[OP: "Grow" -- The Oh Hellos]

The decor had been done in gold with the numbers "100" repeating along the walls.

When they ate breakfast, everyone started reminiscing about the trip.

Mabui joined them partway through this, so she caught most of it.

She had dressed a little differently also. Maybe she just figured she wasn't really working right now.

"I think my favorite moment so far..." Naruto was the first one. "...I really liked...oh gee, it's kinda depressing, but I liked the memorial we had for Pervy Sage... I mean, it was...sad, but it was important."

"That's sweet," Momo said, "if that was your favorite thing."

"What about you, sis?" Hanabi asked Hinata.

"It's hard to pick, but I think I liked seeing Neji so happy in Mist and how happy all those islanders were," Hinata said.

"That's a good one," Camie said.

"Shikamaru, what's your favorite thing we've done?" Wally prompted him.

"Ask me when it's over," Shikamaru said. "So far...I mean, I kinda like the parts where we don't do anything best of all."

"Figures," Ino said. "Honestly, though, it is nice when we can just hang out as friends. I think those are my favorite times too, going shopping with Camie and you other girls, learning more about each other."

"My favorite thing was the Rain Village party," Choji said. "Good food and the people seemed to enjoy it."

"I dunno if it's my favorite thing we did," Dabi said, "but one of the best sights of this trip was the look on Jakku's face when you brought that hooker to the Village. Priceless."

"That was pretty good," Suigetsu snickered. "Ah, Likstar, West, you do the nuttiest things."

"Thanks," Shine said. She wasn't eating since she had already; she was just helping them get food.

Mabui raised an eyebrow at that.

"Oh, don't worry, sis." Camie looked at her. "The hooker wasn't for us. She was trying to get a new job--like a non-hooker one--and we helped her out. But this guy made a bet about it to embarrass us, and we showed him... The funny thing is they hit it off. I totes saw sparks flying there."

"Awkward choice " Dabi said.

"I think it's sweet, like Rahab in the Bible," Shine said.

"You have an example for everything from that book," Sakura said. "But it doesn't exactly work that way."

"Thanks for volunteering, Sakura. What's your favorite part of the mission so far?" Wally said.

Sakura frowned at him, but then she stuck out her chin. "I liked when we found out how to stop the plague in St--" She stopped. She'd forgotten that Mabui wasn't supposed to know about that.

Mabui was surprised. But she didn't say anything.

Not everyone noticed Sakura's mistake right away. They just glanced at her like, "Why did you stop?"

"That was cool." Shine acted as if nothing had happened, though she'd caught it. "What about you, Katsuki?"

"I liked kicking the butts of those bandits," Bakugo said. "And the Poison Mist shinobi. And the shark."

"Could do better than the shark," Camie muttered.

"Animal cruelty," Suigetsu said. "Not cool."

"And you, Snowflake? Other than beating up Sasuke?" Dabi said.

"I wouldn't call that a highlight." Shoto took him seriously for some reason. "It's hard for me to pick. I don't really have a favorite moment, just...I Iike being here, with friends, and doing something that matters. And I like being around people I can respect, who want to make the world better. I don't really care which part we're on...though it's nice not to be attacked. I did like the Rain Village part also because we succeeded where we didn't think we would."

"Wow, that was deep," Camie said. "I feel silly now for my favorite part being all the make overs we've done and the dance parties."

"Oh, that's sweet though," Ino said.

"What was yours, Karin?" Naruto asked.

Karin hesitated. "I liked helping in Rain too. Funny, maybe actually because they didn't know who we were, but I felt the least in danger there once we actually settled in. I guess it was the  the only time we really just helped as ourselves, not as the...wanted criminals. Is that cheesy?"

"Yeah," Suigetsu said.

She elbowed him.

"But she's right," Jugo said. "But my favorite is still when you broke my curse."

"That tracks," Suigetsu said. "Mine was definitely getting the sword in Mist and being picked to be their envoy--not that I care about the title, but because I got the sword out of it."

"I know you're both serious and joking, and I can't tell which you are more," Shine noted.

"My favorite part was getting to actually win some fights," Tenten said. "And not having to work out all day to do it."

"I've been liking seeing the cultures of the world more than I thought I would," Kankuro said. "I mean...they're mean to us, but seeing things outside of Sand has been eye-opening."

