Disclaimer – I don't own Naruto

Bold – Kurama talking

Italic – thinking/talking to Kurama

{ } - scene changes

[ ] - time changes

Sorry about the late and seeming never coming updates. School is a bitch and even more with all the projects I keep getting. The teachers seem to think we don't get enough grief with the homework and have nothing better to do then do homework and projects at home. I HAVE A LIFE YOU KNOW! I need to write this, focus on my anime, and think of ways to make my family's life a crazy hell with questions that make no sense. Here's some: "Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?" and "If your hand is a foot is it hitting or kicking someone?" Try answering those. Anyway, here's Hinata's birthday!


[December 27]

{Hyūga Compound, Hinata's room}

Hinata is sleeping on her bed snoring peacefully. Her father had finally let her chose if she wanted to train with him and her family or Naruto each day. If it was Naruto (which it usually is) she would leave and meet him at the Third Training Ground at 7:15. If it was her dad and family she would meet them in the training area in the compound at the same time, 7:15.

Today is Hinata's birthday so Naruto and Hiashi had made a deal on the time that she would spent with each of them. It only took six hours to come up with the plan, and fix of those hours was Naruto trying not to get killed by Hiashi. That man is way too protective of his daughter, don't ask. Anyway, to the plan. They knew that she would pick Naruto first so they agreed that he could have her until 10:00 and then she would come back to the compound for her party with them. At 12:45 Naruto would come over so she could have the rest of the party with him and her family. Hinata didn't know any of this so it's all a surprise, hopefully it goes as planed.

Hinata's alarm clock went off telling her it was time to get up. She sat up and stared at her room, it wasn't that fancy. Just a futon, white walls, a closet with her clothes in it, an alarm clock, and a dresser under a mirror. She got up, turned off the beeping clock, and put on her clothes. She wore a dark purple shirt with her family crest on the back, white pants, and black shoes.

She knew it was her birthday but thought her family won't do anything for it, so she didn't say anything to them when she passed them.

When she got to the training area she saw her dad and Neji Hyūga. She told them that she was going to train with Naruto today and she wasn't sure when she would be back. She thought that her dad would want a real time, but he just nodded a 'OK' for her to go meet him. She stood there thinking for a second then went off.

"Are you sure that Naruto will bring her back on time?"

"Yes. I made it very clear that I don't want her to be late, it should be fine. Did you get the things for Hinata's party?"

"They're over there."

{Third Training Ground}

Hinata got there just at 7:15. She knew that Naruto doesn't get there until 7:30 but she doesn't like to be late. It was kind of chilly being December but not freezing cold. The breeze that was blowing sent a chill up her spin and she started to shake all over.

'Wish I remembered to grab my jacket. It'll be another 15 minutes before Naruto gets here for training, hope he hurries up.'

Hinata heard a shaking in the bushes and turned around in her fighting stance. Luckily it was just Naruto coming early for once. Instead of his regular summer clothes, which consisted of shorts, he was wearing an orange and white jacket with a long-sleeved red shirt under it, black pants, and dark blue shoes. When he saw Hinata shaking he ran over to her and gave her his jacket. It wasn't her favorite color but it would keep her warm.

"Thank you Naruto." Hinata took the jacket and put it on.

"You're welcome. Don't want you getting a cold. How about we work on combining moves with our summonings today?"

"Sure."

"Hinata?"

"Yes?"

"Happy birthday. Here's my present." Naruto leaned over and kissed her on the nose. She started blushing a little and surprisingly didn't faint.

"T-thank you N-Naruto."

"Come on, let's get to work. Summoning Jutsu!" *puff*

"Summoning Jutsu!" *puff*

Once the smoke cleared it showed that Naruto had summoned Mismatched and Hinata had summoned a new fox. He was about the height of Hinata but an inch shorter. The fur on his head to the tip of his tail was as spiky as Naruto's hair but the rest was flat. The spiky part was red but the flat part was snow-white. His eyes were black with a tint of brown and a not too friendly gaze. His claws were about an inch long and were dyed red. When he opened his mouth you could see that his teeth were sharp and somehow also red like his claws. Let's hope that's dye.

"Why did you summon me? I don't like helping other people."

"Ash."

"Huh? Hey Mismatched, what are you doing here?"

"Naruto and Hinata are summoners of our contract. Naruto summoned me so that must mean Hinata summoned you. She's the girl."

