Disclaimer: The anime/manga series Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi, Shueisha, TV Tokyo, GAINAX, etc. The author of this specific fiction claims no connection to neither the creation nor the sales of the said work of animation.

Note: It is assumed that 8 years have passed since last chapter, and that Naruto-tachi are 25 years old now.

I've been searching all this time/ for the ones that have the same eyes and same dreams as I do/ My friends

The tears I shed until yesterday/ And smile I have starting from today/ I want to take them all in

The rain of morning/ and the long darkness of the night/ of those and everything else, don't be scared anymore

I... will become the wings... that will protect you strongly like the heavens

I will soar far beyond the boundless era/ and shall give you the future that starts from now

I'll face the wind, and trod upon this earth/ and live on with you endlessly

The old world, touched by the warmth of your hand/ will overflow with kind light

Because you're with me/ with just that I can become stronger than anyone else

This small miracle that allowed our encounter/ will change into the history someday

I... like this ocean... shall be able to erase your pains and sorrow

I will become the brightness that can light up the faraway future that rides upon the distant waves

Until the end of this long journey... I shall live eternally with you...

Like this sky, I will become the powerful wings that can protect you

I will cross the distant times/ and give you the future that begins now

I will go against the wind, walk upon this ground... and will live endlessly with you...

I shall live with you... forever...

"Friends", Senkaiden Houshin Engi ED Theme

The alarm clock was overly loud. A blanket-covered body emitted a groan, then a little hand reached out from under the covers to slap on the alarm clock to silence the evil being for another twenty-four hours. Having accomplished this mission, the hand pulled back into the blanket to join the rest of the body in defensive combat against the cold morning air. The blanket wriggled few times before becoming still again.

"Oraaaaaa! You're gonna be late as hell if you don't wake up!" A voice as equally loud, if not louder than, the alarm clock boomed. This verbal abuse was accompanied with the blanket being yanked away. A small boy sat up sluggishly, scowling as he tried to get his blanket back. The owner of the wake-up call, a man in his twenties, heartily laughed as he lifted the blanket above his head, preventing the boy from getting the blanket back.

"Daddy! You're such a meanie!" The boy complained, his frown deepening. He pushed the spiky strands of his strawberry blond hair out of his ocean-colored eyes, pouting. "It's cold!"

"It won't be cold if you move around," the man cheerfully answered. "So get your lazy ass out of the bed, Uzumaki-Uchiha Gaara."

"I thought it was Uchiha-Uzumaki Gaara," Gaara muttered, scuttling away from the bed to change out of his sleeping clothes. Naruto shrugged.

"Don't worry about such little things. Come on, you know how cranky your father gets when you're late to breakfast. He's such an uptight asshole."

Gaara snickered as he trotted after Naruto to the kitchen. Sasuke was setting roasted tuna down on the table. He looked up when Naruto and Gaara stomped into the kitchen, nodding at the two.

"Good morning, Gaara-san."

"Good morning to you, Father," Gaara answered back just as politely, bowing lightly. He took a seat on the table with his parents. "Thank you for the food."

"Today is your first day of elementary school, isn't it?" Naruto brightly asked. He started to cram food down his throat without waiting for a reply. Gaara nodded. Naruto swallowed the content of his mouth with an effort. "Want me to walk with you?"

"No, you have your mission today, don't you?" Gaara said, more as a statement than a question. "I can walk by myself."

His parents exchanged looks, then they nodded. "Please don't leave after class. We'll come for you in time to pick you up," Sasuke said. "You haven't forgotten what day today is?"

"I get to meet my parents," Gaara happily said, smiling. "And my uncle."

"Look, that's the demon child. Look at those black markings around his eyes."

"How disgusting! Why does even Sand Village's demon has to be here? It's more than enough that we have that fox demon."

"He's an Uchiha, you know."

"No way! Just because the clan is dying out, Uchiha is sinking as low as having a demon in their bloodline?"

