Valued Mates

Gaara Becomes Kazekage

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

Naruto talking in his mind.
'Kurama/Kyuubi'
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(With Naruto and Gaara)

Gaara had invited Naruto to the sand village for a special occasion. He had been chosen to become the next Kazekage. That meant he was going to be running the sand village. He was only 13 and they trusted him. No longer was he the freak they all hated. To them he was a hero that helped to keep their village ninjas from harm thanks to that snake bastard.

He wanted his friend around for it. He was nervous. He was only 13 and this was a lot of responsibility. He was only a genin. He kinda felt like he was chosen so that he would fail and it would prove the villagers right that he was worthless. He didn't fully believe they changed their feelings about him.

"Whoa! Gaara you need to calm down." The blonde said. "You are creating a sandstorm in here."

"What?" Gaara paused and saw what Naruto was saying. "S-s-sorry."

"No need to apologize. I understand you are feeling nervous and worried." He said.

"What if I fail to protect them or this is all a trap?" He asked.

"I get that. Protecting my village is a top priority for me. I just know that as long as I try my best I did what I could. I also know I have my friends around to help me." He said.

"I do have that," He felt better about that.

"Exactly. Now for this potentially being a trap, well yes it could be but I doubt that." He said.

"Why?" He asked.

"I overheard a few villagers on my way here. The kids were talking about how cool you were and plenty if the adults felt guilty for how they treated you. That certainly outweighed the few that were disgusted that you were being made Kazekage." Naruto told him.

"But what if they learn about my new features?" He wondered before paling.

"New features?" He asked.

"Nothing!" The green eyed boy quickly said.

"Oh Gaara. I had wondered." He said.

"What?" Gaara looked at him.

"Watch." He smiled and dropped the henge and revealed his fox appendages.

"Oh." The boy was wide eyed.

"I gained these a while ago after my chakra merged with Kurama's." He revealed.

"That's why Sakura-chan is always looking at your head." He realized.

"Yes." He pouted. "She has become obsessed with my ears. She loves petting them." He shook his head.

"I see." He laughed.

"It's not funny. If you have fluffy ears she will want to pet those as well." He warned.

"Right. Never let Sakura-chan see my appendages." He said.

"Exactly." He said.

"Okay. Here I go." Gaara dropped the henge.

His human ears disappeared and on top of his head were replaced with Tanuki ears. These were the same shade of red as Gaara's hair. He grew tanuki claws and the black around his eyes were more tanuki-like. He also gained a red tail with black lines.

"Yeah, don't ever let Sakura-chan see you." Naruto warned.

"I won't." He vowed.

"Good. Um, I have no clue how your village will react. Only the genin teams, our senseis, Iruka, the two sennin, and the hokage know about mine." He said.