Ero-Sennin - 4

"Parting gifts?" Haku asked as Hiroshi led them through a town market, "But Hiroshi-san, we don't need any gifts."

Naruto begged to differ, "Presents would be nice."

Gaara frowned at Naruto. Did he often take advantage of people this way? Or was this a special occasion? Haku shared his thoughts.

"No I suppose you don't," Hiroshi replied, "But I want you to all have something to remember me by while you're off training to become ninja!"

"We won't forget you Hiroshi-san." Haku said quietly.

Gaara detected the distress in the boy's voice, although Naruto was not as conscious of it. He made a bee-line for a dango vender and pointed to it enthusiastically.

"Hey, Hiroshi-san! I know what I want for my present!" The blonde boy was excited, "See, normally I would ask for ramen but I get ramen all the time. So if I get dango I'll think of you every time I eat it!"

Hiroshi saw the childish logic in his reasoning, "Alright, Naruto."

Naruto was busy selecting his snack while Haku spoke to Gaara.

"Gaara, where exactly did you come from? If you don't mind my asking?" He asked quietly, knowing it was more of a personal subject.

"...the Village Hidden in the Sand."

Haku nodded, "I see. I'm from the Water Country."

Haku was easy to confide in, Gaara decided, although he wasn't prepared just yet to tell him how and why he had left Suna. Thankfully, the black haired boy didn't ask any more questions.

"Thanks, Hiroshi-san!" Naruto munched on his skewer of dango, and pranced back over to his companions.

Hiroshi then turned to Gaara. He hadn't known the boy for that long, but already he was beginning to grow on him. He was reserved, almost shy. And his quiet nature was refreshing.

"Anything you had in mind, Gaara?" He asked.

Gaara was startled. 'A present? For me?'

This was something he was sure wouldn't happen again to him for a very long time. He scanned the area, not seeing anything he really wanted. Typically, a child his age would want sweets or a toy, but when he did finally find something that struck his fancy, Hiroshi was slightly confused.

"I can use that." Gaara pointed to a gourd that was large in proportion to his height. Hiroshi was puzzled why he would ever want such a strange thing as a parting gift.

"Are you sure Gaara? Do you really want...that?" Hiroshi clarified.

Haku also was perplexed, "Why would you want that?"

Gaara went up to the vender. An old woman watched as he removed the cork from the top of the gourd and then raised his hand. His companions watched in stunned silence as Gaara summoned the sand that was scattered all over the street.

There was quite a lot of it. The sand lifted off the ground at Gaara's whim and neatly slipped into the gourd. Hiroshi, although caught off guard by such power, understood why the boy wanted it.

A container.

Naruto and Haku watched in awe as they had before.

The blonde boy grinned to his friend, "Wow, he's kinda like you Haku, but with sand instead of water."

Haku nodded, "Yes, I guess so."

Hiroshi nodded to the red haired boy, "Alright Gaara. I'll get it for you if you want it."

The old woman nearly had a heart attack watching, and quickly wanted to appease the boy with the frightening power, "Go on, just take it and go."

How fortunate!

Gaara wrapped his arms around the large gourd and waddled back to his companions.

"I just want to keep my sand with me." He explained.

Naruto nodded, "Yeah, I can see why. Hey Haku, maybe you should get one too but for water instead."

Haku shook his head, "No, I...I don't want anything. I'll always remember Hiroshi."

The merchant could understand why Haku was having a difficult time with the idea. Yes, Haku was overjoyed that he had the opportunity to go to the Village Hidden in the Leaves, but he was hesitant to leave Hiroshi.

The merchant had saved his life and become his dear friend in the process. It wouldn't be as difficult for Naruto and Gaara to say goodbye.

And Hiroshi admitted to himself that he would sorely miss the boy from the Water Country as well.

Hiroshi composed himself; this was no time to get emotional. The kids had a future now, and a seemingly bright one at that. It was all he had to know.

"Come on you three," Hiroshi waved them on, "Let's get ourselves some lunch before Jiraiya-sama returns."

Thankfully that would take a while.

The boys followed Hiroshi, all the while Naruto complained at why Haku hadn't gotten a present (and that he was wishing for more dango as well, but not for its sentimental value).

"There's something I want you to have Haku," Hiroshi told him as they walked into a tea house, "I know it would mean a lot to you."

Haku was still firm in his decision, "But I don't want anything Hiroshi-san."

The merchant chuckled, "Well that's just fine Haku, but I want you to have it anyway."

Gaara eyed the teacakes spread out on the table hungrily. It had been days since he had eaten properly, and he was about ready to eat a horse, or at least the remainder of all Naruto's ramen.

"Are ya hungry, Gaara?" Naruto gave him a slap on the back, "I am too!"

He apparently was always hungry.

