Time had been slow the last few months, and after kissing Sasuke, Naruto was avoiding him at all costs. The school was out for winter break, and he had been working non-stop to the point Gaara was getting annoyed.

"Naruto, you need to relax. Let someone else work New Year's Eve. Kakashi should be able to handle it this year. He's single, and I'm sure he will do just fine." Gaara pleaded. He just wanted his blonde boy to relax and stop working so damn hard.

"I can't do that this year. Kakashi has a date, Shika is going to propose, and my Aunt and Uncle are going to the Land of Tea for a vacation. I am going to be the new owner in just a few months. I can't slack off now. Spend time with Itachi this year, and I'll be okay." Fixing his tie and smiling at Gaara through the mirror.

"Wait, Shikamaru is going to propose? Why was I not informed? I would have liked to have been told that he would ask my sister for her hand." His face became blank, and the look in his eyes showed rage.

Naruto mentally facepalmed as he realized he wasn't supposed to say anything because Shika was coming over before their date to tell Gaara just that. Shit, he just had to open his mouth.

Stopping what he was doing to finish getting ready for his night, he walked over to where his red-headed man was sitting and squatted down, cupping his hands in his cheeks. "Gaara, he is on his way here now. He had already talked to Kankuro and was waiting to see when you had free time lined up with him. He knows Itachi will also be here and was too afraid to tell you alone. Please go easy on him. That man loves your sister like crazy." Running his thumbs along his jaw, noticing Gaara's eyes calming and his jaw unclenching.

"Fine, I guess you're right." Grabbing Naruto's hands and leaning up to kiss him.

Naruto pulled away from the kiss, seeing the heat and disappointment in his lover's eyes. "I'll be home before you know it, don't kill Shika; I still need him this week. Have fun with Itachi, and I love you." Kissing him quickly again and making his way to the door to put on his shoes and leave.

As he exited the house, he noticed Itachi walking up the pathway from the driveway and stopped. Looking at his watch, he had a few minutes.

"Tachi, FYI, I kinda let it slip that Shika is gonna propose. He is a bit calmer, but make sure he relaxes. Shika should be here in about an hour." Rubbing the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly.

"Thank you for the warning, Naru. I'll be sure to keep him calm. Have a good night at work, and be safe." Kissing Naruto goodbye and leaving him with a smirk.

Naruto drove to work with confusion about the expression that Itachi made as he walked to his car. Why the hell did he always have to be so mysterious?

The night went smoothly. No one seemed to be causing fights, the dancers were being tipped well, and the people's flow seemed steady. B was doing his thing at the booth, and Kimi served drinks as fast as he could.

Around 11:30 is when Inari's life became hell. Not because of the people or anything. It was all because his damn cousin decided she would get plastered tonight and want to strip.

More and more people were arriving, knowing that Icha Icha had a special event if you came in before 11:45. So as Inari watched the clock and B counted down until then, the place was becoming more packed.

"Alright, everyone, in 15 minutes, the clock will strike 12, ya fools. Then a new year will be upon us. So let's shut those doors to all them fools outside, and let's get this party started right." The lights changed, and his headphones returned to their usual spots on his head as he began to bust into his DJ mode.

Zabuza said over the walkie that the line outside was told that no more spots were available and that they were 100 under regulations. Inari was happy that he wouldn't have to deal with Konaha Fire and pay another fine.

Champagne was brought out by the Doves and Kittens working that night. Handing them out to the mass of people who had arrived, and by the time it was almost midnight, Inari escaped to the back room of his office to remove his mask and relax for a little bit.

Naruto entered his office and removed the heavy headpiece, taking a small towel to remove the sweat and exhaustion from his face. He then decided to leave Gaara and Itachi a video message sending them his love and wishes for a happy new year.

He leaned back in his chair and could hear the door open. Keeping his eyes closed, he spoke, assuming it was Haku. "Haku, doll, not tonight. You got a good thing going with Zabuza, and I don't want to interfere. Go out there, be your usual sexy self and have fun. I need to rest before I have to go on stage."

But no words of complaint came, just a door slamming shut. Opening his eyes with a frustrated groan, thinking he had just annoyed his best and longest employee, he swiveled his chair around to grab his mask and was met with three sets of eyes.

"Shit." That was all Naruto could say.

Before him stood Karin, Suigetsu, and Sasuke. Fuck they're here again. "I thought I had you escorted out of here. What the fuck are you doing back here, Karin?"

"So it was you that night, telling me to be nice or leave. You were going to have me thrown out of OUR family's place. How long have you been running it? Has this always been your mask? Holy shit, you've been running this place with Uncle Jariya for years, haven't you?" Karin spewed as she got closer and closer, yelling louder and louder. Anger on her face was very prominent as the color changed to a fire red like her hair.

"Listen, he didn't offer it to you because you wanted to be a Doctor like Aunt Tsunade. He never wanted you to give up on your dreams, and damn right, I was gonna kick your loud ass out. Believe it! This isn't someplace where you can act like a spoiled brat. Now, what the hell do you want? This is one of our busiest nights, and I have like 5 minutes to relax before the countdown starts." Standing tall, leaning over his desk at Karin and giving her no leeway to interject.

