The banquet is held at night. Red paper lanterns are strewn across the hall; red carpeting and walls fill the room with vibrance. The ceiling is high enough for loud noises to echo. A baffling amount of people attend the celebration; thousands are being seated in the hundreds of tables crowding the floor.

"Oi! Naruto!"

"Sasuke! I can't get-"

"Just push them out of your way or something!"

"Are you crazy?! I'll get trampled!"

"Naruto-sama, I'm sorry, but the seating is organized by official military formation."

"And what's Sasuke's?! Sasuke did something in the war, right?!"

"… erm, Naruto-sama, he doesn't have an official seat. He randomly sprang into the battlefield."

"Oh… that's right… heheh… But still! He should sit with wherever I'm sitting!"

"W-well, I can't disobey my orders. I deeply apologize for any inconveniences."

"Dammit…"

"Heey! Naruto! Your name card's over here!"

"It looks like Sakura and everybody are sitting there already… this won't be all that bad, but…"

"Finally you're here, Naruto-kun! Hurry up and sit down, they're about to serve our food!"

"Whaaaat?! Okay, be there in a flash, Bushy Brows!

"Smart thinking, ha. Of course he'd come for the food."

"Sis, don't be a wisecracker."

"Hello, this is the appetizer course for tonight."

The server brings a cart carrying giant plates with gyoza and skewers of ebi tenpura arranged in star formations.

"Oh my god that looks amazing! Even though it's not barbecue..."

"The next course will be out in 45 minutes. Naruto-sama, however, you have free discretion as to what your next course shall be."

"Ehh?"

"Good to be the Guest of Honor, isn't it?"

"You bet, Shikamaru! Hm… what d'ya got?"

Server whispers the courses for that evening into Naruto's ear.

"Well.. they all sound good but it's not really what I'm crazy for… ooh! I have an idea! Put all that stuff into huge, hearty bowls of ramen!"

Everyone in unison asks, "Huh?!"

"We're either only eating side dishes for the night or he's-"

"Ooh, but take out the sushi. Not a fan of raw fish."

"-crazy. Yep."

Everyone finishes their five-course meal while Naruto enjoys his bowls of ramen with pork cutlet, grilled vegetable, stewed beef, and unflavored dango. After a lot of conversing, loud music begins playing and many guests go out to dance, including those from Naruto's table. Most of the dancers are couples.

"N-naruto-kun, w-want to dance with me?"

"Nah, this slow music ain't f'me."

"Oh... oh, okay... did you have sake?"

"Yup! I dunno why th'adults like it so much, though!"

Hinata giggles. "It looks like you can't hold your liquor. Your face is all red!"

"What're" you talkin' 'bout? It's these lights, y'see? Ev'ryone looks red!

"Alright, Naruto-kun. I believe you."

"Kiba an' Shino aren't willing to dance with you?"

"Kiba-kun's already with Ino-san, and… I don't think Shino-kun doesn't like dancing."

"Oh. Well that figures. I think I got hungry again."

Hinata giggles some more. "Naruto-kun, you're so funny like this."

"Like what?! Hmm?"

Here Hinata laughs. "Maybe you're right, I'll try asking Shino-kun for a dance. He might be okay with it."

"Glad I could inspire a change in ya!"

"Sasuke-kun's sitting all by himself, though, over there… I hope he's not in a bad mood."

"Now that I think it, maybe I should go talk to 'im! I've just been piggin' out the whole banquet so we haven't talked!"

Hinata goes off to ask Shino for a dance, while Naruto walks over to Sasuke's table and takes a seat.

"Yo, Sasuke!"

"Hey. You had some sake, didn't you?"

"Oh, shuddup. So you were here th'whole time?"

"Yep. They figured to put me next to my last legitimate mentor, Kakashi. Now he's over there, dancing with someone with a ponytail."

"Sorry 'bout that."

"What are you sorry for? You didn't do anything."

"Right… but you coulda hung out with me!"

"Sure, but nothing's more awkward than sitting near the people who vowed to kill you."

"Oh, eheh… I think some'a them are open to ya, I mean, Hinata said you were lookin' kinda lonely! Though Sak'ra's up there an' all-"

"Alright, Naruto, I got it. … Good to know you're the chatty kind of drunk."

"'M not drunk! Justa bit loose, thas'all. You-you're pretty low-key for'a big party like this."

"Getting with people was never exactly my favorite pastime."

"I think y'gotta just loosen up!"

"I already declined Sakura. I'm not going to dance if that's what you mean."

"Okay, why doncha ha'some sake, huh?"

