Through Pain And Strife (A Naruto Fanfic)

No One’s POV

This story starts in the Land of Wind with a young boy who wanted nothing more than to be accepted by others.

This boy.

After many years of fighting through the pain of being feared and labeled a monster by everyone in the village since his birth, he still tried; one more time.

He was sitting out on a swing watching some of the other kids as they played soccer. They were all laughing and playing happily with each other until one of them kicked the ball onto the ledge of a wall where it would stay.

“Aw, great job you idiot.” One of the guys said as they looked at the ball way up high.

“I’m sorry...” The accused apologized.

“What’re we gonna do now?” Another of them asked.

This boy clutched his fist before standing up and stepping forward.

The ball was suddenly gently lifted in a swirl of sand and carefully brought down. The others watched its descent, all the way down until it rested in his hands.

But, upon the realization, “It...it’s Gaara!”

Practically all of them looked at him in fear.

He held the ball out to them, his peace offering. A chance at amends for what he himself had no control of to begin with. But this gesture went unminded as all of the clustered kids took a step away. That is, all but one. One of the girls took a step forward at the same time that their other peers slunk away.

“Hey, wait! What’re you doing?!” One of them asked

"Oh, what? I thought we were all going forward." She joked, lightly scratching at her temple. They looked at her like she was crazy. “What’s wrong with you guys?” she asked, lowering her hand as she took in their petrified demeanors.

“He’s a monster!" One of the other girls shouted. "Don’t get close to him!”

“That’s so rude. Don’t call people things like that!” The girl with the red hair and eyes just as vibrant walked towards the boy and took the ball from him. “Thank you for your help.” She told him with a smile and his eyes widened at her gesture.

He looked at the others, usually when one offers a hand an doesn't get bitten the cowering ones are assured, but upon his sights turning to them, they jumped.

“R... run!” One of the boys said and they all bolted.

“No. Wait! Don’t go!” This boy with hair a mildly deeper shade of red than the girl's called out, reaching his hand to them. Sand began seeping from the gourd on his back and charged toward them.

“Hey... Hey, hey-hey! No. Don’t!” The girl beside him dropped the ball and watched the sand slitter like a snake in grass and she held out her hand to it. It stopped where it was and she pulled it back like a lassoed bull.

This man suddenly appeared as the girl managed to hold back the sand. The kids ran and scurries away and she released the sand from her hold as the man approached.

“Gaara. What’re you doing?” The man asked and Gaara looked sad.

The girl sneezed, alerting the man of her presence.

“Akane. You should be in bed. Why’re you here?” he asked and she sighed.

“Aw, Yashimaru~? I was found already?” She whined. “I wanted to play with my new friend here some more.” She said putting her arm over Gaara’s shoulder.

"...Friend...?" Gaara repeated and she smiled again.

“Sure!” She gleamed and Yashimaru told them to follow him, so they did.

“What happened back there?” He questioned them and she took out her braid and turned it to a bun.

“Nothing. No worries about it.” She told him and he raised an eyebrow at her. “I’m going back to bed now. See you guys later.” She waved, leaving the room. The two of them talked for a while and then Gaara left with a bag in hand.

Akane wasn’t fast enough when she stopped the sand and he accidentally hurt one of their legs; so as an apology, he decided to bring the injured some medicine. He knocked on the door and the kid opened it. “Oh it’s you.”

“I-I’m sorry.” Gaara said holding out the bag to the kid.

“Go away, you monster.” The kid said, shutting the door on him.

It was already late at night. He lowered the bag to reveal his hurt expression while still looking at the door.

“Hey.” A voice from behind him called and he turned to see Akane. “Ya wanna talk?” She asked, putting her hood up with a smile. He nodded before walking with her to the swing.“Let’s start from the beginning.” Akane said as they stopped in front of the swing.

“Hi there." She thrust her hand out to him. "My name’s Akane.”

“I’m Gaara.” He shook her hand and they sat down on the ground they stood on.

“With this, we are friends.” She told him. “Now then. What do you like to do, Gaara?”

Then they talked and talked. They got to know each other next to that swing. She had to leave soon, but she told him they’d talk again later.

It was a promise.