Naruto? Nah, wasn't my brainchild.

January 23

"Ne, Kiba," Naruto whispered conspiratorially. "Guess what I found out."

Kiba raised a brow and looked at the blonde suspiciously. "This doesn't have anything to do with Sasuke and why he's such an—"

"No way," Naruto interrupted gleefully. "Today is Shino's birthday!"

Kiba rolled his eyes. "I knew that already."

"Yeah, but his parents are away on a mission. We should throw him a party!"

"I don't know if he would even want a party. He's not very sociable," Kiba pointed out.

But Naruto ignored him; his mind was already plotting. "Come on, we're gonna need help if we're gonna make this happen!"

Sasuke stood looking at the ragtag group of his fellow Genin led by none other than Naruto Uzumaki.

"What do you want, dobe?"

Instead of the usual annoyed or smug reply, he was answered with, "We're throwing Shino a birthday party! Wanna help?"

He glanced at the group again; behind Naruto stood Kiba with Akamaru, Hinata, Shikamaru, Chouji, Sakura and Ino having a glaring contest, and Rock Lee. He shrugged. "Whatever. It's not like I've got anything better to do."

"Alright, teme! Come on, we've got a lot of work to do!"

Shino watched the beetle closely, observing it as it burrowed through the bark of the tree. Though the work it did was difficult, it was making good progress…

…until a small white dog bounded up to him, startling the beetle and making it fly away in fright.

Sighing, he turned his gaze on Akamaru, knowing Kiba could not be far behind. Just as he suspected, the Inuzuka was strolling toward him, grinning. "Hey Shino. I've been looking all over for you. Kurenai-sensei wants us for something or other."

He nodded impassively and followed Kiba back the way he had come. "Do you have any idea what it might be?" he asked quietly, staring ahead.

"Nah," Kiba replied. "Not a clue. She just asked me and Akamaru to track you down. What do you think, buddy?" he asked, looking down at his dog trotting faithfully by his side.

Akamaru yipped happily, and Kiba laughed. "What did he say?" Shino asked.

Grinning, Kiba answered, "He said he hopes she's treating us to lunch, he's starved."

"Why are we at the Hyuga compound?" Shino asked.

Kiba's grin widened suspiciously. "Beats me. Kurenai-sensei was here, though, talking to Hinata, when she sent me to get you. Hurry up, they're waiting for us."

He jogged around to the back of Hinata's home and unceremoniously pulled open the door. Both shinobi stopped dead in their tracks.

Sasuke was standing in a corner, eye twitching and half a dozen stress marks adorning his head while Ino and Sakura had a vicious shouting match about the flattened cake on the table between them.

"I told you to be more careful, Ino-pig! We'll never have enough time to bake another one!"

"It wasn't my fault, Billboard-Brow! Lee tripped me! Maybe if you hadn't told him to decorate, then he wouldn't have gotten in the way!"

"Don't you try to blame this on me! Besides, Lee didn't trip you! You got irritated with his enthusiasm and kicked him! Don't think I didn't see you!"

Said youth-obsessed ninja was sitting on a stepladder some distance away from the girls, an ice pack on his head and tears cascading from his closed eyes. "I have failed the lovely Sakura in the task that she set forth for me! I am so ashamed!"

Shikamaru was sitting lazily on the floor across the room, staring at the crepe paper that was trailing down from the ceiling and across the floor. "How troublesome," he muttered, shaking his head wearily. Chouji sat beside him, eagerly devouring the contents of a brightly colored bowl. Shikamaru eyes him warily. "You probably shouldn't be eating the snacks yet. The girls are gonna get mad at you." Chouji simply shrugged happily.

Off in another corner, Hinata was panicking about the state of things with Naruto trying to reassure her that it would work out, his very presence making the girl even more nervous than she was.

"Uh, guys?" Kiba questioned hesitantly. Instantly, all activity in the room ceased as everyone noticed him and Shino standing in the doorway.

"Ano…" Naruto said, sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Surprise?"

Kiba laughed suddenly. "I should've known better than to leave you lot here alone." Turning to Shino, he clapped him on the shoulder and said, "Happy Birthday, dude."

Ah, the fresh smell of chaos. Sorry it's a day late…I had a traumatic day yesterday. Seems I'm starting a pattern, though…