"I used to think 'friend' was just another word… But then I meant you and I realized that what was important was the word's meaning."
Gaara had his back turned to Naruto so that the blonde boy couldn't see his expression; so no one could look into the young Kazekage's eyes and see the pain there.
He didn't want to be just friends.
After Naruto had shown him such kindness, had reached into the darkness which was Gaara's heart and pulled him into the light, the red-haired boy had fallen for the Kyubi Jinchuriki.
The Kazekage knew that Naruto didn't feel the same; he was too busy chasing after Sasuke. Naruto always claimed that he wanted to save the rouge Shinobi, had wanted to save their friendship, but Gaara wondered if friendship was all Naruto really felt towards Sasuke.
The red-haired sand ninja felt a twinge of jealousy when he thought of how hard Naruto was fighting to protect the Uchiha boy. You deserve so much better, he thought to himself.
The Kazekage sighed quietly and turned toward the blond boy.
The whiskers on his cheeks and the sadness in Naruto's eyes melted Gaara's heart; but he kept his face expressionless, almost cold.
He could barely stand to look at the blond boy without pain burning in his heart; the young Kazekage's heart beat rapidly with anxiety, knowing he would have to leave his secret love. He wanted to reach out to Naruto; wanted to know what it felt like to be held by the person he loved, and wanted the blond boy to love him back. But Gaara was sure that Naruto was in love with Sasuke; that's why he was trying to bring him back, right?
The sand Shinobi took in a breath of air and spoke again to the Kyubi Jinchuriki, "Think about it's meaning, and about what you are trying to do for Sasuke."
Naruto, Gaara thought, but that was all he could think of; the pain it was causing him to say goodbye, the pain of letting Naruto go after his love, and the pain of knowing that the blond boy's true love wasn't him.
Goodbye, the young Kazekage thought to himself as he turned away.
With that, Gaara and his siblings left for home.
He knew Naruto was still going to try and save Sasuke, just as he had saved the young Kazekage before, when they had both still been Jinchurikis.
Gaara allowed himself one last thought; a promise, Sasuke, if you hurt him, I will never forgive you. I wont kill you, that would hurt Naruto; but I would make you suffer…
When that last thought passed, he shut out the world and concentrated on nothing but getting home and the war that lay before them.
