The sake bar was a dive.
It would have to be, Naruto thought glumly, to serve to underaged ninja. Of course, not everyone was underaged. Neji, Shino and Chouji were good, but Kiba, Shikamaru and himself were not supposed to be there.
With all the smoke and the low lights it wasn't like the bartender could tell anyway. Besides, not too many civilians went out of their way to bother shinobi. If he could pay for it, then he could drink it.
But his drink sat somewhat neglected, the clear liquid shadowed by the edge of the cup. He could refill it, the bottle sat in the middle of the table, but didn't.
"Hahaha!" Kiba laughed, slapping a bored looking Shikamaru on the back, nearly sending him into his drink, "You should have seen it! It was all over the place, I couldn't believe it. He was covered in the stuff."
Shino wasn't appreciating the story, "This is hardly appropriate."
Kiba waved him off, continuing unconcerned, "Projectile, I tell you. Seriously, it flew across the room."
Ewww, Naruto took a drink, making a face when Kiba mimed a splatter effect.
Neji looked disgusted, but Chouji continued to munch on pretzels. Shino's face was covered in his usual sunglasses and hood, but his voice came out clear enough, "It's late," he announced, standing up, "I'm leaving."
"Don't get sulky!" Kiba called after him, but it was too late and Shino already walked out the door, "Ah, whatever," he sat back down and crossed his arms, "He's so touchy feely."
"Like he's the only one Kurenai-sensei's son ever puked on," Shikamaru drawled after taking another swig of his drink.
Chouji nodded sagely at this, "Too much formula."
Naruto shook his head, What were they talking about? he wondered, his mind bordering on fuzzy. Another drink emptied his cup.
By this time Sai returned from the bar, holding a pink frozen drink topped with a colorful umbrella. He sipped it through a swirly straw, "Where is Shino-kun?" he asked.
"Pouting," Kiba answered succinctly. He threw back the rest of his sake, smacked his lips and looked around, "Now where's that kareoke machine?"
Sai took his vacant seat, while Naruto pushed his cup away and leaned his cheek against an open palm. The crowd in the bar had dwindled over the last hour or so, drifting off into the night. Now only a few tables were filled, and some poor sop at the bar's counter who was there before they had even showed up.
Some celebration this had been, he moped, wanting to lay down and go to bed. Only three days since he returned, he had been pulled every which way. What happened? Where did you go? How did you do it? Why, why, why...
He had been on his way to his temp room in the Hokage Tower when Kiba had ambushed him, dragging him across town to this seedy bar. Chouji and Shikamaru weren't so surprising and Sai said something about 'bonding experiences', but Shino and Neji? Of course, Shino already left and Neji was just kinda sitting there, looking vaguely disapproving.
A few notes started Kiba's kareoke. It looked like he dragged out an ancient machine from who knows where and set it up himself. The bartender seemed surprised at least.
He wasn't too bad, Naruto admitted grudgingly, but the outdated song drew a couple of boos from the other patrons. Chouji seemed to like it, he was tapping his fingers on the grimy tabletop.
He couldn't answer the questions though, Tsunade-baa-chan had forbidden it. Naruto ran a hand through his hair, letting out a heavy breath, no one would believe it anyway, he thought frowning. He couldn't really believe it himself, it seemed so surreal, like he was just daydreaming and someone would tap his shoulder and he would snap out of it.
"Naruto," Neji tapped him on the shoulder, making him start and look up a bit blearily, "I'm leaving," he said his brow furrowed, "The noise is getting to me."
He snorted at that, "Yeah, see ya."
Neji nodded, "It's good to have you back," he said simply before leaving.
Blinking, Naruto watched him go. It may have been the alcohol, but had Neji just said that? Stoic Neji? Of course he had showed up at the dingy bar for this celebration. He laughed a bit helplessly, rubbing his hand across his face, things sure had changed.
He hardly recognized his own hometown anymore, it seemed like a completely new village now. Renovated buildings and new streets greeted him, while old familiar haunts had disappeared. His old apartment complex was a store now, selling the latest trends in Cloud Country fashion.
Sakura-chan, Kiba, and Chouji had been promoted to jounin, and Lee got his special jounin. Even Shikamaru got a special jounin after Tsunade-baa-chan threatened him with a higher promotion, nothing like the promise of work to get Shikamaru to do what you wanted him to.
Konohamaru just took and passed his chuunin exam, and had treated him out for ramen even. The brat was growing up.
Naruto shrugged off the feeling of missing something, an uneasy settling of his gut that his fuzzy mind couldn't quite ignore. He was gone for a long time, it was true. He couldn't really expect nothing to change, but I did, he sighed resting his chin in his hand and staring at the tabletop. He shouldn't really be so surprised, but... when you return home you expect to see everything the same.
