The morning classes were boring as usual for Naruto, and he missed everything Iruka said. But he couldn't block out what the other kids were saying.

"I heard that guy with the weird spandex got attacked." "By who?" "They say the mutant third kid of the Kazekage." "No way!" "Yeah. Chopped off his hair like it was nothing. Cut his ear off. Gave him a horrible haircut."

Naruto didn't dare say anything. Kids would be kids, and gossip was to be expected. And what was he going to say, anyway? That it wasn't true, when technically it was? Gaara had cut Guy's hair, cut his ear. Only he wasn't a mutant and he hadn't attacked Guy.

Like it made any difference to these idiots.

The only other gossip racing around the lunch table that day was that Sasuke and Naruto were actually kind of friends now. Only, Naruto didn't hear them speak about it because he was at a different table, alone with Sasuke.

"Sasuke," he said between munches of his thermos-heated ramen, "If everyone likes you, why aren't you friends with anyone?"

"I hate people," Sasuke answered darkly.

"Then why me?"

"You're an idiot. You don't count."

Naruto didn't know what to say to that, so he stuck out his tongue.

"Hey, Sasuke?" he asked.

"Yeah?"

"What's gonna happen when Gaara leaves? We might never see him again."

Sasuke was silent. Honestly, he had no idea.

Suddenly, there was a scuffle at another table, and loud noises erupted.

"You're a liar! You didn't see no Kazekage kid!"

"I so did! He was gigantic and had snakes crawling out his butt and ears!"

"Yeah, right!"

Idiots. That's Orochimaru, not Gaara.

Who?

Eh, no one, Sasuke.

Naruto grunted angrily. "How could they say that about Gaara?" he muttered furiously. "That's not him at all."

"They're idiots," Sasuke said, trying to calm him down. "There's nothing we can—"

"I'll teach them a lesson!"

Half an hour later, Naruto and Sasuke were in the principal's office, with Naruto sobbing over a gash in his hand.

"You big baby," Sasuke muttered, staring at the blood trickling out.

Naruto sniffled and try to shut himself up, but failed.

"Come here, Naruto," said a kind voice, that of the school nurse, from her office just outside the principal's.

Naruto stumbled out of the room, leaving Sasuke alone to wait for the principal.

You care about him.

I do not!

You do so. Kill him. Caring for people is a weakness.

It is not!

Yeah, it is, trust me.

Just then, the door creaked open, and in came not just the principal, Ms. Bittcheebott (Most kids called her "Ms. Bitchy Butt") but the Hokage and the Kazekage.

Sasuke gulped. Shit.

"Ah, Sasuke," said the Third, smiling. "Have you been in trouble?"

"The other kids started it," Sasuke stammered. "And Naruto, too!"

"You're going to tattle on your friend?" said the Kazekage, a young, brown-haired fellow with a sneer permanently imprinted on his face. "What a coward."

Sasuke found himself seething with rage. This was Gaara's father. The one who commanded him to stay locked up all the time. And he was going to shoot insults at him?

"You," Sasuke muttered darkly, narrowing his eyes with rage.

"What?" The Fourth asked nonchalantly.

"Gaara's my friend," Sasuke burst, unable to hold himself back.

To his surprise, the Kazekage wasn't the least bit shocked. "So, you were the ones he was sneaking out to see? I thought he just went out to remind himself that he was alive."

Sasuke didn't understand, but he didn't care. "Gaara hates you!" Gaara had never said so, but it seemed obvious.

The Third didn't know what to do. The Kazekage told him, "Sarutobi, why don't you and Ms. Bittcheebot leave us in peace? I have something to tell the boy. And, also, bring that Naruto kid in. I think he should hear this too."

At that, the Third sighed and left with the irritated Bitchy Butt and after a moment the sniffling Naruto returned, hand bandaged nicely.

He sat beside Sasuke, and the Fourth sat behind a big mahogany desk. "Did Gaara ever tell you," he said after a moment, "How he was born?"

"His mother died at childbirth, right?" Sasuke answered. Naruto had forgotten, of course.

"Yes. Because he is a monster," the man growled. Sasuke and Naruto cringed, and a low heat erupted in Naruto's stomach that could be nothing but pure rage smoldering.

"Grr," he started to mutter.

"I don't understand," Sasuke said, gripping Naruto's arm, which sent blood to his hand, making it pulse with pain, which in turn made Naruto yelp, and was silenced.

