Chapter 4

When they neared Ichirakus Naruto could smell the scent of ramen drift through the air. That smell of perfectly cooked noodles that didn't absorb too much soup, but also weren't too sticky so it stuck to the chopsticks. He was drooling just thinking about it. Naruto was nearly there. As he rounded the corner he suddenly stopped. All his friends were lined up at the restaurant each with a smile on there face and holding a part of the big birthday banner. HAPPY BIRTHDAY NARUTO! The banner read. Naruto broke in to a smile and felt as if a weight had been lifted of his shoulders. He couldn't believe all his friends had gathered to see him like this; he was so filled with emotion.

Sakura shouted "The first rounds on me, idiot!"

He wondered how he got here; from being that lonely boy in the park by himself to having this many friends. No, not just friends, but comrades. He turned away and caught a tear running down his cheek, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Whats wrong Naruto?" Shikamaru asked concerned "Is it too many people?... I'm sorry if its too many, you don't have to stay… they will understand."

"No… that's not it… I'm just-" Naruto rubbed his hair nervously and smiled at Shikamaru, "-so lucky…."

"Well then let's go!" Shikamaru ushered Naruto towards his friends. Naruto jogged over to them and as he did he felt the whole world disappearing behind him; his search for sasuke, jiraiyas death, his parents, any painful memory just left behind like a forgotten rusty penny. Today was about forgetting about all he had to deal with in his life and just living for himself for once. But Naruto knew today was too perfect to last. A shadow loomed over him, blocking out the daylight.

"Oh …oh m-my g-god what is that?!" Shikamaru said, as a chill seeped through him, probably something to do with the sudden cloud cover. His voice was shaking, in an uneven tone that sounded so unlike Shikamaru that Naruto was almost not sure whether it had been him that had said it.

"I knew this day wouldn't last but I didn't think it would end this quickly!" Naruto said as he tightened his headband and turned as he reached for his kunai. "Shikamaru, what is-" Naruto fell to his knees, as a feeling of dread grew in his gut. He pushed his hands to the ground either side of him as if to hold himself up. "No….it can`t be…" A figure came rushing towards him, faster than he thought possible, and suddenly he was shrouded in bright light.