Shukaku: Here's chapter 9! I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Claimer: I do claim Lin as my own.

"Naru-kit, time to get up," Kyuubi said softly. The young red-yellow fox mewed in protest and tried curling into a tighter ball. "Come on, it's your birthday today," Kyuubi pressed a spot behind both ears, forcing Naruto to shift forms.

"Kyuubi-niichan, you know I don't like that," Naruto whined as he sat up.

"We didn't want you to miss out on the cake," Itachi smirked. The fox's blue eyes widened, he loved cake!

"Where's Master Sasuke though?" He asked excitedly, he was too wound up to worry.

"He's already downstairs," Kyuubi answered, blind folding his brother.

"Hey, what's going on?" He tried to pull the cloth off but his hand was slapped away by Kyuubi.

"Leave it, Naruto," He growled. The older kitsune helped the blonde off the bed and held his hand as they walked downstairs to the dining room. Once there Itachi headed for the light switch and Kyuubi stood behind Naruto, ready to remove the blind fold. Itachi held up a hand and mouthed a count down; Kyuubi jerked the blind fold off just as the lights flickered on.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NARUTO!" The fox's eyes were saucer dishes as he looked around the room. He saw Gaara with Lee, Shikamaru with Neji, Sasori and Deidara, and even Kakashi and Iruka! There were a few others he couldn't quite remember but he knew for a fact that he didn't like the pink haired cat much. He blinked away the daze and looked for his master, he found him speaking quietly with Kankuro and Temari, Gaara's big sister; he often called her the bossy blonde with big boobs (A/N: He calls Tsunade the bossy blonde with gigantic boobs behind her back).

"Naruto, I cannot believe you're 16 now!" Lee laughed as he picked the blonde up. "You're getting kind of heavy, but that just means that you are growing!" He rubbed his cheek against Naruto's in a show of what he guessed was affection.

"Hey, he's 16 now, I don't think he likes being treated like a kit anymore," Neji chuckled as he walked over to greet the two males. Naruto wiggled free of Lee and stared up at Neji who smiled down at him kindly. "I'm sorry for scaring you all those times, I just don't like when you jump on my tail."

"Sorry about that, every time I saw you, you had a butterfly on your tail."

"Naruto, we're going to cut the cake without you!" Kyuubi called from the table. The blonde immediately dashed to the table where Sasuke sat him in his lap at the head of the table. Soon the candles were lit and everyone sang happy birthday, the pets sang a special song for their friend, one that only their species understood.

"Make a wish and blow out the candles, Naruto," Sasuke told him. The fox closed his eyes for a minute and then blew out the candles; everyone clapped and cheered.

"What'd you wish for, hmmm?" Deidara asked while Kyuubi and Itachi cut the cake.

"He can't tell you, Dei-kun," Lin laughed. "If he did it wouldn't come true."

"Right you are, Lin-chan," He smiled as Sasori held him tighter. Naruto smiled as he ate his piece of cake, he failed to see the grin that flashed between the four oldest men in the room.

"Oh, Sasuke," The Uchiha looked up at his brother. His eyes widened when a piece of cake was smashed into his face, tearing a gut busting laugh from everyone, including Naruto. He handed the blonde to Lin before wiping a hand over his face, removing some of the cake and icing.

"I'll get you for that, Itachi," He snatched up his uneaten cake and smashed it into his brothers' face. Now both Uchiha's were covered with icing. Kyuubi grinned as he began licking away the icing, earning a few whistles and shocked gasps. Sasuke smiled as he wiped his face and hands clean the best he could before sitting back down.

"Now its time to open gifts!" Kyuubi announced licking his lips clean.

Xxxx

The party lasted until noon; most of the pets were exhausted from the activities and were basically dead on their feet as they left. Naruto had enjoyed opening his gifts, mainly because they were all things he needed! Iruka and Kakashi had given him a new jacket, it had his name stitched on the back and it was made of a thin yet warm material with fake fur on the cuffs and hood. Gaara and Lee had given him a new set of clothes but they were too big for him at the moment. Most of the others had also given him clothes, usually he hated new clothes but he didn't mind this time, he needed new clothing.

"So, how've you enjoyed your birthday so far?" Sasuke asked in a slightly bored voice. Currently his pet was trying on the clothes he'd gotten from Sakura, he didn't like her but he loved her gift.

"Pretty good," He smiled as he slipped the shirt on. Sakura had gotten him a custom made shirt with the Uchiha symbol on the back, his name was below it in red. The pants were a bit short since he'd grown a little since she last saw him but he loved them anyway. They were denim jeans with vines and Rhine Stones on them going down the legs; he loved how they sparkled when he walked. "How do I look, Master?" He spun in a small circle for the Uchiha.

