Gaara of the Desert

The desert wind blows more softly than before. The sand no longer roars with violence, but whispers, as if it had learned to obey not only his power… but also his peace.

Gaara stands on the Kazekage's balcony, his cloak moving slowly. His reddish hair now has slightly duller strands, a sign of the passage of time, but his eyes remain firm… and calmer.

The mark on his forehead—“love”—is no longer a symbol of loneliness. Now it is a reminder of everything he managed to change. Inside the room, his partner watches him in silence. They don't need to say anything. They know that, although Gaara is still reserved, he is no longer alone in his thoughts.

—The wind is calm today —Gaara says without turning around.

His voice is deeper, more measured. There is no longer any anger in it.

—Just like you —his partner responds with a slight smile.

Gaara closes his eyes for a moment. Before, that silence would have consumed him… now he enjoys it.

The sand around him moves gently, forming an invisible barrier, not out of fear… but out of habit. However, there is someone who can pass through it effortlessly. When his partner approaches and takes his hand, Gaara does not pull away. That small gesture, almost imperceptible, is the greatest change of all.

—Sunagakure is at peace —he murmurs, and for the first time in his life, so is his heart.