Ash looked at Naruto and then Hinata. He didn't have a pleased look on his face when he saw Hinata.

"How could this scrawny girl summon me?!"

"Ash! Why did you say that?!"

"No little weak girl could summon me!"

"How do you know I'm weak? You just meet me."

"All I have to do is look at someone and I can tell their strength. You're weak and will always be weak!"

"How about we fight to see about that? If I win you have to say that I'm strong and will listen to me."

"What if I win? Which I will."

"I won't summon you again."

"Deal."

"Naruto and Mismatched, give us some room."

Hinata had a look on her face that was telling them not to argue with her right now. Mismatched and Naruto obeyed without thinking.

"Well this must be Hinata's best birthday." Naruto face-palmed while talking.

"Is it Hinata birthday?"

"Yes. Me and her father made a deal that I could be with Hinata until 10:00 and then I would send her home. Then she would have a party with her family. At 12:45 I would come over so we all can celebrate Hinata's birthday with her. Hope this doesn't hurt Hinata's excitement on today so she still wants to celebrate."

"I'm sure she will. Why do you think she agreed to the fight?"

"I don't know, she usually never acts like that or fights. They only time I have seen her fight was during training or a spar, never a real fight. Let alone her being the one to start the fight."

"Really Ash was the one to start the fight."

"You know what I mean."

"Ready Ash?"

"You should be asking yourself that question. Let's go!"

Ash charged at Hinata, claws extended. He tried clawing her but Hinata was able to doge all his attacks. Hinata activated her Byakugan and started using her Gentle Fist. Ash was caught off-guard by this so he took a direct hit on the stomach.

'Didn't know she was a Hyūga, this could get interesting. Better not hold back then."

Ash stood up and started forming some seals. Hinata took this change to get close to him and attack him again. Right when she was about to hit him one of his chakra points, he released his jutsu.

"Fire Style: Spike Fire-wheel!"

Ash lit his fur that was spiky on fire and rolled into a ball. He started to roll over to Hinata and hit her right in the stomach/chest. His spiky fur was steel hard so it jabbed right into her and the fire caused second-degree burns around the area it hit. Once he got her he unrolled and jumped back. Hinata staggered backwards bleeding, holding her stomach/chest, and couching.

"Wasn't expecting that. Summoning Jutsu!" *puff*

"Hinata! Are you OK?" Sunflower appeared out of the smoke.

"Not really. I'm in a battle with one of the foxes."

Sunflower turned around and saw Ash. He was for some reason shaking were he was standing.

"ASH!"

"CRAP! DON'T HURT ME!"

"You hurt Hinata?"

"Maybe."

"YOU'RE DEAD!"

Sunflower ran towards Ash with a killing intent all over her body. Ash instantly ran off in the other direction shouting things along the lines of "I'M SORRY!" and "DON'T KILL ME!" After about five minutes of chasing each other Sunflower pined down Ash and looked like she would kill him any second. Ash shouted "I'm sorry!" about seventy times before Sunflower's killing intent went away.

"Hinata, what were you two fighting about?"

"I summoned him when I was trying to summon Sunset. We had an argument and we decided that if I could beat him in a battle, he would have to say I was strong and would be my ally."

"Tell you what Ash. Say Hinata is strong and be her ally, and I won't kill you very slowly and painfully. Deal?" Sunflower had a very evil grin on her face.

"Do I really have a choice?"

"Nope! He'll be your ally Hinata and he has something to say to you. Come on."

Sunflower got off of Ash and dragged him over to Hinata. Ash told Hinata she was strong but in a very mumbley kind of voice. They knew this was the best they could get and took it.

"Sunflower, can you help heal me?"

"Sorry Hinata!"

Sunflower went over to Hinata and started to heal her. After a minute or two of healing, Hinata was healed.

"Ash, can we work on a combination moves?"

"Huh?"

"Me and Naruto were going to work on them when I summoned you. Do you think it could work?"

Insert sigh "Hinata, the two people using a combination move need to be in sink for it to work. You and me just meat and it didn't turn out good. We would need to become close and know each other for it to even have a chance of working."

"I get it, we need to become close. How do we do that?"

"If I may say a suggestion. We could put you guys in a scenario were you need to work together to pass it. Working alone wouldn't work and fighting with each-other would just make it harder. That could help."

"That sounds really smart Naruto. When do you think you could have it ready?"

