A/N: Yes, the event that everyone has been waiting for is finally here! So, rather than me bore you to death with this note, let's get reading.

By the way, important note here: for this story (the sequel is happening, I got more than enough reviews asking me for the sequel), but for this story, this will be the last update based on an episode. I have tried time and time again to see if I could do one for 'Show Stoppers', but really... That episode irritates the living crap out of me. There will be a few more chapters, just not with that episode. My apologies.

Big shout out to...: elric0sis, darkdragonalucard, Waterbomb22, izzy1229anime, Zetsu's Rose, YaoiPhox, Alexa Hiwatari, and FMJ26! Yay!


"Ah!" Tobi shrieked between jumps as he shot up into the air via his trusty trampoline. Because, really, who doesn't have a trusty trampoline handy at all times. "Tobi! Can't! Believe! That the! Shooting! Star! Ball! Is! Tonight!"

Meanwhile, on the porch of GlazeFeather Boutique, Itachi was gritting his teeth as he tried to focus on the book in front of him. "Tobi, I know you're excited but could you please stop yelling? I need to concentrate…"

A few moments later, Deidara walked out of the back door of the house and shook his head upon seeing the joy-demon, "Tobi, it's time to get ready for the ball! So stop playing, un! If you put on your clothes while you're all sweaty, danna will pitch a fit!" Tobi frowned, stopping mid-air from his jump and then slowly walking off of the device.

He walked over to where Sasuke was leaning against the doorjamb and asked, "What's Itachi doing?"

"A new spell that he's been working on especially for the ball." The dragon replied. Before Tobi could pester anymore, Deidara gave an angry chirp,

"Where are the others? It's getting late, un…"

"Cool your tail-feathers!" Everyone (aside from Itachi) looked over and saw the rest of the gang coming towards the house, Hidan rolling his eyes, "We're here already and –"

"Perfect!" Itachi exclaimed, slamming his book shut: Hidan hissing,

"If one more person interrupts me before I'm done speaking, I swear to Jashin I will claw their fucking faces off!" It seemed like the albino would be ignored as Sasuke tossed a pearl over to his brother: Itachi setting it on the ground.

"Ooh…" Alfred awed and slowly moved his hand over until Ivan slapped it away, muttering,

"Do not touch."

Itachi made sure that the area was quiet before forming three simple and then four complex hand-signs. A bolt of red energy shot forth from his body to the pearl, the small gem shifting and changing until it had taken the form of a large, attractive, pearl-coated carriage.

"Wow…" Kisame whistled before patting Itachi on the shoulder, "Is there anything you can't do?"

"Stop it," Itachi shook the shark's compliment off, "But that's only the beginning. Zetsu," The plant-demon jerked at his name being called, "Did you bring your friends?" The green-haired demon nodded before reaching into his pockets and pulling out a group of shining beetles.

"Are you sure they'll be alright?" He asked, Itachi nodding,

"You have my word." He then performed the same hand-signs, the red energy reappearing to surround the beetles and grow them into larger, shinier versions of their former selves. "Ta-da!" The brunette panted, everyone else either coughing nervously, averting their eyes, or giving the weasel-demon a sympathy comment or two. "And they'll be bugs again by midnight tonight!"

Unbeknownst to the group, Opal had been crawling about the window. Imagine her luck and surprise when she saw the feast that was scuttling about the backyard. She flung herself towards the beetles, the frightened insects rushing off in fear.

"No!" Itachi shouted, "Those beetles were supposed to pull our carriage! How are we going to get to the ball?"

"Whatever shall we do~?" Kakuzu sighed in a mocking voice before punching Kisame in the shoulder. The bluenette blinked at first before he realized,

"Oh yeah! Just give me a few minutes and I can call a carriage-rental company to see if they have spare horses to –" Before he could finish, the backdoor of the boutique slammed open: a frightened Naruto standing behind a livid Sasori; the scorpion-demon gritting out,

"You. Inside. NOW!"


A young demoness had a bag filled with things for a relaxing spa-date as she walked to the Rolling Waves Spa. However, when she got to the doors of the facility, she was met with two of the spa attendants saying, "Sorry! The spa is all booked up for the day!"

"Please make an appointment for tomorrow!"


Inside the spa, Deidara was busy working on Itachi, Hidan, and Alfred's hair all at once while Sasori gave all of their clothes one more starch and press. Tobi had been too busy playing with the hair dryers while Naruto was being forced to sit still on a chair as the vermillion polish on his nails dried. After a while, though, he stood and shouted,

"I'm done sitting here Deidara!"

