This was inspired by a youtube video called "Dark Wood Circus" and I couldn't help but relate it to this fanfic. So I guess you can say this is a bit AU. But enough of that and enjoy. By the way...

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, and all this is just fanmade.

He did it again.

But it wasn't his fault. They were the ones to have come out and attacked him like that. He only killed them in the sake of self-defense. Nevertheless, he ran away from the dismembered bodies. He didn't know or care where he was running to, as long as it was away from the mess he created, away from the danger of being killed, but most of all, away from the hateful stares of the people around him. He was out of breath by the time he got out of his village and his legs were screaming in agony for him to rest, but he continued to run until he no longer could see the sands of the desert and reached the dark forest. There, he began to collapse, and there he started to cry. Those tears he held back flowed smoothly down his cheeks like the stream he sat next to.

"Why?" He asked himself, "Why does this have to happen to me?"

Too exhausted to cry, he went to lie on his back and stare up at the sky as he usually would back in the Sand Village. However, he could not stare up at the twinkling stars or the brilliant moon because of the large branches and their equally large leaves were covering his view. All that can seep through from these thick trees were the beams of light that the moon provided. After a while of doing this, he realized that his throat grew dry and he was thirsty. Sitting up, he cupped his hands and dipped them into the flowing stream beside him to take a drink. It was very cool and refreshing and settled his dry throat. Breathing out a sigh, he looked down towards the stream at his reflection.

It wasn't fair. He was the only child out of all the children in the village to have this stupid beast inside him. Not even his older siblings had to suffer like he did. And none of them understood him. They never understood his agony from the screams in his head, the abandonment of what he thought was his loved ones, the loneliness of having no one but oneself to confide in. He never asked for it, it was forced upon him. What's worse was how no one, not one single person, tried to befriend him for him and not for the sake of assassinating him. If he could have one wish, he would wish that someone out there would hold out their hands to him, inviting him to a friendship that he can only witness from other people sharing. He wanted that luxury of having to trust someone, to share certain things with them, and to create a bond so strong that he would never fall into the despair he's in right now.

"Is that so much to ask?" He wailed out to the dark forest. His cries were answered by silence.

In his state, he found that the dark forest was very quiet than what he normally thought a forest would sound like. He couldn't hear the tall tale of insects making any cricket sounds, birds such as owls were not hooting, or the sound of nocturnal rodents escaping from those owls didn't scurry about. Not even the sound of rustling leaves could be heard when a slight breeze passed him. It was all very strange and it made him highly paranoid. He could possibly be in a genjutsu. Making the familiar hands signs, the words of disperse entered his mind, but nothing happened. The dark forest remained as it is.

Just as he thought to meditate in his spot until morning approaches, he heard something rustling. Surprised by the sudden noise, he jumped to his feet ready to defend himself against whatever was out there. Though, it was now too dark to see in the forest, the moonlight no longer shedding any light.

What kind of forest is this? He could no longer recall how he even entered this strange place. Was it there? Or was it over there? His five year old mind told him his best solution was to stay put in this place until morning came, else he would get lost in the process of trying to find his way out now.

"Are you looking for me?" The sudden voice startled him. It was deep and very soothing. He turned to the direction he thought he heard it come from.

There, right across from the stream he drank from was a man dressed in odd clothing. It almost appeared as a tuxedo, but with black and white stripes going down his suit vertically and a very large red tie. Not only that, but he wore a rather large top hat that was endowed with a few flowers at the side, and this hat hid this stranger's face. He also carried around what appeared to be a straight cane with a ball at the top, which was grasped tightly in his gloved hands.

"Hello, my dear child," This stranger spoke again. "Mind telling me your name?"

"Are you an assassin?" There was no need to be polite to strangers, especially one that can be a potential threat.

"Who me?" The stranger tilted his head back to let out a loud chortle. He caught sight of black locks that cascaded a few inches from the base of this stranger's neck, but the stranger quickly bent his head and allowed his hat to cover his face before he could get anymore of his appearance.

"I could never kill anyone." Somehow, he detected a smile from this stranger. "I heard your thoughts. You said you wanted a friend, am I correct?"

Setting his guard down just a bit, he answered the stranger with a nod. How was it possible for this man to have heard his thoughts? Could he be the friend that he has been wishing for?

"No, dear child, I am not the one to befriend you," The stranger finally looked up to meet eye to eye with him. He shivered when he saw strong red eyes staring deeply at his teal ones. "However, I could provide you one if you come with me."