"Probably tomorrow. For now how about you two just talk and get to know each other. That could also help with the challenge."

"Fine. Let's go Hinata, I don't want to stay here any longer then I have to."

{Village}

Ash and Hinata were walking through the village in an awkward silence. Ash had a look on his face that said he didn't want to be here and Hinata didn't know what to do with the fox. She didn't know what he liked or anything about him for that matter. The only she did know was that his spikes on his back were hard and you didn't want to get caught in his Fire Style: Spike Fire-wheel. That was helpful right now.

"So... what do you want to do?" Hinata was trying to make conversation and learn more about the seemly antisocial and jerk of a fox.

"What can you do in this place?"

"We could get something to eat. But I have to get home by 10:00."

"Why?"

"Don't know. My dad just told me to be home by then last night if I went anywhere today."

"Weird. I could go to get something to eat. I was about to go eat before you summoned me, so I'm hungry."

"I know a good place. Like ramen?"

"Ya, you're paying."

{Ramen Ichiraku}

Hinata and Ash both walked into Ramen Ichiraku together. Ayame saw Hinata, a giant smile on her face, and said "Over here Hinata!" pointing to a seat. Hinata said thanks and sat down with Ash sitting on the chair next to her.

"Who's the fox? Not the one you brought last time."

"His name is Ash. Can we have some menus?"

"Sure." Ayame grabbed two menus and brought them to them. "Here you go Hinata, one for you two Ash."

"Thanks."

"Hn."

"I'll have the Chicken Vegetable."

"Chili Lime." (1)

"Dad, one Chicken Vegetable and one Chili Lime ramen!"

Teuchi started to make the ramen and after ten minutes it was ready. Ayame graded the ready ramen and put it in front of the two. They both said "Itadakimasu" and started to dig in. After about twelve minutes they were done. Hinata payed and they walked off in awkward silence once again. They really need to fix that.

They spent the next thirty minutes walking around the village in silence. It was getting more and more awkward each second that passed.

"Maybe we could go to the park?"

"Fine. Anything to stop this awkward silence and just walking around. I got more bored then I thought could happen."

{Park}

"What can we do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"Don't know."

It was hard trying to be friends with a fox that is just a jerk inside and out. Why was she trying to be friends with him again? Oh, right, the combination jutsu.

She knew that she could try with Sunset since they are best friends, but Sunset was a tracking and defense type, that didn't work with an attack jutsu. Sunflower was an attack type but since she was also a healing type she needs her chakra for that. And Hinata decided that Sunflower and Mismatched were Naruto's summoning, so that also counted out Mismatched. The only other one was Crystal but she was a defense type and the only attack she does is taijutsu. No to her too. So the only fox she could do a combination with at the moment is Ash. Way did he have to be such a jerk though?!

"We could go to the pound and look at the fish."

"Can I catch them?"

"I just thought of a training we could do."

"Joy." Insert sarcasm

Hinata's idea for the training was that they picked a fish and had to catch it. Seems simply right? Wrong. Going after a small fish in a big pound with tons of other fish made it hard to keep tract of their fish, and they kept running into each other when they tried to attack it. They have crashed about fifty times already and it hasn't even been five minutes!

"Damn it! This isn't working!"

"We have to be in sink with each other for us not to smack into each other. Let's try again."

This time they didn't smack into each other for some reason. They got the fish in their hands/claws just before it swam away.

"Why didn't we run into each other like we were doing before?"

"I let you get a head start because I know you like to be first."

"How did you know that?" Ash was surprised that Hinata even noticed anything about him. He thought Hyugas were suppose to be all mighty and stuff, never letting people go before them. Be she did let him go first. Why?

"You're like Naruto in some ways. I can tell you like to take the lead and can start fighting without thinking if it involves your pride or something like that. But you also can consider the situation in thought to know what do next. Like you did in our battle. Once you found out I was Huyga you didn't hold back as much."

'Can't believe she figured that much out just by our battle and this stupid training. Maybe she has smarts after all. Wonder if her and Naruto are a thing? Have to ask her later.' "Maybe this training isn't stupid after all. I learned some things about you too."

"What would that be?"

"For one you're a Hyuga and a very strong one at that. Also that you can see people's habits just by hanging out with them. Most people never release I like to go first unless they've been with me a long time. Weird isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Maybe this training could help some more. Let's keep going at it."

