Gaara smiled fondly at the boy staring blankly at him. They stood on the platform above the Kazekage's tower. The boy had piercing green eyes, with shaggy silver hair. His skin was tan. Though only a boy, he was starting to look like his father (or so he assumed).

"Haruno Obito." Gaara spoke gently, but firmly.

"Kazekage-jii-sama" the young boy bowed, making his hair flop ungracefully over his face.

The Kazekage's smile widened slightly. "Haruno Obito, you are an exceptional young boy, only six years old and you're already ready to graduate from the academy. The youngest in Suna's history. Almost younger than your own father." The boy's face dropped. Gaara sighed deeply, a father he never got to meet… Gaara cleared his throat loudly. "You should be very proud young man." The boy shrugged his shoulders. Gaara clapped his hand on the boy's shoulder, smiling as the boy almost lost his balance. "You are very brilliant, in more ways than one. You are very strong in more ways than one. You've known more hardships than most, you-"

"Not as many as you, Kazekage-sama." He murmured. "I have my mother. She has supported me and loved me very much. I should be very happy. Content." Gaara watched the boy bite his lip and look down at his shoes. "But…" he noted the boy's words tightening as he broke out of Gaara's grasp and walked towards the edge of the platform. "It's hard, ya know. Can't tell mom. She blames herself enough as it is…" he plopped down, letting his feet hang over the edge. "I know I'm just being a spoiled little kid…" he whispered, probably more to himself than to the Kazekage. "I just want to meet him. To know that he at least knows I exist."

Gaara watched the boy for a moment before joining him, watching their feet swing in unison. He looked at the boy, as his face didn't show anything, his white knuckles against the railing, but his eyes showed a different story. The boy no longer looked like a possible Shinobi. He looked just like a small six year old. "You heard everyone hated me once?" he watched as the boy nodded, not looking at him. Gaara smiled sadly. "I was once a monster." The boy's head snapped up, eyes as wide as saucers. Gaara looked out towards his city. "I was born with the one tailed beast. The whole village hated me. They all wanted me dead. My mother…" Gaara paused and looked down at the boy, "my mother was so ashamed of me, she killed herself." Despite his confession he smiled as he watched the boy's mouth slacken before shaking his head.

"No way, no one could ever be ashamed of you Jii-sama…" his heart soared as he felt a small hand grip his.

"I was born to be a monster, and that's what turned me into one. My whole life I was told I was this monster. So I became it; hating everyone, being hated and feared by everyone, even my brother and sister feared me.

"But all that changed when I met Uzumaki Naruto. You know who he is?"

The boy nodded enthusiastically. "The Hokage!"

"He saved me. He made me realize I wasn't a monster. That we are both people. He…" Gaara took a deep breath. "He changed me, making me want to be a better, stronger person. Made me want to protect my village, to become Kazekage.

"Your mother is his dearest friend. Because of that, she saved my brother's life and my life again."

They were both silent, watching the city beneath them. "You know…" Obito whispered, hand on Gaara's tightening, "A lot of people at the academy say I'm able to graduate only because you having a 'special interest' in my mother and me…and it's not just my classmates…" the boy took a deep breath, shoulders slacking slightly.

Gaara shook out of Obito's grip to wrap his arm around him, "Yes it is. I would die for your mother, and as long as you call Suna your home, I will protect you both." He laughed, "So there might be a little 'special interest,' but you both are strong assets to me and to my village." The boy smiled up at him, leaning in a bit. "Do you know why your mother brought you here?"

"She said because she was weak." He murmured, looking down at their dangling feet. "And something about that Sasuke Uchiha guy. She told me she'll tell me more as I get older. I just figured she was scared that my father would reject-"

"No." Gaara said firmly, "Your mother was put in a terrible situation, one that came between her and the man she loved, your father." Obito's head perked, "You're father doesn't know about you. And it's for the better." The boy looked at him skeptically. "A man name Sasuke Uchiha, a 'friend' of Naruto Uzumaki's was able to live if the village picked a wife for him to expand his clan. You're mother was picked and…" Gaara gave him a sly smile, "You are not an Uchiha." Obito raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm not explaining that one."

Obito scrunched his face.

"The Hokage, Tsunade knew what would happen if Uchiha found out; You would be killed and your mother, if she was lucky would be killed, if not tried for treason for going against the elders of the village. Tsunade-sama thought it was the safest thing to do was to let you seek refuge here. Something I whole heartily agreed to. You're mother saved mine and Kankuro's life. It was the very least I could do was to save both of yours.

