The New Otokage

Hi everyone
Here´s another chapter for you to read. Poor Sasuke-kun, this is going to be the longest birthday he has ever had heh heh. And with that note: on with the fic - plz enjoy.

Chapter 18: The party:

"talk"
´thoughts`

“So… you’re here to help Naru-kun… right?” The blonde woman asked her red-haired companion as they walked down the busy streets of Otogakure.

“… Correct. He asked me to help him to come up with a good plan so that he won't be forced to return to Konoha,” the Kazekage stated.

“… And?”

“And what?”

“And do you have a plan then?” She smiled shyly at him. She liked him, and he somehow reminded her of the things she liked at Sasuke: the calmness, control and that perfectly pale skin. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she visualized the man without his shirt on… yum yum!

“… A few, but they all involve treaties… and I´m not sure that it’ll help. The Hokage is a powerful sanin after all, and she doesn’t like to lose her shinobi. I would go to war if it would help him, though!” He gave her an amused smile as he saw that she was staring at him with that look in her pretty blue eyes.

“…eh heh… Well Suna and Oto are both strong nations… even if we’re still a young nation!” She blushed as she realized what she had been doing… and that Gaara had noticed it.

“I know. And Uchiha is not going to let Naruto be taken from him that easily… he can be very possessive.” Gaara realized that he liked it when the blonde girl blushed, she looked very cute and he suddenly felt the urge to touch her honey gold skin.

“Yeah, I know that… Oh my! Gaara we have to hurry... the party has already begun,” she took his hand and dragged him along as she ran towards the tower in the center of town.

The softness and warmth of her slender fingers that held on to his was making his entire being yearn for more contact. More than anything, he wanted to swipe her of her feet and hold her close to his pounding heart.

This feeling that she caused was so much stronger than what he had felt when Naruto had held him in his strong arms. Was he falling in love with this beautiful being, even though he had only known of her existence for a few days?

~ # ~

“Would you guys mind?” the blonde fox chirped as he tried to push Sakura and Sasuke away from him. They had clung to him like flies to an old cheese the entire time since they left Sasuke´s apartment.

“I´m not a kid… I´m a shinobi and last time I checked I could still take care of myself, so will ya please cut it out?!”

“Gomen, O-nii chan, “the pink-haired konoichi grinned at him and stepped back. Sasuke refused to let him remove the arm he had around his from his lover’s waist.

“You're carrying my children… so relax and let me protect you, dobe!” The raven said with a demanding voice.

“Nee, Teme, that doesn’t mean that I can’t walk by myself,” the blonde crossed his arms above his chest and pouted at the Uchiha who finally released his grip.

“So who is coming, anyway?” Sasuke asked like he didn’t really care who would attend to his birthday. The truth was that he wanted to spend the rest of the day with his pregnant Kitsune but he was kinda curious to know who would care enough about him to show up.

“Well…” Naruto chuckled. “Kira-can and I kinda wanted to surprise you with a quiet traditional dinner with live music, to celebrate your birthday and now official title as the first (real) Otokage. We know how you prefer your privacy… but I hope you won’t mind that Sakura-chan, Kakashi and Kiba will be joining us. Maybe Gaara, Kankurou and Temari will join in too… Then it would be a real party after all… and don´t worry… we have enough food and drinks for everyone.”

“…Hnnn” Sasuke just gave his Kitsune a glare that stated that he didn’t really cared (though he felt a bit happy.)

“… well, let’s go inside then!” The blonde deliberately ignored Sasuke´s glare and dragged him into the room where the party was held.

“Yo!” Kakashi greeted them as they entered the room.

“Na… Naruto? So it’s really true then? You are back… you look a bit pale, are you alright?” Kiba and Akamaru walked up to the blonde. Kiba embraced the grinning Kitsune and Akamaru licked the blonde’s hand.

“It´s good to see you too, Kiba, Akamaru.”

“Otokage-sama… Sasuke, happy birthday and thanks for finding Naruto, everyone will be so happy to welcome you home to kono-“

“Naruto stays here!” The Uchiha cut the dog-boy off mid sentence.

“Nani? What do you mean, Uchiha? Naruto stays here?” Kiba´s eyes grew wide as he let go of Naruto.

“Naruto is my-“

“Are you forcing him to stay with you, bastard?!” Kiba grabbed Sasuke by the collar of his shirt with a snarl.

“Kiba! No one is forcing me to do anything I don´t want to,” Kiba´s eyes locked onto the clear blue ones. “I feel at home here. I don´t belong in Konoha anymore… My place is here… with Sasuke,” the blonde loosened Kiba´s firm grip on Sasuke´s shirt and smiled at the dog owner.

“Thank you for your concern, Kiba, I´m glad to be your friend.”

“Naruto? You and the Uchiha… Um… are you guys?” The blonde just grinned as Sasuke possessively wrapped an arm around Naruto´s shoulder.

