Sasuke dropped a sweat as Sakura's hold on him got a little tighter. It was a matter of moments before her head would be on his shoulder. Not that he minded her helping, considering the condition he was in, but couldn't she realize she was being a little too obvious..
He knew Sakura had a deep crush on him, from back in their academy days. Now though, it was more than just a crush, she was loving him too much for her own good. Sasuke was not exactly indifferent to her either, but he liked to keep his distance, for her own safety. His life had only one goal, revenge. And he would be devoted to nothing else till he attained it. Killing Itachi is what his life is all about, not even love could distract him from that. And Sakura was only going to get hurt if she got in his way of hatred.
"Sakura, I'm alright now. You can let go." Sasuke told her.
"A-Alright, Sasuke-kun.." He saw the disappointment in her face as she grudgingly let him go.
Sasuke sighed silently. He needed to tell her the truth soon, before it got too late and messed up her life. But it can wait for now.. His thoughts were back on their mysterious memory loss. He was missing something. Even though he had tried so many times to replay the scenes in his mind, it always ended blank just after he got inside Naruto's room. What happened after that? How did he end up in the forest with Naruto? He glanced at Naruto, who was chattering non-stop to Kakashi, who seemed to be blissfully caught up in his own world of thoughts. Kakashi caught Sasuke glancing at him and winked.
Sasuke relaxed. Whatever happened, they were safe for now. Probably the Hokage would investigate further and find some clues to the strange incident. Besides, today was a special day for Naruto. He did not want to ruin it for him. He smiled as he thought of it.
"I can't wait to see Naruto's face at our little surprise." Sakura told him in a low voice. She was smiling too.
"Yeah.." Sasuke smirked.
They were approaching his apartment now. He could tell that it was all set by the glow of candle light coming from his room. He hoped Naruto would not sense the unusual amount of chakra from all the people gathered inside.
"Hey Sasuke! Isn't your apartment around here somewhere?" Naruto was yelling at him.
"Right. It is over there." Sasuke pointed out in the wrong direction.
"Oh! Yeah! I think I can see some buildings." Naruto squinted.
Idiot.. there were no buildings there, just a park. He was worrying for nothing. Sasuke rolled his eyes as he wondered how stupid Naruto could get.
They reached the building where his apartment was and stopped.
"Hey! Hey! Why did we stop, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked.
"Uhh... I sensed the enemy's chakra from this building. We are going inside." Kakashi told him.
"Aahh! I get it. We will go in stealth and ambush them, right?" Naruto adjusted his headband, grinning. "It is time they saw Uzumaki Naruto in action."
"Heh.. They are going to faint when they realize you are such a stupid ninja." Sasuke couldn't help retorting.
"Naruto! Don't go head on and attack them, alright?" Sakura was genuinely worried now.
"Let's go guys." Kakashi smiled at them.
"Yeah!" Naruto yelled.
Kakashi and Naruto took the lead to the stairs, while Sasuke and Sakura followed close behind. They raced through the stairs and along the maze of corridors. As his apartment came into view, Kakashi held a hand out to stop them.
"Sasuke! Sakura! Now!" Kakashi ordered them.
The two charged ahead and caught up with Naruto, who was staring at Kakashi in confusion. Sasuke caught him in a stranglehold from behind while Sakura managed to get a tight hold of both of his hands.
"Wha- Teme! Let me off! What the hell are you doing? And Sakura-chan.. You are hurting my hands.. What's going on? If it's about attacking head on, I am not that stupid, you know.." Naruto struggled against them.
Kakashi glanced at them to ensure Naruto was being safely held. "Open up! Naruto is here!" He called, banging at the door and stepping aside.
"Huh.. do they know me?" The confusion on Naruto's face was priceless.
Naruto stopped fighting and stared as the door opened slowly before them.
A soft glow of candle light gleamed through. He squinted at the sudden brightness inside. His jaw fell open in disbelief. It felt as though he was looking at heaven itself, in its full splendor. Candles glowed everywhere, some even seemed to be floating in the air. And the bunches of balloons hanging all over the room were reflecting them so beautifully. As his eyes adjusted, he found that the room was packed with people. Now he could make out their faces.. There was Hinata and Tenten at the centre with a huge decorated cake in front of them on a small table. Off to their sides were Chouji, Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, Ino, Neji and Lee. Behind them stood their senseis. All were smiling at him.
He walked in slowly, holding on tightly to Sasuke and Sakura on his either side. As he took in the scene with wonder, they slowly broke into the birthday song. Sakura joined them singing, while Kakashi and Sasuke stood by him, smiling. The song was so soft and slow, yet filled with such a warmth that Naruto felt a weird feeling of joy swelling up inside him. They knew it after all, they knew it was his birthday! A smile crept up his lips, replacing the initial amazement.