"It isn't even bloodline; Uchiha is living with the other demon, Uzumaki, and adopted that child. I heard they're those freaks, you know, in same-sex relationship?"

"Simply repulsive, what that vixen has done. Sasuke used to be such a good child, too. Poor thing, his ancestors must be turning in their graves."

Gaara bit down upon his lip until he tasted blood. He always heard those whispers. At times, he wished he had bad hearing senses. He instead glared at the ground, firmly walking to his school. He ignored parents moving their children out of his way and the repulsed look on their faces. He always cleared a path when he walked in the village; everyone seemed to hate him.

He used to be angry with this segregation. He once burst into tears and tried to beat up the gossipers. But Sasuke had held him back, then kneeled over until they were eye-to-eye. "Gaara-san," Sasuke had patiently said. His eyes were blazing with anger, but his face was expressionless and calm. "Do not resort to violence and stoop to their level. Real man would prove himself as your dad did, not act like a barbarian. A ripe stalk of rice would bend to the wind, instead of fighting against it. Make them acknowledge you. Become strong."

Gaara had nodded, wiping his tears away. He knew that his father was right, but it was sometimes unbearable. He never had any friends; those few children he made friends with were immediately taken away from him by their parents. He was sick of the hatred, of the ignorance, of the loneliness. Sometimes he was seized with almost uncontrollable desire to kill ones who are hurting him. But those times, he remembered that his parents loved him to death, and that made the child feel warm and happy again.

Naruto, of course, was an entirely different story. Although no one dared to openly hate one of the strongest soldiers of the Leaf Village, once gossipers have dared to whisper behind his back. Naruto immediately turned to show them his third finger and to shout obscenities until he was hoarse, forcing Gaara to grimace and cover up his ears at his dad's foul language. Then Naruto had grinned brightly. "That's gotta show 'em," he cheerfully said. But his eyes were full of pain, and Gaara wordlessly had held Naruto's hand as they continued to walk. Naruto had grasped Gaara's hand so tightly that it hurt, but Gaara didn't comment on it.

Gaara entered the classroom quietly, sitting at the back corner where he will be as inconspicuous as possible. He could not bear to make any friends. They would be taken away from him anyway. He could feel children staring at the black markings around his eyes and whisper among themselves. Then the children were already old enough to start hating, to start segregating their fellow humans. Their teacher entered the classroom, and the chattering instantly died out and children rushed to their seats. Their teacher smiled kindly upon them, his eyes skimming his new students before resting upon Gaara. He looked startled, then his smile broadened. Gaara was puzzled.

"My name is Umino Iruka, and I will be responsible for all of you until you become gennin," the teacher said. "You are permitted at any time that you feel that you are ready to take the gennin test, but I suggest that you refrain from doing so until you become at least twelve or so." Gaara decided that that didn't sound like such a bad thing. The man seemed kind. He pulled out his scrolls to take notes. He didn't notice Iruka looking at him fondly, the way the teacher used to look at his other lonely yet kind and energetic demon-possessed student.

"Gaara-kun!"

Gaara looked up from the ground, wordlessly regarding the hyper girl bouncing around him. The girl took the swing next to his own, swinging back and forth. Her short ponytail bounced around with every movement. Gaara sighed. "...what are you doing here, Inori? Shouldn't you be at the kindergarten playground?"

"I skipped grades so I can be with my beloved Gaara-kun!" Inori gushed. "After all, I'm going to become Gaara-kun's bride!"

"Right," Gaara dryly said. "You can't skip grades in Japan. Your parents are going to be mad if you're seen with me, you know. You'll tarnish the Nara clan's name."

"No way! My parents are friends with yours," Inori cheerfully said. "Remember I went to play at your house last time when our parents had a class reunion?"

"Your parents are going to change their mind when their relatives start spewing poison on their mind," Gaara quietly said, looking away. "Besides, once you grow up a little, you will also..."

