(A/N) Greetings to readers new and old! Welcome to my fireside circle! I have here a tale of two villages joined into one; I have here a tale of deceit and power-hungry leaders; I have here a tale of hope and friendship, a tale of brotherhood and bravery. Come and listen, I implore you. You won't regret it.

All theatrics aside, Gaara, Lee and Kankuro will be the stars of this fic, with large parts also played by Naruto, Temari, Orochimaru, Kakashi, Sasori, and many, many others. Another side of Shukaku may well be revealed, and Kyubi… well, it doesn't exist. Never liked that fox to begin with. :P

I hope you'll enjoy "Cacti," part one of Sands of Time.

I do not own Naruto or any of the characters featured here.

"Lee!"

I jumped at my sensei's call and tried to turn, but only succeeded in losing my balance. The already precariously balanced stack of books toppled from my arms, and I followed them, bouncing down the stairs with a series of painful thuds. Several other students paused to laugh at me, but none stopped to help. I was used to it; such things happened at least once a day. I sat up, rubbing the back of my head, embarrassed.

My sensei trotted down the stairs to join me, smiling behind the mask that he always wore. "Lee, you have got to be the clumsiest boy I've ever had the displeasure of teaching."

I smiled, not minding his abuse. "I'm okay," I murmured, gathering up my books as quickly as I could manage. "Sorry Kakashi-sama!"

"Let me tell you," Kakashi continued, "that I won't hesitate to recommend holding you back. Or, better yet, sending you back to elementary school. Perhaps you would benefit from returning to third grade."

I chuckled. "Don't worry, Kakashi-sama! I'll pass this semester if it kills me!"

The teacher chuckled as well. "Everybody would certainly be better off."

"Yeah, we would."

I felt something flick me on the back of the head and turned, but by the time I did he was already beside Kakashi. I swiveled back around and met his mocking gaze.

"Oh! Sasuke-kun!" I greeted him.

The dark haired boy tossed his head. "You're a slacker. You can't even use ninjitsu or genjutsu; how do you expect to pass this semester?"

I bristled; taking abuse from an honored teacher was one thing, but from a fellow student was intolerable, and my arch rival, at that…! Yet with Kakashi there, I didn't dare challenge him.

"Don't talk to my student like that." I felt a steady hand on my shoulder, and glanced up at the grinning face of my other teacher. A goofy smile spread over my face.

Kakashi sighed tiredly. "Gui, why do you invest so much in this boy? He might show promise in taijutsu, but this is a specialty school… one for ninjitsu. The boy can't pass on taijutsu alone."

Gui-sensei smiled down at me. "I believe that he can, Kakashi. I have great faith in him."

I felt my heart swell at Gui-sensei's confidence in me. Sasuke's derisive sniff distracted me.

"He's doomed to fail," the other student said.

"I am not!" I snapped back. "I will become a splendid ninja!"

Sasuke scoffed. "You're deluded. And, worse, doomed to fail."

I bristled, but Gui-sensei squeezed my shoulder gently.

"I'll tell you what, Kakashi," my sensei said levelly. "We're always competing; why don't we have our students compete, too?"

Kakashi smiled and cocked his head. "I like where this is going. What do you propose?"

Gui-sensei's eyes glittered. "Your Sasuke against my charming Lee; one week. Then we'll see who the most worthy student is."

"If Lee loses, he'll leave this school in disgrace," the other teacher said. I stiffened, but Gui-sensei wasn't ruffled.

"Of course. And if he wins, Sasuke will admit what a splendid ninja my lovable student is. He'll proclaim it to the whole school."

I twitched anxiously.

"Very well," Kakashi said happily, patting Sasuke on the head. "A week, you said?"

My rival smiled cruelly. "I'll see you in a week, then."

I swallowed nervously. "And I'll b-beat you!" I declared, but there was a slight tremble in my voice. It didn't go unnoticed by Sasuke.

"You are as good as expelled," he said nastily, and walked away beside Kakashi, chuckling darkly to himself.

I shivered. "G-Gui-sensei… why did you…?"

Gui-sensei laughed lightly, kneeling down in front of me. His eyes sparkled with the spirit that I so admired.

"Because I am proud of you, Lee. You are my protégé, my most valuable and talented student. And I know that you can beat Sasuke."

I felt myself grow slightly stronger. "Thanks. But… but what if I lose…?"

Gui-sensei chuckled. "If you lose… then I'll quit my job here and come to train you! I'll exile myself with you!"

I felt my smile return. "You're the best, Gui-sensei! I won't let you down!"

"Promise?" he asked.

"Promise!" I said, winking.

