Last Chance

A/N: I've seen a lot of the party thing lately, and I'm sorry for the cliche. But it is important to the progression of the plot and... Well everyone knows what happens after a party, so no one cares about the cliche do they! ;P
Thanks for the review support, it realy keeps me going. I'm glad everyone liked the fight. Its been my hardest chapter to write yet.

WARNING: Drunk and disorderly conduct
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Naruto lay on the bed looking up at the ceiling with a huge grin on his face. It had really been a great week. His whole body hurt, the bed was hard, the stark white walls were blinding, and the drip of the IV was a bit annoying; but it was still great. He heard a moan and turned to see brown eyes glaring at him. They were the only visible feature on the person wrapped in bandages on the bed next to his.

An evil grin broke out on his face as he said, “Baa-chan, now you really can be my mummy!” His laugh was accompanied by slight thrashing on the other bed and medical nin were immediately in the hospital room.

“Hokage-sama you must stay still,” they tried to coax.

Sakura walked into the room and took in the sight. Both Naruto and Tsunade were extensively injured but it didn’t seem to be putting a damper on Naruto’s mood. “Naruto, you must stop teasing Tsunade-sama. You’re not in any condition to defend yourself and she shouldn’t be moving so much.”

Sakura looked the two over and sighed. If she healed Tsunade’s arms she could help heal herself when her chakara levels returned to normal. On second thought, she’d start with her jaw so the woman could talk. Then she would fix her arms.

Sakura spoke as she moved the green chakara around her master’s face, “Why did you two have to fight so hard anyway? Look at you two. It looks like you’ve been fighting the enemy rather than sparing with someone from the same village.”

“We didn’t want anyone to think she was taking it easy on me. This was a fair challenge.” Naruto flashed another wide grin, “And I won!”

Sakura smiled at her boyfriend’s enthusiasm and turned back toward her teacher. ‘The jaw should be good,’ she thought, ‘so off with the bandages.’ Sakura noticed the bright jewel. “Master why didn’t you use your jewel to heal yourself?”

“Because she’s too vain. If she uses it she’ll look like the old woman she is!” Naruto laughed again.

“Shut up Gaki! I didn’t use it because every time I do it shortens my life span. And I knew you weren’t going to kill me,” Tsunade bit back. Her jaw was felling much better. It was a good thing Sakura had bee such a good student; she was a great medical nin.

“Naruto, I told you to stop teasing Tsunade-sama. Show some respect for once.”

“I won that fight. That means I’ll be Hokage soon, then I’ll be getting some respect for once,” Naruto pouted. Sakura didn’t yell as much anymore but she was always scolding him. Not that he minded much really.

“Whatever you say Gaki-sama,” the other blonde retorted.

Naruto’s reply was cut off when his friends burst into to the room. Kiba, of course, was the first to speak.

“Naruto, you challenged the Hokage, you’re lucky to be alive man.” He noticed the other bed and it’s occupant. “Whoa! You two are messed up! When we saw ANBU sweep in we didn’t know what to think. Sasuke about shit a brick!”

Ino smacked Kiba upside the head and moved to the edge of Naruto’s bed. “Are you okay Naruto? Did you really win like everyone is saying?”

“Damn right I won,” he boasted. If that smile got any bigger his face was going to split.

“Does that mean your going to be the boss now?” Shikamaru lazily inquired as he leaned against the wall. “How troublesome.”

“As long as the council approves it,” Tsunade put in.

“And if they don’t?” Ino asked. She looked around the room, as everyone got quiet. “What happens if they don’t?” she asked again.

“Then they can order his death,” Sasuke stated coldly as he moved closer to Naruto’s bed. “If he had lost or killed the Hokage they could have done it immediately.”

Everyone turned to look at Naruto. The smile was gone and he was looking down into his hands.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Sasuke hissed, showing emotion for the first time since entering the room. This would never have happen if they hadn’t been fighting this week. The dobe would have told him about his plan and Sasuke would have talked him out of it. The council hated Naruto, and he had just giving them a chance to get rid of him for good.

Naruto stubbornly crossed his arms across his chest and looked the other way. “I knew what I was doing Teme. There’s no way they’ll turn me down this time, I’m the strongest shinobi in the village.”

The comment was greeted by several scoffs from the other males in the room, but under the bravado they could tell he was nervous. Tsunade had told him not to worry, it was a sure thing, but there was still that chance.

The girls glanced back and forth. It was silent in the room and they could all feel the tension. Ino decided to break it.

“You’re right Naruto, and I’m sure they’ll make the announcement soon. But we don’t have to wait for that to throw you a congratulatory party!” she punctuated her enthusiasm but punching the air above her head. She turned to Sakura and asked, “How long before he can be released?”

“For anyone else, at least a week. For Naruto, two days,” she smiled at her boyfriend.

“Two days?! Ino exclaimed. “That’s not that much time to plan great party. Come on boys,” she said pushing them out of the room. “Sakura’s busy so you’re going to have to help me.”

The declaration was met by many male groans as they reluctantly let her push them from the room.

“What did I tell you,” Shikamaru complained, “Troublesome.”

Sakura smiled and shook her head at the antics of the group.

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Sakura smiled tightly and latched on to Naruto’s arm as they walked into the party. Everyone knew she was the new ‘Hokage’s’ girlfriend, but that it seems didn’t stop the hordes of new fan girls from trying to whisk him off or vie for his attention. And Naruto, being the oblivious creature they all knew and loved, gave everyone that came across a share of his smiles.

