…If only he still had access to his sand abilities. In addition to making travel much easier, there might be times when he needed to “discipline” Naruto for his reckless behavior. At the facility, Sakura had always seemed eager to assume that role, from what Gaara observed of their interaction with each other.

“…I will try.”

He climbed it much more carefully, taking his time to make sure his feet could find purchase, before continuing farther up. Carrying around that heavy gourd had given him some upper body strength, at the very least. Once Gaara finally planted his feet onto the tree branch, he warily eyed that distance between the end and the rooftop. Was there enough room to run and create the necessary momentum? It had seemed simple, for Naruto.

Should have taken more taijutsu lessons, back in his Academy days.