say what? The Akatsuki gives Sakura rides to school? O.o Ooooookkkaaaayyyyy...

Who hates prep students? *raises hand*

Oooooooo... Sakura has a secret! I KNEW SHE AND TOBI WERE PLANNING WORLD DOMINATION! MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ...or maybe that's just me.

Nice to see Tsunade's in such a good mood today, no?

Oh noz! what's running through Gaara's sadistic little mind?

Thanks for reading everyone! Next chapter will be up soon!

Veni, Vidi, Vici...

Shadow