Hinata and Ash had caught almost all the fish they aimed for after that. Except for the couple of fish were they could tell the difference, or somehow rammed into each other. They were just starting out, they should have problems.

"It's almost ten, I should go back to my house now."

"How do you know? There's no clock around here."

"Sunset taught me how to measure time by the sun's position in the sky. You can have the fish by the way. You were the one that mostly caught them anyway."

"At least take one. You helped too, plus that amount of fish will take me awhile to eat. Happy I brought this with me."

Ash pulled out something that looked like a scroll. He walked over to where the fish was, put the fish on the scroll, and *puff* they were gone. It took Hinata a moment of what just happened to reach her brain. Ash knows sealing jutsu, that could come in handy. He has left out one fish for Hinata to take as her's.

"Take it before I change my mind and take it back."

"You know sealing jutsu?"

"Ya. Thought they were cool and could come in handy. But it was a pain in the ass to learn. Payed off though. Want me to teach you how to use it?"

"Yes. Could Naruto learn it too?"

"I don't care."

"Great! Want to come home with me?"

"Sure. Don't have a reason not to."

{Hyuga Compound}

Hinata and Ash were walking up to the Compund without the thought of a party inside. They were talking to each other and that was a step up from awkward silence, and Ash was only a slight jerk now. Naruto's ability to make other people happy and change them for the better was rubbing off on Hinata. When they stepped inside they saw a sight they never thought they see. A birthday party. Is the world ending or something? Where are the flying pigs? Are Kakashi and Jiraiya no longer pervs? The answers to those questions were no though. Except the pigs, I know the government is hiding them and there has to be a jutsu for it.

Hinata just stared for a moment, not believing her eyes. A party, for her no less. She was sure she was in a jutsu. She even did a "Kai!" just to be sure. Nothing happened. This was no genjutsu, it was realty. They had thrown her a party. That was the truth.

She didn't know what to make of it. It was proven that the world was indeed not ending, and was not a genjutsu. She stood there for a while, not moving, not speaking, not blinking, just staring.

"It's a party for you. Has your brain processed that yet? It worked faster when you saw my sealing jutsu then this. Is it really that big of a surprise for you?"

"Hunhu."

"That's just sad, really. Come on, go over and enjoy it before they think something happened to your brain and send you to the hospital."

Hinata didn't move so Ash just grabbed her shirt with his mouth and pulled her over to the party. She stayed in that state and it was starting to annoy him. Finally he decide he need to jump-start her brain. He put a little lighting chakra on his paw, pulled back his claws, and SMACK! He jumped up and watched her on the back of her head with the lighting paw.

"OW!"

"Glade that snapped you out of it."

"You have just barked in front of my face. That could have worked too you know."

"What's the fun in that?"

Sigh "What happened to your brain when you were a kid?"

"I think i got hit with lighting."

"That explains a lot. Now all I need is a reason from Naruto and you two will no longer be lunatics but just crazy."

"Ahem."

"Sorry dad. Is this party really for me?"

"Yes. Happy birthday Hinata."

[Some hours later until it was 12:45] (I don't care about time in this one)

"Someone should be coming very soon Hinata."

"Who?"

"You'll just have to wait and see."

Cue the knock on the door that seemed like it was timed to be at that exact second.

"Come in."

The door opened but showed no one. After a few more seconds Hinata found herself with a mod of foxes she knew too well and a certain boy who she was sure summoned them all. Mismatched, Sunset, Sunflower, and Crystal came through the door towards Hinata. All the other Hyugas moved out of the way, not wanting to get before the mod of foxes. They all stopped, surrounded Hinata, and the two smallest ones, Mismatched and Sunset, took it as their duty to glomp Hinata and push her down.

"That was from all of us. We just had the smallest ones do it to not hurt you."

"Hey guys. Did you see the new fox?" Hinata pointed to Ash aka the new fox.

Everyone moved over to where Hinata was pointing to. They saw Ash and froze. They all knew him to be very antisocial and not making friends easily. How he and Hinata had somehow become friends would be a mystery, and even when explained would still not make sense.

"Need some help?" Naruto held out his hand in a gesture for Hinata to take it. She was not about to pass that up and took it with a smile on her face.

"Hinata, I have a question for you and Naruto."

"What is it?"

"Are you two dating?"

"M-me a-and N-naruto-kun d-dating?" Hinata faints and Naruto catches her before she hit the ground.