Then, I threw my arms around him, the one person who truly believed in me. I wouldn't let him down. A fire built in me. In a week's time…

I would prove that I could become a splendid ninja.

... ... ...

I stalked down the street, my eyes flicking distrustfully from side to side. I was always nervous in the village, despite the pleasures it offered. My bare feet slid over the ground without a sound, my worn, tattered jeans swishing. People shied away from me, yielding easily, fearfully. I would hurt them, badly, and they knew it.

In a sudden flurry of moment, I sand burst from the gourd on my back and threw a person against the brick side of a building. He trembled delightfully under the grains, and I held my face close to his.

"I'm hungry," I said calmly. "Give me money to buy food."

The man nodded breathlessly, groping blindly in his pocket until he found his wallet. He dropped it onto the ground at my feet.

"H-h-here…" he whispered. "T-take it…"

I smiled without feeling. "Good. Now get away from me." I let the sand thrust him to the side, watching coldly as he skidded on the pavement and scrambled away. I picked up his wallet and pulled out the money.

It was a short walk to the nearest ramen stand. The man didn't even wait until I produced the money; he simply grabbed a bowl from another customer- who was running away as quickly as he could –and gave it to me. I didn't bother to say a word, just picked up a pair of chopsticks and started to eat. I noticed quickly enough, thought, that one customer hadn't left, despite the fact that even the ramen cook had vanished. He was a blonde boy, and was staring at me with the most annoying intensity.

"What?" I asked, glowering.

The boy cocked his head. "Who're you?" he asked, his mouth half-full of chewed ramen noodles. "And why do you have a peanut on your back?"

I stood, slowly, forcing myself to keep an icy cool. "It's a gourd! Do you want to die today?"

The boy didn't flinch; he only swallowed his mouthful of ramen and took another bite. "Not really…"

My eyes narrowed. "Really? Because I don't like being watched. So I would suggest you leave."

"But I haven't finished my ramen," he mumbled around more noodles.

I twitched. "You… who the hell are you?"

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto!" the boy declared, winking at me. "I'm new here!"

"Of course you are," I grumbled.

Naruto glanced at his now empty ramen bowl, and then at my half-full one. "You gonna eat that?" he asked.

I snapped.

"I was planning on it!" I roared, sand erupting from my gourd.

I was rewarded with a twinge of uncertainty on Naruto's face. The sand roiled, irritated at being woken up again.

"Don't worry," I murmured. "I'm sorry. You'll get some tasty blood, I promise."

Naruto took a step backwards. "Come on, this Ramen place is on campus…! We're not supposed to fight here! What's with you, dude?"

I laughed slightly, though it didn't reach my heart. "I fight where I want to. You better learn that, and fast."

The sand lashed out, slicing along the boy's shoulder. Blood- lovely, red blood –spurted from the new wound, and he clutched his shoulder. A moment later, however, the blonde boy launched himself forward, aiming a kick at my head. I didn't move an inch; the sand intercepted the strike and threw Naruto off balance. The boy went sprawling, crashing into the counter. Whipping blood from his mouth, he staggered to his feet.

"You aren't worthy to fight me," I hissed. "You're just a punk, too ignorant to realize he's outmatched. You may die now."

The sand shot forward, wrapping itself around Naruto's legs. The boy shuttered violently, and I felt the vibrations through the sand. I looked eagerly at his face, hoping to find the fear etched into his features.

I was disappointed.

There was no fear; only determination and… sadness…? But, it wasn't sadness for his impending death, it was…

Pity…?

"Ugh!" I felt my heart convulse with sudden pain. Why does… he pity me…?

Mother…

"You have… lonely eyes…" the boy murmured as the sand slid back down, withdrawing into my gourd.

"Shut up!" I snarled. My breathing came in harsh gasps. "Uzumaki… Naruto… I'll let you live. But only so that I can hear you scream…"

I shuffled into the desert brush, feeling dejected and confused. My chest hurt again… badly. I slumped to the ground, taking comfort in the sand all around me. I clutched at it, breathing deeply.

Who was that kid…? Uzumaki Naruto … I will kill you…

The brush rustled with a desert bird, and a hare hopped near the cactus at the edge of my oasis. The bubbling stream ran beside me, and the leafy fronds of a palm danced overhead. This was my home, and I took great solace from it.

No one could understand.

The sand curled around me, creating a nice, protective nest, like mother's arms.

I was alone.

Not quite…whispered a voice in my head. Kya ha ha…

(A/N) Nice intro? Purely exposition… so please stick with me. :D

Reviews are much appreciated, and rewarded with hints as to what's to come! This fic updates THURSDAYS, so look forward to it!