Chapter 1: Festive Greetings

The morning had come too soon for Naruto. Not only was it filled with mayhem over not knowing what to wear and making so many mistakes but thanks to a message delivered a little too late, he was to arrive there an hour earlier than expected! How he wished he could crawl right back into bed and close his eyes... This was no important, dangerous mission! How did this help him be a better Jounin and promote him further towards being hokage? Sure... Tsunade explained something about politics, allies, village health and being a good Samaritan to Konoha... Yet she explained it in such a foolish way with her sake breath and slurs, the only thing that stuck with him really was Garra, fun, Sasuke and Sakura...

His blue eyes widened slightly and a broad smile came to his lips. Sasuke and Sakura right? He hadn't seen them for awhile since they've been quite busy lately. Imagine seeing his friends dressed up and having fun together. It would feel just like it did when they were thirteen except now... Now his feelings had grown, bonds challenged and tightened to an unbelievable hold. Both Sasuke and Sakura were in a new and better light for him. The hardships were over and now this was special... He fumbled with the kimono Kakashi bought for him. Really he could have bought one for himself--maybe one that was more simpler and had less knots to tie! But Kakashi-sensei insisted because according to him, Naruto had no sense of 'style'.

He managed to tie the navy blue coil to fasten around his waist. The tawny orange cloth hung loosely against him, open sleeves reaching past his knuckles. The collar was a bit wide as it showed throat, collar bone and peeked down in a V-shape towards his chest. The patterns were small swirls of indigo and green that were on the top and on his baggy pants. He lifted his arms and looked down, checking himself over. A hand reached for his nightstand, opening the drawer and placing on the necklace given to him by the Fifth. There, he was all set.

Some realization dawned on his half-hazard mind while he stepped out the door and begun his way towards the gates. Hinata-chan! He was supposed to pick her up! Naruto cursed and back-tracked. He didn't mean to forget. Heck, he forgot breakfast and to comb his hair, he had forgotten that he was allowed to bring a date for this festival. This morning just wasn't his kind of morning... Already up and early in the day he could see young girls in extravagant festival kimonos. This put him in a better mood. The civilians and ninja alike were so happy and in high spirits. It motivated him to be the same. He looked on the bright side. He'd see Gaara today and all his friends, he'd get to spend a festival with Hinata and he was going to look nice doing so.

He landed swiftly in front of the Hyuuga community. He took a step inside past the small arch and into the area of houses. With a few moments of guess work (Gosh, he didn't even know where she lived...) he opted for calling out her name loudly. That would grab her attention and she would come out of one of the houses, right?

"Naruto-kun... I'm over here..." A soft voice called out from behind him and Naruto turned around. The shy voice was definitely from Hinata and it was coming from the slightly larger house. When the sound of wooden sandals moving down steps and meeting with ground came did Naruto turn around and face his 'date'. He was pleasantly surprised at the change he saw on her and could not stop from grinning widely...

"Hinata-chan! You look absolutely beautiful!" That was no lie. Hinata came out in a green kimono with the entire dress a picture of white, orange and blue feathered cranes and golden tree designs around them. A soft, yellow obi surrounded her mid-section and a fan was poking out from the fold. Her usual shoulder length hair was pinned back with decorative clips that glinted brightly against her deep purple hair. With a small giggle, she moved beside him and placed her hands in her long sleeves. He watched her pale eyes look over him, blushing.

"Y-you look very handsome yourself, Naruto-kun." She took in a deep breathe, her eyes sparkled merrily as he placed his arm in hers. Spending time with her hadn't dimmed her timidness in any way, but at least she wasn't fainting. Naruto wanted Hinata to be comfortable around him, sometimes joking to her to 'loosen up'. It still felt like she was walking on eggshells whenever he was around.

Naruto gave a small blush of his own while he grinned, unable to wipe the smile from his face. "Hm, thanks!" He walked her out of the Hyuuga estate and headed towards the Gates, arm in arm to await the opening ceremony. They would welcome the incoming allies with a pretty celebration and then get on with the festival. He watched people gathering and saw many of his friends that he hadn't seen in awhile. Everyone in the rookie nine had become Jounin or Special Jounin. A few even joined the ANBU from what he's heard. Things this time around were busy...

He waved to people he knew, also seeing Shikamaru waiting around and shifting uncomfortably. Anxious to meet someone? Naruto bet that he was waiting for Temari to show up. She'd be coming with Sunagakure so that was why he was dateless for a short while. He wasn't the only one dateless since some weren't lucky enough to score while the others were more concerned about other things than this festival. He felt Hinata move within his hold as if tugging lightly so his attention was drawn to her. She was looking away towards an area.