Sai refilled his drink, and he muttered a thank you before knocking back half of it. Naruto hadn't ever had much alcohol before this, never really if he was truthful. He didn't see what was so great about it and put the cup down a bit too hard, sloshing some of the liquid over the edge.
But he hadn't thought so much would change either. Exhaling hard, he frowned as Kiba launched into another song. Did he just stand still this entire time? No, he thought shaking his head, the last few months has tested him. His prowess and conviction, his reason for going after Akatsuki even, but he had overcome his trial triumphantly.
Then why was he so dejected?
Was Tsunade-baa-chan right? So long ago she had told him to be careful or else the world would pass him by.
Kiba had finished his second song with a deep bow, drawing cheers from both fans and detractors. He sat down, flush and grinning, "Good huh? Been practicing."
"It didn't sound like it," Sai replied, smiling.
"Shut up!" Kiba growled out, pointing a finger at him, "Like you could do any better!"
"I liked it," Chouji added, "My mom used to play that song when she cleaned the house."
That deflated Kiba, "Eh!?" he exclaimed incredulously, "No way!"
"Where did you even get that kareoke machine anyway?" Shikamaru asked.
Kiba crossed his arms, "None of your business. Besides, I don't see any of you entertaining us."
"Well, with you here," Naruto grinned.
Kiba humphed and took another shot of sake, "Too bad Shino isn't here, I would have dedicated one to him."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "I'm sure that would've went over real well, with being consumed by flies. Maybe you should try someone else."
"Too bad Kankuro left last week," Kiba looked thoughtful, then wicked, "Of course, Temari-chan was here too. Maybe I should have tried her out."
Pausing, but then taking his cup nonchalantly Shikamaru shrugged, "Like I care," he said a little too dismissive before taking a swig. Chouji snorted at this, drawing a withering glare from his friend, "Maybe you should ask out Ino then, Kiba," he suggested, "I hear she's not seeing anyone right now."
Chouji frowned, shoving more bar nuts into his mouth while Kiba grinned, showing off his fangs, "What happened to Sai, then?" he took the bait, his grin growing bigger and bigger, "Not enough man for her?"
Trying to hold in his laughter, Naruto choked on his sake as Sai looked up from his fruity drink, "Ino-chan has been taking a lot of missions since she reached jounin," he announced slapping Naruto on the back, "She said she can't let 'forehead girl' outdo her."
"Sakura?" Shikamaru asked, "She still going on about that?"
"Ino is very dedicated," Chouji mumbled under his breath.
"And she has a great pair of legs," Kiba added lecherously.
A general consensus passed along the table, save for Sai who didn't really seem to care. Naruto found himself nodding along with the others, but never had really paid attention to Ino's legs before.
"A bit more well rounded is better," Shikamaru mimed an hourglass figure, "Ino's too thin."
"Well rounded?" Kiba looked thoughtful, then something must have came to him because he turned to Naruto with a single minded determination, "You're the man of the hour, what do you think?"
Eh? Naruto blinked when the others suddenly turned to him. Are they really expecting an answer? he wondered putting his drink down, but the curious stares around the table proved that question moot, "Um, you know," he motioned cupping something in his palms.
Laughter erupted around him, causing him to glare and cross his arms, "Shut up!" he growled, his face red, "Stupid bastards..."
"That's too perfect," Kiba wiped his eyes and shook his head.
What was so funny? Naruto wanted to know, not liking a laugh at his expense. All he did was answer the dumb question! He glowered while the others finally trailed off.
"Well that answers a few things," Shikamaru commented before taking another drink.
Huh?
"No wonder why you're going after her," Kiba smiled, waggling his eyebrows.
"What are you talking about?!" Naruto demanded, "I don't get it!"
"Hyuuga Hinata has rather large breasts," Sai said offhand.
Naruto spewed out sake, his eyes wide, "Sai! What the hell!"
Kiba was doubling over in laughter, "This is too good!"
Even more red faced than before, Naruto partially turned away, shooting glances over his shoulder as if expecting Neji or Shino to reappear. The last thing he needed was to try and explain this conversation, "Don't talk about Hinata-chan like that!"
"Hinata-chan is it?" a feral grin, "How cute. Bet she appreciates it."
Naruto frowned, pointing an accusing finger at Kiba, "You're her old teammate! You shouldn't be making fun of her! None of you should!"
He shouldn't have ever said anything to these guys. When he had come back, Hinata had looked so happy he was surprised. Just showing up had put a smile on her face, he couldn't believe the affect he had on her. It was nice, he smiled then corrected himself, no it was amazing. He wouldn't let her down now.
