The Amazing Doodle Presents:
Thank Goodness You've Forgotten

Disclaimer: Naruto and characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto and Shonen Jump

Chapter Three; The Unexpected Announcement.

--

Sakura, with 100-percent determination and focus, checked over the official documents. It amazed her that the man actually did his work! He never did it, well, when he did, it was always wrong, meaning Sakura had a long day of correcting ahead of her. It paid off though, didn't it? I mean, there had to be perks that came with being the Hokage's adviser... right?

Okay, so maybe she put herself in that position. So what? She honestly couldn't trust strangers to understand the Uchiha, right? Only she knew what pushed his buttons and even how to calm him a bit, though not entirely. Yes, this job was to be hers and hers alone. It was also a job that she had before the heir was even asked to take the position of Hokage. She knew that if she didn't assume the spot of adviser then and there, that guy would take it, and she couldn't have that. He'd put the village to shame and ruin with the way he did business. And that dreaded involvement he and her 'love' had had would also get in the way.

That guy could never be Hokage. Never. That's why she went behind Tsunade's back to discuss the matter of that man becoming Hokage. If Tsunade would appoint him, which she would have. Thankfully, the council members didn't take too kind to that idiot in the first place, so persuading them to overrule Tsunade's choice of replacement and instead have Sasuke, who was more, in her mind, level-headed than that man was an easy task. Sure, it pissed Tsunade off, but Sakura knew she did the right thing.

Of course, that caused problems. The Uchiha's love life went down the drain - causing him to seclude himself even more than he had before - Konoha lost a ninja, and Tsunade had threatened to throw a spear right between Sakura's eyes, but hey, sacrifices. Sakura couldn't care less as long as what she wanted to happen did. And that was that.

She sighed. All of it was her fault, too. She wouldn't deny that. She just had to be thankful that the blond she used to know was able to stop Sasuke from killing himself when the guy kept ranting on and on about how he still had to rid the world of his brother. Well, not without him running off first. And when Naruto came back with him, the blond was furious. He literally had to drag Sasuke back by his collar. Not that Sakura could blame him. The three of them would never have a normal life, would they?

"Sakura."

Said woman jumped out of her seat. "Yes, Hokage-sama?"

"What do you mean 'Yes, Hokage-sama'? You're the one who called me in here in the first place. What is it that you wanted?"

The girl thought for a moment. "Oh yeah! My apologies. The Council requested that they speak with you, that's all."

Sasuke ran a hand through his hair. "Man I hate this job..."

"It's not a job, Sasuke-kun. It's a commitment."

On his way out, Sasuke mumbled, "One I never even wanted..."

"What did you say?" Sakura snapped.

"Nothing, Sakura. Nothing, okay."

--

"... Are you freaking serious?"

The elder nodded. "Yes. Our treaty must be renewed with the Wind country. As the Hokage, you must meet with the Kazekage to discuss these matters."

Sasuke sighed out of frustration. "Do you guys just make up these meetings out of nowhere? I mean seriously! I had the same meeting with the Raikage just last month! And, and, with the Mizukage a couple of weeks before that!"

The elder calmly shut his eyes. "Do you wish that the village and it's souls be protected and live in peace?"

Sasuke mumbled, "Gee, I haven't..."

"Do you?" The senior persisted.

"Yeah, yeah. This time, I want them to come to me. I'm getting sick of all of this traveling. You guys want the treaty renewed, you get the Kazekage over here." With that, Sasuke decided that no one would be able to contradict him and left.

Damn councilmen. Constantly moving him around. Did they ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, he'd want to stay in one country for a while? Besides, they knew that they, meaning Sasuke and Gaara, didn't need to be face-to-face to get to a mutual decision. Not only that, but would they really want to run the risk of tension building between the two and end up having a duel on their hands? No, those old fools just didn't care. Not one bit.

Back in the conference room, Sakura was starting to feel awkward in the silence. "Well, I'm sorry about Hokage-sama's temper. I think he's just getting a wee bit exhausted. Work hasn't been too kind to him lately and he was up pretty much up all night last night finishing his work..."

The elder stared at her. "I hope you don't think that that dismisses his actions."

"Yes," another said. "We've had enough of that coming from Tsunade. We know full well that the Uchiha has a good head on his shoulders."

