A/N: A removed draft from chapter 39. Basically some of the details of Shisui's drunken escapade when he was trying to cheer up Anko.

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#4

Removed draft – A Night To Forget

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This could not end well, but despite Naruto's many warnings the rest of the table was under the opposite opinion, and Shisui was therefore allowed to continue making a complete idiot of himself.

"Another glass, kind sir!" Shisui barked to the room at large, but Kakashi took it as an order and left to get him another fill.

"What are you doing!" Naruto hissed, grabbing his elbow as he stood up.

Kakashi shrugged. "He wants another round. He's also great entertainment."

"He is wasted! This isn't what friends do. Friends tell friends when they've had enough, and Shisui had enough four glasses ago!" She whispered harshly.

The copy ninja chuckled and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, he can deal with it. And tomorrow's humiliation and hangover will probably be enough for him to never repeat this mistake. In fact I say he holds his liquor well. Most would have passed out a while ago with that amount of alcohol."

"That isn't a good thing. Alcohol is poison." Naruto muttered.

"Come on, how often do you see Shisui make such an arse of himself? Appreciate it while it last," Kakashi answered before he sent her a teasing wink. "and use it as blackmail for all it's worth."

The corner of her lips tilted upwards despite trying to remain serious, before she turned back to the table. Shisui was enthusiastically explaining the story when they'd all ended up in the river during the academy outing, even though she was pretty sure everyone had heard it before... "And Ensui couldn't swim, so I had to save him-"

"He could swim, but he had broken his leg which made things difficult." Naruto interrupted, but Shisui waved his hand dismissively in her direction.

"And then Naruto ended up in the water too, so I had to save them both." Shisui continued, making her roll her eyes.

"I think you meant to say that I was saving you guys instead!"

"No, no, who of us managed to throw a rope to secure us to a branch, eh? That was me!"

"It was my rope! It was my plan!" Naruto insisted. "And if anyone is the hero in that tale than it's Kakashi. He was the one who fished us up afterwards. You guys ended up as breathing baggage we had to drag through the woods."

"Why do you always have to ruin my stories?" Shisui replied with a pout. "I saved you that day! You should be thankful! Sure, Kakashi fished us up afterwards, but if it wasn't for me you would have drowned before he reached us. He took ages! And with the falling stones and-"

"I think you're mixing together events, Shisui." Naruto muttered. "You're drunk, so what you really should be doing is go home and sleep it off."

"I'm fiiiine," Shisui insisted, picking up his glass to take a sip only to realize it was empty. Looking at it curiously he looked around. "Who drank my drink? That's rude."

"You did." Anko answered and moved her glass in front of him. "Here, take this one instead."

"Anko! He's had enough!" Naruto insisted and wanted to tug out her hair in frustration. Since when was she the responsible one? Oh right, when she was the only one sober enough to think.

"He'll be fine, right Shisui?" She asked with a mischievous smirk.

Shisui happily picked up the drink and took a large sip. "Exactly. Anko gets me." He said once the glass hit the table.

Their argument was interrupted as Kurenai's voice carried from the other end of the table. "I love this song." She told them while humming along under her breath.

"Me too!" Exclaimed Shisui – too loudly – and did some strange movements in his seat. Naruto suspected he was trying to move to the beat, but it only looked like he was sitting on something uncomfortable. Anko had her hand covering her mouth, but her eyes was shining with amusement. Naruto couldn't believe it, but Shisui's plan to cheer her up was actually showing some results. "I don't get it though, because Naruto hates it."

"It's a really boring song." Naruto defended herself.

"What? But it's a great song!" Aoba argued just as Kakashi returned with drinks for several people. He didn't seem to have a plan about who he was buying for, and instead placed them all in the middle for people to pick later.

They all eagerly reached for a glass each, and Naruto finally gave up. She was doomed to be the only one sober, but if she was going to make it to the end of the night she needed a break from this. "Excuse me. I'm going to the bathroom." Naruto muttered, but only her roommate really heard her. Rin was chuckling as Shisui whined about her bad taste in music, which was almost as bad as her taste in colors.

Naruto really hoped he would suffer the next day.

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After prolonging her stay in the bathroom, washing her hands three extra time just so the song inside the bar would be finished, Naruto arched an eyebrow at the sight that met her upon her return. Shisui and Rin was out on the dance floor, which was mostly empty, and making complete fools of themselves. Rin was mostly trying to make sure Shisui didn't topple over and hit his head, but the moment Shisui spotted her he smiled widely and waved at her to come over.

Naruto shook her head, but Shisui nodded in return. Then he strode over. "Come dance!" He demanded.

"You already have a partner Shisui!" Naruto scolded him, but Shisui was shaking his head.

"I can lead you b-both. And just look, Anko is smilin'. You can't let me do a-all the work on my own. This is a team eff-ort! He scolded them, his voice slurry now, and Rin and Naruto shared a wide eyed glance Shisui didn't notice. He didn't care to wait for their agreement, and instead grabbed both of their wrists, determined to get them to dance.

As he stood there, his eyes starting to go bloodshot and with the dopiest smile he'd ever worn Naruto couldn't help but laugh. At least no one could say Shisui wasn't dedicated to their self assigned mission to cheer Anko up. If she hadn't been injured Naruto was sure Shisui would have demanded Anko to come up on the floor too. And Shisui knew the risks of inviting Anko to dance all too well already.

Naruto grinned and finally gave in, following Shisui and Rin out to dance. She heard Anko and Kurenai giggle behind her, but Shisui was taking this all too seriously for her to think much off it.

Soon they were moving in some weird un-choreographed three way dance, and to Naruto's surprise it was actually fun.

If possible, Shisui was getting more affected, his movements turning faulty and completely out of rhythm. It was hilarious. Even Anko started laughing by her seat at the table as he stumbled over his feet, crashing into a couple next to them, and from the bar Naruto heard the others distant chuckles at his complete melt down.

But it worked. Naruto wasn't feeling a thing yet, the alcohol would never affect her, but she knew like the back of her hand how to act an idiot and she went all out together with Shisui. Though he wasn't so much acting as being completely spaced out.

He spun them both around, trying the best he could to lead them simultaneously. It wasn't an easy task because of the considerable skill difference between Naruto and Rin when it came to dancing. Rin was fluid and graceful as she spun, while Naruto was one beat too late and stiff.

It took a while, but eventually the rest migrated out onto the floor too. Most of them jumping around like rabbits to the music while Kakashi looked hesitant on from the corner, deciding it was safer to keep Anko company by the table than make a fool of himself with everyone else. Genma eventually dragged a halting Anko around together with Rin and Kurenai, while Naruto was left with Shisui. All the while Aoba was standing in the middle of the chaos with his bottle and swayed out of beat to music.

It was enough though, because Anko was finally starting having fun too, some of her old energy returning while the teenagers made a spectacle of themselves on the dance floor.

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Fin.

A/N: I apologize for any mistakes, English isn't my native language and this was not beta'd.