"When Gaara was born, my village decided he would be made into our ultimate weapon." The Kazekage smirked. "It was such great plan. We had an ancient priest locked within a teakettle, and its power, imbued within a human child, would be unstoppable."

Well, that's not odd or creepy or anything.

If you think that's bad, you should see Zetsu.

Naruto gasped, his mouth making a wide O shape. The Kazekage continued. "So that's what we did. While Gaara was still in the womb, we implanted within him this monster. The one-tailed Shukaku demon. It allows Gaara to control sand any way he likes. That's what he carries within his gourd."

"And Gaara," Sasuke said quietly, "is now your ultimate weapon?"

"Well," the Kazekage said darkly, "He would be. If he could just control himself. But this power is too much for the poor boy. Even now, when the moon is full, he tends to lose control…and the demon emerges…"

It was obvious to Sasuke what he meant to do. Scare them off, to never talk to Gaara again. But why? Did he want them to stay away from him, to keep them safe? Because he didn't want to grant Gaara happiness?

What a monster! Itachi growled within Sasuke's head.

You're one to talk.

"Why can't Gaara sleep?" Naruto asked suddenly.

"Well, that's just it," the Kazekage said. "If he does, the monster will fully awaken, at eat at his personality until whoever Gaara might have been…" he paused. "Disappears."

"You bastard!" Naruto cried, jumping from his seat and springing himself at the man. Of course, he had been ready. He was a Kage, after all. Naruto's fist flew into his ready palm and he was sent flying across the room when the Kage pushed forward.

Naruto landed with a dull thud against the back wall, coughing horribly. Sasuke jumped up and was at his side, clutching his arm helplessly.

The Fourth stood. "That's the story of Gaara. He is a monster. If you value your life, you'll stay away from him."

He left, and the Hokage returned.

"You'll spend the rest of the day," he said solemnly, "In in-school suspension. We're not sure who the other kids were that you fought with, so you'll be the only ones to receive punishment."

The world is such a fair place, ain't it, Sasuke?

Why won't you just leave me alone?

You're too much fun. Now, I can't talk right now, because me and Itachi are gonna play pin the mask on the Madara.

Well, excuse me, Sasuke thought as he and Naruto were escorted to a small room, alone, to spend their time. No one was appointed to look after them yet, so they had a good twenty minutes before anyone would be sent to watch them.

Sasuke helped Naruto to a seat, since he was still coughing horribly, and let himself fall heavily into his own.

"Damn," Sasuke said quietly. "Who would of thought that that was what made Gaara different?"

"Poor guy," Naruto said, finally ending his coughing fit.

"Naruto, maybe this is a sign," Sasuke said thoughtfully.

"What? That bastards could do this sort of thing to their own children in this world?"

"No. Maybe…maybe we should stop hanging out with Gaara."

Naruto looked up, astonished. "What are you talking about? Gaara is our friend. I can't believe you'd say something like that."

"But it's possible—"

"Gaara won't hurt us," Naruto said firmly. "He's our friend. Sasuke, you think you're the first to think this about Gaara? Did you see him? He hasn't had a friend or someone who loved him his entire life. All because of his bastard father. We need to be there for him."

Sasuke realized he finally understood. Being alone was one of the hardest things that could ever happen to a person. It was a horrible place, being in the core of isolation, especially if it's because of something you couldn't control. Itachi was the one who'd taught him this pain.

Hey, it made you smarter, Itachi griped.

It made me mentally scarred and a revenge-crazed lunatic.

Hey, at least you admitted it.

Aha! I got the mask on him! I did it!

"Alright," Sasuke agreed. "You're right. We need to be his friend. He's a good kid."

Just then, a knock was heard at the window. They both turned to see Gaara's face peering in through the open window. "Let's get outta here," he said.

"Ha! Yeah!" Naruto agreed.

Maybe this isn't such a bad idea, thought Sasuke. Maybe we can be friends. Maybe I'll learn something new. Who knows?

I know!

No, you don't, Jeffrey.

I do so! I have connections with the writer.

Oh, really?

Yeah. She says that Jeffrey is the most awesome, coolest character in this whole story.

And she said I was the hottest person in all the world.

I feel unloved.

-

Heh. Itachi is the hottest person in all of the Naruto world, that is for sure, Kakashi being a close second. But Jeffrey isn't my favorite character in my story. It's Sasuke and Naruto.

Hah! Wait, Naruto too?

And Gaara, too, a bit. Gaara is actually one of my favorite characters and Sasuke my least, but in this story, it's switched.

See you!