Yamanaka Ino was generally a good person. She had her faults, like any human, but she was a good person all told. She was loud, violent, bossy, obsessive, and enjoyed insulting people, but she really did care about those close to her.

Naruto had never been one of those people.

On the day of the Uzumaki's banishment, the Third's law had been nullified, and the younger generation was let in on his dark secret.

Ino knew she should hate him; fear him. Her parents did, and they knew better than she.

But Ino had a habit of categorizing people. Sasuke fell into the 'Dream Boy' spot, and 'Prodigy'. Shikamaru was under 'lazy' and 'genius', but also 'reliable' and 'teammate'. Sakura fit with 'best friend' (though she would never admit it), 'Rival' and now 'Caution'. Ino knew she wouldn't be able to shake off her teammate's banishments like Sakura did. It made her wary. Naruto fit under a lot of things. 'Baka' yes, but also 'Reliable' 'Dead Last' 'Annoying' 'Mystery' 'Hyper' 'Eager' and now, she supposed, 'Monster' 'Demon' and 'Kyuubi'. But Kyuubi was filed as 'Fearsome' 'Horrible' 'Ruthless' 'Deadly' 'Fear' and 'Blood'. None of these fit with Naruto. He was just too… innocent. She remembered thinking- back when they were eight- that her was too soft-hearted to become a shinobi.

So, consciously or not, in Ino's mind there was 'Naruto' and there was 'Kyuubi'. Two completely separate entities.

Even she didn't know what her own mind had decided.

The desert is a very dry place. They usually tend to be quite hot, as well. This, of course, is supposed to be common knowledge. Everyone knows it.

Then again, Uzumaki Naruto never was what you would call 'normal'.

And thus explains exactly why said teen is stranded in the middle of Kaze no Kuni(1) with no supplies to speak of. Not even Kyuubi can deny thirst, almighty being or not.

Naruto groaned as the hot sun beat down on his back. It had been two days since he'd entered the desert, and he didn't think he could survive for much longer.

Luckily for him, he wouldn't have to…

Gaara, despite his unshakable mask of no emotion, was not a very patient person. He was also quite sensitive, though no one would ever learn that last bit.

So when all the Academy students flocked around his siblings and he was left isolated, he was hurt.

It brought back memories of his childhood… Bad memories. Not that he had any good ones, but still.

"Ano… Excuse me?" Gaara-sama?"

Gaara snapped his head up to face the owner of the voice, a young girl, about the same age as himself.

"I… Would you please take me as your student?!" She forced the words out, bowing lowly in traditional style.

Snickers and catcalls broke out from behind them, but Gaara ignored them with the ease of long practice. Unfortunately, Matsuri had no such advantage.

Gaara was silent for a long time, and Matsuri began to sweat, thinking she'd made the wrong decision and offended him.

"It would… be my pleasure," he said at last, startling her so much she gave a slight jump.

Gaara watched her, amused, before telling the girl to pick a weapon.

Matsuri gulped, 'I'm so dead…'

"Land-ho!" Naruto grumbled, spitting out another mouthful of sand. Sure enough, the walls of Sungakure were coming into view. Suna was cleverly designed. It is camouflaged in such a way that one must be close to discern it from the rest of the endless sandy field. People with sharp eyes could notice maybe 3 miles away. But from a good perch on any tall building in the city, a person could see miles away. Travelers were noticed long before they saw even a hint of the village.

Of course, Naruto didn't know this…

Gaara sighed as he walked up the narrow street. Today… well… he couldn't really describe today, seeing as he didn't understand half of what had happened.

There was a rare spot of ironic amusement, thought.

He would become a Kage before Naruto.

If he showed emotion, he would have snickered at the thought. Irony, irony.

Apparently, the plan had been in action for months, though he'd only been brought in on it today. Gaara's usual glare intensified a bit, before turning to it's normal 'I hate you but I wont kill you… yet' state. It was the only outward sign of his aggravation.

Of course, a Kage must always have trained at least one genin. Why? Gaara shrugged mentally, he had no clue. Custom, maybe?

And- lucky, lucky- Gaara had first (and quite possible only) student. The final basic requirement fulfilled, Gaara was finally let in on the plan. Their plan. For his life.

His hand twitched and the sand around his feet shifted, cringing away as he passed.

Not that it wouldn't be nice to be the Godaime Kazekage(2)… ('And ironic, don't forget delicious irony!' his traitorous mind cackled. He blamed it on Shukaku.) but still! He wasn't one of Kankuro's puppets, to be controlled by invisible strings! Yet… Kazekage… He remembered Naruto, that strange boy he had met. It seemed so long ago, yet still like yesterday.

"I'm gonna be Hokage someday, dattebayo! And then everyone will acknowledge me!" "I'll protect them… with my life! Because they're my precious people!"

Something… to protect? He stopped suddenly in the middle of the street, gazing around with sea-foam eyes. 'It's so… dead,' he thought, 'Impersonal.' It was true, in a way. Trees, flowers, and bright colors were wonderful in Konoha, but here, they'd never last.

But to a Suna citizen, it was home. Every speck of sand was as familiar to them as trees were to the citizens of Konoha. Especially for Gaara. Every grain told a story, every tiny bit welcomed him with the ease of an old friend.

Gaara blinked, and sand slowly rose to float around him, swirling randomly as he looked at it in confusion. He held out a hand and several gritty pieces fell into it.

He would have smiled, had he not been in public. As it was, the corner of his mouth twitched, and his eyes lost some of their ferocity.

He had made his decision.

High above the city a single gong rang. Some stranger was approaching Sunagakure. Gaara resumed walking as if he'd never stopped, heading swiftly to the entrance of the village.

This was his village. Hell if he'd let some stranger mess with it.

He would become Kazekage, Gaara decided, eyes on his goal. But he'd do it his way.

He smirked. Suna had no idea what it was getting itself into.

'So.. close!' Naruto had decided not to talk anymore. After all, who would he talk to? Besides, just opening his mouth made his lips crack and bleed. 'Arg... I'm getting sick of all this sand...' Of course, nothing could stop him from mental commentary. 'HOW THE HELL CAN GAARA STAND THIS STUFF?!?!'

Yes, Uzumaki Naruto was most definitely tired of endless sand.

'SOME ONE COME HELP ME, ALREADY!!'

Yo! I know this is late, and I apologize. However, be glad i got it up today. My guinea pig died today, and my dad's a heartless jerk. This chapter is dedicated to my baby, R.I.P. Zeak!

I've had this written for about a week, but haven't had the chance to type it. Second quarter's almost over, and i need to raise my math grade still! I only have a 78!!! I need at least an 80!!! I had it up to 82 a few days ago, but then she graded some tests... I hate tests.

Anyway, author's inserts!

Kaze no Kuni(1)- Means Land of Wind/ Wind Country. That's where Sunagakure is located.

Godaime Kazekage(2)- Is Gaara the Godaime? Comparing it to Konoha's time-frame, it makes sense, because the Yondaime and Gaara's father should have been ruling at the same time, except, you know, the Yondaime's long-dead. So let's consider the Sandaime's 12-year-long second reign part of the Yondaime's era. After him is Tsunade, who's the Godaime. So if Gaara rules about the same time as Tsunade, he should be the Godaime Kazekage. But maybe he's not. So if anyone knows, I'd appreciate if you'd tell me!