Putting his guard up on full alert he asked, "Why should I come with you?" He could never trust the words of an assassin, especially a stranger like him. Just because he's dressed oddly doesn't mean he isn't a danger to him.

"Calm down, child. I'm not here to kill you. I could have done so if I wanted to." It was true, he thought. He couldn't even detect this stranger's presence before he let himself be known. "I heard your plea and could feel your sorrow. My dear child, you have suffered a great deal. If you come with me, you'll see many people smile at you."

Was that true? Could this stranger really bring him that? Looking up at this stranger's crimson eyes, he doubted he could possibly do a thing. But he was hopeful. He wished for a friend and this stranger is granting his wish. He also sensed his feelings towards the matter. Is it possible that he could be a guardian angel that he's read so much in books, someone who can help him guide him to happiness?

"My name is Sabaku no Gaara." He finally thought of answering this man. "Is it true you could get me a friend?"

"And so much more, my child!" The stranger began walking across the stream. Gaara concluded that he must have been a ninja at one point to know how to stand on water. Though, he didn't dwell on that matter for too long before this stranger was standing right in front of him. "You may call me Master. That's what the others are to call me too."

"Others?" He wondered who they might be. He figured that they were the people he were to become friends with. "Are they the ones that are going to smile at me?"

"Not quite, but they are similar to you, once sad children such as yourself, until transformed into something extravagant and showed to the world." Master smiled at him. "Now then!" sweeping his legs into an elegant way of sitting cross-legged, he was at the same height level as Gaara. "Before I take you, let's have you sign something first."

Reaching into his striped tuxedo vest, he pulled out a scroll. He unraveled it and showed it to Gaara. Gaara took a good look at the scroll. At the top it said in large bright gold letters, CONTRACT, then some very fine print words that he couldn't read without some magnifying glass, then at the bottom was a large X with a straight line following after it.

"You see this?" Master pointed at the X with the line. "That's where you'll sign your name to ensure that you agree to come with me." With a flick of a wrist, Master revealed a feathered pen and handed it over to him. "As soon as you sign this, I assure you that you'll transform into something extravagant and your old life will be the thing of the past."

Staring at the pen in his hand, then at the contract in Master's, he thought once more of what he was doing. Somehow, this didn't seem so reassuring. This man who calls himself Master and dresses funny is now coming off with an aura of danger, but his promises are tempting. He said that he wouldn't have to live his old life of suffering. He'll be a person with friends. People will smile at him than stare hatefully. He will also meet children just like himself.

I want this. Gaara thought before reaching out to the paper and signing his name with the feathered pen that let out gold ink. After seeing his full name on the scroll, Master rolled it up and placed it back in his tuxedo vest. Gaara smiled up at Master once he stood back up to his full height and excitedly asked, "When does the transformation start?"

Master grinned. "Now."

As soon as he said that, Gaara felt something burning in his gut and it wasn't a good burning like the sun rays of the Sand Village, it was a burning that brought on extreme pain. The intensity of it made him fall to his knees and hold his stomach. It felt like his insides were being melted away. He felt as if something were to come up and spew out of his mouth. Then, when he thought it couldn't get any worse, the same burning was spreading. His arms and legs felt like they were shrinking. He felt hairs growing everywhere on his body, on his head and at the tail of his spine he could feel something growing. Large tears flowed as he shut his eyes from the pain.

"MAKE IT STOP!" He looked up at Master to see him still grinning. Why wasn't he doing anything? Did he plan for this to happen? "IT'S BURNING! IT HURTS! STOP IT! STOP IT!"

"Not yet. It's almost finished." He heard Master mutter.

Gaara felt claws coming out from where his nails should be, his face was becoming elongated, and he could feel the bones of his arms and legs shifting around. He wanted to shout to Master at what he's done, but all that came out was a loud shrill. What? Trying his best to open his eyes, Gaara met with a furry paw. WHAT? Looking down his body, he found that he grew very furry and had a tail. His anxieties increased when he saw the bones of his legs shifting and then stopping when it was in its correct position, along with the pain.

"What have you done to me?" He shouted, but sounded like another shrill.

Nevertheless, Master understood. "You are transformed with the image of your inner demon." His grin grew sadistic. "Now let's go meet the other children that have fallen into this curse." Master reached down to pick him up. Gaara would have fought back, but due to the transformation, he simply had no energy left, not even enough to keep him awake. "Sleep, and when you awake, your new life begins."

What do you think? Should I continue?