Chapter Text
A friend? He had never had one before. This had to be the greatest day of his entire life!(Which was five years, but who's counting?) But he was afraid he would mess it up, like always, so he would have to be very careful.
His new friend--'Naruto' He corrected himself, it was just the fact that 'friend' was a word he had longed to use it to refer to someone for so long, sort of like a title really, like 'king' or 'prince', his new friend had given him that same title, it only felt fair to do the same.
He liked his name though. 'Naruto' it sounded like...like....like hope. Like he wasn't alone. And that was something he had only ever dreamed of.
"Aren't they cool, Gaara?" Naruto leaned forward eagerly from where he sat on the floor. The people he had come with had just beaten the assassins. Which was another surprise, he might add, since no one had ever helped him before.
He nodded wordlessly in response. He really did think they were cool. And the fact that Naruto found them cool made them the coolest in the world! After Naruto himself, of course.
"Naruto, did you tell him?" The one with violet hair came over to them and put her hands on her hips.
"Mm..." He tilted his head in thought as he crossed his arms, "I forgot what it was..." He scratched his head sheepishly with a nervous smile.
She sighed as the silver haired one came over, "That's alright Naruto-kun. Gaara-kun," He turned to him, "What Naruto here was going to tell you was that we'd like you to come with us. We don't live in the nicest of places--"
"Yeah it's a dark, cold, wet cave." Naruto added.
"--But you wouldn't have to be alone anymore. We would take care of you and no one would try to hurt you."
"Yeah! They're like a family!" Naruto grinned, throwing his arm over his shoulders, "And we can be best friends and play games!"
A small smile pulled at his lips. It was like all his dreams were coming true in one night.
"Oh! And we can eat ramen together!"
"Wh-what's ramen?" Curiosity gleamed in his eyes as he looked over at his new friend.
Naruto gasped in horror, "YOU DON'T WHAT RAMEN IS?!" He overlooked the fact that he had just learned what it was himself.
Gaara shook his head, "S-sorry...is that bad?" He lowered his gaze.
"Ramen is only the most amazing food ever!" He overlooked the fact that he hadn't tried a very large variety of foods. "You have to try it!"
"O-okay..." He spoke slowly. He didn't want to say anything wrong. He really wanted to try this ramen thing, but he didn't want to seem too eager.
"Alright, now will you come with us, Gaara-kun?" The silver haired man crouched down to his level.
They were kind to him. They didn't look down on him, they didn't sneer, they didn't run. They even protected him.
And Naruto...Naruto was his first ever friend. And he said that if he came with them, he'd be his best friend. It was the most amazing thing he'd ever heard! He had never even dreamed of having such an honor! And if...if he didn't go, they'd take Naruto with them. And he'd probably never see him again. And he couldn't give up his first and only friend.
"Please?" Naruto begged desperately.
That sealed the deal.
He smiled brightly, "Mhmm..." He nodded.
Naruto pumped his fists into the air as he cheered, "Yahoo!"
The silver haired man ruffled his hair with a grin and Gaara found that he couldn't stop smiling, which was a feeling entirely alien to him.
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"Another cutie~!" Ino cooed as she clasped her hands together with shining eyes.
Gaara blushed, he had never been called that before.
"She's kinda scary but she can be nice too." Naruto whispered and Gaara nodded.
They had been able to get out of the village with little difficulty. Deidara had made sure no one followed them. Of course, they weren't back at the cave yet, they still had about a day's journey back. They had just met up and set up camp.
"N-nice to meet you, G-Gaara-kun." Hinata smiled, reaching out a hand.
Gaara frowned skeptically. No one shook his hand, ever. And he was sure it was illegal with how often people avoided even touching him.
But then again...these people were different. Weird and different. Actually, they were probably insane. But that was okay. He really really liked them.
"Nice to meet you too..." He reached his own small hand to brush against hers. Her hand was soft and warm, and the sand didn't lash out the touch. He smiled brightly at that and she returned it.
"I feel like we've been reduced to kidnappers now." Hidan groaned and Anko shrugged, "Pretty much."
"Once we get back, we can play tag!" Naruto grinned and Gaara's eyes widened, he had never heard of that before but he understood that Naruto wanted to play with him. He had always wanted someone to play with...
"What's that...?"
"I don't really know! I've never played it before, but I'm sure we can figure it out! And oh! Maybe they can play too!" Naruto turned to look at the adults gathered around the fire.
"There's so many of them..." Gaara's whisper was one of wonder and pure bliss.
"I know right? And there's more! Well...one more, but he's back at the cave and he has these giant spikes in his back! Oh! And he has really, really weird eyes."
"Really?"
"Yeah! And they're all super strong!"
