In the end, some members of the New Dawn were DOA or otherwise succumbed to their injuries en route to the hospital, but all NYPD officers involved in the raid survived. Even so, Naruto was brought to the office of Deputy Inspector Iruka Umino for a lecture.
"Naruto, I love you, and you're one of my best officers, but I'm afraid I can't let your unbridled rage go. This is the…well, I've lost count of how many times you've acted up on The Job like this."
"So what, Deputy Inspector Iruka?" Naruto crossed his arms. "It's every New Yorker's God-given right to be pissed off at people who ruin their lives!"
"You're a police officer, and part of being a police officer means you have to make certain sacrifices, like getting mad at every single suspect who hurts a woman, for example."
"And what if that was YOUR mother he was talking about, huh!?"
"Believe me, I wanted to kill the man who killed my parents, too. However, Deputy Inspector Sarutobi would never have promoted me if I did. Doesn't the prospect of becoming Police Commissioner still appeal to you?"
"What's the point? I'm probably gonna die before then anyways!"
Iruka pounded on his desk. "Damn it, Naruto, what's with the sudden cynicism!? You never used to be so open about it!"
"Well maybe if I'd picked a name that was familiar to me, then I wouldn't have to be open about it!"
"Naruto, is that why your attitude's changed? The Secret Santa event?"
Naruto sighed and loosened his arms. "Forget what I just said, sir. Can I do my paperwork? I kinda got a lot of it…"
Iruka gave a curt nod. "I'll allow it, but you'd better think about what we've said here, understand?"
"Believe it."
"And for God's sake, bring that smile of yours back." Iruka smiled. "You look prettier with a smile."
In spite of his morbid mood, Naruto couldn't help but crack a smile as he exited Iruka's office.
Later that night, Naruto's friends crossed the Brooklyn Bridge for a night out on Manhattan. The crux of said night took place at Infinity, a discotheque on Broadway. Its plain black entry door gave way to a block-long dancefloor, dotted above by four disco balls. Each disco ball was surrounded by three neon rings. Complementing the disco balls were four columns near the bar, each surrounded by progressively larger neon rings of their own. If looked at, some mirrors would make the disco balls appear to go on forever, hence the name "Infinity". Currently, the DJ was spinning the 1983 remix of "SOS (Love to the Rescue)" by Dee D. Jackson. Naruto's friends were having a good time…that is, except for two people…
"W…what are you doing here, Gaara?" Hinata nervously played around with her Virgin Colada as she sat at the bar.
"You're Hinata, right?"
"Y…yes…"
"If you must know, I'm only here because the pink girl dragged me here. And where's Naruto?"
"Gee…I wish I knew. He always loved disco dancing…"
Gaara took a swig of his Bacardi and Coke. "Well, it's no matter to me. I hate disco music."
"What do you like?"
"Since you asked, I'll tell you. I'm more of a heavy metal guy."
Hinata raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"N-no reason…"
It was at this moment that Hinata knew that her attitude betrayed everything. Ergo, she got up from her seat and boogied on out the front door. A moment later, Sasuke showed up.
"Gaara, have you seen Hinata?" asked Sasuke.
"She left."
"Why?"
"Hell if I know. Hell if I care."
Hinata Ubered her way back to Brooklyn. Having visited Naruto before, it was no hassle for her to find his apartment. Her heart sank, not only because she felt as though she'd ditched her friends, but also because he hadn't returned her latest text like he usually did. Nevertheless, she pressed on up to Naruto's apartment. When she knocked, she got no response.
"Naruto, open up! It's me, Hinata!"
No response. Still fearing that it might have happened, Hinata delivered a swift kick to the door and rushed for the bedroom. Much to her misfortune, her fear was about to come true: Naruto was sitting on his bed, in his underwear, tearing up, with a Colt Detective Special pointed at his head. Hinata gasped.
"NARUTO!"
"Hinata, don't come any closer!"
"What do you think you're doing!?"
"I know exactly what I'm doing, and if you know what's good for you, you'll leave me alone!"
"But I can't do that! The people at the academy told us not…"
"I don't care what those half-wits at the academy told us! This is the streets; things don't always go the way they're supposed to!"
"Then at least tell me what's upsetting you!"
"Oh, you mean aside from the fact that I met the man who killed my parents and I still don't have any idea what to get that psycho detective for tomorrow's Christmas party!? NOTHING! That's what's wrong!"
"Can we talk about the Christmas party, though?"
Naruto's gun hand became shakier. "W-why?"
