Broken Shackles
A/N- Hey all! I've kept my promise! Anyway, I am curently looking for a beta to help me out with my stoires, if you're interested, please pm me!
Now, I don't own Naruto and if I did, it wouldn't be allowed on daytime television...snickers...
Ahem...thank you for the support and I hope you enjoy this chapt!
Chapter 1: The New Member of Team Seven
It had taken a week to reach the sand village, a week in which Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi discovered that the Naruto they thought they knew, wasn't the real Naruto after all. But what came as the biggest shock to them was who was waiting for them when they reached the village.
As the wind whipped about them and forced them to cover their eyes, they saw two lone figures standing nearby, waiting for them. When they were within seeing distance they discovered that the two waiting were Tamari and Kankuro, both of them seemed to be in good spirits as they greeted them.
"Well…you guys came after all, that is surprising, I was sure that Blondie was the only one that was coming. Oh well, I guess we can prepare some rooms…anyway, welcome…brother…" as Tamari uttered those last words she walked over to a smiling Naruto and pulled him into a sisterly embrace.
Kankuro walked over as well and tousled up Naruto's hair, a smirk playing on his lips, "yeah, welcome…you've been sorely missed. At least now I don't have to deal with his temper tantrums anymore, right Tamari?"
Tamari released Naruto and chuckled, "yep…he's been a regular grouch without you around, thank goodness that's going to end, anyway…you're friends look like their about to collapse in shock so what do you say to getting this show on the road?"
Glancing over his shoulder at his clearly stunned teammates, Naruto smirked, "by all means…let's go. Besides, I've missed him too…" with that said, Naruto started into the village, Tamari at his side. Kankuro hung behind as he waited for the rest of team seven and their sensei to come out of their shocked states, once they did, he motioned for them to follow as he led them into the village as well.
It took several minutes before Kankuro and the others reached their destination, as they entered Kankuro led them into the living room of the apartment and felt a smile cross his lips at what greeted him.
Tamari was currently pinning both Naruto and their little brother, Gaara to the floor, teasing them continuously. "Hah! You two are such dopes, letting me get the jump on you like that, I know you guys missed each other but come on!"
"Let go Tamari, I haven't seen him in so long, how can you be so cruel!" The normally stoic and gloomy Gaara was whining as he struggled to get free, which turned out to be completely hopeless.
Clearing his throat, Kankuro smirked triumphantly when Tamari's eyes widened and she immediately released the two boys, standing quickly she adjusted her clothes as she faced their guests. "Welcome to our home…please make yourselves comfortable."
Now free, Gaara and Naruto both sat up and as their eyes fell upon the other, they both smiled goofily as the leapt into an immediate hug, not caring that they had an audience.
His nose buried in blonde locks, Gaara tightened his grip about his lifeline his reason for living, "I've missed you so much Naruto, I am glad you're finally here." Naruto gently rubbed circles on Gaara's back, his eyes closed in contentment, "yeah…I missed you as well. But what's with the getup, I thought we talked about this…" pulling back, Gaara touched Naruto's cheek, reveling in the feel of the rough skin that greeted his fingertips.
"I couldn't figure how to make it work…so, I thought that you could help me…" a smirk crossed Naruto's lips as he heard that, "of course I'll help…after all, I got it to work."
"Naruto, Gaara, save it for later. Kankuro and I are going out for a while, so it's up to you guys to explain all this to you're friends here, alright?"
Both Naruto and Gaara jerked at the sound of Tamari's voice, breaking apart but not releasing their hold upon the other, they turned to find Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura staring at them with wide unbelieving eyes. At the same time, Tamari and Kankuro began laughing as they hurried from the room, leaving the two blushing boys and their disgruntled audience alone.
Gaara's eyes immediately hardened and turned deadly, Naruto's eyes weren't much different either, Gaara glanced at Naruto and when he received a nod his eyes softened a little.
"Ask you're questions…" the sound of Gaara's monotone voice seemed to snap the others out of their daze, Kakashi smiled from behind his mask as he walked over and knelt in front of them. "I see you and Naruto are already good friends…I guess that means that you were the one who requested this mission, Gaara?"
"What?! No, don't tell me…Naruto, why didn't you tell us?!" Wincing at the screeching voice of Sakura, Naruto, Gaara and Kakashi turned towards the fuming pink haired terror of team seven.
"As I said before…I made a promise," turning his eyes upon Gaara, Naruto gave Gaara a soft look before he looked back over at Sakura and a still stunned Sasuke. "Anything else?"
Sakura's eyes narrowed as she stomped over and reached out to grip Naruto's shoulder, before she could even reach him a sand wall appeared and she jerked backwards as it lashed out at her, "don't touch Naruto, unless you want to loose that hand."
Sakura's eyes widened as she backed away, Gaara was giving Sakura a death glare and Naruto was stifling his laughter, Kakashi shook his head as he stood and glanced over at Sasuke. The boy looked as if he had gone into shock, his mouth was hanging open and his Sharingan was completely activated.
"Naruto…wake Sasuke and then I want you and Gaara to explain this, understand?" Looking down at Naruto and Gaara, Kakashi gave them both a look that they couldn't argue with.
