The next morning, Naruto woke up late. He was normally an early riser, but he'd stayed up too long. By the time he and Gaara had made it back from the harass-the-neighbors incident, it had been close to one in the morning.

Naruto had tried to stay up until Gaara went to sleep, but couldn't (obviously, since Gaara never slept). He had made it to three-thirty, then had fallen onto the floor.

When he woke, he felt groggy. His head hurt from the sunlight shining in his eyes, his hands hurt from the stupid door (the wounds he had suffered were all but gone, but there was still a strong ache), and his back hurt from sleeping on the ground. He wanted nothing more than to curl up into a ball and go back to sleep, but he couldn't find a comfortable position. The night before, it had seemed the most comfortable bed ever…not anymore.

He gave up and struggled to a sitting position.

Yashamaru was in the room, writing on a notepad. "Naruto-san," he said with a slight smile. "Good. Your Hokage is waiting for you. Hinata-san has left already."

Looking around, he saw that Hinata, indeed, wasn't in the room. Gaara was gone, too. He voiced his discovery.

"…Gaara-sama is with his tutor. I suggest you hurry; Hinata-san has been gone to near an hour."

"An hour!" Naruto cried, leaping to his feet. "Oh, crap!"

He shot out of the room, just knowing that he'd be in for it now. Old Man Hokage had found out about what he had done and was going to tear him apart for it. Not only that, but now he was an hour late, and that was going to make everything ten times worse!

Oh, crud, what's he gonna do? he thought feverishly as he ran full tilt through the halls. What's Iruka-sensei gonna make me do this time? Crap, crap, crap! He's gonna make me walk back home by myself or something! Or blindfolded! Or backwards! Or carrying something on my head!

None of these ideas had actually passed through Iruka's mind, of course, but that really didn't matter. The more scenarios Naruto thought up, the more fun they sounded, and he would probably end up trying quite a few of them on his own.

It was more than likely he would end up doing several at once, walking backwards on his hands with a blindfold over his eyes and a bowl of silverware balanced on his feet. This would only last for about seven seconds, when he would bump into somebody and end up sprawled on the ground with cutlery all over the place.

By the time Naruto stopped to take a breath, he had ceased being frightened by the punishment he was sure he would receive and was hoping for it.

It was then that he realized he had no idea where he was supposed to go.

"It's been nearly two hours…" Sandaime murmured. "Where is that boy?"

Iruka, who knew Naruto better than anyone else, chuckled. "He's probably lost. Chances are he didn't bother asking where to meet us."

Sandaime sighed heavily and nodded. "You're probably right. Go and find him, would you, Iruka? I'm not in a hurry, but two hours is ridiculous. And make sure he hasn't broken anything."

Iruka nodded, bowed, and left the room.

As he walked, he wondered about what he'd heard early that morning. Someone from the village had stormed into the Kazekage's chamber, interrupting his meeting with Sandaime, yelling his head off about how the beast had showed up at his home and how one of the leaf brats had been with him. They had assaulted his daughter, he claimed, and was demanding retribution.

The Kazekage had waved it off as a small concern, but had said he would look into it. When Gaara has brought in and asked about it, though, the red-haired boy had denied being anywhere in the village past nightfall. He had played tic-tac-toe, a new game of which he was fond, with Naruto and Hinata until they had fallen asleep. He had then settled down to read.

Iruka had asked Yashamaru what had happened, and Gaara had told him a different story. Gaara had gone to the girl's house to give her ointment for the leg he had wounded, and Naruto had gone with him. The girl had refused the ointment and had shut the door in his face, calling him a monster.

Naruto had then, in a fit of anger, punched the girl in the face.

Iruka had reported this to Sandaime.

The elderly ninja had done something very odd, considering one of his people had, indeed, assaulted someone. He had laughed.

"All things considered, it's to be expected. Naruto himself has been called a monster for years…that word evidently struck a chord with him."

Iruka was sure that was the case. It made perfect sense.

So Gaara lied…probably to keep Naruto from getting in trouble. Yashamaru said he was crying but happy when they came back…he's probably never had anyone defend him before.

Iruka smiled. He found himself proud of Naruto rather than upset. He'd seen the girl who'd been "assaulted," and she looked like a belligerent type…as far as the young chuunin was concerned, she'd deserved it. Besides, it was just a black eye. A villager from a hidden village of such "pride and power" as the Sand should be able to handle a black eye.

He laughed. So, they were the strongest of all the hidden villages until someone from another village decided to deck them…then they went crying to the Kazekage for retaliation.

For once, Iruka agreed with the man. It wasn't worth worrying over.

"Crap, crap, crap! Where the heck do I go…?"

Iruka looked up and saw Naruto walking around, hands in his pockets, looking at each door he passed with an annoyed expression on his face.

"Ah, there you are," Iruka said, and Naruto jumped. "Hokage-sama is waiting for you, Naruto, Come on. We should hurry."

Naruto heaved a sigh of relief and followed his instructor.

"You must have been up late," Iruka said, "to have slept in so much. It's not like you."

