Chapter 3
Gentle Birthday
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIMI!" yelled the many shinobis and servants of the Uzumaki castle. Naruto laughed happily as he rubbed the sleepiness out of his eyes. It was October 10, Naruto's 15th birthday! Naruto had been awakened by the whole castle with a happy birthday greeting. Naruto yawned and stretched as everyone stayed quite. Noticing the quietness, Naruto looked at his shinobis and servants.
"Daijoubu(are you okay)?" Naruto asked, raising a brow. Everyone nodded. "Then why are you so quiet?"
"I don't know, how troublesome," Shikamaru said. Naruto blinked a few times before laughing.
"Well then...if you don't mind...I would like to change..." Naruto said, rubbing his neck sheepishly.
"Oh right! Gomenasai(I'm sorry) Kimi!" Everyone said as they fled out of Naruto's gigantic room! Naruto laughed but raised a brow when he realized that two people still remained...
"Kiba...Shikamaru...what's wrong?" Naruto asked as his two friends sat on his bed.
"Betsuni(nothing), we just want to make sure you don't hurt yourself," Kiba said.
"Or wear anything stupid, how troublesome," Shikamaru said. Naruto pouted in anger and threw the covers off him.
"For your information I'm Kimi Naruto! Kimis do not get hurt or dress in something stupid! ...unless they mean too," Naruto said with a hmph at the end. Kiba laughed. Naruto scowled. "And what about you dog boy! Hows things with bug boy!?"
Kiba stopped laughing and blushed.
"His name is Shino, not bug boy! And if you must know...it's going along great," Kiba said, blushing even more as Shikamaru smirked.
"Yeah, it must've gone real great for you to have a bit of a limp," Shikamaru teased, making Kiba go beet red. Naruto blushed as well.
"You actually..." Naruto said, staring at Kiba in disbelief. "Kiba...STUPID! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT TIL YOUR MARRIED!"
"SHUT-UP!" Kiba said, his blush reaching his arms. Naruto shook his head and jumped out of his huge bed.
"Kiba, Kiba, Kiba," Naruto said in disappointment as he walked towards his huge closet. "You really need a brain!"
"I got plenty of it, thank-you!" Kiba said angrily as Naruto picked some random clothes.
"You sure don't show it," Naruto said as he stripped himself from his pajamas, making Kiba blush.
"DON'T CHANGE IN FRONT OF ME!" Kiba yelled as he quickly put his back to Naruto. Naruto blushed out of embarrassment. "NOW WHO'S THE ONE WHO ISN'T USING THEIR BRAIN!"
"Heh heh, gomen(sorry)," Naruto said as he quickle slipped into a pair of beige jeans that stopped just above his ankles. "Forgot that you were gay!"
"Hmph!" Kiba said angrily as Naruto slipped on a sleevless black shirt and a white sleeveless vest as well. Naruto stretched an yawned slightly. "...So Naruto...what are you going to where for your masked ball?"
Naruto stopped stretching and had a thoughtfull look on his face.
"I'm not sure...It's up to my royal stylests," Naruto said with a smile. Kiba nodded. "What about you two?"
"I was thinking some kind of deer," Shikamaru said lazily.
"So your doing an animal theme?" Naruto asked. Shikamaru shrugged.
"I only know that me and Kiba are," Shikamaru said.
"I was thinking of a dog," Kiba said cheerfully, facing Naruto. Shikamaru and Naruto rolled their eyes.
"Of course!" they both said. Kiba glared at them both.
-x- -x-
"Are you ready Sasuke?" Fugaku said as he stood on the training grounds where Sasuke was training. Sasuke stopped his training and slightly bowed to his father.
"Hai Otosan(yes Father)," Sasuke said.
"Who did you choose to accompany you?" Fugaku said.
"Iruka, Neji, Sakura, Ino, Chouji, and Ten Ten," Sasuke said. Fugaku scowled.
