*Third Person: Naruto's POV*

The snow silently and swiftly fell onto the Hidden Leaf Village, covering the quiet village in a blanket of white. The streets were empty and the stores closed, Christmas decorations strung up on nearly every building. A lonely little blonde-haired boy peered out the window of his apartment and watched a small house across the street.

Green and red twinkling lights shone on the outside and pretty snow fell on the front lawn, but the really beautiful thing was what was on the inside. The Christmas tree stood proudly in the window and a warm glow shone from the house. Small children laughed and ran towards the tree fingering the dozens of presents under the decorated tree. Their parents followed with a warm smile on their faces and their arms around each other.

Naruto felt a tug on his heart, seeing a scene that would never be a reality for him. His small apartment was empty and cold and...lonely. That word had been describing him for a while now, especially since Christmas break started. It was Christmas Eve and he was all alone. It shouldn't be a big deal, because he was always alone-besides the time he spent with Tsunami. But today was a day that he couldn't stand to be alone.

He moved away from the window and slipped an orange sweatshirt on over his head before slipping out of his apartment, and out of the building. His sandals made a 'crunch' noise as they stomped down on the snow, and the snowflakes whipped against his face in a flurry. He hugged his arms around himself as he broke into a run. The cold weather froze him from the inside out very quickly so he made sure to get to his destination fast.

The girl's house loomed into view and Naruto stumbled over his feet as he tried to make himself move faster. His face smashed into the cold snow, numbing his nose, cheek, and ears. He pushed himself upwards and walked up to the house and knocked. He could see Tsunami in the window with her little brother, gathered around the Christmas tree. The door opened and Tsunami's mother stood there, holding a small baby girl. Naomi, Naruto thought, recalling the name.

"Naruto...!" Tsunami's mother said, shocked and he heard Tsunami cry:

"NARUTO?" and the scamper of feet. She poked her head out from under her mother's arm and her face lit up when she saw him. "Naruto! What are you doing here?"

What could he say? That he wanted to spend Christmas with the one friend that he had? To invite himself into their home, and intrude on their holiday? It suddenly felt wrong to be here. Maybe he should just go home...

"I just...just wanted to wish you a M-M-Merry Christmas," he whispered, shivering.

"Naruto, you're freezing! Can he come in, Mother?" Tsunami asked, peering up to look at the older woman.

"I-I suppose so," she said.

"Yay!" Tsunami squealed, grabbing his hand and pulling him inside. "We can set out cookies and play Christmas music and watch Frosty the Snowman on TV! Oh yeah! And I have your present upstairs!"

"R-really? I can stay?" he asked, and Tsunami beamed.

"Of course you can! He can stay, can't he, Mother?" She looked at her mother, who was frowning.

"Oh, I don't know, Tsunami...this is sort of a family holiday-"

"But I am Naruto's family! I love him, he's my best friend! Please let him stay, Mother, please!" she begged and her mother sighed.

"Alright, fine. But include Rayne, I don't want him feeling left out! I'm going to put Naomi to bed."

"Thank you, Mommy, thank you!" Tsunami squealed and then tackled Naruto to the ground in a hug. "This is gonna be so much fun! I'm gonna go get your present from my room!" She scrambled to her feet and ran towards the stairs, but then stopped to look at him. "You got me something, right?"

"Yeah, I just left it at my house," he said, his heart falling. He spent a whole week trying to find the perfect present for Tsunami, and then he forgot to bring it.

"Oh, well that's okay! You can give it to me some other time!" And then she disappeared up the stairs

Naruto couldn't believe that he actually got to spend Christmas with Tsunami, his favorite person in the world. She was right when she said that she was his family- she was like a sister to him, except more. She was his best friend and he did love her. And for the first time, she loved him, too.

I just want to clear something up...Naruto only loves Tsuami as a sister (as of right now), and he doesn't think of Tsunami the way she likes him in this chapter. I just didn't want anybody to be confused...

Rachel