The third day of travel.
By now, the desert heat barely registered. Sunagakure's jagged cliffs were finally visible on the horizon, looming like a fortress born of sand and time.
I had been waiting for this moment.
As we climbed a slight ridge, a lone figure appeared ahead on the trail—moving quickly, kicking up a trail of sand behind her.
Blonde. Confident stride. Giant fan on her back.
'Right on cue,' I thought calmly.
"There's someone up ahead," Kakashi-sensei said.
We slowed as the figure came into full view and stopped just in front of us, her breathing steady despite the distance she'd clearly traveled.
Temari.
Her eyes scanned us quickly—landing last on me. Her gaze lingered, just for a moment, and a blush touched her cheeks before she quickly looked away.
"You're Team Kakashi, right?" she asked, voice brisk.
Kakashi-sensei nodded. "We were sent by Lady Tsunade. Sunagakure requested aid."
Temari exhaled through her nose. "Good. I was in Konoha when a summons reached me. Something happened in the village—I don't know the full story yet, just that Gaara's in danger."
Sakura's sharp gasp behind me said more than words.
Temari continued, her brows furrowing slightly. "The messenger hawk said there was an attack. That he was taken. It didn't say much else."
Kakashi-sensei's expression hardened. "We'll get more details inside the village."
Temari nodded and turned to walk with us, matching our pace quickly. She took her place beside me, and while she said nothing else, I could feel her chakra fluttering every time her eyes met mine. Her glances—quick and subtle—never went unnoticed.
Behind us, Sakura walked silently.
And when I looked over my shoulder, I saw her eyes on me.
...
Sakura's POV
I wasn't sure when it started.
Maybe it was the moment I saw him again after so long or when he was standing tall at the Hokage's office, his posture more confident, his eyes more focused than I remembered.
Or maybe it was the night by the river. The quiet firelight. That moment he caught me without hesitation, holding me like I mattered.
But since then, I've noticed things.
My heart beats faster around him.
My eyes follow him, sometimes without meaning to.
And when he looks at me—not as the loud, goofy kid he used to be, but as the man he's become—I feel my breath catch.
'It's just Naruto,' I keep telling myself. 'Just Naruto.'
But the more I try to brush it off, the harder it is to ignore.
Even now, as we walk toward the village, I find myself watching him. His shoulders are broader. His walk is steady. And Temari, walking beside him, keeps stealing glances.
That makes something in my chest tighten.
I know I shouldn't care. I know there are more important things right now—like Gaara, like the Akatsuki—but still…
Every now and then, I wonder—
'When did Naruto become someone I can't stop thinking about?'
...
It was strange—how quiet things felt, despite the desert wind brushing past us and the crunch of sand beneath our feet. Three days of travel. Just one more stretch before the gates of Sunagakure.
But I couldn't focus on the mission. Not really.
Not when every now and then, my eyes drifted to Naruto.
It had started the moment I saw him again. There was something different—a calmness, a steadiness in his posture and the way he spoke. He wasn't that hyperactive knucklehead anymore. No, this Naruto had presence. He walked with silent strength, and his eyes held something deeper now. Something mature.
My heart had started doing this weird thing ever since we left Konoha.
It fluttered.
Not in a panicky way. In a…warm, annoying, confusing way.
Especially since that night. By the fire. When he handed me food, when he smiled at me without asking for anything. When he caught me by the river and—
oh god.
I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to steady my breath. The memory of his hand… catching me, that touch… I shook my head quickly.
"Get a grip, Sakura," I muttered under my breath.
Just then, Naruto glanced back at me. His eyes met mine. Not teasing, not smug. Just… warm.
And it made everything worse.
I found myself walking in a haze of thoughts. His silhouette beside Temari. The way she looked at him. The way she stayed so close. And me… trailing behind like a distracted fool, barely hearing a word they were saying.
Then, all at once—
The gates.
I blinked.
The massive, sun-bleached stone gates of Sunagakure loomed ahead, guarded and flanked by shinobi with steely eyes.