"I agree with that," Gaara said. "And my favorite has been when peace feels like it's being reached in each place. I also enjoyed being with such a team of such different people. It's been inspiring...and I can't thank you all enough for coming on this and risking everything to help us achieve this. I hope the world will one day thank you for it also."

"Aww," Camie said.

"You can't make us cry over breakfast," Temari said. "Come on, little brother, now is not the time."

"What was your favorite then, sis?" Kankuro asked.

"Hmm, at risk of sounding more sentimental than Gaara, I think it's been watching him stand up to the other Kages," Temari said. "There's something just too satisfying about that when we're the youngest Village leaders in the alliance."

"Hey, that's valid," Dabi said. "Stick it to the man."

"And you made it sound stupid," Temari said.

"Hmrf," Dabi huffed.

"What's your actual favorite part, Dab-King?" Camie dabbed while saying that.

"When you don't call me that," Dabi said. 

She pouted. 

"I dunno anyway... I guess seeing some stuck up shinobi having to eat their words has been fun," Dabi said. "I did enjoy burning down those lairs too."

"Oh, that was fun," Wally said.

"And you, Cactus Boy?" Bakugo glanced at Sasuke. "Do you have one?"

Sasuke wished they didn't all look at him.

"I don't think I have a favorite moment or achievement," he said. "There've been so many strange things... As a whole this mission has been the most unique thing I've done. Maybe that's what I would pick."

"Surprisingly, that's kind of touching," Momo said. "My favorite times have been when I did something I didn't know I could do, used a gift a new way, changed someone's life for the better...but, I like that too."

"Hanabi?" Wally asked.

"I liked kicking butt in Stone Village and finding Eichi there," Hanabi said.

She was trying to be nice and smooth things over.

Eichi wasn't really mad at her, but he did feel awkward, and that made him blush.

"Oh...well, uh, I agree with all that, but I really liked how you helped my family and how happy my mom was to finally find somewhere safe to live," he said. "And I like that we rescued those four people."

"Sai?" Camie prompted.

Sai thought. "A lot of good moments, making frined and learning about emotions, but maybe the best part was getting Zoe."

Ino hoped she didn't feel disappointed, since it would be silly to. She wasn't sure what she felt there.

Zoe, outside the window (hoping for someone to toss her scraps of bird-friendly food), cooed in agreement.

"I think it's down to you then." Shoto looked at Shine and Wally.

"I can't pick," Wally said. "But any mission with Shine is also the new best experience of my life."

Shine looked like she'd start crying right there.

"That is so cheesy," Dabi said.

"It was so romantic though." Ino almost had tears in her eyes. "I'd love it if someone said that to me... Shine, you're so lucky."

"Yeah, so," Camie agreed.

Shine swallowed. "I really feel the same way...but also I love when I see all of you experience something new that you've never done or felt before."

Mabui listened to this.

She realized again that this team was not like others. She couldn't picture a Cloud team talking about this at length--though they might have their favorite stories, but they wouldn't have drawn deep things from, it, for the most part. It just wasn't their style.

It sounded Iike they all felt richer for the experience.

No wonder they were so hesitant to split up. Not many people had something like this in their lives, even for a few months.

"Do you want to add anything?" Shine suddenly asked her.

Mabui was startled. "I...uh, what could I add?"

"I mean, you've been part of our time here. Do you have a highlight?" Wally asked.

Mabui looked at them all. "I'm not sure I could pick a single incident that would have shocked me the most, except that you stayed here at all after what happened--but perhaps the one that made me realize you were unusual was the first day you were here, with the challenge."

"Good one," Camie said.

"I haven't forgotten it." Suigetsu rubbed his shoulder. "Thanks a lot, Shine."

Shine looked hurt.

"I thought we agreed we were over that," Karin said. "It worked."

"I know, I know, I just hate surprises," Suigetsu said.

"I hope that doesn't include birthday surprises because that takes out the rest of the day," Camie said.

"Aw, Camie, please tell me you're not planning anything embarrassing," Suigetsu said.

She gave him an impish smirk.

[Couldn't find a smirk, but then, for Camie, this might be one. Image from Pinterest.]