Sakura bowed. "I'm really sorry. Please accept my apology. I... I can set up the travel arrangements with the Sand, if you wish."

"...Very well."

--

"What the hell was that, Sasuke!? I thought they were going to chop off my head!" Sakura bellowed.

Sasuke was once again sitting at his dreaded desk with Sakura bearing down on him. "It's called patience. I'm running out of it."

"Well thanks to your low patience level, I'm stuck with having to beg the Kazekage to travel here for something Konoha wants. You're such a pain, Sasuke."

"You try doing this then," he told her. "I never said I wanted this stupid position anyway. Naruto was the one who's supposed to be in this chair, not me."

Sakura stood there, rage quickly building within her. How dare he say something like that, after all of the trouble she went through getting him this position. If it wasn't for her, he wouldn't even be here!

"As if, Sasuke. The village wouldn't last a month under his control. He's too care-free. He wouldn't have it in him---"

"Then you should have let him learn that for himself," Sasuke interrupted.

Her fists shook in anger, "That would have been idiotic!! There would be no way that I'd ever let that happen!! And after all of the trouble I've---" One glare and an unpleasant aura radiating off of the Uchiha was enough to shut her up.

"I'd stop there if I were you. I'll do you a favor and forget you ever opened your mouth. Now do your job or go home."

One last glance at the man was all Sakura gave to him before she stalked out of the room.

Sasuke let his head fall on the desk. He hated his life.

... Yes. Very much so.

[FB]

"Do you think I'd make a good Hokage, Sasuke?"

Said man looked up from his book, "You're asking this why?"

"Well," the blond started, "I was talking about it with baa-chan earlier, and she mentioned something about retiring..."

"She's going to appoint you after all?" Sasuke asked, looking up at the boy from behind his reading glasses.

"She hinted at it... and, and I don't want her to and let it go through and be approved then me end up putting the village to ruin."

Closing the book, Sasuke stood and walked over to where the other was standing. "You're not going to be," the blond flinched and Sasuke chuckled. "You're not going to be if you keep diminishing yourself like that. I don't like it."

Naruto laughed, "Just because you don't like it doesn't mean a thing. That and you're getting off topic, there, teme. I think it's about time to get back on it."

With a cross of him arms, Sasuke said nothing.

Naruto gave him a playful poke on the shoulder and with a smile said, "I thought that Uchiha's don't pout."

"Who says I'm pouting?" The man defended.

"Your withering ego," Naruto laughed. "Come on, let's go outside today!"

[/FB]

Without realizing it, Sasuke must have fallen asleep, if waking up to folders (a freaking monstrous pile of them) being slammed by his head was any indication.

"You're not supposed to fall asleep while on duty, Hokage-sama." Sakura said icily.

With a yawn, he replied, "I hadn't noticed I fell asleep..."

"If lying in your drool doesn't wake you up, what will?"

Sasuke stared at her for a moment. "Last I checked, you weren't my mother."

She sighed. "Sasuke... what happened to you?" With a glare, she continued, "You were never like this the first few months of your duty, so what changed?"

Dead eyes replaced the cold, hard ones that stared at her. "I was left alone."

Gritting her teeth, Sakura spat, "Why do you always say that?! Every time I ask you what's wrong it's always the same answer!!!" Her fist pounded on the desk. "Naruto Naruto Naruto. That's all I hear from you! What's so special about him, huh? He leaves you heartbroken and you still waste your time on him! Can you explain that?!"

"You... You weren't there..."

"I didn't have to be! With how many times you tell it, it's practically imprinted in my mind! Geez, Sasuke, you---"

"If you hadn't snuck behind Tsunade's back just to take care of your own selfish wants, I wouldn't have this problem. And I thought I told you to shut your mouth about that man. He's none of your business. The next time you do, you won't have a mouth to speak with, understand?"

Sakura stood there stiffly. "I don't understand you. He can't give you anything. I can! You don't know how many nights I lay awake just thinking about you. How when I fall asleep, my dreams have us in it!! What about you?!" Sakura's throat started to ache. Despite that, she had to get her point across. If not now, then never.

"I only dream about one person. That person not being you."

Tears started to fall from her face. "I hate the way you treat me!"

"Doesn't everyone?"

--

Fixed grammar.