In some fanfictions, Naruto and Gaara's childhoods are paralleled. Both were outcasts in a way. Naruto was shunned because of the Nine - Tails inside him, and Gaara was feared for the Shukaku. A fanfiction could explore how they might have found solace in each other's similar experiences, had they known about it earlier.
One common theme is the power of friendship. Their bond helps them both grow and overcome their respective traumas. For example, Naruto's friendship gives Gaara a reason to believe in himself more.
One common element is the exploration of their loneliness. Gaara was alone because people feared him, and Naruto was alone as people shunned him. Fanfictions often focus on how they coped with this solitude.
Well, it could show their early training days. Maybe Gaara was all alone in his training while Sakura was with her teammates. It could explore how they might have felt about their respective situations. For example, Gaara's loneliness compared to Sakura's somewhat normal (but also challenging) training with Kakashi and the others.
In a fanfiction, Gaara might like Naruto in a way that he tries to understand Naruto's ninja way more. He may go out of his way to train with Naruto, not just to improve his own skills but also to be closer to Naruto. Gaara could see Naruto as the light that he once thought he could never have, and this newfound feeling of liking could lead to a beautiful friendship in the story.
Well, Naruto could be depicted as being similar to Gaara in their inner strength. Gaara was always strong on the outside but had a fragile heart. Naruto, in this fanfiction, may share that same duality. Maybe he shows Gaara that having a strong will doesn't mean suppressing emotions. He could be the one to show Gaara that it's okay to let others in, since Naruto is always about making friends and bringing out the best in people.
One popular 'naruto and gaara childhood friends fanfiction' is 'The Bond Beyond Sand and Leaf'. It beautifully portrays their friendship from a young age. It shows how Naruto's positive attitude starts to influence Gaara even in their early days.
One aspect of Naruto's sad childhood in fanfiction could be his loneliness. He was shunned by the villagers because of the Nine - Tails inside him. In many fanfictions, authors explore how he coped with this isolation, like finding solace in small acts of kindness from a few people, such as Iruka - sensei.
At first, their relationship might be a bit guarded. Gaara, being used to isolation, might be hesitant to open up to Naruto. But as they face challenges together, like fighting a common enemy, they would start to respect each other's strength. Naruto's positive attitude would gradually break down Gaara's walls, and they would become friends.
One idea could be a story where Naruto and female Gaara team up for a special mission outside of the Hidden Villages. They start off as reluctant partners but gradually learn to trust and rely on each other as they face various challenges together.
Well, their childhood bond in a fanfiction could be centered around mutual growth. Gaara had his inner demon to deal with, and Sakura was constantly trying to prove herself as more than just a fangirl. They might have met when Sakura was collecting herbs for Tsunade and Gaara was wandering in the forest. Gaara's calmness in the face of the forest's wildness intrigued Sakura. She started to talk to him, and Gaara found her chatter oddly comforting. This led to them sharing their dreams and fears. Sakura dreamed of being a great medical ninja, and Gaara just wanted to find a place where he belonged. Their conversations could have spurred each other on in their respective paths.