"I suppose you and your mother could go back now. It has been six years, but you both have a life here now. And, she is probably still scared for your life."

He was quite for a moment. "Your mother is very brave, and very strong. But, I will not allow you to do the same." Obito tilted his head slightly. "I'm giving you two options Obito. You can stay in the academy, be held back by everyone there and your eventual team. Or, you can train under me. Become my apprentice and I will teach you all I know and you will work closely with Kankuro and Temari.

"Temari's team just lost someone." He said quietly. "They will not be ready for a new teammate for missions for a while, but you will train with them. And, when I feel you're ready, I'll let you start taking missions. Who knows, you might make Jounin by 12." Gaara released the boy, who turned to stare at his swinging legs.

After a few minutes, Obito looked up to Gaara. "Did you ask mom?"

"No, this is your life, your decision. You can tell her once you've gone home."

The boy was silent again. Gaara watched the boy closely, wondering what he could be thinking.

When the boy smirked, Gaara knew.

"I'll make ANBU by 13.

III

His mother stood with her hands on her hips, a wooden spoon looming in her hand. She was one of the only people that could make him feel small.

Very, very small.

"You're doing what?" her voice was calm, but he knew better. He smiled as wide as he could. His hands shaking, so he put them in his pocket.

"I'm going to graduate from the academy."

She was silent for a moment. "No. You're too young."

"Oh? Did I said I was?" his fingers on his left hand pressed against the warm metal in his pocket. He gripped it, praying to gods. He'd had a good life. "I meant to say I did." He pulled out the metal headband that was on a thick cloth. His fingers ran across the etched gourd. Despite his situation, his heart soared. He looked up at his mother, whose face was slack. Shit. "But I'm not joining a team!" he said quickly as he felt her chakra surge. "I'm going to work with the Kazekage!"

She stilled. "Did he put you up to this?" her voice was calm.

He can take care of himself. He's the Kazekage. "He was the one that gave this to me." He said quietly.

He blinked and she was gone, the door slamming, shaking the house.

He looked back down at the headband. It was too big to fit across his forehead so he quickly tied it around his neck. He padded into the kitchen, the headband hitting his collar bone with small thumps. He grinned as he drug a chair to the stove, turning the stove down, picking up a small spoon, stirring whatever concoction his mother was making. He tasted it before scrunching his face up, reaching for the pepper.

By the time his mother came back he was done eating, bathed and sitting on the floor of the living room, reading.

He froze as she stared him down from the hall.

"Bed now. You will not be late in the morning." Obito grinned and scrambled up, leaping into his mother's legs.

"Thanks mom."

III

"Your mornings will start with meditation." The Kazekage said. Obito couldn't help but grin. It was the most exciting lesson ever. "You need to learn to control your chakra so you can control sand." Obito's eyes widened.

"Like-like you?"

"You will spar in the afternoon with Kankuro. Once you are comfortable we will begin to introduce you to Temari's team." He grinned. "Then you will work with her in the mornings, and my lessons will be in the afternoon."

Obito nodded.

"Let us begin."

III

"Gathering the sand to bend to your will takes immense concentration and skill. I was lucky." Gaara stood a few feet from Obito in his office. There was a small alcove where Obito sat on a small cushion. "I had my mother's chakra to help me. But you, you have to make up for that. You can already walk on water?"

Obito shrugged lazily, but his heart was hammering in his chest, stomach full of butterflies. "Only in the bathtub."

Gaara nodded. "Very good. You will start with meditation. Learn to control your chakra inside your body before we start moving to external control. Moving sand lightly to elevating to stopping a full attack.

The boy couldn't help himself, "Cool…" he breathed.

Gaara smirked. "You will work here. While I work over there." He pointed to his desk.

Obito grinned, "Kazekage first, teacher second."

The Kazekage nodded.

III

Obito stood in the middle of a training ground, surrounded by swirling sand. Kankuro stood with his hands crossed over his chest, looking intimidating. He probably didn't need that.

His weird face paint was enough.

"We will work on basic ninja arts." He spoke calmly. "Hand signs, accessories and long/short distance training."

Obito was almost hopping up and down. "What about Taijutsu?"

Kankuro smirked. "Your mother has that covered."

Obito's heart dropped. Shit.

III

The weeks flew by now that Obito was out of the house almost from sunup to sundown. He was always home in time for dinner, and on the weekends home for lunch. He never really talked much about the training, but he did seem happier. His smile seemed more real. Their Taijutsu training was on the weekends, where she couldn't help but take it easy on him.

