A/N Hi:) This is my first fan-fiction. I hope whoever stumbles upon it, enjoys it. Thanks for choosing to click on my story, I really appreciate it. I'll try my best on the writing.

Summary: This story is set right after the Chunin exams. It is about the Naruto characters and the relationships they have with one and other. This story's focus is on friendship and how with each other the Naruto characters can get through anything. There is also a new evil lurking in Konoha, and no one knows who to suspect for the disappearances happening around the village. It mostly focuses on Sasuke and him learning to have relationships with other characters. Father/son relationship with Kakashi and Sasuke. A lot of hurt and comfort will be in this story as well.

Chapter 1:

A Korudo Utubyo:

Cold and dripping wet was Sasuke when he emerged from his bathroom after he took a shower on a dreary gray morning. The sky wasn't only thing dark, the boy felt as if the whole world was mutually upset. He walked over to his window as his jet black hair dripped little drops of water in path down his back and onto the floor….Drip….Drip…..Drip…Drip…Drip….Drip….Drip…..Drip…Drip…Sasuke listened as the drops from the water steadily grew slower as time went.

He let his eyes wander out the window, he couldn't see anything worthwhile. His apartment was right on the insides of the borderline to the outskirts of Konaha. He was sure the council placed him there miles away from the Hokage tower on purpose. He assumed it was to keep him away from other civilians, themselves included. They never directly showed distrust to him but Sasuke knew. He could just feel it.

He glared out the window. Next to his apartment was another apartment five feet away. After that there was another and another in an everlasting line of redundancy. He looked up and tried to see the sky, he only had a glimpse from the close proximity of the buildings, but even that small area was dark gray just like the dirty buildings outside his window and just like the whole day itself. He shook his head and walked away from the window scowling as he made his way to his closet. He opened the door and he squinted as it creaked loudly. He hated how loud a sound could be in such a silent apartment. The onyx eyed boy pulled out his nicest black shirt and the only jeans he had without tears in it. Sasuke put them on quickly, hoping that if he acted like he didn't care then it would turn to reality.

He checked his appearance in the mirror and almost smiled but stopped himself before he could. His hair was stuck up in all different directions. It was stiff from being washed so it was spikey and not in the way he usually liked it. He brushed it down hard with his hands and smirked when it went back to his usually "Duck butt look" he recalled what Naruto had deemed it.

Sasuke walked out of his room, more or less ready to face whatever the world threw at him. He stepped through the doorway, and "CLUMP" "OUCH" Sasuke tripped over a basket he had left on the floor. He clutched his eyes shut and grabbed his foot. Who put this stupid basket here anyway! He grumbled mentally. Then he remembered that it only could have been himself, because he never had any guests over. He didn't really like the whole idea of "social situations" and his apartment really wasn't perfect for house parties. He didn't feel like explaining to everyone who entered that "Yes this is where I live, and no I didn't choose to live here" "no I'm fine I can take care of myself, I don't need a new house" yeah he didn't think that would go over well, so he stuck to being a loner, and if he felt too lonely then he would wait for when he was invited to someone else's home.

He got up and hopped for a second, getting blood back in his hurt foot. He bet he looked quite silly as he did so, but he was alone and didn't care. He then bent down deciding that Uchiha don't make the same mistake twice. He picked up the basket and took it over to his small table in the room.

He had tried to make the building as comfortable as possible. He knew it would never be home, but he still felt like he should make it at least livable.

Sasuke looked around nodding to himself. It really did look better than what it used to. He remembered the first day here, and how dirty everything was. He first had cleaned every bit of the house. It was tedious but completely worth it in his opinion. He then had painted all the walls in his main room, a light yellow. He wanted it to be clean but also bright. The apartment itself was small, but not too small for him for he was one person, and barely spent any of his time there anyway.

