Sasuke was bored; he was lying back against the tree, waiting for his teammate to arrive. Tonight was the night of the party, but he was barely excited. He still didn't understand the point of it. He looked down at his clothes, feeling stupid in them. They were his teacher's hand me downs, but they were the quality fabric acceptable for the supposed big party. He was in a long-sleeved blue shirt, jeans, and sneakers paired with a dark jacket tied around his waist.

Kakashi sat next to him, yawned beneath his mask, just as bored as he was. The jounin wore a fitted long-sleeved black shirt and dark grey jeans with black boots. He never noticed how well built his teacher was until he first saw him in the shirt. Sasuke didn't realise how much the standard uniform hid the wearer's physique until now, especially when he barely saw the man in anything form-fitting or bare-chested, for that matter. He turned his attention to his watch, noting the time. Where was she?

"I'm here!"

He turned and saw Sakura rushing toward them, waving her hand dramatically. She had a sleeveless beige top, a dusty pink skirt and red platforms. Sasuke's nose wrinkled as she came closer; the strong scent of rose perfume wafted over. He observed that she had put on make-up and many accessories, including earrings and a sling purse on her arm.

"What do you think, Sasuke-kun?"

She gave him a little twirl; Sasuke shrugs, uncaring before moving to get up from the ground, "Let's just get this over with already."

Sakura pouts, unsatisfied with his lack of reaction but followed after him anyway as they continued down the hill with Kakashi close behind.

Karin felt extremely embarrassed in the new outfit her adoptive sister had gifted her; she shyly turned and posed, looking at it from all sides in her red cross strapped structural heels.

It was a pretty floral red top and skirt set with ruffle detail on the dress's bottom hem, showing off her navel and thighs. It wasn't distastefully revealing, surprisingly. It felt girly and sweet. Even more shocking, Karin liked it.

She turned to the side when she heard a frustrated yell from Naruto, looking casual in his orange T-shirt and black jeans finished with sneakers on his feet. He was glaring at his closet, trying to decide whether to wear a jacket or not.

"Karin! Get over here so I can finish your make-up!"

Karin made a tiny squeak in surprise at her loud voice but rushed regardless to Rina's room. The vanity table was littered with all of her make-up.

The adoptive guardian beams as Karin takes her seat. Naruto watches from the doorway, curious as usual. He found this whole make-up thing taxing, but it was fun to watch.

The doorbell rings suddenly, and it didn't have to chime a second time for Naruto to rush downstairs. He checks the peephole and sees Sasuke and Kakashi there, opening the door.

"Yo!"

"Hn" was the response from his teammate as he entered the room with Kakashi in tow.

"So, is Sakura waiting for us at the restaurant?"

Kakashi shakes his head, patting Naruto on the head, explaining that they left Sakura on the outskirts of the estate because he had a warning from Rina the last time about their last impromptu visit.

Naruto nodded his head firmly; he understood the rule. For years, Rina, who had been his guardian angel, knew about the villagers' treatment of him. Things such as picking on him in the streets, at his home and even worse, other things Naruto would have never personally admitted out loud. He was sure Rina didn't want it to happen again. That's why she used this estate because of the remote location and made sure that little people knew about this address.

"Hey, you two."

It was Rina who spoke, but Karin descended the stairs first. Naruto couldn't help but grin seeing her face with little make-up but her hair tied up in a cute ponytail. She joined him at his side immediately, smiling softly.

However, as usual, all eyes were on their guardian Rina Mashiro glowing like an angel in her new dress. It was a blue-purple tie-dye sleeveless tank top and skirt set with a split thigh on one side. The skirt was long and ended at her ankle, yet it was somehow still erotic, with the dress hugging all of her curves.

"Beautiful as usual, Siren."

Rina giggles a little, smacking Kakashi's arm playfully in response before ruffling Sasuke's hair, much to his annoyance as her way of greeting.

"I'm not Naruto, you know; I don't grin like some cat when people touch my hair!"

Naruto rolls his eyes before taking Karin by the hand and guiding her outside. The blonde just wanted to enjoy this outing that Kakashi organised. Likely, he just wanted to get in his sister's good graces, or they were going to admit they were dating the team finally. Either way, he wanted this casual outing to happen, even if it was to spend time with his family outside of the estate and anything ninja, even just for a while.

Karin hated the blindfold; why did their eyes need to be covered? To create suspense for the new restaurant Kakashi was taking them to?

Sakura was pushing her from the back. Similar to what Kakashi and Sasuke are doing to Rina and Naruto, respectively.

Just what were they trying to do?

But Naruto knew.

He could hear the hustle and bustle of their cohort rushing about in the clearing up ahead, trying to finish their decorations. Naruto couldn't help but smile when he heard Ino shouting they needed to hurry up if they wanted to be on time for their arrival.

