A month passed since their last visit. Word was sent to the sand that Gaara was safe but would not return until it was safe. Not until the exams. It would be a few years until then but Naruto knew it would be a good idea for now. He would join the school but he would be trained along side with Naruto. Currently Naruto was running (fast I might add) to their next target. One of his clones had found Uchiha Madara and Naruto had to talk to him. He needed to get to him before he made any further plans. But that meant he would face the organization that would be hunting the beast in later years. It couldn't wait.

"Gaara block them now!"

Naruto shouted as he jumped into the air letting out a few of his shurkiens to pin their coats. Kakashi ready to fight them with his chidori and Obito's eye. Jiriya ready with his hand out and ready to summon his toad and Shikaku ready to side step their next moves if any made. Panting Naruto moved forward pulling off his mask and looked to the one with the orange mask. "I know who you are." He simply stated before he jumped back quickly avoiding the attack he was given. Gaara closed his sand around them quickly but Naruto stopped him quickly.

"You want peace Uchiha. So do I." The blond shouted quickly and that caught the attention of them all. The orange mask was taken off and Madara showed his face.

"You're a child. What mind do you have to say you know what true peace is?" He questioned eyeing the blond boy. Naruto let out a small laugh. He would always get questioned for his knowledge. He wished he didn't know it...but he did.

"Let me ask this instead to you. Would you continue your plans now, if you knew that you were the sole reason for starting a war? The fourth great shinobi war?" Naruto questioned his head tilted up as he searched the red eyes of the eldest Uchiha. A flash of panic came to his eyes and Naruto dropped his head a small sad grin spreading to his lips.

"I come from that time. I was older...and I know." He paused glancing around.

"Gaara close the sand around us now." Gaara hesitated but nodded. Soon Naruto was alone with the Uchiha. Naruto couldn't let them hear him. If they found out they would use him for something much worse.

"Speak now." Madara had his eyes narrowed and Naruto held his hand out.

"I'm going to show you what you truly caused. You will feel what I feel." He stepped closer to him and his hand began to glow. Madara held his own hand out and much like Itachi once the link was open his eyes were wide. Memories of the war. Naruto feeling so hopeless and watching the massacre go on for weeks, months and just wishing it would end it all. Emotions rushed to Madara as he witnessed his doing. Naruto couldn't hold on any longer his hand dropped and he was panting heavily.

"Damn my body..." He cursed again as tears welled into his eyes.

"I'm more emotional then I was then...but you see the world. You saw everything. Your goal of peace...it never came. Only destruction and we all suffered. Not just me." Naruto's vision was blurring now as he lost his balance. Madara quickly caught the blond child holding up carefully. The sand dropped and Gaara saw his friend in his arms. His eyes flashed but didn't move.

"Put him down!" Gaara shouted. Madara turned looking at the red head before a flash of the red head fighting against another trying to protect his village his people, his loved ones. He felt his eyes burn with something he hadn't done in a long time. He looked down to Naruto before walking to Kakashi who was now relaxed and handed him Naruto carefully. He slipped on his mask and looked up to the sky. He had been so angry when he found Itachi hadn't gone through with killing the clan but seeing it was Naruto who killed the responsible...he had to help. He needed to know how to achieve peace. He looked down once more back to Naruto then back to the members who were waiting for him.

"We...we have not done any good. We need to go to the other two." Well technically 7.

"We need to talk to Konan and Pain." He stated before looking back to Kakashi who now sported Gaara on his back.

"We will be going to the leaf village. In a week's time." He stated before they left. The three couldn't do anything but let them leave. Jiriya looked almost...like he seen a ghost hearing one of the names. He looked down to Naruto questioning himself and him now. But he knew what ever was happening...it had to be only for the best. He hoped.

It was a few hours before Naruto woke up. Gaara hugged him quickly and Naruto could only return the hug.

"What happened in there Naru?" Gaara asked wanting to know but Naruto shook his head.

"Don't worry about it. We are done for now. We can return to the village." But he wasn't done. The missions outside the village was. Shikaku could tell something more was going on in the blonds head from his body language but said nothing.

"Will I get to live with you Naru?" Gaara asked tilting his head. Naruto gave a sheepish grin.

"Of course!" Gaara smiled happily before helping Naruto stand up.

When they got back to the village Naruto headed to the hokage towers. He had wanted to go after his baba, the next hokage, but he knew it was too early. He had to let some events happen before he could truly change history. He had Kakashi take Gaara to his apartment so he could rest. Of course there was protest but Naruto sent along one of his clones. When he got there he was escorted to his office.

"Hey old man." He greeted with a small grin.

"Naruto it's good to see you back." Naruto glanced out the window (a bad habit he picked up from Shikamaru) before he began to fill in the months he was gone with his team. Once he was done the hokage nodded slowly.

"I still need to go to Root." He couldn't if he wanted too. He couldn't forget about Danzou. The damned traitor.

"Will you kill him Naruto?" Asked the hokage.

"I have too. I know what those root children are going through...and it's inhumane. Once they are freed I would send a trusted ANBU to retrain them. Before it's too late." He yawned softly knowing he was to tried to continue.

"I'm going home now. All we have left to do is wait...it will be quiet for a few years but never let your guard down old man." Naruto left the office and the towers heading back to his apartment where he found Garaa curled up on his bed. Naruto smiled lightly before he saw his whole place clean. He shook his head before taking his shoes off and crawled into bed. Soon Gaara attached himself next to him.

This was how they lived. Naruto was given a new apartment a little bigger for two people. Gaara got his own room but often he would sleep with Naruto when he felt scared. Naruto trained with Gaara day in and day out. They had to get stronger. Gaara never complained. He learned to control his demon and get along with him. He learned to control his sand as well thanks to the blond boy. Naruto at times was a little harsh on Gaara but Naruto knew it was for the best. People would wonder why two young boys were training so much like that. A few complained that the "Demon was starting a revolt" but the hokage had them silenced. Anything concerning Naruto had been more strict then before.

Naruto ignored their glares, their whispers. He was still trying to get Gaara to do the same but the red head would get so angry that Naruto had to physically restrain him from harming the villagers.

Then when it came to the academy people wanted to know who Gaara was and Naruto couldn't help but tease him lightly. The first day the girls had thought Gaara was so cute and tried to hug him and they learned never to scare the poor panda to death. Naruto had watched from the sidelines knowing that Gaara had a chance to make friends. But when Naruto had started to sit away from him Gaara had gotten up and followed him. The girls were a little angry at Naruto but then Sasuke walked in and that changed rather fast. Gaara was more than happy but didn't show it. Naruto just looked almost sadly at Sasuke. Memories of them coming back up.

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. Naruto had killed Danzou and now Root was being re trained. He was still working of course with plans for the future. When it came to simple tests in school he had to purposely fail them. He knew Iruka hated him still and he had to go through with stealing the scroll that Mizuki would so gladly tip off was to learn a quick passing jutsu.

But it still hurt to see Iruka treat him so coldly but he wasn't his teacher yet.

Pretty, pretty please…don't hate me anymore Iruka. Even though I know you won't it still hurts when you look at like that…you're my only dad and it hurts.

Short chapter I know. Not a good one either. Sorry!