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Disguised Curses	By : Raholea Category: Naruto AU/AR > General Views: 2438 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 24
- 25
- 26
A/N: Ok, my always apologies for taking forever to update, this chapter was a pain and half. Hope it's worth the wait. Checked/ beta'd over by Aini, who bears up with my brain so very well. Thanks to all my reviewers. HUGS TO ALL!!

Chapter 25

“Rasengan!”

A deafening crash filled the training field before a sharp cry of pain echoed. It was followed quite swiftly by a short roar and another explosion. Anyone close enough would hear the snickering and insults traded between various members on the field, but thankfully, the trio had no audience.

“Stop laughing at me, you bastard! She hurts when she punches! It’s like getting knocked out by Tsunade!!”

Sasuke, unaffected by Naruto’s rant, merely chuckled to himself. He’d sat out when their sparring passed mere martial arts and taijutsu and delved quickly into ninjutsu. He wasn’t quite off probation, and being a civilian meant he had to behave. Hence why Sakura was pummeling Naruto. Or at least, that was what he was claiming. Really, he doubted they were more than chakra- enhanced love taps. He knew- he’d been on the receiving end of a couple of them recently. Sakura had stopped with being a push-over fan girl and become a terror in her own right. There was a part of him that was pleased at the fact, although he wouldn’t say it to her face. She might hit him for implying he’d thought she’d always be weak. None of them could be considered weak anymore, even if he and Naruto still hadn’t passed official chuunin exams.

The thought made him stop and consider. After his initial ban was lifted and he was able to pass from civilian ranks to becoming a ninja again, he wasn’t sure how long it would be before Tsunade saw fit to allow him to be promoted. If she was feeling particularly vindictive, she could keep him as a nobody forever. Well, no, she wouldn’t. Eventually he’d have to be promoted or chaptered out. The ninja ranks didn’t support someone who couldn’t or wouldn’t at least achieve chuunin within a reasonable time period. And Tsunade had threatened to drop him equal to the academy graduates, not even a genin. It was a sobering proposition. He shook his head and forced himself to think about something else.

“Hey, Naruto. What are you doing for your birthday?”

The question caught him off guard and Naruto ducked seconds too late, the fist Sakura was swinging hitting him full on in the shoulder instead of the head, but he got most of the impact jarring his body. Glittering blue eyes glared at Sasuke as he rolled his shoulder, fingers feeling for anything that wouldn’t heal in minutes from Kyuubi’s chakra. Sakura’s fingers touched by his anyway, the sharper tingle of healing chakra numbing the area out in seconds as she soothed the shocked muscles and micro-fractures that had spread across both halves of the joint. Naruto offered her a grateful look and then tumbled to the ground. “Nothing. I never do.”

“Never?”

Naruto sighed at the look they both sent him. “You ever check to see if I’m home on my birthday?” It was the first year they’d bothered to ask, but then, it was the first year he’d been home since they were mangy genin fighting at each other. He had a habit of not being around this time of year. Jiraiya had always been a good excuse.

Sasuke and Sakura shared a look that was both guilty, and a little sad. Sasuke hadn’t been around for a few years, and before that he hadn’t had any interest in the blond on any level. And Sakura- well, she had dozen of excuses but they all felt lame. Their thoughts and expressions were clear to Naruto, who sighed. “I disappear guys. If you want to join me, fine, but I can’t say I’d play a good host. Usually I spend my birthday in solitude.”

“Why? Birthdays are meant to be shared. Family, friends, parties…” Sasuke planted a hard elbow into Sakura’s ribs. She glared at him but he had one of those weird looks on his face. “I stopped paying attention to my birthday as much after the massacre. It wasn’t important anymore, except as a means of getting to an age where I was no longer a little boy in everyone’s eyes.” His voice was soft like it always was when he was speaking of the old days, but this time there was no rage hidden in it, only a little hurt. “I hated the fact Naruto hadn’t lost like I had, because it meant he couldn’t possibly understand what I’ve been through. Instead, he grew up without any of it. No family, no true friends.” Glimmering eyes, blue and red, met his black ones and Sasuke held up a warding hand. “I don’t hold that against you anymore. I’m merely speaking the truth.” He tilted his head at Sakura, who was staring dumbly at them both. Seriously, how could she have missed so much? Her jaw finally snapped shut and her green eyes got the look.

“Screw this. You have family and friends now, and you will have a party this year. Give me a list of everyone that-” She blinked at the claws pointed at her.