"Inori-chan! What are you doing here?" A little boy complained, his pink hair dramatically crashing with his dark black eyes. "You're going to get in trouble with the teacher!"

"Whatever. You're no fun, Lee Kaede," Inori said, sticking her tongue out. "Then see you later, Gaara-kun!"

Inori leaned over and placed a quick kiss on Gaara's cheek. Gaara could almost see Kaede popping few veins, his face contorting with childish jealousy. He watched as Inori bounced away and Kaede hurried away after her, then sighed and smiled slightly. At least other children were having fun growing up, even though he wasn't. Gaara stood up and dusted himself off, heading back to the classroom. He decided it was better to read a book then waste all of his free period away.

A small, stifled sobbing noises caught his attention. Gaara cursed his sensitive ears. It was probably some snotty kid who fell down and skinned a knee or something. Big deal. He was used to kids throwing stones at him for fun. But being the kind person that he was, Gaara leaned over the shrubbery and pulled apart the leaves until he found a tiny child curled up in the corner, sobbing.

"Get out of there," Gaara impatiently said. "What are you, a dimwit? This isn't the kindergarten playground, you know."

"I know that..." a fragile voice said. "That's why... I'm here. Everyone won't make fun of me... here."

"Why are they making fun of you?" Gaara asked, his voice softening somewhat. He was startled when the child's face lifted to look at his. The child had beautiful white pupils that glimmered purple in the sunlight. The child was an ethereal beauty that his own father Sasuke was, except the child had a more youthful beauty.

"Because my eyes are freaky," the child softly said. "Everyone thinks it's really nasty, because it looks like my eyes are taken out."

Gaara rolled his eyes. "How stupid. I think your eyes are very nice."

The child looked surprised. The child gingerly stood up to look up at Gaara hopefully. "You... you really think so?"

"Yup. Besides, it's really impressive that you have unique eyes. That means you're that much unique, right? No one else is like you. No one has the same gaze that you have." Gaara smiled brightly. "That's a really cool thing."

The child blushed happily, finally smiling back. Gaara was startled at how cute the child was. "What's your name anyway?"

"I'm Hyuuga Hayato. How about occhan(uncle, middle-aged married man)?"

Gaara almost fell over. "...the hell? I'm no occhan! I'm only seven! If you're Japanese, learn how to speak properly, damn it!"

"So you're an occhan," Hayato triumphly said. "Seven is very old, isn't it? I'm four."

"And you're an idiot. It's oniichan(older brother)! Gaara-oniichan!" Gaara chided. He frowned slightly. "...are you a girl or a boy?"

"A boy!" Hayato cried, indignant. "How... how mean! Just because my hair is a little long...!"

"No, it's your face, not your hair," Gaara teased. He looked up as the bell rang. "I have to go back... See you later, Hayato. And be more proud of yourself. I'm sure you'll like yourself better then."

Hayato softly smiled. "...thank you, Gaara-oniichan..."

Gaara ran ahead of his parents, who were quietly talking between themselves. He knew the place by heart. He placed the bouquet of flowers on the ground, then kneeled on the ground and smiled broadly.

"Mom, how are you doing? We came to visit you again! Were you lonely without me?" Gaara fingered the soft green grass that covered his mother's tomb gently, as if he was stroking his mother's hair. "Dad even brought you some sake(type of alcoholic beverage)!"

He felt his parents settling down beside him to pay their respect to the grave, but he continued to talk to his mother's grave. He had lots of things he wanted to say to her. "It was my first day at elementary school. My teacher was named Umino Iruka. Isn't that a weird name? But he's really nice! I wish you didn't die, but it couldn't be helped, right?" Gaara felt tears welling up and furiously rubbed at his eyes. He felt a warm hand being placed on his shoulder.

"Gaara is still a child, so it's okay to cry," Naruto softly said, smiling. "Your mother was an incredible person. It isn't shameful at all to shed tears for her. Temari saved both Hidden Leaf and Hidden Sand Village, you know, from the raccoon demon. Your biological father lived and died proudly with conviction in his heart. And Sasuke saved everyone from the fox demon. Your parents are amazing people, Gaara."

