Gaara.

The feelings were intense, deep in his chest and yet seeming to spread right through him the more he thought about it. He had trouble, trying to organise his thoughts when it came to his friends, so many of them were in danger. He'd lost people already, and the thought of losing more of them had been a struggle to overcome.

At least, right here and now there was one solid truth. Gaara was here. Safe, and he would make the very most of that fact.

He bumped into someone he hadn't expected to suddenly appear in his way, but even that didn't deter him. Despite the wobble in his step, he regained enough composure to keep running. To his credit, he slowed down a little before impact, but there was absolutely nothing that would stop him from doing something that had once felt so outrageous. Gaara might complain, he might protest, he might get angry - but right now Naruto didn't care.

"Gaara." He muttered, three steps away from his friend. Both arms reached out in a flash, and he tried to slow down but still slammed bodily against the other, grabbing him around the shoulders and taking the Kazekage with him as he struggled to stay upright.