Sasuke pondered over the things he saw from his past when he heard a loud noise. It sounded like it came from his kitchen.
He grabbed his kunai that had buried itself into the wall when Sasuke tried to attack Suigetsu earlier. He carefully made his way down stairs and over to the kitchen. He slowly pushed open the door and poked his head in.
Raiding his fridge was a heavy set man dressed in forest green robes. He also was quite tall and had brown hair sticking out of his hat.
Sasuke did not ask questions, he threw his kunai at the stranger. He was not surprised when his kunai went through the man. This was beginning to get irritating.
“Let me guess…You’re the second ghost…” Sasuke sighed.
The man turned around with food in his mouth, “Correffejlaksd.”
The man swallowed, “Correct. I am the Ghost of Christmas Present! I also go by Choji. You have to enjoy life in the present, and I am here to show you that.”
“…”
Sasuke resisted asking if that was why the Ghost was so fat…But did not really desire the wrath of an angry ghost.
“Expansion Jutsu!” Choji grew really big until his head touched the ceiling,
“Let’s get going so I can go get barbeque.”
The giant bent over and grabbed Sasuke by the collar and walked out of the house.
“Spirit…” Sasuke started.
“I said call me Choji.”
“…Where are you taking me?” he said, ignoring the giant ghost.
“Just be patient! We’re almost there.”
They stopped at a large house. Choji set Sasuke down and shrank back to his normal size. Sasuke was already looking through the window.
“Itachi~” A young woman’s voice sang.
Itachi looked up from the book he was reading. He folded his glasses and placed them into his pocket, “Ah, sweet.”
Itachi stood up and kissed the young woman with brown curls, dressed in a beautiful red dress.
“That must be his wife…”Sasuke muttered.
“Ita, is your brother coming to the party tonight?” she asked.
Itachi shook his head, “I am afraid he still hates me after all these years…I guess I deserve it. I should have come home right after our parents died, but I was not ready to care for a young boy. I was only 13. I had no skills to pay for him…”
Itachi’s wife kissed his cheek, “It will be ok…I hope Sasuke can learn about the true meaning of Christmas soon…Or he will die bitter and alone.”
“Please don’t say that…”
“It’s true! He causes you grief and he took charge of your father’s business when it should have been yours.”
“It’s alright…He’s done nothing to me that I don’t deserve…I just wish he knew…that no matter what…I will always love him.”
Sasuke watched his brother, wanting to speak to him, “If you love me why didn’t you write to me? Why didn’t you visit?”
“He can’t hear you, Sasuke.”
Choij grew large once more and dragged Sasuke away, “We have one more stop.”
Choji set Sasuke down at a very small house, so small…one could barely call it a house.
A young woman with pink hair, heavy with child was setting the table with the help of a little girl with pink hair and a girl who looked like her older sister with blonde hair.
“Naruto Uzumaki is here!” Naruto called through the door as he entered.
“Daddy…Do you always have to greet us like that? It’s not cool.” the small pink haired girl asked.
Naruto pouted, “You pa is plenty cool-ttebayo!”
Naruto set down his work bag and hung up his thin coat. He walked over and kissed his wife.
“You’re late,” she tsked.
“S-sakura! It’s not my fault, dattebayo! Sasuke kept me over time today.”
“That Mr. Uchiha…I could just walk over to his house and give him a piece of my mind!” Sakura muttered.
“MOM!”
“And then I’ll p-”
“MOM!”
Sakura looked up to see the spoon she was holding was bent in half.
“That’s the third one this month!” the girl with blonde hair sighed.
“Kids, why don’t we take a seat and have dinner,” Naruto suggested, changing
topics.
Naruto looked around the room, “Where’s Jiraiya?”
“Here I am, Pa!” a young voice called.
A little blond boy came hobbling in on a crutch. His hair was spikey like his dad’s and he had his mother’s green eyes. Naruto helped him to his seat as Sakura pulled out a very small chicken from the oven.
“Papa?” the pink haired girl asked.
“Yes, Kushina?” Naruto replied.
“Can we have a real turkey this year for Christmas, can we?”
“Eto…I don’t think so-ttebayo…”
“We can’t because Mister Uchiha is a penny pincher and does not pay daddy enough money,” the blonde girl tsked.
“Nami Tsunade Uzumaki. We will be thankful for what we have!” Sakura lectured.
“Sorry…”
“Ma, can I say the prayer?” Jiraiya asked.
“Of course, sweetie.”
The table of Uzumaki’s bowed their heads and closed their eyes.
“Dear Jesus…thank you for Ma and Pa who love us very much. Thank you for the food we eat and thank you for Mister Uchiha. And God…can you please send someone to come and visit Mister Uchiha. He seems a little lonely and needs a friend…In Jesus name…Amen,” Jiraiya said.
“Spirit…”
“Choji!”
Sasuke glared at the ghost, “Tell me…What is wrong with that boy? Will he live?”
A serious look crossed Choji’s face and his tone changed, “I see an empty place at this table. I see a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the future, the child will die.”
“Why…?” Sasuke asked. He saw himself in that little boy.
“If these shadows remain unaltered by the future, none other of my species will find him here. But if he is to die, then let him die...! "AND DECREASE THE SURPLUS POPULATION!" Choji mocked.
“…Hmph…My own words against me…”
Choji shook his head, “As I told you before…The present is brief. I must leave.”
“What? But the first spirit showed me three things…”
“The truth is I have Barbeque left in the oven. BYE!”
Choji vanished, leaving Sasuke standing alone on the streets.
“…........”
