I'm so glad people like this story so far! Here you go! New Chapter!

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Chapter Two - Chibi Friend

Gaara practically skipped around town with his two friends. He was so happy! He was being treated as a normal person by not just one, but TWO people! And that restaurant owner had been nice to him, too! It was like he was in heaven! They spent the whole day walking around and seeing things, like the Hokage monument, the large Hyuuga and Uchiha houses, a bridge that Naruto liked to watch fish at, Iruka's house, Naruto's apartment, the clearing where Iruka taught Naruto basic fighting skills...

But the desert child did notice how everyone seemed to send Naruto cold looks, and treat him a little differently. Naruto seemed to just ignore it, holding onto the red-head and brunette's hands as they went to look at more places that Iruka chose. Gaara knew it was rude, but he couldn't pay attention while Iruka would tell them the history of a particular place, he just couldn't. It wasn't that he didn't want to, it was just that Naruto never let go of his hand, and the sand child kept focusing on that bit of warmth that he had never been able to have before.

After what seemed like only a short time, the sun began to set. Iruka smiled and said goodbye to the boys, hugging them both in his endless kindness for two children. Gaara's eyes were wide, even less used to the idea of being hugged than he was to having his hand held. Iruka smiled and told Naruto that he'd see him tomorrow, and to try and behave and not influence the younger boy to perform any pranks. He had never seen or heard anything like this. Usually when his uncle or father left him, they simply said goodbye or something and left him. He glanced at his friend's face to find the boy grinning happily, his free hand behind his hand as he watched the older man leave them.

"Naruto?" Gaara asked shyly. When those blue eyes were focused on him, he continued, "You play pranks?" That grin was back full-force.

"Yeah! All the time! It's a lot of fun, really! I've done a few things so far... I just started, really." He was still smiling, but for some reason, Gaara thought he seemed sad.

"Why do you play pranks, though?" Now the smile dropped, and Naruto glanced away from him, letting go of his hand as though he thought the other would leave him.

"Because... No one here likes me except Iruka... The Hokage puts up with me, and the people ignore me all of the time, and only allow me to buy food and stuff because the Hokage says so, and sometimes Iruka has to go with me to make sure... I guess... If I play pranks, they might have to notice me. Even if they don't like me, they'll still see me, right?" He was looking down, as though waiting for the outburst of annoyance.

"What about your family?" Gaara asked softly, still surprised that his friend had actually noticed all those looks he got in the village, and even more so that he, like Gaara, was disliked by the village.

"I don't have a family..." The whisper was so quiet, it was almost missed. But it was enough to be heard by the younger of the two, who looked at his only friend sadly. After all, he still had a father, an uncle, and a brother and sister. Even if they didn't like him, he still had them. And his uncle spent time with him. But Naruto was completely alone except for Iruka. It was enough to make Gaara want to cry. Instead, his mind replayed what Iruka had done to make the boy smile again.

Gaara reached out and hugged his best friend.

When he felt something wet hit his shoulder, he realized that he didn't need to cry for Naruto. The boy that was now clinging to him was crying on his own.

After a few minutes, the blonde pulled away and rubbed at his eyes before grinning at his friend.

"Sorry about that! Now, we better get you back to the Hokage before they start to worry about you! Oh! I know! I'll tell you the story about the Fourth Hokage!" With that, Naruto grabbed his younger friend's hand and led him towards the tower, talking happily.

"Years ago our village was attacked by a demon!" Gaara's eyes widened. "He destroyed some of the buildings and even killed some people. Iruka was there, but he refuses to tell me much about it. He said he saw the demon, and it was a giant, red fox, with nine tails, that lashed out at anything that came near it! Finally, the Fourth Hokage went against it, and sealed him away. But no one knows where! Iruka said it's so that no one ever frees him and lets him attack the village again..." He grinned at the younger boy, who was staring at him in shock. "I think if I found the fox demon, I'd ask him why he attacked, you know? I mean, usually they leave you alone unless you mess with them first, right? So I wonder what happened... Uh oh..."

He had turned back towards the tower, only to see a familiar face staring at him with the usual look of hatred.

"Honored Son of the Kazekage! If I had only known that you were left with Naruto, I would have come earlier to assist you! Come, the Hokage and Kazekage have finished their discussion for the day and you're to join them for dinner." He bowed slightly to Gaara, completely ignoring the blonde at his side.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Gaara!" The boy waved happily to him as the man who introduced himself as Ebisu led him in. Honestly, the sand child found himself wishing Naruto had come with him. He turned a nervous glance to the man leading him, then looked back at his feet, reaching into the cloth wrapped around his shoulders in order to pull out the teddy bear he had stashed in there earlier, bringing it to his chest and hugging it.

He liked hugging Naruto more... It felt better when someone hugged you back.

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Naruto looked out his window at the Hokage Tower, feeling a little sad as he ate his bowl of miso ramen, knowing that somewhere in there, his poor friend Gaara had to put up with those old men. He also wondered as to why Gaara had all that blackness around his eyes. Did he get in fights a lot? He looked a little like a panda he had seen in a picture that Iruka had shown him once. He decided he'd ask Gaara about it tomorrow.

With a last look at the darkening village, and the Hokage Tower where he knew his best friend was currently at, he sighed and went back into his small apartment, cleaning up from dinner before bathing and pulling on his pajamas, finally climbing into bed to sleep and dream about the next day with his best friend Gaara.

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I hope this chapter meets with everyone's approval! See you later! Feel free to review! It's like food to us... It makes me write faster!