“No. No party. Something small, maybe, but no big party. I have my tradition for my birthday and I refuse to break it. If you and Sasuke want to join me, that’s fine, but don’t expect me to play a nice host. My birthday is the only day I get solitude, and I won’t change my ways on this one.” Naruto dropped his hands to his side and walked away, leaving Sasuke and Sakura standing in the training field. They traded looks as the information filed, then Sakura cracked a smile. Sasuke took a step back. “What do you have planned?”

“He didn’t say anything about the weekend after his birthday, did he?” Sasuke shook his head slowly, still cautious. “Then, we’ll just have to give him a party to remember once his day of solitude is done.”

A small smirk stretched Sasuke’s lips as the plan got laid out. This was something he could do, something to help smooth things over for everyone. And of course, his place would have to be used. Anything less would be too small. And if the costs were split amongst everyone, then it wouldn’t be so bad. In fact, it may just do everyone good. The blonde in particular.

October tenth dawned lightly overcast, chilly, and overall feeling of grey. At least, that was what Naruto processed as he made his way to the graveyard. Once there, he stopped at Jiraiya’s grave marker, fingertips brushing over the cold stone. “Wish you could be here, old man. I’m sixteen, and you’re not here for it.” he whispered. The graveyard was always quiet this early, but he preferred it that way. “I hope you finally found your peace, sensei.” He left the grave site and continued on, wandering the stones until he left the graveyard proper and found himself in a very familiar field. At the end was the stone with all the names of ninja fallen in battle, and he repeated the action of brushing his fingertips over his late sensei’s name. He then looked over the names, n0ting the newer ones, Asuma and Jiraiya amongst them. He looked every year, seeking always to find a name like his. Uzumaki. No one else in the village had that name, but he always looked, just in case. It was the only thing he let himself do anymore, a birthday practice that he knew some would consider morbid. But he’d never quite given up on finding out about his parents, even if he’d given up on ever meeting them. Sixteen years- if they were alive or cared, they’d had plenty of time to find him, tell him. But every year he came back and found nothing. He paid silent acknowledgment to the Third and Fourth Hokages, who had their names engraved farther back. Years and generations of names.

Naruto silently wondered if his name would ever be on this stone.

He felt another’s presence and moved on, passing Kakashi without word or gesture. The place was too serious for frivolities, it seemed, especially when the weather reflected his mood. Naruto wound his way back through the village, before finally ascending to the top of Hokage mountain. Only there did he let himself fall into the melancholy that always plagued him on his birthday. Half-dead visions of family, limp thoughts painted in dull colors of what this day should be like. Parties, presents, love, affection. Siblings that he may have had, parents to help him train and provide encouragement.

When the rain started trickling down hours later, it mingled with the tears leaking from Naruto’s eyes, washing them away and leaving an empty coolness behind. It washed away the salt but couldn’t wash away the pain, the need, the longing. He stared out over the village, lost in his thoughts, numb to everything but himself.

Such was his condition when his friends caught up to him. The quiet trio merely wrapped him in a blanket and escorted him home to warm up. He didn’t even acknowledge any of them until after he’d been dragged back to the Uchiha compound, escorted to his room and had a towel shoved in his hands. Sasuke was standing in a corner making sure he was okay as the blond mechanically stripped his jacket and shirt and dried his head. Only when he’d visited the bathroom and reappeared in warm, dry sweats and mostly dry from his bout in the rain, did he say anything.

“You didn’t have to.”

Sasuke processed the comment, matching the blank tone with Naruto’s numb attitude. “Maybe not. But I wanted to. I’m responsible for you, Naruto.”

“Just another mission objective. Make sure I don’t die, make sure I don’t kill anyone. Joys.” Sasuke let a visible reaction out- a raised eyebrow at Naruto’s dry sarcasm. That was more his gig, when he did sarcasm.

“You may be one of my ‘jobs’ Naruto, but that doesn’t change things. I’m your friend. So are Sakura and Hinata, if you’ll just give them a chance. We’re willing to be your family if you let us in.”

Naruto was shining with something that looked suspiciously like tears, but Sasuke knew better than to tease him about it. He’d shed his own at various points in life. He grasped Naruto’s shoulder in that guy- hug gesture and slowly led him back to where the girls were waiting with mugs of tea and warm blankets. And true to Sasuke’s word, they kept him company the rest of the day, offering their warmth and comfort. They were his friends, but for the moment, they were his family too. And for once, he felt cherished on this day that had always seemed to fail him.

Hinata approached him before she left, Sasuke and Sakura suspiciously absent. She wrapped her arms around his blanket covered shoulders, giving him a quick, tight hug. He allowed it, relaxed to the point of nearly falling asleep on the couch. They sat side by side for a few minutes, comfortable in their silence.