The young Uchiha sat the colorfully wrapped basket down, also sitting down in one motion. He tried to get around all the….Fluff of rainbow ribbons, but couldn't get out the contents of the basket without having to unwrap it. So he slowly did so, rolling his eyes all the while. Sakura and Naruto thought Sasuke would love a Colorfully wrapped basket, with frilly ribbons and bows. It's like they do it on purpose, he thought chuckling lightly, but quickly remembered what the gift was for, and the smile faded to his normal empty expression of nothing.

The gift was comfort from his team, and a celebratory present of congratulations for doing so well in the chunin exams, but sasuke didn't really see it that way. It was sent to him four days ago and lately he just hadn't had the heart to open it. He assumed that it was there weird way of cheering him up, but it didn't stop him from blaming himself for what had happened.

When he eventually got the basket opened, he immediately knew that the gift was decorated by Sakura and the actual content was picked out by Naruto. Inside was placed in an almost symmetrical pyramid were snow drop flowers. Stacked one by one, on top of each other were different flavors of ramen. Sasuke didn't know if he should laugh, scowl, or smile, at the fact that Naruto got him his own favorite food, as Sakura had given him flowers, the infamously known item of lovers. The black haired teen could easily imagine how this situation went down.

Sakura wanting to get him a meaningful present and remembering that Ino's mom owned a flower shop. She probably thought she would buy the flowers in front of Ino just to remind her she was on his team and not her.

Naruto probably went out and bought the ramen without consulting Sakura, ending up with him being most likely smacked on the head, and a frowning Sakura trying to figure out how to make the basket still look pretty.

Sasuke smiled lightly at his team's antics, at least they cared enough to try, and it wasn't like he had bought them a gift, so he really appreciated it but in his own weird Sasuke way. He made a mental note to send them each a thank you letter. He knew that what the letter said would most likely be meaningless lines of appreciation, but his team would be overjoyed that he even showed any sign that he had received a gift.

He pulled out all the ramen and put them in his almost empty cupboards. He needed to go to the grocery but he hadn't felt up to it. He started humming to himself as a way to comfort, and shield himself from the horribly silent room. He got a little louder as time went on and by the time he started to put all snow drops in a vase, which was actually a glass cup but he felt like that sufficed for the time being, he was softly singing the words to his favorite song. He filled a pitcher with water and watered the plants, while mumbling the chorus,

(It's my only comfort,

It was not supposed to be given to me,

When I wait for you to end it,

I watched,

You'd sigh,

We'd talk,

Then IIII'd crawl,

And it's just like you haven't been here at all,

For every word that I left unsaid,

It's like a stab wound that can't heal and burns instead,

The cold makes it fester,

The cold doesn't leave,

Once upon a time, I could consciously breathe,

There's no easy escape and I see that now,

That the only way to thaw is by trial and air,

Ooh…..Ohh….Don't tell me no lies,

Just give me the truth,

None of it can be as painful as losing youuu)…..

Sasuke broke off singing when he noticed that he had been standing there singing to himself for quite some time. He grumbled something unintelligible about not being crazy, and went back to shelving the items he was given. He sighed, he only had to put up the basket and then he'd have to leave and go face today. Then he remembered that the basket was still out and he should probably put that away also. He gave a self satisfied smirk at his own procrastinating skills, and went back over to the table thinking of other ways to get out of leaving.

When he picked up the basket it was heavier then he thought the basket should be. He was a ninja of perception, and identification, his obsessiveness got annoying at points but was very helpful in battle. Out on the field you only have a second to take it all in, being a ninja that could be the difference between life and death. He saw that there indeed was something left inside the basket under a multi colored cloth with a flowery design on it. He pulled it back and saw a book.

He raised a perfect eyebrow in a dismissive way. He assumed it was Sakura's diary, or Naruto's book of overly used and very clichéd catch phrases, that they accidently left in his present. Sasuke always marveled at the way Naruto could inspire anybody. It was something he truly admired about him, even sasuke at times was moved by the knuckle headed ninjas little speeches, of course he refused to acknowledge it though, messing with the blond was just way to much fun.

