Naruto and Sasuke decided to get to Iwagakure using Sasuke’s hawk summon.

---

Naruto:
“Hey, hey, Sasuke. I’ve been thinking—maybe I should master more jutsu like you. I especially want to learn my dad’s Hiraishin jutsu! You’ve got your space-time thing going with your Sharingan, right?”

Sasuke:
“You shouldn’t stop learning just because you brought me back to the village, Usuratonkachi. Isn’t your goal to become the strongest Hokage?”

Naruto:
“Sure is! I want to be the best Hokage and the strongest Hokage that the whol—”

Sasuke: (interrupting)
“Don’t say ‘the whole village will acknowledge you.’ Every land of ninja already acknowledges you, Naruto. Think deeper—how can you be a better Hokage for our village?”

Naruto: (chuckles sheepishly)
“Haha, force of habit. It’s true, I’ve been acknowledged by all the villages… but there are still promises I made to Mother. I’ve still got a long way to go, huh?”

Sasuke:
“Yeah. But you don’t have to do it alone, Usuratonkachi.”

Naruto: (smiles brilliantly)
“Yeah… now that you’ve returned, I’m not alone anymore.”

Suddenly embarrassed, Naruto quickly switched topics.

---

Naruto:
“Bah, I should’ve asked Kakashi-sensei about the Hiraishin technique and learned it. Getting to Iwagakure even on your hawk is so long and painful. If I knew Dad’s jutsu, I could teleport us there in a jiffy. Ahhh… (grumbles, muttering complaints)”

Sasuke:
“Quiet.” (pauses) “Wait… are you calling me slow, you Usuratonkachi?”

POOF!

Sasuke’s hawk vanished mid-flight, and the two landed face-first in the sand.

---

Naruto:
“Hey! Sasuke, what was that for?!”

Sasuke:
“This won’t do. It’s our first mission together after a long time—I can’t stand you talking the entire way. Let’s race there. Let’s see once and for all who’s dead last.”

Naruto: (grinning)
“I like the way you think. You’re on, Sasuke!”

The two dashed toward Iwagakure, wind rushing past them. For the first time in years, they weren’t chasing each other. They were running side by side—with smiles on their faces, and the peace they had both longed for quietly blooming between them.