Gaara led Naruto through the streets of Suna, to the small house that he and Yashamaru shared. Gaara opened the door and let Naruto enter the house first. "Yashamaru, are you home?"

"Welcome home Gaara." A smiling man with sand colored hair walked into the room. "Who this?"

"I'm Naruto, I came with the Hokage from Konoha." Naruto bowed and smiled back at the man."

"It's nice to met you Naruto."

"Would it be alright if Naruto stayed for dinner?"

"I don't have a problem with it, but shouldn't the Hokage know where you are?"

"He said I could do what I wanted as long as I was to the hotel by dark."

He nodded. "Dinner should be done pretty soon." He walked back through the door he came out of, which Naruto assumed was the kitchen.

'Should we tell him about the link?'

'I don't know. He does need to know that you can sleep, but I say we tell him only if we have to.' Gaara nodded. They sat down and while they waited, Gaara move the sand through the window and formed it into figures. "That's awesome Gaara. I wish I could do something like that, but Kyuubi's fire based."

"I'll make a special one for you. It'll be done before you leave tomorrow, I'll give it to you then."

"Thanks Gaara. I'd like to give you something to give you as well to remember me by."

"It would be pretty hard to forget you. We can talk every day if we want, and what you've done for me is more than enough."

"Still, I really would like to give you something as well."

'THERE IS SOMETHING YOU COULD DO KIT. ASK HIM TO MAKE A SCULPTURE HE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IN YOUR HANDS.'

'What do you mean keep?'

'IF IT WERE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS, IT WOULD BREAK.'

'Alright thanks Kyuubi.' "Hey Gaara, could you make one that you would want to keep for a long time in my hands?"

Gaara nodded and crafted a standing figure of Naruto. Naruto smiled at this and did what Kyuubi was telling him. He felt the heat emanating from his palm and it increased in temperature. Slowly, the sand turned to glass and retained it shape. In his hand was a glass version of himself, whisker marks and other features etched in.

Naruto smiled as he handed it gently to Gaara. "If we fail as ninja, we could always start a glass sculpting business." This caused Gaara to smile.

Yashamaru came back out. "Dinners ready." Gaara moved the rest of the sand outside and walked with Naruto to a table in the kitchen. "So Naruto, what brings you to Suna?"

"I came with the Hokage, but I think the reason he brought me was because he was worried about what the villagers would do with him not there to protect me."

"Wouldn't your parents protect you, and why would they want to harm you?"

"I'm an orphan and the old man takes care of me when he can. The reason is because I'm like Gaara." Yashamaru's eyes widened. "There's a reason that I came here with Gaara, it's to help explain that you don't have to worry about him falling asleep. My demon spoke with his and took care of the problem, he won't try to take over and Gaara should gain more control over his abilities."

"Yashamaru, please don't be angry, he wanted to help me."

Yashamaru smiled at Gaara. "I'm not angry, it's just a lot to take in. Thank you for helping Gaara, Naruto. It pains me to admit that I was afraid of what could happen if the demon took over, but even then I knew it wouldn't be his fault."

"He's lucky to have someone like you Yashamaru. Excuse me if I'm being rude, but are you a ninja?"

"I am, but since I'm raising Gaara, I haven't been on any mission in a while. How did you know?"

"The way you move, it's with such precision and sheath." Yashamaru laughed and they continued with their dinner. 'That went better than I thought.'

'He's very understanding, but I think it's mainly that you helped me.'

'Even if that is the only reason, I like him, he's nice and cares greatly for you.' During dinner Naruto answered many question about himself, including which demon he contained. He had also asked some questions about Suna and the surrounding area. After dinner though, he had to leave and asked Yashamaru directions to the hotel. He thanked them both and said his goodbyes before leaving.

It didn't take long for him to get to the hotel and he found one of the ninja that had escorted them, waiting in the lobby. "Hello Naruto, Sandaime has been waiting for you."

He led Naruto to the room that they were staying in. "Ah, Naruto, how was you day?"

"Great, I met the Kazekage's son. We have a lot in common and I had dinner with him."

"Which son was it?"