“Sasuke-sama, Naru-kun, I´m sorry that we are arriving late… we were just-“Everyone in the room turned around to look at the odd couple that had just walked through the door. Suddenly the prior argument was forgotten, as they watched a blushing Kira and a slightly smiling Kazekage walk into the room, hand in hand.

“Oi, Kira-chan, Gaara… I didn’t know that you guys were that close,” the blonde teased and watched in delight that both Gaara and Kira turned red. Sakura just shocke her head at his remark.

Kakashi and Kiba grinned at each other as they saw the two blushing teens. They had never seen Gaara with a blush before and they kinda regretted that neither one of them hadn’t brought a camera along to capture this sight.

“Gaara?” Kankurou and Temari stopped in the doorway and stared in wonder at their younger brother. Neither of them had seen the Kazekage so happy since Naruto left Suna.

“I guess we’re all here then,” the blonde felt the uncomfortable mood and broke the oddness and quietness. “I´m starving and why did the music stop? Sasuke, you have to open some of the many presents, want me to help ya out?” The warm laughter of his friends filled the room at his remark. Naruto was Naruto and they all felt grateful for the change of mood.

They all grabbed a plate and helped themselves from the well assorted dishes that had been prepared for them. Kira had been so clever to order more food than necessary because of their visitors from Suna.

There were all kinds of delicacies; traditional dishes from Otogakure, sushi and other rice dishes (because of Sasuke´s love for food with rice in it). There were different kinds of prepared meat (much to Kiba´s and Akamaru´s delight), vegetables, raw and cooked, freshly baked bread and of course ramen (to please Naruto).

There was also a lot to choose from in the drinking apartment. There was beer, wine, sake and freshly mixed drinks from the bartender as well as a variety of non alcoholic drinks.

As everyone had fetched what they wanted to eat and drink, they sat down at a large round table. Sasuke sat between Kakashi and Naruto, and next to him were Kira and Gaara, then Temari, Kankurou, Kiba and Sakura next to Kakashi.

Everyone chatted fondly of the happy memories of the past and Kakashi and Kiba told Naruto of all the funny things that he had missed out on because of his absence. Naruto found it very entertaining that Kakashi had gotten a new team of rookies to train, two girls and a boy. It was fun to hear about the things that Kakashi put his new student’s through. It reminded him of his own past… and the happiness he felt as a part of team seven.

So much had happened during the long years since then… many dark and heartbreaking things. But that was a thing of the past now! They were once more together, team seven. They were here with some of their best friends, eating drinking and having fun.

Naruto listened with great curiosity to one of Kiba´s tales as he felt a familiar hand on his thigh. He tilted his head and looked at the owner of the hand.

“Sasuke?” The blonde asked as he saw the smirk on his lover’s lips. Sasuke didn’t say anything; he just motioned towards Naruto to make him look to his left.

The blonde raised a brow at the strange gesture, but decided that he’d better take a look at whatever Sasuke found so amusing.

Blue eyes grew wide at the sight next to him. Kira and Gaara were kissing each other in front of them. Kira´s slender arms were slung around Gaara neck, her fingers playing with soft red locks. Gaara had his arms around her back, his hands caressing the silky fabric of her black string top.

They didn’t seem to notice anyone else than themselves, cause everyone was already either staring at the couple, giggling or blushing.

“…Um… Kira… Gaara, do you need a room?” Naruto chuckled as the entangled couple looked bedazzled at him as they realized they weren’t alone.

“Feel free to leave at anytime,” the Otokage smirked at the blushing Kazekage. This was a sight he would never forget: a bright red (so red you couldn’t tell his face apart from his hair red) Gaara and an equally blushing Kira.

“Gomen, Sasuke-sama…” Kira shyly grinned at her boss.

“Cool, so you’re a couple then?” Naruto barged out before Sasuke had the opportunity to say anything.

“….” The kissing couple looked at each other for a while before nodding at each other.

“Congratulations Gaara,” his sister hugged his slender frame from her seat behind him.

“Love is in the air… “Kiba who was a bit drunk leaned against Kankurou´s shoulder and tried to sing a love song. His voice was out of tune though and it made Akamaru howl and bark which caused the group to beg the dog trainer to stop.

Kiba pouted and wrapped his arms around Kankurou´s waist. Kankurou blushed and tried to push the brunette of him, but without success. A hearty laughter filled the room and none of them heard that the door to the room opened and closed as a group of cloaked shinobi entered the room.

“What the hell is going on here?!” Everyone stopped laughing and turned their attention to the four people that was standing a few feet away from them.

“Who are you and what the hell are you doing here?” Sasuke was already on his feet and standing protectively in front of Naruto. These intruders had masked their chakra signature and he could not recognize any of them.

Were they here to threaten Naruto and their unborn children? Gaara and Kira were just as fast, ready to attack eve though none of them had their weapons on them. Sasuke wanted to rip these intruders apart with his bare hands. He activated the sharingan to check his opponents out as he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder.

The four showed their hands to the parting group before sliding of the hood that hid their identities.

“Sasuke, wait! They mean no harm… Am I right Baa-chan?”

TBC