Author's note: Today's our beloved sunshine's birthday, so of course I couldn't let that one pass without a gift for him! Finished this in one go, so hopefully it isn't too awful!

Warnings: Naruto's pov; canon verse; canon divergent after the war; slash; fluff; vague references to his bad childhood

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Kishimoto owns it.

I hope you'll like this!


Gifting the Past

"No mission at all?" Naruto asked baffled, staring at Kakashi.

The older man quirked an eyebrow. "It's your birthday. Who would want to go on a mission then?"

"Well, I don't think I've got anything planned," Naruto muttered and scratched the bridge of his nose.

Iruka had promised to take him out for ramen tonight, which was great, because ramen – especially those of Ichiraku's – was always amazing. He had no other plans, however, because the majority of his friends had left for their own missions. That was why he had expected to have a mission of his own, something that would occupy him during the day at least.

"Well, if you insist on having a boring birthday, you can always help me out with the paperwork," Kakashi suggested hopefully.

"Isn't that paperwork supposed to be secretive?" Naruto asked suspiciously.

"I won't tell if you won't tell," Kakashi deadpanned.

"Nah, wouldn't want you to get into trouble," Naruto grinned and crossed his arms behind his head. "Besides, who wants to do boring paperwork on their birthday?"

He left before Kakashi could try to convince him to stay. Really, why he had even accepted the position from Tsunade when he clearly wasn't interested in it was a mystery to Naruto. Or perhaps he was simply not interested in all the paperwork involved, which was something the Jinchuuriki could understand. Either way, what was he going to do now? He had no missions to occupy himself with and most of his friends were gone, so what now?

You really have a sorry life, don't you? Kurama remarked idly, stretching the claws of his right paw and admiring them.

"I don't need to hear that from someone who's sealed inside me," Naruto shot back and made his way down the stairs, nodding at some shinobi in passing.

Which makes it even more pathetic for you, because at least I have a reason not to be out and about, Kurama purred; his eyes glinting devilishly.

Would launching a barrage of Rasengan at the annoying demon fox be overkill? "It's my birthday, aren't you supposed to be nicer to me today?" he whined.

Weren't you the one preaching for equality for everyone? I won't be treating you equally if I treat you differently today, now would I? Kurama smirked; his tails swishing back and forth behind him before two of them came to wrap around his body.

"You're a dick." Naruto scowled and pointed at the fox. "You're not this chatty when Sasuke is around!"

If he had hoped the mention of the last Uchiha heir would make Kurama sulk and shut up, he was sorely mistaken.

He's not around now, is he? Kurama asked bored. Don't even think I'm intimidated by that brat, by the way. I simply don't bother saying something because there's no point to it. Your mind's always full with Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke! I can hardly get anything wedged between that rambling nonsense.

Naruto reddened instantly. "SHUT UP! MY MIND'S NOT ALWAYS FULL WITH HIS NAME!" he screeched.

Keep telling yourself that, Kurama snorted derisively.

"Screw you!"

Nah, I'll leave that up to –

Naruto left their shared space before the fox demon could finish that outrageous comment. He still wasn't quick enough to escape his dark chuckling, making him scowl.

What did Kurama even know? As if Naruto didn't think about anything else but Sasuke!


Perhaps Iruka had caught wind of Naruto wandering around the village or maybe Kakashi had run his mouth, but his former sensei found him around lunch time. He treated him to ramen; birthday lunch instead of dinner. They ended up spending two hours together, in which Naruto enjoyed himself immensely, catching up with the older man.

Unfortunately eventually Iruka had to return to his own classes, which left Naruto to return to his earlier activity: wandering through the village. There was only so much wandering he could do without growing absolutely bored, however, and as he wasn't in the mood to play harmless pranks either, he resigned himself to returning to his apartment. Maybe he could try to make a cake for himself? Did he even have enough ingredients for that?

Did he even have the ingredients in the first place?

Frowning, he opened the door to his apartment and walked inside, figuring he would take a quick look in his pantry. If he didn't have the ingredients, he would at least have a reason to go back outside again and spend some time in the shops.

"You don't even lock your door? I know you're a shinobi, but leaving the door unlocked seems like asking for trouble," a very familiar voice drawled.

Naruto was already grinning before he had fully turned around to face the owner of the voice. "Well, it's not like there's anything valuable here to steal, so." He shrugged and made a beeline for Sasuke, who was lounging on the couch; his katana resting against the wall next to him.

"What if they try to surprise you during the night?" Sasuke asked, clearly unwilling to let the subject go.

"Kurama would warn me on time," Naruto answered and halted in front of the couch. "Besides, who would be stupid enough to break into my apartment?"

