Pairings -- SasuNaru (in that order), LeeSaku, ShikaIno, KibaHina, KakaIru, NejiGaa
Summary -- It's Christmas time in Konoha and Naruto's ready for them! ...Except... He doesn't know quite what to get Sasuke... (sasunaru and others)
A/N -- Phew I was debating for a while on whether or not to finish writing this entire story and post it as a one-shot, or just post 5-10 pages at a time. I voted for the latter. So this fanfiction should be about 12 chapters long at around 7 pages a chapter. Please note that I do not have a beta-reader, and I also don't have a spell-check, so there may be some spelling-gramatical errors that I'm not aware of, or simply missed. I do make a point to read through my work several times before moving on, and I'm confident that there aren't any mistakes, but please don't hesitate to tell me about errors if you find any!
I am not, in any sense, a phenominal writer. I'm actually a comic artist working on a comic known currently as GreyRune. Currently, I'm working on a contest entry for TokyoPop's RSOM5 contest, that needs to be postmarked by January 13, and I still have five pages left to draw/ink, and all 20 left to scan. I intend to have Twelve Days of Christmas done by the 20th of December, but we'll see. I really need to finish my comic. ;;;
I rated this comic 'M' because I think I may add a lemon (or at least a link to one) later on. Please don't bother me, claiming that I rated my story wrongly.
On another note, I have never posted anything on FFN, and I'm not quite sure what and what not to expect from people. Honestly, I love reading SasuNaru more that most, and I just see this as my contribution to the SasuNaru community. Enjoy
EDIT -- Spelling errors were corrected. Thanks so much Crazy novelist-san! Your help is very much appreciated!
Day one--
The sun peeked its head out from the horizon, shedding a burst of vibrant color over the dull and sleeping land. Trees were hung with pale weights on their branches, and snow was piled high upon the ground.
And so began a new winter day in the city of Konoha.
Sunlight hit the lids of a blonde teen curled up in his bed. He emmited an irritated groan, but instead of getting up, he flipped himself over and drew the blankets closer, attempting to keep the warmth in while he tried to fall back aslee--
BRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNGGG!
Ice-blue eyes snapped open to the sound of their little froggy alarm clock before a complimenting fist smashed it to bits, permanently silencing it. He sat up in his bed, grumbling and smacking his lips. Executing an exaggerated yawn, he spared a glance at his damaged alarm clock... or what was left of it.
"Man... I have GOT to stop doing that!" He said, pulling back his covers and standing up, shivering slightly as his feet made contact with the cold floor. Slowly, he worked his way to the bathroom for a scalding shower.
Thirty minutes later, Uzumaki Naruto stepped into his kitchen, warm, awake, and ready to face the day. He made for his cupboards, and, grabbing a cup of ramen from inside, went about boiling some water.
Naruto still adored Ramen, even at his current age of seventeen, but he made a point not to eat it all the time, as a certain bastard deemed it "unhealthy" and "boring." It was the latter comment that had gotten Naruto all riled up, and they had argued (Naruto shouting and Sasuke lightly taunting) for a full twenty minutes before he 'challenged' Sasuke, claiming that he could eat more exciting foods than the bastard could. Naruto grinned at the memory. He thought he was winning.
His electric kettle made a small ding, telling Naruto that the water inside was ready to make ramen, and he didn't hesitate in doing just that.
"Itadakimasu!" Naruto clapped his hands together, chopsticks supported by his thumbs before hungrily diving into his steaming meal. A small tapping noise on his window announced the arrival of his former sensei.
"Yo!" Kakashi grinned with the usual greeting, hopping through Naruto's now open window.
"Geez, Kakashi! Can't you use the door! You're letting all the cold air in!" Naruto huffed. Kakashi faked a sob before closing the window and seating himself across from his former student.
"So," Naruto began between sloppy slurps, "What brings you here?"
"Good news. Bad news."
"So which is it?" Kakashi smiled behind his mask.
"Depends on how you take it."
"Take what!"
