A/N: Nothing like a litle birthday party to settle everyone down!! Enjoy and remember, Kishimoto-san made Naruto and all his friends, but Lacey, Cheela, Eto, Michi, and Karin are mine!!!

CH. 24: A Day Off

Two weeks after the motorcycle race found the group decorating for a certain young operative's fourteenth birthday party. Choji had called their parents to let them know it would be safe for them to attend, since Sakura had staged another death for them. They were using their original last name once more as well. Choji and Cheela's mom insisted on helping cook, even though Sakura was the one who was preparing the food.

Choza was busy throwing the fourteen year old birthday girl into the air and watching her giggle with happiness. Choji and Michi watched from the porch as Choza threw the youth high into the air and caught her again. Eto eventually ran over from the operative's house to join in. He had been practicing his kekkei genkai intently and showing it off to Cheela, who had also been working on hers. They had yet to test their skills against Sakura because they were just too young.

Everyone in the house had been training extensively ever since they arrived. Hinata had improved her offensive defense technique and had even made some new offensive techniques with Neji's help. Naruto had learned to merge himself with Kyuubi up to two tails so far and had gained better control over his chakra. All the young ladies, including Lacey and Cheela, had been trained in medical healing using their chakra as the source. Michi became interested and decided to apprentice under Tsunade.

Temari sparred against Shikamaru everyday and often she sparred with Tenten as well. Ino had been put under Sai's tutelage for recon and assassin training. Kankuro sparred with Choji and Lee often, as well as Lacey, who was often his partner and took on Lee. Gaara sparred against Sakura often and it was also common for the two of them to disappear for hours and then just randomly show up claiming they'd been sparring where Gaara's sand wouldn't destroy anything (which was actually the truth).

Karin was the only one that avoided using her kekkei genkai. She was very much afraid of it and she didn't understand it. Sakura often trained her using it, but the blonde refused to spar anyone. When Kankuro and Kiba asked her why, she looked away, saying she didn't want to lose her temper and hurt one of the people she cared about.

Everyone was extremely understanding about this and didn't push her. She had learned to manipulate the elements to do her bidding however. A random gust of wind that blew one person into the other while sparring (usually only if the two sparring were a couple) or a random rock appearing to trip someone and make them fall on their counterpart. Lacey seemed to fall victim to this prank most often.

However, training today had been cancelled due to the fourteenth birthday of their youngest member. Sakura made spice cake, being as that was Cheela's favorite, and a virtual feast of foods that made everyone's eyes widen with delight.

"Sakura-obasan! It's so pretty! Thank you so much!" the young girl threw her arms around Sakura and hugged her tightly. Sakura chuckled and patted her head. They all sat down and ate. After the food was done with and cake was served, the presents came. She smiled and giggled excitedly when Choji handed a box to her that was from both him and Michi.

She opened it delicately and found a very expensive school pack made of leather with a bird trinket on it. She smiled and threw her arms around her brother and his girlfriend. "Thank you Nii-san, Michi-chan!" she giggled and accepted the next gift, which was from Neji and Tenten. The youth squealed at the small ornamental dagger she received. She hugged Tenten and bowed to Neji. Bother smiled at the little girl.

Naruto handed her the gift from Hinata and him next. She opened it to find two beautifully beaded chopsticks for her hair. She grinned and hugged both of them. Naruto grinned at her and ruffled her hair, making her giggle. Temari handed her a card from her and Shikamaru. The girl arched a brow and opened the card. She giggled as she read the outside and opened it. Her eyes were wide when she saw the picture of a car inside it.

"What's this Temari-chan?" she looked up at the blonde, who smile and pointed to Shikamaru. The dark haired boy sighed and looked at the ceiling.

"It's a picture of the car that's on hold for you until you turn sixteen. Think of it as your present from the two of us till you get it." he said and blushed when the young girl screamed and jumped into his arms. Everyone laughed a little and then everything settled down.

Kiba whistled and Akamaru came running with a small bundle in his jaws. The squirming bundle was handed to the girl by the big white dog, who licked the girl's cheek after his package was taken. She giggled and unwrapped the wiggling package. Inside was a small black and tan puppy. It was smaller than she'd ever seen before.

Tears formed in her eyes as she looked at Kiba and Ino, who smile indulgently at her. She picked up the small dog carefully and cradled it against her. She walked carefully over to Kiba and hugged him around the neck, then hugged Ino the same way. She could feel the little dog nuzzling her and giggled. She was looking for a pillow to put it on when Karin handed her a rather large bag from her and Kankuro.

"This should help sweetie. Open it and take it out." Karin smiled and leaned back against Kankuro, who laced his fingers with hers. They smiled at one another and kissed. Sitting the puppy down momentarily, Cheela pulled something out of the bag and smiled brightly. It was a blue doggy bed with a heart broken in half and black letters saying 'Heart Breaker' on the front. She put the bed down and put the puppy in the bed. It curled up and fell asleep in the bed while Cheela received the rest of her gifts.

Lee gave her a cool watch that he showed her how to use and communicate to the others with, while Sai and Shino gave her money, being as they didn't know what to get her. Her parents gave her clothes for school and Sakura and Gaara gave her an assortment of cool odds and ends, including various weapons designed to enhance her kekkei genkai.

Lacey was the next to gift her with something. the red head smiled widely at her and held her hand out in the air. Cheela looked at it and saw a seed of some sort. She arched one ruddy brow and looked at the woman. She saw the sparkle in those odd eyes and smiled expectantly. Right before their eyes the seed turned into the prettiest rose any of them had ever seen. When it opened, a soft light emitted from it's center.

"I know you hate the dark ever since your abduction joji…so this is to protect you when I'm not here to do it." The softly glowing lavender rose was put into a pot that Lacey brought out of no where and handed to her. She smiled at the older girl and wrapped her arms around her waist. The last person to give her a gift was Eto.

Eto gulped nervously and took out a pouch he'd had attached to his hip. He dumped several ugly looking rocks into his hand and looked at Cheela. She smiled sweetly at him and he gulped again, looking at Sakura for encouragement. Taking a deep breath, he activated his kekkei genkai and began manipulating the stones. Soon, the ugly stones turned into beautiful gems. Sapphire, ruby and emerald were all twisted together into the prettiest bracelet Cheela had ever seen.

She let Eto put it on he wrist and then she launched herself into his arms, hugging him excitedly. He let out his breath and smiled, relieved that she was happy with his gift. A chorus of meows brought everyone's attention to the cats that had suddenly appeared. They were both investigating the small dog in the blue bed. Ichimanako instantly adopted the little creature as her kitten and started grooming him while Hime batted at his floppy ear playfully.

Everyone laughed at the three until there was a knock at the front door. Having not expected company, Sakura was instantly on alert. She made her way carefully to the door and looked out the peephole. She discovered one of her agents on the other side. She quickly opened the door and stepped out.

About forty five minutes of silence later, Sakura came back in with a large stack of papers. She smiled and put the papers on the bar in the kitchen and rejoined the festivities. It was a good day to have off.

00000000000

I will explain everyone's kekkei genkais when the chapter comes, but just know that Lacey manipulates plants and natural substances and Eto can manipulate stones and gems an way he wants, hence the pretty bracelet he made for Cheela. Being as they are only fourteen (Eto is almost fifteen) there will be no 'love scene' between them until the sequel (yes I will be making a sequel...if i ever manage to finish this one...lol) when they turn eighteen or so. Hope you enjoy, let me knkow if there is something you don't understand, and I apologize if y typing is crap, you try typing with only one hand!