"I like your old clothes better," He gave a small teasing grin. Just as Naruto was about to jump at him, Kyuubi burst in and snatched him up.

"We're going to borrow little Naruto for a while okay, Sasuke?" Itachi was smiling and that usually meant he had something up his sleeve.

"Fine, but don't be too long, Tsunade is going be here soon," Naruto whined but Kyuubi was already out the door cackling like a maniac.

Xxxx

Sasuke looked up from his book when the door opened; a blur ran towards him and hid behind the couch; Itachi and Kyuubi the blur into the room.

"What did you guys do to him this time?" Sasuke set his book down and twisted to pick Naruto up from behind the couch. He was so shocked by what he saw he nearly dropped the fox.

"Do you like what you see, Otouto?" Itachi smirked at the boys shocked expression. Out of all the outfits Kyuubi had bought, they'd decided on a short, French Maid outfit, they'd even put make-up on him.

"He's not a dress up doll, Itachi," Sasuke growled finally releasing his pet. "Never do it again!"

"But doesn't he look cute?" Kyuubi insisted with a grin.

"That's not the point," Sasuke shook his head, he was obviously flustered. "Naruto, go change," The fox wasted no time in running to the bathroom to change and remove the make-up. "Both of you can leave my room and please don't dress him in female clothing again." The two men left whispering quietly to each other. Naruto soon emerge wearing his normal outfit but he didn't look right. "Naruto, are you feeling okay?"

"I—" The fox suddenly fox in his tracks. "I feel dizzy," He collapsed on the spot.

"NARUTO!" Sasuke basically jack knifed off the couch and scooped the fox into his arms. "Naruto, wake up!" The blonde didn't wake up, Sasuke crushed the fox against his chest, and he could feel his racing heart. "You have to wake up!" He hugged his pet tightly, why was he so scared all of a sudden? "Itachi, Kyuubi there's something wrong with Naruto!"

"We know," Kyuubi snatched his brother away.

"Sasuke, go outside, I need to do a full check up," Tsunade pushed Sasuke out of his room and shut the door.

"Itachi, what's happening? Why did Naruto collapse?!" He growled at his brother.

"It's sort of complicated, Sasuke," He sighed. "All pets go through a coming of age thing; normally they pass out the first day. By tomorrow morning he'll be awake but…." He gave his brother a pained look. "He'll be in a lot of pain, Sasuke, and you'll need to be by his side to help him through it."

"Why will he be in pain?"

"Because his body is going to change, little brother, he's going to grow finally. Most pets don't grow very much by the time they turn 16 because they're already close to their true height, but in Naruto's case he'll be growing a lot." He gave a soft smile. "Maybe he'll be as big as Kyuubi," Sasuke's eyes widened.

"I would hope not, I'd never get used to my little fox being that tall."

"Sasuke, do you have feelings for your pet?"

"Not the kind you think, Itachi," He hated when that thought came up. "He's my best friend; I could never like him that way."

"Never say never, foolish little brother," Itachi walked off leaving Sasuke alone. The young Uchiha slumped against the wall and slid down, letting his legs lay flat out.

Xxxx

When Tsunade and Kyuubi emerged from Sasuke's room both had worried looks on their faces. Sasuke looked up through his bangs which covered his eyes from their sight.

"Well, he's in for a hell of a lot of pain," Tsunade sighed. "You need to do everything you can to comfort him, Sasuke, these next few days will be hell." The woman muttered to herself as she left, she was as worried about the fox as everyone else was. Kyuubi sat down next to Sasuke who was now staring at the open door blankly.

"He woke up for a few minutes not long ago, I told him about what was happening," He took a sharp breath in. "He understands and he asked for you before he passed out again," The kitsune stood and looked down at the Uchiha who was still silent. "Sasuke, do not make me drag your ass into that room, it's hard enough having to watch my brother go through this thing!" Finally Sasuke stood, but his movements seemed forced and were not graceful as they normally were. He made it into the room and shut the door gently before turning his eyes to the bed where his pet lay sleeping. Though from where Sasuke stood it looked as though he were dead surrounded by the black canopy in the dwindling sunlight.

"Oh, Naruto," He groaned. He pulled the canopy back and climbed onto the bed, only when he sat down did he realize his body was trembling. He carefully lifted the smaller boys' body and cradled him in his arms, chocking back tears. Sasuke had never given it any mind at all but he now fully accepted that he was actually afraid of something. He was afraid of losing Naruto. The Uchiha resolved into tears as he lay on his side and was soon asleep, holding his pet to his chest, afraid to let him go.

Shukaku: I know it's short but what can you expect? Anyway, plz R&R people.