Disclaimer: Again, I do not own Naruto, I just want to write about the wonderful little bishies! Masashi Kishimoto you rule! O yes, there's going to be a little bit of boy on boy action in this chapter. Just a little, so watch out for that.

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Chapter 4: Thank you, for everything

"Psh, you look worse then I do. You're hair is totally sticking up in the back, wait...it always does that." Naruto howled and fell back onto the couch. "Looks like you got your head flushed down the toilet." He laughed at his joke again and stuck his tongue out at Sasuke.

"Shut up, you're the one who looks like a blonde porcupine. Sasuke reached forward and jiggled his fingers through Naruto's hair. It swayed and moved back into place. "Ha, told you."

"Whatever, I'm still cooler then you. I could beat you any day...besides I could total-" Naruto suddenly found himself on his back, his wrists bound by Sasuke's hands.

"H-Hey! What're you doing?! Sasuke!?" But Sasuke didn't answer he just gazed at Naruto. His deep black eyes piercing into his large blue ones. He blushed a violent red and squirmed under Sasuke but he was pinned.

"You think you could beat me?" Sasuke drew his face closer to Naruto's. The smaller boy tried to shove his head farther into the couch to evade Sasuke but he could not. He slowly relaxed and submitted to the ebony haired boy. He grazed his lips over the blondes' barely making contact but enough to send Naruto reeling. Naruto shoved his head up to Sasuke but he dodged. Naruto moaned and jerked away. Sasuke continued to torture Naruto until-

KNOCK KNOCK

Naruto's foggy eyes slowly came back into focus. "Y-you better get that."

"What the hell, it's your house!" Naruto squeezed Sasuke's hand and the older boy sighed and got up.

KNOCK KNOCK

"YEA, YEA I'M COMING!" He grabbed the door knob and wrenched it open. "Who is it!? Oh, Sakura? What are you doing here?"

"Sasuke-kun! Er-I just wanted to wish Naruto a happy birthday."

"When in hell did you start caring about Naruto?" He scoffed.

"Since you became such a damn prick." The green eyed girl fluffed her hair across her shoulders and smiled. This time the smile was real and it showed a side of Sakura Sasuke had never seen. The inner Sakura, the one with actual emotions.

"Bout time you started showing your true colors. I was getting tired of you constant faking, especially the way you were always stalking me. You never stopped. And the worst part was you mocked Naruto about following you around, when you were doing the exact same thing to me, but he was truly devoted to you. Only thing is Naruto's a much better person then you could ever hope to be." Sakura flinched as the tears welled up in her eyes.

"NO! NO! I'll never let that bastard see me cry. I have to be strong!" She shook her head and her pink locks flowed gracefully around her face, blocking the tears that flew to the ground.

"Please Sasuke, get over yourself. Like I said, I came here to wish Naruto a happy birthday and I don't need your damn permission to do it. Is Naruto here or not?"

"Just go home Sakura, Naruto doesn't need anyone mocking him today." He began to close the door but she pushed her hand in front of it.

"Quit being such a damn asshole Sasuke! I didn't come here to mock him! I really just want to say happy birthday! Now stop trying to make decisions for me and let me speak to him!"

Sasuke laughed. She just kept getting better and better. Maybe he was being a little mean, but who did she think she was? Coming here with a whole new attitude. Wanting to be chatty and sweet with Naruto, please. He was much better friends with him the she was. Why was she interested in him now anyway? Sasuke was soon distracted by the sound of footsteps. He looked to the left and saw Naruto walking up to the door. Damn, he was hoping she'd have left before Naruto got up.

"What's going on Sasuke? Who is it?" Naruto leaned his head on the Sasuke's shoulder and sighed. "Oh, its Sakura...can I help you?" His tone was flat and unwelcoming Sakura was really starting to get tired of the cold shoulder treatment.