"Isn't that a bit too much?" Fugaku said coldly.
"I need many eyes and ears, Otosan," Sasuke said, resisting the urge to snarl. Fugaku nodded and gave Sasuke an amused look.
"Ii desu yo(good). You may continue training... Oh...I hope you have thought of what to wear and a plan to sneak in," Fugaku said. Sasuke nodded.
"Everything is taken care of, Otosan," Sasuke said as he continued his training. Fugaku nodded and turned his back to Sasuke.
"I'm expecting it to be," Fugaku said as he walk off the training grounds. Sasuke watched his father disappear. When he was out of view, Sasuke growled and punched the nearest tree.
"I still think this is a bad idea," a soothing deep voice said from behind Sasuke.
"I KNOW! ...Gomen Kurai...I'm just frustrated," Sasuke said to the panther behind him. Kurai watched Sasuke with his fierce amber eyes. Suddenly, Kurai looked up at the sky, ears and eyes alert. Sasuke noticed and said, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Kurai said plainly. There was a small smile on the panther's features. "I just have a good feeling."
"For a panther...you act pretty weird," Sasuke said with a raised brow. Kurai chuckled and laid down on the grass.
"What did you expect? I've been locked up in that cage for a long time!" Kurai said as he yawned. The panther watched Sasuke train from a good distance and smiled softly. 'Soon...they'll meet again and start remembering... Soon...I will see you again my friend.'
-x- -x-
"Are you done yet?" Naruto said politely to his royal stylest. The royal stylest looked up at Naruto with shy lavendar eyes and a flushed face. She had long black hair, pale skin, and she wore a purple kimono.
"I'm a-almost done K-Kimi," Hinata said shyly. Naruto smiled kindly at her as Hinata worked on his outfit. Naruto yawned softly and walked towards the window. Naruto leaned against the window and looked up at the midnight sky. Naruto smiled warmly as he opened his window and stuck his head out. Naruto inhaled a long breath and exhaled slowly with a smile on his face. Naruto just loved being outdoors! He would be outdoors every moment if he could. Naruto smiled brightly and looked up at the stary sky. The sky was really dark, it almost looked onyx. (following is a flashback)
Onyx eyes filled with curiousity and joy stared at him deeply.
Naruto eyes widened in surprise and shooked his head.
'What was that?' Naruto thought as he held his head in one hand. Naruto shook his head once more before he drew his head back inside the castle and shut the window. Naruto rubbed his arm comfortly as he turned and faced Hinata. Hinata was frowning in concentration as she sewed a few stetches. Naruto felt a bit guilty for making Hinata work so hard over just an outfit.
"Hina-
"Finished!" Hinata said cheerfully, cutting Naruto off. Hinata stood up from her seat and held Naruto's outfit in front of her. Naruto's eyes widened in amazement. "Y-you don't l-like it d-do you..."
"Iie(no)! I do like it! I love it! It's really amazing Hinata! You really are a good stylest!" Naruto said cheerfully as he walked up to Hinata and took the outfit from Hinata's hands. Naruto smiled warmly at Hinata. "I'm glad to have you as my stylest...and as my friend Hinata."
Hinata blushed and bowed her head.
"Arigato K-Kimi(thank-you prince)," Hinata said shyly and happily. Naruto beamed.
"Don't call me Kimi! Call me Naruto!" Naruto said kindly. Hinata nodded.
"Of course...N-Naruto-kun," Hinata said shyly. Naruto laughed lightly. Hinata bowed deeply to Naruto. "E-excuse me N-Naruto-kun. Y-you must change a-and get ready s-soon."
"Hai(right)!" Naruto asid cheerfully as Hinata hurriedly ran out of Naruto's room, leaving the blonde alone. Naruto looked down at his outfit and smiled. "It really is amazing!"
After ten minutes of getting ready...Naruto stood in front of his mirror looking at himself. Naruto couldn't help but laugh joyfully as he did a pose.