"His name was Gaara, he's really nice and so is his uncle Yashamaru."

"How wonderful Naruto. I glad you made a friend of him."

"Yeah, but it's too bad that we live so far apart."

"Naruto, how about I bring you with me the next time I come?"

"Thanks old man." Naruto ran up and hugged him. "I'm gonna go to bed, see ya in the morning."

"Good night Naruto."

Naruto moved out of the room into a small bedroom and laid down. 'Good night Gaara, sleep well.'

'Same to you Naruto, I'll see you tomorrow.' Naruto closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

---------------------------

The next morning Sandaime, Naruto and the others stood at the gate, Sandaime and the Kazekage were talking and Naruto was looking for Gaara. He finally saw him running up and Naruto moved over to him. The Kazekage saw this, but didn't say anything. He had been told about the boy, but didn't believe him to be a threat.

"Good morning Gaara, did you sleep well?"

"Yes, and I owe it to you."

"I'm happy I could help."

"As I said, I'm going to give you something." He sculpted another figure in Naruto's hand. It was one of himself, as big as the one he had made of Naruto the night before. "This way we'll be able to see each other as well."

"Makes sense to me." Just like the other, he turned it to glass. "It's about time for us to leave, but the old man said he'd bring me back the next time he came."

"I'm sorry to see you leave Naruto, but at least we won't be completely apart."

Naruto smiled and hugged Gaara. "I hope to see you soon. And when we strong enough, I promise we'll find those like us."

"That time will come, and until then let us try our best."

"Naruto, it's time. Thank you for your hospitality Lord Kazekage."

"It's my pleasure Lord Hokage." Naruto said his last goodbyes and walked over to Sandaime, who bowed to the Kazekage and turned to leave.

-------------------------------

When Naruto had returned to class, he had ridded himself of his mask and crafted a new one, it still hid his pain, but not through smiles and idiocy. The sudden change had unnerved the other students and Iruka, he had become almost as stoic as Sasuke and Shino, but was more social. Though no one could understand why, he would smile every so often. He would usually not be doing anything, but a smile would appear, reminding them of how he used to be.

Iruka had given them a test the first day he returned and though he wasn't required to take it, as he wasn't there to learn about Bunshin, he took it anyways. When he had scored higher than even Sakura, Iruka suspected him of cheating. But when asked about a question not on the test, he was awed that Naruto had given him, word for word, the answer from the textbook without looking anywhere but at him.

Naruto was planning on fulfilling his promise to Gaara, he soon took both the title of smartest and strongest of the class. The students were beside themselves. 'How could that loser be that good?'

Iruka couldn't understand how he had over looked the most talented in the class. 'And Kyuubi couldn't be helping him, he does even know about him. Even if he did, why would Kyuubi care anything about our jutsu?'

Naruto sat at the back of the class watching the others. He smiled inwardly. 'I haven't even show them my true power and some are already paling over what I can do. Sasuke looks pissed too, and that damn Sakura is because he is, or maybe because she not the brightest anymore. Who cares, I have better things to do, their moving way to slow to keep up. Though they can do Bunshin, I still can't figure out why I can't.'

'IT'S BECAUSE OF ME KIT.'

'You? Why does it matter that you're here too?'

'YOU HAVE TOO MUCH CHAKRA BECAUSE OF ME. BUT I KNOW OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF CLONE THAT EVEN YOUR HOKAGE DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT.'

'Sounds interesting, what can you tell me about them?'

'UNLIKE NORMAL CLONES, THESE NEED MORE CHAKRA OBVIOUSLY, BUT THERE DON'T DISAPPEAR AFTER ONE HIT, THEY CAN TAKE ALMOST AS MUCH DAMAGE AS YOU CAN, AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE IS TRANSFERRED TO YOU WHEN THEY DO.'

'Can I make them disappear when I want them to?'

'YES, AND THEY ALSO MOVE AND FIGHT ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL.'

'I start working on them tonight.'

'MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWED, THIS TECHNIQUE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO BE STOLEN.'

'The only people who would spy on my training would have to memorize that seals and do it themselves?'

