Thank yo for the reviews!:) I've been pondering for he chapters for weeks now and had finally had the inspiration to write.

Naruto isn't mine.

"Ah we should take a break!", announced by the rumbustious Hokage as he stretched from his chair he had been sitting on for almost three hours.

"There's only two more agenda left to discuss, Naruto. Are you sure you can't hold it in till then?", Gaara replied. Although he admits that both of them really worked very hard for the last couple of hours, he wanted to finish everything fist before taking a break. In that manner, they could actually adjourn the meeting earlier than scheduled.

"Nah… C'mon! I need to stretch my legs. I'm afraid this Hokage thing is not as exciting as I thought it would be. I mean, these meetings and paperworks!", Naruto further whined.

"Are you saying that your regretting the peace we have now?", Gaara in his deadpan voice.

"What?! Of course not! Where the hell did that come from?"

"Naruto, a Kage's duty is to protect the village, one way or another. It could be in the form of paperworks, meetings and actual battle. Maybe you crave the latter because office works seriously bores you.", the Kazekage explained.

The Orange Hokage was about to retort but came into thought with the logic of his friend. He thoughtfully scratch his cheeks and gave an apologetic grin.

"Heh, now that you put it that way…"

"C'mon, a little walk won't hurt our schedule.", Gaara replied as he stood from his chair. He felt a little guilty on how he explained Naruto's action. He knew that wasn't what the blonde was trying to say but sometimes, Gaara can't stop his logical way of analysing things and replying to conversations.

So, the two Kage walked side by side on the streets of Konoha. Naruto insisted that they get ramen but Gaara reminded him that he was invited at the Hyuga Compound later, and Hinata is making a special ramen dish for dinner. If Naruto could eat ramen every meal, Gaara couldn't. He never wanted to repeat the last time he let his friend towed to eat ramen for breakfast, lunch and dinner. After eating ramen for the whole day, the red-head swore that he would never eat ramen for months after.

But tonight is special because Hinata is cooking and she wanted to dine with Naruto and him. He is very confident that his girlfriend could produce a ramen that he could eat every day. On second thought, no. He is not that fond of ramen, even if its Hinata's cooking, every day ramen is just insane. And Gaara is through with insane.

Because ramen was out of the question, the two headed on the nearby barbeque place. There should be decent meals available there.

"So… how's it goin'?" Naruto is unable to keep the silence between him and his friend. And since he is the chit-chat type, Gaara understood that anytime with Naruto would not be a quiet one.

"What do you mean?", he curiously questioned back.

"You know, Hinata and you…", Naruto replied. He leaned in closer and lowered his voice as if to whisper something. "I know you didn't sleep in your quarters last night." He gave him a very suggestive look with his eyebrows.

Gaara was not surprised with the Hokage's nosiness. He has been friends with Naruto for almost 20 years now and that means getting used to the blondes antics. (originally posted 30 yrs until I was notified by a reader, thanks! ^.^)

He pondered the action he was about to take. If he answered, there will be a never-ending need for Naruto to know more, which of course, would not be good for him. But if he choose to ignore him…No, he can't ignore him. He could be very annoying when seeking attention.

The Kazekage sighed.

"Hinata and I couldn't be any better. And yes, I was with her last night at the compound.", he's hoping that this would be short. He isn't the type to just divulge personal matters to anyone, even to friends, especially with Naruto.

"Awww! That is so sweet!", the blonde shrieked. His behaviour is almost unbecoming of a hokage. But Konoha is very lenient and forging when it comes to their Hokage's behaviour. It just the way he is.

"So… did you get it, huh? I bet your getting' it…", Naruto further pestered Gaara. He is elbowing him now at the side of his ribs. This is getting annoying.

"Naruto, I beg your pardon but I will not be answering that.", he choose to ignore his friend's tease and controlled his brewing annoyance towards the Hokage. "And besides, it's very inappropriate to ask such questions.", Gaara continued trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Aw c'mon man! I'm your friend. You could tell me anything. And besides, you still owe me for getting you an opportunity to get back to her, remember?", Naruto had managed to sling his arms around Gaara's shoulder as they walked into the nearing BBQ place.

"Of course, I haven't forgotten your 'intervention' that time. And trust me when I say I would confide to you with anything, not just with personal matters involving Hinata." Gaara answered in a monotonous tone.

Naruto grinned at the memory of his particular intervention, a few months ago. He was sure so proud of himself that he has been in a good mood for weeks after Gaara and Hinata got back together. Both of them are so dear to him that he cannot just stand by and watch them wither as they refuse to initiate anything so they could at least talk at that time. Naruto believed that what his friends have are way too special not be salvaged. Actually, the fact that they were able to get together surprised him a lot. Hinata was in-love with him. Had been in-love with him for gods know how long. That's why he was really surprised and a little hurt, to be honest, when he realized that the two had been getting along more than friends.