"Nothing." He paused, glaring daggers at Kakashi.
"The hell!" Kakashi rummaged though his pockets and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"Ah. Here! From Iruka!" Naruto hesitantly took the paper from him.
"Ja!" There was a poof of smoke, and he was gone. Naruto sighed and unfolded the paper.
Naruto,
I have something that I'd like to speak to you about. If you don't mind, could you come by the academy later today? Preferably after class?
-Iruka
"Huh." Naruto muttered after reading the letter several times, "Why would Kakashi deliver a message from Iruka? Unless--" He stopped speaking and stared at the letter.
"OH MY GOD! KAKASHI YOU PERVERT! YOU BETTER NOT HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO IRUKA!" With that, he bolted out the door, straight for the academy.
------------
"Ne, ne, Sasuke-kun! You have to help me!" A pink-haired kunoichi pleaded to a very sexy brunette.
"Hn." His black eyes stared uninterestedly at her. Sakura's cheeks puffed out in annoyance as she grabbed his arm.
"Please, Sasuke-kun! I need help finding a present for Lee-kun! I need a male's opinion!"
"Sakura, let go. I'm not going shopping." He yanked his arm from her grasp.
"Arrgghhhh! Where's Naruto when you need him!" Sakura pouted.
As if on cue, a pumpkin colored blur came speeding around a corner, and before the two could react--
WHAM!
"ITAI!" Naruto groaned, holding a hand to his head.
"Get off of me, Dobe."
"Heh?" He looked down and came face to face with...
A.
Very.
Pissed.
Uchiha.
"Sasuke? What're you doing down there?" Sasuke stared up at the blonde nin, a light blush staining his cheeks. Oh, the sexual implications of that statement ...
Embarrassment quickly turned to anger as he stood up, pushing Naruto off of him.
"Ow! Baka teme..." Naruto hissed to the retreating figure.
"Honestly," Sakura said while helping Naruto up, "He's so cranky today. I can't for the life of me figure out what's wrong ."
"Feh! Who cares about the bastard."
You do, Naruto. Sakura sighed, taking a moment to look at her old teammate.
The years had done Naruto great justice, his baby fat replaced by lean muscle. His hair was a little longer and, if possible, much messier than it used to be, and his whisker-like scars were more prominent. But the most startling feature was his eyes, and their slitted pupils.
During the battle with Orochimaru, the Kyuubi met an undesirable fate. Having been exhausted from fighting for so long, Naruto had retreated into the recesses of his mind, allowing the Kyuubi to take over for a little while when something unexpected happened. Orochimaru and Kabuto perform ed a Jutsu no-one had ever thought possible -- a soul-sealing Jutsu. The way they saw it, if Naruto's soul was gone, then only the Kyuubi would remain and capturing it would be easy while it got used to its new body. Little did they know of the switch between consciousnesses that had taken place in the young nin's body.
Naruto's mind awoke to the screams of the Kyuubi, and in a desperate move to save it, he grabbed hold of its tails and refused to let go. Pain had shot through his body, and his chakra limits were broken and revised, and the world went black.
When he woke up the kyuubi was gone, but Naruto could still feel its power coursing through his veins and he knew then that he had managed to fuse with the fox.
It was difficult adjusting to his new abilities, and dealing with the loss of others. His smell, and hearing abilities had increased considerably, and seeing in the dark was no longer a problem. He had even managed to create new Jutsu's that he knew only he could perform . Sakura smiled. But now if his opening points were sealed by Neji or Hinata in a fight, he couldn't summon more chakra like he could before.
They'd been through a lot.
But Naruto wasn't the only one who had changed. Sakura had changed quite a bit herself. She was now equipped with sharp-curves and plump breasts--though no where near the size of Tsunade's. She had kept her hair short, her fore-head protector now tied around her neck. She had given up on Sasuke after the War with the Sound, and was very glad that she had. Lee was wonderful to her, but Sasuke would always be a good friend as Naruto would since he had gotten over his crush on her.