He pulled out the book and saw that it was covered was black leather, he ran his fingertips over it, it was really nice he noted. It opened by a thin belted latch, with a compass insignia as the buckle. The compass was silver with a red arrow on it. He touched it unconsciously. He scrunched his face together. The compass was spinning and wiggling uncontrollably. He rolled his eyes, the last person who had this must have not taken very good care of it. He imagined the writing inside would be sloppy, he was confirming in his head that it was Naruto's book while he was unlatching the broken compass. He made a mental note to fix the compass before he returned it to its owner though.

He was about to open it, when he heard the sound that he had been dreading to hear. It was the sound of the Kuru bells sounding through the air. They came from the hokage tower whenever there was an emergency or gathering held. He knew it was time to leave, but he really didn't want to go. He sat the book down deciding that he would figure out later who it belonged to, and then headed out his front door.

He walked down the street, he was cautious, it wasn't unlikely to get attacked on this side of Konaha. He stayed quiet and kept his eyes peeled. He had been jumped once when he wasn't watching and all his money he earned for the week was stolen. Let's just say you didn't want to be in sasuke's path that week, he was completely fuming. He walked carefully until he knew that he was out of the down town of the village. It was strange to young 13 year old, how the entire aura of the village could change within ten minutes of leaving his apartment. The sky was still gray, but there were small rays of sunlight peeking through the clouds, leaving little rays of sunshine to break gloom. The rays gave off the feeling of hope, and sasuke breathed out a sigh of relief as the warm light delicately hit his face. the streets became cleaner and a lot more friendly looking.

He walked farther on, it was about a 20 minute walk from his apartment to the Hokage Tower, but if there had been a time when Sasuke felt lazy and like leisurely walking there, it could have easily taken an hour.

Sasuke could feel the weight of the village on his shoulders as he walked by every empty house that was dank of joy or life. He knew where everyone was gathered and more importantly he knew why. He continued down the streets he knew by heart, he had walked the road to the tower so many times to gather his missions.

Before he was given his apartment this was where he lived. His apartment was cold, and lonely, but it was at least better than living on the streets, so he couldn't complain for the most part.

As he walked up to the large building he saw the heads of all the villagers, ninja, and even comrades he could think of. They were all gathered around the tower. It was early morning, around 7:oo, but it wasn't bright for all the clouds.

Sasuke stood in the back, behind everyone. He didn't really want to be able to see what they were doing. It only made him feel worse. He compared it to wanting to throw up. But of course his peace was broken when he felt a small shove to the middle of his back and the black haired boy turned around to see his sensei. He was wearing a nice button down shirt and dress pants. Of course his mask was clad over his face, but he was also wearing his ninja headband. This surprised sasuke because he was told to come as a person, and not a ninja, so he didn't take his headband or ninja gear with him. Kakashi's eyes, Sasuke noticed were slightly squinted with pain, but had strong but gentle quality about them. It amazed his student how kakashi could feel so many things at the same time. Mostly for himself, he either felt anger, pain, or happiness, and all at different times. For his sensei though, he felt all his emotions or he felt nothing. He was good at hiding what he was thinking, and what bugged sasuke most was that he was good at reading people. He always seemed to know when his students were distressed.

Kakashi gave him a stern look with just his one eye, and a small head shake to the front of the people. Sasuke knew what he wanted him to do, but he really didn't want to go up there where they would be lighting the lantern and mourning the Hokage's passing. But before he could protest sasuke felt his wrist being tugged and pulled by his sensei. Sasuke didn't want to cause a scene at an important time like this, so he just let him guide him where he wanted him to go.

He was yanked over to the edge of the group of people and taken aside.