And the close contact Naruto was introducing him to almost made Gaara want to give him a good whack. Still, he wanted to exercise more self-restraint; a small, first step on his way to learning to control his power. Even if it was tough to get used to, surely it was a change for the better.

Gaara wondered if Haku had the same feeling about Naruto.

After lunch, Naruto began to describe the beauty of Konoha as they returned to Hiroshi's stand. Jiraiya was waiting for them.

The sage was busy with editing his book however, and wasn't too anxious for their arrival.

"Are there lots of ninja in your village, Naruto?" Haku absorbed all of what he was told, even if it had been slightly exaggerated.

"Yup! Tons of them!" He answered. He was eager to go home; he hadn't expected to miss it so much.

Gaara spoke up, "My village has lots of ninja too."

Naruto squinted his eyes in realization, "Oh...yeah that's right. Where are you from again, Gaara?"

"He's from the Hidden Sand Village." Haku informed him.

Naruto had heard of the place before, but not in detail, so he only nodded to Gaara. It was when he caught sight of Jiraiya his pleasant mood turned sour. He disliked the sage for a reason he could not yet put his finger on, even if he did hold a mild respect for the old nin. One day, he would understand what that "research" was all about.

"Hey, old man! Tell me again why we have to travel with you?" The blonde boy complained.

Jiraiya didn't even look up from his work, "Because I'm the only one around who can take your sorry little butts to Leaf..."

Naruto was offended, "Quit talking like that to us, old man!"

Naruto lacked the ability to practice what he preached.

"I apologize for my lack of respect, Hokage-sama, but you aren't exactly rolling out the welcome wagon either..." He muttered to himself after that, "...squirt." Jiraiya couldn't believe that he had to be the one to find the runaway Kyuubi vessel.

Gaara frowned at Naruto as well as the sage. He had to put up with this bickering for the entirety of their journey? He wasn't looking forward to it.

"Haku," Hiroshi beckoned the farm boy over, "Come here for a moment will you?"

He slipped away from his companions and went up to his guardian, "Yes, Hiroshi-san?"

"Take this," The fat man handed Haku a long scarf; it looked almost new, "It's from the Water Country. I just want you to have something from your homeland while you're...while you're training."

It wasn't very useful since the weather would be warmer in Fire Country, however the boy was overcome with gratitude. The gift meant a lot to him.

Haku tied it around his waist and beamed up at the thoughtful merchant, "I...um, thank you Hiroshi-san!" The boy felt tears sting his eyes but he held them back.

He was supposed to be happy right? He was going to a better place where he could achieve his goal. So why was he so sad?

"I know you've been through much, Haku, even if you haven't told me all about it," Hiroshi patted him on the head, "But I just want you to know that I believe in you-"

The merchant turned to the other boys as well, "I believe in all of you. I know that you'll all make fine shinobi someday."

Jiraiya snickered inwardly, doubting the notion. They hadn't shown very much promise and had all appeared to be misfits. Still, he knew it was a sentimental moment and he decided not to ruin it.

Naruto sniffled loudly; he too had grown attached to the old merchant.

He and Haku gave Hiroshi a big hug, and when Gaara only watched with mild curiosity, Naruto dragged him into it as well, nearly suffocating him.

Jiraiya sighed; did farewells really have to be this difficult?

Hiroshi chuckled at Haku and Naruto's sad faces, (and Gaara's blue one) they certainly were an odd bunch; a group of outcasts, but they were his outcasts, and he was fond of them all.

"Well, farewell for now," He each patted them on the head one last time, "I'm sure we'll see each other again sometime."

Naruto nodded, "R-right..." He then chuckled to himself, "Heh, I'm starting to sound like Hinata-chan...boy do I miss her!"

Gaara turned to Naruto, "Who's...Hinata?"

While Naruto rambled on about his only friend in the Leaf Village, Haku smiled at Hiroshi.

"I promise Hiroshi-san, I'll become a strong ninja and...I'll come back and take you to Konoha when I can."

The merchant nodded to Haku, "I know, Haku."

"Are you ready?" Jiraiya asked, putting away his naughty book, "You don't have to go if you don't want to."

"I apologize Jiraiya-sama, it's time," The merchant nudged his wards along, "Go on now boys."

"Bye Hiroshi-san!" Naruto bade him farewell, ready to go and see Konoha again, busying himself by making verbal jabs at the toad hermit.

Gaara's green eyes scanned over Hiroshi for a moment, but a small smile formed on his face, "Goodbye."

After the Kazekage's son had followed after Naruto, Haku looked up at Hiroshi, still hesitant to leave.

"Go on, Haku. It's alright." The fat man assured him.

Haku nodded, 'I...I must go to the Hidden Leaf Village.'

"Come on Haku! Let's GO!" Naruto called back to him.

With one last smile, Haku ran after his friends, promising to himself that he would make Hiroshi proud.