Especially when it was very well-known where he lived. If they targeted his apartment specifically for him, they would have to know it would be a useless endeavour, considering Kurama didn't take kindly to intruders.

Well, clearly he's stupid enough, Kurama commented nonchalantly. Considering he's here right now.

Naruto ignored him. "I didn't expect you to show up today," he grinned and gave in to the urge to touch Sasuke, grasping his shoulder for a moment. If he hadn't been sitting down, he would have tugged the dark haired man into a proper hug.

"Hm, was near the village and decided to stop by," Sasuke answered vaguely, which Naruto chose to translate as 'I stopped by because it's your birthday'.

That might be rather presumptuous of him to think like that, but Sasuke's next comment just cemented that suspicion further. "Got something for you, by the way."

"Yeah?" Naruto perked up, already growing excited. "What do you have for me?"

To his surprise Sasuke rose up from the couch and picked up his katana again. "Do you trust me?"

Growing slightly mystified now, Naruto answered immediately, "Of course I do." What kind of stupid question was that even? Why wouldn't he trust Sasuke? He had always trusted him, even back when he had only considered them to be rivals. His was a question he should never ask, because the answer was as clear as day.

There was a faint smile lingering around Sasuke's lip when he turned around. To Naruto's ever increasing surprise and bemusement Sasuke drew a portal right next to the couch, gesturing at it once he was finished.

"Come, let's go."

"Go where?" Naruto asked curiously, but nevertheless stepped through the portal; Sasuke following closely behind him.

Naruto had no idea what he had expected to see on the other side of the portal; another town perhaps, the desert of Suna maybe? A forest or a beach or one of the many places Sasuke had visited during his travelling. Instead when he stepped through the portal he found himself in –

Konoha.

He blinked and turned around several times, but no, the scenery remained the same. These were the streets he had grown up in, the same streets he had walked through just one hour ago. Although … He frowned and looked up at the sky, which was decidedly darker than he remembered it being when he had walked into his apartment. Could the sky turn dark that quickly? Sure, it was October, but still, shouldn't it be lighter than it was now? He was pretty certain that it was still at least two hours before the sun was supposed to set, but the sky was already dyed a deep pink and light purple, streaks of fading orange breaking up the colour pattern.

"Sasuke, why are we - "

"Come here," Sasuke murmured and pulled them between two houses, which left them with a view of the end of the street, but kept them relatively hidden at the same time.

Naruto knew they were hidden from sight, because this was one of the places he used to hide in when angry shopkeepers had been chasing after him when he was still a kid, intent on delivering at least a couple of kicks or slaps. They had never been able to find him here, no matter how many times they had run past this place.

"Are we waiting for someone?" Naruto questioned, looking around the street.

It was deserted as it usually was; this was a pretty quiet neighbourhood, rather far from the hustle and bustle of the shops.

"Hm, you could say that," was Sasuke's mysterious and completely nonsensical answer.

That absolutely did nothing to quell Naruto's confusion and right as he was about to look at Sasuke and demand a proper reply from his friend, two pairs of footsteps started approaching them.

Out of habit – little Naruto always had to know who was coming closer, whether it was someone safe or someone he should avoid at all costs – he turned to look.

And froze up.

A couple was making their way down the street. The woman had beautiful, long, red hair, tied in a high ponytail with some strands framing her lovely face. She wore a long green dress and through the dress a gentle swelling around her stomach area was visible; she kept one hand against the swelling while her other hand was clasped by a man. The man in question had wild, blond hair, just like Naruto. He had bright blue eyes, which sparkled in the dying sunlight, just like Naruto. The easy going grin currently gracing his mouth was the same grin Naruto saw mirrored in whatever reflective surface he happened to be looking into when he was grinning. The man still wore his Hokage robes, but they were left open, revealing his green jackets and his dark blue trousers.

There was no doubt who they were, but …

"Sasuke …"

He could feel an intense gaze on the side of his face. "I thought you would like the chance to see them how they were," Sasuke said quietly.

Naruto swallowed and wondered why that simple action felt so difficult now. "They can't – we can't show ourselves, right?"

Because showing themselves might change the past and that was always a big no-no, wasn't it? He couldn't approach them, couldn't talk to them, because every interference, no matter how small, might change something, but seeing them like this, seeing mum and dad so happy, so carefree … It was more than he ever thought he would have. Sure, he had talked with them before, with mum when he was learning how to control Kurama, with dad when he had become reincarnated during the war. But that was different. That hadn't been them truly alive and together. That hadn't been them together and clearly in love as they leisurely walked to their destination.

"I wouldn't recom-" Sasuke started to say, but he was suddenly interrupted by dad.

"Who are you? Show yourselves!"

"Ah, I hadn't taken into account just how sharp your father was," Sasuke murmured, sounding both annoyed and impressed.

