My Penpal the Kazekage

This chapter: Gaara comes to Konoha! How will Naruto react?

Chapter four – An Unexpected Arrival

Gaara was nervous standing in the Hokage's office. He had informed her he was arriving early for the Chuunin Exams and she had just sent for an escort for him.

He had no idea how to approach Naruto, or even how to start. If his assumption was right and his words had hurt Naruto, how did he breech the subject?

Gaara had no experience with this kind of thing, he was terrible at it being who he was, as Naruto should know.

His thoughts were cut short when the door opened.

Gaara turned and saw the very object of his thoughts. Naruto didn't even look at him. "You sent for me Hokage-sama?" he asked flatly. Gaara was shocked at the blonde's tone.

The Hokage sighed deeply and nodded. "The Kazekage has come for the Chuunin Exams, I'd like you to escort him to the Leaves in the Wind Hotel if you please," he said.

Naruto nodded and bowed deeply to Gaara. "Follow me Kazekage-sama," he said striding out of the room. Gaara had no choice but to hurry after him.

Gaara bit the inside of his lip nervously as they went through the village. Naruto was silent and withdrawn, almost like Gaara himself, and it made it harder for him to breech the subject of the letter.

"Naruto –"

"Yes Kazekage-sama?"

Gaara frowned. "Stop calling me that, I told you I am just Gaara to you," he half-snapped.

"Forgive me Kazekage-sama, but I was under the impression that all your subordinates were to address you accordingly," Naruto said flatly.

"You are not a subordinate Naruto," Gaara said.

"I am not a Kage, only a Chuunin, therefore I am Kazekage-sama," Naruto retorted.

"Oh for Heaven's sake Naruto!" Gaara stopped walking and Naruto was forced to halt and turn to him. "Stop doing this!" Gaara ordered.

"Whatever you wish Kazekage –"

"Shut up! Just shut up and listen to me for once if you pathetic life, listen to someone!" Gaara cut in.

Naruto's face was blank, then it contorted and he snorted in contempt. "Whatever Gaara. You're on your own," with that he vanished in a swirl of leaves.

Gaara slammed his head against a wall roughly, the sand preventing it from actually hitting.

"I am not off to a good start," he muttered.

He went off to find him. As he expected, he found Naruto perched atop the Hokage Monument.

Taking a deep breath, Gaara composed himself and stepped forward.

"Go away Gaara." Naruto said flatly. "Go treat someone else like a jinchuriki,"

Gaara was stunned. That's what he thought he was doing?

"Naruto…" he knelt down beside the angry blonde, he was going to place a hand on his shoulder when Naruto abruptly batted it away.

"Don't touch me!" he snapped. "Don't touch me, just leave am alone if I'm so pathetic,"

Gaara looked down guiltily. "I'm sorry I called you that Naruto," he said.

"No you're not." Naruto retorted.

"Naruto!" Gaara pinned the blonde's wrists to the ground so he was flat on his back, Gaara hovering over him.

Naruto's face was full of rage as he glared up at Gaara, his hands in fists and murder in his eyes.

"That was not my intention," Gaara said feeling that hate-filled expression killing him inside.

"You practically told me I can't have insecurities because I'm Naruto, do you know how that feels to have someone tell them what they can and can't feel, you are treatin me like a damn jinchuriki, don't feel so high and mighty just because your demon is gone now!" Naruto raged.

"I didn't meant it that way!" Gaara cried. He squeezed his eyes closed, blinking back tears, something he hadn't done since he was seven. He didn't want Naruto to hate him. He didn't want to fight anymore.

Evidently he failed, and his tears leaked out, dropping onto Naruto's face, which turned from angry to stunned.

"Gaara…"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry Naruto I'm sorry, I never meant to upset you, I didn't want to hurt you, you're the last person in the world I'd want to hurt! You know I'm terrible at this, I didn't mean to treat you like a jinchuriki, I'm so sorry!" he let go of Naruto's wrists and bowed his head in Naruto's jacket, soaking it with tears.

"Please don't hate, I couldn't stand it if you hated me, please don't hate me Naruto," he sobbed.

"Gaara…Gaara let me up," Naruto said.

Gaara let go of him and sat up, looking away with his eyes squeezed closed. Naruto hugged him and he froze.

"I'm sorry Gaara, I've been an idiot. I'm sorry I made you cry Gaara," Naruto wiped away the tear tracks from Gaara's cheeks and Gaara felt his face heat up.

"Can you forgive me?" Naruto asked.

Gaara shook his head. "I wasn't ever mad at you Naruto, there's nothing to forgive," he said.

"Oh Gaara," Naruto chuckled nervously. "Here I am being such a jerk and making you upset and you tell me there's nothing to forgive. I really am pathetic,"

"No you're not," Gaara argued. "You're amazing. And incredible, you can make it through anything, I truly believe that."

Naruto blushed. "I don't deserve you as a friend," he said.

"No." Gaara greed with a small smile. Naruto looked at him in surprise, but Gaara wasn't done.

"You deserve me as much more than that," Gaara kissed him before Naruto could protest, but Naruto didn't mean.

He chuckled into the kiss and held Gaara close to him. Gaara pulled back and rested his head on Naruto's shoulder.

"I thank whatever force made you Sabaku no Gaara," Naruto said.

Gaara smiled. "And I thank the day I met you Naruto."

Naruto chuckled and kissed his redhead.

I'd like to say they lived happily ever after, but if I did, then there'd be no more fanfiction :(

So I'm just going to leave it at THE END! SEE YOU NEXT TIME!