Gah! Don't blame me, please! First, my computer got a virus and I had to erase EVERYTHING and reformat.. then I was really busy getting my Christmas stuff done (I was the only one who didn't work on weekdays, so I was stuck with all the shopping, decorating, wrapping, etc..), and then the internet went out on the day I finished! Dammit! Anyway, on with the fic!
ALSO! MAJOR SPOILER ALERT! I found this out while doing research. Please, do NOT get mad at me!
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Ch. 4 Chibi Goodbyes
Gaara watched Naruto from a different point of view now. He knew that the fox was inside of Naruto, even Iruka had told him. But he still liked his friend. In fact, it made him like the boy even more. Iruka and Naruto were slowly becoming as dear to him as his uncle, Yashamaru. Naruto was even more dear, though he didn't really want to admit it. After all, this was his last day with his best friend for a long time. Admitting how dear the young fox-carrier was to him would make it hurt worse when he had to leave. The young desert boy hugged his gift to his friend closer. His father had already informed him that they would stay one more night, and leave the next morning. If he was really lucky, Iruka might wake Naruto up in time to say goodbye to him as they were leaving.
A hand clasped onto his, and he turned to look at the boy he had been thinking about, only to see that familiar foxy grin directed at him.
"C'mon, Panda-boy! Iruka's gotta go talk to one of his friends, so you and I are supposed to stay by the swing! I'll push you!" Gaara blinked at the blonde.
"Are you sure you can push me?" Naruto pouted and puffed his chest up in pride.
"I'm pretty strong, you know!" The red-head merely smiled and nodded, allowing himself to be led to a swing that was tied in a tree near a building that stated it was the "Ninja Academy". As he sat on the swing, the sand swirling under him while Naruto pushed the swing gently, he wondered what it would be like, a life as a ninja.
"Iruka's a ninja, you know!" Gaara's head turned to look at his friend's smiling face. "Yeah! He just became a Chuunin about a year or so ago! He said he's trying to become a teacher at the academy in time to have me as one of his students. That's one reason why he teaches me now, to get some experience as a sensei!"
"Chuunin?" The young boy's head tilted in confusion, and the blonde laughed, but not mockingly.
"Yeah! It's hard to keep up with, but there's the academy students, then there's the genin, then you become a Chuunin, and finally, there're Jounin. I've never met a Jounin, I think. If I did, I didn't know they were a Jounin. They usually hang around that old man, the Hokage." Gaara nodded in understanding, smiling and relaxing, enjoying the feeling of being able to spend time with his friend.
Then it happened.
A rock that had been aimed for Naruto was blocked as a wall of sand came up and formed a shield for the two boys. Naruto's eyes widened in shock, and Gaara began to get nervous. Would Naruto be upset with him? The sand filtered away to reveal a group of children, a little older than Naruto, some looking at them in shock, others in disgust or hatred. Gaara had seen those looks, so many times...
"So the orphan boy's finally found someone stupid enough to hang out with him, huh?" The leader said. He had black hair and green eyes, which slid over to look at Gaara. "Hey! You better stay away from him if you know what's good for you! You're weird, but we'll let you hang out with us instead. You can show us how to do that thing with the sand. I bet the blond idiot there didn't even know that you did that!" He snickered and hefted another rock. "C'mon, kid! Get away from him before you end up as dumb as him!" Another rock thrown at Naruto, who brought his arms up in reflex.
Gaara frowned, angry at someone insulting Naruto. He knew they had insulted him too, but it was the pain caused to his friend that angered him the most. The sand came up again to block the rock, but then it lashed out, wrapping around the boy, who was obviously the leader. Stepping in front of his blonde friend, who was watching him in surprise, Gaara lifted his hand, mentally willing the lump of sand to raise the boy off the ground.
"Don't say mean things about Naruto! He didn't do anything to you! I'd rather stay here with him than go anywhere with you! At least he's a good person!" He started to clench his fist in anger, only to realize that the sand was responding, still following his hand movements. The whimpers from the boy trapped in the sand helped him figure out that he was being crushed. Immediately, Gaara released him from his prison and allowed the group to run off, looking down at his feet. He could have killed the boy... He almost did. And what's worse... He had wanted to. Wanted to hurt him for hurting Naruto, of course, but he could hear that voice, whispering to him that the sand could still catch him as he ran...
A pair of arms wrapping themselves around him and pulling him back against a certain blonde's chest cut off his thoughts, including the demonic whispers.
"Gaara, are you okay?" The voice was quiet, but the worry was obvious. The red-head wanted to cry from the relief he felt then. His friend wasn't afraid of him... He didn't hate him, either. He was worried about him! Gaara squirmed until he was able to turn around, and clung to his best friend, sobbing against his shoulder while soothing hands rubbed his back.
Therefore, this was the scene Iruka arrived to when he appeared only a few minutes later, both boys kneeling on the ground, the Kazekage's son's face buried against Naruto's shoulder, crying quietly while the young blonde rubbed his back gently. Raising an eyebrow, and noticing the two rocks laying nearby and the way the sand seemed to be ready to defend the red-head at any time helped him figure out what happened. Sighing at the thought of the boys having to suffer, he made his way over to them and sat on the swing.
