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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?!"
"Wha- NO! I'm simply stating facts. You literally can't hurt me physically."
"Watch me! I'm gonna whack you on the head one day when you least expect it dattebayo!" Naruto shouted.
"NARUTO COME ON WE HAVE TO GO!" Sarutobi yelled, catching Naruto's attention.
'Oops,' Naruto thought, 'I forgot why I came! I should go with Jiji... Maybe Gaara can come too!'
"Oops! Coming Jiji!" Naruto shouted back.
Then he turned back to Gaara.
"You wanna come with?" he asked.
"Where?"
"Well Jiji has a meeting with the Kazekage, that's why we're here! So you want to come with us?"
"Better than staying here alone I guess..."
"YAY DATTEBAYO! LET'S GOOOOOO!"
Naruto grabbed Gaaras's hand and started running towards the third Hokage.
"Naruto, who is this?" the old man asked.
"Jiji meet... Panda-chan! Panda-chan meet Jiji," Naruto introduced grinning mischievously.
Gaara glared at Naruto then turned sharply back to the Hokage.
"I am not 'Panda-chan' so don't call me that. I am Gaara of the sand."
Maybe now Naruto wouldn't call him that ridiculous nickname!
"Anyways Jiji can PANDA-CHAN come with us!" said boy questioned.
Or not...
The Hokage stared scrutinizingly at Gaara then made the mistake of looking at Naruto. The latter was using his deadly puppy eyes.
The old man caved in, "Alright. Come along now you two; we are already late."
*This time skip brought to you Kurama's laziness*
The meeting had ended. Gaara and Naruto had to say goodbye. So in true Naruto fashion, he decided to make a promise that they would see each other again; and that they would remain friends through the distance. Gaara just nodded along to what the other said. Then it was time to go.
"Bye Naru!" Gaara called, using the nickname Naruto had INSISTED Gaara use.
"Yeah, I'll see you soon. Bye Panda-chan!!!" The young Uzumaki called back, grinning from ear to ear.
A faint, "DON'T CALL ME THAT!!" was the response.
The redhead sand ninja then smiled sadly, watching as his best and only friend's silhouette faded into the distance.
"Thank you Naruto," he whispered.
7 years later - Village Hidden in the Leaves (Chunnin Exam) (3rd P.O.V)
The two siblings turned quickly, terrified at the thought that their youngest brother may be angry.
Temari gasped in shock and horror.
“G-Gaara” Kankurou stuttered.
Naruto rolled his eyes. Did the fear of jinjuriki really spread to Gaara’s own siblings? Honestly, he wouldn’t be surprised.
He turned towards his friend whom he hadn’t seen in years.
“Panda-chan! Hi!” He said, grinning.
He felt the air grow tense behind him, Gaara however was trying not to smile and/or roll his eyes. He had a cold and carefree rep to keep up after all.
“Naru,” he said nodding in greeting, flipping down from his branch, before directing a glare that would have sent anyone else running at the blond. “What did I say about calling me that?”
“Not to!” Naruto answered, smiling ‘innocently’.
Gaara’s glare intensified but Naruto remained unwaveringly happy (read smug). After about 2 minutes, Gaara finally gave up turning his head to look away, a faint smile gracing his lips and a sigh escaped him.
“Why are you like this?” he asked, deadpanning.
“It’s the trauma,” was the only answer the blond gave.