A/N: Oops... Both Craftygirl and I forgot to mention that while we're writing the fanfic to the original timeline of the Naruto series, in this fanfic, Lee is uninjured.

Just so you know.

Chapter Three: Surprises

Hinata had stayed hidden—only about a block away from Naruto's apartment—even after she'd seen everyone else join Naruto back inside.

I want to go…to join everyone else—especially Naruto… but…

Hinata looked at the gift she planned to give Naruto that was so neatly and so carefully wrapped in orange in her square box. Will he even like what I'd chosen for him? What if he doesn't? I don't think I can—

Someone suddenly tapped her on the shoulder, and Hinata spun around in surprise. In the process, she accidentally dropped the present. But when she saw who it was, she instantly calmed down. "Oh! It's you! A-aren't you one of the jonin?"

Kakashi bent down to hand her the present she'd dropped on the floor. "Yeah," he replied, "Sorry I startled you." He handed the gift to her. Hinata took it back and held it close, now more cautious to not let it go.

"So…why aren't you there with the others?" Kakashi motioned behind her toward Naruto's apartment building, where everyone was gathered on the second floor balcony.

Hinata slightly blushed, because going there meant going to Naruto, basically.

At least, to her, it meant that.

"M-maybe," Hinata responded. I so want to, but… what if—

"Then let's go together then, shall we?" Kakashi suggested, to which Hinata only nodded once before letting Kakashi take the lead.

And the closer they'd approached Naruto's apartment, the redder Hinata got! I'm glad it's dark, so this jonin can't see how red I am, but what am I going to do once Naruto opens the door?! He can't see me like this!

Kakashi's thoughts were entirely different than Hinata's: I hope Naruto doesn't mind that I didn't get him anything. Maybe he won't notice. He's not the brightest of the bunch. Then again, this girl's got him a gift, and that might remind him of me giving a gift to him. Then again… do I have anything in my pocket that can be a gift?

He rummaged through his pocket, but found nothing…except Make-Out Paradise, which he would never, ever give up. Guess I've got nothing to give then. Oh well. Naruto won't mind. At least, I think he won't. I'll just say that I left it at home.

By the time they reached the door, Kakashi raised his arm to knock on the door. But before he could, he noticed a pair of eager eyes peeking from behind the blinds of the window. The next thing he knew was a very ecstatic Naruto flinging the door open with a dumbfounded Kakashi and timid Hinata hiding behind him.

"You came! You came! I'm so glad!" Naruto raved, jumping up and down wildly. "I thought you'd both forgotten! But Master Iruka was right! You did remember about my birthday!"

Suddenly, Naruto noticed something… "Where's my present?" he asked Kakashi.

"I left it at home."

"Why?"

"It's too big to bring over here."

"Ooh! What is it? What it is?!"

"If I tell you, it'll ruin the surprise."

"Can we go over to your house now so I can go and get it?"

"But what about your guests?"

"…You're right. I guess I can wait till tomorrow."

Whew! I'm off the hook… for now… Kakashi said to himself before he strolled right on in Naruto's apartment without permission.

Hinata remained outside.

As Kakashi walked inside, Naruto—who was still standing by the door—was about to shut the door until he turned around and noticed Hinata still standing outside. "Oh, Hinata!" he exclaimed, startled, "I almost forgot you were there! Watcha doing waiting outside? C'mon in!" He moved aside so she could go inside.

A slight blush spread across her pale face. "N-Naruto…" she squeaked, her hands trembling as she gripped the present tightly in her arms. Should I give him the present now or wait until I get inside?

Naruto raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Huh? What is it?"

Hinata held the gift out in front of her, which was wrapped perfectly in bright orange tissue paper. "Here," she said at last. "Happy birthday, Naruto." She forced a meek smile.

"Yay! You brought me a present!" Naruto enthusiastically exclaimed before rapidly ripping the wrapping paper open.

Next, Naruto opened the also matching orange-colored lid to the box, which revealed a gardening tool—a spade, in which the handle was also orange—and a row of various kinds of seeds.

"Ohh cool!" Naruto joyfully shouted. "Now I can decorate my entire apartment with all these different kinds of plants!"

Seeing Naruto's broad smile made Hinata grin widely. "I'm glad you like it, Naruto."

"Thanks sooooo much!" Naruto gratefully yelled before giving Hinata an unexpected hug!

The embrace caught Hinata off-guard, and the next thing she knew was that she was blushing up a storm, especially when she noticed the others staring from the dining table inside.

"Poor girl," Sakura remarked aloud in sympathy, "If only Naruto would notice how she feels about him. He's so clueless that it's actually quite sad."

Shikamaru scoffed. "Naruto's such a lost cause," he said dully, "He's clueless about everything."

Eventually, Naruto managed to get Hinata inside the house, and they both joined Iruka, Kakashi, and the other Genin at the table.

The first thing Naruto noticed was a tall and thin box sitting on top of the table next to Sakura. "Hey, Sakura!" he exclaimed loudly, pointing at the orange box, "Is that for me?"

Before Sakura could respond, Naruto eagerly tore up the orange wrapping and opened the lid.

He gasped.

