Konoha was flourishing. The economy was thriving, the crime rates were low, living standards high and best of all, the citizen to ninja ratio was 3:1, as opposed to the appalling figure that had emerged after the war (Eight citizens for every one ninja). The mission casualty rates were the lowest they had been in the history of Konohagakure and the village was on excellent terms with all its surrounding villages. It was a very peaceful period, indeed.

Konoha was flourishing and so was Sakura. As nanadaime Hokage, Sakura had adopted a very democratic approach to running the village, working closely with her Jonin council, forming a citizen council and trying to give every community within the village a fair voice. Given that the jonin council consisted mainly of people that she had known all her life, it was an easy enough task to accomplish. The citizens however, were a completely different story, but she managed to keep everyone satisfied to say the least. Being the disciple of Tsunade showed its fruits once more when Sakura was always able to keep up with her paperwork, despite her schedule.

Sakura was also more than a figurehead, she remained a functional shinobi as well. Appointing Nara Shikamaru as her substitute, she often took missions and travelled beyond the borders of Konoha and worked regularly at the hospital, helping out where she could. She refused to be limited to sitting behind a desk when there was a lot more she could accomplish elsewhere.

Just four years ago, had someone asked her how she thought her life would turn out to be, she probably wouldn't have even imagined this scenario. But then, life gave her a chance, and she went from good to great.

All in all, nine years after the war, Haruno Sakura was very satisfied with her achievements.

Xxx

The seventh face on the infamous Hokage Mountain confirmed the news that the two Konoha nin had overheard on their way back.

"Sakura, huh?" Sasuke muttered "Who knew it would turn out like this?"

"Yeah" Naruto still seemed dazed as they walked towards the entrance, deciding to forgo a dramatic entrance. The chunin at the gate were noticeably surprised by the appearance of the two war heroes that disappeared nearly a decade ago but were quick to follow procedure before escorting the two towards the Hokage's office.

Both men had wonder etched on their faces as they took in their surroundings, this Konoha was nothing like the war torn one that they had left behind. Lost in memories, they continued on.

"What's this?" They both came crashing back to reality when Hyuuga Hinata made an appearance. She was standing tall and proud clad in standard Jonin gear with her beautiful hair up in a pony. Besides her stood An orange haired girl of fifteen, perhaps sixteen. She eyed the men with distaste taking in their shabby condition and wondering who they could possibly be. They had just returned from a mission and it was the first time that Hinata sama had broken protocol and not headed directly to Sakura sensie to give in their report. It took all of ten seconds for it to click and when it did, she couldn't stop but gasp into the slightly awkward atmosphere, interrupting the chunin who was trying to explain the situation to Hinata.

"OH! You're Uzumaki kun and Uchiha kun" She let out giddily "I can't believe I'm finally meeting you both! Well, we met during the war but I was like seven years old back then so you guys probably don't-"

"Maya, now is not the time for this" Hinata cut her off, smiling slightly "Go on ahead and inform the Hokage of the situation, I'll escort these two to the tower"

She dismissed the chunin with a wave of her hand. Only once the two chunin and the girl named Maya was out of sight did she speak again.

"It's good to see you both again, I wasn't entirely sure I would"

The blunt statement caused Naruto to break out of his reverie and protest "Why would you say that Hinata chan?! I did promise everyone I'd come back, as did Sasuke!"

Hinata lightly shook her head "It's been nine years since then, you can't really blame us for having doubts Naruto kun"

They resumed their leisurely pace, towards their destination, silence overcoming them and then

"Sakura's hokage now. How'd that happen?"

Hinata turned towards the Uchiha and laughed "Blunt as ever, I see. She was initiated a little over four years ago. Let me assure you both, it was no easy task convincing her to take the post. She was so convinced that only you deserved the title Naruto kun, I was half afraid that she'd lead a mutiny against Kakashi senpai"

Unknown to Hinata, her words caused the clenching feeling inside Naruto's gut to relax marginally. He wasn't sure what events had happened exactly but hearing that Sakura still had his back put his mind to rest. Upon reaching the tower, with a promise of reuniting the konoha twelve, Hinata parted leaving both boys at the gate with the Hokage's Anbu.

"Sakura Sama is busy at the moment, please take a seat, you'll be called in shortly." A voice informed them.

Sighing and slightly glaring at the masked men, they grudgingly did what they were told to do.

