Authors Note: This is my first Naruto story. It's based on some questions. What if the demon inside him was his only friend? What if Gaara had been loved and accepted by his village and family? How would their different lives affect each other when they met? Can one Hyuga girl save the Village Hidden in the Leaves?

Prologue-Twin Brothers of Hell

The late afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky over Sunagakure, the Village Hidden in the Sand. The shadows grew long as the day was getting ready to come to a close. The children of Sunagakure took little notice and continued their game of kick ball. Laughing and playing with each other none had noticed the small red headed child sitting on the near by swing set.

A young boy of 5 years sat watching the children play. Clutched in his arms was a teddy bear given to him by his older sister and his most prized possession. His green eyes watched intently the movements of the children as they passed the ball back and fourth. He had to come to the playground in hopes of joining the other kids. It was then that the ball was kicked high into the air.

"Great job," said one of the girls sarcastically. The ball had landed on the high ledge of a rock wall. "Now what are we going to do? None of us can climb a wall that steep."

As if to answer her question the ball suddenly started to float in the air. It moved away from the rock face and descended slowly to the ground. Under the ball a cloud of sand could be seen carrying the ball gently back to earth. All the children watched as it came to a rest in the arms of the small child who had been sitting quietly on the swings.

"I . . . it's Gaara!" One of the children yelled out. The others just stared on for a moment at the child with red hair as he held the ball outstretched in his arm.

They all started to yell out to Gaara.

"Hey Gaara, pass the ball over here," one of the girls yelled with a big smile on her face.

"Gaara is on my team!" cried out one of the boys.

"No fair!" said the boy next to him. "You had him last time."

Gaara smiled at the encouragement from his friends and kicked the ball over to them. Soon the game began anew with them all laughing and enjoying just being kids.

As the sun was about to set the children's parents came to pick them up and take them home. Among them was Yashamaru, Gaaras uncle. "Did you have fun with your friends today?" he said smiling while he knelt down to be eye level with the small child.

"YesYashamaru," beamed the child who could not look happier.

"Well then come along. Everyone is waiting at home for us." When he reached down to take his hand Gaara suddenly turned around and ran for the swing set.

"Wait a minute." He ran over to the swing he had been sitting on and picked up his bear. He had placed it there when he used is control over the sand to get the ball down off the rock face and left it there to watch him while he played. Scooping him up in his arms he ran back over to his uncle. "Can't lave Mr. Bear out here all alone."

"No, we can't have that now can we," He said smiling at the pure innocence of young Gaara. He reached out and took his small hand in his and walked down the road.

Walking down the dirt road towards home Yashamaru periodically looked down at Gaara. It was hard to believe that inside this small child who was so full of joy slept a powerful and a quite lethal demon. The spirit of the raccoon-dog Shukaku of the Sand was placed into Gaara before was even born. His mother, knowing full well that here life would be sacrificed at the time of Gaaras birth, accepted this fate in the hopes that she would be the mother of her nations most powerful shinobi. The protector of its people and the destroyer of its enemies.

Gaara for his part, when he was old enough to understand what had been done to him, was heart broken at knowing he was the reason for his mothers' death. But the void in his heart that would have been filled with his mothers love was filled with the love of his father and uncle, his brother and sister, and the faith and kindness of all the villagers.

At the gates to their home Yashamaru looked once more down at Gaara and was greeted by the child's infectious smile. Gaara was very fortunate because life could have been very different he thought to himself. What if he not been accepted? What sort of life could he have led?

Meanwhile in the Land of Fire

The same sun that was setting over the Village Hidden in the Sand was also setting over the Village Hidden in the Leaves. A similar playground to the one found in Sunagakure sat empty in the village of Konoha save for one small blond haired boy. Naruto sat in the empty swing set, his head cast down staring at his feet which dangled just above the ground. He sat there alone lost in thought, replaying the day over and over in his mind. Hearing the voices over and over.

The day had started well for Naruto. He had come to the playground after a hardy lunch of ramen from his favorite place to find it full of activity. Many of the village children were there playing that afternoon. Soon he was in the middle of it all. Laughing, running, playing ninja with all the other children. He could not remember the last time he had so much fun. It was a typical day for most boys his age. Then as the sun set a reality only Naruto lived shattered his temporary happiness.

The other children's parents came to collect their young. None were happy to see Naruto there. Each one of them looked at him with such hate in their eyes that it made Naruto recoil in fear of them. Almost everyone in the village looked at him like that and he never knew why. He just tried to avoid their gaze.

Some of the other kids were scolded by their parents for playing with him. It had been over an hour since they left but Naruto still played their words in his head. "I don't want you to ever go near that MONSTER," one had said. "If I ever catch you with that FREAK again. . . "another yelled.

Some of what they said was not at their kids so much for Naruto to have to listen too. "I don't know why the Hokage lets that CREATURE roam free in our village."

Monster

Freak

Creature

The words played over and over. They were always the ones that stood out. They were the words that always stuck into him like kunai knives, but hurt four times as much. So Naruto sat there in the setting sun not moving. Not having anyplace to go. No one was waiting for him so he was in no hurry to get anywhere. He just sat there thinking until he had made his decision.

"I hate them all," he said in a low voice to no one but the empty playground around him. This was the first time he had ever said anything like this. Normally the villagers hatred just rolled of his back, but no more. The wheels were turning and nothing was gong to stop them.

"One day. . .," he let the words hang in the air. Naruto was at a crossroads. He was almost hesitant to continue his thought. What he would say next would determine a course of action that would dictate the rest of his life, so they were not to be said lightly. A moment passed and he had decided. "One day I'm going to kill them all."

In that moment something stirred. Narutos new found hatred had awakened something deep within him. Something that had long been dormant now responded to the feelings of the boy. In the distance of his mind the sound of thunder started to roll ever closer. As it drew near it became laughter. A sinister evil laughter rose up form within Naruto becoming louder and nearly deafening.

Anyone passing by the playground just then would have sworn it was nothing more then an illusion. An illusion caused by the final light cast from a setting sun. Anyone passing by just then would have sworn that they saw a young boy with blonde spiky hair glowing red.