Wait.
We were already here?
My breath caught. I hadn't even noticed the final stretch.
Had I really been that lost in my own head?
My cheeks warmed, and I quickly looked down, trying to compose myself before anyone noticed.
"Team Kakashi, welcome to Sunagakure," one of the gate guards said. Temari stepped ahead and exchanged a few quiet words with them before motioning us inside.
The moment we entered, the dry, warm air of the village hit me. Familiar in scent, but the mood in the village wasn't. Shinobi hurried along the rooftops. Tension clung to the air.
Temari spoke as she guided us. "We don't know exactly what happened yet. All we know is that Gaara was attacked. He fought back—hard—but they took him."
Kakashi-sensei gave a silent nod. Naruto's jaw tightened.
"Kankurou was poisoned during the fight trying to stop them. He's in critical condition. We're keeping him stable... barely."
My breath caught again. Poison?
We followed Temari through winding hallways of sandstone and guard posts until we reached the medical wing.
When I saw Kankurou lying motionless on the bed, pale and covered in sweat, a grim determination settled over me.
"We've tried everything," the medic stationed at his side said. "Nothing's worked. We don't have an antidote."
Kakashi-sensei looked to me. "Sakura..."
The medics in Sunagakure exchanged confused looks, their gazes flickering between me and the still, unconscious Kankurou.
I stepped forward, not letting their skepticism hold me back. "Let me help."
They hesitated, clearly unsure whether they should allow someone from outside the village to take charge. But then Temari stepped in, her voice firm.
"Let her try," she said. "She's 5th Hokage's disciple. If anyone can help, it's her."
The medics glanced at Temari, clearly trusting her judgment more than mine, but I couldn't shake the feeling that their doubt still lingered.
I looked at Temari, relief flooding through me. She believed in me. And that simple act of trust gave me the strength I needed. I met her gaze, and she returned it with a look of quiet confidence.
Seeing that, something clicked inside me. I'll do this. I have to.
This was it. A chance to make a real difference. To finally put everything Lady Tsunade had taught me to use.
But then...
A small voice whispered in the back of my mind.
'If I treat him well, Naruto will see. He'll be impressed. He might even compliment me...'
My fingers twitched. I swallowed.
And then my face flared red.
'What the hell am I even thinking?! This is not the time!'
I shook the thoughts off, biting down on my lip. But even as I tried to push it away, a softer part of me lingered.
'But... would it really be so bad? If he did say something kind?' I thought.
I looked back at Naruto—he was watching me, his expression serious, but there was something gentle in his eyes. Like he believed in me. Like he always had.
My heart fluttered again.
'It would be okay, right?'
I turned back to Kankurou. My hands began to glow with chakra.
A small, confident smile spread across my lips—just a little red still warming my cheeks.
"Alright. I'm going in."
...
MC POV
Watching Sakura work on Kankurou, her hands glowing with steady green chakra, I couldn't help but feel… proud. Relieved, even. She was already so much more capable than her canon counterpart.
I guess my plan worked. When I'd pushed Ero-Sennin to send the letters to Tsunade about my progress, I'd hoped it would push Sakura too — make her grow, make her stronger. And it had.
Truth be told, that had been one of my goals from the start. To make her more than what she'd been in the original story. Because — and I know I'm in the minority here — I've always liked Sakura.
Most people only remember the surface. Yeah, she could be rough. Yeah, she hit Naruto sometimes for no reason. But to me, that was just… her way of being a friend. Friends aren't always sugarcoated and gentle — they're the ones who actually care enough to call you out, to pull you back. And Sakura? She cared about Naruto, even if she didn't always show it the "right" way.
People hate her for that one moment — what she said about Naruto's background as an orphan in canon series6 — and I hated it too, back then. But that wasn't all she was. What I admired most about her was her loyalty. Her heart. The way she stayed true to her feelings.