"Good evening Naruto-kun, I wanted to wish you happy birthday. I made you some cookies." Sakura blushed as she rummaged through her back pack. She pulled out a small bundle of cloth and handed it to the curious blonde. He took the package suspiciously and weighed it with his hand. He put it at eye level and leered at it for a minute, wondering if it was tainted.

"I didn't poison it Naruto-kun. I really just wanted to give you a present and I was also hoping to have word with you...if you'll hear me out."

Naruto took his attention away from the cookies and gave a curious look at Sakura. This was a completely different attitude then the cold demeanor she usually had towards him. He wasn't exactly sure how to respond. He looked up at Sasuke hoping for some answers but Sasuke raised his eyebrows and shrugged out of the same confusion. Naruto handed the bag of cookies to Sasuke who pretended to gag when they touched him. Naruto rolled his eyes and pushed him inside the house playfully. But before he closed the door he whispered: "Wait up for me k? This won't take long." Sasuke nodded and locked the door.

"Looks like you and Sasuke and good friends now ha?" Sakura could see the glow on Naruto's face, their relationship had grown so strong over the past few years. He was really the only one who could get through to Sasuke. He was the only one who could make him listen, make him soften his heart. And that crushed her. Because she couldn't get the same effect out of Sasuke as he could. It hurt to be inferior to him. But that was all behind her now. She saw the goodness in Naruto and he really was devoted to her. "Was" being the operative word in this case, she didn't know if he still felt that way about her. But she was willing to try again. She should have given up on Sasuke a long time ago. He was always cold to her and never showed any affection. But then she always saw the way he reacted to Naruto and she became bitter and jealous towards him, never giving up on Sasuke. Always trying to be one step ahead, but that had to end.

"Yea, we're best friends. Probably sounds corny but yea, that's how it is. He treats me like I'm a king. No one's ever cared that much about me before. And for my birthday he cleaned my whole house...and believe me, that's a task. We even baked a cake together. I've never had one of those for my birthday, it took us four tries but we did it. I was so stoked I thanked him a gazillion times. In fact I still haven't tasted my cake yet...I better get back..." Naruto darted his eyes around the park and looked in the direction of his apartment. He really just wanted to dig into that cake and chill with Sasuke but Sakura was making it extremely difficult at the moment.

Sakura hung her head. "Wow I guess I can't compete with that." Naruto spun around shocked.

"Why do you think you have to compete with Sasuke? You think I care how big my gifts are? No! All I know is you cared enough to remember my birthday and that really means a lot to me." He rested his hand on her shoulder and smiled.

"Really? Aw, Naruto that's so sweet of you, I really did want to get you something else but I didn't know what you liked so I tried really hard to bake those sweets. I hope you like them." Her frown soon faded as she looked into Naruto's eyes. She could tell he really meant what he said and he didn't care about the size of the gift or what it was. He was happy to be remembered. She finally realized how lucky she was to have parents who were always there for her and never forgot her birthday. She treated Naruto like shit and she needed to clean up her act. She really didn't deserve his kindness.

"But what's with this change of heart Sakura. You've never been this nice to me before. I really don't know how to react."

"I know I haven't been a very good friend or teammate to you like I should have a long time ago. And I never gave your feelings a second thought when I knew I should've. I've come to realize that just being around you makes me feel happy. I realize that...after all this time...instead of obsessing over Sasuke I should have tried to get to know you better. And I've come to face the fact that I...that I have feelings for you."

"Naruto wanted to be able to pinch himself so he could wake up. He was sure he had a couple times already. From the red marks on the back of his hand he knew he was still awake. He was completely speechless. How was he supposed to react to that? He thought he'd gotten over Sakura but when she said all those things to him, he wasn't exactly sure anymore. He needed to go home and eat some cake. He needed some time to gather his thoughts. He had momentarily forgotten the pink haired girl that was standing in front of him, staring at the ground running circles in the dirt with her sandals. Standing there uncomfortably waiting for him to reply. But he just couldn't seem to find the right words.

