DISCLAIMER: Some of the text and characters are from Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto, which I do not own. Only the characters & text that were not in the original manga/anime series are mine.
The first of the Bright Eyes Special, set the day after Sara sparred against Kakashi's Sharingan before the First Exam.
Sara woke up the next morning, with Naruto shaking her awake.
"Come on, Bright Eyes!" Naruto complained, "I know you were training with Kakashi-sensei, but the Chûnin Exams are today!"
"Is my alarm clock ringing," Sara asked groggily.
"NO!" Naruto shouted ducking as Sara threw the clock anyway. She sat up and stretched wondering, how did I get here? The last thing I remember is sparring against Master Kakashi's Sharingan…oh well! "Naruto, you're going to have to leave the room for a bit." Naruto paled. "They're not here anymore," Sara stated, referring to the two Anbus that had tormented her for so long. Naruto sighed in relief and walked out into the hall giving Sara some privacy. Sara changed from the clothes she had been wearing the previous day to some fresh ones.
As she changed, she noticed that her sketchbook was not in the same place she had left it in. She finished changing and picked it up wistfully, and called to Naruto, "You can come back in now!"
Naruto walked and Sara asked him, "Do you remember this?" She held the sketchbook up for him to see.
"Yeah, how could I forget," Naruto said as he placed both his hands behind his head, his elbows in the air. "It feels like yesterday that I got you that for your birthday…"
~Seven Years Ago~
Naruto sat staring off into space as his teacher droned on and on about some ninja stuff. He was wondering how his friend was doing, I sure hope Bright Eyes is having more fun then I am! This is torture. Another thought crossed his mind, man! Her birthday is coming up in three days and I have no idea what to give to her as a present! I don't really know what she'd like! I know she's not like the other girls, but heck, we've only been friends for …one… two… three…f our… five… six… seven…? Yeah. Seven months. I bet she already knows what she's getting for my birthday! But that's Bright Eyes! Argh! Why can't I think of anything? Hmm…I still got nothing!
"Naruto!" His teacher snapped, "Pay attention!"
Naruto pretended to look interested as he considered his predicament, what does Bright Eyes like? Maybe I'll find something when I look around the village, or maybe I'll ask Shikamaru! I know he likes Bright Eyes!
Once class was over and everyone began to file out of the classroom to go home Naruto called out, "Hey! Shikamaru! Wait a minute!"
Shikamaru stopped along with Choji, who had been walking beside him, eating his chips. "Yeah, what is it?" Shikamaru asked Naruto.
Naruto felt slightly embarrassed as he asked, "What would you give Bright Eyes for her birthday?"
Shikamaru blushed, since he really tried hard not to let it show how much he liked Sara, "I'd probably give her a flower or something…why? When is her birthday?"
"In three days," Naruto said miserably. I can't give Bright Eyes a flower, she'll kill me!
"Three days?" Shikamaru exclaimed. "Choji, we're taking a detour on the way home."
Choji laughed and said as he followed Shikamaru, "Shikamaru and Sara sitting in a tree K-I-S"
"Shut up!" Shikamaru shouted over his shoulder, his cheeks a brilliant red.
Naruto sighed, that was completely useless! I guess I'm going to have to look around the village for something…
He had only just reached the entrance to the Academy when Sara nearly collided with him. "There you are, Naruto," she said happily. "I was wondering what happened to you." She took in his miserable expression and asked, "What's wrong? You look like the Ichiraku Ramen Bar closed down."
"It didn't did it?" Naruto asked, alarmed.
Sara laughed, "No silly, I was just using it as an example of how you look."
"Oh, right," Naruto said, embarrassed. "Ummm…Bright Eyes?"
"Yeah?"
"Would it be all right if I didn't hang out with you today…I have some errands to run?"
"Oh…okay…I guess I'll see you later then," Sara said as she turned around and left.
Naruto sighed again, I'm sorry, Bright Eyes, but I need to find you a birthday present…especially since Shikamaru's getting her a gift now!
After Naruto ate dinner that night and had looked everywhere around the village for something his friend would like, he lay awake in bed and wondered, okay, asking Shikamaru didn't work, looking around the village didn't work…maybe I should just ask Bright Eyes…that should work! But what if she doesn't tell me…? Argh! Why does this have to be so hard!
He woke up bright and early the next morning and went to see if Sara was awake yet. Naruto knocked on her door and listened to see if there was a response. I guess I'll have to wake her up again! He opened the door and shook his friend's shoulder, "Bright Eyes, get up! Bright Eyes!"
Sara sat up and looked around groggily, "What time is it?"
"Time to get up!" Naruto said. "We don't want to be late!"
"Well maybe you don't," Sara commented as she hopped out of bed. "I could've had a couple more hours of sleep before anyone would have noticed I was gone."
