"Ah~ The Grass Village is so much more comfortable. None of that freezing cold like back in the Sand Village." Kankurō, dressed in the brown tracksuit-style uniform of the Sand Ninja Academy, glanced around at the lively streets with a faintly complaining tone. The face paint on his cheeks only added to his dramatic expression.
The uniforms for the Three Ninja Academies followed a similar design—practical, workwear-inspired tracksuits that gave the students a youthful, energetic look. However, each village had its distinct color scheme: green for Grass Village, blue for Rain Village, and brown for Sand Village, reflecting the unique identity of each region.
Kankuro's grumbling earned an exasperated eye roll from the girl beside him. Her pale blonde hair was tied back, and a massive fan was securely strapped to her back.
"Didn't Headmistress Pakura already give you the green light to transfer to the Grass Ninja Academy with Gaara? You're the one who turned it down," Temari pointed out bluntly.
"Heh, well..." Kankurō rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "I'm a Sand Ninja, you know? It wouldn't look right if I went to school in the Grass Village."
"Ha!" Temari rolled her eyes, smirking. "Let's be real—you were just scared."
Kankurō's cheeks burned red as he floundered. "W-who's scared?! I just didn't want to abandon the pride of the Sand Village!"
But Temari's sharp side-eye cut straight through his weak defense, and with a groan of defeat, he slumped his shoulders. "Alright, alright, fine. I was scared back then," he admitted, his voice trailing off.
He straightened up slightly, his tone turning defensive as he added, "But come on, I was just a kid! How was I supposed to understand what a Tailed Beast even was? Everyone in the village was terrified back then!"
After all, even their father, the late Kazekage, had openly referred to the Tailed Beast as a terrifying monster. How could a kid like him not be scared?
"And for the record, I don't call Gaara a monster anymore," Kankurō added quickly, as if trying to set things straight.
In truth, Kankurō blamed their father for most of the fear and division in their family. What kind of parent tells an entire village to avoid their own child, spreads rumors labeling him as a monster, and orchestrates fake assassination attempts against him? It wasn't Kankurō's fault that he had been terrified. Back then, even hearing Gaara's name was enough to send a chill down his spine.
But as he grew older, Kankurō started to understand the truth about Tailed Beasts and Jinchūriki. He might not yet have the strength to fight such a creature, but he no longer feared it. A Tailed Beast was a Tailed Beast, and Gaara was Gaara. The two were not the same—and he wasn't going to let anyone tell him otherwise again.
Kankurō gazed at the vibrant, bustling streets of Grass Village and let out a wistful sigh. "Things have really changed over the years…"
His thoughts drifted back to those turbulent days when their father, the Kazekage, had passed away unexpectedly. The chaos that followed had left the village in disarray, their future uncertain and frightening. The fear of what might come next had been palpable.
But then, piece by piece, everything began to improve. Gaara, once ostracized, was taken under the care and guidance of people who saw him as more than a vessel for a Tailed Beast. The village itself was relocated to a more hospitable area, new homes were built, and fresh schools were established.
Now, they wore the same uniforms as students from other villages, studied from textbooks filled with diverse jutsu, and even learned from teachers who traveled from the Rain and Grass Villages. Their father's obsession no longer weighed them down. Remarkably, without that single-minded pursuit, life flourished.
They could now afford things that had once been distant dreams—like leisure trips to the lush Land of Grass or the misty Land of Rain. The transformation was so extraordinary that even the older generation still marveled at how far they had come. It was a new era, one they could hardly have imagined during the darker days of their past.
Beside him, Temari observed the lively streets with a faint smile tugging at her lips. The energy of Grass Village was infectious, yet her gaze soon shifted to her brother. After a brief silence, her expression turned serious, and she shot Kankurō a sharp warning glare.
"You better not call Gaara a monster again," she said, her tone firm and uncompromising.
"Come on!" Kankurō groaned, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation. "I haven't said that in ages, Temari! Cut me some slack, will you?"
Just as the words faded into the air, a familiar voice rang out, carrying an unmistakable trace of excitement. "Temari! Kankurō!"
Kankurō froze at the sound, his body stiffening involuntarily. He turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as the approaching figure came into view.
There, walking toward them with steady steps, was Gaara. His pale face was expressionless as ever, the kanji for 'love' etched on his forehead. The massive gourd strapped to his back was unmistakable, and the green uniform of the Grass Ninja Academy only added to the certainty. Gaara—their younger brother—was here.