"How are you" Kakashi asked with nothing but concern in his voice. "And I mean for real, no chicken crap"

Sasuke replied with his voice dripping sarcasm, "Hello to you too"

Sasuke saw his sensei roll his one visible eye, and he pulled his arm out of his grip, and turned his head away. He really didn't want to talk about it, he just wanted to be able to honor the third the way he deserved, but Kakashi had to come in the middle of the funeral and ask if he was okay. Sasuke was confused and slightly irritated. Why was he worrying about him, it's not like he was the one dead, he wasn't his grandson crying his eyes would Kakashi be worried about him?

Kakashi whispered that the conversation could wait, and turned back to the lantern lighting. In Konaha the highest honor one could have after their death was the Toro nagashi ceremony. It was a ritual in which someone makes a paper lantern for their beloved ones death. People gather together to mourn and set the lantern free down a flowing river. "Nagashi" means to float freely, meaning they wish their beloved one freedom and change in the spirit world. It's said that it also symbolizes the villagers parting with them, but also creating the idea that they are not gone, but leaving to find peace and freedom. It is one of Konaha's greatest traditions, after the letting go of the lantern they go to the actual burial. And then they celebrate the Bon festival, they it do it once every year, in belief that doing so will help their soul enter and depart their world without struggle. It also symbolizes hope for them to live a fulfilled life along with the other spirits.

Sasuke enjoyed this tradition and wished he had done so for his family, but he couldn't for he was only seven.

During the festival the council held a banquet, which Sasuke thought was a complete waste of money. The onyx eyed boy thought that the council only held the banquet to get investors to come to the village. There at the banquet they could show off how their village had prospered and maybe get some donations. He thought the hokage would never have wanted to do something like that, especially in honor of his death.

That night everyone will light a candle in their window, wishing Sarutobi a gracious parting.

Sasuke remembered when himself and the clan would do that if a family member didn't come back for battle, the council would then invite them to the banquet. Sasuke could just see his father's stone cold face at the thought of ever attending one of them. He never did, and he never let anyone else in the clan either. But here sasuke was with an invitation and his semi casual clothes on so he could go. He promised his team he would go if they would leave him alone for a couple of days to think things over. They agreed and now here he was, feeling guilty about some stupid party.

Sasuke watched as Asuma, the right hand to the third hokage, lit the lantern. His face wore nothing but grief. Alongside him were the red eyed woman that sasuke could never remember the name of, and the normally over energetic Guy sensei, who now wore a mask of concern and seriousness. Sasuke noticed that the concern was pointed at Kakashi, it was like he was trying to have a mental conversation with him. The young Uchiha looked at his sensei and noticed that he gave no sign of even noticing that Guy was looking him.

Sasuke shook his head, Sure when it's about me you can ask all you want, but if the concern pointed at you, you just block it out, sasuke thought bitterly as he watched the scene.

Soon Asuma made a speech and let go of the lantern. Everyone watched as it floated away, when it was out of sight Asuma told everyone to make their way to the designated place the Hokage was to be buried.

After a few kind words everyone stood in line and waited their turn to part with their brave leader. Sasuke held back for a while, wanting to be one of the last to say goodbye. Eventually though, Naruto caught sight of him.

"Hey Sasuke, I know you don't do this sort of thing, but do you mind us walking up together? Just so you don't have to go alone of course, Naruto said stretching the "you" in his sentence. Sasuke wanted to slap him for his childishness but, then he saw Naruto's eyes and detected the sincerity in what he asked. The nervousness was new to Sasuke, so he accepted. He lightly shook his head as a yes, and walked up. As they went up to the grave they saw Sakura crying gently and Naruto at sight of her, immediately broke into tears. He ran up beside her, and sasuke followed. He looked on at the grave with empty eyes, as Naruto poured his heart out to their leader. Sasuke didn't know what do to. He wanted to do something to make everyone feel better. He wanted to say something, anything to make his usually upbeat teammate be okay. He wished he could show what he was feeling but the words wouldn't come out so he continued to stare at his grave. Sakura turned into his chest lightly hugging him. It was gentle and even though sasuke didn't know what to do, her embrace did make him feel slightly less horrible, and she seemed like she needed someone to help hold her burden so he stayed put and let her, let her feelings out. He knew what it felt like to keep them bottled up. It didn't feel to too good, so he just let her feel what she wanted to freely.

