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Ch. 5 Chibi Betrayals
The farther from Konoha they got, the quieter Gaara became. At first, he had tried speaking to his father, merely out of a habit he had developed around Naruto and Iruka. They would always listen to him and smile, no matter how stupid his thoughts were. His father ignored him, and even when he did glance down at him, it was a cold glare that conveyed only one message: Be quiet.
He never thought he'd be so happy to see his village again. As soon as he entered the borders, he began to look for Yashamaru. The young man was found in his room, polishing weapons that Naruto had called 'kunai'. Tilting his head, Gaara realized this meant his uncle was a ninja!
"You're a ninja?" Yashamaru's head snapped up, and he dropped his weapon for a second before catching it mid-air, and putting it back in its pouch.
"Welcome home, Gaara-sama. Yes, I am a shinobi. How did you know?" He smiled, but it seemed off, to Gaara. Like the smile didn't reach his eyes. He liked Iruka's smile better... Shaking his head, he answered the question.
"Naruto said ninja carry weapons called shuriken and kunai... and that looked like the kunai Iruka showed me..." Yashamaru kneeled by Gaara, reaching out to touch the pouch Gaara wore, the one Naruto had given him.
"Are these people from Konoha?" Gaara's face lit up and he smiled, nodding happily and clutching the teddy bear he had finally been able to carry around again.
"Yes! Naruto's my age, and he's really fun! He's just like me!" Gaara smiled brightly.
"Like you? How, Gaara-sama?" He stopped and blinked. He wanted to tell Yashamaru about the demon inside both of them, but he didn't think Yashamaru knew. And he didn't want to lose his only friend in the village. Besides, Iruka might be upset if he told someone about Naruto, and Naruto might be hurt.
"The other villagers don't like him much, either. He's an orphan and likes to play pranks, but he's very nice! And he didn't do anything bad while I was there!" His uncle obviously accepted his answer, smiling and nodding. "Um... Yashamaru?"
"Yes, Gaara-sama?" The red-head swallowed.
"Do you think... If I trained really hard, like Naruto... Could I become a shinobi? And maybe even the Kazekage, like father?" His uncle seemed shocked, but smiled at him as though he had been expecting this question for a while.
"Ah! I think that's very possible. Finally ready to grow up and help protect the village like the rest of us, hm?" Gaara looked down at his feet, blushing a little, and shook his head. Since he wasn't looking, he didn't see the look of shock and fear, mixed with some anger, cross his beloved uncle's face. By the time he did look up, it was gone.
"It's just... Naruto's training to become Hokage. And he said if I became the Kazekage, he and I could visit each other all the time. And that the villagers would have to be nice to me... and I could go to Konoha by myself whenever I wanted to visit Naruto and Iruka..." Yashamaru's voice, a little quieter than usual, interrupted his ramblings.
"I'm sure if you trained hard, Gaara-sama, you could easily become the Kazekage... Now, it's time for dinner."
Gaara happily followed his beloved uncle out of the room, hugging his teddy bear tightly and thinking of his blonde friend.
---
Dinner was, as usual, quiet and cold. The food was delicious, of course. Nothing less than the best for the Kazekage and his family. But no one really spoke, unless it was the two older men, telling the children to sit up straight, don't play with your food, and such things. Gaara's sister was always done eating first, since she ate less than her brothers, and would usually grow bored. Eventually she started bringing a small fan to the table and playing with it while she waited for everyone to finish. His brother soon began bringing a small puppet that he would play with. Gaara, however, merely played with his sand. He smiled softly to himself as he manipulated it to form two small statues in his hands. One of Iruka, and one of Naruto. He wondered what they were doing now, and if they missed him.
His siblings seemed to notice what he was doing, and he ended up with a puppet coming over to look into his hands. Gaara looked at it, shocked, before it scurried back to its owner. Smiling, thinking his siblings were finally warming up to him, Gaara placed the small figures on the table, pulling more sand into them so they grew to become about twice their original size. Of course, this got his father and Yashamaru's attention as well. He was too busy whispering about them to his brother and sister to notice the glare sent in the direction of his Naruto figure, nor of the quiet statement Yashamaru made into his father's ear.
"I believe I have something to tell you, Kazekage-sama."
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"He said WHAT!" The Kazekage was furious. According to what he had just heard, his son, HIS experiment had decided it would rather go play in Konoha with some brat, former Hokage's son or not, instead of protect the village! The whole reason he had put that monster into his son was to create the ultimate weapon! If he refused to protect the village, then his experiment was useless! Failed! And it was all that brats fault! That Naruto boy! Because he knew now what had happened. Yes, they were just children, yes, Gaara had no experience, and probably neither did the other boy. But it was obvious. They were practically in love with each other! No one obsessed as much as Gaara did over some friend! And he would willingly go through all the pains of becoming a shinobi, let alone the Kazekage, for something as simple as friendship! That boy had somehow seduced his son and made him soft! Weak! And that was NOT to be allowed!