It was after the war, and the rebuilding process was really tedious. Him, being the war hero and all, as well as the future Hokage, wanted to be hands-on in the process of rebuilding. Hinata's confession during his battle with Pain, as well as all her efforts to support him during the war has led him to develop something for the then Heiress. He loved Sakura, without a doubt, but Hinata is slowly growing on him as well. He didn't want to rush into any decision so he took his time and maintained his usual self with the Heiress. Not that they get spend a lot of time together after the war. Yes, they were almost always with meetings and reconstruction be he never really got her alone. Now that he thought about it, he realized he never put any effort to answer her confession as well as to confront her after the war.

But then, it's not like he did it on purpose, he was just confused. Now that Sasuke is back and Sakura has been acting really concerned about her first love, Naruto thought, at one point, that maybe, just maybe, he could develop the same feeling he has for Sakura with Hinata.

Just maybe, he could give it a try, him and Hinata.

That was his resolve until he saw them together. They were sharing a cup of coffee while intently discussing the points of the previous meeting. Hinata was the representative of the Hyuga and Gaara attended as the Kazekage. Naruto was with Tsunade, and was included as part of his training.

As soon as he caught how easily the two fell into comfortable discussions, he instantly knew that Gaara found a girl to complement him. A girl who would overlook his past blood lust and would not be attracted to his title and prestige. A person who could give unconditional love to him, even if unrequited. A girl who could've loved him if he was born in Konoha instead of Suna, or if she was born in Suna instead of Konoha…

That one girl with the purest love and intention…

At that moment, Naruto realized that he was hurting a bit, in his heart. That love was supposed to be for him. It has always been directed to him. And now, maybe, Gaara could have it instead. He deserve as much.

So, despite the aching feeling, he couldn't stop the spreading smile on his face because of the genuine happiness he felt for Gaara. This is like the time he was informed that his friend has been made Kazekage years after his first return to Konoha when he was 16. Yes he was happy, really happy but a pang of that something else was there also. But like the beloved Naruto that everyone loved, with his good nature and clear intentions, he refused to yield to that pang of something instead and dropped his resolve with Hyuga Hinata.

And boy, oh boy he was right! After several years, the two officially got together as a Request to Court was delivered from the Kazekage to him and the Hyuga Council. Although Gaara's involvement with the war should already helped his reputation, the Hyuga, as stubborn as they are, still kept an eye on him and their beloved Clan Leader. Although he had to admit that the process was really slow, because the two took almost a decade to get together. For fuck's sake, a decade! Who ponders for a decade? Well, apparently, Gaara and Hinata did…

But of course, Naruto knew the complications the relationship has. These complications are probably the reasons why they never acted on their relationship earlier. They have been close and had been seen together far earlier that their announced courtship. So that must be it. As Hokage, Naruto only needed assurance from the both of them that they would consult every major decision they make, because it would have a huge impact on Konoha's position on the Byakugan. And because as Naruto is Naruto, he is a friend first, before he is a Hokage.

That is why he was also devastated when Hinata failed on her initial attempt on the Caged Bird Seal. Her downward spiral, eventually leading to the relationship demise really affected him. He tried getting Gaara to not give up on Hinata and Hinata to actually pursue Gaara but failed. Those two were stubborn, one blinded with too much pride, the other with too much guilt. The worst part was the news that Gaara actually acquired a new lover! But again, Naruto is Naruto so he never gives up.

An opportunity finally came when an invitation for a celebration was delivered and he was informed that Gaara would be coming. A perfect timing for them to meet, of course. But he has to block all of Hinata's access to information so she wouldn't get a wind on Gaara's attendance. So he met all of his ninja and ANBU to deliver a false intel to the Hyuga Leader that the Kazekage will not be coming after all. Some raised their brows into the Hokage's attempt of playing cupid while others were really amused. But Naruto is Naruto so yeah, they got the picture.

And so everything's history. They saw, confronted and eventually got back together that night, much to Naruto's relief. His one and a half year of effort to get Hinata and Gaara back together paid off when he saw him carrying the sleeping Hyuga back to his room. The scene made his heart swell and he felt proud on his initial decisions to not intervene and to intervene.

He is one smart Hokage, after all.

Just as smart to remind the Kazekage that he owed him that much before lunch! Because now, Gaara has to pay for their lunch.

"Okay, okay, as you wish. But you have to pay for my lunch.", Naruto maintained his whiskered grin.

Gaara sighed for the nth time. He has to admit that he owed Naruto so much, if not everything. That his simple request for lunch should be nothing, as always.

"Alright."