Hello, dear readers!

I hope you are as excited for Christmas as we are, because it's Christmas Eve, and who wouldn't be?! In the spirit of the holidays, we (Min + Mango) wrote a cute little Naruto AU fanfiction to ring in Santa and all that Christmas cheer (which will also be our very first published story! Yay! *Min: huff puff, don't expect too much*). In this AU, Sasuke never left, and the story takes place after Naruto defeats Pain. Beware some OOC moments…. and strap yourself in for a wondrous, winter sleigh ride, ;)

With love, Min & Mango

Chapter 1: An Idea

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a-

"ARGHHH," Tsunade exclaimed as she relinquished her hold on the pile of paperwork she had in her arms. It was Christmas Eve for heaven's sake, and she was still up doing who knows what! All she wanted was to have a cup of sake and relax, but her assistant Shizune had to go and confiscate her secret stash just moments before she could get to them.

Right at that moment, Shizune walked in, Tonton in her arms. "How are you doing, Tsunade?" she asked.

Well, speak of the devil, Tsunade thought. She sent a dark glare towards her assistant. "I could be doing better if I had some sake right about now!"

Shizune balked. "Well, you do need to finish all your work."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm taking a walk," Tsunade muttered as she stalked out the door.

Shizune sighed and turned towards the windows as she heard the door slam behind her. Sometimes she just didn't know what to do about her sensei. She knew Tsunade would be back soon, though, because her cloak was still draped on her chair.

Tsunade made her way out of the recently rebuilt Hokage Residence and down the street. She didn't have an exact destination in mind, but she realized belatedly that she had forgotten to grab her cloak before storming out. Though the chilly air nipped at her bare arms and face, the frostiness woke her up. Snow fell quietly all around her, the ground beginning to be covered in white. Her skin prickled as snowflakes melted in tiny pinpoints on her, and she tilted her face upwards, inhaling the sharp, fresh air.

We'll be having a white Christmas tomorrow for sure. She brightened up at the thought. With vigor, Tsunade pumped up her fist into the air. "YES!" she shouted with a child-like glee to no one in particular. Then she briefly glanced around to make sure no one saw her acting out of her hokage character. When she finished giving her surroundings a 360, she realized she was the only one in the streets. The realization quickly dampened her mood. All the buildings and houses were dark and gloomy, besides the occasional lit window. Why wasn't anyone outside? Where were all the lights? It was only evening, surely not late enough to have to sleep. Why was no one celebrating the snowfall and the fact that Christmas was tomorrow?

Konoha usually had Christmas Eve celebrations, full of lights and dancing, love and laughter. She knew from past experience that Christmas Eve was one of the most bustling and active days of the year, especially during the night. Everyone would be celebrating that they were all together and safe on such a holiday. Children and students would be out playing games and participating in activities, the restaurants and street vendors would be overfilled with customers, and the streets would be chock full of civilians and shinobi alike.

Maybe Tsunade missed out on something while she was doing all her work. She hurried back to the Hokage's residence to ask Shizune. Once she got back, she was surprised to see Shizune was still at her perch next to the window.

"You're back quickly," Shizune stated.

"What's with all the deserted streets outside? It's Christmas Eve! It's snowing!" Tsunade exclaimed. She felt ashamed she didn't notice the lack of celebration sooner. What had she been doing?

"I don't know," Shizune replied, giving Tsunade a sad glance. "It's just since after Pain's invasion, people just aren't as festive as they used to be."

"Well, we need to change this!" Tsunade said with conviction. "We need to bring the joy and laughter back into people's hearts!"

Shizune rose her eyebrows. "How do you plan on doing that?"

Tsunade faltered. "Uh, I can ask Katsuyu?"

Shizune let out a laugh. The thought of Tsunade's slug-summoning spreading holiday cheer was a little ridiculous. "Are you sure that would work? Some people would be more disgusted than appreciative."

As an answer, Tsunade bit her finger, letting blood spill, and touched the ground. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

With a puff of smoke, a large slug appeared before her. "Tsunade-sama?"

"Do whatever you can to get help so I can spread joy and laughter," Tsunade commanded.

"Alright," Katsuya said. Like it was a common occurrence to be asked to spread cheer in the ninja world.

She left…

...and re-appeared later with Team Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma, and Gai, all slumped against each other.

Tsunade's eyebrow twitched. "This is not what I asked for."

"What are we doing here?" a half-asleep Naruto yawned. "I was resting from all my saving the world with the whole Pain Invasion, you know."