"Yes, Kazekage-sama. It seems the only thing he wants to protect is Naruto. And himself, of course." Yashamaru spat. "Though this Iruka seems to be pretty high up on his list of people he likes."
"He shouldn't HAVE a list!" The Kazekage roared. "He was supposed to be cold, hard, the perfect shinobi! No emotions other than hatred, determination, and unwavering loyalty to OUR village!" Yashamaru bowed.
"I have no doubt, my lord, that if we ever had to battle Konoha, your son would join the ranks of his friends. He could destroy our village to keep this Naruto safe." Cold eyes pierced through Yashamaru.
"That failed creation is NOT my son. He is the monster who killed your sister." At this statement, Yashamaru's blood began rushing through his veins, his rage at losing his sister due to that... freak... causing him to see red.
"Kazekage-sama. Does this mean you no longer have hope for Gaara?"
"Of course not! He is weak! He must not be allowed to become an adult! Or else he'll turn the demon against us!" Yashamaru's hand began to inch towards his kunai pouch.
"Then I may...?" The Kazekage turned his back to his brother-in-law, waving his hand dismissively.
"He's no longer my son. I don't care what you do with him."
With a bow, Yashamaru left the room, lifting a kunai into each hand and smiling cruelly into the darkness, knowing just where to find the monster at this time of night. That brat always sat on the roof. As he faded into the shadows, ready to stalk his prey, only a soft-spoken whisper could be heard.
"Finally..."
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Gaara sat on the ledge of the roof, sobbing as he looked in the direction he had come from earlier. Towards Konoha. He missed Iruka and Naruto. Mostly Naruto. He missed holding the boy's hand, seeing him smile, hearing his laugh, even smelling the scent of ramen that clung to him after eating at Ichiraku. His fingers ghosted over the pouch that Naruto had given him, and he broke down again, clutching tightly to his bear. It was only the sound of the sand shifting and the soft 'thunk' of something impacting it that he realized he wasn't alone.
When he turned, there was a man wearing a mask glaring at him with such hatred and disgust that Gaara wanted to call out to Yashamaru for help. But his fear was getting to him. His knees shook, and the only thought running through his head was of Naruto. Then the memory hit him. Immediately, he tried to focus on the anger.
If this man killed him, he would never see Naruto again!
The sand wrapped around the man's ankles and made its way up.
He was trying to take away his chance of ever seeing Naruto again!
The sand engulfed all but the man's head.
No one would take his hope from him!
A small hand reached out and began to lift, the sand rising with it.
No one would keep him from seeing Naruto again!
Gaara, his face darkened in rage, clenched his fist.
Blood was spilled. Bones were broken. The sand moved away to reveal a man laying on the ground, moaning quietly in pain as he tried to breathe. Curiosity hit Gaara hard. That moan... it sounded like the voice was familiar... The boy made his way to the man, and, shivering, reached out to pull away the mask. What he saw made him collapse to his knees.
"Yashamaru!"
---
Gaara's eyes opened. He had been meditating again. He still never slept. His fingers reached up to trace the tattoo on his forehead. 'Ai. Love. Because as my uncle told me the night he died... the night I killed him... no one will ever love me. And so I love no one but myself.'
A frown marred his usually emotionless face. He was a teenager now. He had decided to finally delve into his memories, to try and find out why the thought of the blonde boy called Naruto had stirred up feelings he had long destroyed inside himself.
He was the Kazekage now. The war with Konoha had been over for a long time, and Naruto still acted like his friend. His father was dead, and the demon had become quieter. Of course, after getting its giant self beaten so badly by a nine-tailed fox, the most powerful of the nine demons, it was no surprise that the monster was subdued.
Ever since the day he had heard he was going to Konoha for the chuunin exam he had been oddly excited. He would never admit or show it, of course. And he didn't know why he had been looking forward to it. He had assumed it was the idea of becoming a Chuunin after so long. He had studied and trained hard, in order to protect himself and become Kazekage. Though... After events that had happened in his childhood, he had forgotten why. He had developed a tendency to block out his childhood memories. They were too painful.
His hand moved down to brush against the pouch sitting in front of him. It was too small for him to wear it now, but he didn't have it out for that reason. He had sent a letter to Tsunade, the current Hokage, requesting she send Naruto to him to help escort him to Konoha for a meeting to discuss trade negotiations. After all, the war was over, and trade between the villages would start up again. He smiled slightly as his fingertips moved over the Konoha symbol on the pouch. He dearly hoped Naruto would remember him.
He had waited years for this day. He had just forgotten that this was what he was waiting for.
He sat in his chair and waited for Naruto.
For the one he loved.
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Yay! Shonen-ai begins! I wonder if Naruto'll remember?