Chapter 1

"Darkness Only Confirms What We Cannot See" -Plague, Seahaven

"Couldn't we just throw them together? Both demons-they should get along," the women's bitter voice cut through the thick air like a knife.

"You know that isn't an option, Hitomi-san" The Sandaime spoke evenly, his patience evident in how he barely spared the older women a glance. "The Kazekage doesn't need that stress, that added danger. Furthermore, it isn't his concern and I don't want to put that potential power in their hands."

"We are amicable now, but he may try to hold it over Konoha," Sasaki-san supported, sounding the complete role of mild mannered. "The previous container managed to hold the beast for nearly three decades, thus her offspring should suffice."

"But the seal broke," Hitomi-san added edgewise, her lips had drawn together tightly. "So much devastation in so little time. We can't let that happen again. We must dispose of the boy somehow."

"Killing him would just release the beast," Sasaki-san corrected. "We can only manage, not eliminate the problem." Hitomi-san scowled slightly, looking towards the hokage for support.

"He is right, Hitomi-san. We have yet to reach a permanent solution," The Sandaime frowned. Hitomi-san's scowl wavered momentarily, and the true fear she felt flashed across aged and pinched features. Another moment paced, and the hateful expression slid back into place.

The Sandaime suppressed a sigh. He was truly too old for this. Pushing back the cold pain of his successor's premature death, he scrambled his brain for a solution. Just the other day, he was pleasantly awaiting the moment he would meet Minato and Kushina's first born. He settled back further in his chair. In the state of emergency, he was still wearing his casual dress, but he knew come tomorrow he would have to dawn robes he prayed never to wear again.

He loved Konoha, truly. Each and every person was precious to him, captivated him in some way. But the last few years, he had relished in the time spent meeting children in the orphanage, helping his neighbour Ota garden, all the things he took for granted before. It wasn't until he had stepped down that he truly became one with his people.

Now he would have to step back up to the solidary position again. And his first matter of importance was dealing with one Naruto more he felt the pain of lost lives squeeze at his heart.

"Naruto will stay here in Konoha. His parents died in the attack, and the Fourth intended for the boy to be viewed as a hero. With no say in the matter, the rest of his life will be dedicated to protecting our village from the nine tails. He is a jinchuuriki, he has already made the ultimate human sacrifice. I refuse to let him needlessly sacrifice anything else." Sandaime lamented, his voice strong enough to stymie the arguing that had erupted between his advisers.

Hitomi-san's lips pursed even further, her brow beginning a twitch that would-from that day forth-start at the very mention of the jinchuuriki. Sasaki-san nodded sternly.

The Sandaime pulled out his pipe, and began packed it carefully with tobacco. The advisors, understanding the Sandaime's age old cue, let themselves out of the office.

Placing the pipe between his lips, the Sandaime contemplated the future of his village. However, he had no clue how many more sacrifices Naruto Uzumaki was going to have to make in his life.

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At age four, Naruto Uzumaki climbed a tree and dumped a cup of ramen on the head of a passing villager. Hitomi-san screamed at the violence she deemed obviously apparent in the young boy. She demanded the Sandaime separate the boy from the village, from the toddlers that would one day be the shinobi of Konoha. Naruto stood not five feet away from the shrieking advisor. Behind his desk, the Sandaime barely controlled the urge to let his head drop on top of his papers.

Instead he studied Naruto. He was four now, but looked like he could barely be three. Small and scrawny, and with a haphazardly shaven head. Patches of blonde stumble revealed the vibrant shade of yellow that would blossom if the hair was left to grow. Naruto's blue bright eyes shined with tears. The same tears that had already left his face red and hands fisted the material of too big pants.

No one had bothered to ask Naruto his side of the story. The Sandaime opened his mouth, as he was determined to get to the bottom of this.

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At age five, Naruto Uzumaki vandalised the Hokage mountain for the first time. Hitomi-san screamed at the obvious disloyalty.

"The kyuubi is trying to dismantle this village," Hitomi-san gritted out. "How many years until his is old enough to try and kill us all?"

"The kyuubi is completely dormant within a five year old boy, Hitomi-san," Sandaime corrected wearily. "Naruto is trying to express his feelings, as all young children do."

Naruto stood now a little taller, not much bigger. Dried tears streaked his cheeks, but the actual onslaught had stopped before the boy was dragged into the office. Still, tiny lips formed a soft frown.

Sandaime had decided not to hide the reality of Naruto's situation from the boy. However, the matter was only to be spoken of before the hokage. Villagers and shinobi alike poured into his office each day to share opinions they felt completely unique and necessary.

"This isn't normal antics, Hokage-sama," Hitomi-san pleaded, suddenly looking afraid. She edged further away from Naruto. "I have children. I have grandchildren."

"Well, Naruto isn't quite normal," the hokage relented. He tried to ignore how violently the boy flinched at the words.

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At age six, Naruto Uzumaki entered the Academy. The village was in outrage. People filled into his office and demanded that the secrets and skills of ninja be kept away from the "demon". Naruto showed up at the hospital that night with a broken arm and purple splotches blooming just about everywhere. The Sandaime's pipe snapped between his fingers, and the bits of tobacco stained his papers.

The very next day the Sandaime gave out the order. No one was to speak of Naruto's situation. Hitomi-san fought fiercely against the gag order. The Sandaime declared disobeying the order was an act of treason. People continued to demand an audience with the Hokage.

After a few months, it became apparent that Naruto didn't have too much of an affinity for the ninja arts. Instead of being attacked as a danger for learning, he was mocked as a fool for his efforts. Regardless, Naruto continued within the academy, and just barely passed each benchmark.

