Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

"Talking"- Normal speaking

"Demon/Summon" talking

Thinking (Normal)/ Thinking (Demon/Summon)

Mindscape talking and emphasis in a certain word

Chapter 4

No more than 2 days later after that meeting with the Hokage did Naruto pack his things because an ANBU Dog dropped by and told him. Naruto was excited because he would get out of the village and for some reason when he visited Kurama, the fox seemed nervous.

What's going on Kurama? questioned Naruto as he slumped on his bed as he waited for the Hokage to pick him up or at least the ANBU to pick him up. "Nothing kit." replied Kurama as he watched his reflection in the lake that was in Naruto's mindscape.

Don't lie to me please Kurama? said Naruto with a pout as he came and sat next to him. The fox sighed as he splashed the water with his paw.

"I believe one of my siblings is in Suna. I will need you to find my sibling's container. Knowing the raccoon, he probably won't stop pestering his container." said the fox as he started walking away from the lake.

I see, I will do my best to find both of them then! I got to go Kurama. Talk to you later! said Naruto as he left his mindscape. Kurama smiled softly as he shook his head. Please save them... thought Kurama as he laid down on the grass and softly went to sleep.

A few hours later, the Hokage along with Dog and Naruto were at the gates. The ANBU Dog was carrying Naruto and the Hokage was still wearing his robes. "Let's go" he said, and they immediately jumped from the gates into the trees. Naruto was in awe at so much green with plants and trees as he was carried. It was dark but there were roads hidden among the trees and some even led to some passages over tiny rivers.

Kurama made a mental map as Naruto looked around and smiled. This will be a great training spot afterwards... thought Kurama. It kept being green, but you could see differences in bushes and trees along with the roads or ground. And so the travel was quick but quiet.

2 Days Later

The scenery had now changed, and Naruto panicked when he had seen so much sand out of nowhere. The sun hit the ANBU's body along with Naruto. The Hokage was somewhat protected because of the robe and hat but Naruto couldn't handle the harsh sun rays eating up his head and back.

"Old man! It HURTS! Just what is this!?" yelled Naruto while being all dramatic and shielding his eyes as he squinted into the distance. Kurama couldn't help but laugh his ass off in his cage as the ANBU and the Hokage sweat dropped but chuckled at Naruto's antics.

When they were approaching the village however, the air changed. The Hokage looked at Naruto who suddenly had a serious look in his face. "Old man... people here don't know who I am right?" asked Naruto as he clung himself tightly on the ANBU. Wrapping his tiny arms around the ANBU's shoulder and grasping what little cloth the ANBU wore as uniform.

"Yes Naruto. They don't know you and your job. Do not forget to be careful though Naruto. Suna isn't that welcoming to strangers." explained the wise Hokage. Naruto just nodded and extended his arms towards the Hokage.

The Hokage smiled as he walked up to Naruto and took him away from the ANBU's back and into his arms. He smiled at Naruto as he walked into the village. The ANBU was handing the papers in at the front desk in the gates of Suna for the check in and the Hokage let Naruto touch the ground.

"I will be going to meet the leader of this village now Naruto. I know you are good with directions but just in case, Dog here will draw a tiny map of the inn we are staying at, but you can do some light travel before coming to the inn. After all, this is your first time outside the village." said the Hokage as he ruffled Naruto's head.

"I'm not a little kid old man!" said Naruto as he pouted. "Sure~ you aren't? You are tiny, and you are barely 7." said the Hokage with a smile. Naruto was about to retort until he heard a snort. "He got you there kit" said Kurama as he chuckled. Naruto mentally slapped the fox and pouted outwardly.

The Hokage couldn't help but have an amused smile in his face but he couldn't hold back the meeting any longer. "Alright, I'll be leaving now. Behave yourself please Naruto. And don't cause trouble." said the Hokage as he suddenly vanished in a cloud of smoke and leaves.

The ANBU had disappeared with him but as Naruto looked around he noticed the paper under the rock with the drawing... that was honestly simple but not a whole lot given. Naruto sighed and started walking as he put away the piece of paper.