* * *

But at first things started slow, since they were waiting for their "guests" to arrive.

Everyone finished moving stuff out of the way.

"I know it's a little early for presents--" Momo began.

"Wait, we were doing presents?" Naruto said.

"Only if you wanted to," Wally said. 

"I just thought if I gave mine now, we could use it later," Momo said. "It's really for all of us who like doing this, but I thought Shine would appreciate it the most."

"Oh, for me, really?" Shine put a hand to her chest.

"It's not that surprising," Sakura said, a bit bitterly. "You're their favorite."

"I wouldn't say that..." Shine hedged.

"Of course you're our favorite," Camie said. "No offense, Gaara."

"None taken," Gaara said.

"I'm offended," Wally objected.

"You're our favorite too," Camie said. "Just...Iike a different favorite."

"Though if I had to pick who I thought would least make me do anything I didn't want to do," Shoto said to Bakugo, "I'd pick Gaara."

"Hmrph." Bakugo only acknowledged that with a grunt.

Shine uncovered the large gift Momo had just put a blanket over, since she hadn't thought wrapping it was worth the effort on something that size.

Mabui didn't know what it was, and neither did the other ninjas, but Shine and Camie both freaked out.

"Omg, is that what I think it is?!" Camie said.

"Is this one of those in-home karaoke machines?" Shine said. "I've wanted one of these for  ages!"

"Thought you might," Momo said. "Of course, we could still go to the bar, but, you know, if we're... not welcome, then I thought it would be nice... Not that I'm much of a singer, but you Iike it, and Camie does..."

"And we got some pipes!" Camie said. 

"Well, some of us do," Tenten said, since she didn't think Camie could sing very well--and honestly, she couldn't, but she always had fun anyway.

"I want to try this right away," Shine said. "Unless everyone else wants to open gifts."

Most of the boys would have been fine with waiting, but the girls kind of wanted to do it now.

"Did you really all get something in only two days?" Mabui had ordered that amount of items in bulk before, but the thought of personalizing it made even her feel staggered.

"Momo made all hers," Shoto explained. "And a bunch of people just asked her to make stuff for them and paid her directly because they didn't want to shop in the Village. I guess it's not as exploitative if she's getting compensated, though I still think she's not a vending machine."

"It wasn't any trouble. None of it was big stuff," Momo said. "Mine was the hardest one to make."

"I guess with your...jutsu...you have no trouble with gifts," Mabui noted. "Do you do windows?"

Momo didn't realize she was kidding at first and started to answer seriously, "Well, the size of them would be a problem, but glass isn't as complex as most things I make, so I suppose it's possible--" Then she stopped. "Oh."

Mabui smiled faintly. "Good to know I have a backup plan if the manufacturer finally decides we've abused our public service discount too much."

"Your repairman must hate you," Shoto said. "I mean, Ay. Not literally, but..."

"Well, they get more business, but it gets exhausting to fix the same thing over and over," Mabui explained. "I've begged him not to break stuff anymore, but he never thinks about it."

"I feel worse about the desk now," Momo said.

"Do we have to do this in front of everyone?" Shikamaru was asking, as Ino and Choji told him to sit down. "Technically, we celebrated our birthdays already this year. I mean, you guys were there."

"Let the others have their fun, Shikamaru," Choji urged. 

"It wasn't much anyway," Momo said. "We did what you'd like, and we couldn't think of anything you actually liked except this."

Ino handed Shikamaru a bag.

He opened it warily. Inside was a new shoji set...and a much nicer one than the one he had, honestly. Momo knew how to make something look like art.

Shikamaru actually had lost some pieces to his old one in one of the many natural disasters they'd encountered along the road but hadn't mentioned it to anyone, so this gift was timely.

He was a little pleased but struggled to hide it. "Well, I guess it's useful, even if it's just a game," he said.

"Just a game?" Temari said. "Hmrp. Someday I'll beat you at it again."

"I think he just had an off day," Choji said, just to pour fuel on the fire.

"Ino, want yours next?" Camie was too excited to wait.

"Oh, sure." Ino sat down in what apparently was the "gift" chair right now.

[Just like at those party places.]

Ino actually had more than one gift, probably because more people knew what she liked.