"I won't ask a second time!"

Naruto shared a look with Sasuke. "You think we should …"

"No real choice," Sasuke sighed and rolled his shoulders. "Just … be ready to leave immediately if things go south."

Naruto didn't want to believe that mum and dad would try to harm them, but this wasn't the same situation as the one in which he had met them before. Now they had no idea who he was, might even consider them enemies and might try to attack them. He hoped they wouldn't, but it was a possibility he had to keep in mind.

So, feeling slightly apprehensive, but in awe all the same – mum and dad were right there, right in front of him – he and Sasuke slowly came out of hiding, revealing themselves to the couple.

Dad was frowning heavily, his hand resting on a kunai. Mum on the other hand was squinting at them; her hand shifting from dad's hand to his forearm, gripping it tightly.

"Why do you – you look so familiar," she murmured confused. "You look like Minato, but - "

"You have Kushina's face," Dad finished baffled. His gaze shot towards Sasuke next, taking in his Sharingan. "You're an Uchiha."

It wasn't a question, but Sasuke inclined his head all the same, even though he remained quiet.

"How …" Dad cut himself off and seemed to think about something. "You … Would it be ridiculous to assume you two are from the … future?"

"Not ridiculous," Sasuke answered, barely moving his lips.

Mum's face instantly lit up and she started slapping dad's arm, making him slightly wince. "Wait, wait, wait! Does this mean you're our son?!" she asked excitedly; her purple eyes positively shining now. She took a step closer, ignoring the way dad reached out with his hand to her. "You are, right? You're our son? There's no way you can't be ours, you look like the spitting image of Minato!"

"Except for his face," Dad reminded her helpfully. His features softened a fraction. "He's got your face."

She wrinkled her nose. "I'm really sorry about that," she apologised genuinely. "Not exactly a face a boy wants to be stuck with, but - "

"I like that I look like you!" Naruto blurted out and took unconsciously a step closer as well. "I don't mind at all! Really! I'm glad I do!"

Surprise flitted across her face for a couple of seconds before she blushed, smiling pleased. "Well, I'm really glad to see that our son is just as handsome as his dad is," she said. "And so glad you inherited Minato's hair, not my colour."

"I wouldn't have minded if I had got your hair. It's very beautiful," Naruto said honestly, repeating what he had once told her before.

She scoffed, but at the same time her pleased smile deepened.

"Is there a specific reason you returned to the past?" Dad asked and looked worried. "Are you here to warn us?"

It would be so easy now to warn them about Obito, about how he would show up in his Tobi-disguise when mum would go into labour. So easy to warn them about Kurama breaking free, forcing the pair to seal the bijuu inside their only son before perishing themselves. If Naruto spoke up now, he could perhaps change the future. Maybe if he told them everything, they would survive and he would grow up with his parents around this time. Maybe he wouldn't grow up shunned and hated, despised by nearly everyone in the village. Maybe he could actually have mum and dad around this time, would know how it felt like to grow up with loving parents.

Or maybe they would just die in another way. Perhaps the future was always set in stone and trying to change it would do nothing but mess up what could have been.

So instead he just smiled and shrugged. "No, just wanted to see you, that's all. And my friend managed to make that happen."

"The Uchiha clan truly is amazing," mum whistled impressed as she raked her eyes over Sasuke. Did she connect Sasuke standing here with the baby Mikoto was expecting now? Maybe, maybe not.

Dad, on the other hand, wouldn't let himself be fooled. "We won't have much time with you in the future, right?" he asked quietly. Next to him mum stiffened, her eyes growing wide. "You wouldn't need to see us if we're still alive in your timeline."

Naruto didn't dare to open his mouth. What could he say still? It was true. He wouldn't have needed this gift if they had still been alive.

"How much time do we have with you?" Mum asked; her voice shaky. Before either Naruto or Sasuke could think of something to say that wouldn't give away too much, she shook her head. "No, don't tell me. I don't want to – I don't want to be counting down the time I have with you instead of enjoying it."

She stepped closer until she was barely a foot away from him. Opening her arms, her smile shook when she said, "I don't know how long I will have the chance to do this with you, but would you mind giving your mum a hug?"

As if he would ever say no to that. He had already cut the distance between them before she had even finished her sentence, letting her engulf him into a tight embrace, hugging her back just as fiercely.

"No matter what happens," she whispered in his ear, "know that you're very much loved, okay, sweetheart? From the day I discovered I was carrying you, you're loved. Nothing will ever change that."

"I love you too," he said thickly; his eyes pricking when she pressed a sweet kiss against his cheek.

"My turn," Dad smiled a bit sadly when mum reluctantly stepped back. He held out his own arms. "I hope you don't mind hugging your old dad."

