Hello there, everyone.

This is the beginning of my newest story. Whoo!

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy it, because I'm eager to start it off.

Oh, and the characters in this story include…

Gaara, Shikamaru, Kiba, Sai, Neji, Sasuke, and Naruto.

And possibly some side-characters that aren't mentioned here.

I'd like to thank you in advance for being patient with me if you're a reader from my last story.

And please be patient with this one as well, because it may not be nearly as long.

Gomen and arigato!

Now, please enjoy Chapter 1!

Chapter 1: Invitations

A loud beeping roared into Naruto's ears. His eyes fluttered open slowly as he reached a hand over to silence his alarm clock. A grin spread across his face as he stretched his arms high above his head.

"Naki-sama? Are you awake yet?" Naruto's mother called from downstairs.

"Yes, I'm up!" He called back, his voice laced with happiness. He got up, swinging his legs off the bed and dashing over to the bathroom. He went through his morning routine faster than expected.

"Okay, teeth brushed, hair combed, smelling good…" Naruto mumbled to himself as he made his way downstairs, half-clothed and struggling to get the rest of his school uniform on.

"Oh, Naki, don't you think you're overdoing it?" Naruto's mother asked, giggling a tad. "I mean, your slumber party isn't until tonight." She leaned against a wall, looking over at Naruto's father, who was sitting at the table.

"Oh, come now, Minami. He's got every right to be excited, even if he's a little old to be this happy about a slumber party." A man with similar spiky, blonde hair sat at the table, reading a newspaper. His eyes were a deep turquoise, and he had light blonde sideburns. He dipped a doughnut in his coffee before resuming his reading.

"I guess you're right, Yondaime." Minami chuckled, her hair long and bleach blonde, with dark indigo eyes. She lifted up a bento box for lunch and a doughnut for his breakfast on the way to school. "Here you go, Naruto. Make sure you give out the invitations today, too, okay?" she asked, the invitations wedged inside the bento box.

Naruto nodded quickly. "Okay, mom, thanks! By the way, beautiful skirt, looks great on you!" Naruto complimented, swiping the items from her hands and rushing out the door before she could even reply. Minami giggled again, Yondaime stared.

"Does that boy have bad vision or bad fashion taste?" Yondaime asked, his brow rose in curiosity. Minami grabbed his news paper, rolled it up, and slapped it on his head. "Ow!"

Naruto put on his black and yellow roller-blades and his black helmet outside of the door, tying his shoes around his neck. He swung his backpack over his shoulder and got up. A light, gentle breeze played on the wind as Naruto roller bladed down his driveway. October 10th, today, was the day Naruto turned 18 years old.

"Oi! Kiba!" Naruto waved to his friend, whom he picked up every morning. Kiba wore red and blue roller-blades and a similar helmet.

"Hey, there you are, you slowpoke! We're gonna be late if we don't hurry up!" Kiba hit Naruto upside his head.

Naruto winced. "Hey, it's not my fault I overslept a little… Okay, it is, but that's not the point." He chuckled. "Besides, you should be nicer to me, it's my birthday today, y'know."

Kiba rolled his eyes. "Whatever…" Kiba trailed off as Naruto stuffed an invitation in his face.

"Here you go. Despite the fact that you're a jerk to me, sometimes, I'm still giving you an invitation." Naruto smiled, his grin wide.

Kiba couldn't help but smile back. "Thanks, man. Oh, we're here already?" Kiba blinked, tilting his head. They were approaching a very large, mahogany building, with several different wings, and an alcove in front of the parking lot that was the entrence.

Naruto and Kiba raced around students that were piling in by the dozens. Naruto dashed up to the usual spot where his friends hung out, which was the two benches about twenty feet from the main entrence.

"Hey everyone!" Naruto waved. His group was pretty much a group of seniors, except for Gaara, and Sai. Gaara was a year younger, but skipped a grade, and Sai had been held back a year. Gaara held a sketchbook in his arms, as he always did, and the only two raven-haired boys, Sai and Sasuke, glared at each other nonstop, as usual.

"I've got something for everyone!" Naruto boasted, his light blonde hair bounced. He grinned at them all. Gaara jumped up and down in excitement. "Here you all are… Neji, Gaara, Shikamaru, Sai…" Naruto passed out small rectangular pieces of paper with names on them to each person. Leaving one left. "And Sasuke." Naruto twiddled his thumbs and handed it over.

"Tonight?" Neji asked calmly, blinking. "I've got no plans, so alright." He smirked, nodding. Gaara just jumped up and down after reading his, nodding excitedly.

"I'm going to draw you a birthday card!" Gaara promised, his red-hair still bouncing with him.

"I've never got any plans… so a party won't be too much of a drag…" Shikamaru smiled with Neji, nodding. He looked over at Kiba. "Will he be going?" Naruto nodded.

"Then I have no problem going either…" Shikamaru wrapped his arms around Kiba's waist affectionately, pulling him close. Kiba blushed deeply and looked away, smiling.

Naruto blinked, then giggled. "As adorable as ever." Naruto raised his hand for a high-five, Gaara slapped his hand to Naruto's in return.

A loud bell rang from inside the school, beckoning the ten minute warning before class starts. Naruto gasped, "C'mon, we gotta get inside!" Naruto said, dragging Gaara with him, along with Kiba and Shikamaru. Neji just followed at his own pace.

Sasuke stared down at his invitation, a sly smirk stretched across his face. It faded when he looked up, only to see Sai walking away, glaring at him. Sasuke shot a hateful glare right back.

"A birthday party… I suppose there's no harm in going." Sasuke stared up at the gentle blue sky as he followed the group reluctantly.