(A/N: Imagine those stick figure like drawings that are like Gate and then a random line and a dot to destination).

Who names the inn Suna...? Isn't that just the name of the village… like seriously... thought Naruto while Kurama just shook his head as he heard his tenant complaining about not being original and such.

A Few Minutes Later

Naruto walked around, and people looked at him curiously but then ignored him. He felt a bit insecure but walked around while Kurama comforted him with soothing words. Naruto was trying to find the other jailer, but he was having a hard time.

Finally, after being lost for a while, Naruto arrived at the park and saw kids playing and kicking a ball. He scanned the area and saw a red head clutching a teddy bear as he swung himself slowly on the swings at the farthest corner of the park.

Naruto felt like he was being pulled and didn't know that Kurama was awake and watching silently as he approached the other jinchuuriki. He wasn't going to tell him that the redhead was the other jailer of his sibling, so he just waited to see what happened.

Naruto started approaching but then all the laughter and joyful atmosphere vanished. The kids had watched him approach the redhead and they immediately started yelling as they backed away.

"Get away from that monster! He's a demon!" yelled the kids individually but didn't notice Naruto flinch and tense at those words that brought painful memories. The redhead looked up and saw a blonde kid with whisker marks in each cheek approach him.

He was about to stand but the sand started to react and rise from the ground, but the blonde kid just smiled at him. "Do you want to play?" he asked as he extended his hand towards the redhead. Somebody then had decided to throw a rock at Naruto.

The blonde didn't know who did it but he heard it and knew someone had thrown something aimed at him and the redhead was about to warn him, but the blonde immediately ducked, grabbed a stone and threw it at the air. Causing said stone to clash against the other rock that had been thrown at him and successfully defending himself.

"What are you doing!? Are you an idiot? He's a monster!" yelled the other kids. The redhead tightened his grip on his teddy bear as he watched the blonde's reaction, but he immediately saw a cold glare, not at him but at the other kids who said that sentence. "What makes you say he's a demon or a monster huh!? You don't even know him! You are the monsters because he isn't even doing anything to you, yet you insult him!" yelled the blonde as he glared at the other kids.

The kids were shocked and when the blonde started chasing them and yelling profanities which usually kids do not say at the tender age of 7, did the other Suna kids started to run. The redhead didn't know it, but he had sat down in the sand and cried as he saw someone defend him for the first time.

His sniffling covered the rustling of the sand as the blonde approached. He smiled and put his hand on top of the redhead's shoulder. The redhead immediately jumped and looked back to see the smiling blonde as he smiled.

He was scared now because the sand didn't protect him. But something, a feeling told him that he could be trusted... Trusted in what way? Was he not going to try to kill him he wondered. The blonde boy brought him back to earth by tapping his shoulder.

"Hey? Are you okay?" asked the blonde boy as he smiled gently and warmly towards the redhead. He could only nod. "What's your name?" asked the blonde boy. "G-Gaara. Gaara of the Sand" replied the redhead. "I see. My name is Naruto Uzumaki!" said Naruto as he smiled.

"Why aren't you afraid?" Asked Gaara. Naruto looked at him and smiled. "Because… they treat me just like this too you know? Back in my village. I'm here on a visit you see. I just took a walk and saw someone in need. Couldn't ignore it" said Naruto.

He knew he was omitting details, but he quickly talked to Kurama. He's the other jailer, right? Asked Naruto. Kurama only made an affirmative sound or more like a grunt. Naruto shook his head as he smiled.

He and Gaara soon became "friends" since Gaara was still a bit doubtful but was wiling to try having a friend. Naruto however, passed the Will of Fire unknowingly to Gaara as he talked and mentioned that will to protect those precious to one. Gaara finally smiled, laughed even as he heard Naruto tell him about the pranks he had done in Konoha.

