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14. Dessert
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Since morning Naruto was sitting in the hokage's office taking his profession as substitute hokage serious. The blonde had noticed that Shikamaru was doing some research on the mysterious elite-nin named Tatsuo. As lunchtime came nearer and nearer he was almost sure that they would have a talk then.
Shikamaru entered his office with a bag of steaming take-out food. "Naruto, are you hungry?"
A Kurama-like growl of the substitute's stomach was the best answer he could give. "I guess so," Naruto laughed and sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
"I brought us some ramen. This one is with bone broth, pork and udon, this one with miso, beef and soba. Take what you prefer, I don't mind."
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The young father of three took his choice and they both sat down at his desk to eat. "Can I ask you a question?"
The blonde slurped a few udon into his mouth and nodded.
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"Can we talk openly."
"What is it? Did something happen, Shikamaru?" Naruto's look turned serious and he set down his meal box.
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"Not really, I was just wondering." The famous shadow wielder gave him a knowing smile. "For how long do you know about Kakashi's secret jutsu?"
"I don't know what you mean." Naruto averted his eyes and continued eating.
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"Tatsuo."
The blonde sighed.
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"Actually it was hard to figure it out for years, but being his consultant and working close together every day enlightened me." Now it was Shikamaru's turn to sheepishly scratch the back of his head.
The jinchuuriki didn't answer.
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"It was troublesome to see them suffer while we all couldn't help them. I'm glad that they finally found together. It took them an awful long time, though."
Naruto scrutinized his friend for a few seconds, then he just smiled at him and Shikamaru returned it.
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The young men continued their meal and laughed about the good old times. Both were sure that the topic of their prior conversation would never leave that room.
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Tsunade had agreed to be a silent observer of Naruto and all hokage issues for as long as Kakashi would be gone. The former hokage helped the inexperienced young man with his work as substitute. As he was pondering over the endless stacks of papers Tsunade assured him that those mission papers all do have a sense. "Just start by sorting them into current, accomplished and failed."
"But what do I do if the mission is officially a failure, but the truth is it wasn't?"
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The wise older woman smiled calmly at him, she walked over to the filing shelves on the left side of the office and skimmed through the files until she seemed satisfied. With a exhorting look she handed him some records. "Keep in mind this is classified information."
The blue-eyed substitute grinned like a cat that caught a huge fish. "Is that what I think it is?"
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"This is the final report from Sakura's Suna mission, yes."
Naruto took the papers, instead of ripping the cover open he considered if it was a good idea to take a look at those sensitive data.
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"Kakashi told me it would be alright, you should see what comes with being hokage." She opened the records and flipped to a certain page. "This was the mission request. As you can imagine it was not an easy task for all the persons involved." Light blue orbs turned wide as he was reading the content of the papers.
"Personally I wouldn't call that mission a failure according to how well it turned out for all of us," Naruto stated and Tsunade agreed with a nod. But the look in her eyes told him that there was more.
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After he had finished reading she gave him another sheet to browse through. It was Tatsuo's last mission. The mysterious ninja had been officially declared M.I.A. since then. Naruto shifted his weight in visible unease as he read what Kakashi had been assigned to.
The warm-hearted woman said with carefully considered words, "Imagine you must send your dear friends on cruel missions, there is no other option. Sometimes being hokage will break your heart."
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The jinchuuriki took a moment to contemplate. "Did you know he will return?"
Tsunade's gaze drifted off into the far distance outside of the window. "You never know."
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Naruto began to understand. Her choice of words reminded him of the white-haired pervy old sage and couldn't suppress a chuckle. The blonde sannin looked at him questioningly.
"He always told me: You will never know unless you try it."
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That didn't fail to steal a smile from Tsunade's lips and she continued. "Do you know those were the exact words he told me after I punched him into hospital when we were young?"
"Yeah." They laughed and shared a few funny stories about Jiraiya while they sorted the records into different stacks.
