Valued Mates

Meeting Gaara

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
\Thoughts\

Naruto talking in his mind.
'Kurama/Kyuubi'
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Due to the danger Danzo posed the ninja council and the hokage decided it would be best to have Danzo executed and in private. They had it done as soon as they could. His food was drugged. The man didn't notice until it was too late. He was soon no longer a threat. The public statement was that he had a heart attack and died.

The ninjas from Root had been checked over and handed back to their families. It would be a long time before they would be able to work since they needed to reverse the brainwashing Danzo had done.

Despite being handed back to their families they would be staying in the hospital for a while. They needed to make sure they weren't a danger to the village. They would be released once they were certain. The families just hoped they would be able to reverse the damage. If they couldn't then they would remain in the hospital. They couldn't have that type of danger in their village roaming freely and it made many so angry with the fact they would have to continue holding them like they were prisoners.

The civilian council was shocked when they learned they were being investigated. Their shock turned to anger. They believed it was all Naruto's fault. They even believed he killed Danzo as well. They were going to prove it and have the demon beast executed.

Too bad for them that Naruto no longer lived in a crappy apartment. He didn't live with Kakashi and his husbands either. Now that he had gotten to know Jiraiya he lived with him. They lived next to them. Sasuke's home was being prepared for the Uchihas that had been found. Sakura still lived at home with her parents but she barely talked to them.

At the moment they were training for chunin exams. It was a week away. Kakashi really wanted them prepared and so did Iruka, Tsunade, Shizune, and Jiraiya. Ibiki was cheering them on but couldn't help since he was a proctor. Tsunade had found that Sakura was a natural at healing jutsus and was helping her to specialize as a medic nin. With the other two she taught them basic healing jutsus and first aid.

Jiraiya was helping Naruto with his seals. He had been impressed by Naruto's skills and enjoyed teaching him. Once he became a chunin he would teach him sage mode and the rasengan. He was also planning on getting him a ninja toad and a ninja fox contract. For now they focused on seals. After their lessons he would tell Naruto about his parents. The blonde loved each and every story.

Kakashi was teaching Sasuke some of his personal techniques. He then helped him learn some Uchiha family techniques that he had seen them use. It helped that the family kept their seals safe and Sasuke was able to learn from them.

Soon the day arrived. The chunin exams were taking place. Ninjas from other villages were coming to Kohna to participate. Naruto was excited. He hoped to make some new friends. Sakura didn't care. She was more focused on training. Sasuke was excited for the fights that would be taking place.

"Hello my cute genin. Are you all ready?" Kakashi asked as he gave them an eye smile.

"Hai." The three said.

"Good. Make us proud." He said before he disappeared.

"Hey Sakura-chan, Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun." Hinata greeted them.

"Hey Hinata-chan." Naruto greeted her. "Are you ready?"

"I-i think so." She said, "What about you three?" She asked.

"We're ready." The three answered.

"That's good." She said.

Naruto was distracted by a red haired boy. His chakra had a familiar feel to it and it took him a few seconds to realize why. His chakra had demonic chakra mixed with his. The boy was like him.

'You're correct.' Kurama said, 'That's one of my siblings, Shukaku.'

The bot doesn't look okay. He said.

'Unlike me Shukaku isn't that nice to his jailer.' He told Naruto, not happy with that at all.

But it's not the boy's fault. He said.

'I know but that doesn't seem to matter. Try and get close to him. I believe that if the boy trusts us then I can get into his mindscape and talk to that idiot sibling of mine.' He said.

Okay. Naruto went over to the redhead. "Hi. I'm Naruto." He introduced himself.

The boy's eyes widened as he realized that Naruto was like him. He gave the blonde a nod.

"Gaara." He said.

"Nice to meet you Gaara." He leaned in and whispered in his ear. "I know that we are alike. Kurama would like to talk to Shukaku."

"How?" He asked. "And why?" He whispered.

"You need to let us into your mindscape. Kurama believes it would work if you trust us. As for why, well Kurama doesn't like how mean Shukaku is treating you." He whispered back.

"I don't trust you." He said.

Naruto pulled back and smiled at him. "I know."

Everyone was looking at the two. Gaara's siblings were shocked by the interaction. They expected him to blast the blonde away with sand. The others wondered if the two knew each other. Gaara looked Naruto over. He nodded with what he saw.

"After the test, come meet me." He leaned in close and whispered his room number into Naruto's ear.

"Okay." He nodded. "Good luck with the exam." He said.

"You too." He was shocked by the fact he knew the blonde meant it and that he meant it as well.

Naruto gave him another smile and returned to his team. Sakura gave him a look.

"Do you know him?" She asked.

"No."

"Oh okay." She wasn't going to pry.

The time spent with Naruto made her trust him and his judgment. The redhead looked like the type that didn't trust easily and she didn't want to pry if the boy felt uncomfortable. She knew Naruto wouldn't keep any secrets that he didn't have permission to or that would hurt him, his family, his team, or the village. Sasuke gave both Naruto and Gaara a look before shrugging. He felt no danger in what was going on so he felt it wasn't any of his business. Before more could be said Anko and Ibiki appeared.