"Ugh, fine!" Deidara groaned as he focused on combing the matts out of Kakuzu's hair.

"Fuck!" The stitch-demon shouted out in pain as Deidara yanked out a vicious knot. "Watch it…"

"Comb your hair once in a while…" The blonde sighed, keeping up his actions. As everyone else was busy preparing for the night, Naruto smiled,

"Can you believe we're all going to be in Konoha tonight? I can't wait to show you guys all the places I used to hang out at when I lived there!" Sasori handed him his kimono, "But the best part is that we'll be hanging out together all night!" Kisame who, under Deidara's supervision, was running some holding gel through his hair, sighed,

"Um… I don't know Naruto…" Sasori rolled in the rest of the outfits and added,

"We'll just have to see…"

"Tonight shall be a busy night for all of us…" Ivan explained as he tried and tried and tried to keep that one curl of Alfred's hair down; just for it to pop back up in defiance every time. Tobi giggled as he shook his hair, all of it frizzing back out,

"A busy night of fun!"

"Oh…" Naruto whispered, his ears drooping, "Okay then…" He was about to go get dressed when Sasuke placed a hand on his shoulder and offered,

"Don't worry about them: I'm not really that sociable, so I'll keep you company." That caused a smile to grow on the Kitsune's face.

"Good… I have so many things I want you all to see…"


True to his word, Kisame had ordered a fine carriage. The only thing wrong with it was that it was a dolphin-drawn coach so they had to take the upstream river-path to Konoha. One of the collared dolphins that was pulling the coach called inside, "How is everything in there Hoshigaki-sama?"

"Just keep pulling…" Kisame's voice gritted out, "You have no idea how much chakra I'm using to keep the river's current flowing backwards…"

True to form, the dolphin's soon had the coach being led by the valet service to a suitable riverside parking spot. "Grand stop: The Shooting Star Ball!" One of the dolphin's called out. The door of the coach opened, the passengers filing out (more than happy to get some walking room). The two dolphin's blinked in awe at the demons that walked out two by two, "You all look amazing…"

But the group was hardly listening: they had already had their eyes glued on the Celestials' Crystal Palace. But being there, walking up the golden-hewn paths, and being among all those important legendary creatures… It was almost like they had stepped from reality into a dream.

A dream that only got better once Naruto stated, "We got here just in time too!"

They had arrived just in time to see the ten Celestials walk into the ballroom of the palace, signaling the start of the special event.

"Oh my Jashin its Nibi!" Hidan almost failed at holding back his shriek as the two-tailed cat-deity walked up beside Yonbi: the prior dressed in a dark, dark, dark outfit that covered her entire body like a shroud.

Kisame and Itachi gasped as they watched Sanbi and Rokubi walking up to the palace gates: each dressed to the nine, Sanbi in more of the rare, sapphire-leather and Rokubi in a kimono the same shifting color of lightning.

And Tobi giggled as Zetsu shivered in excitement, too shy to scream out at seeing Hachibi No Hachimata, the eight-tailed snake-deity of nature. Hachibi smiled and whistled a soft tune, all sorts of birds flying through the courtyards to place flowers and such in his long, green hair before flying towards the holy gardens.

And if you thought Sanbi or Yonbi would be the ones to act up in this procession, you'd be so wrong. After the other nine (Ichibi, Nibi, Sanbi, Gobi, Rokubi, Shichibi, Hachibi, and Juubi) were in, there was a shout of, "Wait a minute!" Naruto laughed as Kyuubi No Kitsune rushed after his fellow deities: his wild, vermillion hair whipping all over the place just like his nine fox-tails.

Everyone in the courtyard applauded after the procession was done, some beginning to venture inside of the castle. "Pinch me," Ivan asked, "For I must be having a wonderful dream…" Itachi agreed,

"I can't believe we're finally here! With all that we've put into our preparations, this can be nothing but The Best Night of Our Lives!" A group of smartly dressed demoness and fairies walked by, singing along as Itachi began,

"At the Ball,

At the Ball…" Before Zetsu began,

"At the Ball,

In the Gardens,

I'm going to see them all...

All the creatures,

I'll befriend them at the Ball..."


