Naruto sat with Gaara on the roof of his apartment staring at the moon. The sand villages' kage had decided to visit his friend while in the leaf village for official business. Naruto had been having a rough time since the loss of sensei. Gaara had an understanding of that from his own childhood. Temari had informed him a good way to show compassion and care was just to be in the presence of the person in there time of need. Gaara hoped she was right.
Naruto let out a small sigh just before he spoke. "Thanks, Gaara." Gaara turned towards Naruto, though Naruto's eyes kept glued to the sky. "It means a lot to me."
Gaara opened his mouth to reply, but decided against it, as another idea popped into his head. Gaara scooted closer to Naruto and placed an arm around Naruto's shoulders. Naruto took his attention from the sky for the first time since they'd gotten settled on the roof. His eyes held a bit of shock, while his mouth held a sad smile. It subsided just as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by very joyous eyes, but his sad smile held its ground. Naruto put his arm around Gaara's shoulder before returning his eyes too the sky.
"When do you have to leave Gaara?" Naruto finally broke the silence again after a while. "I know you're busy with your duties and such, I don't want to cause you to miss them."
Gaara turned to watching his friend again, "I've already discussed with lady Tsundae and Temari that my presence would not be set for any particular amount time."
Naruto turned to him once again, and this times a complete look of confusion on his face. "Why's that Gaara?"
Gaara held Naruto's gaze as he spoke. "I felt my presence was of a greater need here with you. I wish to stay with you for as long as you shall need me."
Naruto's jaw dropped for a moment, "wow Gaara, that's... that's beyond generous of you. Thank you so much Gaara." Naruto squeezed on Gaara's shoulder a bit, before he lowered his head. "That means more to me Gaara than you can imagine."
After a moment of silence Gaara pulled Naruto's shoulders into his own. Naruto looked up at him with his newly standard sad smile. "You miss your sensei." Gaara stated bluntly. Naruto's smile quickly dropped to a look of sadness and heart ache. He just nodded in response. Dropping his head once again. Gaara took Naruto's face into his hand and turned Naruto's face to look him in the eye. "When my sensei died, I cried Naruto. But I cried alone." Gaara stared hard into Naruto's shocked, pained eyes. "You don't have to cry alone Naruto. You have people for you to cry with as well as on."
"Gaara... I..."
"I want to be there for you Naruto; I will be there for you. You stand up for everyone else and are there for everyone else no matter what the cost. I want to do that for you and I will." Gaara cut him off and got out. He watched the tears start to pool in Naruto's eyes "you are my friend Naruto-kun. I don't want you to ever feel the pain of loneliness again. You saved me from it, now I want to save you." and then the tears began to flow down his cheeks.
"Thank you, thank you so much Gaara." Naruto wrapped his arms around his friend and cried into his shoulder, for his friend and for his sensei.