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Later the two talk about the process of becoming hokage and being the leader of a village.
"Your time will surely come. I know you are doing great, so far."
Naruto grinned in mirth. She informed him that there were secret examinations ongoing before someone qualified could become hokage. "Teaching others in fields of personal abilities is one of them." They laughed again about his tutelage under Jiraiya and especially the seduction training.
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"Back to serious, I want you to know that Kakashi has already set plans to make you a part time sensei in the near future. That will also be beneficial for your young family, don't you think?"
Naruto agreed, "My children seem to grow in high speed indeed. I'd love to see them more often. Especially the twins are growing as quick as bamboo sprouts, that's why I like to call them my lucky bamboos."
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"I'm sure Hinata loves it," Tsunade said sarcastically.
"Uhm, yeah… Please, don't tell her."
And again, they broke out into heartful laughter, before they called it a day. All in all, it was a very productive afternoon.
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Naruto returned home, where he helped his beautiful wife to lay the babies to sleep. Of course Boruto had insisted to help them and the young boy was overly happy to spend some time with his father. Hinata had prepared a wonderful dinner for their little family, which they seemingly enjoyed. Boruto and his mother had also baked a small cake with peaches on top for dessert.
Afterwards Naruto played with the joyful toddler until he literally fell asleep. The young parents brought him to bed and the current substitute hokage took a moment to just stand by the door frame and watch his little son sleeping. Noiselessly Hinata took him by the hand and led him to their bedroom.
This was his definition of happiness.
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Around the same time as the others Shikamaru returned home. Temari was waiting for him in the living room. She had returned from Suna today, so she informed him of the newest occurrences and he did vice versa.
"What do you think about Tatsuo?"
"He seems to be a nice guy."
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"Huh. I don't know." The feisty fan-wielder raked her fingers through her hair. "My brothers told me they had a strange impression in Iwa."
"I don't know what you mean." Troublesome.
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"Just saying. So, how was your day?"
The Nara heir told her about his day with Naruto as substitute hokage and how well he performed.
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"And where is Kakashi?"
"He is on a secret journey with Hoshi, the personal guard you met recently. Remember that guy?"
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"Sure." Temari looked at him and the grin on her face told him that she would not believe a single word. "It's funny because Sakura and Tatsuo are on their trip as well."
Shikamaru sighed and gave her a warning look to not ask further questions. He asked her what she meant.
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"Nothing," she smiled and kissed him. Then she opened a box of Suna mosomos for them and they snuggled closer on their couch, cuddling the troublesome day away.
"I missed you."
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Tatsuo took a quick look at her almost finished main plate. "Ready to go?"
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"What about dessert?" Sakura giggled.
"Exactly." As quick as lightening he pulled her up and they left the restaurant in a beeline to their bungalow suite.
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Sakura was fumbling with the keys of their cottage suite while Kakashi in disguise stood so close, that their bodies touched. Eagerly he planted soft kisses from her shoulders to her delicate neck, where he let his tongue dance on her secret erogenous spot. Finally she had the door open and they stepped in.
To her surprise they were not alone inside of their room. Tatsuo the clone was leaning on half opened door to bedroom. He was wearing a black tuxedo and a very cocky grin.
"As for dessert", the clone stated in a low erotic voice and widened the bow tie suggestively.
The irritated pinkette stopped dead in her tracks, then he started laughing and showed her that he had prepared strawberries coated in different kinds of chocolate for their dessert. Meanwhile Kakashi had changed his appearance back into his self. Tatsuo the clone led them to a hostess trolley where he had arranged all the ingredients of her favourite drink. The handsome brunette in the tuxedo poured them drinks and offered chocolate strawberries with panna cotta. Then he set out candles and warmed some massage oil, before he plopped.
Kakashi stepped close and hugged her from behind, "Tonight will be just about you and me."
His lips closed around the sensitive spot on her neck again and was rewarded with her sensual moans.
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