What the New Year Brings

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The small bit of New Year's info comes from Wikipedia.

Chapter 16-The First Time Friendship Takes a Stand

Naruto, Yamato, Kakashi, and I make our way through the crowded streets of Konoha towards the Main Gates. Naruto, always one to overtly display his enthusiasm, walks several paces ahead of us. Yamato, Kakashi, and I take on a more leisurely pace enjoying the clear, sunny sky and cool, January air.

The New Year's Festival is still going on, hence the throng of people. The festival actually used to last longer, but now it lasts only 3 days: New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and the day after New Year's. Just another thing to love and miss about our beloved Hidden Leaf Village, but still, nothing beats the excitement of going out on an adventure. You can love your home, consider it the only place you'd ever want to be, miss it and long for it once you're gone, but there is just something about going out on an adventure that makes the adrenaline rush through your veins, pumping you up and making you feel exhilarated and alive.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job at the hospital as a medic and at the Administration Building as the Hokage's apprentice, but by far nothing tops the job I was born and bred for...Being a ninja, going out on missions, and traveling the world. True, it would be even better if the high possibility of being killed out on the field wasn't a factor, but hey, you can't have everything can you?

In the midst of all the activity going on around us, something completely different grabs my attention and makes me wonder if any of Shishou's not so gentle words actually sunk in, because I could swear that Kakashi is using his body as a barricade between Yamato and myself.

Let's test that theory, shall we?

Just a little bit slower...Fall back just a little...

Then dash to the left!

Good God, he's fast! There's no doubt he used to be the Yellow Flash's student! Before I even get the chance to sidle up next to the Mokuton user, Kakashi has used his not so small form to keep me the hell away.

"What are you doing?" Yamato asks in calm but evident confusion at the both of us.

"Doing what?" Kakashi asks coolly, continuing to stare lazily off into the distance, walking in his slow pace.

"This!" I say, making another attempt to dash near Yamato's side before Kakashi quickly, but casually blocks me.

"What the hell?..."

Great. Now even Naruto doesn't know what the fuck is going on.

"Kakashi..." I try to keep my voice even.

"What?" He asks with just a hint of a smirk beneath his mask.

"You heard what Shishou said."

"Course I did. What are you trying to imply?"

"Seriously, Kakashi. This..." I try to sprint next to Yamato before I'm cut off again, "Is ridiculous."

"Well, what's wrong with where you're walking now?"

"What's wrong with me trying to walk next to him?"

"What's wrong with you walking next to me?"

"What's wrong with me wanting to walk next to the both of you if I walk in-between?"

"What's wrong with you two in the first place?!" Naruto shouts back at us.

"Nothing!" Kakashi and I say in unison.

Yamato simply holds both of his hands up in front of him and steps back away from us.

"I'm not walking down the aisle with him, Kakashi! I'm just trying to walk by his side!"

"Why? What's wrong with walking by me?"

"Not this again..." I slap the palm of my hand to my forehead, but two male voices off to the distance catch my ear.

"Trouble in paradise already?"

"What do you mean?"

"Geez, didn't you hear?!"

"No, what?!"

"He kissed her! On New Year's! In front of everybody!"

"No way! Are you serious?! Dammit! Why'd we have to be on guard that day?!"

"We're on guard everyday."

"But wait, isn't he-"

"14 years to be exact and he used to be her sensei no less!"

"Wow, that's just asking for trouble. No wonder they're fighting already..."

For just a second, Kakashi and I forget our little squabble and both turn our heads around to look at the two gossiping guards, Kotetsu and Izumo, but before either of us can even get a word in edgewise, Naruto and Yamato have already stepped in for us.

"Yeah and you know what? I was there! I saw it all for myself! And you know what else? It was awesome! The best thing Kakashi-sensei could've ever done! Yeah I was shocked at first, but you should see them together, I mean aside from how they were just now. But then again, if you only knew what they were fighting about! Anyway, I've never seen Kakashi-sensei happier. I've never seen Sakura-chan happier! They're so, so...mushy." Naruto says, sticking his tongue out. "Anyway, they're happy and good together so just leave them alone, okay?!" Naruto spits out, his blue eyes narrowed and canine teeth flashing.

"And I was there, too. I've never known Kakashi-sempai to do anything rash for as long as I've known him. I highly doubt that what happened on New Year's was any different. That's why I respect him, his decisions, and his actions even on this. So you two might do well to hold your tongues, especially when who you're talking about are only a few feet away." Yamato says calmly, but with a clear edge to his voice.

Kotetsu and Izumo seem to have both shrunk in their seats inside their booth.

"So sorry, Tenzo-san. We didn't mean to-"

"It's not me you need to apologize to." And for added effect, Yamato gives them the "scary face."

Kotetsu and Izumo sink down even lower in their chairs.

"So sorry, Kakashi-san, Sakura-san. We meant no disrespect."

"Thank you." Kakashi and I respond stiffly.

Naruto, Yamato, Kakashi, and I each take our turns signing the log sheet and are relieved to finally step through the Konoha Gates and leave the tense air behind.

"The nerve!" Naruto grumbles under his breath.

"No kidding." Yamato mumbles next to him.

A smile slowly creeps across my face and when I look up at Kakashi, I see that his eye is creased indicating a smile beneath his mask as well.

Our silly fight completely forgotten, I link my arm through Kakashi's. As we watch our two friends walk just a little bit ahead of us, Kakashi and I silently agree: Talk about having quality friends.

To be continued...