Ichiraku Ramen shop, Future plot area

[Naruto Uzumaki]

[Rock Lee]

Lee arrived at the spot Gaara had asked everyone to meet. Walking into the new Ichiraku Ramen shop, he was surprised to see the old man cooking when he had handed it down to his daughter.

The old man, turned and laughed when he saw Lee "Ho ho, Lee glad to see you made it, go ahead to the back room I will send the others when they arrive!" he told Lee.

Lee nodded and walked into the large party room that had been built on a few years after Naruto had become Hokage. It was a nice place but he hadn't been in there so this was his first time.

Lee dressed in his normal green spandex suit walked over to the tables set up and looked around. It was an eerie feeling to be in such a large room by himself.

[Neji Hyuga]

Neji arrived and was also directed to the back room where he placed the large box that he was carrying on the ground and opened it. Looking over to see Lee he shouted to him. "Lee hurry and help me get these decorations up! Gaara should be arriving anytime and we should have something to show him!" he told Lee as he started to put up the streamers for the party.

[Shino Aburame]

Not exactly cool enough to be the one fashionably late, nor even the one to show up right on time, Shino arrived at the Ichiruka Ramen shop early. The party wasn't even set up yet, but in came the hooded ninja, taking in the almost entirely empty room as he made his way towards the nearest wall. Lee and Neji were already there, no doubt obviously expecting to be the ones to start the party, since they were involved with setting it up.
Did Shino plan to help, seeing how early he was? Of course he wouldn't. No, standing off the side and putting only the utmost effort when it was neccessary, this behavior had not changed over the past ten years. The only change Shino would admit to was the shade of his clothing, which was only a slightly bit darker than before, and the fact he no longer took off his hood when he went inside.
Being entirely shrouded was mostly a cosmetic point, since it didn't exactly help with social interactions when some of Shino's newest addition of larger bugs crawled so freely across any and every part of his body, including his face. A bond with larger and more bugs was a mark of strength within his clan's lineage, though not entirely a more attractive one.

[Gaara]

Gaara walked into the room and looked around. He could see Neji and Lee were doing everything they could to get this event up and running the way it should be.

Gaara caught a glimps of Shino and walked over to him. "I hope you will enjoy yourself. My brother told me how to throw a party of this type so if you can trust him than this will be a proper party for a Hokage" he said as he looked around the room.

Shaking his head he spoke again "this will not do! Naruto will be here any minute" he said and from the gourd on his back sand spread around the room taking the steamers and ribbons and all the decorations and placing them where they should be. "there that is better" said the kazakage.

[Naruto Uzumaki]

It wasn't long after Gaara had set up the room that Naruto arrived. Naruto had been told to show up at a certain time by Gaara and the Hokage couldn't be late, easpecially when the place was Ichiraku Ramen.

The old man was wade with a smile as Naruto entered. "hey old men long time no see" Naruto joked taking a seat at the front. After a few quick laughs, Naruto was told to go to the back room where everything would be ready for him.

Naruto nodded and stood up. He walked to the back and could see Gaara, Lee, Neji and Shino all standing around. A smile crossed his face as he walked up to each of them.

"Well this place looks good guys" he said as he looked around. He than shook each persons hand. looking to Shino he was surprised to see him with even larger bugs on him. "It is great to see you here, I am sure you have a busy agenda but your always welcome to hang out with us Shino" Naruto told him making a point to talk to him personally. Being a Hokage he couldn't forget anyone as it would look bad on him. In the past he couldn't remember the name of Shino or what he looked like but now no matter what he looks like, smells like or even how gross the bugs are, he has made a point to make sure he has remembered everyone.

[Rock Lee]

Lee started to help Neji and didn't even notice that Shino had shimmied into the room. He was busy running around the room putting everything up as best he could when Gaara had walked in. Gaara took control and with his sand gave Lee nothing else to do as he put everything where it belonged.

Lee looked around and started to walk over to Gaara when Naruto walked into the room. With Naruto now talking to Shino that he took a seat and waiting for more people to arrive or for everyone to get together. As he waited the ramen was delivered and each person now had a bowl to eat.

Lee waited at the table for everyone to eat as the steam rushed over his face and he was enjoying the smell of the food that the old owner had brought in to serve.

