I didn´t like the Shikamaru-part all that much, since it wasn´t really about him, but about Naruto bonding with everybody. It was a bit funny and all, but it didn´t feel as centred on the titular character as the previous parts where...
The Gaara-part was pretty calm and sad, as expected.
What I don´t really get concerning the next episode is how a story about an adult Jiraiya fits into this "boyhood arc", I mean, Kakashi also doesn´t fit exactly since he is not from the genaration of Naruto, Sasuke, Gaara etc., but at least his part is about his boyhood. I would rather have Lee, Neji and others. But maybe we get them too in some of the next episodes...