"Heh heh~" Kankurō forced a nervous smile, trying to cover up the unease in his voice. "Gaara, you're here?"
Temari, however, reacted much more calmly. She offered a small, warm smile and nodded, her posture and demeanor reflecting the poise of the eldest sibling. "Gaara."
"Mm," Gaara responded with his usual impassive tone, his expression unreadable as ever. After a short pause, he continued, "I heard students from Sand and Rain villages were arriving. I thought I might find you both here, so I came to see you."
Though Gaara's tone remained calm and detached, Temari and Kankurō weren't fazed—they had long since grown accustomed to it. This was simply Gaara's way. However, they hadn't expected him to make the effort to visit them. When they first received the message at the reception desk that Gaara was coming over, they had been surprised, unsure if it was true.
Temari offered a sheepish smile. "Sorry for making you come all this way. Kankurō and I were planning to visit you after the exams."
"It's fine," Gaara replied, shaking his head with his usual quiet composure. "Aunt Pakura told me to take a break and gave me some spending money."
He had briefly considered inviting Naruto and Sasuke along, but both of them had said they were focused on their own preparations for the exam. Not wanting to interrupt, Gaara had decided to come on his own instead.
As Gaara stood before Temari and Kankurō, a faint, unbidden smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Though he visited Sand Village once a year, it had been months since he last saw his siblings. In that time, both Temari and Kankurō had changed so much, their growth was undeniable.
But after a brief moment, Gaara's expression returned to its usual calm. He turned to walk ahead, but after a few steps, he paused and spoke over his shoulder. "It's getting late. Let's take a quick walk and then head back. We still need to focus on the exams."
Temari and Kankurō both smiled, a warmth settling between them. Kankurō, his earlier tension gone, followed Gaara with a newfound confidence. "So, how's your studying been going, Gaara?"
"It's fine," Gaara replied in his usual neutral tone.
Kankurō puffed his chest proudly. "Well, I'm aiming for first place this time!"
Temari immediately shot him a look and let out an exasperated sigh. "You? First place? Don't get ahead of yourself."
Gaara's expression hardened as he looked at Kankurō. Just as Kankurō felt a wave of unease, thinking Gaara might be upset, Gaara spoke in a firm, unwavering tone, "First place is mine."
Kankurō froze, momentarily taken aback, before he straightened up and shot back confidently, "Hmph! I've gotten a lot stronger lately. I, Kankurō, will become the greatest puppet master in all of Sand Village."
"Stop acting like you're invincible!" Temari teased, rolling her eyes. "The first place is mine!"
With that, the three siblings continued their walk, their banter light and easy. They shared stories about the happenings at the academy, although Kankurō tended to exaggerate his achievements while Gaara simply smiled and nodded along. Temari, as always, kept her brothers in check, puncturing Kankurō's boasts with teasing remarks.
Despite the casual atmosphere, there was a quiet warmth between them, a bond—something none of them had truly experienced before. As the evening wore on, the three decided to take a leisurely stroll, enjoying each other's company for a while longer.
As they walked, Gaara treated Temari and Kankurō to various treats from the Yuki Clan and the Uchiha Clan. Despite the freezing weather, they couldn't resist opting for cold drinks, which left them shivering and their faces numb. Still, they couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all, even Gaara allowing a faint smile to tug at his lips.
They ended the night by deciding to watch a movie together, the simple moments of joy shared between them. Before they knew it, time had flown by, and it was late.
"I'll head back now," Gaara said calmly as he escorted them back to their accommodations. "See you at the exam hall."
"See you at the exam hall!" Temari and Kankurō replied in unison, their voices full of energy.
Temari gave him a gentle smile and a reassuring nod. "Go ahead, Gaara. Don't worry about us."
"Gaara!" Kankurō called out suddenly, his voice loud against the quiet of the night.
Gaara paused, turning to look back at his brother, a silent question in his gaze.
Kankurō cupped his hands around his mouth and grinned confidently. "I'm stronger now!" He puffed out his chest, giving a playful smirk. "So, I'm not scared of you anymore. Just don't start crying when I beat you."
Gaara blinked in surprise, then a small, almost amused smile appeared on his face. "We'll see about that. By the way, the first place is mine."
With that, he turned and continued walking, his figure gradually fading into the night.
Temari shook her head, a small laugh escaping her. "You're such an idiot," she muttered to Kankurō. "Don't come crying when Gaara ends up beating you."
But as she watched Gaara disappear, a soft smile crept onto her face. This... feels nice.