Short fic originally published on tumblr

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Naruto glanced out beyond the stage, what he saw caused his stomach to knot and his chest muscles to contract constricting his breath. The edge of the crowd was barely visible, a vast sea of humanity as far as the eye could see. A shiver of shame ran through him. What kind of Hokage-elect was scared of addressing his people?

The loud crowd piercing voice of a Konohakagure councilman pulled Naruto's attention away from the villagers.

"Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of Konohagakure, according to the statutes agreed on, and the laws and customs of the Fire Nation?"

Stone-faced, Naruto allowed his mind to wander to the night before.

"I am a little surprised Naruto I expected you to be more um enthused about achieving your dream."

"Sakura-chan I'm not sure how to say this but I think I'm a little panicked right now."

"Seriously?"

"I know, I didn't see this coming either."

"What happened? Last week we were so excited."

"I looked over the transcript off my dad's speech this morning."

"And?"

"You met the guy didn't you?"

"Yes, for a short amount of time."

"Still…."

"OK admittedly he was very eloquent."

"He wasn't the only one I glanced over the other Hokage's speeches as well."

"This is not a competition Naruto."

"I know it's not. I don't need it to be better than my dad's or the others but I want my speech to be memorable. And i don't want to mess it up."

"Are you telling me the savior of the known world is afraid of public speaking?"

"I know, this would be funny if it wasn't happening to me"

"I solemnly promise to do so" Naruto answered.

The councilman nodded before continuing.

"Will you to your power cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all your judgments?"

"All this I promise to do," Naruto announced while his thoughts wandered again.

"Naruto you realize you've made dozens of speeches in your life right?"

"That can't be right."

"Trust me on this. Maybe you haven't noticed but since you've graduated from the academy your words have inspired countless shinobi, me included."

"Yeah this is not the same."

"Your words have reached the hearts of those who were once your enemies, you've helped them walk away from the path of darkness!"

"To be fair I usually got to punch them first. Plus I never did it in front of a mass of people."

"Are you forgetting about Obito? That was in front of the entire alliance!"

"Alright fine Obito, but it's still not the same. He pissed me off so he had my attention. When I'm focused on someone like that I don't notice anyone else."

"You know what I think is going to happen?"

"What?"

"I think you will go to do the memorial stone, you will stand in front of the village, you will look handsome, powerful, reliable, and you will deliver one helluva speech."

"I appreciate that but you might be a little biased Sakura-chan."

"Can you blame me?"

"What if I start to stutter? Is that medically possible, to just stuttering out of nowhere?"

"Stuttering is not like a cold Naruto you can't just…Okay you are a little anxious but that's fine. Let's do this, you can talk to me."

"I thought I was talking to you?"

"You prefer to focus on someone right? Than focus on me ok? Talk to me."

"I don't know if it works like that…"

"Alright then tell me how does it work?"

"I don't know but it probably doesn't work like that. Besides I'm not sure I'll be able to find you in the crowd."

"Just think about me then, picture me in your mind."

"Well I think I can do that for sure. I've had a lot of practice at it."

"You may now address the village."

Naruto's shoulders braced as though expecting a blow. Two shinobi approached him, one enrobed Naruto with the Hokage garb the other placed the Hokage hat upon his head. Appropriately attired as the sovereign of the village Naruto slowly made his way to the podium at the edge of the stage.

He sighed contently before speaking.

"The oath I have sworn before you today, like the one recited by others who served before me, was not just a vague oath to ideals, the promises I made today are not so different from the oath that is taken each time a shinobi risks his life for his village. It's not that different from the oath made by every non-shinobi who lives and dreams in that same village. My oath is not so different from the pledge we all make when we greet each other in the morning. I am no different than any of you. You and I, as villagers, have the power to shape our destiny. You and I, as citizens of this village have the power to change the world."

Naruto glanced at the crowd. It was eerily calm, like still water, and thoughts of its murky depths did not put Naruto at ease. He scanned the audience briefly before letting his imagination take over.

