First I think I have to point something out, since I had one reviewer who was kind of upset that I let Shino (I guess it was him, I'm just too lazy to read it through again (bows as apologise)) say that Hinata isn't as strong as Neji. I'm pretty sure I also wrote that she slowly is catching up with him, but to put that aside, I do think that she's a strong one and I honestly like her. She's really a lovely person, and if I really would've thought that she's too weak, I'd never would've let her walk towards Naruto while the fox-cloak-thing. I hope that I made that clear.
I weekly read the manga and love to watch the anime (original version, jap. with English subs, though I'm German XD), just to make THAT clear as well. So there's really NO NEED to tell me that strength isn't important in 'Naruto', I really really know that, but that's why this is 'fan fiction', right? But now enough talk, I hope I haven't offended anyone. Now I shut up and let you read that chapter in peace.

As Naruto woke up this morning he felt strange but couldn't explain why. The sun was shining the temperature was still warm, all told it promised to become a wonderful day. But his birthdays usually weren't really big; sure, since team 7 was formed they always celebrated a bit. Normally Iruka would treat him to ramen, but somehow he wished something else for this day. He looked at the photograph of his parents which Tsunadehad given to him after he found out about his parents, and wished more than ever they still would be alive. Today he come off age, and all of his friends had quite a big party that day. Sighing he looked out of the window again and then decided to finally stand up and get dressed. It was nearly noon, but since no one showed up there was no need to stand up earlier. Hinata had no time too; she told him yesterday that her father needed her to do something. So, why hurry?

He decided to go for a little walk, maybe he would meet someone to talk to. Just as he left his apartment and had walked past Ichiraku he saw Sakura. She looked tired and very busy, carrying a few books so she could hardly see the street.
"Hey, Sakura-chan!" he called out, running up to her widely grinning.
"Oh, hi Naruto." She replied tiredly.
"Nice day, huh?" he asked her, still grinning.
"No, shitty day! Tsunade doomed me to work today, and the weather is sooo wonderful! I have to carry this crap up to the old meeting-hall. They have a meeting there today…" she grumbled.
"Let me help you." He said, taking the books from her, his smile fading away. "But tell me where to walk, not that I slip."
"Thank you Naruto, that's so nice of you." She said and in silence they walked on.

The meeting-hall came into sight and she hardly had to fight back a big grin. He looked disappointed that she hadn't congratulated, no, it seemed to him she simply had forgotten his birthday. As they entered the hall she looked into widely grinning faces and with a 'poof' the books changed into a wrapped box and everyone was shouting: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY NARUTO!!"
He was stunned and it took him quite a while to recognise what was going on. Everyone he now called 'friend' was there!
"YOU! I thought you've forgotten." He stated, now grinning happily as well.
"As if we could forget that!" Sakura stated.
Kichiro and Kimiko were carrying a huge cake, much too big for the two of them, causing him to laugh as he saw them.
"Don't tell me you made that?" he laughed.
"No, we did." Hinata and Iruka said in unison.
"With a little help of me." Tenten said. "But I only brought them what they needed."
"Go on, cut the cake! Some of us had to go back to work." Tsunade said, causing them all to laugh. As everyone had a piece of cake they came round rotational handing him over their presents, some of them useful and some of them just funny.
"Since we couldn't figure out what you really could need, and Hinata protested to buy some funny stuff, we thought that you might like it." Honoka said, as she handed him over the last present.
"It was Kakashi's and Hinata's idea, we hope you like it. Hinata found us the best tailor in Konoha."
Curious he opened the box and his eyes grew wide as he put it out, nearly the same cloak his father was used to wear.
"That's… that's… thank you!" he stuttered.
"So, you like it?" Hinata hopefully asked.
"If I like it?" he asked. "It's wonderful! Really!" he grinned widely.

Honestly, this was the most wonderful day he EVER had in his life. Tsunade handed him winking a scroll before she had to leave and go back to her office. They celebrated till after midnight. For the clean-up afterwards only Lee, Tenten, Neji, Hinata and Sakura were left.
"Sit down; this is cleaned up in no time." He grinned, and with his kage-bunshin-no-jutsu it only took half an hour to clean the mess up.
"Man Naruto, that's something we could've used for the preparing." Sakura yawned.
"Well, everyone has his talents." He grinned. "It's good to have you all around." He said. "Tsunade wants us to leave us tomorrow to go to Tanzaku, we should handle something there."
"How long?" Neji asked.
"About three weeks." He replied.
"Yosh! When do we exactly leave?" Lee asked.
"Tomorrow in the morning, at six. So we have enough time to sleep, since it's quite late already."
"Fine, then see you around. Really nice Party, Naruto." Lee said, standing up. "But if I don't make it to my bed the next five minutes, I'll fall asleep no matter where I am."
"We have to leave too." Neji said, nodding to Hinata to follow him. "Not that Hiashi-sama gets angry."
"Hai." Hinata nodded, quickly pecking Naruto on the cheek. "See you then, Naruto-kun."
"And I'll leave too." Tenten yawned. "See you."
Now only Sakura was left.
"That cloak really is a cool present. Was it really Kakashi-sensei's idea?"
"Sort of." She replied. "We all were sitting together, thinking what we could get you. Since you've learned some of your father's techniques, Neji, Lee, Tenten and I got you some of the kunai he was used to have, though they look somewhat strange. Tenten said they're really useful, so we believed her. Then sensei brought the picture with your dad and said that cloak might be a nice idea. Hinata knows a good tailor and so it was made up."
"Really a good idea." He nodded smiling.
"Kichiro and Kimiko wanted to buy you a whoopee cushion." She said giggling.
"Really?" he asked with a raised brow.
"What have you expected? They're just four years old."
"Well, I never expected them to have 'such' ideas."
"They were inspired from Konohamaru, so better blame him." She grinned. "What did they get you?"
"They tinkered something for me." He said smiling, handing her over a photo album.
"May I?" she asked.
"Sure." He said, and watched her as she skimmed through the pages. Many pictures of him and his friends, and on the last side one of him with both of the under his arms, carrying them home from the academy. They were laughing, and with crayon in little kid's handwriting they wrote 'Naruto you're best' under the pic.
"I didn't know they could already write." Sakura said.
"Iruka-sensei already taught them. They start academy next year."
"That's nice." She said, tears of emotion welling up her eyes.
"Yeah, it truly is." He said smiling at them. "Was kind of boring before they were here." He mumbled.
"Sure." She nodded. "Iruka-sensei said they're turning out to be so similar to you."
"Hey! I'm unique!" he protested laughing.
"That's so true." She laughed too. "Now, Naruto, be honest, you're up to something, right?"
"What? Why?"
"Just thinking, the look on your face made me curious.
"You'll find out when we're there." He winked. "Now, I guess we should call it a day, right?"
"Right." She yawned. "And thanks for cleaning up. It took us two days to prepare it."
"Hmm, no problem. At least you weren't fifty men, right?" he winked.
"No, we weren't, but as you said, everyone has his talent. Let's get going."