"You're not old yet," Naruto quipped and dove into the embrace before dad could even brace himself, eliciting a soft "Oomph" from the older man.

"I don't know how much time I have to tell you this, but I want you to know that I'm proud of you," Dad murmured. "No matter what will happen in the future, I'm proud of you and always will be."

"You don't even know what I'll be doing in the future," Naruto muttered; his fists clenched in the back of dad's robes.

"You're my son, how couldn't I be proud of you?" Dad said simply. "I love you, nothing will ever change that."

The prickling in his eyes was becoming worse, he noticed distantly even as he burrowed himself deeper into dad's chest.

Behind him he heard mum say, "Thank you for letting us meet."

"It's fine," Sasuke grunted. "No need to thank me for that."

As if Sasuke hadn't given him the greatest gift of all time. As if Sasuke hadn't just used quite a bit of chakra just to send the both of them back in the past so that Naruto could meet his parents properly.

"So modest," Mum chuckled.

"The bastard's far from modest, mum," Naruto couldn't help but say, smiling when that made Sasuke scoff.

"Naruto, we have to go now," Sasuke said softly after a moment, sounding apologetic about it.

"Right, can't keep you here too long," Dad chuckled wetly.

They loosened the hug at the same time. Naruto took a deep breath before going back to Sasuke's side. Dad's hand found mum's.

"I'm glad we got the chance to meet," she smiled and there were definitely tears welling up in her eyes now. "Remember that we'll always love you."

"I love you too," Naruto said. He knew he had already said it, but he needed to say it again, needed them to know that.

He felt Sasuke's chakra flaring up again as a portal opened for the second time. Mum's and dad's eyes widened at the sight, wonder filling their faces. Fingers slipped around Naruto's wrist and then they stepped through the portal, leaving mum and dad behind.


They ended up in the middle of Naruto's apartment this time and he spent a moment staring at the floor, trying to put himself together. His heart both ached and felt too full at the same time; his arms still warm with their hugs.

"You removed their memories, didn't you?"

Sasuke shifted slightly behind him. "I had to." There was that apologetic tone again. "I don't know whether us meeting would have changed the timeline too much."

"It's fine," Naruto said and took a deep breath before turning around. "It's best you did that, because yeah, we don't want things to change. I'm already … Fuck, Sasuke, this is the best present everyone has ever given to me," he laughed wetly, rubbing his hands briskly over his face.

"I thought you might appreciate this more than just some bowls of ramen." Sasuke's voice was teasing, but there was warmth audible too, even a hint of hesitation.

"This is definitely better than ramen," Naruto agreed, grinning even as some of the treacherous tears escaped, slipping down his too warm cheeks. "You know, you set the bar really high for presents, bastard. What the hell am I supposed to get you next year if you give me something amazing like this?"

Sasuke smirked lightly. "I'm sure you'll come up with something."

Naruto gazed at him, at his best friend, who had interrupted his journey to celebrate Naruto's birthday, who had given him the most amazing birthday gift, better than anything he had ever got or would get. The one who had sent them both back in time just so that Naruto would have the chance to see his parents when they were still happy and alive.

Sasuke who was looking back at him with equally soft eyes; the Sharingan having made way for the regular black colour. What Sasuke had done for him – that wasn't something easy, wasn't something that just anyone would have done for him.

It struck him then, what Sasuke's presence here meant. What that soft look on his face meant, that softness that only Naruto seemed to be graced with.

Feeling brave, Naruto stepped forwards until they were right in front of each other. Slowly he reached out to Sasuke's hand. Even more slowly he tangled their fingers together, watching every miniscule change in Sasuke's face. Sasuke made no move to pull away, merely turned his hand so that it was easier for their fingers to twine together.

"I've got something in mind," Naruto mumbled and watched that single black eye lit up with interest.

"Oh? What?"

Naruto rose up on his tiptoes and pressed their mouths carefully together, slotting their lips against each other as well as he could. Sasuke easily moulded against him; his fingers gently tightening around his. Their first kiss was admittedly clumsy, a bit dry, but to Naruto it was everything.

And when their lips parted and Sasuke murmured, "Happy birthday, usuratonkachi," Naruto could only laugh and hug him tightly before pulling him down into another kiss.

The End


AN2: If it's canon that Sasuke can go back in time, then this is what he ends up doing with it. Also just to make it clear: the past setting occured somewhere in April, that's why Kushina wasn't heavily pregnant yet.

Please leave your thoughts behind in a review; should you spot any mistakes, please point them out to me.

I hope to see you all back in my future stories! Please stay safe and take care of yourselves!

Cuddles

Melissa

P.S. For more information about my upcoming and posted stories, please visit my profile.