He placed his white Lillie down with the hundreds of others, and watched as they slightly lifted with the wind but before they could fly away they set back down. It started to rain, and Sasuke couldn't help think how ethereal it was. He felt like raining inside and out, but he couldn't, or maybe he just couldn't remember how, but it seemed to him the world decided to do it for him.

The sad Uchiha felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned to see Kakashi eyes. They were gentle and filled with ease. Sasuke could tell he was just being strong, but he was a ninja and that's what they were supposed to do. He sucked in a harsh breath, and pursed his lips. He started taking deep breaths to calm his nerves, and Kakashi went right along with it, knowing that sasuke just needed someone to comfort him without really comforting him.

When he thought his student was under control he smiled, "Look" he said pointing at the sky, "the clouds are parting, it must mean he's here, watching us" he genuinely smiled and sasuke could even see it through his mask. He pulled away from his sensei's embrace, and started to walk over where all the rookies were standing. He couldn't stand next to Kakashi anymore. Something about him made him want to explode and confess all his thoughts to him. He didn't because that was not what ninja did, at least that is what he had been told. Feelings were weakness, love was a burden, and pain is inevitable. The sound of his Fathers words vibrated through his head. He shook himself out of his revere and stood up straight. He would be strong, he had to be, someone needed to comfort Sakura, and keep Naruto fighting. If he fell apart then what would happen to his team, he had to stay strong like everyone always told him he was.

They waited out the nine horn solute representing the nine main hidden villages and then everyone departed to get ready for the banquet in slightly better spirits then before. Over the village was a soft cast of sunlight and from where Sasuke stood he could see the statues of the Past Hokage's faces perfectly. He looked out into the distance watching, mesmerized by the sky and the light reflecting of the statues faces, it just seemed so surreal to him.

Sasuke could have sworn he saw the lantern land at the top of the Sarutobi's head, but he kept it to himself. He nodded his head, and continued to look on, looking to see past Konaha and on to the rest of the horizon.

He knew he had to make a difference it's what the Hokage kept him alive for. It was why Sarutobi defended him, so he could pass on the favor, and help someone else.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The banquet began at 6:00 and that was precisely the time Sasuke arrived at the Council Grand Hall. It annoyed sasuke to no end that the leaders of the village found time to create a grand hall specifically designated for parties, but yet there were still people living on the street. Including children! It boggled sasukes mind and he vowed to change that one day.

He walked up to the huge doors to the building. The doors were a glitter a blinding gold. The intricate designs flowing beautifully up the outer wall of the building slowly lit up and faded. Sasuke couldn't help but staring in awe for a few moments before continuing on his way in. Upon arriving inside the young Uchiha stared in wonder. The inside was even more magnificent then the already Grand outside that was a sky scraper high. Sasuke couldn't imagine what they did with all that space but he could only guess that it was probably some way of flourishing themselves with more extravagant gifts.