In his mind, he imagined himself sitting in the middle of the rare fruit trees of the holy gardens, animals from all over coming to visit him,

"All the birds,

And the critters,

They will love me big and small...

We'll become best friends forever,

Here, now, at the Ball..."


He readjusted the hood on his cloak, trying to slow the smiles on his face as a group of gryphins walked by, singing,

"All our dreams will come true,

Right here at the Ball,

At the Ball..."


"At the Ball,

We will sell them,

All our homemade goods and eats..." Kakuzu sang, dressed in that stunning green, gold-stitched kimono.


"Tempura,

Onigiri,

Don't forget the sweets!" Hidan added as he imagined hundreds of demons lining up to by the best that Goldleaf Farms had to offer.


"And we'll earn a lot of money,

For me and my family..." Kakuzu belted out, imagining the massive pile of money that would come from this night. The palace guards marched towards the crystal monument, singing,


"All our dreams and our hopes,

From now on to hereafter,

All that we've been wishing for will happen at the Ball...

At the Ball..."


Our two favorite fashionistos walked up, hand in hand, Sasori adjusting his hat as he sang, "At the Ball,

All the royals,

Will meet fair demons we...

They will see we're just as regal at the Ball..." Sasori imagined him and Deidara strolling right into the palace, those already inside gasping in awe,

"At the Ball...", Before the gold-clad Deidara sang,

"There we'll find them,

A noble lady," Said demoness smiled as she beckoned the two over,

"So charitable she shall be...

she will hear our hopes tonight…"


They both sighed,

"Here, now, at the Ball..."

"This is what we've waited for,

To have the best night ever," A family of elves sang as they walked the red carpet,

"All of us will live our dreams, right here at the Ball...

At the Ball..."


Suddenly, there was a flourish of trumpets and drums before everyone looked to the river to see Lord Sanbi's Royal Guard rushing through it: their captain shouting out, "Formation 220!" Two of them dove under water before freezing a patch of water, lifting it up, and carrying the other members of the guard. Once they had rushed by, Kisame had to sing,

"Been dreaming,

I've been waiting,

To work with those great demons!"


He imagined himself dressed up in that stunning blue armor, marching down the palace paths, "The Royal Guard, their daring feats,

Training up, doing great deeds!

Be seen by crowds of thousands...

They'll shower us with diamonds!"


Back in real time, he clenched his fist in determination as he decided, with firm resolution, "Lord Sanbi will find me worthy at the Ball!"

"All we've come for, all we've dreamed,

Our happy ever-afters!" A group of mermen and mermaids sang as they walked along the red carpet,

"Finally will all come true tonight at the Ball...

At the Ball..." Suddenly, out of the crowds, Tobi began bouncing along as he sang, dressed in his pumpkin-candy orange gothic-Lolita dress,

"Tobi's here at the Shooting Star Ball!

For it is the best party!

The only thing that it was missing

Was a demon named Tobi!"


"Tobi is the best at parties, all demons will agree!" Tobi sang as he imagined himself happily dancing and frolicking with the other ball-goers.

"Demons laughing, demons dancing!

With Tobi at the Ball~!"

As the joy-demon bounced by, more guests singing, "Happiness and laughter at the Ball...

At the Ball..."


Back at the red carpet, Ivan held a camera in his hands: lavender eyes wide as he saw all the celebrities and nobles walking down the pathway. "Stories read to me at bed-time,

Cannot compare to this...

The Ball with all its nobles and a stunning guest list!"

"With creatures of all beauties from all reaches of the land," The white-clad Baba Yaga bowed lightly as he walked up to a dragoness and kissed her hand: the noble giggling behind a gem-encrusted fan.

"Just to meet, to talk, to mingle...

Oh, for one of them to shake my hand..."

"From our homes and castles from all over the world…" Some flying-demons who were landing sang,

"Tonight we all come together right here at the Ball...

At the Ball..."


"They can keep their streamers,

They can keep their smoke and lights," Alfred smiled as he snuck over to one of the palace hallways,

"I'm here for one reason!

One thing will make this night just right!" The Trickster Spirit gasped as a gold and silver carriage road up to the red carpet. The door was opened by a valet and a young Trickster who bore a striking resemblance to Alfred walked out dressed in a silver gown, his wavy hair held back by a silver band.

"My dearest baby brother…" Alfred whispered but a frown almost ruined his joyous expression when a tall albino with messy hair dressed in silver armor jumped out of the carriage to accompany the blonde,

"Here tonight with his lover…", Alfred sighed,

"Dances in Snow please wait for me at the Ball..."