"Eh…I tried to stay up 'til Gaara went to bed…but he never did."

"That's because Gaara doesn't sleep," Iruka said.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"That's what I've heard, anyway. It's some sort of ability he has, I guess. He never runs out of energy…or at least, never needs to sleep in order to regain it."

Iruka knew what it was that kept Gaara awake, of course; he just couldn't tell Naruto about the demon. Sandaime had forbidden it, but he hadn't planned on doing it, anyway.

"Jeez!" Naruto cried. "He can do all that cool stuff with sand and he doesn't have to sleep! This is just crazy! Lucky!"

Naruto huffed and crossed his arms as he walked.

Iruka chuckled. Everything about Gaara that made his village hate him, Naruto was jealous of. Everything that made Gaara a monster in the Sand's eyes made him a hero in Naruto's.

And, from what Iruka had seen, Gaara was a promising future ninja, not a threat. Unbalanced? Now there was irony.

When a group of psychopaths calls you insane…does it really count?

Iruka chuckled again.

"Ah, Naruto…there you are."

Scratching his head, Naruto chuckled as he sat down. "Uh…sorry 'bout that."

Naruto glanced around and saw Hinata sitting beside him. He smiled slightly. "Hiya."

"H-Hello, Naruto-kun…"

"Now," Sandaime said, leaning his elbows on the desk he sat behind, "I'm sure you're both wondering why I wanted to see you."

Naruto had an idea…

"Well, you see…I want to find out the…social health, if you will, of young Gaara. I hear from the Kazekage that he is bordering on insane, and needs to be contained in order to keep the rest of the village safe."

Naruto snorted.

Sandaime chuckled. "Since the two of you spent last night with him, I wanted to see what you think. Naruto, Hinata, is Gaara insane?"

"No!" Naruto snapped immediately.

Hinata shook her head. "He…he was nice."

"I see…" Sandaime murmured. "Why do you think the Kazekage would say such a thing, then?"

"'Cuz he's a moron!"

"…I don't know, Hokage-sama."

"A…moron, you say?"

Naruto nodded. "He's prob'ly like the rest o' those jerks…they call Gaara a monster 'n run away from him and ignore him…then they 'spect him to be nice to 'em?"

Naruto crossed his arms, a frown plastered on his face. "Stupid…"

Sandaime frowned thoughtfully. "…I see. Hinata? Do you have anything to add?"

The dark-haired girl bit her lip nervously. "…Well…it's just…it seems a lot like…what our villagers do to Naruto-kun…"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah."

Sandaime rubbed his chin. "I thought so."

Iruka crossed his arms and cleared his throat. "I find it highly unlikely that Gaara is insane…and if he is being driven towards it, it's because of the village. They're one step away from asking him to go nuts. They're openly hostile and their leader does nothing to curb it."

Upon hearing that, Naruto wondered if his own village would be just like this one if not for Sandaime…he didn't think so, but all the same, he felt a new appreciation for the old man.

"I had figured on this," Sandaime said. "I always take what the Kazekage tells me with a grain of salt…he tends to twist things in his favor when it comes to giving information. It isn't fair to call someone crazy simply because he retaliates when someone else hurts him. But, it seems that is precisely what he has done…I've seen Gaara as well, and I see no reason to deem him fit to confinement…I asked the Kazekage about this, and he told me 'the brat's just acting.' But…somehow, I doubt that."

"I-It…can't be healthy for Gaara-san…if his own father acts the same way as the rest of the village…"

"I agree, Hinata…I have noticed there are distinct parallels between this situation and our own…Naruto, you agreed that Gaara has gone through much the same as you, yourself, have?"

"Yeah…but it's worse. These guys're just flat-out mean…least back home some people're nice…"

Sandaime frowned. "…Well, as you know, I'm trying to stop the hostility of the villagers back home…but people are not easily changed. Family is an important aspect of our people's lives…and the fact that you are an orphan does not sit easily with them…I've tried convincing them that it is simple superstition…but…"

"Eh, don't worry 'bout it. They're just dumb. I know."

It seemed exceedingly stupid to Naruto that people would hate him just because he had no parents…but it seemed that was the case. He was, after all, the only one in the village who didn't belong to some sort of clan besides Iruka…but Iruka was a ninja. A teacher. That earned him respect.

That was why Naruto wanted to be a ninja, too. He would prove to the other villagers of his home that he was worth something. But he wouldn't stop at chuunin like Iruka had…he would go on until he became the next Hokage…then everyone would see that orphans weren't useless…that it wasn't bad luck to be an orphan or to be associated with one…

"Well, I've thought about this for quite some time," Sandaime continued, interrupting Naruto's thoughts, "and I think it might work…you both like Gaara, do you not?"

"Sure!" Naruto said with a grin. "He's awesome!"

"Gaara-san is very nice," Hinata added, nodding.

"Well, than…this may work out."

Iruka raised an eyebrow. "What are you concocting, Hokage-sama?"