He was a bit clumsy, but he had decent balance. For Sakura, it was strange being on a training field that wasn't surrounded by trees. It was her one disadvantage. Obito's disadvantage was the sand stuck to him like he was covered in water. He always had to stop and dust himself off before continuing.

He would always smile widely and tell her to give it all she had.

It made her heart soar.

III

"It's been six months, and you've improved greatly." Gaara nodded to Obito, who blushed. "We will start in the morning with sand manipulation before moving inside.

"Controlling the sand is similar to controlling the flow of your charka. You have strong control over your chakra and that will help you greatly." Obito watched as the sand moved around the Kazekage, but it never quite touched him. He lifted his hand and a mass of sand formed. "For the next few weeks, I want you to try to do this. Slowly," the Kazekage flicked his wrist and the mass slowly condensed, forming a tight sphere. "You will progress to this." The leader's eyes flashed to Obito. Who stood straighter, "This will take a lot of concentration. It will take a lot of chakra. Do not get discouraged if you can't do it at once." Obito took a steady breath.

He really didn't want to mess this up.

He nodded. "Okay, I understand."

Gaara smiled. "Sit here." He gestured to a spot that had a wide circle of sand. "Start by just moving the sand. Don't touch it with your body, but simply reach out with your chakra and move the grains."

Obito looked up to his teacher, "I'll be honest. It doesn't sound easy."

Gaara nodded, "But after this training, it will seem so." Gaara turned, leaving Obito to meditate.

Obito sat, his mind focused on the movement of Chakra in his body. His skin tingled as he tried to push his chakra out, to feel the sand.

He felt a bit ridiculous.

For hours he sat out there, trying to extend his charka, and do something, when he finally heard Gaara come back out, chuckling. "Well, you were able to get the sand to move somehow." Obito's tried to open his eyes but quickly shut them back. Sand burned his eyes. He took a quick intake of breath and coughed as sand invaded his mouth.

He coughed, rubbing his eyes. "Sand is attracted to me."

Gaara hummed. "It's seems to like you a little more today than usual. As I thought, you'll progress quickly. You just need control." Obito felt a gentle arm on his. "Let's get you cleaned off."

III

"Have you ever thought of a mask or something?" Obito was shaking his head, freeing it of sand. He looked up to his mentor.

"A mask?" Ever since he started his 'sand wielding' training months ago it seemed the sand couldn't get enough of him. He couldn't go outside without getting completely covered in it.

Kankuro shrugged. "Yeah, something that covers everything but your eyes."

Obito frowned. "Then what about my eyes?"

Kankuro rolled his eyes. "Come on; let's get you some new gear."

III

Sakura slammed the door shut. She sighed loudly.

It had been a long day.

"Obito! I'm home!" she listened but frowned when she got no response. She knew he heard her. She could sense him.

She kicked off her shoes and headed towards the living room. She rounded the corner, gasping. Sitting in the middle of her living room was a strange creature. It was covered in black cloth except for the eyes, which had dark goggles. It was sitting cross legged on the floor, surrounded by a thin circle of sand.

She instantly pulled the Kunai out of her boot and threw at its head. Sand flew up from the floor as the creature cocked its head as the Kunai zoomed past, landing in the wall with a loud 'thunk'.

"Good parenting, Mom." Her heart stopped. That thing was her Obito!

"Oh my god! I almost killed you!" she rushed towards him, dropping to her knees next to him.

He shrugged, "Not really. Your aim was a bit off. He pulled off the goggles and pulled the cloth off his head.

His silver hair with the pink highlights shot up and out to the left as his green eyes, blinked up at her matching ones. He wore a skin tight mask that didn't seem to muffle his voice too much.

"Kankuro-sensei thought having a mask would help keep the sand out of my lungs. I picked it out. Pretty cool huh? Now I won't get sand everywhere."

Sakura smiled as she fell back on her heels. "Yeah…yeah it is." He tilted his head slightly. "You just…you look like your father like that." She cursed her higher voice.

"Yeah, I was going for-you…you okay mom?" he reached up and wiped a tear out of her eye. She bit her lip before everything cracked.

She pulled him close and cried.

III

Obito sat cross legged on the roof of the Kazekage's tower. His whole body was almost covered, but Gaara could feel a pleased aura coming from the boy. Gaara watched him with a small smile. He had a small wall of sand, two feet high, surrounding him. It wouldn't do much, but it was a start.

Gaara smiled.

"I think you're ready to meet your team."