The Blessed Realm

 Chapter One Hundred Forty-Four: Preparations

The guests stayed for quite a while, but Naruto was not able to listen to their conversation. He burnt to have a chance to read his new book, and he was glad when his guests left.

“We'll see you at tonight's party,” they said.

Sakura and Kakashi remained in the living-room.

“You have a lot of friends in this place,” Sakura said, sounding a bit melancholic.

“They turned up because it's my birthday,” Naruto replied. “They knew that Sasuke would prepare some fancy food on the occasion.”

“So it's true what they say: in Music Town people are all selfish and only care for their own interest.”

“They are okay,” Naruto said. “They've helped us a lot, too. Also, half of the people you met weren't natives of Music Town. The most selfish people among our guests were Sasuke's companions who arrived with him at this place a few months ago.”

“People came to visit us because they like Naruto and because they want to honour him on the occasion of his birthday” ,Sasuke said. “They brought presents too, if you haven't noticed.” He felt angry at Sakura for speaking in a derogative way of people in Music Town. “It's a common misconception that people here are selfish. They aren't. They just think that avoiding wars is a better way to protect your friends than giving your life to save theirs.”

He sat down. Preparing food and caring for all their guests had been quite a bit of work. Naruto had now managed to turn around the book and read the back cover.

Throughout history, and all over the world, people in a state of oppression have used nonviolent tactics against their oppressors. Most of the time they reinvented them from scratch, sometimes inspired by people from other places or former times. Only in the last century theories of non-violence have been developed, collecting and systematizing these tactics and evaluating the results that were effected by them, providing explanations why non-violent strategies work, and actually work better than violent resistance, and developing guidelines about which tactics will work in which kind of situation. This book assembles seminal texts from the most famous proponents of non-violent resistance as an inspiration for all who want to turn this world into a better place.

“As I said, there'll be a party tonight,” Sasuke continued. “I'll need to leave soon in order to prepare the room and look after the food and see that everything is in place.”

Naruto felt his nervousness. Apparently talking to Sakura and Kakashi while he, Naruto, was reading was not how Sasuke wanted to spend the afternoon

“I guess you want to talk to Naruto. I guess he longs for news about his friends in Konoha.”

Actually what Naruto most longed for was time to read his book.

“I don't want you to leave me again,” he said. “I have understood now what you were doing on your own during all these evenings when you came home late, and it's okay, still I would have preferred you to stay with me and to include me in the preparations for my birthday. Next year I want us to organize this together. I don't care about surprises. I care about having you at my side. And now I want you to stay with me and to talk to Kakashi and Sakura so that I can listen to your conversation while I am reading.”

Sasuke felt hurt because he considered the idea stupid, and he felt hurt that Naruto did not appreciate what he had done for him, but then he reminded himself that Naruto had been happy about their guests, and that he had been moved and touched by the way people cared about him. It would not have been the same if he had known about it beforehand. Also the thought of Naruto reading warmed his heart. Unlike most people he considered Naruto most beautiful when he was serious, lost in his dreams of peace.

“I can't stay,” he said. “There's still a lot of work to be done. You can join me of course. You may read, and I can look at you every now and then.”

Naruto smiled: It was the reflection of Sasuke's smile, but Sasuke was not aware of it.

“That's what we'll do,” he said. He turned to Sakura and Kakashi. “You may join us, or you may take a walk around Music Town. I can give you a map of town, if you want, and tell you about the most interesting places.”

“It's not necessary,” Sakura answered. “We bought a map of town in order to find your place.”

“We can show you Music Town tomorrow afternoon,” Sasuke said. “We have some time off then. In the evening there'll be a dance tournament we participate in.”

“I thought tomorrow was Sunday,” Sakura said. “I thought everyone had time off then.”

“Almost everyone. There's exceptions, and tomorrow we happen to be one of the exceptions.”

Sakura looked irritated.

“There's going to be a parade here in town. The police is needed to maintain the public order during the parade.”

“A parade? I thought there was no military in Music Town.”

“It's a civilian parade. All the relevant groups of Music Town have prepared wagons, or organized a squad of people on foot. They walk through the streets, and the citizens cheer for them.”