'I SHOW YOU THE SIGNS, BUT AFTER THAT I TEACH YOU TO USE JUTSU WITH HALF SIGNS SO NO ONE CAN DO IT BUT YOU. THIS TECHNIQUE IS IMPORTANT TO ME, I DON'T WANT OTHERS TO USE IT. WORK UP THE SPEED YOU MAKE SEALS AT SO THEY CAN'T SEE WHICH ONES YOU MAKE.'

'I'll do that first then. Thanks Kyuubi.' Naruto's thoughts were interrupted when Iruka started talking.

"Class, it's time for lunch, be back in the room in an hour." Everyone left through the door, but Naruto just jumped out of the window. Iruka just stared after the boy. 'Why did he hide his true abilities, and what happened to make him stop?'

--------------------------

Naruto was sitting far up in the only tree on the grounds, not really thinking about anything, just relaxing there with his eyes shut. He could feel the chakra of those around him, but didn't really care what they were doing. Or at least until he felt someone approaching him, not even opening his eyes, he addressed the newcomer. "What do you want?"

"How did you become so strong in such a short time?" Naruto recognized the voice and smirked.

"Planning revenge Uchiha?" The reply was a growl. "I didn't become strong in a short time, I held back since I first came here. If you want to be stronger, you have to work for it. Unlike everything else, no one can just hand you the strength you want. Someone could hand you Itachi's head, but I'm sure you don't want that."

"You're right, I want to take it myself."

"Then work for it, you can't expect everything to just be given to you."

"Your one to talk slacker."

"I only slacked in class because I have a better teacher than Iruka could ever hope to be. I know everything we'll learn in the next two years. I've had to work for everything that I have. Unlike you, I don't have an inheritance, or respected clan name to use. Do you want to know why I didn't show it before? Because I didn't have any reason to, now I do. Now if you don't mind, leave me in peace." He knew that Sasuke would be seething, but was surprised by now quickly the Uchiha had left. He heard Kyuubi laughing. 'What?'

'YOU WERE RELEASING KILLING INTENT, AND IT WASN'T EVEN MINE. DAMN KIT, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU MADE HIM PISS HIMSELF WITH THE AMOUNT YOU WERE USING.'

'I don't care, I don't sit anywhere near him, but the mutt's gonna get a noise full.' Kyuubi laughed harder, Naruto knew he hated dogs, and it just happened that there was an Inuzuka in his class. The boy always brought his dog to class as well. Naruto sat up and looked around, clearly his killing intent had reached more people than just Sasuke.'Good, maybe now, they'll leave me alone.'

'THE UCHIHA WILL BE A PROBLEM, HE'S POWER HUNGRY AND WON'T STOP UNTIL HE FINDS A WAY TO BEAT YOU.'

'He'll have a hell of a time. He doesn't even have the Sharingan, and he plans to kill his brother? He won't last more than a minute even with the Sharingan, Itachi was almost invincible, most jonin still don't want to face him.'

'I DON'T THINK THAT WE COULD DEFEAT HIM.'

'I don't either, but one day I may be able to.'

'WELL SINCE YOU'RE NO LONG HIDING YOUR ABILITIES, MIGHT AS WELL ARRIVE IN STYLE.'

'I wouldn't have in any other way. It'll probably scare the hell out of Iruka, I can't believe I have to call someone like him sensei. I was even being modest to the Uchiha, two years ha, I could have graduated by now if it weren't for the Bunshin thing and thanks to you I have a solution.'

'Naruto, are you back in Konoha yet?'

Naruto smiled widely. 'Yes I am Gaara, in fact I'm at lunch from the academy.'

'As am I. Naruto, I was wondering if you were going to slowly adjust to your real self?'

'Actually, I just dropped the mask, or at least the smiling idiot parts, I still hide my pain, but that something that I'll probably always do.'

'I hope that works for you, some might find it insulting that you hid your potential. I have to go, it's time to go back to class.'

'I'll talk to ya later Gaara.' The bell rang indicating that lunch was over and the students all started toward the doors. 'What a waste of time.' Naruto smiled and disappeared in a burst of flames.