"Ne, Naruto!" Sakura said suddenly.
"Yeah?"
"Come help me pick out a present for Lee-kun!" She tugged on his orange and black jacket sleeve.
"Sa! Okay!" He eagarly followed her, completely forgetting about Kakashi and poor Iruka.
------------
Naruto took his time browsing through the stores. He hadn't really had anything planned for today so he wasn't feeling rushed at all.
Even though Christmas was only twelve days away.
"Say, Naruto..."
"Yeah?" Sakura bit her lip, unsure of how to continue. She was treading on eggshells.
"Have you... Have you gotten anything for Sasuke yet?" Naruto shot her a queer look.
"Ehhhh! Why would I get the bastard anything!".
"Naruto. You get him something every year." There was a small pause in their conversation.
"Well, not this year." Sakura sighed.
"That's what you said LAST year, and you went ahead and bought him those giant shurikans he loves so much." Naruto looked away. "He ADORED that gift from you!" She stressed the 'from you part' for effect, and snickered at the red bluch plastered on his face.
"Th-tha-that's just---" Sakura gave him a mischievous grin through narrowed eyes.
"Look, I just... I..." She nodded to tell him to continue. He sighed. "I just can't find the right gift this year."
There was an uneasy pause in their conversation. Well, uneasy for Naruto.
"Why do you keep bringing him up!" Sakura couldn't help but smile wider.
"Because you like him!" The loudest ninja in Konoha was silent.
"WHAT! I--I-- But--- you don't-- He's a--!" The blush on his face deepened with every word he spoke.
"You were saying?" She asked him, smile still plastered on her face. In a desperate attempt to change the subject, Naruto grabbed her hand and yanked her over to the nearest shop Youthful Me.
"This place looks good Sakura! We can find a gift for Lee in here!" Sakura rolled her eyes at him, but followed all the same.
------------
Elsewhere...
Sasuke was pretty pissed. Not only had he woken up to find his heater broken, but he had been dragged out of his house as eight in the morning by his bubble-gum haired friend to go shopping for her boyfriend, only to be mowed down by a crazed Naruto, then molested several times by his 'rabid' fangirls.
Yeah, just a little pissed.
He was currently at former team seven's training grounds beating the shit out of a brand new log. The mud covering his body didn't do much for his pale complexion and even stood out on his lustrous black hair. His onyx eyes were wide even though his face was scrunched up in anger and concentration. His muscles were tensed, and his jacket was torn in various places. The ground and many of the surrounding trees were charred from his fire jutsu's, hence the reason that there was mud everywhere instead of snow.
Sasuke found that he was always edgy this time of year, though he had no good reason why. He blamed it on the influx of fangirls that kept popping up everywhere, giving him what they thought to be 'romantic confessions of love' and small (sometimes large) gifts. There were even stalkers this year, whom he had been so close to charring had it not been for Naruto bopping him over the side of the head every time he tried.
Naruto...
That stupid dobe always had a way of sneaking into his thoughts and calming him down even when he wasn't around. Feeling the anger ebb away from him, Sasuke gathered up his things. Training was over for today. He stopped collecting his weapons when he reached the giant shuriken lodged in a tree. He smiled and ran a finger down the metallic edge remembering the previous year.
"Oi! Sasuke-teme!" Naruto shouted across the living room of the Uchiha estates. Sasuke's friends had decided to host a Christmas party at his house this year.
"What is it, dobe?" Naruto flinched at the insult, but decided to over-look it this one time. It was Christmas eve after all.
"I gotcha somthin'!" His grin threatened to split his face in two as he thrust a large box, poorly wrapped, towards Sasuke. He hesitated a moment before taking the box tentatively from the smiling idiot and preceded to un-wrap it.
Sasuke's eyes widened well beyond what everyone thought the ice-prince was capable of. His shaky fingers reached into the box while a crowd of curious fellow ninjas crowded around him.
"Na... Naruto.." He breathed, shocked at how the blonde ninja knew about his favorite weapon. Naruto just beamed at him.
