I do not own these two brilliant masterpieces. Wish I did though.

(AU: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL! Not part of timeline.)

Laughter rang out throughout the snow covered streets of konoha, child and adult alike running through the chilling air. Two of these said adults were naruto uzumaki and ruby rose, the latter clinging onto the formers arm, his wings covering her from the icy winds. The two were currently donned in a santa suit and an elf suit "comfortable down there?" "very much naru-kun. So what's next on the list?". Naruto looked down to said list, looking at the names and presents to go with them.

"well we have iruka's and the kono corps… the rookie nine we just finished off… next is the ichirakus!" ruby's smile grew hearing their next generation, wanting to see naruto's peusdo family "maybe we'll see sakura-chan!". The two began to run to their next stop, a large sack hanging over naruto's shoulder. Their laughter attracted stares and smiles from villiger and shinobi alike, each one finding some kind of hope in seeing a kage and his fiancé enjoying the rare time of joy, that even enemies could enjoy in each other's company.

Speaking of company, the ichirakus were currently going through a dinner rush, their newest employee lost in a storm of pink hair and noodles. "AYAME! I NEED MORE FISHCAKES OVER HERE!", sakura yelled in desperation. Hearing shuffleing behind her, she expected to see ayame with the ingredient, but instead she saw a tall blond man holding a sack, and a familiar redhead.

"NARUTO-NII! RUBY!". Launching herself at the two, she was caught by two large arms as ruby caught the sack they had previously held, the entire restaurant stopping to watch their favourite waitress being held like a child by this man in a santa costume. "HAHAHA GOD ITS GOOD TO SEE YOU LIL'SIS!". Ruby too had to giggle, seeing naruto carry sakura's small frame like a toddler. Eventually sakura turned to her with sparkling eyes "ino told me everything! I'm so happy for you ruby-chan!".

Ruby blushed at sakura, the pink waitress gabbing her hand to stare at the ring "OH MY GOD IT'S BEAUTIFUL! Where did you get it naru-nii?!". Scratching the back of his head and chuckling through the fake white beard, he admitted the truth, drawing a girlish squeal from his sister "oh that's so CUTE!". Unfortunately, sakura was still on her work shift, causing ayame to drag her away with an apologetic smile "WAIT AYAME!".

Turning around, the elder waitress saw naruto raking through his large velvet sack and took out three large wrapped gifts. "these are for you three for everything you've done for me. Merry Christmas sisters, tell dad I said the same!". With that, 'santa' dragged his girlfriend out the stand as they were cheered on by the customers, never noticing a crying man in the kitchen. "you don't need to give me a present naruto.. your smile was always enough son".

Walking away from the stand, hearing the outbreak of Christmas carolling coming from the noodle bar, naruto just laughed with ruby joining him. They did not stop laughing until they came across their next destination. The uchiha compound. The two walked through the empty streets, the laughter and cheer fading in the wind as they neared sasuke's abode. They easily found it, a lone light shining in the window.

Inside, sasuke was in a simple black kimono with the uchiha fan on it. What wasn't normal was the tears in his eyes as he looked upon his parent's photo with itachi. "another year without you.. I love you mom… you too dad." He stayed silent when he looked at itachi, until he heard a familiar voice from the window. "no-one should shed tears on Christmas eve sasuke..". he turned to face the intruder, only too see naruto and ruby for the first time since wave. "w-what happened to you naruto?!".

Naruto chuckled and ruby giggled as sasuke looked at them like some awed kid. "that's a looong story sasuke. One that shouldn't be told on a night like this." "not to mention we came here with something for you!". the uchiha looked to ruby, barely recognising the redhead. He did however remember that she didn't have a ring on her finger. "no.. you didn't!" the reaper nodded happily as she rose her hand, causing even sasuke to smile. "you really did it you dog!"

The three broke in laughter at that comment, all of them forgetting what had transpired not seconds before. As the laughter slowed down, naruto once again looked through his presents. "ahh now where did I put it.. AHA! Here it is!" he yelled as he pulled out a small box. "here you go sasuke, treat it carefully. Took me all week to make that".