"I...uhm...I really don't know what to say Sakura. It's all so sudden. I'm so confused. I mean it's a total change ya know?" He closed his eyes feeling the blood rush to his cheeks, he was hoping he'd said the right thing. The last thing he wanted to do was make her cry. Well he'd wanted to do that a couple hours ago but now she was all cool and sweet. "What am I supposed to do?!?!"

"No, it's alright. I shouldn't have put you on the spot like this. I don't want to force my feelings onto you, pushing you to make a decision. I understand how you feel. I took your feelings for granted and it's my own fault...Good night Naruto-kun."

"Sakura wait!" She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face Naruto. "This is all just...it's just really new to me. No one's ever said that kind of stuff to me. I just need some time to think about it ok?"

Sakura giggled and ran to Naruto sweeping him into a hug. He froze and stood still. He was frightened, he'd hugged people before but not pretty girls like Sakura, and this was insane, why was all this happening? Whatever, he just had to go with the flow.

"Good night Naruto! Forgive me if I inconvenienced you in anyway! I'll make it up to you!!! Good niiiight!!!" He watched her run until she disappeared into the night. He turned the opposite direction and headed home.

"This is so messed up..."

"Sasuke I'm back!" He tried to see inside the house but everything was dark. He felt around for light switch and when he found it he was startled by a POP, POP, POP. Streamers fell all around his face as he looked for the source of smoke he smelled. He crossed his arms and chuckled at Sasuke's choice of accessories. He was wearing his apron which was bitten up from moths and who knows what else. Wearing a party hat to the right side of his head, and holding a kazoo in his mouth. And also balancing a cake in his right hand, fully lit with sixteen candles. It was definitely a sight to see.

"Happy birthday Naruto! Haaappy birthday to you...happy birthday to you...happy birthday dear Naruuuuutoooooo Uzumaki of sixteen years old who's still younger then Sasuke!!! Haaaaaappy birthday to yoooouuuuuu!" Naruto gaped at Sasuke, he couldn't believe what he'd just done. He's sung happy birthday to him!!! It was so cool and yet so hilarious at the same time. The great Sasuke Uchiha, singing happy birthday to the lowly Naruto Uzumaki. But he had to remember, he wasn't lowly. He had to think positively about himself. No more "Nothing Naruto." He was going to be the great Hokage one day, he really needed to perk up.

"I swear if you tell anyone I did that I'll kill you faster then you can say Cake..." And he was dead serious. Although it was far too complicated to take him seriously considering he said all that with the kazoo still in his mouth.

Naruto made a wish and blew out the candles. He didn't know he was supposed to make a wish until Sasuke told him. He was such a dunce at all this. But that's because there was never anyone there for him. But everything was going to work out fine. He had Sasuke now and that's all that mattered.

"I hope my wish comes true..." Naruto clapped his hands and reached for the knife to cut the cake.

"What'd you wish for Uzumaki?"

"Oh please, I'm not that dumb, you never tell you're birthday wish. It wouldn't come true." Or so he thought, and apparently he was right.

"Well when it is granted, will you tell me?" Naruto had gotten under his skin, he had to know what he'd wished for. Although it would take a lot to pry it from him. He was a stubborn as an ox. Oh well, he'd get it out of him one way or another. Sasuke glanced at Naruto who was fiddling with his cake. "You...you will tell me right?"

Naruto covered his face with his hands and breathed. Sasuke couldn't understand what he was so embarrassed about, but now he wanted to know even more.

"Yes, I'll tell you. If...if it does come true that is." He looked at Sasuke with his infamous puppy dog eyes. It made Sasuke's heart ache. He was going soft...Sasuke Uchiha, a cruel unattached and soon to be cold blooded killer, if he ever found his brother- was going soft. How typical.

After they finished off most of the cake Naruto was dead tired. He ate that cake faster then Sasuke had ever seen anyone eat. He had needed to guard his own plate from Naruto. But he was pleased that Naruto loved it so much.

