Authors note: This is set one month after a successful Sasuke retrieval mission. I do not own Naruto.

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Jutsu"

A Different Celebration

Chapter 1

It was a cloudy day in Konoha, light rain was giving way to a storm coming over the horizon. The rookies were relaxing under an awning enjoying the time off.

"Checkmate" said Shikamaru sliding his piece into place before removing a few chips from Choji's bag.

"Munch munch munch...good job Shika." said the big boned boy between mouthfuls.

" Aw bullshit!!!! You only started with half your pieces!!!" yelled an irate Kiba after losing for the 4th straight time. He turned to Akamaru who was yipping while he was going on his tangent. "What do you mean I suck.....he has to be cheating!!!" flinging an accusing finger toward the shadow user.

"I would have to disagree Kiba." replied Shino pushing his glasses back into place, "He used a sound strategy of waiting and reacting. While you, in your usual fashion, charged straight ahead." Kiba shot a glare towards his bug riddled friend before getting up trudging past Ino and Sakura toward the bathroom mumbling about lazy geniuses.

"Care for a game Shino?" Shikamaru asked gesturing to the board, Shino nodded in response and sat down. Choji was feeding a few chips to Akamaru when Team Guy stepped into the restaurant, the genins seemed somewhat unhappy. While Guy had an unreadable expression on his face. The reason why became apparent immediately as Sasuke stepped into the restaurant. He looked around at the people gathered and noticed the mixed reactions at his arrival. The civilians seemed happy to see the last of the great Uchiha clan, while the rookies(minus Sakura)didn't seem pleased at all to have him in the presence. The Jonins sat in the booth not saying a word, Kakashi didn't even greet him.

"Kakashi my eternal rival!!! How about a drinking contest to break our 41-41 tie." yelled Guy as he seated himself in the booth while Team Guy went to watch the game. Kakashi's response was to slam his bottle of sake.

"Hm, you say something Guy". Replied Kakashi raising his hand to signal another bottle, before ordering 2 more instead.

"Alright challenge accepted my too cool for school friend." said taking one of the bottles and slamming it down.

Kakashi's next response was to slam his head onto the table while thinking 'that's not why I ordered 2'

'I wonder if that would work for me' thought Sasuke sitting across from Sakura, who had successfully managed to corner the last Uchiha. Sakura had forgiven almost instantly while he was in the hospital recovering from "the lesson" Naruto had given him for leaving the village.

Shikamaru looked up from the game as team ten seated themselves,"Hey Lee, how you doing?"

"I am doing well Shikamaru, the fight with Kimimaro re-energized my flames of youth!!!" Lee more or less shouted with flames in his eye.

"Yeah we can see that" Kiba said rejoining the group. He glared over at Sasuke, "What the hell are you doing here traitor?"

"Don't you talk to Sasuke like that you filthy mutt!" Sakura screeched before being hit with a wave of killing intent coming off the Genins, but most of all Kiba.

"Shut up you pink haired little banshee! This prick abandoned our village and almost cost got us killed! He should be in jail right now!" yelled Kiba.

"That's because of the curse seal Orochimaru put on him!" she yelled back.

"What the hell is wrong with you forehead!" Ino cut in, "You were there at the debriefing, he willing drew on the curse seal, he was ready to leave the village for "his power".

Sasuke in the mean time was trying his hardest to be invisible, to bad it didn't work.

"How can you say that Ino?" replied a confused Sakura

"Gah, your hopeless." Ino huffed and turned away.

Tenten decided to break the tension, "So where's Hinata and Naruto?"

"Yeah, it's not like Hinata to be late. And I figured Naruto be all about a festival...I mean they don't get much bigger then this." replied Kiba.

"If you recall Kiba, after practice yesterday Hinata stated that she had a private ceremony to attend and would not be joining us." explained Shino to his slow thinking friend.

"Oh yeah....then why aren't you there?" Kiba said pointing to Neji.

"It's a private ceremony." Neji calmly replied. Everyone sweat dropped.

Choji spoke while opening another bag of chips,"That still doesn't explain Naruto."