"There is Kiba-kun with Akamaru! Shino is with him too... I haven't seen my teammates in a long time." Naruto blinked for a moment. She sounded so happy to see them. He's never heard her speak like this around him. With a glance between her and her teammates, he gave a small chuckle and let her go.

"Hinata-chan... You and me, we can see each other often since we are both not busy on the same days..." He thought about it for a moment. "Well mostly anyways. With all the trouble going on I'm sure you want to spend some time with them ne?"

Hinata looked about ready to protests. "B-But I came with you--" Naruto interrupted her. "-Hey it's alright. I might see my teammates too and we can spend some time after the opening ceremony together right?" She nodded. "Good. Go say hi and stand in front so we can have a good view. I'm going to find my... Three teammates."

Naruto watched her walk towards the other two and large dog. Would Akamaru ever stop growing?

He gave another small chuckle to himself, turning around and starting to look. He said three purposefully. Sai was still apart of the team even if unofficially. He would enjoy the socially inept boy's company too, should Sasuke and Sakura be too into each other for him to be around. Somehow he couldn't see Sasuke going googily eyed or romantic with Sakura. Or... Anybody for that matter.

A scent of lily and jasmine moved around him and his nose appreciatively took it in. Naruto was surprised when two hands covered his eyes and warm breath tickled his earlobe, the warmth of the person behind him pressing against his back. Whoever it was was obviously standing on their tip-toes. "Boo." She whispered to him and Naruto felt his heart flutter within his chest.

"Hey Sakura-chan..."

--------------------------------------------------

Sakura had been looking forward to the festival for a small time now, thinking it as a wonderful way to see people and to enjoy herself. She didn't work out at on the feild as much as most nin. Oh no, she spent every day at the hospital beside Shizune-sama and even sometimes the Gondaime-shishou. She was still Tsunade's apprentice even after all this time and would continue for as long as she could. No matter what, she'd always see Tsunade as her sensei just as she did with Kakashi-sensei.

Her career as a medic was going magnificently. She worked hard to earn the title of a valuable medic nin and was called out with ANBU and Jounins who were on A rank and higher missions. She was very useful was what everyone soon found out. Tsunade had set her up with Kurenai to train further in Genjutsu. The result had shocked many when they saw her true talent for the art of illusion. It was her defense as was setting high rank traps to go along with it. Offensive she had the obvious--Her inhumane strength. With agility and her quick mind that helped in strategy she aided her comrades well.

This was all great and important to her but... Working at the hospital for medical training, genjutsu training, chakra control and muscle training, with a few other training sessions that had been added here or there, ending off with her regular missions as a Jounin. It got frustrating and she was supremely busy. She hadn't seen Naruto properly for months now. It had always been a 'Hi' 'Bye' senario and those times were when she was with Sasuke; whom was also extremly busy with his work.

Since Sasuke had been back, he needed to do many things in order to clear his name as a missing-nin. For two years he's been struggling to get the title of Konoha's ninja again and be allowed to do something, anything. They had placed him under heavy surveillance, forcing him to do community work and they had messed around with the cursed seal to make sure that he wasn't some weird medium for the dead Orochimaru. Through the whole thing Sakura had tried to support him even if he did seem distant sometimes. Really the only reason why Sakura thought he was so open with her was because now the weight Itachi has had on him was suddenly lifted. The emotional scars were still there, the pain never really went away... Yet now, maybe Sasuke could breathe easier and start his life again.

Which was why Sakura was still 'with' Sasuke. She brushed her hair and took a few strands of the bangs framing her face, pulling up the rest of her hair into a small and spiked pony tail. Using her curler and special hair products given to her by Ino, those few stands turned into wavy and sleek curls. She took two small clips that had white oleander ornaments and placed them on the side of her head. White and baby blue ribbons streamed down the pony tail and down to her neck.

Painting her lips a pale pink and adding some glitter near her eyes she quickly stood up and went over towards the door. Sasuke was always punctual right down to that exact minute he should be there. She looked herself over to see how she was. A silk kimono with white morning flowers flattered her figure. She was tall for a girl and the length of the kimono as it flowed down around her shapely legs complimented that fact. The white softened her, making her seem like a gentle beauty instead of the fighting temptress she was.

She heard a knock on the door and smiled to herself. "Coming!" she slipped on the gekkei sandles often worn by prestress and slid open the sturdy sliding door. The sight nearly took her breath away. In a dark blue kimono with shadow crane designs and a crimson braid around his waist, Uchiha Sasuke was looking as fine and as handsome as the dark haired man could be. His onyx eyes trailed over her and the weight of his gaze felt a little strange but she was delighted to see a small smile.

