The funeral was a mixture of celebration and sorrow. In his last few moments Sasuke had foughten aside The Leaf once again. He would die as the hero who helped destroy key members of Akatsuki. The few who had survived was off licking their wounds. Orochimaru was dead. The Grass had already offered sanctuary for any members of the Sound left. But they knew better than to plan an attack. The Leaf was once again in power.

Naruto sat in his wheel chair on the front row. He could already feel the hatred filled stares that surrounded him. He kept his head bows and his eyes on the ground. He didn't care about that though. If they wanted him dead, they could have it. He glanced to his side as Sakura stood sobbing still. He knew he had lost. He was never even in the running. There was only one guy that existed to Sakura: Sasuke Uchiha. Naruto was nothing more than that little annoying punk that had always begged her for a date. He remembered the night Sasuke left. He had been the one to take Sakura out. That was the night he found out about the cursed seal. He almost blamed himself for that as well. He had not been there when Orochimaru had originally attack. He couldn't keep this from happening.

He looked to his other side and saw his team leader Kakashi Hatake. Kakashi snuck and glance at him before placing his hand on Naruto's shoulder. It may have been a simple sign of comfort, but to Naruto it took a world of pressure away. Kakashi understood what it was like to lose a team mate. He knew what it was like to try his best only to fall flat on his face. That day had changed Kakashi forever. This one would change Naruto.

The funeral finally ended and the crowd started to disperse. Naruto began to roll away when he was rudely bumped by a local villager.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." The villager turned to help Naruto until he realized who it was. "You little vermin. I take back my apology. What the hell are you doing here anyway? Haven't you caused this village enough pain already?"

Naruto kept his head bowed, "Sorry. I didn't mean to bump you."

"That's right you're sorry. I should save this village a lot of heart ache and kill you myself right now. But you're so pathetic that you can't even die. You just have a Shinobi with an actual future die in your place." The village then spit on Naruto.

Naruto winced when he felt it hit his cheek, "Sorry."

The villager soon drew a crowd as they started to pick up rocks and throw them at the wounded youth. Sakura looked up to see what was happening and rushed to her team mate's aid. "Stop it you jerks! Naruto did what he had to do to protect The Leaf!"

"That thing doesn't know anything about protecting anything!" yelled the villager. A new barrage of Stone started this time for both Naruto and Sakura. Right before it hit them and wall of sand blocked their paths.

The villagers froze in place and saw a red haired youth calmly walk towards them. They knew the new participant. The sand shinobi with "love" tattooed on his forehead. Gaara stared at the group, "Only weaklings would attack someone unable to protect themselves. Perhaps you would rather direct your abuse towards me."

The villagers visibly shook as they dropped their stone and then tripped over each other as they ran away. Sakura bowed, "Thank you Kazakage-sama."

Gaara looked at her and scowled slightly, "I didn't do that to save you." He then looked at Naruto, "I could not allow such a powerful shinobi fall in a moment of weakness." He then looked behind him, "Kankuro."

The sand shinobi made his presence known, "Yes brother?"

Gaara then started walking down the street, "We shall accompany Uzumaki to his living quarters. Informer Temari to meet us at the Hokage's office when she is finished speaking with the mumbler."

Kankuro nodded, "Sure thing bro." He then went to deliver the message before coming back.

Gaara then looked at Sakura, "Do you know the way?"

Sakura paused for a second before realizing she was being spoken to. "Umm, yes Kazakage-sama."

Gaara narrowed his eyes, "Then show me the way."

Sakura bowed, "Yes." She then started to walk towards Naruto's apartment with Gaara at her side and Kankuro pushing Naruto's chair.

Kankuro chuckled slightly.

Naruto tilted his head back to look, "What?"

Kankuro smiled as he continued to push, "This is about as 'friendly' as I have ever seen him."

Naruto bowed his head, "I don't know why. I doubt deserve friendship right now."

Kankuro shook his head, "This thing really broke you kid. Death is part of what we do. You will learn that."

Sakura glanced back at the two. She couldn't hide her worry for Naruto. She slowly turned the corner as Naruto's building came back into sight. She gasped at what she saw. Gaara's eyes lit up with a rage he had not felt for many years.

Naruto's building was covered with graffiti: Go away Demon! You're not welcome here! Stay and we kill you! Kyuubi die!

Naruto kept his gaze on the ground.

"N-Naruto?"

Naruto looked up to see Sakura focusing on one word: Kyuubi. At that moment he would have given anything to be able to switch places with Sasuke.