Nodding his head, Naruto got to his feet and Gaara did as well, curling their hands together they both walked over to the stunned Uchiha, Sakura hurried over to Kakashi and hid behind him, frightened.
Reaching the statue known as Sasuke, Naruto waved a hand in front of his face but it had absolutely no effect, suddenly Naruto's eyes sparkled as he leaned in close to Gaara whispering something to him. Gaara's eyes blew wide as an angry blush burned his cheeks, pulling away, Gaara wrapped his arms about Naruto as he gave Naruto a hard look, "No…I won't let you…"
Rolling his eyes, Naruto leaned his close and rubbed his nose against Gaara's, "it's alright…it will only be for a second, I promise…then I'm all yours again, alright?" Gaara looked indecisive for a moment before he nodded his head in approval, smiling, Naruto pulled away from Gaara as he stood directly in front of Sasuke.
"This is for your own good Sasuke…so hurry and wake the fuck up!" Gripping the back of Sasuke's neck roughly Naruto pulled him foreword as he pressed his lips firmly to those of the stunned brunette. Sasuke immediately jerked and began to struggle when his eyes slid closed, he began to lean into the kiss when Naruto pulled away, leaving the Uchiha bereft and kissing the air.
Chuckling deeply, Naruto moved back over to a silently brooding Gaara and wrapped an arm about his neck pulling the redhead close as he nuzzled gently into Gaara's cheek. Letting out a sigh of contentment, Gaara returned the touch as he wrapped his arms about Naruto and secured the blonde's slightly smaller form to his own.
Both happy to be within one another's embrace again, all eyes turned upon Sasuke, he had realized what he was doing and had immediately tried to correct it when suddenly he remembered everything that had happened recently.
His eyes suddenly ablaze with anger and confusion, Sasuke locked his eyes upon a serious looking Naruto, whose hard and unfeeling expression mirrored the one that Gaara was giving him as well.
"Dobe…what the hell is going on here and no excuses this time…I want the truth, it's the least I deserve…" his voice was clipped and Sakura shivered, she could just feel the air in the room drop several degrees just from Sasuke's statement alone.
Shifting slightly, Gaara and Naruto both sat back down upon the floor, their hands still wound together. "Fine…this all started at the chunin exams, well, technically after it. When Gaara and I fought…something…happened." Naruto's eyes turned from Sasuke to Gaara as he ran his fingers over the scar on Gaara's forehead.
Growing impatient and annoyed at the fact that Naruto was practically cuddling with their enemy, Sasuke grit his teeth as he began to pace back and forth, "What happened! Get on with it!"
"Calm yourself Uchiha, we're getting there. As Naruto has said, we fought and something occurred, our demons took us both over and we were thrust into our own personal hell." Turning his head, Gaara looked Naruto in the eyes and smiled, "our fears took us both over, we were both recalling the days of our youth when we both had no reason to be here, let alone exist. That was until Naruto entered my nightmares…"
Kakashi's interest was sparked by this, "what do you mean…entered you're nightmares?" Naruto glanced over at him and Kakashi felt his heart sink at the look of sadness that shone within Naruto's clear blue eyes, it was clearly mirrored within Gaara's pale eyes and Kakashi immediately understood what this meant.
"Our minds connected through our demons…we were thrown into one another's memories, I saw what happened to Gaara…just as he did me…when we came too, we swore to meet again after everything quieted down. But…things didn't go the way we thought they would."
Sighing, Naruto pushed Gaara slightly and smiled when Gaara shifted to where Naruto was sitting between his legs, his back against Gaara's chest. Gaara began to run his fingers through Naruto's golden locks gently, as he took up the story.
"The day after the Hokage's funeral, I was unable to stay away…so I journeyed back to Konoha and found Naruto's apartment without telling anyone. For a year solid we spent every day together and we have grown to be very good friends over the years, so heed me when I tell you this Uchiha, if you mess with Naruto you mess with me…got it?"
Gaara narrowed his eyes at the fuming look that Sasuke flashed him at those words, it was obvious that there was no love lost between these two and that it would be hard, if not impossible for them to get along at all on a team.
Kakashi could only smile when he came to that conclusion, 'at least it makes things interesting,' "anyway…welcome to team seven Gaara, I have but one question…do you have somewhere to stay in Konoha?" 'Although, I already have an idea of where that will be…'
Immediately Naruto perked up and smiled over at Kakashi, his eyes remaining serious the whole time, "He'll be staying with me, we've already planned everything out Sensei, so don't worry about it…we just need help moving some things, but other than that, it's all taken care of."
Raising an eyebrow in muted surprise Kakashi nodded his head before taking a seat on a nearby couch and whipping out his trusty Come Come Paradise book. He'd gotten the answers that he wanted, so now it was up to his students to figure the rest out on their own.
A/N- And there you go! The next chapter should be ready in the begining of March, so no worries! Anyway, just to clear something up...this story takes place two years after Sarutobi's death and after Tsunade has taken over as the fifth...
Well...hope you guys review!
Ja Ne!