Everyone thought she only liked Sasuke because he was cool, handsome. But even at the end, when she knew her love might never be returned, she didn't waver. She never turned bitter. That kind of devotion… I respected it.
I shook my head slightly, pulling myself back to the present. But this world there were differences. "That person," for one.
And just as that thought passed, I felt it — a presence drawing closer. As I had predicted, it was an old woman — Chiyo. She looked exactly as I had imagined. Her age and experience were evident, but there was still a sharpness in her eyes. She was speaking with Kakashi-sensei, and from the tone of their conversation, I already knew what they were discussing.
They must have been talking about the next steps — about what to do after Kankurou's treatment was complete. I didn't need to hear the details; I could guess what their plan was.
With that, I decided to join them
...
Third-Person POV
An hour later, Sakura had finished treating Kankurou, carefully prescribing medicine and giving instructions to the other medics who would continue his care. She spoke to them in a calm, confident manner, her hands still glowing faintly from the chakra she'd used.
When the medics dispersed to carry out her orders, Sakura found a moment to catch her breath. As she stood there, speaking with them, her gaze unintentionally shifted toward Naruto. Her face softened, and a smile — the most sincere smile she'd given all day — spread across her lips. She moved toward him quickly, almost childlike in her eagerness, like a child rushing to their parents for praise after finishing a task.
But before she could reach him, Chiyo stepped in between them, her old eyes sharp as ever.
"I see you've done well, girl," Chiyo said, her voice gravelly but approving. "Kankurou is in good hands. You have my thanks."
Sakura blinked, momentarily taken aback, but she smiled warmly in return. "It was the least I could do," she replied, sincerity in her voice.
But Chiyo, ever the observant one, noticed something Sakura hadn't quite managed to hide. As her gaze fell to the side, she saw the young medic's eyes darting back toward Naruto, still standing just a few steps away.
Chiyo's lips curled into a sly smile. "Hm. Seems like you're in a hurry to see someone, eh?" she teased, her voice light, yet knowing.
Sakura froze, her cheeks instantly turning crimson. "W-what? I'm not—!" she stammered, her flustered denial only making the situation more obvious.
Chiyo chuckled softly and stepped aside, raising her hands in mock surrender. "I see, I see. I won't bother the youngsters any longer."
With that, Chiyo moved toward Kankurou's bed, where Temari was already tending to him.
Meanwhile, Sakura, still blushing furiously, couldn't help but feel a little helpless as she made her way toward Naruto. The teasing smile he wore only made her face redden more.
When she reached him, she couldn't even meet his eyes. "Not you too…" she muttered, her voice tinged with embarrassment, her entire face flushed..
Naruto's grin widened, clearly enjoying the reaction he was getting from Sakura. He took a moment to watch her carefully, as though trying to find the right words. Then, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, he spoke.
"You've really come a long way, Sakura," he began, his voice full of admiration. "It's amazing to see you now, so strong, so composed. Watching you treat Kankurou, it was like watching a true healer at work. You didn't just do the job, you breathed life into it. The way your chakra flowed, the way you calmed everyone around you, it was… it was like watching a fairy move among mortals."
Sakura blinked, feeling her face turn an even deeper shade of red. She opened her mouth to say something, but Naruto continued, unaware of the effect his words were having on her.
"Seriously," he went on, his voice warm and genuine. "It was like you had this aura about you. The way you moved so gracefully, like everything you did had a purpose. You didn't just heal Kankurou — you lifted the room. Your presence… It was like a light in the dark. And that kindness — it surrounded you. It was like you were glowing. You looked just like a fairy among humans, like some mythical being sent to grace the world."
Sakura could feel her heart racing, the words washing over her, each one making her feel lighter and heavier at the same time. She hadn't expected him to say anything like this. Her face felt as if it was on fire, and she found herself unable to respond, her thoughts tangled up in his praise. The medics around them were also looking at Sakura with wide eyes, some of them blushing at how genuine and heartfelt Naruto's compliments were.