Xxx

After being informed of the news that Maya had brought her, Sakura wanted nothing more than to cancel the meeting with the Fire Damiyo's son, giving her at least twenty minutes to prepare for the oncoming events. But as it was, it was an important meeting regarding the trade barriers between Konoha and the land of Tea

The damiyo raised some objections to the presence of the two teenagers in the room which Sakura quickly shot down. Maya and Kyo were her disciples and they both deserved the same respect that she did. Also, they made up for her lack of attention. After an agonizing fifty minutes, the feudal lords son was finally satisfied. After the quick formal goodbye's she had the anbu escort him on his way. No sooner had the door closed that she put her head on the desk and let out a muffled scream.

"He is rather annoying" Kyo commented, nodding his head.

"Tell me about it" The hokage grumbled, all the previous aloofness melting away "Maya, go bring in the next headache"

"Don't you mean your teammate and the love of youuuuuu-"

"DONOT test me, you brat" Sakura barked cutting Kyo off with a threatening glare, which he laughed off.

Sasuke and Naruto walked in just as Sakura was flipping Kyo off.

"Nice to see that you haven't changed one bit, Sakura Chan" Naruto grinned at the sight.

Sakura blushed, pulling at her hair. "Naruto, Sasuke! Good to see you again. These are my students, Kyo and Maya and as soon as they leave we'll discuss your situation"

The two students in question rolled their eyes and after quick enthusiastic greetings, left the room.

"Take a seat, please." She gestured towards the seats before her "This isn't how things ordinarily work, just so you both know, but I'm willing to make an exception for both of you. Catch me up on what the two of you have been upto since you left. I wasn't aware you were travelling together!"

Xxx

Sasuke couldn't help but feel shocked as he took in his childhood teammate. The physical changes that had occurred certainly made her pleasant to look at but it was the shift in her personality that had left him feeling slightly speechless.

The end of the war had earned his respect for her and he had felt then that he truly had gotten to know her. And he liked what he found. She was a fearless soldier, much like Naruto sans the tailed beast. And so, on his way home he had prepared himself for a confrontation similar to the one that had occurred between Naruto and him when they met again. Yet, here she was sitting as composed as ever, idle curiosity and interest present in her voice as she questioned him on his travels. He answered quickly, being as descriptive as he felt comfortable. A feeling of relief overtook him when she finally moved on to Naruto.

The three sat in the office for a little over an hour, Sakura filling them both in over the events that had occurred since their departure and every now and then a pang hit him and he couldn't help but feel that he had abandoned Sakura, which was weird to say the least, given that they had just reached an understanding at the end of the war.

After her story came to a close, Sasuke expected her to inform them of their housing arrangements and hopefully declare a field promotion, making them Jonin as well after which the three of them would go and have ramen at Ichiraku with Kakashi.

Again, his expectations turned out to be wrong when she smiled apologetically at the two and said

"You guys didn't really give me much notice so you'll have to stay with me for tonight. I need to discuss this with both the councils and Sai and then I'll get back to you after we've reached a decision."

Sasuke blinked "What exactly is there to discuss" The incredulity in his voice was apparent even to his own years

"Well..both of you have been out of the village for nine years… there's a protocol for these things!" She exclaimed

"But, Sakura chan, we had Kakashi sensies permission and everything" Naruto interjected

"That you did" She nodded "But there were conditions involved. For one thing both of you had to send in monthly reports but no one has heard from you in over 5 years! The citizen council is going to be concerned about where your loyalties truly lie. If you were ordinary ninja, you'd be imprisoned!" She cut off Naruto's incoming retort with a shake of her head "Look, it's just protocol. You'll be reinstated as Konoha nin in no time. An interrogation, a psyche evaluation or two and you're good to go!"

"Since when does Konoha have a citizen council?" Sasuke asked sharply "And why did you mention Sai separately?"

"Sai runs the anbu root-"

"WAIT! There's still an anbu root?!" Naruto exclaimed angrily "How could you- I mean after everything that Danzo did, he was a sick asshole, how are you okay-"

"Uzumaki Naruto" Sakura cut him off harshly "If you still think yourself to be a leaf ninja, you'd do well to remember that I am your Hokage now. I will NOT tolerate anyone speaking to me like this, not even you."

Her words caused a silence to overcome the room. It lasted for three minutes exactly before a knock on the door interrupted them.

"Enter"

"Hokage Sama" Shikamaru bowed slightly before raising his head and giving the other two occupants a nod.

"Escort Sasuke kun and Naruto kun to their rooms and then gather all the council members and assemble in the town hall. I will meet you all there in exactly fortyfive minutes to discuss this situation."

"Hai" Shikamaru gestured towards the other two "Come on you both"

Only when she felt all three chakra's leave the building did Sakura collapse in her chair. "How on earth am I supposed to handle this?" She thought to herself feeling a deep ache inside her heart.

Xxx

A/N: A biiiiiiiiiiiiiiig thankyou to all my five reviewers :p I love you guys!