SD13: Greetings readers, and Merry Christmas. This is a little something I whipped up this week for the holiday season. So please read and enjoy this parody of Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, titled A Konoha Karol. ^_^

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or A Christmas Carol.

It was a cold winter day in Konoha village. The poor homeless citizens all huddled around a roaring fire they built in a garbage can with scraps of wood and paper. Anything they could use to light and keep a fire going, hoping it was enough to last the freezing night to come. The middle class citizens were out buying last minute gifts, or preparing feasts for that night and the next day, which was the grandest holiday of the year, Christmas Day, a day for family gatherings, giving to those in need and doing whatever to make them happy and well. It was a day like so for all the citizens. All except for one greedy business man who hated Christmas, and all that it represents. That man was Yashamaru Scrooge.

Scrooge was the richest man in the village. With so much money one would think he would be happy, but he is quite the opposite. He was a tall and elegant middle aged man. He wore the finest clothing in the village. He was on his way to work and passed the homeless citizens without paying attention to any of them. When he arrived at his office, he glanced at the plaque with his and his former partner's names next to the door.

"Ah, my old business partner, Baki Marley. Dead seven years today. He was a good man, knew how to cross the widows and swindle the poor. Marley, you have nothing to fear, for I continue to follow your example to this very day," Yashamaru thought aloud as he pulled out his golden keys and opened the door to his office. He stepped inside and kept his coat on for it was just as cold inside as it was outside. He noticed his only employee next to the furnace, about to get a fire started.

"Crachet!" Yashamaru's voice boomed in the building and surprised his employee.

"Hello, Mr. Scrooge. I was about to get a fire started to warm the place for you," the surprised young employee said as dropped the coal in the bucket next to the furnace. His name was Naruto Crachet. He was a young man and has been working for Scrooge for many years now.

"You used a piece of coal last week. We can't keep spending money on coal to heat the place. That's what our coats are for. Now get back to work," Yashamaru sneered.

"Right away sir," Naruto said as he rushed back to his desk. "Mr. Scrooge, since tomorrow is Christmas, I wanted to know if I could have half the day off."

"Hmm… alright, you may have the time off, but I'll dock you half a day's pay," said Yashamaru.

"That's fine sir," said Naruto.

"Now let's see, I pay you 300 Ryo a day," Yashamaru thought aloud.

"Actually, it's 350 Ryo, sir."

"Ah yes, that sounds right. I gave you that raise a year ago when you offered to do my laundry. Here's another bundle of shirts that need to be cleaned." Scrooge left the sac of clothes next to Crachet's desk.

Scrooge sat at his large desk at the end of the cold, dimly lit office. There were receipt books and other financial books neatly organized in a stack at the left corner of his desk. He kept his writing utensils to the right so that way it would be easier to reach for he was right handed. He picked up the book at the top of the stack and opened it up. He wrote down the taxes he collected and from whom he received them from. Then he opened the safe next to his desk and deposited what he collected that day.

There was a knock on the door before it swung open revealing Scrooges nephew, Gaara standing there.

"Merry Christmas," he said to the two men as she waltzed in through the door.

"Merry Christmas friend," Naruto said to Gaara.

"What is it nephew, I have a lot of work to catch up on," Yashamaru said without even looking at his nephew.

"I'm inviting you to come to our holiday feast tomorrow. Temari, is preparing it, and she does fix a tasty meal," Gaara announced.

"Bah, Christmas is nothing special. It's just another work day. I won't be coming; I have too much to do."

"I see, farewell then uncle," Garra said as he turned to leave.

Hours went by and the two people in the building worked non stop. It was dark outside and Crachet glanced at the clock again for the twentieth time that evening. The clock struck seven when he glanced at the clock. A smile formed on his face as he finished up the last of his work for the day.

"You may go now Crachet," said Yashamaru.

"Thank you Mr. Scrooge," Naruto said as he rushed to the door. "And Merry Christmas," he said before leaving.

"Bah, Humbug."

Shadow: There's the first part of the story. The next one will come very soon. I'll finish this before I go back to school in January, so expect frequent updates in the next week. Next chapter will be titled A visit from Baki Marley. Please don't forget to review. Constructive criticism is preferred but words of support are welcome and always appreciated. Thank you. ^_^