Woah... 30 chapters! Thanks to everyone who's been reading this story. It makes my day when I see that people enjoy it ^_^

Special thanks to . Much love to you

"Uhhh... It's fine. I-I'll find somewhe-" The blonde started before he was interrupted by the red-head's deep voice.

"I'm not going to do anything." Gaara interjected, looking at Naruto with slight pleading eyes. Naruto looked back in shock.

'Why exactly should I believe that? Considering the past...' The blonde thought, his eyes becoming slightly misty. Looking into Gaara's emerald ones, he could see the sincerity and honesty behind those cold pupils.

Naruto sighed.

'People can change. I mean, Sasuke changed so there is a possibility for him too.'

"Okay." Naruto answered doubtfully. Gaara nodded and he made his way towards the empty table at the back of the library. Large bookshelves surrounded the secluded table, separating it from other tables. The blonde followed slowly behind Gaara and sat across him. Looking at person across him, they sat in an awkward silence.

"So..." Naruto began

Gaara looked at the blonde with a lost look in his face. Before he could contain himself, the words spilled out of his mouth.

"I'm sorry."

Those two words were uttered so silently, the blonde could barely catch it.

Barely

Naruto looked back at Gaara in shock. Mouth agape, he continued to stare at the red-head. He was absolutely speechless.

Said red-head looked at the ridiculous sight in amusement but he continued his apology.

"I had no idea you were going through such a hard time at home but I know how it feels like."

Those whisper of words circled through Naruto's mind and snapped him out of his dazed state. Fear filled inside him.

'How-w does he k-know!' Naruto thought.

"What! I have no idea what you mean!" Naruto shouted, trying to vehemently deny such a statement.

A hushing noise could be heard from around the corner.

Gaara just stared back at Naruto, with no emotion in his face. Looking at him, Naruto went silent, the protests dying from his lips. Hopelessness swirled though Naruto as he slumped his shoulders.

"How do you k-know?" A fragile whisper floated between them.

Looking down at the wooden table, Gaara answered.

"My foster father is a lawyer. He was one of the people who worked in your case between Minato."

Naruto flinched at the mention of his father's name. It didn't go unnoticed from Gaara's eyes.

"He recognised you as one of my classmates. He didn't tell me but... I overheard a conversation he was having with the judge. You were abused weren't you?" Gaara candidly asked.

Several seconds of silence passed between them. Naruto looked away from the person across him, not wanting him to see the vulnerability in his eyes.

"Yeah..."

Gaara nodded, his eyes filled with something akin to sympathy. Naruto looked at him, to see what was his reaction and seeing the sympathy in his eyes almost made the blonde break down. Suddenly something short-circuited in his mind.

"Wait... What did you mean by 'I know how it feels like'?" The blonde asked with curiosity. Gaara's eyes bore into Naruto's before he sighed in exasperation.

"I know you are kind of stupid, but really this stupid?" The sea-foamed eye boy said boredly. Naruto's eyes flashed in anger and he glared back.

"Fuck you!" He remembered to whisper, not wanting the librarian to hear. Gaara smirked slightly before his face turned back to it's serious manner.

"I went through the same thing. The same abuse." He said slowly, looking at Naruto's reaction. His eyes widened when his eyes met with the blonde's whiskered face. Naruto's face was contorted in sadness, complete empathy running through his eyes.

'I never expected him to show me such compassion...' Gaara thought.

"It's the same story as yours actually. My mother died when I was born and my father hated me for that." Gaara said.

"I know how that feels like. Being hated for something you couldn't even control. Having people blame you for being born. It hurts actually. No matter how much hate was thrown at me... I never got used to it." Naruto whispered, a lone crystal tear falling down his cheek.

"It wasn't your fault."

"I know."

They continued to look at each other, the pain of their past forming a connection between them, bringing them closer together. Suddenly a smile blossomed on Naruto's face.

"Does this mean we are friends? If not... atleast we aren't enemies right?" Uncertainty appeared on the blonde's face as he smiled awkwardly at Gaara. Surprise emerged on the pale boy's face as Naruto said those words.

'He wants to be friends? Even after everything?' He thought.

"Does that mean... you forgive me for what I did?" Gaara asked, a little happiness evident in his tone. Naruto nodded, smiling in assurance. Unable to contain his emotions, Gaara smiled back.

A small but happy smile.

They spent the rest of the period talking about themselves and their lives until the bell rang, telling that school was over.

As they walked out of the library doors, Naruto looked at the red-head. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Kiba appearing from one of the classrooms. Before the brunette could see him, he ran off saying a quick goodbye to his new friend. Gaara stared at the quickly retreating figure of the blonde and turned to his side to see Kiba walking up to him.

"Ready to go?" The brunette asked, hints of anger in his voice. Gaara looked at Kiba, noting the pissed off expression on his face.

"What's wrong?" The redhead asked.

Kiba glared at the ground.

"That blonde bitch socked me in the stomach. Gonna beat the shit out of him when I see him next time." Kiba's voice darkened in anger. Gaara sighed in exasperation.

"Come on. Lets go." He said and walked to the entrance. Kiba followed, walking next to him. They walked in silence, meeting up with there other friends while all through Gaara's mind the word resonated...

'Friends'

At the Uchiha house.

Naruto entered his home, removing his shoes at the entrance and making his way to the living room where he saw Mikoto looking at some papers.

"Oh hello dear! How was your first day at school?" Mikoto asked sweetly, making her way to her blonde son to pat his hair.

'He came back?'

'Eww... '

'Welcome back loser'

'It hasn't even been a day and acting like I don't care is difficult.'

'Oi dobe.'

'I'm sorry.'

'It wasn't your fault.'

Naruto remembered everything that happened and he couldn't help but smile genuinely at Mikoto.

"Yeah! It was a good day!" Naruto grinned in absolute happiness.