The Smile That Survived the Sand (Gaara x OC)

She was the girl made of glass and sunlight-quiet, kind, and unbreakable. He was the boy shaped by shadows and sand, burdened with a past too heavy to carry alone.

When Gaara is named the Fifth Kazekage, the elders insist he take on a personal bodyguard-someone who will protect not just his life, but his reputation. Among the candidates is Sorano Akari, a kunoichi with a forgotten bloodline, a haunted home, and a strength both graceful and devastating. Gaara remembers her-not for her power, but for her warmth, her resilience, and the silent kindness she offered him back when no one else dared.

As Sorano steps into the role, the walls between duty and emotion begin to shift. And in a village built on survival, two broken souls may finally find peace... in each other.

I do not own naruto or any of the characters.