He tried his best not to gawk at even just the hallways that lead to where the party actually was. The walls held paintings and tapestries that told stories of Konaha's past. Its battles, and even the history of their founding. Sasuke had always loved reading since he was young he thought about going to the bookstore as he traced the wall's hieroglyphics with the tips of his fingers. As he walked down the hallway he wondered why he was the only one in it, but shoved away that thought and continued looking at the tapestries. Sasuke noted that he had never studied Konaha's past and thought maybe he would like it, but then he made it to the last painting on the wall and scowled deeply. It was tiled picture of the battle between Mandara Uchiha, Sasuke's Great grandfather and Hashirama. It showed Hashirama triumphantly standing over Mandara's body, and the Uchiha crest burning in the background. Sasuke without meaning to lit his sharingan. He didn't know who Hashirama was, but sasuke didn't like how he was treating his clan one bit. He hoped that whatever had happened, that the tapestry was just some exaggeration of the real story. Sasuke moved forward and tried to rid his mind from wondering farther what had really happened. He looked all across the hall, there were many things that sasuke would have liked to stay and examine but he kept walking. One of the many pieces of art that had caught his interest was as statue of a wolf. The wolf itself isn't what fascinated him, but the eyes that went along with it. The eyes shone bright next to the black wood carving, they had an unearthly look about them. Something about the look in those eyes was familiar to the young boy, but he couldn't quite remember what it was. Contemplating this, suddenly gave the Uchiha a bad feeling and so he continued walking. By the end of the hallway sasuke had felt like he had been through a whole museum there were so many artifacts. He didn't want to admit it, but he did find the grand hall to be quite beautiful.

Through another set of large gold doors, and the uchiha's was exposed to a whole different world then the calm of the hallway.

Everywhere he looked he saw a villager in very fancy clothing. He suddenly felt very underdressed, and self conscious of his looks. He had never been invited to one of these parties, so he just wore what he had worn to the funeral, he thought back to earlier that day when Asuma had announced for everyone to get ready for the party. Sasuke didn't really take that literally but apparently everyone else did.

As he walked in, and the door behind him clanked loudly shut, all eyes in the room turned towards him. He stood frozen for only a second before he put on his "Uchiha mask" and strutted into the room confidently.

Everyone watched as he walked down the steps and only at the bottom did everyone start to get back into their own conversations. He looked over the room, and he realized that it was a lot more like some kind of ancient ball room. The ceiling was covered in gold crystalized chandeliers, his eyes wondered own the walls and they were draped with delicate curtains that were a lighter shade of gold also sporting nile blue and lemon yellow. Sasuke thought that the room was way too bright and it kind of made him want to throw up, but he kept his steely gaze. There were a lot more people then he thought there would be, and he was starting to wished he hadn't made the promise to stay in hour.

It surprised him that there was light, almost upbeat music playing throughout the room. He scowled, yeah this is a great way to mourn the thirds death.

Sasuke gawked at the huge table on the right side of the room. it had a silky cloth over it that fell to the ground. on top was every food sasuke could possibly think of. Fall sashimi, rice balls, fancy looking sushi, he saw at least 7 different goblets full of different flavors of soup. There were many other foods, but the young uchiha couldn't even name them for he had never seen them before. He had skipped lunch and there was a plate of rainbow sashimi on the table that had his name written all over it. He had the urge to run over to the table and start piling food onto a plate, but remembered he couldn't disgrace his family name. He by passed looking at the table full of desserts, the boy didn't have much of a taste for sweets, even when he was young, the taste just never appealed to him. He remembered how he would rather eat an apple than chocolate unlike most kids. He just figured he was weird. The table was however very extravagant with huge towers of Kompeito and lusciously decorated cakes filled with strawberry's and softly whipped cream.

He started to look at the actual people in the room and saw that everyone was wearing couldn't really identify anyone without having to go up and speak with them. The poor Uchiha was hoping that he could just get away with hanging out with the people he knew and avoid all strange looks he received from others. Everyone's mask was unique and original in its own way. Sasuke guessed that everyone had created their own masks, for they reflected the way each individual acted. The people with more brightly colored masks were out on the dance floor, while the more introvert couple's set themselves up with plain masks that wouldn't draw attention to them. With that thought in mind he strutted over to the corner of the room to scout out his friends. If they had really made their own masks, how hard could finding them be?

