Naruto stood quietly, his head bowed.

He had just finished placing offerings of parched rice, melons, and eggplants in front of the village altar, as he did not have a butsudan of his own.

Although he didn't believe in the supernatural aspect of the ceremony, he could still honor the spirits of his ancestors in this manner. He looked up at the night sky with a questing look. Just who were his ancestors? Would he ever find out? Surely someone must know!

Looking at the ornate cloth-covered construct, he felt an indescribable rush of emotions. It wasn't the garlands of flowers covering the butsudan that did it. It wasn't the numerous paper lanterns filling that part of the secluded alcove. It wasn't the offerings left by others. It wasn't the people silently bent in prayer.

The oldest members of the village still believed that deceased family members would revisit the homestead during the Bon, to be reunited with their family. To guide the souls back, a small bonfire, the mukae-bi, is lit outside each house. 'The welcoming flame.'

Looking up and down the avenues leading from the square, he could see small fires in the distance. The ones that were not moving represented the many mukae-bi. The ones that were in motion were Lanterns and torches carried by the townspeople, young and old alike. Like himself, the other shinobi were headed back from the water, where they had released small boats with candles, sending them down the river to the sea. That was another event that would precede the okuri-bi, a bonfire made to see the spirits back on their way.

Holding his bag tight against him, Naruto looked up at the star lit sky one more time. Wiping a tear away, he spoke quietly to the parents that he had never known. He hoped they were proud of him, and promised that he would keep doing his best in everything he did. What kind of traditions had his mother and father followed? Without knowing that, he somehow felt incomplete and empty.

"I'll start my own traditions, some day…" He promised himself that, heading back out to the main avenue. "But, I will not call it Bon!" He shook his head. 'Bon' wasshortened form Urabonne. That Sanskrit word meant 'hanging upside down in hell and suffering.' What a wonderful sense of beauty the old traditionalists had!

Like the other children and young adults of the Leaf, Naruto had been told about the old ways as he sat waiting by the river. There had been a young boy standing near him who had lost both of his parents the day that the Sand and Sound had attacked. Desperately trying to attract attention, the boy had worn his boat and candle like a hat on his head, earning him jeers and teasing from his classmates. That had Naruto's thoughts going back to his own days as a child, and to the stories that Iruka had told him about similar things from his past.

Certain themes seemed to repeat themselves. While there were many families who knew nothing but happiness, there were plenty that shared tragic events with their neighbors and friends. On top of that, any number of shinobi families suffered their own private tragedies. It was a harsh life. The love of family and friends was one thing that helped hold the fabric of the society together.

Naruto had given the boy words of encouragement, telling him that he too had grown up without parents. "If you have a good heart, good eyes, and work really hard, you may end up being Hokage some day. Just like I will."

Naruto headed over towards the men's meeting area. The male shinobi involved in the lantern ceremony would be gathering there, waiting for a brief word from Tsunade. The girls had already gone to wait at locations of their choice, including the meeting hall, their homes, a quiet grove of trees, cafes… wherever.

He though back to earlier that evening, when he had been on his way to the boat ceremony:

'Ooooo-ooo-oo-oh… can it be?' The energetic figure of Lee had flashed into view, the young ninja seeming to appear out of nowhere. His long flowing robes were all green, identical to the color of his and his master's infamous green stretchy suits. 'Naruto…is it you? Ahhh-hh-h…the burning fire of youth will never be denied. You are taller. Stronger looking. Like me, you look eager for this night.'

Eager? Naruto snorted, thinking back to that exchange. He had been anything but eager! But because Lee had an overabundance of eagerness, he assumed that everyone else felt the same way that he did

The two of them had conversed for a while, catching up on past and current events. As it had been with his other friends, this was the first that he had seen of Rock Lee since he had gone off with Jiraiya. As they strolled along the roadway, the two ninjas had passed by a number of residences, each having a small tree out front, hung with ribbons and message tags of various shapes, sizes, and colors.