Camie had gotten her a yellow and purple flower charm bracelet with a matching necklace and earrings she'd found in the market.

Momo had given her a book on how to make artificial flowers with origami.

And Shine had included a book called The 5 Love Languages, which was about different styles of affection. [While it's cheesy, the book is kind of helpful.]

"Geez, you can tell who's the favorite person," Tenten said.

"Mostly it was that I couldn't think of anything anyone else would want," Shoto said. "We give money a lot where we live."

"Same here," Kankuro said. "That's what I gave everyone. How should I know what they want?"

"Americans like to give personal gifts," Momo said. "At least based on how Shine gives gifts, I assume so."

"All of this is great." Ino was touched. "Really. Thank you... Oh my gosh, mine aren't going to be as good."

"The shoji set was good," Choji tried to cheer her up. "And I'm fine with anything as long as it's a food or a coupon."

Which was exactly what he got, from everyone who'd gotten him something, so he was happy as a clam at high tide. [Did you know that's the full version of that idiom?]

Team 10 being out of the way, they moved to the other Leaf first.

Tenten was pretty happy when she got a new kind of weapon--a shinai (which was used to practice kendo sword fighting) and a set of paints you could use on weapons (which was both Kankuro's and Ino's idea, since they knew what kind to get, and the shinai was Momo's).

Hanabi got a bag of pop rocks (which was a joke), a poster of fireworks that was quite pretty, and wrist guards (that had been Momo's suggestion also, for help with her training). Hinata had also thrown in some new hair clips for her that she thought she'd like.

Hanabi luckily thought the candy and poster were amusing, since no one else really knew anything she liked except her sister.

Hinata herself would have been fine with anything, but she was truly touched that Naruto gave her some of his ramen coupons that Ichiraku always gave him special more than anyone else (he felt like he should support his best customer), and she also got a new sweater from the girls and some modest, dot-shaped earrings that she wouldn't be too embarrassed to wear.

Shoto said they should have gone with soba instead of ramen, and he was told to shut up by most of the Leaf shinobi.

Team 7 was left.

Sasuke really had expected no one would bother to get him anything, but he realized he should have known they wouldn't insult him like that.

He refused to sit in the chair though, so they just handed him some bags.

Their ideas were interesting. An apple corer (Momo and Shoto's thought, since Shoto had just said something practical, and all Momo could recall about Sasuke was that he liked apples), a Japanese copy of Pilgrim's Progress (Shine's idea), and some shades (no doubt Camie's idea).

Naruto had suggested they also give him ramen coupons, but Sakura had said he'd probably prefer it if they didn't reference Leaf at all. 

The shinobi didn't know what to get Sasuke, so they did the money thing--but that they did anything at all surprised him.

And then he felt pretty embarrassed.

Naruto got a lot more because no one was worried about offending him. No matter what they did, he'd take it all in good spirits.

Of course the Leaf just gave him packets of instant ramen and sticks to eat them with and a personalized kunai (Tenten's idea). The heroes gave him a new kick ball.

Naruto was pleased with all of this.

Sakura wondered if anyone had bothered to get her anything, and, to her surprise, plenty of people had.

Actually even the people outside Leaf had.

Temari had sent a message to Matsuri in Sand to get them a special voucher for a free day's stay at one of their few inns, which was a repayment for all her medical help so far on the trip.

Gaara had thought of that idea but had had no idea how to make it happen without his sister's attention to detail.

The Leaf had gotten her new sandals that were red instead of blue, since by now everyone needed new shoes.

Ino was wary of giving Sakura anything personally after last time, but it had been her idea to get red ones.

The heroes (Camie and Momo, really) had found cherry blossom-shaped pendents, and Camie had insisted they get her a sea foam green scarf.

When asked why it had to be that color, Momo got told:

"Duh, it matches her eyes, and it's a way better color for her than red! Girl should wear stuff that actually makes her look good."

Momo didn't argue.

Sakura liked the stuff but wasn't sure what to say other than, "Uh...well, thanks, I guess."

"Sai, you're up," Shine said.

Sai sat down obligingly...

He'd been pretty easy to shop for. They'd got him some more sketch pads and some colored pencils. 

"I actually have something for you," Mabui said, to their surprise. "Though it's not really for the party, but it seems like a good time to give it."

