AN: And here we have another continuation of a previously popular one shot...I'm awful aren't I? Sorry for the title...but please enjoy...

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto...but you still love me right? XD

Innocent Kisses

It had been all over the village, everyone had known it.

Uzumaki Naruto was dead.

He had been killed on his latest mission, an S-class as usual, one that had, in the end, proved just too much for Konoha's unruliest and most determined jounin.

At the time, it had been difficult to believe; Naruto? Dead? Impossible!

He was a titan, with stamina unrivalled and a constant stream of tricks and unexpected jutsus up his sleeve. He was the shinobi who, just when you were sure he was down and defeated, would find some hidden resource of strength, some insight into his opponent's heart (for few were truly his enemies), and end up coming out on top.

It had been a fact of life to the citizens of Konoha; Uzumaki Naruto could not die; and finally, after years of rejection and open hostility from them, no one actually wanted him to.

It was only when the news of his death had come, that people realized how badly they would miss the sight of his smiling face; his glowing health and sparkling blue eyes a cheerful mockery of the Hokage's deadly pendant which had always swung from his neck.

It was this necklace that had been the proof, dangling limply from Hyuuga Neji's shaking fingers, that had convinced the Fifth Hokage that the Kyuubi container was really gone. The other members of the retrieval squad sent to find Naruto had been amazed at the composure of the Fifth when she received the news and the proof, merely thanking them for their report and dismissing them without a word as to the arrangements for Naruto's funeral.

A funeral with a difference, considering that they had not been able to recover, or even find a body, amid the wreckage of the fishing village where the blonde's last battle had been fought. At least his mission had been completed, though at the cost of his own life. Two more S-class criminals had had their first and last taste of the formidable Rasengan.

And as soon as the retrieval squad had filed out of her office, faces contorted with grief for their friend, Tsunade had broken down and wept.

The mischievous shrimpy genin had given her back her hunger for life, the determined, cheeky chuunin had given her hope for Konoha's future, and the reckless, indomitable jounin had quite unwittingly, unintentionally, stolen her heart. Even before he had held her in his arms and dried her sudden tears on his departure, Tsunade had become aware of how precious Uzumaki Naruto had become to her.

And now she had lost him.

For six weeks, she thought she had lost him.

And then, on the first day of the seventh week, without any warning, Uzumaki Naruto came back. Filthy, weaponless, half the clothes ripped off his broad back, and his blond hair tangled and brown with dirt, but with his battered forehead protector securely tied and no limbs missing, he appeared at the gates of the village.

Five minutes later he was in the Hokage's office, wearing a triumphant grin that Tsunade had to restrain herself from slapping, then perhaps kissing ferociously.

And, as if he had only seen her yesterday, Naruto flung himself into the chair in front of her desk and propped his feet up on the polished wood surface.

"Tsunade no baaaaa-chan! Long time no see!" At the sound of the familiar nickname, the deep voice dragging out the syllables, she had to fight to the keep the rush of blood from showing in her pale cheeks.

"Would you like me to put a cloth down?" she asked sarcastically, hiding her thumping heart. "We wouldn't want the desk getting your feet dirty."

The blond grinned impudently up at her, and, catching hold of both her hands, pulled her to him.

"Hey hey hey, granny, I've been away for so long, doing dangerous missions, saving the world, where's the love?" He gazed at her with puppy dog eyes.

This was the moment, the moment when she had pulled away that other time, pulled away before she did something that he would not be able to forgive, something that she would most likely regret.

But now she could not pull away. She could not stop herself. And so she leaned down towards him, past his forehead, ignoring his sharply indrawn breath as she hovered, inches from his lips.

The door to her office flew open, and what seemed like half of Konoha stood in the doorway. Naruto, releasing the Hokage's hands, turned around to face the crowd of open-mouthed shinobi and grinned.

"Hi guys, miss me?"

Pandemonium broke loose and Tsunade stepped back as the blond was submerged in embraces and handshakes and demands as to 'what the hell the dobe had been doing all this time?'

The Hokage stood silent and forgotten, the sensation of his warm breath on her lips still lingering. She had to hold herself steady, her mind repeating like a mantra over and over, It's better this way It's better this way I don't really want him to know Don't want him to know It'd ruin everything Never be the same again…

No matter if she wanted things to be different, if to change everything would make her happy. She couldn't think like that, wouldn't, not now, in front of all these fresh-faced young shinobi celebrating the return of their comrade.

Not now, when a shy, stuttering kunoichi with big pearly eyes had finally found the courage to cling to Naruto as if she never intended to let him go.

Tsunade turned her face away. A sparkle in the window caught her attention. It was her pendant, that Neji had brought back as evidence of Naruto's demise and she had hung it up, to glisten in the sun.

She took it down now and turned back to the crowd.

"Here brat, you forgot about this. You should really stop leaving valuables lying around like that."

His face lit up, her stomach twisted as she extended a hand toward him, the chain dangling from her fingers. But he shook his head, grinning cheekily.

Only six weeks he was gone, less than the time taken for most missions. Just six weeks I thought he was dead. Kami, how I've missed that smile.

"I'm not taking it like that." He rose from the chair and took a few steps forward, until she could feel the heat radiating from his body.

"You have to put it on me." His eyes gleamed down at her. "Old hag. I'm a bit taller than the last time you did this, right?"

There were chuckles at the blond's audacity in teasing the Hokage. Only Naruto could get away with this, as they all knew.

She frowned up at him, trying to look exasperated, as she stepped towards him, arms stretching, reaching up to clasp the chain about his neck. Tsunade leaned forward, straining. The top of her blonde head barely reached his shoulder.

Just as the clasp of the chain linked together, Naruto's arms suddenly enveloped the Hokage, pulling her against him, her arms settling around his neck as if they belonged there.

Breathe.

Just breathe.

She could not stop the pounding of her heart, or the blood that rushed to her cheeks at the contact. When had she last been held like this, by a man? Dan had always been so shy, so reserved about his feelings for her, while Jiraiya had ended up with a bloody nose at the first attempt.

A low chuckle broke through her shock. She looked up into his face, the strong, angular features accented by the whisker-like scars carved into his bronzed skin.

Breathe.

Just breathe!

And then, while she stared up at him, hazel eyes wide, he leaned down as he had before leaving on this mission, almost seven weeks ago, a lifetime ago.

She froze, and warm lips brushed her forehead, settling lightly for a moment, branding her, then drew back.

That low chuckle again.

"Thanks Tsunade no baa-chan. I won't be losing this again."

The arms slid away, the warm body retreated.

"Come on guys! Who's buying me ramen? See ya later, granny!"

He was gone.

The office became silent, settled. The Hokage stood calmly for a few minutes, then, returning to her desk, sat down and continued her paperwork.

But her face burned red and her stomach was filled with butterflies, and she could not keep the smile from her face as the bittersweet happiness flooded over her.

He's alive. He's alive. He's alive.

She can never have him, but she can accept that. She can be content to be one of his precious people instead, and enjoy the innocent kisses.

AN:Hey hey, I'd like to write a heartfelt apology for my lack of updating on "Shikamaru plus Glasses Equals", but that would be a waste of time, and you wouldn't believe me anyway...but here's the snag - i have chapter 9 finished and chapter 10 in the works, but chapter 8 is being a real...er, it's just not happening...maybe it's due to the CRAPPINESS of the naruto anime at the moment...omgness what are they thinking and WHERE IS MY KAKASHI GAIDEN? 'Til next time, my beloved readers...