'Ohhhh-hhh-hh-h…ill you be showcasing your unceasing energy and indomitable spirit at the dancing?' Lee's eyes had looked like they were on fire, reflecting the flames from torches lining the well trodden path they had turned on to. 'I will select a dance that has much kicking, so I can make up for my training inadequacies earlier in the day!'

The word 'dance' had hit him squarely between the eyes. He hadn't heard anything about dancing. Lee had then gone on to explain that everyone would be meeting in the large central area of the village after midnight. Men and women would line up around a high wooden building called a yagura, made especially for the festival. There would be many kinds of music, and many types of dancing.

Gujou dancing, was based on multiple dance patterns, each easy to learn. Shiraishi Odori would have each person dancing the dance that he or she is good at, and as a whole, several types of dances would be danced at once. Tsuwano Odori dancing would be carried out by those more tied to traditions, as it would last very long, and was rather difficult to learn. A delicate and beautiful dance, it required the participants to wear white costumes and round paper fans attached to their heads.

'Uhhh-hh-h…' Lee had said at one point. 'The lyrics of old Bon dancing tends to be rather vulgar. I do not care that the adults once used that kind of talk to drive away their gloom. I do not wish to have Sakura hearing such things!'

That statement had solved one mystery. Lee had been the one whose Lantern Sakura accepted. He had felt jealous of his friend at that moment, even though the bushy-eyebrowed boy admitted that the medical ninja still would not accept his offers for a date.

When Lee had run off to do some last minute preparations, Naruto had stumbled upon Choji. There had been no difficulty recognizing the rotund boy, as he now resembled his father in shape and countenance, if not total size. The robes that his friend wore were lined with huge pockets. As always, he was munching away at chips pulled from numerous bags.

'Hey! Choji!' Naruto had yelled, surprised to see that the other shinobi wasn't shadowing Shikamaru as he once was wont to do.

"Naruto! Isn't this a wonderful festival?' Choji had taken a handful of round treats out of one overstuffed pocket and offered them to his friend. to passersby by old women and 'Yuanxiao… (Glomp)… So good… (Glomp)… I could eat them… (Glomp)… all night…'

'No thanks,' Naruto had said, grinning. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Watching Choji act that way had made him feel more at home than any of the sights that he had seen. The same could be said for Lee's enthusiastic exclamations, and maybe even Sakura's punch to the gut.

He and Choji had walked through streets near to the heart of the village, in an area dense with habitations and stores. Like the other shinobi they saw walking along, they were headed for the Great gate, where they would follow great torch-lines paths into the woods outside the village.

'These rice balls… Mother calls them Tangyuan… are the special food for the Lantern Festival. I hope they hold the festival every year... (Glomp Glomp Glomp)… dumplings…. made with sticky rice flour and sweet stuffing….' Choji's eyes had widened when he watched Naruto refuse tray after tray of treats. The food was carried out and offered to them by the elderly women who lined the way.

For a moment, Naruto had found himself feeling more comfortable walking with Choji, thinking that if there was anyone else who might have trouble handing out his lantern, it would be his enormous friend. Once again, he learned that it was never wise to judge a book by its cover.

'Hey, Choji?' Naruto had tried to sound nonchalant. 'Do you have any girl you want to ask tonight?'

'Mmmmph… (Glomp)… Mmmm… I thought that anyone who was a good cook would be fine. But I gave up on that.' Those first statements had Naruto feeling relived. 'I had to wait on Shikamaru.'

'Huh?' Naruto had scratched his head. 'Did he come up with some great plan for you?' If he had, Naruto certainly wanted to hear it!

'Nah… (Glomp)… he had a hardest choice… (Glomp)… the Hokage invited small numbers of shinobi from other villages to take part tonight,' Choji had said between bites. He grabbed an entire tray that was offered to them.

'Why does that matter?' Naruto had asked.

'Temari is here tonight. I guess Shikamaru had to choose between her and Ino.' Choji had smiled, his eyes filled with mirth. 'No doubt it was very bothersome.' He licked his lips, looking at the various types of sweets. 'But, things will be even more troublesome when the festival is over.'

'Why?' Naruto had said.

