Author: "I don't own Naruto.." (damn it!)
Team 7 was returning back from a mission. Naruto was feeling as energetic as ever.
"Hell.. I'm starving like anything... Hey, Hey, Kakashi Sensei, how about treating us to ramen?" Naruto shouted, jumping in front of Kakashi, and walking backwards, facing the rest of them.
"Uh-huh.. I have an urgent business I have to attend to." Kakashi replied, trying to escape the situation.
"What! This is not fair.." Naruto yelled, pointing a finger at his sensei.
"Bye guys.. catch you later!" And Kakashi was gone in a poof.
"Naruto, why don't you eat something else for a change?" Sakura asked.
"But Sakura-chan.. Ramen is the tastiest food in the world.." Naruto complained.
"Idiot.." Sasuke mused.
"Did you say something, bastard?" Naruto glared at Sasuke.
"Ramen is the reason why you are so weak, dobe." Sasuke told him.
"Did you call me weak just now?" Naruto slitted his eyes.
"Yeah. Are you deaf too?"
"You jerk! How dare you- I will beat you to pulp" Naruto started attacking Sasuke with a flurry of punches, which were all dodged by Sasuke effortlessly.
"Heh.. as if I you could." Sasuke smirked.
"Hey! Stop attacking Sasuke, Naruto. Anyway, I'm going home." Sakura said.
"Huh.. Sakura-chan! Tomorrow is off for us, right? Do you wanna come on a date tomorrow?" Naruto grinned at Sakura.
"You dumbass! How dare you ask me to a date! But Sasuke-kun, I will agree if you ask.." Sakura looked longingly at Sasuke.
"Hn.. I have training to do." Sasuke was not interested.
"But Sakura-chaaan... Tomorrow it's my-"
"I told you to shut up, Naruto. There is a ton of things my parents asked me to do. Anyway.. who would want to spend a day with the likes of you!" Sakura waved him off.
"Oh.. that was mean, Sakura-chan.." Naruto felt a little downcast.. "Hey! Then can I train with you? Sasuke?" Naruto asked hopefully.
"Nopes. It will be a waste of time if I hang around a weakling like you." Sasuke smirked.
"Why you-!" Naruto was taken aback.
"I'm going home." Sasuke said, already walking off.
"Sasuke-kun! Wait, I will come with you till that corner. Bye Naruto!" Sakura ran after Sasuke.
Naruto stood there for a while, looking at their backs. He hung down his head. "But tomorrow is my birthday.." he mumbled.
He sighed, then slowly turned to walk to his own apartment. The sun was already setting. He suddenly felt all alone. Till last year, his birthday was just another day, and no one took special notice of him. Not that he complained, but he had hoped for a better one this time, since it was his first birthday after being a part of team 7. Kakashi sensei, Sakura-chan, Sasuke, they meant so much to him now. Almost like a family. But was it the same for them? Did they even know he cared so much about them?
He trudged back to his apartment and ate some of ramen that was left over from the day before. He looked at the mess around him. Usually he did not mind. But today he needed something to distract himself. So he gathered up all the empty ramen packets, and put them in the trash bin. Then he scrubbed the floor till it reflected his own image and washed up all his dirty clothes. Satisfied with the effort, he went to take a long shower and flopped into his bed, all exhausted.
On the bedside table, was the framed photo of their team. He took it and stared till little tears formed in his eyes. He smiled a little, and clutched it to him, thinking of all the little sweet moments he had with them. Somewhere in the middle, he fell asleep.
"Sasuke-kun! Wait, I will come with you till that corner. Bye Naruto!" Sakura ran after Sasuke.
Sakura caught up to Sasuke and glanced back at Naruto, who was slowly walking away, heads down. "Uh huh.. were we a little too harsh on him, Sasuke?"
"Hn.. it's alright. He can take it." Sasuke said.
"I hope so. It will be a real surprise for him.." Sakura smiled.
"Yeah." Sasuke curled his lips in a tiny smile.
"Then I will go help Kakashi sensei buy all the things required for tonight's party. Is your apartment decorated, Sasuke-kun?"
"Nopes, I am going to do that now."
"Alright! Meet you there then."
"Hn.."
How was it? Please let me know =) Any kind of criticisms are welcome.. B) I will come up with the next chapter soon..