“Oh, look Naruto. There’s Ino. We should go thank her for the party,” she said, trying to escape the throng of women that had attacked them as they came through the door.

“Okay,” Naruto relented as he gave the group an apologetic smile. He turned to look in the direction Sakura was pulling him when he caught a glimpse of black standing next to the blonde hostess. Black eyes met blue and he felt a shiver before pulling his girlfriend to a stop, he still wasn’t ready to talk to the raven.

“I… I see Shikamaru!” he said pointing off to their right. “I really want to thank Temari. I wouldn’t have won without those techniques she taught me,” he finished dragging her off.

“Oh? Okay,” she said looking back at a confused Ino as the blonde male pulled her away.

“Hey, Shikamaru!” Naruto called out, as they got closer. Shikamaru nodded his head in acknowledgement. “Hey where’s your wife?” he asked throwing an arm around the brunet. “I wanted to…”

“Hey blondie!” Everyone turned quickly around to see a blonde woman holding two glasses and one eyebrow arched on her face. “What are you doing pawing at my husband?”

“Temari!” Naruto squealed as he let go of the brunet and launched himself at the blonde. Temari giggled as she returned his tight hug, managing not to spill either drink.

Sakura stiffened as she watched the two blondes entangled together. “Um, Shika…” she began facing the Nara.

“Too troublesome,” he said waving her off with apparent disinterest. He paused then faced her directly with a reassuring look, “Don’t worry about it.”

Naruto released the other blonde from their hug but kept and arm around her shoulder. “One of those for me?” he asked, snatching a glass from Temari’s hand and throwing the contents back into his throat. “Ack!” he gasped out as the fiery contents burned a path down his esophagus.

“Serves you right,” Temari smirked as he let go of her to bring both hands to his neck. Several fan girls tried to rush up to the coughing blonde but one well placed glare from Temari had them retreating several feet. Temari threw back her own glass then handed both to her husband. Shikamaru sighed as he got up to refill said glasses.

“I wish I could scare ‘em off like that,” Sakura said with awe as she watched the blonde female.

“It’s not so hard.” Temari smirked. “You could take lessons from me… Or you could take lessons from that Uchiha glaring so hard over here.”

The group turned to see Sasuke leaning on a wall nearby, indeed glaring in their direction. Naruto miraculously recovered and jumped up to take Temari’s arm. “Let’s get another one of those drinks Temari,” he declared loudly while dragging her off in the direction Shikamaru had gone. Sakura trailed quickly behind.

A couple hours and a few drinks later Naruto and Temari thought they were the funniest people at the party, and most people would agree. Temari was currently dancing, if you could call stumbling and catching dancing, between two very unsteady Narutos. Sakura had long since refrained from feeling threatened over the other blonde. If her husband wasn’t worried about the two she didn’t see any reason why she should be.

Most of their friends had gathered to watch the show as the more boisterous cheered them on. “Go Naruto!” Kiba yelled from the side. “Swing her higher!”

“I would like to still have a wife when I leave tonight,” Shikamaru mumble, finally showing some concern for his wife’s safety. She had apparently stopped caring.

Temari and Naruto stopped dancing as they watched the clone poof out of existence. Puzzled they looked at each other before noticing the kunai implanted in the wall. “Time to go,” Shikamaru said as he grabbed his still dazed wife around the waist and steered her toward the door.

“Bye Naruto-chan!” Temari yelled over her shoulder as she was dragged further away.

Naruto thought this was the funniest thing in the world and laughed until he fell backwards. Sasuke had luckily moved to stand behind the blonde and caught him before the floor could. Sighing, he dragged the inebriated blonde to one of the couches to sit between himself and Sakura.

Sakura giggled as Naruto proceeded to wrap an arm around each of their shoulders. “My best friends!” he proclaimed to anyone who would listen. “I love you guys,” he said emotionally while squeezing them tighter.

“I think it’s about time for our best friend to go home,” Sakura said chuckling at the blonde.

“Sakura-san,” called a small voice. Two sets of focused and one set of hazy eyes looked up to see Hinata standing in front of the couch. “A message was just delivered, you are needed at the hospital. A team just got in from a mission and several members are seriously wounded.”

Sakura stood quickly then looked back down at her boyfriend leaning heavily on the Uchiha. Understanding Sakura’s worry Hinata interjected quietly, “I… I can take Naruto-kun home.” Sakura turned to see the deep blush that covered Hinata’s face as pale eyes observed the blonde on the couch. No way in hell! Even if Naruto never noticed, everyone else knew Hinata had had a crush on him since they were kids.

Sakura glared at the Hyuuga girl and she stumbled a couple steps back with wide eyes. No way was she going to let that girl take her drunken boyfriend home! Sakura quickly looked around for an alternative and stopped when her gaze fell on the man currently trying to keep Naruto’s head from falling onto his lap.

“Sasuke, you take him home,” she commanded before turning to hurry to the hospital.

Hinata bowed shyly before leaving the wide-eyed Uchiha to carry out his orders.

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Yay, everyone knows what comes next right?
LEMON TIME!!!
Thanks to every who has endured throught a no smut story so far. But now that the character and plot are in motion, there will be more smut more often!

Hehe!
Let me know if you guys would like me to answer reviews in the following chapters by indiviual or in general.

Hope you enjoyed,
Tereshi