"La- Lady Tsunade?"

Lord Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade, had flung her arms around her successor, hugging him tightly and leaving him figuratively and literally breathless. Lord Sixth, Hatake Kakashi, had finally completed his inauguration ceremony a year after the 4th Shinobi World War. Many of his peers had said that this was to be the happiest day of Kakashi's life but, it seemed no one's enthusiasm matched Tsunade's.

Lady Tsunade broke away, staring down at the ground and grinning while wiping a few tears, she lightly punched Kakashi in the arm. "I told him, I told him that you'd definitely be Hokage." She stared up directly at Kakashi, to clarify, "Jiraiya."

Flustered, Kakashi didn't have any words to match his mixed feelings of warmth and sadness upon hearing his old friend's name. They stood on top of the Academy, looking out upon the village, the streets and school yard was filled with comrades and villagers beaming with joy and-

Kakashi's thought was pierced with that feeling. Tsunade read him like a book, and put her hand on his shoulder, saying softly, "Remember, Kakashi, deep breaths."

Thankfully, the feeling quickly passed and he focused on the village down below, and continued to wave and address them.

Afterwards, he and Tsunade walked back to the office, everyone they passed in the halls of the Academy bowed, it took Kakashi a moment to realize they were bowing to him.

"This is going to take some getting used to." Kakashi said quietly.

"Never mind them!", Tsunade exclaimed, "Just look at this!"

She took his hand and ran into the office.

Kakashi's eyes widened at what he saw in front of him.

"Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura!"

Although he found them to be tiresome at times, his students were his pride and joy. His heart swelled, not at the fact that they were there, kneeling and offering their respect, but that they were simply there.

"Congratulations! Lord Sixth!" they said in unison.

"Wha- you guys. Please stand!"

"You didn't think we'd miss out on being the first ones to congratulate you, surely." Sasuke said while smirking.

"Just remember to keep calling me Sensei, no need for the formalities."

"Ah. Always so modest!" Sakura teased.

"Kakashi sensei, you should take a seat before Naruto tries to steal it."

Naruto laughed nervously, "Hey! I wouldn't even think of doing that!"

Kakashi chuckled, "Don't worry. I mean really, I'm just keeping the seat warm until Naruto's ready."

Immediately, Naruto smiled mischievously, "Hey I'm ready now…"

"You're just a genin, remember?" Sakura quipped.

"Hmph! One more year and I'll be a jonin…"

"And why are you laughing?" Kakashi chuckled, "You're still a genin too, Sasuke."

Sasuke, didn't mind the joke, in fact Kakashi and him were both relieved that they were free to joke with one another.

"But really, Kakashi Sensei," Naruto interjected with a serious tone, "You got us three to work as a team all those years ago, who better to lead Konohagakure?"

"That's what I keep telling him!" Tsunade said. She was standing behind Kakashi and pushed him to the desk. "Take it all in.. Lord Sixth."

There was something intimidating about it all, but he placed his hand on the corner of the wooden desk and began to walk around it, eventually sitting in the most powerful seat in the country. Although Kakashi was thrilled and overjoyed at the sight of his students together at last, he kept thinking about Obito and Rin… He would have to meet them later on… when it would be much quieter.

"Eh? Kakashi Sensei what's wrong?" asked Sakura.

Before Kakashi could open his mouth, Naruto spoke, "Oh he's just upset that he won't have time reading those pervy books, anymore!"

They all began to laugh and tease and Kakashi took that as a signal to leave, "Uhm. We're being rude, we have to greet the other Kages."

He stood and started for the door but, Naruto continued, "Of course! You're the Hokage now! You can just take your pick outside and get the real thing!"

"Idiot!" Sakura said, slamming her fist on top of his head.

"Yeah, Naruto… After all he still is with Kahyo" Tsunade said, Kakashi could hear her smiling. He fidgeted with the door knob and they continued teasing him in his ear.

Not this again…

"Eh?" Sasuke was intrigued, "I didn't know there were others after Hanare."

Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, and Tsunade were falling to the floor laughing while Kakashi, was losing oxygen out of embarrassment, still couldn't figure out how the door knob worked. When he finally opened the door, he turned back at the four laughing.

First, he pointed at Tsunade, "Free. Booze. On me." And that alone sent her flying out of the office.

Secondly, pointing at Team 7 he said, "Free Ramen." Thankfully, Naruto left and Sakura followed.

It gave him a moment to talk to Sasuke alone as they walked out the office together.

"I have a feeling you'll be leaving soon." Kakashi said softly.

"Not exactly…" Sasuke responded slowly. Kakashi noticed him looking at Sakura up ahead. "I might stay a little while."

"Understood."

To Kakashi's surprise the celebrations didn't end till 2am and that he wasn't completely hammered. Since the village was finally asleep, Kakashi found an opening to visit first Rin and then Obito.

"Rin.., Obito was always a bit of a troublemaker, getting us into mess… He told me to be Hokage and now I am. I wish I could celebrate with you two… Oh and I'm not too worried about the panic attacks… I'm just stressing myself out, whether or not I can do this. I haven't had something like that happen since you… well never mind. I hope you two are relaxed now that you're with each other and Minato sensei. Obito must be giving you an earful… You know what I'm thinking… I really wish you could just see me now. I wasn't too great back then, I'm hoping I make you guys proud. I should go tell Obito."

On his way out of the graveyard, he made sure to greet and talk to his father and his old friend Asuma for a bit. If he was going to take his mask off for a smoke, it'd be with a fallen comrade.

At the memorial, he expressed his thoughts to Obito. "I guess I'm nervous. I don't have the Sharingan after Madara took it… I knew I wasn't going to be able to use it forever, I know what you're thinking… that Purple Electricity is a fine substitute for Chidori but, I've had Chidori, the moment you gave me the Sharingan… Really, I feel like I let you down by losing Sharingan so quickly and easily. You entrusted it with me. Just like how you trusted me with Rin and I… I know, I know what you're thinking. What you, Rin, and Minato Sensei are thinking… I practically hear you three screaming in my ears right now… But really, I know deep down that I am happy to be Hokage, and that you're with me… Anyways, early start tomorrow. We still have the crisis of a shortage in shinobi… I'll visit you as soon as I can. Oh and no… Neither of them were or are my girlfriend."

Kakashi left the memorial, ready to take on the position but also ready for some rest.

"Ah dammit I forgot, they moved me into the Hokage Residence today."

As he turned and began to walk in the opposite direction he could have sworn he heard a faint noise… it almost sounded like Chidori… when he stopped to pay attention, it was gone. Surely, he must have imagined it.