"If you put down the gun, I promise I'll help you out with Gaara's gift!"
"You first!"
"No, you go first."
"I SAID 'YOU FIRST' FIRST!"
Hinata recoiled at the sudden outburst of anger. Nevertheless, she maintained her composure as best as she could.
"Well…all right. Gaara told me that he's into heavy metal."
"R-really?" Naruto relaxed his stance a bit.
Hinata mustered up a smile. "Really. Oh…and Naruto…"
"W-what?"
"I love you."
That did it. Having been hit by three of the most powerful words in the English language, Naruto realized what a fool he'd been and slowly lowered his Detective Special. With the danger passing, Hinata got up onto the bed and hugged him. After giving a loud yet brief gasp, Naruto started crying and hugged her back. All these years, having mistaken Hinata's affections as no more than friendly gestures, it brought on a tremendous sense of satisfaction knowing that she truly loved him. He didn't even pay much attention to the fact that her ample chest was pressing against his head. To him, she was like the mother he never had. Even after he stopped crying, Naruto didn't want to let go. Hinata was just too soft and huggly for that. She respected his wishes, but when her face got too red, she just had to let go, and he let go not too long after.
"Thanks, Hinata. You're good people, ya know that?"
"Awww…you're welcome!"
Hinata produced a small packet of tissues from her cleavage, which Naruto quickly swiped and blew his nose with.
"By the way, Hinata…"
"Yes?"
"I love you, too!"
With that, Naruto began kissing Hinata and lowered the straps on her lavender Halston dress. She undid the clasp on her bra, and things only got filthier from there…
When the sparks stopped flying, Naruto and Hinata cleaned up and huggled with each other.
"Naruto, I know it's not Christmas, but that's the best gift I've ever gotten from you!"
"Speak for yourself! I didn't know how else I was gonna repay you for saving my life tonight! Now I know exactly what I'm gonna get for Gaara!"
"Really?"
"Of course!"
"What are you going to get him?"
"You'll see!"
Hinata smiled. Knowing that things had turned out for the better was a gift in and of itself.
The next morning, Naruto awoke to the smell of ramen. As it turned out, Hinata had heated up his leftovers from when he left work yesterday.
"Gee, thanks, Hinata!" Naruto hear the sound of a bottle popping open. "HEY! I was saving that!"
Hinata poured a couple glasses of Martinelli's. "I know you like to save those for special occasions, so I decided to open one for us."
"OK, I'll let ya slide, babe!"
Hinata smiled. "Thanks again, Naruto!"
Once breakfast was done, both parties freshened up and got dressed together.
"Hey, since we're scheduled to do the 4 to 12 today, I was wondering what you wanted to do before work," said Hinata.
"Know what I wanna do? I wanna TICKLE TICKLE TICKLE!"
"NARUTO, STAHP! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Hinata doubled over on the floor, but Naruto kept tickling her until he felt like stopping.
Before their scheduled shift, Naruto sidled on over to the nearest record store, and after a little game of "ink-a-bink-a-bottle-of-ink", he decided to peruse the heavy metal cassettes. Not being an extreme metalhead, he chose one at random. It was a cassette from a band called Lady, titled "MOUNTAIN OF MADNESS".
(Hey, only five bucks!) thought Naruto. (I'm sure Gaara will like it!)
Once he'd paid for his cassette, Naruto got the nearest copy of The New York Times and used it as wrapping paper. Fortunately, he made it to the 79th Precinct house with time to spare. Then, the big moment came…
"Ladies and gentlemen," said Kakashi, "you may now exchange your gifts."
With only a slight bit of trepidation in his step, Naruto approached Gaara.
"Merry Christmas, Gaara!"
"Hm."
Regarding the crude wrapping paper with suspicion, Gaara opened his present. When he viewed the cover, he let out a loud gasp as his eyes widened.
"Naruto, do you have any idea what you have here!?" Gaara blushed.
Naruto gulped. "A heavy metal tape?"
"This is an extremely rare tape that my sister once gave me! Mine got stolen in college!" Gaara began tearing up, and then smiled. "Thank you so much!"
As if the whirlwind of emotions put on by a man that Naruto once deemed a "psycho" wasn't enough, Gaara gave Naruto a big hug, which Naruto gladly returned with a smile. This elicited a collective "awww" from their fellow MOS.
"You're welcome, Gaara! Sorry I ever thought you were a psycho!"
"You're forgiven!"
And with that, peace on Earth had yet to be completely attained, but good will towards all seemed like a very real possibility.
Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.