Karin shrunk back, arms crossed over her chest. The redness of her face cooling off. "Well, I took some keys from Dad, so I could see who this pompous asshole was. I have been returning for a week since I got them so I could go off and make his ass quit. If you had told me, I wouldn't have taken your fucking class, to begin with. Ugh, you are so annoying."

"So what you are telling me is you wanted me fired?" Sitting back down, leaning back in his chair.

"Well yeah, I thought you were an asshole. But, since it is you, I'll allow it." Standing straight and fixing her glasses.

A few minutes passed, and Naruto noticed the clock read 11:55 PM. "The three of you can behave and come out, or you can leave. It is cold so you can sit here. I'll have someone bring you drinks if you'd like. But I have to be out there for the countdown." Putting on his mask, preparing to leave the room.

"Wait, were you here last year too? Were you the one who led the countdown? OH, MY KAMI, I cannot see that again; I'll wait here." Karin stated, face pailing, a look of fear in her eyes.

"Oh shit, that was you, damn Naruto. Are you doing that again this year?" Suiegetsu asked, eyes bulging, excitement in his eyes.

Naruto just laughed and shook his head, walking out of his office. "It's tradition, and I'm not breaking it. Last year was odd when Karin tipped me a hundred, but I've had to do this in front of Tsunade and Jiraya, so it isn't that bad."

Naruto walked out of the room, and when the door shut, the three seemed stuck. A few moments later, a very buxom blonde walked in. Hair in a high ponytail, a gorgeous lace mask covering her sky-blue eyes, and purple and mesh lingerie. Suigetsu's mouth popped open, causing Sasuke to laugh and Karin to glare.

She handed them each a drink, and before walking out, she looked over the shoulder. "Just in case anyone is interested, Inari will be up tonight Doing his annual stripdown. It's our favorite part of working New Year. That man is stunning." With that, she exited entirely and shut the office door behind her.

Karin went pale and downed her drink; she didn't want to witness that again. Suigetsu laughed and stood up. "Hey, I want to watch, he isn't my family, plus he isn't alone. Come on, let's watch Karin."

"You two go. I am not watching the guy I grew up with get his clothes torn off by different people who work here. Not see that again." Shivers ran up her spine as she took Suigetsu's drink and downed that as well.

"Weren't you jealous last year anyway? Wishing you could wear something like he was." Karin remarked again. She was watching the color drain from his face.

"Well, I am dragging you and Sasuke out. He can hang out with me. You can sit at the bar and ignore it all. But I am not sitting here when the clock strikes midnight, dammit." With that, Suigetsu pulled his wife from her chair and left the office with a very confused Sasuke following behind him.

When they reached the front again, the tree took seats at the bar, Karin ordering shots for just her and facing away from the stage. Suigetsu and Sasuke had their backs on the stage and were looking to the stage where Naruto or "Inari" would appear any second now.

"Is that your brother?" Pointing towards the stage.

Sasuke looked up, and there he was, standing up there with Gaara in front of him, holding him to his chest. "I wonder why he's here? I mean, now that I know who runs the place, that makes sense, but seriously, is he going to participate?"

"Oh, that's right, you weren't here last year. They draw lots for the people getting dances after the new year. Completely private dances, the top dancers offer it every year. Usually, it's two girls and two guys; if you win, they allow you to pick. It's like a new years gift or some shit." Downing the last of his drink.

Itachi pulled tickets out of a bowl, and the four lucky people picked the dancers of their choice and made arrangements for when they would get their dance. Sasuke just sat there as the minutes passed, waiting to see the strip down, as Naruto called it. He wasn't ready for them to walk away and watch the blonde girl from earlier and the pink-haired girl walk on stage.

"Tonight, we have a special guest for our countdown to the new year. Please welcome back, Kyuubi." As the blonde said it, cheers were heard everywhere. The place shifted from drunk horny assholes to sex-deprived assholes who happened to be drunk. You could taste the pheromones in the air.

"He is here every new year, and Karin used to like watching. Watching your favorite stripper for the last four years and finding out he's your family can be disappointing." Sasuke snickered and looked up as the curtains opened.

Sasuke rose from his stool in awe as "Kyuubi" walked out on stage. Out stepped a greek god. That was not the man in the office in a suit. He wasn't wearing his suit anymore or his mask. This time he had a different cover on and clothes you could tell would come off quickly.

The music he could hear it but wasn't having his brain work correctly to figure out who or what it was as he watched this beautiful man dance to the music. Clothes slowly coming off, sweat glistened on his body, and Sasuke remembered he needed to breathe.

When people started counting down from 10, more and more came off until, finally, he was almost nude. Sasuke's jaw dropped as the small strip of fabric covering Kyuubi's cock was hanging.

"Close your mouth, little brother. You'll catch flies." Itachi said as Sasuke was in awe of the man who had just danced to the new year.

Kyuubi left the stage and walked to the back. He walked into his office to see Gaara sitting on his desk, just covered in a small silk kimono. Naruto locked the door and smashed his lips against Gaara's instantly. The cheers could still be heard from inside the office.

Luckily Itachi was still there, and he could ring in the new year buried in the redhead he loved.