"I'm gonna jump in the shower. I'll be out in a sec." He walked upstairs and shut the door. Sasuke started cleaning the kitchen and just as he finished Naruto came out and demanded that Sasuke take one too. He was covered in filth from cleaning and cooking that day. He agreed that he needed a shower to relax him.

"Naruto, I'm going to need a change of clothes. You mind if I borrow some?"

"Oh sure, no problem." Naruto walked to the dresser and dug through four of the drawers before he could find anything that would fit Sasuke. He closed the drawer and turned to give Sasuke the clothes. But instead of handing them to Sasuke he dropped them on the floor and gawked. Sasuke couldn't tell what he was staring at. Did he have something on his face??? He patted it to make sure he didn't, Naruto was acting weird again.

"What's wrong Naruto? What are you staring at?"

"Y-y-you're just in a towel. You're completely naked!" Naruto raised a shaky finger to the loose towel that barely covered Sasuke's lower half.

"Yea, so? I just got out of the shower. You want me to wear my clothes in there next time?" He laughed and threw the towel at Naruto. The blue eyed boy squealed when he realized where it had come from and whipped around to face the wall.

"J-JEEZ GET DRESSED!" he huffed as he made sure Sasuke couldn't see the blush on his face. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he jumped from the contact. Sasuke whirled him around so that they were facing each other. Naruto kept his eyes shut tight. He tried to wrap the towel back around Sasuke's waist as best he could without the use of his eyes.

"I'm already dressed baka...chill out will you?" Naruto's eyes popped open to see Sasuke was in fact fully dressed.

"Uh...sorry I just, wanted to respect your privacy."

"Hah! Since when did you start caring about other people's privacy? Gimmie a break Uzumaki. Sasuke teased. "So I guess I'll be heading back home then. I'll give you back you're clothes tomorrow-"

"No! Don't go...spend the night. I don't want to be alone on my birthday. Would you mind? B-BESIDES those kids have been harassing me lately ya know? So if they come around again it'd be nice to have some back up."

"Uh haaa...Nice cover up baka. Don't worry I'll stay and protect you...its ok baby Naruto, Sasuke's here!" He patted Naruto's head and taunted him. In all truth Sasuke never planned on leaving, he just needed to make sure that Naruto wanted him there. He didn't want to inconvenience him. That or he just wanted to stay with him longer. And he knew the answer to that.

"Ah, shut up Sasuke! I'm not a baby!" Naruto pouted, Sasuke laughed.

"Of course you aren't." Sasuke looked past Naruto and saw that his window was still broken, Naruto jumped into bed and huddled under the covers. Sasuke smiled as he watched Naruto but then remembered the window. He knew he'd forgotten to fix something today. For now they would just have to put something over it.

"We'll have to fix that window tomorrow Naruto." Sasuke said as he pined the towel he was using for himself to the window. Naruto didn't respond, Sasuke looked back on the bed and saw that Naruto was already asleep. He rolled his eyes and turned out the lights. He saw something glowing in the corner and squinted his eyes to see.

"Woooow, Naruto...who would've thought you'd have a night light. Man if that got around school...it'd be the end of you, hahaha. Don't worry, your secrets safe with me." Sasuke crawled into bed and pulled the covers over Naruto, tucking him in gently. He slowly turned him over and kissed him softly on the forehead. "Goodnight Naruto, Happy birthday."

Sasuke relaxed and placed his hands behind his head and started to doze off. Then he felt Naruto shift and kiss him on the forehead back.

"Good night Sasuke...and Thank you...for everything."

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YES HAPPY BIRTHDAY NARUTO!!! They made a cake and everything...isn't that sweet?

We also got a little bit of action in this chapter ha? Yes, and that's only the beggining. MUHAHAHA, Ok unitl the next chapter!

SEEYA

Spoon Ninja