"Well, what is it?" Lee curiously questioned.

Naruto replied by crying tears of joy.

Everyone stared at him in disbelief.

"It's instant cup ramen! Thanks, Sakura!" Naruto appreciatively said to her before he gave her a warm hug, too.

Only to be immediately shoved off.

"Get off me, Naruto!" Sakura barked hotly.

Naruto seemed to disregard her distaste. Instead, he just held the gift up like a prized trophy. "Oh, Sakura! How'd you know I loved ramen?"

Sakura couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Lucky guess?" she replied sarcastically.

"Well, thank you! I'll savor it to the very last bite!" Naruto reassured her, smiling broadly, "You're the best, Sakura!"

"Uh, sure…" Sakura replied listlessly.

Hinata tried not to get Naruto's words of praise for Sakura get to her, but she couldn't help but let out a slight frown. He thinks that… Sakura is the best? Although… I guess I can see why… she's so much more confident than I am.

Knock-knock-knock!

"Yay! More people!" Naruto excitedly yelled before sprinting to the door.

Sakura's eyes widened in surprise before she said to herself, "I wasn't aware that Naruto was inviting anybody else…"

To Sasuke, Sakura asked, "Do you think all of Konoha's coming?"

Sasuke shrugged.

Yet she didn't need to ask, because as soon as the words left her mouth, the front door flung open and hundreds of "happy birthday's" bellowed throughout the small apartment room.

Everyone at the dinner table stared out the door in surprise.

"Whoa. Naruto has really outdone himself…" Rock Lee muttered in awe.

"Since when did Naruto get so popular?" Shikamaru wanted to know. "It's as if the whole village is standing right outside his door!"

Sasuke answered Shikamaru's question to himself: Maybe everyone just wanted to come together for a party.

As Sasuke, Shikamaru, Rock Lee, Sakura and Hinata, pondered the crowds of people pouring in by the second, Iruka explained, "I told all the jonin and chunin about Naruto's birthday party today, and I'm presuming they all told their genin about it. I even told the Academy about it."

No wonder, Shikamaru said to himself before he sighed. What a drag. Now I won't be able to get any peace and quiet.

Everyone else had his or her own thoughts…

Hinata: Now I won't get to spend much time with Naruto…

Sasuke: Oh great… fangirls…

Lee: Where is Guy-sensei?

Arg! Why did she have to come?! Sakura fumed as Ino suddenly appeared…

Right next to her beloved Sasuke, too!

"I thought I'd find you here, cutie!" Ino stated flirtatiously, wrapping her arms around Sasuke's neck.

Sasuke just glared at her, hoping she'd get the message that he wanted her to back off. Fangirls… I knew they'd come. Darn them!

Of course, Sakura was furious. She suddenly stood up from her chair and pointed a threatening finger at her rival. "Ino-pig!" she cried, "Get your dirty self off Sasuke!"

Ino simply stuck her tongue out at Sakura, which only made her grab Sasuke's left arm and pulled Sasuke to her side, succeeding in freeing him from Ino's grasp.

Cha! He's mine! InnerSakura triumphantly declared in her thoughts, but Ino only glared at Sakura before placing a firm grip on Sasuke's right arm and yanked him right back to her!

"He's mine!"

"He's mine!"

"He's mine!"

Sasuke sighed. Why me?

As Rock Lee observed the all-out war before him, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealously. Why does Sakura care so much about Sasuke? What does he have that I do not have?

But he didn't have to be jealous for long—at least, not when Guy-sensei walked in through the door.

He moment he saw him, his eyes lit up. "Guy-sensei!"

"Lee!"

Lee ran up to his teacher's open arms and they exchanged a loving, tearful hug. Of course, the remaining Iruka, Kakashi, Shikamaru, and even Hinata felt a bit uncomfortable and disturbed by the emotional display.

Do they always have to do that? Shikamaru wondered as Lee and Guy continued their greeting…

"I'm so glad you could make it!" Lee joyously exclaimed, to which Guy replied, "As long as you're here, Lee, I wouldn't miss it for anything in the world."

Guy's respond made Lee blissfully teary again. "G-guy-sensei…"

"Lee…" Guy-sensei said, also crying tears of joy…

Before they both embraced each other—again! Kakashi ignored the scene as he read his Make-Out Paradise.

Shikamaru sighed. What a drag. Do they have to do it again

Meanwhile…

Kiba—instead of going through the crowded doorway like everyone else—made a dramatic entrance by leaping through the window.

"Hey, Kiba!" Naruto greeted, his delight increasing with each familiar face he saw.

"Naruto, I don't smell any food. Where's the food? I'm starving!"

Naruto gasped. "The food! I completely forgot about the food!"

Hastily, Naruto dashed into the kitchen to quickly begin preparing—by himself—enough food to feed all of Konoha!

A/N: Princess Malika: Yay! Now everyone's here! And I'm so glad Naruto's happy… So, even though the ending's a bit weird and rush-rush, for all those impatient for the main part of the story to start happening… it's gonna happen… at the next chapter!

Craftygirl: Yeah, we have been stalling a bit, but we're gonna reach the main plot in the next chapter. Just wait and see!