If I did Thanksgiving, I was going to do Christmas. I wonder what other holidays I should do…

Disclaimer: I don't own it (Naruto).

Name: Christmas

Memory #: 10

Summary: ANBU-san isn't around this time, and Naruto hates the holidays now more than ever. He goes to sleep Christmas Eve with no expectations and is given the biggest surprise of his life.

Pairing: light YamatoXShizune, and Kakashi and Naruto friendship

Genre: General, Family, Friendship

Naruto watched from a tree because he didn't like being seen. He was eight now, and nobody liked him still. The Hokage decided to take away the guards, so ANBU-san left him. Naruto, according to the Hokage, had become a bitter child. The holidays made Naruto's mood even worse because everyone was meaner than usual. Naruto ignored the cold wind. He didn't have the money for a winter coat because the person that dropped off his monthly allowance always took part of it. A big part.

"Stupid ANBU-san for leaving," Naruto said as he watched children play in the snow. It made him sick to his stomach remembering Thanksgiving dinner at the ANBU HQ and Christmas with ANBU-san. Those memories were probably just orders. ANBU-san wasn't coming back, and Naruto's grades were suffering for it. He didn't care anymore what happened to him because there was no point. Nobody would praise him. Nobody would care if he passed or failed. Naruto stayed in the tree until night fell. It got even colder at night. "I hate Christmas." Naruto climbed out of the tree and into the snow. He picked up a handful of the powdered ice. "I hate you, Santa!" Naruto threw the snow away from him. "I hate you, Christmas!" Naruto crouched down as silent tears ran down his face. "I miss you, ANBU-san." Naruto frowned and looked around him. He stood up and took off for home before midnight. It was almost Christmas Eve. Naruto shut and locked his door before going to bed.

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"Sir, please. Naruto-san needs me. He'll need protection on Christmas. Please let me go back," an ANBU pleaded to the Hokage. The Third looked into the eyeholes on the dog mask and sighed. Naruto wasn't a little kid anymore. He had to realize that he wouldn't always be protected. "Just Christmas Eve and Christmas Day." The ANBU was desperate to go back. The Third frowned and wasn't too happy about this. Naruto was too attached to this ANBU and vice versa. "He'll never know I'm there." The Third knew it was a lie. Dog couldn't keep away.

"Fine, but this is it. No more. You're going to have to cut off all contact with him. Naruto isn't the baby you watched over. You were given orders to never get attached," the Third said. Dog didn't care. He was excited because he was sure Naruto didn't have any decorations up. "I mean it. Next time you're in here begging, you're going to be put on the stands for going against orders." Dog nodded and bowed before he took off. The Third hated what he said, but it had to be done. Dog was too attached.

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Naruto was put on high alert when something touched his shoulder. He woke up and was ready to scream when he looked up at the familiar mask of ANBU-san. It was the one with the bottom broken off. Naruto smiled and jumped up to hug his favorite person. ANBU-san was back! This was the best Christmas already! Naruto wouldn't let his hero go, but ANBU-san peeled him off before the kid suffocated him. Naruto grinned as he sat on his bed.

"Naruto-san, I'm sorry, but I'm not here for good. Just Christmas," ANBU-san said. Naruto didn't care. He wanted just one more day with his guard. "Naruto-san, let's go decorate the tree." Naruto was confused, but he climbed off the bed and followed ANBU-san out to the living room. A beautiful evergreen stood in his living room. Naruto was amazed. "Santa won't come if you don't have a tree." ANBU-san helped decorate with a box full of ornaments. Naruto was so excited. He barely noticed the time was past midnight. He was having too much fun with ANBU-san. "Now for the star." ANBU-san lifted Naruto up to be able to place the star on top. "Naruto-san, you go off to bed, and I'll get everything ready for Santa." Naruto nodded and hurried to bed because Santa was coming.

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Naruto woke up at six like every child in Konoha was probably doing. He snuck out of bed and into the living room. ANBU-san was sleeping at the table, and Naruto knew because ANBU-san had his head down. That wasn't interesting to Naruto. What was interesting was the amount of presents under the tree. Naruto was too excited to keep his joy inside him.

"Santa! Santa came!" Naruto shouted. He bounced around as ANBU-san yawned and fixed his mask. He put the coffee maker on and walked into the living room to sit on the couch as Naruto looked through the presents. Each present was brought over to the couch for Naruto to open. Every toy was a new excitement. Everything made Naruto's eyes twinkle. ANBU-san went to get a cup of coffee after Naruto opened all his gifts and came back with one more.

"This one is from me. Hokage-sama will probably be around later to give you his," ANBU-san said. He handed the package to Naruto and smiled. Naruto tore into it and looked down at the best gift he got. It was a silver stuffed wolf. "I don't want you to forget me." Naruto smiled and held the animal close. It was soft. Naruto started to cry. "Naruto-san, please don't cry. I'll come back one day. I'll always leave you a Christmas gift." Naruto dropped the toy on the couch and hugged ANBU-san tightly. He didn't want ANBU-san to leave again. It hurt when ANBU-san left. "Naruto-san, I'm sorry." Naruto wouldn't let ANBU-san go. ANBU-san wasn't going to leave again.