"Are you strong, Naruto-san?"
"Yup! Are you?"
"I-I don't think so?"
"I bet you are! You're just being shy!"
He blushed, "Well...I dunno..." He didn't want to tell him about the sand claw, he might run away and--
"Well I know you're strong! I saw that bit sand thingy you did!"
His eyes widened in horror. Oh no...
"It was awesome! How did you do that?" He leaned forward eagerly and Gaara blinked at him in surprise.
"W-well I just--it sorta...does that on it's own..."
"Wow! You're amazing Gaara!"
"...You really think so?"
"I know so. I can't even do that and I'm awesome!"
He started to laugh and Gaara giggled with him.
"Alright boys! Time for bed!" Ino called and Naruto pouted while Gaara seemed content.
"Who put you in charge?" Hidan narrowed his eyes at her and she shrugged, not offering him a glance, "The rest of you are incompetent and irresponsible."
"What does incompetent mean?" Gaara blinked up at her and she looked down at him, "Oh I can't with that face! You are just to cute!" She squealed, picking him up and hugging him tightly as she spun around. "You can stay up as long as you want!"
Hidan sweat-dropped, "Now who's being irresponsible?"
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"Kakashi!" A voice yelled as soon as the cave came into their sights.
They all immediately took fighting stances, Ino grabbing both children and pulling them behind her as she pulled out a knife. But when Kakashi raised a hand, an overly friendly smile settling on his lips as he recognized the voice, the other's mussels relaxed.
"Zabuza!" Kakashi offered a close eyed grin as a pair jumped down from the trees. One was a tall man with dark eyes and bandages around his face and a giant sword on his back. The other was a boy, no older than thirteen, with dark, shoulder length hair and large round eyes and a kind smile.
"We've been waiting over a day. You told us you would be here." The man growled in a dangerous low graveled voice.
Kakashi easily waved him off, walking leisurely over to him. "Sorry, sorry, we were a little...busy." He glanced back at the two children and they both stiffened when the gaze of the creepy man snapped to them.
His eyes widened as he stared before walking over to them and crouching down in front of them.
"I-I'm not scared 'a you, ya know!" Little Naruto stood defensively in front of Gaara as he put up his shaking fists.
"Are you sure these are them?" The man didn't bother turning to address the other as he looked them up and down.
"We wouldn't have taken the trouble if we weren't." Kakashi stated smoothly.
"They're malnourished, weak, puny. You're lucky they survived this long with your life-style." He pushed himself back to his feet as he looked down at them.
"Hey!" Naruto snapped, "I'm not weak!"
"Tell that to those twigs for arms."
"Sh-shut up, you jerk!"
"Leave him alone!" Gaara glared, eyes narrowing and becoming a twisted kind of dark. "Naruto-san is strong an-and amazing! You can't talk to him like that!"
Before Gaara could get anymore emotional and lose control, Kakashi quickly moved to kneel in front of the small pair.
"Boys, this is Zabuza. I know he's not very nice but he's not our enemy. Why don't you play with Haku while we talk, okay?" He smiled kindly and the two exchanged glances before looking over at the boy who stood a little ways away, blinking in confusion.
"Fine!" Naruto crossed his arms as he relented hesitantly before sticking his tongue out at the creepy guy and running over to the new boy.
"Gaara, come on!"
"O-oh right! Sorry, Naruto-san!" Gaara ran to catch up but not without shooting a heated death-glare at the creepy man.
Kakashi sighed in relief as he pushed himself up. They really dodged a bullet, Gaara was just about to burst and no one needed that problem on their hands.
"They're defensive and brave. Good. They might survive a little longer than I thought."
"Z-Zabuza-san?" He looked down at the little boy. "What is it Haku?"
"Th-they want to play a game...what do I do?"
"You figure it out."
"Come on, Haku! We're dying over here!" Naruto groaned and whimpered pathetically in impatience.
"Go on." Zabuza huffed and Haku gave a nod, "Yes, sir!"
He turned back to Kakashi and crossed his arms as his eyes narrowed. "She wants to know where you stand."
"We're far too busy to be making a commitment to the rebellion. We have to gather the children first and then we'll decide."
"How long will that take? Tsunade won't wait forever. This revolution is starting whether you're with us or not. You can't stay on the fence forever."
"We were never on the fence. Leaving our collective villages and taking the Jinchuriki put us far from the fence. We are rebelling, just in a different way."
"And when the war starts? What then? Will you just sit around with your thumbs up your asses as you babysit? Your little babysitter's guild won't survive the first week."
"Give us ten and we'll have them all and fully prepare them for what's to come."
"Ten what? Days? Weeks? Months?"
"Years."
"You have got to be joking, Kakashi."