"Like 'em, huh? I found them in some shop in the Lightning Country when I was traveling with Ero-senin!" It took all the self-control the poor Uchiha boy could muster not to jump his rival right then and there and squeeze him to death. Instead, he smiled a small, true smile, causing even some taken hearts in the room to melt.
"Thanks dobe." The whole room gasped, never thinking that Sasuke would ever thank anyone.
His nostalgic happiness was interrupted by a rather rude, yet pressing thought.
What would he get Naruto for Christmas?
Well, he knew what he wanted to give him for Christmas... it was just a matter of whether or not he should... and if Naruto would accept it.
No, of course he wouldn't. Naruto was straight, he was sure of that. God was so cruel to him.
Sasuke wasn't the gift-giving type either. He almost never bought people presents and they never bought him any, knowing that he would probably throw them away amongst his ever-growing pile of presents from his fans.
But he usually got Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi cards on their birthdays if he remembered (he never forgot Naruto's birthday, and usually slipped in a gift-certificate to Ichiraku's). Sasuke knew that Naruto would love another gift-certificate, but he wanted this gift to be special. He wanted to let Naruto know how he felt, without having to tell him, or have it be obvious to anyone who may see it later. Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose to try and suppress a minor headache caused by too much stress as he turned to leave the training grounds and head towards home.
He desperately needed a shower.
------------
"Naruto, it's perfect!" Sakura exclaimed, hugging her shopping bag to her chest. Naruto laughed.
"Yeah! I hope Lee likes it!"
"Oh he will! I know he will!" She was so giddy that he was wondering if they had switched personalities for a moment.
"Was he the last person on your shopping list?"
"Yep!"
"Can I walk you home then?"
"Nope."
"Okay then, see ya around!" He waved to her and turned to go.
"Huh? Naruto? Where're you going?"
"To train. Where else?" She shook her head.
"No you're not! We're going Sasuke shopping!"
"WHAT!" He shrieked .
"Maaa... Naruto, do you have to be so loud? How troublesome..." A lazy ninja strolled up behind them, a sexy and very bossy blonde clinging to his arm.
"Shikamaru!"
"Hi Ino! Hi Shikamaru!" Sakura waved at them.
"Hey, Sakura! Is that for Lee?" Ino asked, pointing to the bag Sakura was clutching to her chest.
"Yep! Naruto helped me pick it out!" Shikamaru was about to ask Naruto if he was shopping for Sasuke, but decided it was too troublesome. Ino decided to ask instead.
"Were you shopping for Sasuke, Naruto?" He blushed madly.
"DID YOU TELL THE WHOLE FREAKKIN' VILLAGE, SAKURA!" She smiled.
"Only a few friends."
"Geez, it's not like we didn't already know..." Naruto gaped at the lazy nin.
"Y--you knew!"
"It's not THAT hard to figure out, Naruto." Ino rebutted. Naruto slumped.
"My life... is now over..." he grumbled.
"I'll take that as an 'I haven't gotten him anything yet'." Ino said with a click of her tongue. "Shame on you."
"I can't figure out what to get him..." He whined.
"Oh come on! You're his best friend! How do you not know what to get him!" Ino said incredulously.
"I don't hear you giving me any great ideas." Naruto muttered under his breath.
"Well then why don't you get a trip for two to a hot-springs? You can get your groove on there! Huh? Huh?" Ino winked and elbowed Naruto, only receiving a furious glare and blush.
"Ino!" Sakura warned. The blonde girl shrugged.
"Hey, it gets the message across."
"So troublesome..." Muttered a bored Shikamaru.
"We've gotta go guys. Good luck with Sasuke, Naruto! Later Sakura!" Ino shouted, reattaching herself to her boyfriend and walking into the shopping plaza.
"Hey! Naruto! Where're you going!" Sakura shouted after a sprinting blonde.
"TRAINING!" She sighed and shook her head.
Men.
