AU: Gaara and Naruto met a few years before the Chunnin Exams and became fast friends.
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7 years before Team 7 existed - The Sand Village (3rd P.O.V)
"Come along Naruto," the Hokage said to the jinjuriki.
"Coming Jiji," the young blond called back.
They were in the sand village, the Hokage there for a kage meeting and Naruto being his plus one.
Naruto was fascinated, this was his first time out of the village and he was enjoying every moment. He was currently watching some other kids play ball debating whether or not to try and join them, he had never gotten to play with anyone in his village after all.
Then Jiji called and he was going to go to him, really he was but then he noticed a boy with red hair sitting alone on the sidelines.
Since that scene reminded him ever so much of his own self he decided to talk to him. While he approached he was watching the others' reactions to his actions. He noted that they looked horrified, scared for Naruto and they seemed to be a second away from stopping him. It was more or less what Naruto had expected. This kid was treated the same way as him, he wondered why and if each village had an outcast.
Finally, he was in front of the red panda-looking boy.
"Hi! I'm Naruto Uzumaki DATTEBAYO!"
The other looked at him in confusion, probably wondering what was going on and if he was actually talking to him.
"What's your name?" Naruto prompted.
The kid's eyes widened in surprise but quickly narrowed suspiciously.
"I am Gaara of the Sand," he said, his voice cold, cautious yet utterly void of emotions.
"Cool dattebayo! Wanna be friends?!" Said the hyper-active blond.
Gaara just gaped at him in shock and confusion.
'Why would he want to be friends with me?' he thought.
Naruto, seeming to sense his thoughts said, "well you seemed kinda lonely, so I thought why not!"
That really didn't help with Gaara's confusion.
"Why would you want to be friends with me though? Is this some kind of cruel prank? Aren't you afraid of me like the others are? Don't you know that a literal monster resides inside me?!"
Naruto just raised an eyebrow.
"Why would I be afraid of you?" he asked.
"I just told you about the monster inside me! Doesn't that alone frighten you? Make you hate me?!" Gaara snapped, this boy was acting so differently than those he was raised with! What was with this boy?!
"Look Gaara I'm gonna be frank with you, you look a little like a panda and are about as terrifying as a kitten! Anyway, it's not like anyone really likes me in my village so that would make you my first friend dattebayo!" Naruto explained.
"Are-"
Naruto stopped him right there, "I swear to Kami if you ask if I'm sure then imma smack you on the head!"
"Good luck with that, my sand protects me from any physical harm. It is impossible for you to hit me." Gaara bluntly said.
"Is that a challenge?!"