Sandaime chuckled. "Well, as I've said before…it's good for aspiring ninja to see the other hidden villages…so why don't we have Gaara come back to Konoha with us when we leave? I think it would help him gain a firmer grasp on the world around him."

Naruto's eyes widened. "You mean it!"

"Certainly. It would likely be a nice…vacation for him. If the people of his own village are treating him so badly…what say you two? Would you be willing to show him around, make sure he is comfortable if he does decide to take up on this offer?"

"Oh, heck yeah!" Naruto cried excitedly.

"S-Sure."

Sandaime smiled. "I'll talk to the Kazekage about it…you two do what you want for now…talk to Gaara about it, and see if he'd like to visit our village."

"You bet!"

Naruto leapt out of his seat and shot off out of the room, excitement flooding through him. Hinata followed, albeit at a much slower pace.

"So…this was the other half of your plan?"

Sandaime raised an eyebrow. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Iruka…it was just an idea…"

Iruka smirked. "Uh-huh…sure. I'll admit that they seem to have befriended each other rather quickly…but surely this wasn't a 'spur-of-the-moment' idea that…popped into your head when Naruto said he liked him."

Sandaime chuckled. "No…that I will admit. I had figured on them bonding quickly….and it seems that they have. And yes, I had this little…visit planned out as well. If my suspicions are correct, they will end up fast friends….and comradeship is very important for a ninja."

Iruka frowned. "…The way you say 'visit' makes me wonder at your motives, Hokage-sama…you aren't planning on just having him stay in Konoha for a week or two, are you?"

"…Hm? Oh…well, if it turns out that Gaara likes life better in Konoha…I'm certainly not averse to….extending his stay. Besides…the Kazekage evidently doesn't want him…nor does anyone else here…"

Iruka smiled again. "You want to turn Gaara into one of us."

"…Perhaps…"

He laughed. "Well, well…you certainly are crafty, aren't you, Hokage-sama…?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about…I simply think this will be good for the two of them…better they bond now as…brothers, perhaps, rather than end up at arms against each other later…you know as well as I that if Gaara stays here, and is not killed, he will eventually be used as a weapon against us."

"True…very true…so this isn't only for Naruto and Gaara….this is a military tactic. You want to take their best potential soldier away from them…defang them, in a sense."

"I suppose, from a business point of view, you could say it that way…I am, however, more concerned about Gaara's mental health than the strength of our forces…I know our ninja well enough, and while Gaara's gift certainly is welcome, it is not my prime motive…I simply wish for him to find a place where he is welcome…a true home."

Iruka raised an eyebrow. "All well and good, but…while our civilians won't be as bad as the civilians here….they certainly won't accept an outsider so readily as you and I would…and if you're right, and I think you are, about Naruto and Gaara befriending each other…they already seem to be…would they not dislike him even more simply by association?"

"Oh, I'm sure…but unlike my…comrade, I will take steps to ensure such behavior is brought to a minimum…besides, anything would be better than what he is dealing with now. And having someone like Naruto will help him adapt, and also…Naruto will have someone to help him deal with his own troubles."

"Hmmm…it seems like a valid idea…are you sure it will work out? They've only known each other for a day, after all."

"I'll have him stay in Konoha on the pretense of a temporary visit…and if it doesn't work out I will simply make it so, and send him back…but I don't think that will happen. You saw them, did you not?"

Iruka nodded. "Yes. They seem to be getting along well."

"That's enough for now…I'm moving quickly because that is the only way I will get anything done. The Kazekage is a cunning man, and speed is the only weapon currently at my disposal."

"I see…well, in that case, by all means…Naruto was certainly excited by the idea. He's usually an amiable person, but…lately he's been walking on clouds."

"Then why stop at the clouds?" Sandaime chuckled.

Iruka grinned. "Indeed…"

Sandaime took out his pipe and lit it. As he took a long draw, her looked out the only window at the village. Iruka followed his gaze, marveling at the way his leader's mind worked…he was one surprise after another…had he had everything planned from the beginning? Had he wanted to bring Gaara to Konoha from the start? Iruka figured he had.

Hmmm…if things work out the way Hokage-sama thinks…and they probably will…I think I've just found the third member of Naruto's squad…

I've decided to break this story up into three parts. Part I will be this section, wherein Naruto and Gaara are nine. Part II will be the section that follows the majority of the manga/anime, wherein they are twelve, and Part III will be the section when they're sixteen(ish)...you know, when the characters' costumes change...so Part II will be the majority of the story. Just thought I'd mention it. I really don't know if anyone cares or not.

On another note...I feel bad for taking so long, but thank you all for the reviews. I never realized this story would be so popular; your feedback keeps me going. You're all amazing. So take a bow. I'm still here because of you.

Someone asked what anime series made me stray from Naruto for a while...it's called Negima. Not for everybody, but I find it hysterical. 26 episodes, as is normal for a lot of anime, I guess...wish there were more, but hey...26 is good. Anyway, just figured I'd answer here. Surely I won't get in trouble, since the review was anonymous...right?