UID: 200000108130631

Server number: S884: Vehicle Suspense

Character name: Nanami

______________________________________

Sasuke rang the bell, but nobody opened the door.

He searched his pockets for the key. When he walked in, the house it was dark and strangely quiet.

“Sakura?”

He was holding three letters he had received that week. Two were from Naruto who wrote to update him on Konoha’s news, ask about his mission, share important information and lastly ask him to return to the village.

The third letter was from Sakura who asked him to return as soon as possible.

Ignoring Naruto was one thing, but for Sakura to send a letter asking him to return, that was very strange. It made him feel uneasy and he made his way back to Konoha at once. Although it was already late, Sakura and Sarada were not home.

“Sarada?”

There was no answer still.

“Naruto might know where they are,” said Sasuke to himself.

As he was thinking about whether Naruto would be still at the hokage’s office or not, Sasuke felt people’s presence at the door. There were at least a dozen of them. A moment later the door was pushed open and a bunch of people crowded at the entrance.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY SASUKE!!”

Sasuke was surprised at the sight of Sakura, Sarada, Naruto and a number of other people he knew at the door. Confetti rained at him and almost covered the whole floor. It took him a moment to realise what all of this was about. He had completely forgotten about his birthday. In fact, he had no idea what month it was to begin with—this was the effect of travelling alone between dimensions for months.

This was so awkward. He had no idea how to react in this sort of situation.

“Naruto! Did you ask me to return home from an important mission for this?” he said.

“Your mission never ends,” said Naruto, “you need to take a break from it once in a while.”

“I don’t want you to lecture me about taking breaks.”

Sakura laughed and said, “Sasuke-kun, the whole birthday party was Sarada’s idea. She insisted that you came home to celebrate your birthday.”

“Is that so?” asked Sasuke.

“Right. I heard that you have not celebrated your birthday in thirteen years,” said Sarada, “besides, I wanted us to take another family photo and this seemed like the perfect occation.”

“Can’t be helped then, since it is your idea.”

Everyone gathered in the living room to eat the cake. After that they started reminiscing and laughing together about the old days. Although Sasuke was not normally fond of such gatherings, he thought that being social and meeting with old friends once in a while was not so bad. He was a little surprised at how much he enjoyed his birthday party.

The next day Sasuke left on a long mission. One week later he received a letter and a photo. Looking at the happy faces of his family in the photo made him smile and decide to go home more often.