Chapter 2 – New Friend, Old Friend and Best Friend!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor its characters. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I'm just using them for my own twisted . . . I mean creative ideas. :)

Luck was on the group's side today, especially Lee's, as they were done unloading the truck by 5 pm. This was just cause for Naruto and Lee to celebrate. Another round of drinks was being poured, from one of the kitchen boxes that Iruka unpacked, when there was a faint knock on the door. Naruto had been closest to the door at that moment so he turned on his heel, doing a very comical pirouette, before opening it. He was met with the boy he had almost run into earlier. Immediately his smile rose on his lips as he took in the sight of the other.

"Hi, I'm Naruto." Of course he had to introduce himself, Naruto was the type of person who figured everyone should know who he was since he is goal in life was to be a very influential person in the community. One day everyone would know who Naruto Uzumaki was.

The boy stared at Naruto for a moment before he was nudged by another guy, as he came around the corner.

"You almost ran into me."

"That's not what you're supposed to say Gaara." Finally a name was given to the red-head before Naruto.

"Hey. I'm Kankuro, this is my brother, Gaara and our sister. . . " He looked down the hall for a moment before he saw his sister turn the corner. "That's Temari. We live down the hall room 417."

"You almost ran into me." It was obvious that Gaara wasn't going to let it go until Naruto apologized for almost knocking him down the stairs earlier.

"Heh, sorry about that. I was rushing to move in. We're all moved in though. If you want we're having celebratory drinks if you want to join us." Naruto was rubbing the back of his head feeling bad now that he realized he could have really hurt Gaara.

Finally the rest if the apartments inhabitants decided to find out who had their new guest was. With all of them being so worn out, nobody has the motivation to actually go to the front door. Instead a shout could be heard from the kitchen, "NARUTO! WHO'S AT THE DOOR?!"

Of course Kiba couldn't come for himself, instead he had to scream across the apartment. His father seemed to be the only one who wasn't lazy as he came up behind Naruto, placing a hand on his shoulder. Iruka gave a welcoming smile to the three at the door. "Come join us. There is plenty to go around."

Gaara seemed to deem the apology worthy, and he headed into the apartment. Cold green eyes moved over all the people standing around in the kitchen. He took in all the new faces suddenly realized this was probably a bad idea. He was in a stranger's kitchen, with many different people. Of course this changed completely when he felt Kankuro and Temari come up behind him with Naruto and Iruka. Suddenly the apartment kitchen felt so much smaller with so many people standing inside of it.

-One Month Later-

Almost killing Gaara had been one of the best things that Naruto could have possibly done. Even though he and the red-head were complete opposites, they seemed to get along as if they had been best friends forever. It was days like today that made Naruto glad that they chose that apartment building to move into.

"Come on Gaara! You promised me ramen!" Naruto was pounding on the door to apartment 417. He had been promised lunch and he was not about to let Gaara get away with not keeping his promise. Anything else and he could have accepted a cancellation but nobody promised ramen and escaped. Not even his dad or father. Of course, it would do Naruto well to check if anyone was home first.

"Stop trying to break down the door brat! Gaara is at your place waiting for you" Kankuro pushed past Naruto before unlocking the apartment door and heading inside. He rolled his eyes as he heard Naruto thank him before taking off down the hall. Of course, he would be at the wrong place. Gaara did say he would meet him at his apartment.

Naruto turned the corner to get to his apartment and this time completely took out Gaara. They fell over each other and landed on the ground.

"Umph. ... You are trying to kill me." Gaara mumbled as he slowly got back to his feet after hitting the ground. It was proving to be more and more dangerous to be around Naruto.

"Hah, sorry again Gaara! Let's go get ramen! You promised!"

Gaara dusted himself off after a moment before he nodded and headed downstairs. "I prefer to live through today." Naruto could hear the sarcasm in Gaara's voice but still laughed as he headed downstairs.

-At the Ramen Shop-

Naruto had just finished his 5th bowl of ramen when he noticed a long haired, brunette boy enter the establishment along with a giant. He blinked a few times before jumping up "HAKU!"

Said brunette quickly turned from talking with his companion, Zabuza, when he heard the voice. It sounded so familiar but it wasn't until he saw the bright blonde hair that he recognized the owner of the voice. His eyes moved to Zabuza to as if asking permission to go to his friend and with a single nod he smiled brightly before turning back to Naruto.

"Naruto! What are you doing here?"

"I moved here with Kiba for school. We're going to Konoha University starting next month."

Haku hugged his friend tightly before laughing. "I guess we'll be seeing a lot more of each other. I'm teaching at the elementary school just down the road. Oh this is my boyfriend, Zabuza"

"B..bo...boyfriend!?"

"Yes Naruto. I thought we already came to terms with the fact that I'm gay."

"Ya but you never had a boyfriend! It wasn' . . .I thought. Well Congrats!"

Gaara stared at them both during the exchange and nodded to Zabuza when their eyes met. He didn't know the guy but Temari had been telling him he needed to at least try to acknowledge people. A nod was acknowledgement right? "Naruto, you're ramen is getting cold." He was trying to get the blonde to sit down since he really didn't want more people around. Gaara rarely left his apartment for a reason. It wasn't that he hated people, he just didn't feel like he could trust them. He had never trusted anyone besides Temari and Kankuro that was until Naruto showed up like a blonde wrecking ball and managed to get beneath his walls.

"We've got to get going anyways. It's our anniversary. But we'll hang out later. You have to have a house warming party!"

Haku hugged Naruto tightly before he moved back and took Zabuza's hand. Naruto hugged Haku back before he sat back down and finished his bowl of ramen.

"Hot or cold ramen is amazing!"