------------
Naruto stepped into team seven's training grounds and quite literally bumped into the last person he had wanted to see.
"Sasuke!"
"Watch it, dobe." Naruto peered around at Sasuke's things, smiling inwardly to himself when he saw the oversized shurikens.
I need to find something he likes more than those shuriken.
"Move, dobe. I need to get by." Naruto hesitated before flashing him his trademark grin.
"Don't feel like it." Sasuke's temple twitched slightly. This was not a good day.
"Move."
"No."
"Move!"
"No!"
"Damnit, Naruto! Move!"
"No way, teme!" He shouted lunging at his dark counterpart. Sasuke side-stepped, whipping his arm around to smack Naruto on the back, only to find himself parried with his rivals leg, his hands supporting him. The Uchiha sneered, and the battle began.
Panting and sweating, the two teens collapsed in the surrounding snow. The sun had just started its decent beyond the clouds, and the sky was a water colored masterpiece.
"I win, teme."
"You wish."
"Bastard."
"Dobe."
"Hmph." Naruto didn't bother to continue the spat. He instead tried to focus on cooling himself off in the snow.
Sasuke stole a glance at the blonde nin.
He looks so cute when he's all tuckered out like that. he thought to himself, almost smiling. Almost being the key word, because everyone knows that Uchiha's don't smile so easily. For once, Naruto was quiet after training, and Sasuke was grateful for the silence. And the exercise too, but he wasn't about to admit that.
I should just ask him what he wants. It... couldn't hurt... right? Sasuke gulped. Easier said than done. Sasuke took a deep breath, gathering most of the courage he could, and opening his mouth to ask--
"Maaa... Sasuke. What do you want for Christmas?"
A pause.
"What?" Naruto let out a small breath of frustration.
"You're so hard to shop for, and I've used up all my gift ideas... Don't you have any hobbies or somethin'?" Sasuke hesitated again with this question.
I'm not really hard to shop for, Naruto, anything you get me I'll like. He thought to himself. Hobbies, huh? I'm not telling you about those. I'll just freak you out with all of the photos and things of you in the box under my bed... A light blush crept up on him, though it was thankfully hidden from sight by the cold of the snow and the heat left over from training.
"...suke? Sasuke? Helloooo?" Naruto waved a hand in front of Sasuke's face, trying to pull him out of his daze.
"Hn?"
"What do you want for Christmas?"
"I... don't want anything." He lied. Naruto stared at him in disbelief.
"What!"
"Christmas is a... family tradition. I don't like celebrating it." Naruto looked slightly shocked at the new information, before nodding in something akin to understanding. Naruto didn't much like celebrating family holidays either unless there was someone to spend it with.
"Oh... OH!" The sudden outburst almost made Sasuke jump out of his skin. "I've got it!"
"Hm?"
"You can come celebrate Christmas with Iruka and Kakashi! They won't mind!" It was Sasuke's turn to stare.
"Iruka... and Kakashi...?" Sasuke stared blankly at his companion.
"Sure! They won't mind! They never do!" Naruto's grin widened some more.
"Kakashi... and Iruka..." Sasuke rolled the term around his head once more.
"Uh... yeah."
"Are they a couple?" He asked, slightly nervous.
Maybe... if they are... and Naruto's not freaked out about it... just maybe... there's a chance... for me. The onyx boy licked the salt off of his lips in thought.
"Yeah! They've been together for a while and--" Naruto's eyes widened.
"Dobe?" Suddenly, Naruto jumped up and bolted out of the clearing shouting one phrase.
"DAMN YOU KAKASHIIIIIIIIIII!"
It was all Sasuke could do, to stare at his slightly mental friend.
------------
"Ruka-koi!" Kakashi called out from the living room. "Ruka?" Iruka dashed out from the kitchen, flinging his arms around his lover.
"Ka-koi! You're back early!"
"Yep! I had to make sure that I was home for Christmas!" Kakashi said, pulling down his mask enough to give Iruka a kiss.
"Kakashi..."