"Okay, enough goofing around! Time to party!" Naruto said happily as he reached out for his mask. As Naruto put on his mask, Naruto thought he heard a bit of yelling from outside the castle. Naruto raised a brow, but then shrugged it off and walked out of his room.
-x- x-
"SASUKE-KUN LIKES ME BEST!" yelled Sakura to a blonde girl with blue eyes.
"YEAH RIGHT FOREHEAD!" Ino yelled back.
"SHUT-UP!" Ten Ten telled angrily, covering both girls' mouths. "You're going to get us caught!"
"Ten Ten-chan is right. You girls are going to get us caught with your bickering!" Iruka scolded both glaring girls. Sakura and Ino hung their heads in shame and let out a muffled 'sorry'. Ten Ten let go of them and had a look of irritation on her face.
"Are you guys ready?" Sasuke whispered, as he watched the gaurds at the front gate.
"I hope we are," Neji muttered as he threw Chouji a glare as the fat shinobi munched on some chips. Ten Ten, Iruka, and Sasuke sighed in a 'we're doomed' way. Sasuke shook his head and looked at his teammates. Sakura was wearing an exoctic pink kimono and had her hair up in a stylish bun. Ino was wearing a classic yellow kimono and she too had her hair in a stylish bun. Ten Ten was wearing a red kimono that was real comftorble, even when fighting, and had her hair down. Iruka was wearing a long green formal kimono. Neji was wearing dark pants and a white kimono shirt that had silver designs of birds, and had a lavendar belt around his waist. Chouji was wearing a shinobi's outift, crested with the Uzumaki mark. Sasuke looked down at himslef; he was wearing midnight blue pants, a midnight short-sleeved shirt, a ceruliean kimono shirt that was embroided with blue designs that looked like leaves and flower petals. He also wore a black and red belt, and tied around the middle of the belt, there was a string and at the ends of the strings there was a red feather and a green bead. Sasuke also had his protective armor on his arms(1).
"Do you all got your masks...except for Chouji," Sasuke said in a whisper. Everyone nodded. Sasuke grabbed his own mask that was midnight blue that had emeralds on the edges, and put it on. "Put them on then."
They nodded and put their masks on. Sasuke looked back at the gaurds, two see only one was there...at the moment.
"Chouji, here's your chance," Sasuke whispered as he gestured at Chouji to get the gaurd. Chouji nodded and walked out from the bushes where they were hiding. Sasuke and the others watched as Chouji walked up to the gaurd casually. They watched as Chouji and the gaurd talked to few moments before Chouji quickly hit him on the back of his neck, making the gaurd unconsious. Chouji hurriedly came back to their hiding place with the unconcious gaurd.
"Sore de kimatta(done)," Chouji said breathlessly. Chouji pointed at the gaurd. "He's a trainee so it was pretty easy."
"Good work Chouji! High five!" Ten Ten said, whose mask was red and had red feathers on the side, as she and Chouji did a high five.
"Quick and tranform into him and take his place, Chouji," Sasuke said expressionlessly. Chouji nodded and did a few seals and tranformed into the gaurd he knocked out. Chouji quickly tied up and hid the body of the gaurd behind some bushes. He then quickly ran out from their hiding places and stood where the gaurd used to stand. Chouji looked around, then gestured for everyone to come out and enter. Sasuke was their in a blink of an eye, while everyone else were scrambling to get to his side. Once everyonme was there, Sasuke turned to face them all.
"Remember...don't give away anything that might reveal our identities," Sasuke said seriously. They nodded and Sasuke nodded. Sasuke then turned and began to walk forward and into the castle, leading his team. As Sasuke entered the gran castle and right into the great hall, he heard his team gasp in amazement. Sasuke looked around...he had to admit that the place was amazing! The floors were made of gold, designed with many curves and lines were carved in, making an amazing design that looked a lot like a nine-tailed fox. Even the gran stiarcase was aslo made of gold steps. Hanging above the middle of the gigantic room, was a crystal chandelier. In every corner there was either an exoctic plant or a statue of a certain animal or person. The windows were big and were decorated with white curtains embroided with what looked like foxes. The ceiling was made of white marble with specks of silver. The golden floor was covered with people who were either standing their, hanging out or they were dancing to the music that was being played by the royal band.