“Thank you, Hinata- chan.” His voice was rough from crying and a day’s worth of disuse. She smiled even if he couldn’t see it, and settled her hand on top of his. “I’m here for you, Naruto- kun. Anytime.” The words brought his attention around to her, eyes bloodshot, shiny blue and crimson mixed with exhausted pink. There was depth in them she wasn’t accustomed to seeing in him.

“How can you love someone like me, Hinata? I’m alone; I have no family, no prestige, nothing more than meager pay and minimal respect as a ninja. And even that is tainted by Kyuubi and the outlook that fact has given people.” He spoke softly, whispering toward the end. “I just don’t understand how you can love me when no one else has.”

She slowly lifted her hand, gently brushing the brimming tears from his eyes, holding his gaze. “How could I not? I always felt sorry for the boy no one played with, the one who seemed all alone. I was amazed by the boy that despite harsh looks and cruel words, always had a smile on his face, always pulled pranks, was always so self- confident when it mattered. And then I watched the boy become a ninja that demanded respect, if through nothing else than his sheer stubbornness and powerful determination. You protected those who couldn’t protect themselves, defended those who shouldn’t have been protected. You did everything you could to prove you were more than just the demon some people tried to make you be. How could I not love someone who stole my heart and mind and attention completely? You’re strong, gentle, and kind, even as you’re loud, brash, and bull-headed. I fell in love with you years ago, Naruto, and it isn’t some childish fantasy.” She folded her hands in her lap, suddenly a little shy. “Even if we are never anything more than friends, I would be honored to be considered like family. I will always be there if you need me. You don’t have to be alone again.”

Silence wrapped around them again, Hinata staring at her hands, Naruto at some random point on the wall, mentally chewing over what she’d said to him. He wasn’t sure he could ever really understand. He was powerful, but really, that wasn’t much, except a good mark at his potential skills as a ninja. After all the years of verbal and emotional abuse, from ninja, civilians, people his age and older, he just couldn’t quite understand. But he treasured it, as much as he was scared of it. He needed that strong acceptance… And when things finally settled in his heart, if not yet in his mind, he reached back to take one of Hinata’s hands. He inhaled shakily.

“Thank you.” He felt the little twitch in her hand, the shock of her reaction. “I wish I could say I love you, but I don’t know if I understand what love is. Not on this personal level. I love Sasuke like a brother, and Tsunade is kinda like the aunt I never had, I suppose. And you’ve showed that you care, and I like that. I respect it. But as much as part of me wants to return the gesture, I won’t say I love you, like that, until I know it’s true. I don’t want to hurt you by saying things I may not mean, not the way you do.” His thumb brushed along her hand, and he could smell the salt in tears he couldn’t see yet. “If it’s worth anything, I think this is the best birthday moment I could have. I need to feel something is okay, and you keep trying. You and Sakura, and Sasuke. You make sure I don’t forget people care about me.” Her hands came back to him, then. She hugged him with all the affection she could pour into that simple gesture, and then two others, arms surrounding him and bodies hold him close. It was platonic, comfort in its purest form, but over Naruto’s bowed head the trio shared a look. Never again.

True to plans, there was a party raging at the Uchiha compound that weekend. Even ninja who weren’t quite tolerant yet of Sasuke showed up; the instant certain of Naruto’s friends heard that he hadn’t had anything resembling a proper birthday party before, they showed up. In light of the situation a few of them politely, if stiffly, thanked the last Uchiha for hosting the event, then disappeared to wish the birthday boy good luck. Sasuke didn’t care, he’d known he wasn’t going to win hearts after coming back. As long as the people who showed were doing this for the cheery blonde and didn’t do anything to crash the goodwill of the setting, he was going to play host and be damned good at it.

A few people he’d wanted to come were out on missions, but that was the price of being a ninja. Ayame had graciously attended, bringing food from Ichiraku’s to help supply the party. Iruka was lingering around somewhere, avoiding him. Kakashi had stopped in for a moment with that look on his face, apologizing for not being able to stay. Sasuke had merely nodded, he had seen Kakashi’s mission face before. Ino and Sakura were bouncing between playing hostess and scrapping with each other over the contents of the punch bowl. Gai was even there, somewhere- Sasuke had bit his tongue and let him in, because really, there was only so much of the man he could take at a time.