'He chose Temari. She will leave after the festival is complete.' Choji said. 'But, Ino will still be here. When she accepted my Lantern, she didn't seem too happy.'

'Why is Temari here?' Naruto had been shocked enough to delay the disappointment he felt at seeing Choji succeed where he had failed. He wondered if Gaara and Kankouro had come as well. Probably not Gaara. A Kage would be too tempting a target for people with grudges or enemies looking to disrupt alliances.

'Just like with the chuunin exams, other countries were given the opportunity to send a small number of shinobi.' Choji had shrugged. It didn't matter much to him. There was plenty of food to go around. 'They're being escorted around to the different ceremonies by jounin.'

'I see,' Naruto had said. He had not put a lot of stock in the whole festival idea. But, it was a pretty big affair, if the other nations were taking place. Still, that didn't do him much good, wandering the streets and paths looking for a ceremonial partner.

When the two ninjas passed by a brightly-lit clearing that was serving as a refreshments area, Choji couldn't resist; he had to see what kind of food was there. Saying good bye to Naruto, he had headed off in search of even more food, hoping to run a cross his friend later.

Naruto had continued onward, mingling with the townspeople and his fellow ninjas. At one point, not entirely certain how he had ended up there, he took to resting by leaning against a large spreading tree. He hadn't been physically tired. The enormity of the festival, combined with the complexity of his life, was enough to make him want to step away from the surging crowd for a few moments.

'Overwhelmed?' A voice had said. "I feel that way myself. I am not one for pomp and circumstance." It was Neji.

'Yes…" Naruto had answered absentmindedly, before the sound of that voice snapped him out of his funk. 'Neji!' His eyes widened.

'Yes. I had not known that you would join us tonight. Is this by your choice?' Neji had been dressed in an old traditional robe, gifted to him by his uncle. It had been Hyuuga Hizashi's when he was a young man.

'No,' Naruto had answered sourly. "It was one of those 'no choice' deals. I received a scroll ordering me back. I had to attend the festival, or consider myself a missing ninja.' He had shaken his head in disbelief. 'That's a bit excessive!'

'It was much the same for me,' Neji had confessed. 'I told my uncle that I did not want to get involved in such a frivolous undertaking. His first response was to tell me to take a closer look at things and to keep an open mind.' Neji's eyes had looked eerie when he stepped out into a patch of moonlight. 'He then told me that it was a clan's duty to uphold tradition. I was given two choices. I could attend the festival as a representative of the Hyuugas, or I could make an appointment with the Hokage and convince her that I need not do so.'

'Did you try?' Naruto had asked.

'I figured it would be like approaching a tsunami, asking it not to blow.' Neji had sighed, shrugging.

'Exactly!' Naruto had punched his friend lightly in the shoulder. 'I tried, but that only earned me her special attention.' He had gone on to describe his ordeal. When he was finished he ask 'Do you have a girl picked out?'

'Yes.' It had taken Neji a while to answer.

'Ten Ten?' Naruto had his suspicion.

Another stretch of silence was followed by 'Yes.' Neji sounded somewhat disconsolate.

'Is there a problem, Neji?' Naruto hadn't wanted to pry. It was merely his concern for others that had risen to the top. 'Does she like someone else or something?'

'There may indeed be a problem,' Neji had answered. 'I take it then that my and her fondness for one another has not been a secret? Ten Ten told me that much, even though we remain very discrete. But…' Naruto waited silently. Neji looked up at the sky before speaking again. Being a member of the Branch Family had been hard enough in itself. Now that he had gained the favor of the Main Family, he found himself caught up in their special traditions. 'The Hyuuga talents run stronger in me than it has in anyone in the past three generations. In a few short years of training with him, I have nearly become my uncle's match.' He paused again. 'To maintain that Blood Limit to its utmost, I may be forced to choose my bride from amongst the clan.'

'That sucks!' Naruto's response had been automatic and emotional. He felt a bit sheepish for a moment after his passion crested. He had been upset over being forced to attend a festival. His friend was faced with something far more draconian. 'Shit. That's just wrong. After this damn festival is over, I'll march into Granny Tsunade's office and ask her to put an end to that kind of stuff.'