As they met at the gate to head to Tanzaku Naruto was grinning inwardly.
"Ohayo folks!" he smiled as he met them.
"Good morning." Lee grinned.
"Ohayo, Naruto-kun." Hinata smiled, Neji and Tenten just nodded.
"Ohayo." Sakura said, suppressing a yawn.
"Let's go, or do you want to root here?"
"Since when are you that enthusiastic at this time a day?" Sakura asked surprised.
"Since I know why we're going where we're going, and you don't." he laughed.
"Oy, don't tell anyone you're off age." Neji mumbled, slightly smiling.
"Well, being off age doesn't mean to act like an old man." the blonde defended himself.
"Come on! Let's go!" Lee urged.
"Yeah, let's go." Sakura sighed.

They enjoyed their way, since they had enough time to talk and really enough reasons to laugh. Sakura smiled a little sad as she saw the two fresh couples walking in front of her, but she really was happy for them. Lee knew that he had no chance, but with the years he had become one of her best friends. He often showed up at her office, bringing her something to eat or just to distract her a little. He had started going out, and she was even happier for him than for anyone else. Honestly, he even asked her what he should wear, a female-opinion, as he called it. He still was really attached to that green jump-suit, but at least he doesn't wear it when he goes out. 'It's a start.' Neji shrugged his shoulders as they once talked about.
Now he was walking next to her, talking about the party two days ago.
"Kids grow fast." He stated, and she looked curious.
"How comes? Why do you think about that?"
"Just thought. Kichiro and Kimiko already have grown a lot and I really laughed hard as they managed to take away the second piece of cake from Konohamaru, you should've seen his face, really priceless. But I realized it as I looked at him and his friends, Moegi and Udon have grown a lot too."
"Yeah, but that's life. Don't start thinking you're old, 21 isn't pretty old you know." She stated.
"I know, and it's not that I think I'm old. But at the party, especially as Naruto put on the cloak, I realised the first time that we're no kids anymore. Strange, huh?"
"Honestly, no." she answered. "I still was used to still look at Naruto as if he still was the loud kid he was used to be. Strange that this is over."
"Somehow. But when we're together we still don't act like adults."
"And I hope that won't change. If I think it could happen that we act that stiff around each other…"
"Never." He grinned. "Thanks to our future Hokage we all have developed a really special friendship."
"And that's good. That makes us all stronger."
"So it is." He nodded. "I'm really curious what we should do when we reach Tanzaku."
"I already doubt that we're up to do something special. He had that smirk, you know. I guess he's up to something."
"Are you serious?"
"Yep."
"Then I guess I'll believe you." But just the other day they all found out.

They reached the town around noon and Naruto lead them towards the hotel he stayed with Jiraiya as they were looking for Tsunade.
"Well, if you please would tell us what we should do on this mission…" Neji started.
"Mission? Who said something about mission?" the blonde grinned.
"Naruto…?!" they all looked curious at him.
"Here you go." He laughed, handing Neji the scroll Tsunade had given to him before she left.
'Have nice holidays. I expect you all back to duty in two and a half weeks.'
"Holidays?" Tenten asked him.
"Hey, I needed some before I start my new duties. And I can't imagine something funnier than spending holidays with good friends. Normally I would've asked her to let the other ones join as well, but she already planned to send them on mission."
"Two and a half weeks? Man, who should pay that?" Sakura mumbled.
"No prob." He laughed, fishing quite an amount of money out of his bag.
"The feudal lord gave a good donation for the saved wedding, so there's no problem. And before you tell me that's unfair to the other ones, Tsunade had parted equal."
"Naruto, you…" Sakura started.
"Naw, never mind. You will doom me enough in the future I guess, so that's a little adjustment." He grinned. "Now, where do you want to go first?"
"How about something to eat? It's about noon." Tenten stated.
"Sounds good to me." He grinned.
"Naruto, food always sounds good to you." Sakura stated dryly and laughing they went into the next restaurant.
"Naruto-kun that was your idea, right?" Hinata silently asked him and he nodded.
"You wanted to do something crazy, without being watched. So, this is your chance."
Speechless she looked at him, and he smiled back.
"I have to make up for my stupidity in the past." He winked."
"Naruto-kun, you…" she started, smiling happily.
"… I completely fall for you and like to enjoy some time with you." He stated. "But let's go in, not that they miss us, I don't want to mess with Neji…" he said winking, and together they entered the restaurant; Hinata happier than ever before.