"Sunflower, do your thing."

Sunflower squirted some water on Hinata and woke her up. She remembered what happened a couple of seconds ago so she blushed.

"Naruto, are you dating my daughter?"

"Hinata?"

"No. We're just good friends."

In mind 'Hell ya I you're girlfriend! Just wish you knew that!' (2)

"Hinata, can we dance?"

"Sure."

Naruto dragged Hinata over to the dance area and started to dance like the kids they are. The foxes wanted to join so the girls grabbed who they wanted to dance with. But there was three girls and two boys so one got left behind. For some reason that only Kami would know Crystal pulled Ash over to dance with her and Mismatched grabbed Sunset to dance with him. So sadly the fox that's forgotten is Sunflower. She didn't mind, in fact, she seemed to enjoy it. Sitting in the back watching her friends dance, laugh, and have fun seemed to be just as enjoyably for her. The only expression you could see was happiness.

"Do you think we should have Sunflower join us?" Naruto asked looking over to Sunflower

"Why? She looks happy to me."

"You always have more fun at parties when you're part of the fun."

"You're right, let's go ask her to dance with us."

Hinata and Naruto walked over to Sunflower smiling. They asked her the first time and she said she was fine being in the back, but then the two looked at each other, each grabbed one front leg, and pulled her unto the dance floor.

"If you weren't my summoners I would SOO get you for this."

Naruto and Hinata had succeeded in pulling Sunflower over to the dance floor. Now all that was left was to get her to dance. Easy part done, now for the hard part.

After what seemed like hours of trying to convince and failing, they were left with their last resource. Order it. Sunflower had so much loyalty to Naruto and Hinata that she would obey all their commands, unless it was before ten o'clock. Then she would murder them, loyal or not. Expect for if it was an important mission. That would be an exception.

"Sunflower," both Hinata and Naruto ever saying at the same time, "We order you to go dance."

"But. But. But." She couldn't defy Naruto or Hinata's order! They were her most favorite summoners! "I am so getting back at you. Curse my loyalty!"

Sunflower went over to an area and started to dance. She wasn't half bad for a fox. In fact, she was better then everyone that was dancing! Once someone saw Sunflower then were amazed at how good she was. And it takes a lot to amaze a Hyuga.

Sunflower saw the crowd that had started to form around her and stopped.

"Was I that bad?"

"No sis! You were epic! I didn't know you could dance like that!"

"Really?"

"YA!"

"Thank you." Sunflower started to blush a little

"Again!" Someone shouted from the crowd

"OK! Put back on the music!"

Everyone kept dancing, talking, and having fun until it was time for them to go. Hinata said bye to all the foxes, minus one Ash that you couldn't force to leave, they tried, and they *puff*ed away. Hinata said bye to Naruto who stole a kiss from her and ran away knowing that two more seconds there meant death. He was right. A sword came down were Naruto was before her ran off for dear life.

"Gr, missed." Hiashi grumbled at not being able to hit the boy who kissed his daughter a SECOND time in front of him. He was starting to think that boy had a death wish.

"I'll take her to bed."

"No way a boy is sleeping in her room."

"One: I'm a fox, two: gross, and three: I could help protect her at night."

The fox made a good argument. Sadly, logic defeated him this time. Logic is a pain in the ass for everyone.

"Fine. But do anything and your going back to where you came from. Deal?"

"Deal. And still fox and gross."

{Hinata's room}

"Sorry, but I don't have any spare beds. Do you mind sleeping on the floor or I could."

"No, I'll take the floor. I prefer it anyways."

"Night."

"Night."


(1)This is a real ramen flavor, believe it or not. Look it up if you don't believe me. And I don't know what kind of ramen they sell there.

(2) Like hell she would say that out loud. And Sakura can't be the only person that acts differently in her mind. We all do it, don't deny it.


Yay! Hinata and Ash are semi-friends! Wait for the next chapter. This stuff takes time to write people.


Random note that has nothing to do with the story:

What would happen if the Naruto characters saw the stories and pairing we come up with? I mean we do yaoi, yuri, incest, etc..

My mind was on 'think of weird questions to ask my readers' mode when I was typing this. Plus it was past midnight and that is when my mind thinks of wired things. Don't question what I think of at night, it will just screw your brain more than if you question how Naruto characters deify logic. There are some things you just don't question, anime and my mind are two of them.