"Can't believe you forgot Hinata's birthday, Naruto!", said Kiba, or rather, lisped. His face was red all the way to his ears, caused by all the sake he was drinking. The numerous bottles piled up all around him bore witness to this fact. And as he continued talking, he was failing, badly, at picking up a piece of meat from the grill set on the middle of the table. "No, actually, scratch that, it's exactly like you. Unbelievable".
"I know how you feel, Kiba, but take it easy with the sake, okay? You're too loud when you're drunk", said Chouji chewing so much meat at once that his round face was even rounder than usual. "Don't you think Naruto is feeling bad enough already?"
"Ah, it's because I'm making up for last year's party", said Kiba, chugging more sake and waving at the waitress to bring more. "Oh, and I'm not done with you, Naruto".
The effects of the Fourth Ninja World War were still all too present last year for anyone to be in a celebrating mood, even if the alliance was victorious in the end. There had been a lot of celebration on the battlefield right after Naruto, aided by all his friends, had dealt the finishing blow to Uchiha Madara; all the tension of the days of fighting was released in thunderous cheers for Naruto, the Child of Prophecy and savior of the world. But after returning home the reality of the casualties felt more real to everyone than it ever did while they were fighting, though no ninja, no matter how clever, would've believed that possible. There were still many wounds to be healed from the War.
Now, three years have passed, Konoha's completely rebuild and back to its former glory, the Great Five Nations were working together to keep the peace that cost them so much to gain. Tsunade was still in power, but everyone and their mothers knew that Naruto was the most likely candidate to succeed her. The times were brighter these days: the Great Nations were united and peace was in the world. So this year New Year's was back to being a big party.
Which brings us to the current scene: Naruto, Kiba, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Chouji and Kakashi –the girls were having their own party somewhere else and Shino gathered in Chouji's favorite BBQ restaurant at 3 a.m, waiting for the dawn to come and in the meanwhile talking about whatever. The hottest topic of the of the night: Naruto's big mistake.
"I'm the worst! It was our anniversary too!" screamed Naruto exasperated. He didn't want to be reminded of the fact that he had forgotten about his girlfriend's birthday; the first that they'd get to celebrate -had Naruto remembered- together. But until the 31st he had been in a special S-rank mission all the way in the Sound village that seemed to be officially recognized despite it's more than shoddy beginnings. There was nothing he could've done. He had his hands full with for an entire week. "Shikamaru, you're the genius. Tell me what to do!"
"Huh? Girls are too troublesome, sorry I can't help you", said Shikamaru, "ask Sasuke he's the lady-killer" he continued with and unusually snarky tone –the sake was getting to him– and without adding nothing else he continued to watch distractedly at the fireworks still lighting the early morning as the celebrations continued.
"Right! For some reason girls still like a silent, boring guy like you, Sasuke. Tell what to do or she's going to leave me!", screamed Naruto, loudly, and slumped his head on the table. "And it was all going so well…"
Sasuke, who way more pressing matters to worry about (going from missing-nin to normal Konoha citizen wasn't an easy transition), was dragged to the party by Naruto's persistence and even Kakashi supported the idea saying it would do him good. He'd been only absentmindedly listening to the random conversations, but he thought it'd more boring to just stay at home. "Nothing you can do", he said laconically. He didn't like Naruto's insults, so he thought he'd take some payback.
Kiba stopped gobbling meat and washing it down with sake to pitch in again. "See?! Ah she was so happy in her birthday party. You know she told me 'can't be helped Kiba-kun, Naruto-kun is busy', so I thought you'd and make it up to her, but the only thing you say when you see her is 'what's up?'. You're hopeless." Then Kiba went back to eating and drinking like his life depended on it.
"Kiba, just shut up, you're not helping at all", said Naruto remembering there was someone who hadn't yet said anything. "Oh, yeah, Kakashi-sensei…", then he saw Kakashi lift his face from his Icha Icha Tactics book "no, never mind, I'll talk to her tomorrow…" Naruto felt his consciousness slip away, but he let it because maybe all this could turn out to be a dream.
The sun shining on his eyes and a head-splitting headache woke him up. He was lying on his bed with his pajamas on. "I guess it wasn't a dream", he thought stumbling out of his bed and making his way to his kitchen. His throat was parched.
His little kitchen wasn't much to talk about, but when all you ate was cup ramen you really didn't need anything to fancy. Naruto poured himself a glass a orange juice and thought about what he would say to Hinata when he met her. (He wanted to meet her yesterday, but Sakura advised him to wait a couple of days; so he did).
As he was thinking up all the possible ways he could he "I'm sorry", he heard someone knock on his door. Knock-knock, then soft female voice. "Naruto-kun?" More knocks. Naruto coughed the orange juice he was drinking, dropped the glass in the sink and ran to the door, he's hangover forgotten. He opened the door and there she was.
"Hi-hinata?", Naruto stuttered. Later he'd fid quite amusing that he was the one stuttering.
Hinata didn't look her usual clean self: her long black hair looked ruffled, her eyes half open and her jacked unzipped a bit too low. Naruto thought it was sexy and an interesting change of pace from usual cute look.
Hinata noticed how Naruto was looking at her and said "uhmm… the party just ended and I just came here". She combed her hair with her hands and zipped up her jacked –Naruto followed both gestures very closely with his eyes–. "Happy new year, Naruto-kun".
Hinata's last line snapped Naruto out his daze. "Me too! I'm so so sorry!", out of all the possible ways he thought to apologize, each smoother than the other, begging for her forgiveness had won. "I don't deserve you…"
Hinata looked surprised. "No, Naruto-kun… I mean I was kind of upset before, but I can understand, so I wanted to say sorry for avoiding you this couple of days and…"
"No, wait, don't apologize it was all my fault", said Naruto putting his head down. He was thinking what else to say when he suddenly had an idea. "I know, I'll make it up to you!"
"What? No, you don't have to, Naruto-kun. Really…"
"I can't leave it like this! So to make it up to you I've decided to start over", claimed Naruto confidently.
"Start over?" said Hinata confused. Naruto was truly living up to his title of Unpredictable Ninja #1.
"Yes!", Naruto said lunging forward and hugging Hinata. "A single day is nothing when I can dedicate a entire month to you and us. It'll be great. Believe it."