'I appreciate your desire to help,' Neji had said. 'But, I will ask you not to interfere. This is something that I must handle on my own. Ten Ten would expect no less.' He looked up at the moon for a moment. 'While the Hokage is an honorable woman, she is also very wise. She will not put the welfare of two individuals above the welfare of the village. I have no idea how she might rule. If she came down on the side of my uncle and made it official…'

'I hear you.' Naruto had been very angry. Having no clan of his own, he did not give a fig for family traditions or Blood Limits. 'At least you have someone to care about you.' He had kicked at the base of the tree. 'And, you don't have to worry about finding someone to take your Lantern.'

Neji had opened his mouth to speak, but shook his head instead.

'What?' Naruto had the impression that his friend knew something that he did not, but was not going to say anything. 'What were you going to say?'

Neji had sighed. 'I cannot say anything. I swore not to.' He started to walk away. Stopping, he spoke somewhat cryptically. 'There is a person you could ask. Later, there is a place that you might find her, should you miss her during the ceremonies.' With that, he vanished into the crowd.

Just what had Neji meant? His thoughts coming back to the present time, Naruto wracked his brain, knowing that he must be overlooking something obvious. No doubt, if the truth had been a snake, it would have bitten him numerous times by now. Maybe it was due to the one cuff he had received from Anko. It had left his ears ringing. He had been acting the wise ass, asking her if she wanted to strip down and scrub his back. Things could have been worse. She could have said 'yes.'

He stopped and stared a moment. He thought that he had caught sight of someone familiar. He had. Kiba. Despite the number of people walking about, he kept running into his friends by accident.

"Oi! Kiba!" Naruto put his hands around his mouth and shouted. He shook his head in disbelief. Akamaru was easy to see, and not just due to his huge size. The dog was carrying a massive lit lantern, hanging from his mouth by a long handle.

"W-O-O-F-!" Akamaru exclaimed. Kiba hadn't recognized Naruto yet. The dog knew him by his scent.

"Naruto?" Kiba looked over at his fellow shinobi. "How goes it! You've grown!"

"Me?" Naruto laughed. "Look at Akamaru. I can't believe that's him."

"Huh?" Kiba made a face. "Why not?"

"He's huge! He used to be a cute little guy, able to ride on you head." Naruto scratched the back of his neck. "Is it normal for dogs to get that big, or grow that fast?"

"I guess I'm just used to him," Kiba said, shrugging. "You grew pretty fast, too. But Akamaru is still better looking."

"A-R-F!" Akamaru agreed.

"Thanks," Naruto said, making a face. He looked up at some of the balconies coming off of the larger houses. Here were partygoers having a good time, drinks in their hands. Some were waving multi-color sparklers. A number called out words of encouragement. They must not have recognized who he was, either.

"Looks like someone took a sword to your hair…" Kiba smiled. Akamaru did too. He held his belly and chuckled after Naruto filled him in on the details. "How do you manage to keep getting into that kind of trouble? I can't wait to see Kurenai-sensei again. This gives me something to rag on her about. Did she stare at you naked?"

"She never took her clothes off," Naruto joked.

"Shit!" Kiba hung his head. "That's a bad one…"

"AROOO-OO-O…" Akamaru snorted. The dog rubbed his nose against Naruto's robes and spoke to Kiba in his whiny dog voice. It was a strange sound for an animal that size.

"That is a surprise, Akamaru." Kiba smiled and nodded his head. He looked at Naruto. "Nice new robes. No Ramen stains."

"You guys crack me up," Naruto grumped. He wasn't that bad, was he? Hand behind his head, he looked over at the large globe that Akamaru carried. "Is that his Lantern or your own."

"That's his," Kiba said, holding up a bag"Mine is in here." He frowned for a moment. "I'm going to be in big trouble tomorrow, though."

"Why?" Naruto asked.

"I could have used three Lanterns!" Kiba stood straighter, sticking out his chest. "I had three girls wanting me to choose them."