"Don't get all high and mighty on me," Tsunade retorted. "I didn't ask for all of you either."

"Then what are we doing here, sensei?" Sakura asked drowsily.

"I almost attacked Katsuya when she woke me up," Sasuke said crankily, upset to be woken up so late in the night.

"I don't know," Tsunade replied, looking pointedly at Katsuyu. "What ARE they doing here?"

"You asked for help to spread joy and laughter. Thus, I brought help," she said innocently.

"This will have to do," Tsunade sighed, not exactly sure how to proceedddddd

She had expected something more… easy to make do with.

"Right, so why are we here again?" Shikamaru said, whilst rubbing his eyes. "This is bothersome."

Tsunade cleared her throat before another person could interject. "You are all gathered here today for an important mission." She started seriously. "We must dispel this dismal atmosphere"-here, she gestured outside the windows to the barren streets of Konoha-"by conquering all of this gloominess and sorrow, and bring back happiness and joy to Konoha!"

"That sounds like something Guy sensei would say," Tenten whispered to Neji. Both looked at Rock Lee whose eyes were already shining. "Yes, Tsunade-sama," he said reverently. Neji and Tenten sighed.

At least someone is on my side, Tsunade thought, some tension leaving her brow.

"Is there food involved?" Choji asked.

"YEAH!" Naruto piped up, suddenly awake. "Do we get ramen afterwards?"

"Sure, whatever you want," Tsunade said.

Everyone leaned in. "Whatever we...want?"

Tsunade waved her hands. "Not anything. I'll-I'll treat you all to Christmas cookies?"

"I'm in!" Choji said happily, rubbing his belly.

Everyone else besides Rock Lee turned away.

"Nah."

"I'm going to bed."

"Who needs holiday cheer anyway?"

"Wait!" Tsunade said. "As Hokage, I command you to halt!"

Everyone stopped in their tracks. What was so important about this that Lady Tsunade had to keep everyone from their dreams?

"Today I walked out into the streets of Konoha expecting celebration and festivities and unity. But do you know what I saw? Nothing! The streets were dark and empty! This has been the first time in the history of this village that there was no celebration. Ever since Pain's invasion, the people have lost their hope and joy. Things have never been the same since. That is why I called you here today. Don't you want to help?" Tsunade asked pleadingly. She looked around at the faces of the young shinobi.

Naruto let out a huge yawn. "Not really."

"YOU DARE SPEAK AGAINST YOUR HOKAGE?"

"Uh."

"I mean," Choji began, "if the people want to sleep in and have a quiet Christmas, we should let them! Who are we to come between them and their rest?"

Everyone looked at Tsunade pointedly. Naruto let out another yawn.

"Ahh…" Sakura exhaled thoughtfully. "But what fun is that? Christmas comes around only once a year. We have every other day to sleep in and have a quiet morning, Christmas should be different!"

"That's a part of it," Tsunade nodded approvingly. "Hm… How about I make this a competition between your teams?" Tsunade said, lips forming a smirk. "See who can deliver gifts and decorate houses the fastest?"

The four teams looked at her blankly.

"Come on," Tsunade said. "Naruto, you don't want to be beaten by the other teams do you?"

"What's in it for me?" Naruto squinted.

They are not getting the point of Christmas, Tsunade thought helplessly. What did it take to let them see that Christmas wasn't all about what was in it for themselves?

"Fine, barbeque dinner tomorrow for the winning team," Tsunade said flatly.

"Including ramen?" Naruto interjected.

"Yes."

"WELL I'M IN," Naruto declared. "Sasuke, Sakura, we have to win this!"

"Right!" Sakura agreed. Turning to Ino and the rest of Team Asuma, she let out a grin and pumped her fist. "We'll beat you, Ino-pig!"

"Hn," Sasuke uttered unenthusiastically, he'd rather be sleeping.

"Not before we do, Forehead!" Ino yelled back.

"We're not getting squeezed into a pulp by any of you," Shino said dauntingly, voice not at all muffled by his coat collar.

"Let's do this!" Tenten said.

Tsunade sighed with relief. They were cooperating.

Neji crossed his arms. "You guys are forgetting something."

"What?" Tsunade said, irked that maybe she had missed something.

"What gifts exactly are we giving? And what kind of supplies are we using to decorate?" Neji asked.

Tsunade drew a blank, and an awkward pause ensued. "Well...that, is a very good question."

Before Neji could fully form a smirk, a light bulb popped in her head.