About ten minutes into his game of watching people he had happily spotted what he undoubtedly thought was Naruto. Sasuke craned his neck to see as the smiling mask danced around energetically all over the dance floor. His mask was bright orange with yellow and red designs floated outward towards a sort of mane that surrounded the whole mask. He decided that he had spent enough time in his corner, and set out to "mingle" and be a nice little butterfly. In the span of the sixty seconds it took him to get across the dance floor he had to reject at least 4 requests to dance. The Uchiha did like to dance, just not in front of a million wondering eyes. Plus he had never had any dance lessons before but he was fairly positive that it wouldn't be very hard.

Once the boy with no mask to shield himself made it across unharmed by some fangirl he let out a sigh in relief.

It seemed that Naruto hadn't noticed him or he was too busy dancing like a complete maniac to, so sasuke figured it was a party and why not have a little fun?

He leaned over and tapped Naruto on the shoulder, then used his chakra to disappear. The poor blond whipped around to look behind him. Then sasuke appeared behind confused naruto and pulled his hair. He turned around yet again to see an empty space. Sasuke knew he was being childish but wasn't about to give up a chance to make the blond ninja angry.

This little game continued to go on, until eventually someone standing by them gave pity to the blond and smacked the Uchiha in the head. The Uchiha rounded on that person but stopped when he saw the mask they were wearing. The mask was a light lavender that let off slight aura of shyness, but all the same a since of strength and confidence for the bright green that traced up the lines of vines. The vines led a path to the wearers scalp and into a bouquet of snowdrops and lilies.

Sasuke instead of lashing out at the person smirked, "Hey Sa-Ku-Ra" he pronounced each syllable slowly,

"You told me to relax, I was just having a little fun" he said stepping closer to her.

The girl jumped slightly and then flung off her mask, "How did you know it was me?" she inquired with scrunched eyebrows.

Sasuke shook his head and pointed to her mask, "You're too predictable"

The pinkett blushed like a tomato, but still met his eyes as she spoke, "You still shouldn't pick on naruto" she said almost motherly like.

Sasuke rolled his eyes dramatically and once again, poked the unusually quiet ninja. The said ninja huffed loudly, "What makes you think I'm Naruto" he said using an obviously practiced deeper voice.

Both Sakura and Sasuke looked at each other than broke out into a fit of laughter.

Naruto immediately defended himself, "What are you laughing at?" he said still trying to make his deep voice but starting to fail do to also laughing.

Sakura then began doing an imitation of a deep manly voice too "I'm brooding and dark, I have a red eyes. Don't mess with me or I'll stare at you with deep dislike." She giggled

Naruto burst into loud laughter, Sasuke's eyes widened and he almost choked on his own saliva. "is that what you think" he all but shouted eyes flaring dangerously.

Sakura continued to giggle and sasuke decided it best to let it go, "oh well….Hi I'm a super strong ninja and I'm going to be hokage someday. Believe it!" sasuke said with a huge grin and a peace sign.

They all laughed at that, and naruto in between breaths kept trying to defend that he doesn't say believe it but he couldn't quite get out the words.

Eventually all the laughter died down, and they started having a civil conversation.

"Sasuke why don't you got a mask on? Didn't the council tell you that the theme of the party was masquerade" Naruto asked obnoxiously loud.

Sasuke scowled, "Hn" that was all he answered. He internally grimaced. Nobody had told him anything about having a theme for the banquet. He wondered of it was on purpose or not, but decided to contemplate that later.

Sakura noticed that Sasuke was uncomfortable and tried to change the subject. "so have any of you seen Kakashi sensei?"

Naruto immediately answered over excitedly, "well I thought I saw him and I thousand years of deathbed him, but it turns out it wasn't him" he shrugged his shoulders, and the young uchiha smirked, "you loser, you did that to a stranger?" he asked rhetorically.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head embarrassed as Sakura continued her questions, "do you guys think that Kakashi will not wear a mask to this, just to throw off the theme of the party?" she asked excitedly.

Sasuke shook his head but added that, "it's not likely, but would be something there strange sensei would do."

Naruto started jumping slightly, "Hey guys, you wanna go find him. Whoever sees him first wins?"