Sakura opened her mouth, but only a few words came out, nothing coherent. "I… uh, th-thank you, Naruto… b-but…" Her voice trailed off, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She couldn't make sense of what she was feeling.
Inside, she was ridiculously happy. She wanted to jump up and scream, but she was far too embarrassed to do anything. Her heart fluttered, and she found herself smiling uncontrollably, though she couldn't make eye contact with him. But when she glanced around, she saw the medics' expressions — they were as stunned as she was, blushing and whispering behind their hands.
But it wasn't just them. Her eyes fell on Temari, who, despite her usual composure, quickly turned her head away. Her ears were bright red, betraying her cool exterior.
That was it. Sakura's face turned even redder. She could feel herself getting overwhelmed.
Naruto, meanwhile, was completely oblivious to the effect his words were having on her and the others. He just kept going, looking directly at her with that usual, cheerful smile of his. "Seriously, though, Sakura. You've always been capable, but this? This is something else. You've grown into someone I can really look up to. And the way your hair falls just right, framing your face? You've got that whole soft, angelic look going on, but then you go and act like a fierce lioness when you're on a mission, and I'm just... amazed. Honestly, Sakura, I can't even keep up with how much you've changed. You're like this perfect blend of beauty and strength now."
Sakura's breath caught in her throat. "Look up to me?" It felt like the world had just shifted. The praise was so kind, so pure, that it made her want to curl into herself and giggle.
But just as she was about to completely melt from the sheer weight of his words, Kakashi-sensei interjected, his voice cutting through the moment. "Alright, that's enough of the lovefest. We've got a mission to focus on," he said, not unkindly, but with a tone that made it clear they couldn't stay in this moment for long. "Let's not get too carried away, Naruto. Keep it moderate."
Sakura, still blushing and flustered, let out a long, shaky breath, trying to recover from the bombardment of praise. But before she could even gather herself, Chiyo's voice chimed in from behind them, her tone dry but amused. "Looks like you've got yourself a keeper, missy."
Temari, standing a little off to the side, nodded subtly, though her face was still faintly pink. The tips of her ears were red — a clear sign that even she couldn't stay completely composed. There was something else in her expression, though… something that looked almost like jealousy, a feeling Sakura couldn't quite place.
Sakura, still trying to wrap her head around everything, waved her hands in front of her face. "No, no, it's not like that! I—!" she stammered, but no one seemed to be buying it. Kakashi, barely holding back a smile, shrugged.
"Yeah, yeah, we get it, Sakura," he said with a teasing smile.
Naruto, still oblivious to the undercurrents of the situation, simply looked at her with a puzzled expression. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
Sakura, her face now completely crimson, had had enough. She rushed forward, hands raised, fully intent on smacking him with her palm. "Naruto!" she cried out in embarrassment, the words almost choked out. "Stop teasing me already!"
Naruto laughed and darted away, his voice trailing behind him. "Why again?!" he called, clearly enjoying the chase.
Outside the medics' room, Kakashi, Chiyo, and Temari watched the scene with amused expressions. Kakashi scratched his head, a bemused smile tugging at his lips.
"Yeah, but..." he began, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "What about the mission?"
[AN : This chapter has been sitting in my drafts for quite a while, so I decided to upload it as is with just a few minor edits here and there. I know that this might not be everyone's cup of tea, but please understand that the primary focus of this story is about building relationships with the girls — everything else is secondary. I'm aiming to develop these relationships gradually, and while some characters' arcs may progress faster than others, that won't be happening just yet.
I do have a clear plan for where I want this fanfic to go, but lately, I've been struggling with time management, which has delayed my updates. Unfortunately, I can't promise when the next chapter will come out. It could be tomorrow, in a few days, weeks, or even months — but I will get back to it.
For those of you who have stuck with me so far, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I truly appreciate your support. And for anyone still willing to follow this journey despite knowing the premise, I hope you'll stay with me. I'm doing my best to manage my time, and I hope to have more updates for you in the future. Once again, apologies for the delays, and thank you for your understanding!]