The racing rabbit

Outside Konoha, the three-person team from Sunagakure was about to begin its journey home.

Naruto Uzumaki and Gaara stood facing each other. After facing life and death and coming to understand each other in a dream, their relationship had changed completely.

"Hey, Gaara!" Naruto flashed his trademark sunny grin and spread his arms.

Gaara froze for a moment. Looking at Naruto's smile, free of any shadow, he stepped forward, awkwardly but resolutely. The two boys hugged each other tightly.

"You're welcome to come visit me in Sunagakure anytime." Gaara's voice was still somewhat low, but it carried a rare sincerity.

"You too! You have to come to Konoha!" Naruto gave Gaara's back a hearty pat before letting go, his eyes burning with determination. "Then we'll see which of us becomes our village's Kage first!"

Gaara looked at Naruto, feeling that fierce determination and wholehearted acceptance, and gave a firm nod. A single, resolute syllable rose from his throat:

"Yeah!"

No more words were needed. Everything had already been said. Gaara turned and headed toward the Land of Wind, accompanied by Temari and Kankuro.

Temari, bringing up the rear, could not resist looking back just before she disappeared around the bend. Her gaze crossed the distance and settled precisely on Shikamaru Nara, who was leaning against the frame of the Konoha Gate in its shadow, gazing lazily at the sky.

Her eyes held a complicated mix of emotions, with a barely perceptible trace of inquiry and farewell.

Shikamaru, however, seemed to be doing nothing more than watching the clouds. His expression did not change, nor did his gaze shift in the slightest, as though he had never noticed her looking at him.

Only after Temari had vanished completely did he yawn and scratch his head. Turning toward Naruto, who was still