Naruto and ANBU-san tried to make the most of their day together with games and making cookies and other sweets. Naruto was distracted from the thoughts of ANBU-san's departure. ANBU-san made this Christmas the best in years. Naruto didn't even notice when ANBU-san tucked him for bed. ANBU-san ruffled Naruto's hair and walked away.

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Naruto woke up and ran out to the living room. The tree and ornaments were packed neatly into boxes. The toys were put away, and everything looked clean. Naruto walked over to the table and found another present with a note attached. It was from the Third Hokage with the official seal. Naruto took the package over to his couch and felt sad. ANBU-san wasn't lying.

Dear Naruto,

I understand how close ANBU-san and you were. I don't want you to forget him completely, so I give you this gift. Never forget those you love.

Hokage

Naruto opened the gift and found a photo album filled with photos of ANBU-san and him throughout the years. He didn't notice the other thing until he stood up. It was a porcelain mask that looked like a dog. It was ANBU-san's mask! Naruto picked up the object and started crying again. ANBU-san wasn't coming back. All he had left were memories, photos, and this mask. He truly was meant be alone. Naruto opened the photo album and looked at all the pictures. It wasn't before long that he no longer felt lonely and was sitting on the floor. He would forever have ANBU-san with him in the photographs with little Naruto, actually smiling like a fool.

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Sixteen-year-old Naruto smiled with his teammates as they exchanged gifts at Sakura's three days before Christmas. He didn't say anything as they talked about their different plans. Even Sai had better plans than him. He was going to Suna with a few ROOT members to have some fun. Sakura talked about how she was going to be spending it with her family that was all coming to Konoha. Naruto hated Christmas sometimes. It was too much trouble to deal with it. Kakashi managed to get Yamato say how he was going to visit Shizune's family for Christmas this year. Kakashi laughed when he was asked and said how he was going to visit with some of his old teammates. Naruto wished they would forget about him, but that didn't work. He didn't know what to say.

"I haven't put up any decorations and plan on training all day. Maybe I'll eat some cookies," Naruto said. He tried to act like it didn't bother him. It was better this way. "Besides, I usually spend it looking at some old pictures. It's better this way." Naruto felt so alone again. He wished for ANBU-san to be with him on Christmas every year. It never happened. Every year, without fail, there was always gifts on his table from ANBU-san. Naruto treasured the mask and photo album. The silver wolf had faded and sat on his dresser. It was home there. "I was hoping for a friend to show up." Naruto got up and felt he overstayed his welcome. With a smile, he walked out. Kakashi followed.

"You could come with me for the day, Naruto. I just have a few errands to run before my visit anyhow. How about it?" Kakashi asked. Naruto looked at his old teacher and decided to go on a whim. He wasn't going to be alone on Christmas anymore. "So, I'll be at your apartment tomorrow by ten. Don't worry about me being late. I'm never late for this." Kakashi waved before going a different direction from Naruto. The blonde smiled and rushed home. He was actually invited to someone's plans. He wondered what ANBU-san would tell him if he talked about Kakashi. ANBU-san would probably laugh. Naruto smiled as he walked into his apartment. Christmas was going to be good.

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Naruto yawned as he drank his coffee on Christmas. The gifts from ANBU-san were simple this year as they were what he needed. Toys were replaced by weapons and supplies. Occasionally, ANBU-san snuck in one. He grumbled when someone knocked on the door. Whoever it was thought the grumbling was good enough and came right in. Kakashi walked into the kitchen, holding two packages. Naruto remembered that he should've been ready by now, but those things looked so interesting.

"Somebody left these on your doormat," Kakashi said, handing them to Naruto. The blonde wasted no time opening them. The one from the Hokage was a new outfit that seemed to be the polar opposite of his jumpsuit. Tsunade meant well. The other one made Naruto freeze. It was a small, stuffed wolf that was moonlit silver. Kakashi looked concerned. "Naruto, are you okay? You seem to be surprised over the gift." Naruto smiled softly and walked into his living room with Kakashi following. The silver wolf went right onto his desk where the album was currently and the mask hung off the wall. Kakashi's eye stared at the mask. Naruto touched it gently as he rushed to get ready. "By that mask, I promised I would never let you have a Christmas alone again." Naruto was ready in minutes and was back out again.

"Let's go! We better not keep those friends of yours waiting, Kakashi!" Naruto shouted. He was excited for the day as he was spending it with Kakashi. He felt like he was protected under Kakashi's watch. It was similar feeling that had left him as a child. He just figured it was because he trusted the Jonin. "Thank you, Kakashi. I didn't want to spend Christmas waiting on ANBU-san to visit." Kakashi just smiled. He would never let Naruto spend Christmas alone ever again.

Happy Holidays and sorry for the crappy ending.