"This is amazing!" Sakura said, who was wearing a pink mask shaped as a butterfly.
"I have to admit...this is amazing!" Ino agreed, who was wearing a mask of a lepoard. "So bright! So joyful! So-
"Kimi," said a lazy voice from behind the group. Sasuke quickly turned to see a lazy boy who wore black pants, a beige kimono shirt with silver clouds embroided in it, and a mask of a deer. Shikamaru yawned as he looked at the group before him up and down. Shikamaru sighed. "I thought Gaara was the last visitor to come. How tropublesome. I told Kimi not to invite too many people! But he never listens. Please make yourselves comfortable."
Shikamaru bowed respectfully before he walked off in a certain direction. Sasuke and his group sweatdropped as they watched Shikamaru leave.
"Okay...that was a bit...odd," Iruka said, who was wearing a plain green mask.
"It sure was," Neji muttered, whose mask was of a white bird. Ten Ten laughed nervously and sweatdropped. Sasuke only nodded his agreement, and then turned and faced his team.
"It starts now. Go spread yourselves out and keep your eyes and ears alert for Uzumaki Naruto," Sasuke whispered really softly that his team barely catched it. "Got it?"
"Hai," they all said.
"Go," Sasuke said. Immediately, everyone began to walk off in a certain direction, leaving Sasuke alone. Sasuke couldn't help but sigh out of relief. "So far so good."
Sasuke looked around him and scowled. He then looked towards a window with a look of concern.
'I have a bad feeling Kurai followed me...' Sasuke thought, before he looked around the room with a somewhat sad expression. 'Maybe I should listen to Kurai and drop this mission! This war is between my father and the Uzumaki kid's father...it's not ours...'
Sasuke sighed out of irritation then headed towards the other side of the great hall...but to get there...he had to pass through the tough crowd. As Sasuke pushed a few people aside, a girl had clunged to him.
"Ne, you're really cute! Go out with me?!" the girl said in a drunk-ish way. "We both know that the Kimi (prince) will never go out with me! I heard rumors that he has been having some affairs with that Hinata girl. There were other rumors of him being gay!"
"Sorry...but I have a girlfriend," Sasuke lied. The girl let go of Sasuke and glared at Sasuke.
"Why don't you go fuck yourself!" The girl yelled as she then stormed off. Sasuke glared at the girl and had an urge to go and slap her...but a voice stopped him.
"I'm sorry about that! She's really drunk! She's normally really kind and respectful!"
Sasuke turned around to see a blonde. The blonde was wearing a unique type of orange kimono. The kimono was slightly open on the chest, so it showed a bit of Naruto's tanned chest. Then there was a red belt around the blonde's waist, blending in nicely with the kimono. Then he was wearing two fishnet things on both his legs, from the knees down, and a necklace that had seven ruby sticks in a row. On his wrist and ankles, the blonde had these braceletes made of white fur. He also had the white fur around his shoulders. The blonde was also wearing an orange mask with diamonds on the edges. The only downfall about this outfit...was that on the sides of the kimono were slightly open, showing off a bit of the smooth, slender legs of the blonde(2). The blonde also had tanned skin, three whisker-like marks on each cheek...but what had Sasuke's fullest attention were the crystal clear eyes that were behind the mask. Naruto was also staring at Sasuke's onyx eyes in shock.
'Those eyes...' Sasuke thought in shock.
'They're like the ones I saw...' Naruto thought
'Were they his?' Sasuke and Naruto thought as they stared at each other's eyes. Naruto couldn't help but blush as he noticed that Sasuke was staring at him intently.
