Happy Christmas Eve everyone!!

Presenting Day 11. Read and enjoy!


Naruto awoke to a slate color sky. The clouds looked heavy with snow. Even then, the view outside of his room's window was wonderful; Snow-covered pines backed by the high mountains, off in the distance, just barely seen, was a frozen lake reflecting the miniscule amounts of sunlight that filtered through. There was a rare flash of color in the forests as a bird or two flew by to their nest or resting branch.

After freshening up, he headed downstairs to hopefully grab some food to eat. There he ran into Mikoto who was drinking her second cup of coffee and reading the newspaper.

"Good morning Uchiha-san," he greeting.

"Good morning Naruto-kun. Mikoto is fine, after all this is the Uchiha household. The rest of them will show up by Christmas Dinner if not earlier."

The blonde nodded.

"Help yourself to any of the food. We're leaving it buffet style for breakfast to lunch. After that dinner will be served at seven again tonight. I believe a few more people will be showing up later today."

The blonde nodded to show he was listening as he filled his plate with food and poured himself a cup of orange juice.

***

He decided to go explore the grounds instead as tomorrow would be Christmas day and since he would be staying another night; he could help around the kitchen. He had already asked Mikoto-san and as politely as possible shot down all refusals.

He knew that Gaara was awake since at least the crack of dawn since he was an insomniac and could rarely sleep past dawn even with late nights. His cousin had turned to meditation as a way to relax and could be found outside no matter what season it was. Knowing his cousin, he started towards the lake on the far side of the property. If that failed, Naruto had asked the master groundskeeper for a simple map and had the hand drawn map in a side pocket of his new jacket. It was so much warmer with that. He'd have to ask his gift giver where he found it.

The blonde ended up wandering into the forest to look for his red-headed cousin. Following a barely marked path, he listened to the reflective silence of the forest as he looked around for any sign of life. It seemed like the earth was holding its breath until given the sign. By pure chance, he happened on a small waterfall and nearly tripped on his cousin in the process as he was too busy looking around it and at the rare winter flowers along the banks.

"Eh hehehe... Hi Gaara!" His hand already drifting to the back of his head.

***

The blonde managed to calm his easily irritable cousin and after much nagging, I mean, whining got him to agree to go ice skating with him. The agreement was probably to shut him up because red-head had forgotten that back in Arizona, he didn't ice skate. Better yet, he didn't know how. So the minute he stood on the ice and moved, he found himself on his back with his breath knocked out of him. To the side was his cousin laughing his ass off having watched him flail and fall.

Fifteen minutes later and four falls later found him to the center of laughter by his siblings and his cousin. He got up once more and managed to slide about five feet towards his cousin and slipped again! But this time he was close enough to his unsuspecting laughing blonde cousin that he pulled Naruto down too.

"I'm done," he stated as he slowly got up and slid the three feet to the edge of the lake.

His older sister laughed a bit more and helped him stand up. His legs were feeling odd.

"And you were doing so well," Kankuro chortled.

Changing out of his skates into his wool lined boots, he slowly rolled up a snowball and when his brother turned to him, Gaara chucked it harshly at his face. That started a snowball fight of the utmost proportions before one of them – Naruto – hit the approaching Neji, who was invited as well, in the face with a misguided snowball.

***

When the snow was all brushed off his face, Neji found three fingers pointing towards the blonde and one at a young man clad in a black parka.

"Naruto," was all he said.

"Hi Neji! Didn't know you knew Uchiha-san."

"My uncle is an old business partner. We've know the Uchiha family since childhood. But that's beside the point. Mikoto-san asked me to tell you four that dinner will be served in an hour." And the brunette turned to leave. His long hair seemed to swirled with annoyance of having been pelted with snow.

"Wait NEJI!!" the blonde cried out.

***

Dinner was a better affair tonight than it was yesterday as Naruto knew more people. He had met both Hyuuga Hiashi and Hizashi once before and Neji and Hinata were there as well. And there was no business talk at all since Mikoto-san had banned it from the dinner table until coffee time, at which the adjourned to the nearby lounge for coffee, tea, hot chocolate or spiced cider.

Naruto was introducing his cousins to the two Hyuuga cousins and it seemed the stoic duo mananged to fine something in common as they sat communicating silently as was their way. Part way through the night, Naruto excused himself since he had to wake early to help out in the kitchens. He bade good night to those still there and found Hinata following him. In her hands was an envelope and the writing was oddly familiar.

"H-here Naruto," she pressed it into his hands. "I was told to give this to you. W-who it's from, I can't tell you. Good night," she gave a small bow and turned to re-enter the lounge.

He looked at the envelope he held in his hands and entered his room before opening it. There was the usual Christmas card and this time there was a little booklet of…coupons – handmade coupons by the looks of it. The first one was simple - free homemade ramen. The next was about the same, but for a massage, others followed along the same thread. Then at the very end was a slightly more elaborate coupon. Wrapped in its own envelope was a ticket to a show for tomorrow afternoon and a note saying that if he was curious to who his mysterious gift giver was, to attend. The blond wasn't sure what to think, but he also found a dark subtly pinstriped navy suit lying out on the bed with a note, if you decide to go.

***

There was a blonde child holding the hands of an older boy. They were following a barely marked trail, exploring the surrounding forest. The blonde had never gone into it during the winter and was curious. Blue eyes were excitedly darting around and when they caught some flash of color, like the cardinal, he would point excitedly and dash off. That was until the brunette grabbed hold of his hand.

"Naru-chan, you can't go off like that. What would I do if you got hurt or lost?"

Young Naruto just looked up into the dark eyes and gave him a blinding smile. "Nothin' gonna happen. 'Cuz ---kun protects me."

Dark eyes softened at the blonde's words. He gave Naruto a quick hug and murmured into his fluffy hair, "Love you Naru-chan."

The blond hugged him back tightly and proclaimed to all that could hear, "I love you too ---."

They continued on their nature walk as music fell from their lips and seemed to surround them. "On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me…"


Happy Christmas Eve!!

And for those who have been following my little fic here, I'm officially caught up!! *jumps around in joy* Three chapters in one day...how well written I'll leave that for my dear readers to decide.

More to the childhood of Naruto is revealed...a bit anyways. Next chapter is arguing the fine points out with Itachi, Naruto, and my muses.

A big thanks to those who've reviewed as that inspired me to sit and write, so THANK YOU!

I hope you've enjoyed this and enjoy tomorrow!

Christmas Day in 20 minutes (PST).