"Yeah forehead where is he?" piped in Ino

Sakura glared at her,"I don't know pig, I haven't seen him all day."

"I haven't either" interjected Sasuke, trying to get on at least someones good side. "He always talks about the forth, it's kinda weird he wouldn't be at the festival to celebrate his greatest victory."

No one noticed the Jonins flinch in their booth.

"Kakashi-sensei do you know wher....." Sakura was interrupted by the sounds of angry yelling. "There it is!!!" "Get it, it's the last one" "Kill it" "Hurry it went that way" all the Genins turned to see a group of villagers chasing a small orange blur.

"It's the damn fox hunt, stupid villagers abusing a defenseless animal." Kiba spat while rising from his seat.

"Kiba stand down!" Kurenai barked.

"But sensei" Kiba started.

"It's just a fox Kiba, what's the big deal, they're evil." Ino stated.

"What the hell is wrong with you Ino. It's a defenseless animal who's done nothing wrong." Tenten growled.

"Yeah, it wasn't even alive during the attack." Kiba

"If you judge an entire species based on the actions of one creature..." everyone turned to Shino who was speaking, "...then how evil is mankind?" Ino had the decency to look ashamed.

"This is most unyouthful, Guy-sensei why can we not interfere?" question Lee

"It will be handled Lee." was Guy's solemn reply. At this point the fox was crossing in front of the restaurant heading down the street towards the front gate.

" I hope it gets away" mumbled Choji while everyone nodded in agreement. There hopes were dashed as a second mob rounded the corner in front of the fox. The animal ran in a circle and seeing that it was surrounded curled into ball and shook with fear. One of the villagers picked up a rock and hurled it at the small creature. Just as the rock was about to strike, an orange blur appeared in front of the animal, catching the rock. All the genins were shocked at the speed, then they realized who they were looking at.

"All right Naruto!!!" yelled Kiba.

"So the demon protects its own." said a villager. Others mumbled and nodded there heads.

Naruto looked down at the frightened fox at his feet staring helpless at him. Dropping the rock he unzipped his jacket halfway while reaching down and scooped it up. "It's not safe here for you little guy." He said stuffing the animal in his jacket. He looked around and was about to jump to a roof when he was struck in the head by a rock. He stumbled a bit before looking back at the assailant. The man looked at him with hate filled eyes and spat the word demon. A rapid succession a rocks struck Naruto in the head, face, back and arms which were being used to shield the fox. Another hard hit to the back of the head knocked him to the ground.

"What the fuck!?!?!? yelled Kiba as he jumped to his feet along with the other rookies to help Naruto. They quickly all found themselves frozen in place. A single phrase reached there ears.

"Shadow Possession Jutsu success" announced Shikamaru, holding his signature hand sign.

"What are you doing Shikamaru, release me at once!" snapped Neji as he and the others strained against the jutsu.

"No!!! Naruto!!!" yelled Sakura as the villagers beat Naruto as he curled up protecting the animal in his jacket.

"Shikamaru stop! We have to help our friend!" cried Lee as he continued to fight the hold on him.

Shikamaru reached into his vest pocket, the others imitating him, and pulled out a solider pill and put it in his mouth. "I can't do that." he replied.

"Guy-sensei why aren't you helping him?" pleaded Tenten

"We can't." was his short answer. But anger and guilt were clearly written on his as well as the other Jonins faces.

"What do you mean you can't! What kind of shit is that!?!?!?" shot Kiba

"Kiba! Shut up, that's an order." Kurenai said glaring at her student.

"There going to kill him!" Ino said almost in tears. As the crowd beat Naruto mercilessly. A Chuunin joined and brandished a kunai.

"Sensei stop him!" yelled Sasuke to everyone's surprise.

It was too late, the blade was now buried deep in his right shoulder. They all heard him cry out in pain. The crowd cheered while the rookies cringed. Suddenly all action came to a halt when a powerful killing intent swept over the street.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!!!" a voice bellowed, everyone turned to see the 5th Hokage with a very pissed off look on her face.