Kiba had the decency to look remorseful, "You're right," he set down his drink and scratched the back of his head while the others nodded, "Sorry."
The conversation dwindled down after that until finally the bartender started kicking people out. Sai disappeared in a blot of ink while Shikamaru and Chouji stumbled off into the night with the other patrons.
Naruto said goodbye and was starting to walk off when Kiba stopped him, "Hey, wait up."
"What?"
He looped an arm around his shoulders, "You know," Kiba said thoughtfully, "I never really agreed before. I mean, you would have questioned it too, but," he turned with a wide grin, "I approve!"
"Huh?" Naruto asked intelligently, how much did he have to drink?
But Kiba didn't answer, only laughed and took off.
In no mood to chase after him, Naruto watched him disappear into the clear night, his head starting to hurt. His temp room was so far away, he groaned melodramatically.
I could crash at Sasuke's, he thought, liking the idea more and more. It was only a few blocks away and his couch wasn't too uncomfortable. Besides, the way the ground kept moving he wasn't sure he could make it all the way to the Hokage Tower anyway.
Stupid door, he complained, jiggling the knob in such a way the door unlocked, letting him slip in. He shut the sliding screen quietly, banging into only the low table before finding the couch. He threw an arm over his eyes and passed out.
The bright morning sun burned his retinas, and he screwed shut his eyelids in a vain attempt to block it out. His head was pounding and his stomach roiled. Turning over and pressing his face into a pillow he tried to fall back asleep to no avail.
That was a bad idea, he moaned inwardly, now he knew what Tsunade-baa-chan went through and made a note to go easy on her next time she had a hangover.
He didn't know how long he laid there, a few minutes or an hour, but the room grew gradually brighter. Drifting in and out of awareness, Naruto didn't notice the sound of a door opening and footsteps along the floor right away. It was only after the sounds of cabinets opening and the smell of breakfast before he became aware someone else was up.
Groaning he rolled over, his stomach doing flip-flops at the smell of food. He sat up slowly, peeling off the forehead protector that had left an impression from sleeping on it, "Ugh..."
A pan dropped, and then a figure appeared in his peripheral vision, "Naruto?!"
Wait, he paused before looking up apprehensively, that voice wasn't Sasuke's... "Sakura-chan?"
Sure enough his old teammate was there, pink hair and all. However, she was dressed in what looked like an old t-shirt that just barely covered anything interesting, her bare legs sticking out.
Oh, crap.
Red marks appeared high on her cheeks before she let out a blood curling scream and kicked the couch over, with him in it. Naruto had a moment to brace himself, before he crashed into the opposite wall, the couch following a split second later.
"What are you doing here!" she shrieked.
Crawling out from under the couch, he wiped the broken plaster from his hair, "Ohhhh," he groaned, just laying on the floor.
"What's all the noise?" Sasuke asked yawning from the hallway.
"Naruto is here!"
"I can see that," he replied unconcerned, "Why did you knock half the wall down?"
"Never mind," Sakura said tightly before kneeling down and grabbing Naruto by the shirt, "Why are you here?" she asked, slapping him to wake him up.
"Why are you here?" he countered, batting her hands away.
"Don't be stupid," she replied, letting him go unexpectedly and going back over to Sasuke, "I need to shower and change, will you watch breakfast for a minute?"
Oh... so..., he blinked.
Oh...
Sasuke nodded, sticking his hands in his pockets, "Women," he said after Sakura had disappeared down the hallway, then gave a rather fatalistic shrug before helping to half drag half goad Naruto into moving to a nearby chair, "So sensitive."
Oh... right, Naruto was still turning this new development in his mind, not really paying too much attention to the Uchiha, "I didn't see anything!" he promised, not needing to be thrown into another wall this early in the morning.
"Although I guess this ruins the big reveal," Sasuke said sighing at the new hole in the wall. That solved the problem of which wall to put the new window in, "But you'll have to keep quiet about the engagement at least."
Disclaimer: Not mine... nyuck nyuck nycuk...
A/N: This chapter was fun to write, I haven't gotten an opportunity for much humor recently. A few notes:
Yeah, they're underaged. By a few months is all. I hardly think that's the worst thing I've ever written.
I rarely see fic with male bonding in it, usually only the girls get together and gossip. Even though it seems like Kiba, Naruto, Shikamaru and Chouji are much more canonically friends than Sakura, Ino and Hinata are. Besides, it's fun to write from a wholly different perspective than what I've experienced.
Sasuke and Sakura? Who da thunk it?
As always, thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving to any fellow Americans out there!