January 1st

Rating: PG/K+

Genre: Humor

Summary: Gai's never very happy for New Year's… [Eighth in the birthday series

[HAPPEH NEW YEAR! 2008! Features Team Gai, Naruto, and an overly drunk Sasuke-kun…

Author's Note: Wrote this in the hour following New Year's arrival. I contemplated it all day… And this is what hit me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Obviously. Or Kabuto/Sasuke would be an OFFICIAL PAIRING, DAMMIT.

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Fifteen minutes.

It seemed as though the world had gone topsy-turvy that New Year's eve; Sasuke had drunk enough champagne to take down an elephant, and he was happy as a clam (unnervingly so). The Ice Prince (as dubbed by his peers) was being wild and promiscuous, leaving many to wonder just how much alcohol one could consume before succumbing to alcohol poisoning.

To the contrary, Maito Gai, who was typically an insufferably cheery, highly embarrassing, wild and nutty person, had (Like Sasuke) ingested enough alcohol to stun an elephant, and was now unbelievably miserable. There was a slight possibility that he was simply a moody drunk, but that would be too much of a contrast to his usually perky nature.

Ten minutes.

"Hey, Tenten, Neji, Bushy Brow- What's up with Gai-sensei?" Naruto inquired curiously, surprised at the typically energetic man's behavior. Lee sighed.

"I really wish you'd stop calling me that."

"And Kimimaro really wishes that Gaara would stop giving him the eye, but we all know neither of those things are going to happen. Answer the question." Team Gai exchanged brief looks.

"You see, Naruto," Neji started slowly. "As you know, Gai-sensei is very…" He paused for a moment to search for a word, and Tenten tipped her head back, a deadpanned look on her face.

Five minutes.

"Obsessed?"

"That will do… Obsessed with the concept of youth." Lee looked affronted.

"He is not!"

"Oh yeah," Tenten snorted. "And we bear in mind that this is coming from the one person that uses the term 'youth' as much as he does."

"But you digress," Naruto pressed. Neji nodded.

"Right."

One minute.

"But, so what does the 'obsession with youth' thing have to do with New Year's eve?" Naruto asked as the others in the room started counting down.

"Well, for one thing, New Year's marks the passing of another year of youth gone." Neji said.

"FIVE! FOUR…!"

"And besides, January 1st is also…"

"ONE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Gai slammed his face down on the table.

"…Gai-sensei's birthday."

-End