"Got a girl to spare?" Naruto tried to sound nonchalant, not desperate or too eager.

"Not any more," Kiba said. "Too bad you didn't find me when we were folding origami." That comment had Naruto hanging his head.

"A-R-F A-R-F A-R-F W-O-O-F." Akamaru swung his Lantern back and forth.

"Akamaru says he could probably find you a bitch to carry your Lantern." Kiba smiled. "He means a girl dog." He looked up at his canine companion. "That wouldn't count, Akamaru. And, it wouldn't be fair to the bitch."

"Hah hah hah…" Naruto made a face. When Kiba said that he and Akamaru were going to grab a quick bite to eat, Naruto said 'Good bye' and headed towards the gathering spot. He couldn't help by smile when he heard Kiba telling the massive dog that he could not chase after a small cat that caught sight of them and took off like a shot. He smirked. "I hope he's still housebroken…"

Sure enough, after he headed down one small side street, his luck continued. He caught sight of another friend. "Yo! Shikamaru!"

"Naruto." Shikamaru was dressed in an old style of robes, probably a hand-me-down. He didn't look too happy to be caught up in all of the festivities.

"Pretty bothersome, right?" Naruto asked, smiling.

"You don't know the half of it." Shikamaru sighed. "The Hokage suggested that I be the one who offered Temari a Lantern. I would have done so anyway. But, coming as an unofficial order made it troublesome."

"Why?" Naruto had an impish grin. "I would think it's a stroke of good luck!" He chuckled. "If Ino gets on your case, you can tell her it was all beyond your control."

"We've missed that kind of thinking around here," Shikamaru said, smiling a sly smile. "It seems that some things never change."

"Hey. When you got it, you got it.' Naruto poked his thumb against his chest. His smile faded.

'No girl?' Shikamaru didn't need to put his hands together in famous fashion to figure that one out. When Naruto nodded, he said "Now that's bothersome."

They continued to speak as they walked. Having heard about the history of the various ceremonies as he walked around with visiting dignitaries earlier, Shikamaru repeated what he had heard.

"The dance is supposed to be such a happy thing. I do not know why. That kind of activity is an annoyance." Shikamaru sighed. He had been told in no uncertain terms that he needed to attend. The dances were not mandatory for most revelers.

"Tell me about it," Naruto said. "Girl or no girl, you won't catch me dead out there!"

"The dances… the other ceremonies… all of the different parts of the Bon have changed over the centuries… but they can still be traced back to one story." Shikamaru looked as if he had just sucked on a lemon. "It seems that we all have one guy to thank."

"Who?" Naruto asked.

"Do you really wish to hear the tale?" Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "With the foreign names, it is very irritating to tell."

"Sure, go ahead." Naruto hid a smile. It was vintage Shikamaru. But, he actually found himself interested.

"A disciple in some foreign land learned to see the true nature of his mother's unselfishness, and the many sacrifices that she had made for him," Shikamaru said. "Grateful because of his mother's release, he danced with great joy."

"Release?" Naruto furrowed his brow.

Shikamaru sighed again. It looked as if he needed to continue. "In a foreign land, there was a man of wisdom by the name Maudgalyayana, who was gifted with transcendental powers."

"Huh?" Naruto tugged at one ear. "Mauda-who." He shook his head. "I would never dance for joy if I had a name like that."

"Maudgalyayana," Shikamaru said. "His mother was named Shodai-nyo." He made a wry face. "That name OK with you, Naruto?"

"Sure. Fine. Go ahead." Naruto brushed off one sleeve of his robes.

"Great," Shikamaru said. "Shodai-nyo had been guilty of the faults of greed and stinginess, and after her death was reborn in the realm of Hungry Spirits. But, her son rescued her from there. The young boy originally had no way of knowing where she was. As he grew older, he made an exhaustive study sacred writings, but still did not know where his mother had been reborn. When Maudgalyayana…" He was interrupted.

"Hey, why don't you just shorten it to Maud or something," Naruto said.