Naruto had yet to appear. Neji and Kimi had dragged him out to the training grounds about two hours before, with clear instructions to expel most of his boundless energy without actually tiring him. The goal- put Naruto in a state where he wouldn’t argue too much, but still be able to relax and enjoy himself. It was a challenging thought, but Sasuke really didn’t want to have to deal further tonight with either emotional breakdowns or flare-ups. And a quieter Naruto would hopefully mean a calmer Kyuubi. Or something like that. On the contrary, wiping Naruto out to near nothing would just open things up for more trouble than Sasuke was willing to deal with. He just hoped when the terror of a blonde entered in a few minutes, that all would go well.

He focused out, knowing he should be able to sense Naruto's chakra- it was always a little strong when he hung around Neji- and found the trio about a block away. He sent a rather sharp whistle through the house and made a slashing gesture with his hand. Immediately ninja scattered, hiding in random places, some just barely out of sight from the door, and those that could suppressed their chakra signature to near nothing. Sasuke silently inhaled, preparing himself for whatever was to come, and stepped easily out onto the porch. He nodded at Neji and Kimi as they drew closer, and the group stood for a moment and made idle conversation. Neji gave the smallest of smirks to Sasuke, and Sasuke immediately shrugged. He turned away, offering back to the two that didn't live there, “C'mon in for supper. It should be done.”

The instant the birthday boy cleared well away from the foyer and into the main living area, heads began popping up like hot corn. No shouts of surprise, but Naruto offered everyone a tired smile. He'd figured this was going to happen. Sasuke and Sakura could just be way too predictable.

Ten minutes later the party was in full swing, ninja style. Dinner met with full appreciation before Sasuke helped drive everyone from the kitchen, wary of an impending food fight between Kiba and Naruto. Several rather childish games from the civilian population were introduced, but with adaptions. Pin the tail of the donkey, for example, had foregone the blindfold and become a distance challenge, using a kunai to “pin” an attached “tail” onto a rough animal shape fixed to a length of fence. Sasuke had refused to let them play the game indoors. Someone tried to explain the rules of twister, but got voted down due to certain physical capabilities of certain ninja potentially totally overwhelming the rest of the group. Konohamaru suggested Seven Minutes in Heaven. Halfway through explaining the game a heavy hand slapped the back of his head, and he cowered under Sakura's adamant refusal.

Through it all Naruto just relaxed. Except for threatening Kiba with his chopsticks over stealing “his” bowl of ramen, and a brief argument over the fact it was his party and therefore, if he didn't want a half drunk ninja trying to dance in front of him, then they could very well leave. He also knew who was responsible for bringing the stash of liquor; Tsunade was flushed and irritable and positively reeked of sake. But other than that, he sat back, and relaxed, and was, well, Naruto, if a somewhat subdued and half- exhausted variety of himself. He managed a solid four hours of fun and socialization before his attitude devolved. Sakura, relatively close to his side all evening, was sympathetic, and between her, Sasuke, and the Hyuga cousins, they managed to escort everyone off the premises and quickly clean up. They were nearly finished when Naruto came roaming into the room Hinata was picking up, lurking behind her for several moments before gingerly wrapping his arms around her.

“Thank you, Hina- chan.” He nuzzled gently against her shoulder, unconsciously scraping his jaw against her sleeve. “You smell good. Like honey and a drop of vanilla.” He offered a soft smile, and she blinked up at him before returning it. There was something lurking in his eyes, but it wasn't dark, or scary. It was soothing, comforting. She leaned forward and let his arms hold her close as she rested her cheek against his chest. He nuzzled her hair once before letting her go. “Go home, Hinata. Get some sleep.”

He followed her to the door and watched as her and Neji walked away, pulling Sakura to the side before she left. “Make sure Hinata gets home and stays there. If she comes back I can't promise I will behave myself.” He didn't look directly at her, but Sakura could see the off sensation in his face and body.

“You owe me later,” she mumbled, before leaving to catch up with the cousins. He watched the trio leave, then headed back inside. He found Sasuke waiting for him at his bedroom.

“Affectionate tonight?” The words were as dry as normal, but neutral.

“She smells fertile. I won't let him play on her desire of me to get a taste of her. Hiashi would kill me for taking advantage of his daughter.” Naruto let his gaze sweep over Sasuke, whispers filling his mind. “Go away, teme, unless you'd like to take her place.” Sasuke snorted. “I'm sure I’ve suffered worse.” But he did step away from Naruto's door as a blonde eyebrow arched high. Naruto chuckled and entered his room.

“Night teme.”

“Hn. Loser.”

“Ass.”

“...” The sound of Sasuke's door snapping shut echoed up the hall and Naruto chuckled again before closing his own. It had been a long day, after all, and winning one round tonight was just the perk he needed. On top of the warm fuzzy family feelings. And birthday presents.

Yup. He'd had a good day. All he needed was a good night.

*~*~*

End of Chapter
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