Opening the wrapping, he was met with a small box. Opening it he saw a ring made of silver with numerus seals around the small item. "WOAH WOAH WOAH! I ant joining you two!" naruto blanched as his present was mistaken for something "HEY! I WASN'T GIVING YOU THAT FOR THAT REASON TEME! It's a genjutsu ring! I made it so it only gives you pleasant dreams about your family!"

Sasuke stopped with that, looking at the ring like it was his only soluce "w-what?" "yeah.. I set up a constant genjutsu and called in a few favours so I could get some dna from your parent's medical records... I made two accurate copies in that ring. Wear it when you sleep and you can talk with them as if they were really there.. and they'll remember everything". Sasuke was silent as he heard this, his hair covering his eyes and head down.

"uhh sasuke? Are you ok?". Ruby stepped forward, placing her hand on his shoulder. They were both caught unaware as the raven haired boy caught both of them in a tearful embrace "th-thank y-you… thank you so much!". The two simply embraced back, holding the crying uchiha until he passed out. Putting the ring on his hand, they watched as the uchiha smiled in his sleep and layed him in his bed. "it's almost like putting our child to bed isn't it?" "yeah.. got a while before that though tou-san"

Holding back his laughter, he shunshined out of the room with ruby, leaving sasuke to his first peaceful Christmas in years. After they were gone, a figure fell from the roof, revealing a man in a black cloak with red clouds. Itachi looked at his brother, his heart wrenching as he saw his smile. "brother… oh how I miss you.." turning to the window, he saw naruto look at him from the rooftop opposite, nodding with a small smile. "I don't know how you know the truth uzumaki.. but thank you." and so itachi smiled, for the first time since that day. He leant down to sasuke, leaving a small gift and a kiss on the forehead. "merry Christmas little brother.. I love you".

And with that, itachi was gone, missing the growth in sasuke's smile. "itachi…"

Outside

"one more stop ruby." "yeah… think they'll be surprised?" "you're damn right they will!". And so the two walked into the night, heading towards the top of beacon tower. When they finally arrived, they saw the others waiting by 4 large buttons. "you ready guys?" "yeah. Lets make this a Christmas to remember!". Nodding at menma's words, they all stood next a button. A couple per button. Naruto pressed a smaller button, setting off a static sound "we're ready jiji! Lets give konoha some Christmas joy!" "go ahead naruto-kun. We're all looking at you now."

With that, they all placed their hands on their buttons, and looked to naruto in the middle of them all. "merry Christmas konoha.. and a happy new year". And so all four buttons were pressed, lighting beacon tower up in a shower of red, green and white, shining of the falling snow and illuminating the tower as a large speaker played wiess's covers of famous Christmas songs. "merry Christmas guys...".

The entire village watched the lights dance across the sky, making the bells across the tower shine like stars. "nice touch with the bells naruto-kun, very nice" "huh? Bells? But we didn't put any bells up? Did you guys?... no they say they didn't either?". Suddenly, bells rang out across the sky as deep laughter filled the ears of the villigers. "NARUTO, LOOK!". Looking to where his smiling girlfriend was pointing, naruto saw a sleigh shaped silhouette come from behind the tower, a note falling into his hands.

While I usually leave the job to my elves, a little helping hand or eight goes a long way. Thought you might want a little 'ring' to your display. Something else should be on the way. Don't eat it all at once

Have a wonderful Christmas you foxy saint-

Laughing at the words written down on the white note, naruto looked up to see a large box float down from a parachute. Opening the box, they were surprised to see a large amount of piping hot ramen bowls titled mrs,clause secret recipe for uzumakis.

And that was how the staff of beacon academy, spent Christmas in each other's company eating cinnamon ramen under the full moon, listening to wiess's singing and joining in too, with the village calling for encore after encore.

They never noticed a light on in a lone home in the distance, with a young man at his computer finishing off a piece of work. He looked towards the window, seemingly seeing something that only he could see. "merry Christmas readers... and and a happy new year ;) "