"Usuratonkachi, we're too young for it."

"Yeah, yeah, I ha'some myself. Y'really think I'd just lose d'chance when I can?"

"I prefer to have my mentality completely intact, thanks."

"Hmph, spoilsport…"

"Don't you like dancing, Naruto? There's already people out there."

"Music's slow'n boring. And they're all couples, Sas-"

"Uwaaaa! Mr. Handsome's sitting over here!"

"You mean Naruto-kun, right?"

"No, Aiko-san, he has such a dumb smile on his face! I mean the one with such piercing, black eyes…"

"Pl-please get off of me..."

"Hey!"

"Fine, you take Sasuke-kun, I'll take this cutie here."

"Well, I can't complain about some cute girls."

"Sasuke-kun, wanna dance? You seem so lonely…"

"I'm not much of a dancer, actually."

"Shy aren't you?"

"Hey, Emi, get off my lover!"

"Whaaat? Sasuke-kun is totally single!"

"That's because he'll be taken by me!"

Sasuke sighs softly and looks at Naruto.

"Like ol' times huh?"

All of a sudden a crowd of people gravitate to where Sasuke and Naruto are sitting. Bombarded by many questions, Sasuke and Naruto figure that the crowd will go away if they just answer them.

"What's your favorite color!"

"I don't have one… but I guess blue is okay."

"Oh my god! I need to have more blue in my wardrobe, then!"

"What kind of ramen do you recommend, Naruto-san?!"

"Ooh! Tonkotsu alllll th'way!"

"Thanks Naruto-kun, that's definitely going to increase my sales!"

"Do you leave the windows open at night, Sasuke?"

"Erm… what?"

"T-to keep yourself cool during the summer, you know?!"

"Yeah, I guess I do sometimes."

"Yess! The operation is on!... to cool our houses, I mean!"

"Naruto-san, just what inspired you to create Sexy-No-Jutsu?"

"I didn' really understand as a kid an' I still don' really understand but 'most all men go crazy when they see a naked girl. Weird huh!"

"Sasuke-san, how do you plan on reviving your clan?!""

"Th-that? I think it's a bit early to really…"

A big roar from the crowd.

"Sasuke-sama, you can have my babies!"

"I'm ready tonight if you want!"

"I have recessive genes! You can take me!"

"That's something I'll won't disclose for now."

"Playing hard to get, aren't you, Sasuke-kun?"

"Aww, well that's no fun…"

After everyone's curiosity is sated, everyone leaves the two alone, who look more tired as the night wears on.

"Sasuke… I think I'm sober now."

"About time."

"Yeah, but I'm also really sleepy. Can I rest on your shoulder?"

"Pfft, no."

"But then I'll have to put my head on the table."

"Go ahead."

"My back's gonna hurt real bad from bending over, you know."

"Ugh… idiot… fine, put your head on my shoulder."

Naruto does this. He looks up at Sasuke for a bit.

"Hey, your eyes are kinda red."

"Yeah…" Sasuke chuckles. "I guess I'm pretty tired too. From what I guess, it's nearly 2 in the morning."

"Fight hard, party hard, huh." Naruto sighs.

Naruto looks down and closes his eyes… he feels some hollow feeling, like he's missing something. But he doesn't know why. He thinks to himself silently.

'What's up with me? I'm usually so upbeat about everything, but I'm just tired right now. Maybe it's from talking to so many people. No, I don't think it's that… I guess I never really got over Sasuke getting so much attention.'

"Naruto?"

'Well, if all that attention were from guys, I guess I wouldn't care all that much. Am I jealous he has lots of girls who like him? But I've got lots of girls who like me too, thanks to being a war hero. I don't think they're as crazy as his fangirls, though.'

"Hey, dobe."

'I mean, they're eager to get into his pants. Really, really eager. Why do I feel so weird about it? Well, who wouldn't, I guess… but I feel kind of sad, not creeped out. I mean, he has to find some answer for reviving his clan…'

"The celebration's over. Come on, let's go home."

'Ugh, I think I felt my chest hurt just thinking that last part. But… why?'

"You're going to make me carry you, aren't you?"

'I should feel happy that he wants to bring back the Uchiha… it's his pride… he'll want a son to… teach… but… I just can't imagine him being with someone other than…'

Sasuke carries Naruto into his arms, bridal style, careful not to step over people who passed out.

'other… tha… I do.. love…?'

Ooooh~ Things are getting a bit more colored, I think. Slowly, slowly. Pretty ironic for someone who usually enjoys pure PWPs :) Let me know what you guys think! Fave, follow, and review! ^_^