She passed Sai a slip of paper.

"Oh.. it's a pass to the art museum here," he said, and got excited. "You got this?"

"Well, it wasn't really that hard. The office gets in for free, so I only had to send in a request. I didn't get it till yesterday though," Mabui explained. "It admits 4 people... That's the minimal amount, but I thought it would saves a few ryo."

"That's really thoughtful." Ino was impressed. "You remembered we wanted to go?"

"Well, Sai did keep bringing it up," Sakura said flatly.

"Is there a gift shop there?" Shine said. "Because I bet they'd sell the best paints."

"I think there is..." Mabui didn't think she'd even gone in it.

"This is a great gift," Sai said.

"And ours weren't?" Wally teased him.

"What? Oh, no, yours were," he said hastily. "All of it is good."

They laughed. 

"I was just kidding," Wally said. "Sorry, we shouldn't tease you."

Sai looked a little red, but he took it in stride.

"Okay, that's Leaf." Camie clapped her hands excitedly. "Who's in the hot seat next?"

"Can't it be you?" Suigetsu said.

"Nah, fahm, we save the best for last," Camie said.

"Karin's practically a Leaf--she should go next," Naruto said.

"What, me?" Karin exclaimed, but they pushed her into the chair.

"This outta be interesting," Dabi muttered.

"So everyone participated in this? Or only your team?" Mabui asked him, startling him since she hadn't spoken to him in a while.

"Mostly it was the heroes. They love this kind of crap," he said. "But the others got into it a bit, from what I heard. I didn't get anything. I'm broke, and I have no idea what they like. But West made me sign the stupid cards."

"Cards?" Mabui said.

"That's later." Dabi wasn't looking forward to it--it promised to be cheesy.

"Here, Karin." Naruto handed her a small package.

"It's ramen, isn't it?" Suigetsu said.

Naruto looked disappointed.

"Naruto doesn't carry much other stuff but that." Sakura might have been trying to defend him, but it sounded more like a criticism.

"It's fine," Karin said. "I mean...I'm not sure I've ever actually eaten ramen--"

"WHAT?!" Naruto said. "That's awful!"

"My town didn't have a ramen shop," Karin said defensively. "At least...I don't remember going in one with my mom... What do you expect?"

"We have to fix this as soon as we go back to Leaf," Naruto said. "You need those coupons more than I do--ah, who am I kidding? I still need them."

"I'm sorry, is the joke that his name is a ramen topping?" Mabui asked.

"Could be why he's obsessed with it, but I doubt it's occurred to him." Dabi put his hands in his pockets. "It's okay... Don't know why everyone's so cracked out about it in Leaf."

"Maybe it's like Aisuku's ice cream is here," Shoto said. "It's like their food mascot... Is there such a thing as that?"

"I think it's more like a state food," Momo said. "Personally, I think soba is more cost effective."

Shoto looked at her like she'd just gotten about 100x more attractive in his eyes.

"You're just saying that." Dabi ruined it. "Way to suck up to your boyfriend."

"No, really," Momo said. 

"You're rich!" Dabi said.

"Yes, but most people aren't--" Momo paused. "That sounded really privileged, didn't it?"

"You're learning," Dabi said.

"Again, we're rich," Shoto said. "Stop acting like you're exempt from this."

"And, again, lived homeless for years. I am exempt from it," Dabi shot back.

"But not anymore. Back to being rich," Shoto said.

"Shut up, Snowflake."

Mabui made a point of covering her ears.

Karin also received a new glasses case and a fancy chain to attach to them, which Suigetsu said would make her look like a bookstore clerk. So she smacked him--not that it did any damage.

"I think I got this almost set up," Wally said to Shine, turning on the karaoke machine. "I mean, it can't be more complicated than a spaceship, and I had to do maintenance on that all the time."

"Hmm, that was really attractive the way you said that." Shine nodded. "But will it work?"

"Sure it will." Wally pressed a button and started playing one of the tracks, which no one recognized.

"Oops." He turned it back off.

"Shine, can't you play with that after we're done?" Temari asked.

"I wanted background music." Shine started to scroll through songs. "Wow, this has a lot to choose from... Let's see...ah, 2000s hits. That should be my genre."