"Meeting those we've missed so at the Ball..." More guests walked by and sang,

"At the Ball..."


It seemed as Tsukuyomi wanted this night to be all the more special; the beautiful full moon looming overhead. It was the spectacle that Sasuke was looking up at as he sang, "I hardly look up to you,

But tonight I'm begging...

I have such a task up for me,

I need your divine help with it..." He dug into his pockets and brought out a small velvet box. Inside, a beautiful diamond ring that he had used all of his spare money to by twinkled up at him.

"This beautiful ring in my hand!" He looked over to the coach to see Naruto readjusting his sandals,

"The stunning blonde across the way!

Please let him have it in to take the name Uchiha..!"


There was a loud cry, akin to thunder, as Rokubi's pet thunderbird Aka flew across the night sky: a trail of lightning following her. Itachi smiled at the wondrous sight before singing, "At the Ball, with Rokubi,

Is where I'm going to be!

We will talk all about magic,

The things I've learned and seen!"


Itachi happily imagined himself standing on the balcony of the palace with Rokubi: the weasel-deity listening intently to all of his recollections. "This night will be so special,

As he takes time just for me..."


Back in real-time, the crowds of guests sang in unison, "This will be the best night ever~!" Afterwards, they all began to move into the palace en mass,

"Into the Ball, we must go,

We're ready and we're all a-glow!

Into the Ball, now let's go in

And have the best night ever!

Into the Ball, now's the time!

We're ready and we look divine!"

"Into the Ball –" Itachi sang, Zetsu walking beside him,

"Meet new friends!

Into the Ball –" Kakuzu and Hidan walked up,

"Make some money!

Into the Ball –" Sasori and Deidara caught up and added,

"Find a rich noble!" Then Kisame walked over and took Itachi's hand, singing,

"Prove my worth to Lord Sanbi!"

"To meet—

To sell—

To find—

To prove—

To whoop—

To see—

To reunite—

To propose..."

With a flourish of trumpets, everyone sang together, "Here at the Ball~!

Here at the Ball~!

It will be the best night of our lives!" Shichibi smiled at all of the guests before he waved a wand, two orbs of silver energy rising into the air before exploding into clouds of shimmering stardust.

"Here at the Ball!"


"Yeah!" Naruto whooped as he walked over to his friends, all of them looking around the palace in anticipation. "This really is going to be the best night of our lives! We're going to hang out together and—Ah!" He yelped as everyone rushed to different parts of the palace, leaving him to sigh, "Or not…"


There, on the highest, crystal staircase of the palace, Rokubi stood watching over the festivities from afar. Scarlet and black fabric rippled through the air as Itachi rushed over and up the many, many stairs… "Rokubi-sama…" He panted. The weasel-deity smiled,

"Itachi, my lovely apprentice, how wonderful to see you here!"

"Oh, I'm so excited to be here!" Itachi replied, "We have so much to catch up on!" Rokubi chuckled, waving an arm besides him,

"Well, I want you by my side all night so I can hear everything." Itachi practically beamed as he rushed to stand beside his role-model.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." He quietly stated, watching the party-goers below.


Sasori, looking smart in his wine-red suit, walked through the elegantly draped hallway Deidara looking radiant in his golden gown. As Sasori watched the crowds, looking at what was new in the fashion world, Deidara gasped and pointed across the room, "Danna, look!"

An old demoness in a splendid gown was walking out onto the patio, a diamond-studded cane in her hand.

"Hurry Deidara!" Sasori whispered as they both ran after her, but then Deidara whispered,

"But not too fast, un!" Sasori bit his lip as they slowed. But he soon shook his head,

"We can't lose her!"

"We should play it cool, un!" Deidara frowned.

"But not be cold!" Sasori gritted out before they walked out to the patio. "Oh…" He whispered to his blonde fiancée, "It's just like we dreamed!" The old demoness chuckled as she gave a more than generous tip to the maid who brought her a drink.

"Even better un…" Deidara smiled as they both moved closer.

A small bird with brown feathers and a yellow breast flew by, singing lightly. "Oh," Zetsu whispered as he saw it, "A meadowlark!" As he followed it into the holy gardens, he heard a bright and happy whistling. "Oh! I think she's calling me! It's exactly what I wished for!" He then sang out,

"Hello there new friend…"

The whistle sounded again, Zetsu happily walking further into the gardens.