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At age seven, Naruto Uzumaki filled his academy classroom with hundreds of frogs. When dragged into the Hokage's office, his hands and arms were still covered in dirt.

Hitomi-san stood so far from the boy that she was practically behind the desk, harping into the Hokage's ear. This time even Sasaki-san attended, and stood apprehensively against the back wall.

Naruto, on the other hand, looked more at ease than he had ever seen him before. He had moved out of the orphanage and into a small apartment paid for by the Hokage. His hair had grown out long enough to creep in front of his eyes.

An impish and toothy smile dominated the lower half of his hair, and he hyperactivity rocked back and forth on his feet. The Sandaime was more concerned with how blue eyes still held the same hurt as years ago.

The next day, Sandaime invited Naruto back alone.

"We have a few visitors coming to the village tomorrow, Naruto." The Sandaime informed the jinchuuriki. "They are from Suna."

"Oh," Naruto was staring out the window. "Do you want me to leave them alone or something?" He pulled at the front of a soft orange shirt, as if the material suddenly offended him.

"Quite the opposite," The Sandaime smiled kindly despite Naruto's refusal to make eye contact. "I was hoping you'd show around the Kazekage's children. They are around your own age, after all."

"Kazekage?" Naruto finally turned to face the Sandaime. "Is that like being Hokage?"

"Yes, but the Kazekage's precious persons are the villagers in Suna." The Sandaime elaborated how he believed Naruto would understand.

"Why me?" Naruto mumbled in response, retreating again. He was staring down at his shoes now.

"I think you may find a kindred spirit in one of the Kazekage's children in particular. His name is Gaara," The Sandaime shared. Suna's jinchuuriki was supposedly violent and angry. Konoha's was noisy and energetic. The Sandaime was hoping a friendship might balance out their intense personalities.

"No thanks," The small boy shook his violently. Before the Sandaime could reply, Naruto bolted from the room and the door swung shut behind him.

The Sandaime dropped his head into his hands. He was hoping this would be a good opportunity, not only for Naruto to meet children whose opinions of him weren't colored by their parents', but also to meet another jinchuuriki.

The Sandaime wondered if Naruto truly understood his role. He had explained it, in simple terms when the boy was five. However, at such a young age it might not have translated well. Perhaps the boy didn't really understand the cold gazes of the villagers. Would it be cruel to mention it again to the boy? No one spoke of it now, with the gag order, and Naruto had never demanded answers-explanations even.

The Sandaime took a deep breath. He still needed to find a guide for the Kazekage's children. A child from a good clan would be a polite show of respect and amity, perhaps an Inuzuka.

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"There is no one strong enough in Suna to take him out," The Kazekage revealed, slouched in on himself as he sat opposite the Hokage. The Sandaime had never seen the other man in such a state. While the villages and kages were amicable, this was not a conversation the Sandaime ever imagined having. Just how much of a dead end was the man at?

"I've lost some of my best men to his sand," The Kazekage elaborated, sounding nearly meek. I spend so much precious time protecting my own people for my son. What will happen if I die and take my gold sand with me? Who will protect my people?"

"Rasa-san," The Sandaime articulated slowly, just to be sure he understood completely. "Are you truly telling me you are trying to have your son killed?"

"I am not some ignorant villager," The Kazekage roared, harshly meeting the Sandaime's eyes. "But that boy may truly be a demon."

Silence seeped into the room. In a matter of minutes it was stifling. The Sandaime stood and moved over to the window, staggering under the words that had just been spoken to him. He felt at most times that he was failing Naruto. He noticed the shoving and hissed threats, and tried to deal with it strategically. But he had never honestly considered having the boy killed, or even removed from the village.

Suddenly, the door to the Hokage's office slammed open against the wall, and in strolled the alleged demon, tightly grasping the hand of Konoha's own troublemaker. The pair was quickly followed by several out of breath ANBU. Many of which were nursing wounds, not that either child seemed alarmed.

"Gaara," The Kazekage barely covered up a look a pure hatred. He also stood, obviously uneasy around his own child.

The Sandaime had never met the Kazekage's child, but had not anticipated this. Gaara had a shock of red hair, much brighter than his father's. Above his right eye was the kanji for love, a choice which didn't fit the description the Kazekage gave. Even more alarming were the pitch black bags under his unwavering green eyes. He stared at the two men evenly, deep creases between the space most had brows.

"Father," Gaara had a surprisingly low pitched and gritty voice, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time. "Naruto is coming home to Suna with us."

The boy finally released them from his glance, and instead turned his gaze towards Naruto. The Sandaime moved to shield the boy, only to notice how the creases on the redhead's face melted away instantly. Naruto, in return, smiled radiantly- something the Sandaime couldn't honestly said he had seen before. The Kazekage gasped audibly.

The council would have a fit. Hitomi-san in particular may have a heart attack. The Sandaime smiled just as big as Naruto.

A/N: Hello! This was supposed to be snapshots of the Sandaime's experience with Naruto. Future chapters, will be solely in one time period. (I mean, I love flashbacks so those will happen, but you get the idea). This is slash (Gaara/Naruto). The next chapter will be Gaara's arrival, but from Gaara's perspective. Actually, despite being mostly Naruto centric, this may never be in Naruto's perspective. I'm playing with the idea of having many different perspectives taking part and painting a picture of who Naruto has become through that. Honestly, I could very well change my mind on that.

Thanks for reading! I'm on a really weird Naruto kick lately, which included me reading a bunch of weird Naruto pairing fics. I feel that there is a weird deficit of Gaara/Naruto fics, so I guess you could say I'm writing the story I want to read. Plus I love Gaara! Please drop a review, any comments, good and bad, are helpful to me. I'd love to hear what you think, if anyone is willing to read more.

I hope you can all find something to be happy about today! :)