“And why is the police needed on such an occasion? You don't expect any crimes or riots, do you?”

“There's always the occasional pickpocket,” Sasuke replied. “Though mostly it's our job to keep kids from climbing over the barricades, and to have an eye on drunkards.”

“But you're ninja. Why do you accepts petty jobs as these?”

“We aren't ninja any more. We are policemen in training.”

“But why don't they give you jobs that match your capacity? Why don't they make use of your ninja powers?”

“Most of them are forbidden here. Also they are useless against local criminals. Here, only petty criminals, those who are stupid or badly educated, use violence. The real ones, those who cause great harm, don't sully their hands: they use tricks or manipulations, they forge documents and if nothing of this is enough they pay others to murder their opponents.” He paused. “Actually the situation is not that different from the situation in Konoha. Against people like Danzou, or the man who pretended to be Madara, ninja skills are useless too. Here people teach me skills that are useful against the real criminals, the ones who pull the strings behind the scene.”

He stared at Sakura, proud and defiant and a bit angry. Naruto wondered whether he was using some trick against her, but he had not activated his Sharingan. After some time Sakura lowered her eyes.

“So now I will leave to prepare the birthday party at the community center, and Naruto will come with me so that we can be with each other. Have you decided whether you will join us or whether you will take a walk around Music Town?”

“We'll come with you,” Kakashi said. “I have brought something to read too. I think both of us need some rest.”

They went to the community center. The husband of the guy from Earth Country and also some other men had arrived before them and were already busy decorating the room. When they saw the group they approached them to wish Naruto a happy birthday and a wonderful last year of his youth before he turned eighteen and was considered a grown-up in Music Town. They all kissed him on his cheeks and held him in their arms for a couple of seconds, only the husband of the guy from Earth Country held him for more than a minute.

“Sasuke told me you suspected me of having sex with him,” he said. “But I assure you: there was nothing. I just helped him organize the party. I would not dream of destroying a love as yours. I wish you a lot of happiness with each other for many years to come.”

“Thanks, and also thanks for what you did for the two of us,” Naruto answered.

Sasuke was welcomed too, but only with the casual embraces that were the usual way of greeting in the community. He also introduced Sakura and Kakashi, and they were welcomed, but people sensed that embraces were not appropriate.

There was still a lot of work to do: tables needed to be moved, drinks needed to be carried to the kitchen, and plates and glasses were put on the tables. Together with the DJ they found the best places for the loudspeakers, and put up a lot of ribbons in the colours of the rainbow. Sasuke had even brought a banner saying “Happy birthday, Naruto.”

Naruto was not allowed to help. “You find yourself a chair and read,” Sasuke said. “That's what you came for, isn't it?”

Naruto nodded. He was overwhelmed by the trouble Sasuke had taken upon himself in order to organize this party for him. He wanted to be near him by working side by side with him on the decoration, but even more he longed to read his book.

“Next year I'll help you with this,” he said. “And when it's your birthday I'll organize a party that's just as great as this one. You'll have a perfect cake with eighteen candles, and no one will give you any stupid presents.”

Sasuke embraced and kissed him, and then he gently made him sit down. He took the book out of Naruto's bag and placed it in his hands. They smiled at each other and kissed again.

“I didn't know you enjoyed reading books,” Sakura said, sounding irritated and skeptical.

“I do,” Naruto answered. “In Music Town I've found books that are worth reading.”

He had now managed to read the first page of the introduction. He was really curious about the book. Kakashi saved him by taking his copy of Icha-Icha out of his pocket and starting to read. Sakura withdrew, understanding that both of them wanted to remain undisturbed. Sasuke set to his work, occasionally looking at Naruto because he loved to watch him read, and then Naruto looked up from his book, smiling at him.

It was the husband of the guy from Earth Country who resolved the situation, telling Sakura to help them decorate the room. With time Sasuke managed to cooperate with her, but he remained stiff and tense.

 

A/N: Thanks again for your reviews and your plusses! You can find my answers at http://www2.adult-fanfiction.org/forum/index.php/topic/14965-blessed-realm/ .It is now possible to access the thread without registration at the forums.