"Easy…" Kakuzu grunted as he and Hidan pushed a large wagon into the center of the palace courtyard. When they were at the perfect position so that everyone could see them, Hidan slammed his fist on the wagon: the wagon folding out into a full-on mini-store of all the best foods from Goldleaf Farms.

As soon as the store went up, who should rush over but the captain of Lord Sanbi's Royal Guard. "Aw, sweet!" He smiled as he looked, wide-eyed, at all the food.

"Hey there!" Hidan greeted, Kakuzu asking,

"You hungry?"

"Most avariciously!" The water-demon nodded. Hidan smiled,

"Well, what'll you have? We've got tempura, udon, onigiri, bento-boxes, dango, naruto, fried-fish, dango, mochi, and rice-candy!"

"I'll take that huge yellowtail tuna! Deep-fried!" Hidan quickly fried said fish up and handed it over to the captain, Kakuzu happily taking the payment for the food and smiling,

"Just as I thought: not even a minute of being in this place and we made a sale! Hello new tin-roof…"


The captain of the Royal Guard was happily carrying his fish inside of the Palace towards the carded off area where the members of the Royal Guard were seated and a few famous and wealthy people could sit and speak with them.

The aqua-haired demon had just taken a bite out of his fish when the two coral twins, Co and Ral, walked over and stated (in unison), "Always hungry after a show, eh Conch?"

"Ha! Right on dude and dudette!" Conch replied but when he did, he waved his hands: the fish falling towards the floor. "My fish~!"

In a split instant, the fish was stopped right before it hit the ground by strong, blue hands. The three Royal Guard members looked and saw that the owner of said hands was one Hoshigaki Kisame: the shark-demon heaving a sigh of relief, "That was close! You should never waste any kind of fish…"

"Most bodacious brah!" Conch nodded, taking the fish, "Major thanks for saving my meal!" When he had left and the three were about to go into their section, there was a call of,

"Hoshigaki Kisame!"

"That voice." Kisame gulped and turned, seeing Sanbi walking up to the red velvet rope, "Lord Sanbi?"

"The one and only." The shark-deity smiled, "Haven't seen you around since the competition in Adamant Sea City!" The white-haired shark smacked a strong hand onto Kisame's shoulder, Kisame replying,

"Well, weather-watch always keeps me busy…"

"Well, now we have a good opportunity to talk." Sanbi stated as he signaled for the two guards by the velvet rope to open it, "Come on in, I'll introduce you to the others."

'Lord Sanbi… Inviting me… Meet other Royal Guards…' Kisame's mind was internally sputtering due to the awesome situation, but he had enough sense to smile and reply,

"Thanks!", as they both walked inside.


The most noble of the noble class were already seated in their seats, waiting for their food and drinks while mingling with the rich and famous. Ivan, dressed in his snowy white attire with a camera in his pocket as well as a few brochures from his sisters' orphanage (hey, he was talking to wealthy people right? They might as well share that wealth with a child… or two…) before he took a deep, composing breath and walked forward into the dining hall.

"Oh!" He stopped by a table, his eyes landing on a group of young lion-spirits. "Good evening to you all! How astonishing you look!" The lionesses giggled before their husband smiled and asked,

"And you, kind sir, look good as well." Ivan smiled, they thought he was one of them! 'Oh, thank you Sasori!'

"Might I be troubling you all for a picture?" The Baba Yaga asked, smiling as the group agreed.


"Dances in Snow!" Alfred called out as he rushed through the halls, looking inside every door (getting slapped a few times when he accidentally peeked in a women's restroom) and space he could find.

It wasn't until he went around the entire castle three times and he wandered back into the dining hall that he finally managed to catch a glimpse of his brother again. "Dances in Snow!" He shouted, running straight towards the younger Trickster Spirit; his feathered cape rippling as he moved.

"Did someone call me – Oomph!" Was all the wavy-haired Trickster got out before he had been glomped to the ground, "Freedom-Crying Eagle? What are you doing here?"

"Thank the Great Sky-Mother!" Alfred whooped as he helped his baby brother up, "I never thought I'd be able to see you again!"

"It's good to see you too, eh?" Dances in Snow nodded before he offered, "Hey, you should meet Gilbert! He's heard so much about you and I bet he'd love to see you in the flesh."

"Sure!" Alfred replied, too happy from seeing his brother to think further into the situation.