She was waiting for him in the Hokage's office sitting on the desk in a one piece yellow dress that absolutely hugged her body. Sakura smiled in delight when she saw him and he stood in the doorway wowed by the sight of her. She beckoned him forward with a crook of her finger. He entered the room and walked over to her. He reached out and touched her cheek, moving his hands tenderly feeling every bit of her smooth skin.

Naruto blinked the image from his eyes.

"You and I…as villagers are a team, but it's something more than our relationship isn't there? Something special. You may have an idea about how I feel right now but honestly what you are thinking is just scratching at the surface."

Naruto looked around and found that once again he was greeted by silence.

She rose and whispered something to him. He kissed her slowly. He allowed himself to savor it, lingering as long as was absolutely necessary. Taking his lips away, Naruto framed her face with his hands. He held her face for a very long time, not looking at her but through her at their past.

"I will never say that I deserve this, I am not that arrogant. But I would be lying if I said this is not what I've always wanted…. I'm not going to pretend it's been easy, we've made mistakes in the past, there's been miscommunications…misunderstandings. There were times I doubted…when this didn't seem possible. Yet here we are. You've shared my dreams. My joys my pains… well maybe something's are written in the stars huh?"

A tiny tear trailed down her cheek and Naruto wiped it away with his thumb. Her eyes flashed in the sunlight streaming in from the windows. She stopped crying and he bent down and kissed her on the forehead.

"I don't have my father's eloquence. But I will try to express, my inner feelings and thankfulness. These words are my own, these are the words of a man- who would not be much of a man without you. So I come to you with open arms, nothing to hide, nothing to lose, everything to gain. These are my promises-

Naruto nuzzled her face, mumbling sweet words as Sakura giggles.

"-There will be no one above you. I promise you the type of loyalty that would put any ninken from the Inuzuka clan to shame."

She was now warm to his touch. He kissed her face and throat gently until her breathing slowed.

"I promise you my strength and all my power."

Sakura's arms tightened about his neck as his hands moved behind her, he pulled her against the length of him without breaking the kisses.

"You are mine-and I am yours-

Lifting the dress he then moved his hand to the valley between her

-I offer you my life because I love you…Sak-"

Naruto stopped abruptly. He blinked, once, twice "-k-k-Konhoa—I love you Konohagakure."

Red-faced Naruto drew in a deep breath. "I love you Konohagakure and that is why I will keep my promises."

He took a step back and bowed lightly to the audience. "Thank you everyone."

A muffled murmur ran through the crowd as Naruto moved away from the podium. In the span of two quick breaths the murmur becomes a thunderous roar.

—-

Naruto looked out the window of his office, there was a soft breeze blowing outside and somehow it wafted in the smells from the Ichiraku ramen stand to him. The village, his village seemed as serene as any dream he had ever had.

He smiled

"Soooo who is this Konohagakure and how long have you've been seeing her behind my back?"

"Ah Sakura-chan it's not like that."

"Oh it isn't huh? So I didn't just watch you confess your love for her in front of the entire village?"

"Okay you caught me I guess you can say she was my first love."

"Well you tell that hussy to back off."

"It's not that easy we're in a committed relationship now."

"So what does that make me the Hokage's mistress?"

"I'm sure that's not the official title….There's probably a classier name than that."

"How scandalous! I am a woman scorned Naruto, hell will hath no fury as my own."

"If it makes you feel better she's much harder to impress."

"You mock my fury? Well keep this in mind she'll never love you the way the way I love you. Actually she'll never love you the way I can love you…."

"Wow yeah–that's….wait-wait-wait. Sakura-chan wait-let me lock the office door first."

"The delegate from the Fire-nation is here to see you Hokage-sama."

Naruto pulled away from the window and turned towards the shinobi peeking in through the office door.

"Good, send him in."

The shinobi hesitated.

"Something wrong?" Naruto asked.

"No sir, I just wanted to say your speech yesterday. It was an excellent speech sir, very touching, very passionate."

Blushing Naruto chuckled softly. "Yes, thank you, it um it was from the heart."

—-

So I hope you enjoyed it.