The next morning, all the Konoha ninjas were gathered in Gaara's office. The redhead was flanked by Temari and Kankuro, who were all trying to keep a serious look on their faces. Which wasn't so easy, considering my increasingly swollen nose and regular sniffles.
Genma would laugh at me like that. Getting a cold in the warmest place in the world was quite an achievement. Well...I'd point out the cold-ass nights, but still wouldn't be able to stop him from teasing me about it forever. That would be funny. Kurenai was already giving me weird looks and Asuma was finding it almost as hard as the Suna siblings to keep a serious look on his face. Great...
"I've also made another decision," Gaara continued and nodded to the guards at the exit. They immediately opened the door.
My eyes widened in surprise as I recognized the mint-colored mop of hair that literally flew into the office. Fuu ran towards us with bouncing steps and stood right next to me. She was literally trembling with excitement.

"You will take Fuu with you to Konoha. Until we know how to deal with the current dangers."
The Taki nin's body was literally shaking. Not much longer and she would probably shoot forward and embrace Gaara. Asuma, Gai and Kurenai nodded dutifully. No one mentioned the word Jinjuuriki. Because almost everyone in the room knew about it.
Shikamaru, who had arrived here yesterday to accompany us home, nodded understandingly and placed a hand on my back, which was already beginning to tremble under the next attack of sneezing.
"I assume Tsunade already knows," the Nara concluded.
"Then we're finally going home. I'm looking forward to seeing real trees again and not withered bushes," he added with a cheeky glance at Temari.
Had I missed something?
A respectable aura clearly built up around Gaara's sister. The blonde took a stance and stood in front of the black-haired chunin, which was of little use as he still towered a good deal over her.

"But we can withstand more than you weaklings. You'll collapse if you're in the desert for even half a minute. Oh, I forgot... the gentleman here tops everything with his laziness. It's probably only five seconds for you."
A vein began to form on Shikamaru's forehead before he began to sigh loudly and vehemently. With regard to Temari, she didn't seem to take his reaction too well. Kankuro was already twitching treacherously in his sister's direction. I could almost see the clouds of steam rising from her ears.
"What the hell. Why am I even arguing with you here? I'm just using up valuable energy," he huffed, raising his hands in mock exasperation.
Nevertheless, this small gesture managed to make Temari's barrel overflow. Kankuro rushed forward and managed to grab hold of his sister's arms before she could reach for her fan and destroy everything that wasn't nailed down. He whispered softly in her ear, holding the older girl's hands tensely while Gaara watched the scene as if there was nothing more ordinary. This whole scene was just too funny that I had to pull myself together to keep from grinning.
A few minutes later, Temari had calmed down again and we were finally able to say goodbye to each other. Without arguing. That was something for once.

As we left the building, my gaze wandered up the steep façade of the tower one last time, to the individual small windows and the protruding balcony on which Gaara stood with his siblings. There was a slight twinge in my stomach. I would miss them, for sure, and I was already looking forward to meeting each of them again.
I turned around and almost crashed into Shikamaru, who had stopped a few meters behind me and was also looking up the tower. A wry grin crept onto my face and I poked the absent Nara in the side.
"Am I mistaken or are you mourning after someone," I grinned cheekily.
He turned his gaze to me now. He seemed to be looking for something in my face before a big, cheeky grin crept onto his.
"You just need to say that, Tora," he replied and stalked past me. I stood rooted to the spot. A few seconds passed before I was able to break out of my stupor. He quickly caught up with me and I ran alongside him. The laughter had not faded for a long time.
"What do you mean, what do you mean by that?" I asked. But Shikamaru remained silent for the rest of the way.

We hardly took any breaks. Each of us was eager to find out the result of all the hard work. Fuu would also get hers as soon as we arrived in Konoha. Gaara had already informed Shibuki of the circumstances. The young kunoichi was more excited than usual, buzzing around the others, asking them about their expectations. She spoke without point or comma, but no one really held it against her. Everyone was excited.
When we saw the great gate of Konoha in the distance, I felt more relief than I had in a long time. Even more so when I saw Genma's brown mop of hair and Kakashi's gray one standing there in front. I only realized how much I had missed them now that I could see them. Their familiar faces.
"Nice to see you all here safe and sound," said Kakashi.
"Achoo," I let out and my face instantly swelled with heat. Damn, that was embarrassing. Why was it always me?
"Don't tell me you caught a cold in the desert, Tora."
The corners of Genma's mouth twitched dangerously. All the joy of reunion I had felt so far faded abruptly. Had something happened? Not that I knew of. Gritting my teeth and holding my head high, I walked past the two Jonin. I didn't have to answer to them. Sooner or later they would find out how it had happened anyway.

Noticing Kiba's smirk on the sidelines, I quickly turned my head in a different direction, only to look at Sakura, who was smiling kindly at me. My anger abruptly subsided a little and I relaxed again.
Let's see what Tsunade had to tell us.
Everyone's tension was clearly noticeable as we stood here in front of our Hokage, unsuspecting of what was to come. Even Kiba and Fuu were unusually quiet. With serious expressions, they looked across the desk at the blonde, who was leaning back with her arms crossed and a warm smile on her lips.
Hinata's hand, which was wrapped around mine, squeezed it so tightly that it really hurt. We followed Tsunade's every movement with fascination as she ran her eyes over the scroll. It took a moment before she finally lowered it and then stood up.
"Very well... Hinata, Shino, Kiba, Sakura, Ino, Choji, Lee and Tenten. You have all performed well and will be appointed chunin with immediate effect."
Cries of joy could be heard and Hinata's hand released its tension, but I tensed up all the more. What had happened to Fuu, Neji and me? Hadn't we made it? I gritted my teeth and tried to swallow the lump that was slowly forming in my throat. It looked like this.

Tsunade now turned her attention to Fuu, who looked just as tense as I did. The girl with the mint-colored hair bit her lip and looked up at the Hokage.
"You've become a chunin too, Fuu, don't worry," she grinned wryly, eliciting a high-pitched squeal of delight from her counterpart. Three heartbeats later, she had hugged me. Tears ran down her cheeks. Once again, she reminded me of Naruto and I had to smile at the thought of the blond chaos ninja. I wonder where he was right now?
"What about Neji and Tora, Tsunade?" Sakura interrupted my train of thought.
She smiled slightly.
"Don't worry. I haven't forgotten about them. Take it easy."
She just needed to say that. Tsunade knew exactly how we felt. It was fun for her to keep us in suspense like this. I could see it sparkling in her eyes.
"Neji. The Kazekage has informed me that he found your performance at his rescue, like your broad knowledge, impressive. That's why you get the title of Jonin."

All my features slipped away. Jonin. Right now. That was amazing. I was really happy for him. He really was a genius and very deserving of this rank.
"Tora."
I was abruptly back in the here and now.
"Apparently the Kazekage had a little more to say about you. And not just about the current exam. Three years ago, he took part in the chunin exams just like you. That makes him an important witness to your actions back then. He said that your sense of responsibility for Team 8 and your friends has only increased, as well as your inner and outer strength, which you already demonstrated in the written exam under Shikamaru. As well as your ability to protect other shinobi, whether they are allies or not."
My head was spinning. Far too much.
"Therefore, my dear Tora, I appoint you Jonin here and now."