(A/N: I'd like to give credit to my beta, Rabid Lola. It's surprising how much mistakes one can make, even with a short fic. Sorry if this chap is really short. I'll update real soon…unless you guys think this is a waste of time. The fic starts out light, but the ending's a bit angsty…)

Sacrifice

It was a bright, sunny day in the Hidden Leaf village. Birds were singing, there wasn't a single cloud in the sky (much to the exasperation of Shikamaru), and there was that feeling lingering in the air that made everyone feel that nothing could go wrong. In short, it was a day that made one feel relaxed-

"NARUTOOOOO!"

Okay, maybe not. For Naruto, at least, today was perfect for pranks. After all, even if one was a Jounin, one could never outgrow pranks. As far as he was concerned, to completely sever all ties with one's childhood was one of the greatest taboos of life.

Hyuuga Hiashi was a good enough example.

Naruto laughed maniacally as he raced through rooftops, twisting and turning here and there to lose any would-be pursuers. This was his biggest and wickedest prank yet! Aside from posting pictures of Tsunade sleeping (with mouth open and lots of drool on the table, naturally) all around the village, he decorated (read: vandalized) Tsunade's face sculpture – and he put a whoopee cushion on Tsunade's chair – while she was in a very crucial, very important Kages' meeting. Well, at least it dispersed the tension in the room, and the other Kages finally agreed to help the Leaf. Wasn't that justifiable enough? Although Naruto kept telling himself that it was, his gut (or maybe it was his tenant) told him Tsunade was going to send him to the hospital – literally.

His mental musings were cut short when he tripped and fell three stories down onto the hard concrete.

Groaning in pain, he rolled over on his back. Looking up, he could see a silhouette of a girl. Who could it be…?

"Naruto, you idiot. What are you up to this time?"

Sakura, of course. Who else could abuse him verbally like that? Getting up and trying to ignore the sound of his bones cracking, he mimicked a pained look.

"Sakura-chan! What on earth made you think that? I'm nineteen now! I'm not a kid anymore!"

She raised a skeptical eyebrow. But before she could open her mouth, the two teens were immobilized by an obscene amount of killing intent. Suddenly, their esteemed Hokage appeared with a violent kick that would have put Gai's dynamic entrance to shame, at Naruto's face, sending him flying.

Naruto looked up from the pile of rubble created by his landing only to see Tsunade approaching.

"Hehe...h-hi, Baa-chan. I take it the meeting went well?"

Her eye twitched and she grabbed him by the collar.

"You little punk! I've never been so humiliated my whole life! Pull a prank on me, will you?"

"Sure you have! You're practically known all over the gambling world as the Legendary Sucker and Cash Cow! Isn't that enough for even a ninja to commit seppuku? Besides, the other Kages did agree to help us, didn't they? You should be thanking me instead of trying to kill me!" Naruto replied.

With a primal roar, Tsunade threw him into wall. Suffice to say, this knocked him out cold.

Due to Kyuubi's quick Wolverine-esque healing, Tsunade could throw him around like a rag doll and feel no guilt whatsoever. How could something so useful in battle, considered a blessing by many, something warriors would kill for be a curse? Ah, the irony...

A/N: Well, that's it for now, guys! Hope you enjoyed it. Till then!