Gaara stared at Naruto, then buried his head into Naruto's chest. "I don't care what others say. I'm happy that I was born, Dad... Because living is fun... Because you two are my parents... I'm thankful mother decided to have me..."

"Gaara-san is so mature that it's frightening," Sasuke said, chuckling lightly. Naruto gave him a playful look of resentment.

"Where do you think he learned that from, Sasuke?"

"I wonder," Sasuke said, giving Naruto a helpless look. Gaara laughed and stood up to walk over to other two graves.

"Were you friends with Uncle Gaara, Father?" he asked, smiling. Sasuke paused, then shook his head.

"No... But I have deep respects for that man. Your father, too... They both had their own ideals and convictions, and followed it until their death. They were very honorable men."

Gaara nodded. Breeze ruffled his hair before running away. The air felt gentle and cool against his skin. He wordlessly looked at the graves of people who had contributed to his birth, then turned to smile at his parents before embracing them tightly.

The human history will repeat itself. Another war will surely take place. People still hate and segregate. Gaara will be lonely and be an outcast, like the Gaara before him. But this time Gaara will not lose to his own darkness, because this time he has people whom he truly loves. This time Gaara will be the light, not the darkness. He will become the wings that will free himself from the constraints of his society; he will become the strength that can stand up against the meaningless hatred.

He will build a new future, a new generation that will be less ignorant and hating then this generation. And he will walk on with the people he love and love him in return, and live on. And his eyes will eternally reflect everything, embracing everything with kind light. Because the gaze is eternal.

I hope I haven't made this too sappy and ruined the atmosphere of the entire story. It's a brief glimpse into the far future, and... it's not the end of everything. Rather, it's the beginning of a whole new saga. I think this time, Gaara will be able to get the person whom he truly loves and be loved in return. Whether that will be Hayato, Inori, Kaede, or someone else, I have no idea. But Gaara will surely be able to shine this time. I think he will be the gentle starlight that Naruto likes so much. Not mysteriously beautiful like Sasuke's moonlight, yet not strong and vigorously shining like Naruto's sunlight. Just... gentle, sweet light that constantly stays with you. Gaara's life won't be easy, but I think he'll have a lot of fun living. That's what's important, isn't it?

I've been reading my past chapters over again, and it's so horrible that I can't stand it. ^^;; I sound like a complete idiot! How embarrassing. Thank you for bearing with my idiocy... I'm slowly becoming an adult, but I'm also still a child, after all. I have a lot of life I have to experience before I can become a light, too. But... I won't be alone in my journey, and that's what makes living so much fun. ^_^

Yes, yet another Yonekura Chihiro music. I really am obsessed with her. ^^;; Actually anything sung by her that I listened to so far not only have beautiful melody, but lyric that really touches the heart. I really love her voice, too. I usually like songs by male singers because I can sing along without killing my vocal chords, but Yonekura-san's songs are an exception. They're very easy to sing to.

There is a picture of Gaara Nisei, Hayato, Inori, and Kaede. You can take a look if you're interested in how those kids look like. Mind you, I sketched it in like ten minutes, so it's not good at all, but... ^^;; But you guys prefer that I write this chapter faster than working for hours on that picture and releasing the chapter late, right? Right? ^^;;

...so... that's really a good-bye then, right? This really is the last chapter of "Manazashi wa Eien ni"... Then stay happy and healthy! Have fun living, and we'll meet again someday, right? See ya!

-12/30/2003-

Shirohane

Version 2- 2/22/2004

There has been no drastic changes from version 1 to 2; just some minor grammar error and such. However, I would like to reassure the readers that Sasuke stayed faithful to Naruto; he is most definitely not Gaara Nisei's father. Not a biological one, anyway. Not a drop of either Uzumaki or Uchiha blood flows in Gaara.