"That's it!" Tsunade blurted out. "Each team will make their own presents, and-no worries!" She ran out of the room and came back with a box. "I just remembered that Gaara sent these Christmas lights over from Suna, to help us with the Christmas Eve celebration decorations, except we never used them… there are more than enough for the entire village!"

Shizune cut in. "Someone will need to bake cookies, also."

Tsunade nodded.

"We-we are supposed to do this in one night?" Hinata asked.

"Yes, before dawn," Tsunade reaffirmed. After a pause, she added. "I will give everyone a Katsuyu, so I can keep track of progress. And the Christmas lights will be in the courtyard outside of the Hokage's residence."

"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered as a smaller Katsuyu detached from the original and jumped onto his shoulder.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Kiba said. "Let's get started!" Akamaru barked once in agreement.

In a flash, all four teams left.

Tsunade sat back in her chair, putting a hand on her forehead. "I hope all of this works."
"Are you sure you should leave this to them? They can get a bit… rambunctious at times," Shizune said.

"What other choice do I have?" Tsunade eyed that large stack of paperwork sitting on her desk. "Oh well, screw this Hokage business. I'm going to set the boxes of lights outside the Hokage's residence. And you're helping me, Shizune."

"We'll have to do this quickly," Neji said solemnly, pacing back and forth, as Tenten and Rock Lee watched him. He didn't want to lose to the likes of Naruto, or worse, that arrogant Uchiha.

"Aye, aye, sir!" Rock Lee saluted him.

"What's our plan of action?" Tenten asked.

"Completely and utterly destroying the other teams!" Neji slammed his fist onto a table.

"Sounds like a good plan, sir!" Rock Lee saluted him again.

"Uh…." Tenten faltered. Neji was taking this competition a little TOO seriously for her liking. "We don't have to necessarily destroy them, do we? Besides, you don't even like barbecue, Neji."

"Hmph," Neji said. "I do like barbeque."

"No, you don't!" Rock Lee saluted him.

"Well, I can't be beaten by the likes of that Naruto," Neji stated with conviction.

"Right, right!" Rock Lee agreed.

"Riiiiight," Tenten said flatly. "So what's the actual plan?"

"Completely and utterly destroy-"

"Okay, Rock Lee can take care of the decorations, Neji will make the gifts, and I'll go to the Konoha Community Food Pantry to bake the cookies," Tenten interrupted Neji.

"Ma'am yes ma'am!" Lee saluted once more, straightening his posture to the point where he started to bend backwards. Then in a puff of cloud, he disappeared down the street.

Neji sighed. How was he supposed to make gifts?

"You can use your brains to make the gifts," Tenten said teasingly, seeming to read his mind. "With all those Hyuuga prodigy skills, I'm sure coming up with simple Christmas presents is a no brainer!"

Neji sent Tenten a glare and stalked off. Tenten shrugged her shoulders and left for the the food pantry.

Meanwhile, Team Kakashi, minus their sensei, had also just finished delegating jobs; Sasuke was in charge of gifts, Naruto of decorations, and Sakura was given the task of baking cookies.

After Sasuke left in search of easy-to-make Christmas gifts, Naruto walked with Sakura down one of the streets, looking around for a place that provided easy-access baking ingredients and reliable equipment.

"Where would be a good place?" Sakura wondered.

"Hm," Naruto scratched his head, then he felt his mouth starting to water as Ichiraku Ramen came within sight, warm and inviting. "I would kill for some ramen right now."

"Not now, idiot," Sakura punched his head.

"Ow!" Naruto said.

"They'd have an oven though!" Sakura said excitedly. "I'm a genius!"

"That was… my idea," Naruto said weakly as she dragged him over.

"Sure it was," Sakura gave Naruto a skeptical look. "Do you think they would let us use their kitchen for just this night?"

"Totally!" Naruto gave one of his famous grins. "Me and Ramen Pops are tight! Let me just ask him for you."

Sakura rolled her eyes at Naruto's nickname for Teuchi. If Naruto ever came up with such a stupid name for her, she'd personally make sure he landed in the hospital for weeks.

Naruto jogged back to her in an instant, his right hand giving a thumbs up. "Ramen Pops gave the A-ok! As long as you clean up afterwards, he's fine with us using his kitchen."

Sakura smiled. Cha! They were SO going to win this. She was not about to let that Ino-pig get the best of her!

First chapter = RELEASED! What did you think of it? Suggestions? Improvements? We LOVE constructive criticism and would appreciate any! Thanks for taking time to read this! Future updates will be consistent and we hope you're as excited as we are about this Christmas!