Sasuke opened his eyes warily, feeling something in the air he did not like. He sat up in bed, glancing around quickly to see if there was someone in the room he shared with Kiba and Naruto. No one except him and Rusty.

The golden retriever whined and licked Sasuke's hand. Sasuke scratched behind his dog's ears. "You didn't see anyone, did you, boy?"

Rusty panted as an answer. Sasuke sighed and stood up, pulling a shirt over his head and changing his pants. He opened the door and Rusty wagged his tail and followed him out the door and down the stairs.

Rusty made a bee-line for his food bowl, wolfing down the dog food there. Sasuke yawned and reached for the cereal, vaguely wondering where everybody was. Shouldn't at least his mom be home? Or Hana?

He poured milk into his bowl, finding a spoon and sitting down at the table.

Rusty trotted over and laid his head on Sasuke's thigh. Sasuke pet his dog and finished his cereal, slurping up the milk and licking his lips to catch any remaining drops.

He stood and dropped his bowl into the sink, leaving it for someone else to clean later.

Sasuke trudged into the living room, getting really confused when he still didn't see anybody. Did he miss something? Did his parents have a mission or something?

He thought hard. Tomorrow was the day they would be assigned their Jonin senseis. Itachi and Hana had said they had something to do, Sakura had announced that she would be at Ino's house for the day. He didn't know where his parents or brother were, but as long as they weren't planning something he was fine.

He collapsed on the couch and reached for the TV remote. He flipped through the channels, finally settling on a news casting.

"Today, July 23rd, Konoha will be…"

Sasuke froze, eyes wide. No way. July 23rd could not be today.

He glanced over at the calendar on the wall, and with a start realized that July 23rd was today. His birthday.

"Oh, crap," he muttered.

/\/\

Naruto grinned at Kiba as his older brother grabbed Sasuke's present from the shopkeeper. Kiba smirked.

"Sasu-chan's totally going to kill us, isn't he?"

Naruto laughed. "Of course he is."

/\/\

Kakashi frowned up at the sky as Tsume led him through the streets.

"Where are we going?" he asked. Tsume smirked.

"You'll see."

He sighed and glanced around as they walked up to Ichiraku's.

Tsume grinned at Teuchi, who smiled back and handed her a bag. "Here you go," he said.

Tsume nodded. "Thanks, Teuchi."

"No problem."

Kakashi raised a brow before following his fiancée back out into the street.

"What's in the bag?" he asked.

"You'll see."

/\/\

Sakura frowned as Ino tilted her head side to side, studying her earrings.

"You think this is too much?" the blonde inquired anxiously. She bit her lip and her blue eyes found Sakura's in the mirror.

Sakura groaned and grabbed a box of tissues. She stepped closer to her friend and started wiping away the excessive makeup on the Yamanaka's face.

"It's just a small gathering, Ino," Sakura sighed. "Sasuke won't even talk to you looking like this."

Ino looked down at her outfit consisting of a tight purple skirt and low-cut dark blue v-neck. "What's wrong with how I look?"

"You're trying too hard."

Sakura threw away the tissues and studied her friend again. Then she went over to the closet and hunted around for a moment.

"Here," she said, tossing a pair of shorts and a green cami to Ino. "Wear this and Sasuke won't absolutely hate you." She winked. "He might even like you."

Ino grinned and nearly skipped to the bathroom.

When the blonde reappeared, Sakura had cleaned up the mess littered around the room. Sakura smiled and said, "This is why you need me."

Ino's lips curled into a smirk and she cocked her head. "You are totally right, Sakura."

Sakura almost frowned—what had happened to the girl who was practically hyperventilating?—but she beamed and hugged her friend instead.

She couldn't wait to see her brother's face tonight.

/\/\

Sasuke had specifically said that he did not want to celebrate his birthday. He didn't want presents, and he absolutely loathed the idea of a party. But did anyone listen to him?

No.

The raven sighed and glared at the calendar. What he wouldn't give to change his birthday so that he didn't have one…

There was a knock at the door, and Sasuke stomped over to the door and threw it open. He snarled at the shocked face of Shikamaru. The Nara slyly slid a package behind his back.

"What?" the Hatake hissed (1), eyes narrowed dangerously.

Shikamaru's eyes darted behind Sasuke and back to his face. "I-uh, is Naruto here?"

"No."

"When is he going to be back?" Shikamaru was starting to get uncomfortable.

"Don't know."

"Do you know where he is?"

"If I knew that, don't you think I would tell you?"

"I honestly don't know. See you, Sasuke," Shikamaru said, backing away slowly. When he was halfway down the path, he added, "Happy birthday!"

Sasuke threw a kunai at him.

/\/\

Kiba narrowed his eyes against the sun and glanced around the street for the Naruto. Where had his brother gone?

The youngest Hatake was staring open-mouthed at a shop window—a candy shop to be exact. Kiba sighed and strode over to his younger brother, grabbing the blonde's arm.

"No," he said firmly. Naruto pouted.

"Why not?"

"Because you know what candy does to you," Kiba answered, whistling to Akamaru. The tiny dog bounded over with Ramen, who obediently licked Naruto's hand.

Kiba dragged Naruto away and into the cool air of a clothes shop.

"Come on," Kiba said. "Time to get new clothes for Sasuke."

/\/\

Sasuke was hiding in his room when his parents came home. He heard them talking about his party as they passed his room.

Rusty was sprawled out on his back on Sasuke's bed, and the raven was absently scratching the dog's stomach.

He was still there when his brothers came home, and he didn't so much as flinch when Tsume came to tell him that the first guests were there. He didn't even leave his room until his dad appeared and threw him over his shoulder.

"Dad!" Sasuke shouted. "I don't want to go!"

"Too bad," Kakashi said. "It's your party, you're going."

Sasuke frowned as Kakashi dropped him on the couch, and his scowl deepened as everyone shouted happy birthday at him.

Ino smiled at him from across the room, and Sasuke briefly admired the fact that she actually looked…nice. He actually wouldn't mind being seen with her in public looking like that.

Naruto plopped down next to him and Sasuke tore his gaze from Ino to stare at Naruto.

"You did this, didn't you?" he muttered. Naruto grinned.

"Kiba helped."

"I'm going to kill both of you."

"Good luck!" Naruto stood up."Happy birthday!"

Sasuke snorted as the blonde walked away.

His gaze caught Sakura frantically gesturing to Ino before pushing the blonde in his direction. She smiled shyly and took a seat next to him.

Maybe this party wouldn't be so bad after all.

A/N: (1): It took me forever, but I finally decided that Kakashi's kids would have his last name. (Kiba is not his kid technically, so he will have his mom's last name. Like usual.)

Ooh, Sasuke has a crush! I laugh at his pain. The next chapter will probably be the rest of the party, or I'll come up with something. Review?