"Did she say 2000s?" Mabui said. "Is it a ranking list?" [Remember the ninja world is not in the 2000s millennium.]

"Sure," Shoto said. "Shine's favorite songs are mostly ranked in the 2000s."

Momo laughed. "I mean, I tried to pick a model I thought would have that option... Took a little help from Jiro."

"Sweet, this has a bunch of P!NK and Coldplay." Shine opened a list. [Yeah, you are 2000s flat when you're excited about those artists.]

"Oldies again," Camie said. "Ew, but also, like, it was better before everything was so techno, huh?"

"Plenty of music back then was techno too," Bakugo said.

"I'm not that old, shut up," Shine said.

Karin opened her last gift, which was a green jade bracelet.

"The last time anyone gave me anything..." she thought. "I don't even remember... It was my mom..." She looked like she might cry.

"Aw, Karin, don't be sad. That's what family does," Naruto said.

Karin did cry after he said that.

Hinata handed her some tissues kindly.

"I guess we overdid it a little," Sakura said.

"Well, I know you didn't get the only thing I wanted," Suigetsu said, when he was pushed into the hot seat next.

"Bro, I got you!" Camie said, handing him a bag. "I ate this."

"You ate it?" Suigetsu said. "Or is that slang?"

"Slang," Tenten supplied.

Suigetsu opened the bag and pulled out a huge water bottle that had a ring for a carabiner clip and, like, three different kinds of lids and a straw.

"That looks like a Bubba," Shine said.

"They're called luvva," Bakugo said.

"Why are your brands all just our brands but with weirder names?" Wally wondered.

"This is cool." Suigetsu forgot to be cynical. "I mean, it's huge, and it's got all these gadgets. That's way better than my other ones."

"Right? Aren't I the best?" Camie said.

"Momo made it," Shoto said.

"But I had the brand idea," Camie said.

"And I got this one." Shine passed him a very long gift.

Suigetsu opened it. "What is this?"

It looked like a glow stick with a sword handle.

"It's a lightsaber," Wally said. "Well, sort of. I think it's really a laser sword. They make those in the...hero society."

"But if anyone asks, that's a glow stick," Shine said.

"Gotcha." Suigetsu swung it a few times. "This is so light."

"It's supposed to be made of light," Momo explained. "It's...well, it's part of this movie series."

"I still haven't seen it," Shoto said.

"Really, with all the stuff you have named after it?" Wally said.

He got a blank look.

Shine picked a track and turned the volume down a bit so it wasn't as jarring.

Then she picked up the mic. "Let's see how this works..."

Party music started playing.

Just at this juncture, Karui and Omoi walked in.

They saw the unwrapped gifts, wrapping paper, and everyone sitting or standing in a rough circle and assumed they'd arrived late.

"Oh, hey, guys," Naruto said. "We were just giving Suigetsu his stuff... Jugo, you're next."

"I really don't need anything," Jugo said, sitting down.

"Did you get the time wrong?" Omoi asked Karui accusingly.

"What? No," she said.

"No, it's all right," Ino said. "We didn't really have a set time, but the ladies got excited about giving their stuff, and...we kinda got caught up in it, but you're fine. We're almost done anyway. Just have the heroes and the Sand after this."

"What is this?" Jugo took out an oddly shaped whistle.

"It's a bird whistle," Momo said. "I know it seems a little...quaint, but I thought maybe you would like it..though I suppose you don't need that to call birds."

Jugo blew it, and it sounded a lot like a bird. "This is kind of nice," he said. And since he really didn't get gifts, that was high praise from him.

"We also found a guide to the birds in this area in one of the shops," Sai supplied. "It's like a guide to flowers, but for birds."

"Thanks for the clarification, Sai," Suigetsu said sarcastically.

Sai didn't pick up on the sarcasm and just smiled in a dorky way.

Ino simpered a little.

"That guy is not all there sometimes," Omoi told Karui. "But he's a good fighter. Guess it just depends on the kinda situation he's in."

"Shut up." Karui was a bit touchy about make fun of Sai after hearing his real reasons for being the way he was--but things like that never seemed to make Omoi think twice about anyone.