------------------------

Iruka was still staring at the test papers when he heard a crackling sound. He looked up just in time to see a small fire disappear, leave Naruto stand where it had been. The boy just sat down in his seat and didn't say anything as Iruka sat in disbelief. 'Was that Shunshin? That's a high chunin jutsu. It shouldn't even be possible for him to have enough chakra to use it. What else is he capable of?'

The other students started filling in and stayed away from Naruto as much as possible. Only four people would sit anywhere near him, the lazy bum Shikamaru Nara, his best friend Choji Akimichi, the bug user Shino, and the weird heiress Hinata Hyuga, but who was he to say who's weird? These were the only ones he could stand to be around, but due to the number of students, it was unlikely that he would be placed on a team with one of them.

------------------------

Two years after Naruto and Gaara had met, he had stopped wearing the orange jumpsuit. Instead he wore black pants and boots, a blood red robe-like shirt and sash around his waist, and an open black sleeveless vest that's bottom was half an inch above the sash. He was just under five and a half feet tall and he let his hair grow out to shoulder length.

Naruto had finally achieved the speed in making hand signs that Kyuubi demanded before teaching him the Bunshin. He was out in the woods when a panicked Gaara spoke to him. 'Naruto, Yashamaru's dead! I didn't mean to do it, it was an accident!'

'Gaara, calm down and tell me everything.'

'Earlier today, my father came to me, he said that I was progressing faster than he had thought I would.' Naruto could hear the venom in Gaara's voice when he mentioned his father. 'I thought he was proud of me, what I fool I am. He wasn't proud, he was scared that he wouldn't be able to control me.'

'I was walking around after school and I was confronted by some men. They started yelling at me and calling me demon. I tried to ignore them, but I couldn't and ran. I was on top of the Kazekage building and several kunai where thrown at my back. The sand protected me, but it also attacked. It crushed my attacker, but he was left barely alive. I removed the mask to see Yashamaru… he was smiling. He told me that my father ordered Shukaku be placed in me, and him to kill me. He said he hated me for taking away my mother. She died when I was born because of Shukaku. I don't know what to do, Naruto please help me.'

'Gaara, I know that he cared about you. I met him once and I could see it. I'm sorry to hear about your mother, but that is not your fault, if it was your father's order to place Shukaku in you then it's his fault, just like Yashamaru's death is. He was under orders, and if he disobeyed, he would be dead anyways. You did nothing wrong, you were protecting yourself, but it is tragic that he was the one. Your father is twisted, making the man who raised you take your life, hell even most S-rank missing-nin aren't that heartless.'

'What should I do?'

'I have no right to tell you what to do Gaara. If you still plan to help those like us, you have to continue on, but there's a chance that he'll send others after you. I don't understand how he could do something like that to his own son.'

'I don't think he looks at me as a son, but as a weapon. One that he's afraid to lose control of, but I am no one's weapon, he can't harm me, and has forced me to take away the only person that he could threaten to keep me under his thumb.'

'Gaara, Yashamaru's loss is going to be hard, but I'm here for you any time you need me.'

'I appreciate it Naruto, but I don't want to trouble you with my problems.'

'It's no trouble, you're the only friend that I have and if I can help I will.'

'Alright, but I still feel bad about it.'

'Don't worry, there very well might come a day when I need your help with a similar problem.'

'May that day never come. Thank you Naruto, I need to be rested for tomorrow, good night.'

'Good night Gaara, pleasant dreams.' Naruto sighed, the turn of events had worried him. 'What if the old man feels that way about me?'

'HE KNOWS WELL ENOUGH NOT TO MESS WITH ME, AND STILL BELIEVES YOU IGNORANT TO MY PRESENSE. IF ANYTHING, HE FEARS THAT SUCH AN ATTEMPT MAY DRIVE YOU TO CONTACT ME.'

'Kyuubi, I don't think I can train anymore tonight, these thoughts will distract me and there's something that I have to ask you after listening to Gaara.'

'WHAT IS IT KIT?'

'Where you sealed in me before birth? Did we kill my mother?'