"You know... You can only wait so long to eat ice cream before it melts." Two heads snapped up to look at him, and the pair of cones he held out to them. He had lied about needing to see a friend. He had seen how Naruto had looked longingly at the small pouch with the Konoha leaf symbol on it, and had gone to buy it, making sure to buy an extra to give to Gaara. From Naruto, of course.
Both boys ate their ice cream quietly, which was new for Naruto, but Iruka smiled at how the blonde treated his friend. He had gotten up, releasing Gaara gently, and got their ice creams from Iruka before carrying it back and sitting back down right next to the red-head, their knees touching, and handed it to him.
When it was gone, the sun had already started to lower. It would be sunset soon, and almost time for Gaara to go home. It was impossible to miss the way the boys were looking almost desperate to stay together, holding hands and looking up at Iruka with large, pleading eyes. Finally, he tossed his head back and laughed.
"Fine, fine. Come on, let's go ask the Hokage if Naruto can spend the night at the tower... I don't think the Hokage will mind, so long as there's no pranks being pulled while there..." He gave his young student a warning look, and he had the decency to at least act embarrassed.
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The Kazekage and Hokage came from the meeting room to a sight neither had expected to see. In the waiting room was a young man with brown hair and a scar across his nose, watching in amusement as a young blonde was trying to explain the concept of chakra to an attentive red-head.
"Iruka, Naruto. What are you doing here?" The Kazekage looked at his son, then at the people who were waiting with him. They were both very young, the eldest looking too young to be a jounin. Had his son's safety held that little of an importance to Sarutobi? The brunette bowed politely before smiling at the two Kage.
"Hokage-sama, Naruto and Gaara were hoping that he could spend the night here. They seem to get along very well, and I've found it impossible to separate the two. Naruto has even agreed to refrain from his usual tricks in order to gain your permission." Another glance in the younger boy's direction had the Kazekage focusing on the clasped hands between the two. He fought back a frown at the sight. He only accepted it by reminding himself that his son was still a child, and therefore he couldn't possibly harbor any feelings besides friendship for the Konoha boy.
"Naruto, is this true? You have agreed to cease your antics for a few days and give us all some peace, in return for staying here with your friend?" The blonde's head bobbed eagerly, and he tightened his hold on Gaara's hand, which was obviously returned. "Very well, then. Iruka, I request that you stay as well in order to keep an eye on them, and keep Naruto out of trouble." Another bow from the brunette, and the two Kage headed towards the Hokage's office.
"Sarutobi," the Kazekage began as soon as the door was shut. "You left my son in the hands of a child and a Chuunin?" A pair of old, but wise, eyes turned to him.
"Iruka is no mere Chuunin. He has the potential and ability to become a Jounin. However, he has chosen to remain at his current level, preferring to be a teacher to future shinobi. He also already protective of Naruto. Naruto, on the other hand, is an orphan. His mother died during childbirth, and his father died protecting the village from the nine-tailed fox demon. Even if the people won't respect him, those who know who his father was, respect the position he once held, and won't let him be killed. I cannot stop the bullying, but no one in this village would kill him. After all..." Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, lifted a picture from his desk and handed it to the other. "His father was none other than the Fourth Hokage himself."
---
The young boy who shared his father's blonde spiky hair and clear blue eyes bounced happily around the room. Gaara was smiling and holding the package in his hands, hoping that his friend liked his gift.
"Naruto?" The fox-carrier plopped on the bed next to his friend.
"Yeah?" He blinked when a package was hastily shoved into his hands.
"We couldn't find anything with pandas... but... um... I hope you like it, still..." Naruto grinned and handed him the package Iruka had slipped to him earlier.
Together, they opened their gifts, Gaara looking at the pouch and the symbol on it happily, and Naruto grinning ear to ear as he held up the goofy-looking sleeping cap and pulled it on.
A couple hours later, Iruka smiled as he tucked Naruto in, noticing the boy hadn't removed the cap yet. Gaara sat in the corner, watching with just a little bit of envy, as Iruka recited a story in order to help the blonde sleep. After the blue eyes were closed, and his breathing was even and deep, the red-head looked to Iruka.
"Does that happen in real life?" The Chuunin turned to look at Gaara.
"Does what happen?"
"Happy endings. Do they happen in real life?" Iruka looked down sadly.
"Not always. Or a story can have many endings, some of them happy, but some of them will still be sad. That's why I'm glad Naruto has such hope." He reached out and ruffled red hair, something Gaara had never experienced before.
More than ever, he wished he could live here in Konoha forever, with Iruka, and Naruto... and Yashamaru, of course.
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The next morning was sad, as the boys parted ways. Both cried, but refused to admit it. They clung to each other's hands until the Kazekage began to walk off. Then Gaara had to let go in order to head back to his home.
The entire way, though... he could feel that he had left a good portion of his heart back in Konoha... with a certain blonde who was now crying in his sensei's arms, as he was carried to Ichiraku.
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AW! You all know you'd have done it too! I'd have cried if I was them, too! Well, see you next time! I've already got the chapter thought up! Here's a hint! The Title's "Chibi Betrayal". Poor Chibi!