Both Sakura and Sasuke smirked at each other and then ran off in opposite directions. Naruto was left standing gawking at the empty place his teammates used to be. He then ran off into the crowd studying everyone he saw.

After about an hour of searching sasuke stopped and sat down, he had checked every person and new he hadn't missed him. He would have been able to tell Kakashi sensei from the people. He glared around and wondered if his teammates had any more luck then himself.

Sakura came over scowling as well with another person tagging along behind. "nope didn't find him" she said exasperated, "by the looks of it, you didn't either"

Sasuke began to wonder if naruto had just made up the game and new where Kakashi was all along. His musings were crushed by sakura's tag along clinging to his arm.

"Hey Sasuk kun, a female voice said flirtatiously, Sakura dead panned and pulled the girl away from sasuke.

Sasuke didn't comment but could tell that the girl under the colorful mask that had flowers all over it was obviously Ino.

"SASUKE! I CAN'T FIND HIM" sasuke looked around swiftly and saw that naruto had come up behind him and started yelling.

"Hn, Dobe," was sasuke's only reply.

"I-I c-couldn't find him e-either" came a small voice from behind the blond.

She was wearing light blue mask with a tear drop coming down the side of the face. Sasuke realized as she leaned close to naruto that she must be the one shy girl that was madly in love with the oblivious naruto. Sasuke wracked his brain but couldn't seem to remember her name.

He didn't really mind the girl though. She was quiet and nice, and never judged him. He remembered that she was a Huga for her pale white eyes and along with her was always the annoyingly accurate genius….and there he is, thought Sasuke bitterly.

About five feet away stood Neji Huga looking very uncomfortable around all these people. "Lady Hinata, let's go somewhere with no idiots to bother us." He said with a stone cold face.

"Hey! I'm not an idiot! You take that back right now" naruto yelled and sasuke thought his brain was going to pound out of his head, 2 minutes with that ninja and you have the worst head ache ever, it really took true talent to be that annoying.

Sasuke looked away into the distance he really didn't like being around all these people, to make his head ache worse a stupid barking sound met his ears. Everyone looked behind Sasuke and he didn't have enough time to jump out of the way before Akumaru and Kiba ran right into him….

"Sorry" Kiba said nonchalantly as he picked himself off the ground, not even bothering to give sasuke a hand.

Kiba then picked his white fluffy dog Akumaru up in his arms muttering to him angrily, "Don't ever run away from me again" Akumaru barked up at him and he responded by saying, "NO! We are in public, you have to be proper dog or the council won't let you be here"

Sasuke again tried to inch away from the crowd starting to form around himself. As he walked backwards he bumped into something hard.

He jumped forward about a foot, and turned quickly to see Shikamaru, Choji and Shino all staring at him.

"What a drag, I spilt my drink" the lazy ninja stated blandly.

Sasuke blushed a light shade of pink, hoping no one noticed and apologized quickly. Shikamaru smiled gently and said, "Hey it's no big deal" he shrugged one shoulder, "I didn't really like this drink anyway"

Sasuke notice that the three all had there masks off, but he took a liking to what he could see of shikamaru's that was tied onto his belt. It was completely blank with no design at all, sasuke smirked.

"Nice mask, I like how much work you put into being original" sasuke said pointing at shikamaru's hip.

He smirked back, and raised in eyebrow, "at least I got being lazy as an alibi, why doesn't the great over achieving Uchiha, have a mask for tonight." He said back.

Sasuke looked around trying to avoid Shikamaru's eyes, he mumbled a quick "no one told me" and walked over couple steps away pretending that he was interested in whatever naruto was ranting to kiba about.

All of the sudden a light on chandelier on the right side of the room fell from the ceiling and crashed towards the ground. Being mostly ninja at the party everyone got out of the way before it fell, but before things could even begin to be investigated a blood curdling screech rang throughout the hall. Then everything went black.