"U-uh...H-hello," Naruto stuttered as he bowed slightly in respect. "How are you enjoying yourself?"
"Good," Sasuke said a bit breathlessly, as he too bowed in respect. Naruto nodded and smiled.
"Yocata(I'm glad)!" Naruto said happily. Sasuke blinked a few times as a bit of pink tinted his face. Naruto sighed deeply and looked around.
"Nani(what)?" Sasuke said. Naruto shrugged.
"I'm looking for my friends...but I can't seem to find them..." Naruto said really politely. Naruto squinted a bit as he looked around for a few moments. Naruto then sighed sadly and hung his head. "I can't find them...now who am I going to talk to?"
Sasuke stared at Naruto with a kind smile on his lips. Realizing he was smiling, Sasuke quickly hid behind his expressionless mask. Naruto's face then brightened up and looked at Sasuke with interest. Naruto smiled brightly, making Sasuke blush lightly.
"Ne, ne!? Will you hang out with me!?" Naruto said happily and kindly. Sasuke stared at Naruto for a long time before he slowly nodded yes.
"Ah(sure)," Sasuke said as Naruto's smile grew bigger.
"Yata(all right)! Naruto said brightly as he punshed the air. Sasuke blushed as Naruto took Sasuke by the hand. "Come on! I know a really nice place! It's really quiet and peaceful! Lets just hope no one's in there!"
"Ano(um) what's y-GAH!" Sasuke was cut off in mid-sentence as Naruto began to drag him towards a certain direction. Naruto laughed sweetly and continued to drag Sasuke around. Sasuke quickly regain composure and was blushing a bit out of embarrassment. As Naruto dragged Sasuke through the castle, Sasuke was looking around. He didn't see much that was important, but he did see many protraits of a huge red fox with nine tails, as big as Kurai. After turning here and there, Naruto stopped in front of a door and smiled brightly.
"Well here we are!" Naruto said. Sasuke watched in amusement as Naruto opened the door slowly and peeked inside. "Yocata(thank goodness), no one's here! Come in!"
Naruto grabbed Sasuke's hand once more and pulled him inside. Naruto had taken Sasuke to the garden, an indoor garden without a ceiling. The moon was shining on all types of dark plants that were in the large garden, making the plants glow. Naruto smiled brightly as he walked towards the bench Kiba and Shino had made out on. Naruto looked over at Sasuke, to see the raven was still by the door. Naruto pouted cutely, and gestured Sasuke to come and sit next to him. Sasuke was hesitant but did what he was told. When Sasuke had sat down, Naruto sighed deeply and closed his eyes. Sasuke watched Naruto in amusement. Naruto's face was facing the sky, the moon was shining on his tanned skin, even though most of his face was behind a mask, it made the blonde glow beautifully, and the wind was gently blowing against the blonde. Sasuke blushed at the sight and got really confused. Suddenly, Naruto opened his eyes and looked at Sasuke. Sasuke blushed harder and looked up at the sky. Naruto smiled brightly, pink tinting his cheeks.
"Don't you think the sky is beautiful!" Naruto said in a dreamy voice. Sasuke looked at Naruto who was looking at the sky, then he looked at the sky. The sky was a dark color, really close at matching his onyx eyes that were behind the dark mask.
"Yeah..." Sasuke said softly as he continued to watch the sky.
"They remind me a lot of your eyes you know," Naruto suddenly said, making Sasuke blush. "I wonder what my eyes look like?"
"They remind me of the sky...when it's day time," Sasuke said softly, but Naruto heard it and blushed.
"A-arigato (thank-you)..." Naruto said shyly. Naruto stared at Sasuke for a few moments. "Have we met before?"
Sasuke looked over at Naruto and shrugged.
"I...don't know..." Sasuke said. Naruto scowled slightly and sighed.
"You seem really familiar...like I met you a long time before... What am I saying!? There's is no way I ever met you!" Naruto said with a laugh. "You must think I'm being really silly right now."