"Yes?"
"Christmas is twelve days away..."
"YOU MEAN I'M EARLY!" Kakashi almost dropped his lover when the statement his him. He'd never been early! Never! It was unheard of! Preposterous !
"But I'm really glad you're here! Now we can pick up where we left off!" Iruka said with a smile, and another quick kiss. Kakashi felt a small nosebleed coming on when he thought of the sexual implications of that statement. He was interrupted when Iruka shoved a shopping list into his hands along with a small purse.
"You can do the Christmas shopping while I'm grading papers!" Kakashi could only stare while Iruka bounded back into the kitchen humming a small tune. He sighed.
Better do what he says. I don't want to sleep on the couch during Christmas! A poof of purple smoke and he was gone. And not a moment too soon.
BAM!
"KAKASHI!" Naruto bellowed, slamming the door open. Iruka marched out of the kitchen in full-blown mother-hen mode. If ever there was a perfect time to say "oh shit", now would be it.
"NARUTO! Keep you're voice down! Kakashi just left, and unless you want to clean this entire house bound-and-gagged, I suggest you STOP YELLING!"
"Iruka-sensei! Did Kakashi hurt you? You're Ok, right? I swear, if that bastard did anything perverted I'll-" A hard thwack on the head was enough to silence the jounin.
"Kakashi is not a bastard, and he didn't do anything perverted." ...Yet. Iruka added under his breath. Naruto blinked a few times.
"He didn't?"
"No."
"Then what did you want to see me about?" Iruka stared at him for a moment, before he remembered.
"Ah, yes. Naruto, do you have any plans for Christmas?"
"I was gonna come over for dinner and charades like I usually do, why?" A moment of silence, then--
"Naruto... Last week, Kakashi won a raffle during the Jounin Christmas Party--"
"I know, I was there." Naruto interrupted . Iruka cleared his throat.
"Yes, well, the prize was a trip for two to a hot springs in the Grass Country on Christmas eve." Naruto's eyes were downcast, and it tore at Iruka's heart strings.
"Naruto... I'm sorry. I know you were looking forward to this..." Naruto brushed Iruka's hand off of his shoulder.
"No... it's Okay... I'll just find Sasuke another Christmas present." The Chuuin was puzzled.
"Sasuke?"
"Yeah... I couldn't find him anything, so I invited him over here instead. I'm sorry. That was stupid." Iruka put on a soft, encouraging smile.
"Hey, don't worry. We'll find something for Sasuke. There's eight days until Kakashi and I leave for the Grass country, and twelve days until Christmas. I'm sure we can find him something." Naruto looked up, a small hopeful smile tugging at his lips.
"Yeah. I'll get him the best present ever!" Iruka couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm.
"That's the spirit. How about some hot cocoa?"
"Yeah!" Naruto bounded after his father figure into the kitchen.
------------
End Day One--
Some quick notes for those who don't know:
-Teme teh-meh means bastard/jerk/jackass and similar insults. It can be used as a suffix when referring to people you don't like (or secretly do in this case), and it's Naruto's 'nickname' for Sasuke.
-Baka bah-kah as a noun, it means idiot, and as an adjective it means stupid
-Dobe dough-beh means dead-last. It's Sasuke's 'nickname' for Naruto.
-Itai ee-tah-ee Similar to the expletive "ow". Used to express hurt or physical pain.
-Itadakimasu ee-tah-dah-key-mahss "Let's eat". Used before a meal, kinda like a prayer, but not really.
-Sa sah Can be translated as 'okay' or 'yeah'.
-Ne neh Usually placed on the ends of sentences to state agreement, or ask if something's correct. In this particular case, it was used at the beginning of a sentence , so it therefore is more of a pleading phrase akin to "you'll do this with me, won't you?"
I don't think I missed any vocab, but don't hesitate to ask! I pretty sure that if you're reading this you know what "Jounin" "Chuuin" "Genin" and "Ramen" mean. I mean, I should hope you do if you read/watch the series at all.