"I swear," Naruto muttered. "You're as bad as Shikamaru."
They walked together to the Academy before they split up to go to their separate classes. Naruto thought sadly as he entered his classroom, man! Things would be better if Bright Eyes and I could be in the same classes! Why do they have to have a girls' class and a boys' class anyway? Ah well! Time for a nap…
Naruto was startled awake as a piece of chalk hit his head and the teacher scolded him saying, "Why won't you pay attention? This is stuff you will need to know, otherwise you'll never be a ninja!"
Naruto snorted, yeah, what do you know! He decided to look like he was paying attention as his mind wandered to his dilemma, what to get Bright Eyes…? I have only two days left now… Wait…Bright Eyes likes books mainly about dogs and horses…I'll get her a book after classes today!
Naruto barely contained his enthusiasm as he raced out of his last class and into the village. He finally found the bookstore he had been looking for and entered it excitedly. He glanced at the shelves and found a book he thought his friend would like. It was a fictional story about a paint stallion and a girl, but he figured Sara would like it. He glanced at the price and nearly keeled over, how can a book cost so much? I don't have that kind of money! He left the bookstore, feeling dejected, maybe I won't be able to give Bright Eyes a gift after all…
Naruto slept fitfully that night, having a nightmare that involved Sara no longer wanting to be friend's with him. I have to find a gift! He thought as he sat in his classroom, he didn't want to face Sara till he had to the next day. I don't want to tell her that I don't have a gift for her on her birthday! I want her to remain my friend!
Naruto hurried out of his last class, later in the day and walked till he found a step to sit on and pouted, this sucks! I can't find Bright Eyes a gift, yet I gave Shikamaru the perfect idea! How stupid is that? I mean, I don't like Bright Eyes the way Shikamaru does, but still! I should have a gift for her tomorrow and I don't!
Naruto nearly jumped out of his pants when a voice behind him asked, "Why are you so down, Naruto?"
He looked back at the Third Hokage; he hadn't realized that his feet had carried him to the steps of the Hokage's Mansion. Naruto said quickly, "I'm not down!" The Third Hokage gave him a skeptical look. "Okay…maybe I am."
"What's bothering you?" Lord Hokage asked.
Naruto confided in him, "Bright Eyes birthday is tomorrow and I still don't have a gift for her!"
"Is that all?" Lord Hokage chuckled, "Why don't you give her something that she can preserve the memories of your friendship over the years?"
"I can't afford something like that!" Naruto shouted.
"Here," Lord Hokage said as he gave Naruto some money. "And you can tell me if she liked the gift later!"
Naruto took the money and stood up. As he dashed off he shouted over his shoulder, "Thanks, Old Man!" He ran to the only store he could think of and bought a sketch book, I hope this is what the Old Man meant, otherwise I'm doomed! He ran back home and quickly wrapped the sketchbook in some wrapping paper and slept soundly that night.
The next day, after classes were over, Naruto ran over to where he saw Sara and Shikamaru standing. He heard Sara say, her cheeks slightly flushed, "Thanks for the Forget-Me-Nots, Shikamaru. They're my favorite flower."
Since when are Forget-Me-Nots Bright Eyes favorites? Naruto wondered. Last I knew they were Bleeding Hearts. Naruto shook off his curiosity and said as he held out his gift, "Sorry about the last few days, Bright Eyes, I had to find you a gift!"
Shikamaru decided that he should head home and called over his shoulder, "Happy birthday, Sara!"
"Thanks, Shikamaru!" Sara called after him. She turned her attention back to Naruto and his gift, "You didn't have to get me anything, Naruto."
"Yeah, I know," Naruto said, feeling stupid at his thoughts from the past few days. "I just wanted to get you something!"
Sara smiled at him and opened up the gift, she stared at the sketchbook for a long time.
Naruto asked, worriedly, "You like it right? Otherwise I can-!"
"I love it!" Sara said as she smiled at him.
Naruto sighed in relief, it sure wasn't easy!
Naruto came back from memory lane and said suddenly, "Hey! I never did see what you put in that sketchbook!" He made a wild grab for the sketchbook.
Sara laughed and easily dodged to the side and locked the sketchbook in a drawer on her nightstand, shoving the key into her pouch. Sorry, Naruto. But you don't need to see how I see you. Sometimes things need to be kept secret. "You will never see what's in there! That's private!"
"Aww, come on!" Naruto shouted as Sara dashed towards the door, "I gave it to you the least you could do is to let me see it! I went through a lot to get that!"
"I bet you did," Sara said as she sat perched on the stairway rail. "But…I don't think you need to see anything in there." With that being said, she slid down the rail.
Naruto shouted after her, "Bright Eyes! Hey! BRIGHT EYES!"