[Neji Hyuga]

Neji stood with his arms crossed looking around the room. It seemed that Gaara had placed all of the decorations the way they should be and all looked well.

When Naruto burst into the room Neji smirked. He had a lot of dealing with both Naruto and Gaara with him spending most of his time in the sand village and quite a bit of it with Gaara's sister learning all he could about Shikamaru as was his assignment.

As Naruto started to talk to Shino and Gaara, Neji watched the food being brought into the room. Neji took a seat next to his old teammate as Lee started to eat. "I trust everything is going well with your team Lee-Sensei" Neji commented thinking back to when he was on a team with Tenten and Lee and Might Guy was the leader. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to have Lee as a leader but was sure it would be just like Guy. The two seemed to be almost father and son after all.

[Shino Aburame]

One might think standing off to the side would be a clear indication of wanting to be alone, but this turned out not to be the case in the rather empty, decorated room. Shino was swarmed upon by the others talking to him. Was it antisocial to not want to be the center of attention at someone else's party? Maybe not, but it was his own fault he showed up so early. Dismissing any chance he had at avoiding it, Shino merely had to go along with it.
"It has been a few years, but it seems this was inevitable... Congradulations on your marriage."
Shino responded after either of them, returning the handshake compliently. It was an unfamiliar setting with the other ninjas, since most of the Aburame's interactions were through missions, not social gathers, but perhaps it wouldn't be all that bad. Either way though, the bug ninja knew once the party kicked off, he'd just fade back into the wall again as he liked, watching the former youth's renewing their bonds of friendship for the present.

[Gaara]

Gaara looked at Shino for a moment longer. He didn't really know him a lot as they didn't talk much in any situation so he didn't have much pleasantries to share with him. After a moment of silence he spoke "Well, I think we should move to the table before the ramen gets cold" he told them as he turned and walked over to the table.

Taking his place next to Neji, he looked at the steaming bowl before him and remembered how much he had liked the taste of this ramen. He was ready to eat but wanted to wait for Naruto and Shino to sit down before he took a bite.

[Naruto Uzumaki]

Naruto's smile widened as Shino said congratulations. He had always wanted to be with Sakura and now he was going to be with her forever. This was going to be one of if not the most important things ever in his life and he had no doubt in any mind that what he was doing was right.

"thank you Shino, I am glad you could make it tonight we... RAMEN!" Naruto said as his stomach growled and his mouth started to water. He watched Gaara take a seat before grabbing Shino by the coat or shirt that he wore and attempting to pull him with all his strength to the table so that he and Naruto could gobble down several bowls of ramen. He wasn't going to take a no or a yes in this but simple give the bug sage no choice in the matter.

As he reached the table, Naruto was reminded of old times as he could smell the aroma of flavors and in no time flat he had inhaled the first bowl and started on the second. "MMM THIS IS DELICIOUS! He stated between slurps of his favorite food.

[Neji Hyuga]

After finishing his bowl of ramen and watching Naruto devouer his umpteen bowls, Neji thought it would be the perfect time to open the gifts they had for him.

"Well Naruto, I think it is a good time to open the presents" Neji said out loud as he stood up and walked over to the table where the gifts were.

Taking only his gift, he walked over to Naruto and handed him the gift.
"I am sure you will get use of this" Neji told him as he handed him a flat box about the shape of a sheet cake.

Neji's gift to Naruto

[Rock Lee]

Lee finished a second bowl of the fantastic ramen as Neji spoke. Lee looked to the gift table and watches as Neji walked over to the table and grabbed a large package. Lee knew his was not nearly as large as Neji had presented but none the less Lee was going to give it to Naruto.

Standing up and rushing to the table, Lee grabbed a small box about the size of his fist and brought it to Naruto. "My gift to you is not nearly as large as the one Neji has given you but I had it made for you from the scrap materials from our first fight as friends. I am sure you will enjoy it" Lee told Naruto.

In his heart, Lee was not pleased that Naruto was going to wed Sakura but still with her with one of his best friends and seeming to be happy, Lee could move on to someone if there was anyone for him. Lee handed Naruto the box.

The gift of Youth for Naruto