The song ended in a thunder of applause. Waves of glittering graffiti hit him from everywhere, and balloons were sent flying. Somoeone put a pointed hat on top of his head and he was dragged to cut the biggest cake he had ever seen.
"Happy birthday, Naruto!" Kakashi said, his eyes curving upwards in a smile.
"Happy b'day! Naruto! You didn't expect this, did you?!" Sakura was laughing.
"Happy b'day dobe." Even Sasuke was smiling at him.
Naruto stood in a daze, taking in everything. Then he broke into a wide grin.
"Yeeeaaaaahhhhh! It is Uzumaki Naruto's birthday!" He yelled, putting his fist up in the air. "Time to celebrate!"
He reached for the knife to cut the huge cake. Everyone was in high spirits.
"Chooouujii.. Just control it.. will ya? It is his b'day, after all!" Ino was shouting at a cake-struck Chouji.
"The spring of youth is noooow! Let us enjoy it! Come-on Kakashi, I will beat you at cake eating!" Gai shouted.
"Uh-huh.." Kakashi dropped a sweat.
"Asuma.. " Shikamaru warned as Asuma slowly retreated from Kurenai, their faces pink.
"Woof! Woof!" Akamaru's barks added to the chaos.
Naruto was laughing as he cut a piece of cake and stuffed it in his own mouth.
"NARUTO! You idiot- you are supposed to give the first piece to Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura scolded him.
"Oh, really? I'm sorry! Didn't know that! Here, Kakashi sensei!" Naruto cut a piece of cake and put it ungracefully in the place where Kakashi's mouth should have been, if not for the mask. He ended up smearing the whole mask with cream.
"Uh.. Thank you Naruto.. " Kakashi told him, although his eye was flashing as if he wanted to kill him..
Sakura burst into a fit of giggle. Sasuke seemed to have a difficult time keeping his smile in check. Naruto cut two more pieces, took them in either hands and stuffed Sakura's and Sasuke's mouths, choking them. He pointed at them and broke out into uncontrolled laughter.
"HAHAHAAA.. HAAHAHHOOOHOO.. *gasp* HAHAHAAAHAA.. *gasp* YOU TWO LOOK FUNNY.. *gasp*" Naruto said, clutching his stomach.
"ddttt.. *cough* ..gugu." Sasuke growled, taking a handful of cream and throwing at Naruto. The cream stuck squarely on his face, dripping to his clothes.
"Haaaaaaaaahhhh! You deserve that idiot.." Sakura followed Sasuke's lead, this time upturning a whole bottle of champagne down on him.
"HELP!" Naruto yelled, running around the room, trying to escape his attackers.
"NOOOOOO! What have you done... MY CAKE!" Chouji let out a wail and pushed away everyone else aside, while he scooped and gobbled up what seemed like more than half of the remaining cake.
"You dumbasss! How could you do that to us... Now what are we gonna eat?" Kiba cried out despair. An annoyed Akamaru growled ferociously at Chouji, who protected the remains of the cake with his life on line. Neji and Lee advanced on him cautiously from either sides.
"There goes the golden chance of proving my youthfulness.." Gai sighed, putting his palm on his face.
"N-Naruto kun is having such a good time.." Hinata blushed, observing Naruto run around the room, chased by his teammates.
Shikamaru let out a huge yawn. "Eating cake traditionally has become so troublesome.." He observed, trapping the cake's shadow through his technique and pulling it out of Chouji's reach.
"You won't get away with that!" Ino jumped to rescue the kidnapped cake, ending up being dragged with it.
Tenten giggled as she switched on the music. The speakers blared out a frightening horror beat, punctuated by blood-curdling screams. "MUHAHAHAHAAA. LET'S ROCK! GUYS!" She yelled out.
"Wha-" Neji stopped in horror.
"Wh-what is that sound.." A frightened Hinata hid behind Kiba.
"You call this music?! STOP THAT THING YOU DUMBASS!" Ino yelled at Tenten.
"Cultures have changed, right Guy?" Kakashi glanced at Gai, dropping a sweat.
"If that is the case, THEN WE WILL CHANGE TOO! GRAAAAAAHHH.." Gai did a Henge no Jutsu and turned into a scary monster.
"..?.." Hinata fainted.
"Aaaaaaarrghhh.." Sakura stopped chasing Naruto and screamed as the monster jumped in front of her and advanced slowly.
"HEY! I have an awesome idea!" Naruto told himself and did his Harem No Jutsu. Two eye-popping Naruto ladies appeared and clinged to a flattered Asuma. Kurenai turned even scarier than the monster Gai.
Kakashi found everyone busy screaming. This is the chance! He thought, cuting off a piece of cake with his long range raikiri.
Shikamaru looked at the cake that had been charred black. "There goes my cake."
Coming up in next chapter.. Sasuke's dance with Sakura! Keep reading and reviewing! =D =D