Chapter: Sake is Good For the Soul

He downed another shot of the foul tasting spirit. He grimaced slightly then set the glass down. The blonde shook his head and sighed. He loved New Years. It meant that he could get drunk for no apparent reason. The young jounin felt his throat burn. He sat in a bar, at a table near the back, trying to keep away from the people in Konoha. His spiky blonde hair however gave him away. There weren't many people with hair like that. His blue eyes were fogged over slightly from drinking the sake. He stood up shakily and walked towards the tender, placing money carefully on the counter to pay for his drinks then walked out of the bar. He had to find something to do.

Just as he walked out of the bar he ran directly into someone he hadn't expected. "Sa-Sasuke?" He blinked and rubbed his eyes, looking at the raven-haired youth. Sasuke was dressed in a pair of jeans and a black button down shirt, apparently to celebrate the evening.

"Naruto?" Sasuke replied almost curtly. He knew what had happened and almost grimaced. Naruto blinked a few more times then did something that surprised Sasuke. He hugged him.

"You're okay! I was worried about you!" He grinned and backed away a little. "What are you doing now? I'm going to find some place to celebrate New Years." He said to the other man. Sasuke let a half smile cross his lips.

"Alright…" He nodded. "I was doing the same." Naruto blinked at him. "May I- come with you?" He asked, looking off to the side. The blonde looked down as if considering this a moment.

"SURE!" He grinned. "It'd be nice to have some company." Naruto's signature smile made even Sasuke lighten up a little.

"What are the two of you doing out in the middle of the street?" They heard a teasing female voice from behind them.

"Sa-Sakura?" It was Sasuke's turn to blink in amazement. She was dressed in a tight dark green dress with long sleeves that hung to the ground and pooled around her feet. It ended at her neck in the front and looked to be a body glove dress, until she shifted a little. The boys then noticed that their former teammate's entire back was exposed, almost past her tailbone. Her now long pink hair was piled up on top of her head in delicate loops and her bangs were swept to one side. Her jade eyes stood out against the deep green of the dress and as Sasuke looked at her he nearly fell over. She was knock dead gorgeous now.

"Wow Sakura! That's some dress." The ever-perverted Naruto nodded with his arms folded. He wore a pair of jeans and a white button down shirt. She grimaced at him.

"Thanks." She said sarcastically. She had filled out since the last time the three had been together. Her figure had taken a womanly shape, wide hips, small waist, long legs. Her bust had improved itself magnificently and her face had thinned, giving her a delicate look. Her long muscular arms were folded beneath her breasts in anger and Naruto saw her green eyes flash warningly. "Keep your eyes off Naruto!" She scolded teasingly. They had worked together a few years earlier and had finally become friends and she had learned of his antics. She knew what he was thinking.

"Where're you going?" Sasuke furrowed his brow. Naruto noticed some differences in his other friend as well, he had gotten taller, his hair was slightly longer but it still stuck out like a black bird's rear end, he had gotten taller, his arms appeared to be more muscular and his jaw line had now strengthened, just a few things, and did he mention that he had gotten taller?

"I was going to a party… would you two like to come?" Sakura peaked an eyebrow. Sasuke looked at Naruto, reluctantly peeling his eyes away from the girl he had turned down.

"Sure." Naruto shrugged, completely unaffected by her. Sasuke thought about this for a second, in the past Naruto would have drooled over her in this dress. "Are we dressed to get in?" He cocked an eyebrow back at her and she scrutinized them.

"Yes." She finally decided after staring at them for a few minutes. Sasuke let out the breath that he seemed to have been holding in since she got there. Naruto shook his head at Sasuke. "Now let's go before it hits nine and they don't let us in." She lifted up her skirt slightly so she could walk and walked off. Sasuke gulped, her finely toned rear was highly visible, he realized that this was what this particular type of dress was made for, clinging to just the right parts to make you drool.

"You better pull yourself together." Naruto laughed and trotted off after her. Sasuke blinked again and took in a deep breath. Pull yourself together man! Besides… she's just a girl… just the same old Sakura. He told himself then followed after them.

A few hours into the party at nearly eleven Sasuke collapsed into a chair next to Naruto who had dropped down a few minutes earlier. Sakura then dropped into the chair next to Sasuke.

"This party is getting insane!" Sasuke shouted over the noise of the music. Sakura nodded as did Naruto.

"Let's get outta here!" Naruto replied. He stood up shakily, sweat nearly dripped off of all of them. Naruto snorted a laugh as they picked up their jackets and walked out. "This is just too funny." He laughed as they walked into the street.

"What's funny?" Sakura slurred slightly. Sasuke chuckled as well, himself already a little tipsy. They wandered towards another bar and took seats there. 30 minutes later they were completely plastered, all three of them laughing and joking, telling stories of what they had been doing during the past few years as well as remembering good times when they were students together. Naruto excused himself for a second and walked off towards the bathroom.

"Ssso 'ow 'afe you bin?" Sasuke slurred curiously. She shook her head for a second then began to giggle hysterically. He snorted a laugh then chuckled then let himself laugh out loud with her. His voice had deepened in the past few years and his laugh was now that of a man instead of a boy. Sakura stopped for a moment as they heard the bell toll for midnight. Sakura stood up to try and leave. "Wait!" He grabbed her arm nearly falling over in the process. She swung into him and kissed him full on the lips. The male nin froze. Had she really done that? Naruto walked out of the bathroom just as it happened and stopped in his tracks.

"Don' leafe Sasuke." She muttered and felt her legs go weak, her lips still millimeters from his. He caught her as her legs turned to jello.

"We bedder ge' outta 'ere." Sasuke slurred. Naruto nodded and helped them out. This was probably the best New Years Ever.

YUP! Another chapter done… dies that was tough…

Shalan