"Hold off the war until then."
"Oh yeah because it's as simple as that." Zabuza smiled sarcastically. "And what do you think I should tell Tsunade? 'Kakashi says to hold the war off for another ten years and let the tyrants kill more and more people until there are about five of us left, then we can go to war and fail miserably, sound good?' Oh that's a great idea! Why didn't I think of that?" He growled.
"Go underground. Send out scouts to gather more people if you need to. Just give us time. Tsunade can spare a few years if it means getting all nine on the side of the rebellion."
"...Does this mean you'll join?"
"If we gather them all and you give us ten years, yes."
He let out a long sigh, dragging a hand over his half-bandaged face. "...How will you train them? They're not exactly the easiest to get under control."
"We stole the Scroll of Seals from the Leaf when we got Naruto to help train them as ninja. But as Jinchurikis, we have something else in mind."
"I hope to God you're right about this..."
"I don't understand." Haku's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Neither do I." Gaara muttered shyly and Naruto groaned.
"Why are games so hard?! I think it works like this!"
"But that doesn't make any sense. Why would someone touch another person and then run away?"
"I dunno! That's all I could figure out from watching on the swing!"
"I don't think that's how you play it. Let's play something else."
"Fine...Oh! What about hide-and-go-seek?" Naruto leaned forward eagerly.
"Sure! How do you play?" Haku smiled.
"I...was hoping you knew..."
"I don't know how to play either..."
"Why don't we just make up a game?" Haku suggested and the other two lit up.
"What kind of game?"
"Uhh...we could draw in the dirt and try to guess what we drew and whoever is closest wins!"
"Okay!" They all grinned and started drawing in the dirt, Haku with a stick, Naruto with his finger, and Gaara with his sand.
After a few moments of complete concentration and intense silence, the trio stood back to examine each of their works.
Haku had drawn a flower with a few petals falling from it. Gaara had immediately known what it was, not giving Naruto the chance to guess.
Naruto had drawn a bowl of steaming hot ramen that looked like a volcano more than anything. Gaara had guessed a volcano while Haku guessed soup.
"It's not just soup!" Naruto admonished as he puffed his chest out in pride having remembered what the old ramen guy had told him. "It's ramen!"
"Oooh" Both their eyes sparkled at the fantastical and dramatic way he had said it, as if it were the most amazing and mythical legend they had ever heard.
When they looked at Gaara's they both immediately smiled as Gaara blushed shyly.
"It's us!" Naruto grinned as he crouched down in front of the picture. "That's me!"
"And that's me!" Haku bent down to point at the image of himself.
"Wow Gaara! You're amazing, ya know! It's so good!"
"Yeah Gaara-san! It's wonderful! You should be an artist!"
Gaara smiled bashfully as they both enthusiastically complimented the drawing.
It was the three of them holding hands and smiling brightly, Gaara in the middle, Naruto on the right, and Haku on the left.
"Haku!"
"Naruto-kun! Gaara-kun!"
They all turned to look over at the adults standing a few yards away.
"Kaka-old man! Look, look! Gaara drew us!"
"O-old man..." Kakashi sweat-dropped as Ino squealed.
"Let me see, let me see!" She ran over to them and looked at the drawing.
"Aww! It's so cute, Gaara-chan! You're amazing!" She praised as Gaara's cheeks turned bright red.
"Right? He's super cool!"
"Yeah! He drew that in five minutes!"
"Really? Awesome! Hina! Come look!"
Hinata ran over and looked at all the pictures. "Wow you guys are really impressive! You're all so incredible!"
All three of them blushed and looked away shyly as the girls fawned over them.
"Oi Haku, time to go." Zabuza walked over to him and he looked up at him with a big smile.
"Zabuza-san! See what I drew?" He asked eagerly with shining eyes and Zabuza glanced at the drawing in the dirt.
After a short pause during which Haku's smile slowly faded, Zabuza placed his hand on his head and ruffled his hair. "Good job." He turned and began walking away.
Haku blinked in surprise before grinning and running after him, taking his hand in his as he smiled brightly up at him.
"Bye Haku!" Naruto waved and Gaara followed suit.
"Bye Haku..."
"Bye!" Haku smiled, waving back.
Gaara frowned, he thought he had made another friend...Wasn't Naruto sad too? Maybe he was but he was covering it up...If that was true, Gaara had to know. He didn't want Naruto to be sad.
"W-we're friends, right?!" He called after him, cheeks flushing a deep shade of red when they both looked at him in surprise.
"Yeah!" Haku laughed and Gaara and Naruto smiled.
They had drawn pictures in the dirt. But even if the wind and the rain washed the picture away, they would always have it in their hearts, where the wind and the rain couldn't reach.