Shikamaru hung his head. "When Maudgalyayana was able to free himself from the illusions of thought, and went on to advance to through the stages of sagehood, he mastered the skill of the divine eye. He could see throughout the entire world system as though it were reflected in a clear mirror. His vision penetrated the earth and he could see into the three evil paths as if he were merely looking down through a layer of ice, just as a normal person might see fish beneath a frozen pond when the morning sun shines on it."

"Very poetic," Naruto said. "You should read that kind of stuff to Temari." He laughed when he saw his friend's expression. "No… to Ino. That will make her glad you didn't offer her the Lantern."

Shikmaru continued, a pained expression on his face. "As Maudgalyayana looked down, he saw that his mother was in the realm of Hungry Spirits."

"Choji's ancestors?" Naruto asked with a straight face.

"Do you really want to hear this?" Shikamaru asked. When Naruto apologized, he continued.

"Shodai-nyo had nothing to drink, nothing to eat. Her skin was like that of a golden pheasant when its feathers have been plucked. Her bones were like round stones placed one beside the other. Her head was big as a ball, her neck thin as a thread, and her stomach like a great sea swelling out." He frowned. The imagery was far from pleasant. "Her appearance, as she opened her mouth and pressed her palms together begging for something, made her resemble a starving leech that has caught the scent of human beings."

"Starving leech. Wonderful." Naruto scratched his head again. "They should have paintings of that hung all over town."

"Maudgalyayana was so overwhelmed with pity at the sight of his mother that he immediately employed his great powers and offered her some rice, Shikamaru said. "His mother was delighted and, seizing some of the rice in her right hand, while concealing the remainder with her left, she stuffed the rice into her mouth. But, the rice changed into fire and began to burn! It burst into flame as though a bundle of torches had been lit. Seeing that, he summoned forth a great flood of water." He shrugged. "But, the water turned into firewood and his mother's body only burned more fiercely."

"So, is that the reason we're supposed to dance?" Naruto couldn't help himself.

"Maudgalyayana, realizing that his own transcendental abilities were altogether inadequate to remedy the situation, raced away and in an instant appeared in the presence of the Buddha." Shikamaru yawned. "He presented a tearful appeal. 'When I try to rescue my own mother from the great sufferings that beset her, I seem only to make her anguish worse than before, which fills my heart with grief!'"

Naruto yawned too.

"Buddha said 'Your mother has committed grave misdeeds. You alone do not have the power to remedy this situation'," Shikamaru continued. "'And indeed no one, neither the gods of heaven, the gods of earth, the devils of heaven, the Brahmans, the Taoist priests, the Four Heavenly Kings, nor the gods Taishaku and Bonten have the power to do so. Therefore, on the proper calendar day, you should bring together all the holy monks of the ten directions, prepare offerings of food and drink representing a hundred different flavors, and present them for the purpose of rescuing your mother from her sufferings'."

"Let me guess," Naruto said. "Maud did what the Buddha told him to do, and his mother was freed."

"Yes." Shikamaru went on to describe how some of the various variations of the Urabon ceremonies had come to be. After that, checking his watch, he went to wait for Choji at a prearranged place.

Alone, Naruto made his way to one of the city squares. He caught sight of Tsunade, standing on a platform decorated with huge wreaths and countless chains of flowers. She wore a tall ornamental headdress, and was dressed in a long flowing robe that made the one that he had on look like a big dust rag. A number of elders accompanied her, as did the heads of Konoha's more prominent clans.

At the appointed hour, all of the dignitaries made brief speeches before Tsunade took her turn. When she finished, she struck a large bronze gong. "Take out your lanterns, gentlemen." Everyone did as they were instructed, lighting their Lanterns. Soon, the area took on a wondrous glow.

When the gong sounded again, those young men who had found girls to accept their Lanterns headed off to meet with their partners. Those who were no so fortunate were sent out to continue on their quest.

Naruto sighed. He wasn't alone, but he was very much in the minority. That sucked enough by itself. But now, he would have to walk around carrying a lit Lantern.

"I can't thank you enough," he muttered, looking over at the Hokage.