Gaara felt the presence of strong charka, he looked over at his student, amazed to this side of him. Those eyes were much cooler than his own beast he will admit. They were red like blood. 'It is an interesting sight to see indeed,' he sneered over at his work, "How does it feel?" he wondered.

Naruto looked down at his hands, with nails sharp as kunai knife, "I feel powerful like nothing can hurt me nor being able to be touched by anyone who will," he looked over at Gaara, "I knew it was a good choice to have you as my trainer," he grinned with his two front teeth grown into fangs.

Gaara nodded, pleased with the blonde's progress. He looked over at Naruto's face. He never once was interested in anyone romantically. The girls that he did care for would turn him away and call him a freak. So, he decided to shut his heart never to feel again. Till now. Watching the blonde dab into his beast form made him gulp down a blush he was trying to suppress. He calmed down his heart, "Good. You were able to dab in your second chakra. A host has two of them. I have both wind and sand."

Naruto was trying to keep his mind focused, listening to his teacher, "The only problem is controlling myself while having this type of chakra."

Gaara nodded, understanding, "I do not have time to teach you about that right now, at this time your mission is getting those groceries."

Gaara and Naruto were walking side to side with another. Much to peoples' dismay. They were so busy fearing the redhead teen that they did notice the change in the blonde knucklehead as they walked over to the store. Gaara just ignored their stares. Not feeling up to start a fight with them, after all, he did not want to cause an uproar while being there for the chunin exam. He let his anger go and just kept on walking.

A few finally noticed Naruto and his red eyes, whispering among themselves. Naruto picked every word. His hearing became a lot clearer since he borrowed the nine tails strength. And some of the words became too much for him as he turned around to face the two ladies and one man who were talking shit about again. He was about to handle them when Gaara stopped him, placing a hand on his shoulder, "They are not worth our time," Naruto took a breath and calmed down a bit.

They walked into a store where the owner and co-owner hated him the most, "What are you doing here?" he said with hatred venom in his tone, "how dare you to come in this store! I told you are not welcomed here!"

Naruto ignored him as he got a shopping basket and started going down the aisle, "Do you need anything?" he wondered to his guest, "it is my treat since you helped me today."

The man started walking up to them, "Hey! How dare you demon! Get out of my store before I pound you!"

Naruto kept on shopping. Gaara decided to get some rice balls and some ingredients for the soup he was planning on making. The one that his uncle had made for him as a kid. It was his favorite in the world.

The owner had enough of this as he grabbed the blonde and was about to grab his basket. Without looking into the man's eyes, he grabbed his wrist with his free hand and flung him hard onto the floor.

"Ah!" he cried out in pain. Without looking at the now injured man, Naruto continued with his shopping. Getting a new litter of milk, pack of oatmeal and cereal. Gaara got some vegetables in the basket. Red potatoes, onions, carrots. Gaara took out a packet of pasta made with rice. It was a healthier choice than ramen. Before anyone noticed the painful cry of the owner. They were out the door. Naruto did not want to be rude, so he left money on the owner's counter before leaving.

Back inside his apartment Naruto was back to normal. Remembering the scene that played out, 'He did deserve it though.' He was unpacking while Gaara sat on his bed, eyes closed. 'He was an amazing mentor.' for the longest time he was tired of getting pushed around, looking down upon, weak. Not anymore from this day on when he wants something from the stores here, he will get it. He took out a can of pineapples. Licking his lips at the thought of the taste. Refusing to get his can opener instead he used his strength just as Gaara did earlier and crushed it in his hand. The liquid dripping from his hand, dripping down to the floor. He sneered at this as he grabbed two bowls from his cupboard. 'I feel so relaxed now.'

Gaara was on his bed, having both his arms and legs crossed in front of his body. He noticed those circles around his eyes. 'Does he ever sleep?' he wondered, "Hey?" he spoke softly to not startle him, "want some pineapples while I make dinner for us?" Gaara slowly opened his eyes, peering over at the bowl, "there is no syrup or sugar in it."

He decided to take it, "You did well today by the way," he peered over to him. This got the blonde to grin.

Naruto sat next to his mentor, thinking about today and how he was able to deal with something that he never was able to do before. He was used to being hated and feared he thought it was a part of him and people only saw him as a beast. The one who killed the 4th. For the longest time he let people hate him but since today it was different. He realized with the help of Gaara that It was never his choice to be the host of the nine tails or what some people call him (The Nine-Tails) and he also did not have a say in the matter. He peered over at redhaired teen who has his eyes closed, "I do not mind giving you my bed while you stay here, I can always sleep on my futon."

"There is no need for that since..." he half opened his eyelids, revealing his green, looking down at the bed sheet, "I never sleep," Naruto was shocked at this, what human does not sleep. 'Unless?' "I can't go to sleep since he will take over my body if I do."

"Are you talking about the one tail?" Gaara nodded in reply, 'So that is why he has those dark circles around his eyes,' he looked over at them. They were so sunken from what he could see, "That has got to be hard?" Gaara shrugged, being used to it. 'Gaara...' the blonde felt bad for him. Hating the beast inside him for causing this, "If you fall asleep here then it will be ok," Gaara glares over at him, "I will be able to handle you if the beast takes over your body."

The only one he cared deeply about was his uncle who cared for him in return. Or least he thought he cared for him. That was the only person he cared about and loved. Until now. Starring at Naruto he wondered what made his heart beat so much a heart that long thought clouded in darkness. He woke from his thoughts as a hand was placed on his shoulder, "Gaara, you were planning to teach me how to control the nine tails right? How can you do that when cannot control your own?" Gaara gapped at that, "maybe we both need to work together on controlling what lies inside us. There is a library here, maybe there is a book about least creatures?" Naruto thought about something else that was bugging his mind, and decided to change the topic, "those teammates of yours-"

"They are my siblings. I am the son of the Kazekage of the sand." This shocked Naruto, he remembered how Gaara's mother was forced to make her son into a Jinchuriki "So, he also had no say in it.'

"To answer your question from earlier, I do not fear you for many reasons. One is that I am good at detecting the good people from the bad. You felt abandoned by your father who made you like that. If it wasn't for him your mother would have still been alive today probably," Gaara looked over at him, never had anyone talked to him this friendly before. And, not pretending to be kind like his uncle, "that is how I see it?"