"You look... Pretty..." Beside the door was a sea foam green amagasa, the small festival umbrella woman would hold. She took it and gave him a sparkling smile back. "Thank you! You look great yourself Sasuke-kun!" He stepped back so she could lock her door and then offered his arm. She took it in her own and the walked together silently. Sakura wasn't with Sasuke long enough for it to bother her much but... If she was promised to him, shouldn't they be more closer?

'I just promised I'd help him... Help him revive his clan. There was nothing said about actual intimacy or love... Can I make him love me? I once thought that, maybe that's why I agreed but...' Her train of thought was cut off by Sasuke beside her, causing her to look up towards him. "Naruto is there..." he observed and Sakura followed his gaze.

She could see him clearly with his orange kimono and his back facing them. Naruto's blonde hair had grown a little longer and thicker in mass. It was wild as always but somehow it made him look older, more mature. She liked his hair actually and it looked so untamed without his headband. She let go of Sasuke's arm, telling his with her expression only that she would go greet him. He gave a small nod in return as usual not saying much about anything.

She snuck up behind him, watching him tense lightly as he sniffed out her lotion and perfume. He was about a head taller than she was, so she had to stand on her toes to reach up and place her hands over his eyes. Her silly greeting was said and she could hear the smile and happiness in his voice as he said her name. Before she wouldn't act this friendly towards him but after everything they went through she couldn't help but be nice. They had come a long way since the Academy and there was no way she was going back! Naruto was one of her special people!

She squealed lightly and her jade eyes widened. Naruto had taken her hands off and with speed she couldn't match herself, he had slipped his arms around her waist and lifted her up in the air. Soon he was gently spinning her around and laughing. "Naruto!" she scolded as she squealed, got off guard by her own teammate. After a bit of that he placed her down steadily to the floor and let her stand to regain balance. She laughed merrily and looked up at his face. "Naruto, you still remain the most unpredictable ninja!" His hands stayed where they were as his blue orbs looked her over, hardly taking in the comment with how star struck he was.

"Gosh Sakura... You look..." He fished around for words, that heated gaze that was taking her in made her blush. Even if she was more comfortable and open with Naruto she was still the same Sakura. Her hand went to his shoulder and she gave him a sly look.

"Like what? You better not make the same mistake Sai did, or I might just kill you..."

He blinked and shook his head, realizing where his hands were and quickly stepped back to look at her fully. His arms fell to his side and he gave her another one over. "Sakura-chan looks amazing!" Sakura swelled with pride and twiddled her fingers in a small modesty while her face betrayed an 'I know' look. "I swear all the girls today look so pretty! I almost can't stop looking at them!" Pfffft... It deflated. She pressed her lips together tightly in a pout. Not just her that looked extraordinarily amazing? Did he really think that for all the girls and she nothing special?

Conveniently on Naruto's part (Sakura was fisting her palm and pulling up her sleeve), Sasuke came over and greeted Naruto. "Hey Dobe, I see you actually attempted not to look like an idiot today." The Uchiha smirked and Naruto looked to him with a sly grin of his own.

"Yeah, same goes for you Teme! I see you decided not to look like you've had something shoved up your ass today too!" Naruto challenged back as the too stood facing each other. Naruto was about an inch taller than Sasuke, somehow. Maybe this was Karma making up for the fact he was always being called short when he was younger... Sakura smacked her forehead with her hand and peered at the two.

"Hey! Let's not use that kind of talk okay, the opening of the festival is about to begin and you guys are scaring the kids!" They both looked at her with some annoyance, though Naruto was more respectful in his gaze and after looking at some wide eyed children... He knew she was right. "Hai, Sakura-chan!" Sasuke said nothing but looked ahead to the gates. He decided to move over to Sakura, placing his arm at her waist and pulling her towards him like he had something to prove. Or maybe he just thought it was appropriate since they were 'dates'.

Naruto looked towards the two and the blalant closeness they shared together. There was a small pang again and suddenly Naruto was wishing for her warmth once again. He wasn't jealous... No way. He took in a deep breathe and smiled, looking over to his own date who was off happy enjoying her team, listening intently to something Kiba was saying. The drums started to play and Tsunade-sama came in view in the front of the gates. Their allies were arriving and finally things could begin.

---------------------

Author's Notes:

I realize this is a slow chapter with just a few explanations and everything but don't worry! More is coming ahead. Next chapter you see Gaara, the Sand siblings, Kyuubi and some things heating up. Please Read and Review! I need feedback so tell me what you think so far.

--Thank you to all who have reviewed so far. Your comments are appreciated and I'm glad you took the time to leave some.