Just what were they all doing?

Naruto's nose twitched, and he realised that he was smelling food, and he recognised it instantly. It was Chouza Akimichi's homemade meat dishes.

Naruto's heart pounded loudly in his chest with excitement, and without a second thought, he ran forward, following the scent with his nose.

"DOBE!"

Sasuke ran forward, following his idiot teammate, but surprisingly, the blonde was exceptionally much faster than he remembered. With a grunt, he activated his Sharingan and chased after the nutcase.

Ino and the others turn their heads at familiar shouting from Sasuke, the usual insults at Naruto. It was like a yellow flash zipped by her, and she started amazed as the yellow blur zig-zagged, avoiding everyone to get to the Akimichi table. Finally, the image clears, and she sees a blindfolded Naruto digging into the prime ribs with a satisfied expression. Before she could comprehend precisely what just happened, Sasuke appeared behind him, throttling him.

Sakura, from afar, could see what was happening and started to cheer, which caused Karin and Rina to forgo their blindfolds to see Naruto now with his blindfold off wrestling with Sasuke on the ground. Karin jumped into the fray without hesitation, pulled Sasuke off him with ease, and punched him hard across the face, knocking him down hard.

"What the hell is your problem?!"

Sasuke glares at the girl with his prominent bruised cheek until he realises they were already at the party and everyone is staring at them. He gets up and brushes the dirt off his clothes irritably.

Karin realised the number of people and was startled by the number of ninjas. Tsume, Hana and Kiba Inuzuka. Chouza and Choji Akimichi. Inoichi and Ino Yamanaka. Shikaku and Shikamaru Nara. Hiashi, Hinata, Neji and Hanabi Hyuuga. Shibi and Shino Aburame. Tsunade and Shizune. Morino Ibiki, Shiranui Genma, and even Mitarashi Anko all recognised from her initial interrogations to join Konoha.

"What's happening?"

Rina put her hands on her hips, smiling good-naturedly. It was apparent what was happening.

"Surprise!" shouted Ino, awkward.

Karin continues to look confused.

"Erm, who's the party for?"

Rina pointed upward, and Karin looked up to see a large banner that read, 'Congratulations, Uzumaki Family!'

"I'm still confused?"

Ino walked into the centre and explained this was a party to congratulate Naruto and Karin for finding each other and Mashiro Rina for taking in two orphans of the same clan under her wing to nurture. The thought and effort from Ino to come up with the idea and plan for this party made Karin and Naruto grin as he stood up to stand next to his cousin.

"Sorry for the awkward start, guys! But I can't help it if I smell the cooking of Chouji's dad!"

Chouza's hearty laughter rang out instantly, along with chuckles from the remaining ninjas in amusement.

"Naruto! Your shirt is all dirty," Sakura pointed out.

Naruto looked down, and indeed, his shirt had the meat sauce from the food he was trying to eat. He merely shrugged but Ino would have none of it; she quickly grabbed her present from the gift table and thrust it into Naruto's chest, insisting he open it now and use it.

The orange-loving genin blushed bashfully at the attention he was getting, so he hurriedly opened the present to find a long sleeve orange yam toned shirt with the Uzumaki emblem stitched on the upper limbs of the sleeves.

"Wow! This shirt is so cool! The fabric quality is so nice!"

Shizune smiled, seeing him so happy but blinked in awe as he started to take off his ruined shirt showing spectacular abs.

"My goodness, that's new!" she exclaims. The other ninjas nodded, also astounded.

Naruto blinked, confused but continued to put on his shirt, "What is?"

"Your abs!" cried out a flustered Ino. "How do you get abs like that in the middle of puberty?"

Karin laughed, explaining Rina's spartan training, but Ino quickly pointed out Karin didn't have abs like that. The redhead shrugs good-naturedly, not caring that much.

Tsunade claps her hands, catching everyone's attention. She instructs Naruto to close his eyes, and he obeys, wondering why. There were some muffled sounds he couldn't make out, but Tsunade's speaking voice was gentle as she stood behind him, helping him wear a jacket, he guessed.

Rina covered her mouth in shock, tears filling her eyes as Tsunade explained that she heard Naruto stand triumphant over Neji at Chuunin Finals, winning the match officially, which meant Naruto had earned his rank long ago. Until recently, Tsunade learned of this, and she felt it was her responsibility to follow up as a Hokage should.

Naruto opened his eyes when instructed and got wide-eyed in shock when he realised Tsunade had helped him into a Chuunin vest.

"Congratulations, Naruto."

The blonde's body shook, trying not to cry, but the tears flowed anyway when Karin hugged him tightly with Rina looking on, crying too and thanking heaven she had used her water-proof mascara.

Finally, the boy got his recognition.