"Ah, though, we're too late." He stopped on one of his negative thought spirals. "The mood might be the wrong one for us to join, and we could just end up sitting alone the rest of the time, and we didn't even know if we should bring dessert, and--"

"Just sit down, Omoi." Karui shoved him at an available spot.

He lurched and then sat down, rubbing his shoulder.

"Okay, I'm starting the track over," Shine said. She wound it back.

"Oh, wait, I know this one," Camie said.

Shine started to hum to the music and then broke into the lyrics:

"I'm coming up, so you better get this party started...

"Get the party started on a Saturday night. Everybody's waiting for me to arrive.

 "Sending out the message to all of my friends. We'll be looking flashy in my Mercedes Benz.

 "I got lots of style, check my gold diamond rings. I can go for miles, if you know what I mean."

(Chorus)

"Oh, I am so into this vibe." Camie started bouncing to the music. "Life of the party, right here."

She started singing along--sort of.

"Pumping up the volume, breaking down to the beat. 

"Cruising through the west side, we'll be checking the scene. 

"Boulevard is freaking as I'm coming up fast. 

"I'll be burning rubber, you'll be coming up fast.

"Pull up to the bumper, get out of the car. License plate says, 'Stunner: #1 Superstar!'

"Making my connection as I enter the room. Everybody's chillin' as I set up the groove. 

Pumping up the volume with this brand new beat. Everybody's dancing, and they're dancing for me.

 "I'm your operator--you can call anytime. I'll be your connection to the party line..."

https://youtu.be/VSNsPfap5mY

[P!NK--"Get this Party Started "(CLEAN version)]

"Is that machine playing karaoke songs?" Karui asked.

"Uh huh." Tenten nodded. "They like doing that."

"That's cool," Omoi said. "How did you get a small machine like that instead of those big ones like they have in town?"

"Uh...Momo is good with machines?" Tenten wasn't sure what to say.

The song ended.

"Did that sound good?" Shine asked. "Wasn't it better with music?"

"Since when has the lack of music stopped you, Miss Likstar?" Sakura asked dryly.

"But it sounded better with music, right?" Shine pressed.

"I thought you sounded good." Wally gave her a thumbs up.

"Yeah, we slayed," Camie said.

"Camie, you can't really si--" Naruto began, and Hanabi gave him a shove.

He stopped.

"Actually, Naruto can sing," Camie reflected. "Yeah, like that one Tailed Beast song thing."

"How did you know I made that up? I didn't actually tell anyone about it," Naruto asked.

"You made up a Tailed Beast song?" Sakura said. [Remember, that weird tidbit in one episode's side scene? The oddest part was, the song wasn't that bad.]

"Uh...I mean, just to remember the names," Naruto said. "You know...there's so many of them."

"Nine is so many?" Mabui echoed.

She had to remember more than that on a daily basis.

"Well, Naruto, get over here and sing something then," Shine said.

"What?" Naruto said.

"Naruto!" Camie cheered. "Naruto!"

Hanabi picked up the cheer, and so did Choji and Ino.

They just thought it would be funny (teens will always do things like that to each other).

Wally got into it also.

"I kinda want to try that mic, no lie, though," Omoi mused, sucking on his lollipop. "It looks sophisticated."

"It's just a karaoke machine," Karui said.

It was the Sand's turn for this now.

"If Naruto sings, will Gaara dance?" Kankuro said wickedly.

"I won't," Gaara said. "I keep telling you I can't."

"I think you could if you tried," Kankuro said.

"Why don't you try then, Puppet Boy?" Tenten asked.

"Hey, don't want to make everyone else look bad," Kankuro said. "Anyway, I'm an artist, not a dancer."

"I'm taking offense to the idea that dancing is not an art form." Shine was indignant. "Please."

"Wind chimes?" Temari held up a very pretty set of chimes that looked like it was made of reeds and shells. "So you think all I'm interested in is wind?"

Momo's face fell. "Oh, no, of course not, but--"

"Psych." Temari had picked up this word for Camie also. "I'm just kidding. This is actually very pretty--make a good decoration at home. The earrings are nice too."

They were gold hoops.

Camie said they'd match Shikamaru when he decided to wear one like his dad had. But she kept that just to the heroes and herself.

[Enjoying? I always like this method to show more about the characters and how they view each other, even if they aren't always plot points, but it's still important.]