"Actually...I feel the same way," Sasuke said in a serious voice. Naruto's eyes widened and he looked at Sasuke. Naruto and Sasuke stared at each other for a long time, until Naruto suddenly smiled brightly.
"Then we must've met before! Otosan (father) says that when two people feel the same about an event, but they're not sure, that it must be true!" Naruto said brightly. He grinned and let out a small giggle. "Maybe we were best friends!"
Sasuke stared at Naruto in amazement before he then smiled. Sasuke nodded.
"Yeah...maybe we were," Sasuke said. He looked at the stary sky. "Maybe we were...I'm not really sure... I lost a lot of memories about my past about three years ago... There was an accident you see... I'm not sure what kind of accident it was... Otosan said that it was a terrible one...but...I keep thinking that it wasn't a terrible one... I don't think it was an accident at all...because...the first thing I remember after this "accident" was Kurai..."
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock as he realised what he just said. He's never opened up to anyone like that...not even to his own family. Even though he doesn't open up to anyone...why did it feel right to do so in front of the blonde. Sasuke looked at Naruto to see the blonde staring at him, his face filled with shock. Sasuke looked away and hung his head.
"Gomen(sorry)...I don't-
"I lost a lot of my memories too..." Naruto suddenly said, looking up at the sky. Sasuke turned to look at him with a shocked face. Naruto smiled softly. "I'm not sure what happened either. Otosan told me that there was an accident and I was part of it. I really didn't know how to think that day...bucause I forgot about everything...Otosan, Kakashi-sensei, Shikamaru, Kiba, my friends, and even myself...I forgot about them. My first memory since the accident...was being on Kyuubi's back and being taken to safety. But luckily...over some time...I began to remember bit by bit about who I was and who everyone is... Like you...I don't believe it was an accident either."
Naruto looked at Sasuke sideways and smiled.
"Now were even. You told me something personal...and I told you something personal," Naruto said. Sasuke blushed lightly and smiled softly.
"You know something?" Sasuke said kindly as he slowly reached out for Naruto's mask. Naruto gave Sasuke a curious look.
"Nani(what)?" Naruto said. Sasuke slowly grabbed Naruto's mask, but didn't pull it off.
"You already look rather stunning with the mask...but I bet you even more without it," Sasuke said, making the blonde blush. Sasuke the slowly pulled at the mask, pausing for a moment to see if Naruto would let him. The blonde didn't make a move to stop Sasuke, so Sasuke pulled the mask all the way off. Sasuke blinked a few times as he stared at Naruto's flushed face. Sasuke blushed lightly as he noticed how cute Naruto was, yet at the same time, really smexy. "Wow...I was right..."
Naruto blushed even harder but smiled nontheless. Naruto then reached out for Sasuke's mask, hesitating midway. Sasuke smiled and nodded at Naruto, giving the blonde the go ahead. Naruto smiled softly as he grabbed the onyx mask.
"Well...I feel the same way," Naruto said softly as he took off Sasuke's mask completely. Naruto stared at Sasuke's smooth face and blushed lightly. "You're really...handsome..."
Sasuke blushed as well as Naruto. For a long time, both boys stared at each other, completely dazed by the other's beauty. Suddenly, Sasuke gently touched Naruto's tanned cheek, making the blonde blush lightly.
"You...seem different..." Sasuke said. "And I mean that in a good way."
Naruto smiled and was about to say something back when suddenly, a loud roar was heard from outside the castle. Both Naruto and Sasuke looked up in alarm. Sasuke clenched his teeth.
YATA! Chapter 3 is finito! Lol! I hope you enjoyed it! I put a lot of heart into it so please review it! It would mean the whole world to me! Lol! Till next time! REVIEW! again...Im sorry! GOMENASAI! big thanks to Sushi-chan though!
(1) Look at my pic thing!
(2) Look at my pic thing! Lol!
