Kurenai smiled as she made her way to the village tree. It had fallen to her and Guy's team to put the decorations on in preparation for the official lighting in a few days. She was sure that Guy and Lee would make this an interesting exercise. She waved at Hinata and Tenten who had already arrived. "Hi there ladies."
"Hello Kurenai-sensei." The girls greeted her simultaneously.
"I brought some cranberries and popcorn and I thought we could make garland with it to decorate the tree while the guys put the ornaments on. What do you think?" Kurenai said pointing at the box that she had placed on the bench.
"Sounds like a fantastic idea to me! Then I won't be subjected to some insane idea like being vaulted to the top by Lee!" Tenten smiled even as she said this.
"That sounds like an amazing idea Tenten! Leave it to you to come up with the best ideas!" Lee announced his arrival with his enthusiastic approval of Tentens fears.
"NO!" Tenten yelled and then noticing that Neji and Guy-sensei had also arrived she softened her voice. "I mean, Hinata and Kurenai-sensei will need my help with the popcorn and cranberries."
"Of course she will!" Guy agreed with his young student. "The young men and I will show off the awesome power of our youth by putting all these ornaments on the tree ourselves!" As he stepped aside they saw the boxes of ornaments that he and Lee had brought with them.
"Hello Neji." Hinata nervously greeted her cousin.
"Hello, Hinata."
"Well then I guess we're just waiting for Shino before we get started." Guy enthusiastically looked around.
"I'm already here. I've been here since the beginning." A monotone voice sounded from behind the bench and everyone looked to see Shino leaning up against a tree watching them all from the confines of his hoodie.
"Oh hi, Shino." Hinata smiled at her teammate. "I-I'm glad you're here."
"Hhmmm. Not glad enough to notice me though." Was the reply that the insect handler gave. "Kiba wanted me to let you know that he can't be here."
"Well, it's settled then! The lovely ladies will string the popcorn and cranberries while we men carry out the task of ornamenting this lovely tree!" Guy motioned for the boys to follow him over to the tree with the ornaments.
"But how will we do this Guy-sensei? The tree is very tall!" Lee stared up at the top of the tree while he said this.
"By exercising the awesome power of our youth!" Guy smiled at the group in front of him. "Shino and Neji will decorate the bottom of the tree while Lee and I use our taijutsu moves to take care of the top!"
"An excellent plan sensei!" Lee excitedly move to collect a few ornaments before leaping up and placing them on the highest parts of the tree.
Neji rolled his eyes at Shino and gave a longing glance to the girls, even though it meant spending time with Hinata he wished he were working with them rather than this ridiculous group.
Shino simply leaned against the lamp post and watched as he deployed an army of insects that collected ornaments and placed them on the tree as he stood, hands stuffed in his pockets and face obscured by his shirt.
Tenten looked up to see Lee and her sensei vaulting over the tree at various angles, placing ornaments as they did so, Neji resignedly hanging ornaments towards the bottom of the tree and Shino seemingly standing there doing nothing. She smiled as she noticed a hoard of insects moving an ornament from the box to the tree. It looked like things were turning out they way she had expected they would.
It had been several hours, Guy and Lee were panting but the tree was decorated. The two of them had shared the task of wrapping the garland the girls had made around the tree when the ornaments were done and a few brave birds were already pecking at it towards the top of the tree.
"That, my students, is a job well done. Hurray for the power of youth!" Guy posed and gave them all a thumbs up. (Insert "ting" here)
"It is a job well done. You should all be proud of the teamwork you showed." Kurenai complimented the group. "Oh Guy, here's a little gift to get you in the holiday mood. I hope you enjoy it. Hinata, Tenten, did you want to come over for some hot chocolate?"