Gaara had decided to accompany Naruto back towards the hotel as it was getting quite late. Once he arrived, he was about to leave but Naruto grabbed his hand. "Why don't you stay for a bit Gaara? I want to introduce you to my most precious person. Come on!" Said Naruto

"Second most precious kit." Said Kurama, a bit of irritation in his tone. Yes yes Kurama. Jealous much you fur ball? Thought Naruto with a smile. Gaara was slightly nervous but nodded anyway. Naruto took Gaara by his hand and together they went into the room the Hokage and the ANBU were waiting in.

Naruto knocked on the door and when a soft come in was heard, Gaara by instinct tightened his grip on Naruto's hand, Naruto almost winced but he just smiled at Gaara as he opened the door.

There on one of the beds, sat the Hokage without his hat and the ANBU was standing next to him. "Oh Naruto my boy. Who is this?" Asked the old Hokage. Naruto bit his lip as the Hokage raised an eyebrow.

"Old man, this is Gaara. I met him today and well we became friends!" Said Naruto a bit shyly at first but then more confidence seeped through his voice towards the end.

Gaara smiled as he felt a weird yet happy feeling bubbling in his chest. He quickly bowed and smiled a tiny smile. "I see, that's good... But aren't you the Kazekage's son?" Asked the Hokage.

Gaara's smile faded a bit too quickly. "Yes, but I don't see him often." said Gaara as he tried to smile. The Hokage kept his smile but inwardly he was cursing the Kazekage. He knew that Gaara was the jailer of the one tailed raccoon and was worried that he was treated just like Naruto or worse.

"I see... My boy, do you want to spend the night with us and Naruto here?" Asked the Hokage. Gaara felt his lips turn immediately into a genuine smile. "Yes!" He said. Both Naruto and Gaara started chatting away. The old Hokage couldn't help but chuckle.

After several hours of Naruto playing games with Gaara, the Hokage was asleep, the ANBU was still on guard watching over them. Gaara had then told Naruto he couldn't sleep and when Kurama heard that, they both immediately set to fix it.

A Few Days Later

The Hokage, his ANBU guard and Naruto were about to leave Suna. Not too long ago there was an attempt on Gaara's life by his uncle who Naruto met while playing at the park with Gaara. Naruto had gotten mad and helped by intervening in the fight which later turn into a counseling and comforting session for Gaara who was having a breakdown.

Now their bond was inseparable and Gaara could now sleep too after talking to Shukaku. They had gathered at Gaara's mindscape when the Hokage and the ANBU were gone for the day and Kurama had really cursed so many words at Shukaku and started beating him up. Naruto found it a bit funny at the end but after talking to Shukaku on his reason, he made Shukaku agree to be partners with Gaara until he learned of a better way to help the seal that bothered him be more stable.

Of course, Shukaku wanted to be released but Naruto told him he didn't want to lose Gaara due to Shukaku not being there. So Shukaku reluctantly agreed. So in the end, Gaara and Shukaku were going to be partners reluctantly mainly because Kurama forced them to be. Shukaku had been stubborn but Gaara was willing to give it a try.

Now at the gates stood the sand siblings who sent grateful looks to Naruto and Gaara who smiled sadly. Naruto smiled at Gaara and walked up to him. "We'll meet again I promise!" Said Naruto as he extended his closed fist and held it in the air. Gaara smiled and closed his eyes as he held a fist bump himself.

Both of their knuckles bumped against each other. "Let's never forget each other Naruto." Said Gaara in a monotone voice but a smile in his face was visible. The Hokage watched them with a smile and noticed Rasa, Gaara's father was not pleased. If his glare was anything to go by.

"We have to go Naruto!" Called the Hokage as he adjusted his hat with a smile and everybody had said their farewells. The trio from Konoha made a sprint out of the village and at one point, Naruto jumped over the ANBU to carry him. Their antics went as usual throughout the trip.

2 Days Later

They finally arrived to Konoha once again. "Land ahoy!" Said Naruto as he jumped away from the ANBU swat at him. He landed gracefully into the ground and the ANBU and Hokage chuckled at his antics. This return however was going to change things around.