Chapter 3: The Hokage Rokudaime

Three years. It had been three years since that day in the hospital. Konoha was finally at peace, and Naruto had taken Tsunade's place as Hokage. As he sat in his office, nervously watching the clock, he sighed in irritation. Five hours…he still had five hours left in this hell of an office…

His frustration was interrupted by his secretary. "Hokage-sama, your 4:00 appointment is here." Naruto nodded and yelled, "Send the bloody man in!"

The door opened and in stepped an odd figure. His blazing red hair set messily along his head, his pale green eyes staring into space, yet cool and determined. A small red mark adorned his forehead, but his most noticeable feature was easily the giant gourd on his back, which he carried with him at all times. Yes, the years had been quite kind to Gaara, now the kazekage of the Sunagukare.

"Kazekage-sama, it is good to see you again."

"It's been far too long Hokage-sama."

The two took a seat again and Naruto quickly said, "You think we can drop the formalities for now? It's good to be able to talk to friends without having to announce titles all the time."

"Very well, Naruto-san."

"Many thanks, Gaara-san. Tell me, how is the progress on your village repairs going?"

"Most of damage caused by Orochimaru's sound ninja has been repaired save for one demolished wing of my palace. But last time I was informed, it would be fixed by the time I returned to my village. But what about you, Naruto-sama? How are things here among the leaves?"

"Dull. Nothing dangerous has happened since I skinned that accursed snake Orochimaru."

"That's not what I hear…"

"Eh?"

"Well…what about you, and your…personal life?" Naruto arched an eyebrow and sighed. "You've been talking to Lee, haven't you? That spandex wearing, cheap drunk idiot…"

Gaara laughed at that. Naruto was surprised, Gaara hardly laughed at anything. "It was more like Lee was talking to me, I was trying to ignore him until he mentioned you…and your wife." Naruto sighed again and said, "I suppose you would've found out eventually….but Lee didn't tell you everything…"

"Oh, and what would he have missed?"

As if in answer to the sand shinobi's question, a small boy ran into the office and squeaked, "Papa! Papa!" He ran up to Naruto and the Hokage chuckled as the boy launched himself into his father's lap. The child couldn't have been more than four years old, with very untidy blonde hair, much like his father, as well as a whisker mark adorning each of his tiny cheeks. But Gaara noticed that the child's eyes were definitely not Naruto's…they had no pupils, and were a pale shade of lavender…

"Little Kazo missed you so much…I decided to bring him to visit you, Naruto-kun." Gaara and Naruto both looked up to find none other than Hinata standing in the doorway. She walked on over to Naruto and kissed him lightly. "Gaara of the sand, allow me to introduce you to my wife, Uzumaki Hinata, and my son, Uzumaki Kazoru."

Gaara stood and bowed low. "It is an honor, Hinata-sama…" Hinata bowed as well, and Kazoru piped up again, "Hey mister, what's in the big gourd?" Gaara chuckled and said, "This, my young friend, is sand." He raised a hand and a small glob of his own personal sand emerged from the gourd, causing Kazoru's eyes to widen to the size of dinner plates.

"That is so wicked! Papa, he's moving the sand with his mind!" Gaara smiled and held the sand in a tight grip. Upon releasing it, the sand had been compacted into a small glass fox, with nine tiny tails. He handed it to the boy and said, "A gift, from Sunagukare. Take good care of it, little one."

Kazoru's eyes lit up and he hugged Gaara's neck. "Now, if you'll all excuse me, I must tend to my village. Hokage-sama, it has been a pleasure meeting your family." And Gaara promptly disappeared in a flash of sand. Hinata picked up little Kazoru, who yawned and said, "I like that sand man…he's nice…" With glass fox still clutched tightly in his hands, he fell asleep on Hinata's shoulder. Naruto smiled and said, "You know, I think I'll clock out early today. Let's go home, Hinata-chan."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Little Kazoru was in bed and asleep within an hour of them returning home. Naruto watched his wife disappear into their room to change, and shrugged off his Hokage's robe, practically falling onto the couch. He took a deep breath and his eyes closed as he tried to relax his brain from the stress of work. His heart stopped for a second as he felt a pair of lips tenderly kiss his own. As if by instinct he reached up and pulled Hinata down onto his lap, much to her surprise.

"N-Naruto-kun….!" She was silenced with another kiss. She tangled her fingers in his messy blonde hair and he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss. The two broke apart and Hinata failed at forcing back a giggle. "Heh, I love hearing you laugh, Hinata-chan…how was the academy today? Your students are behaving themselves, I hope?" Hinata leaned her head against his chest and nodded. "They're wonderful, Naruto-kun…although there is this one little boy…"

"Eh?"

"He's a prankster, and a bit of a loudmouth. But he has a lot of potential to be a great shinobi…and you know what he wants to be when he grows up?"

"What's that?"

"He wants to be Hokage, just like Naruto-sama." Naruto smiled warmly and kissed his wife again. "You always know how to cheer my up after work. I love you Hinata-chan."

"I love you too Naruto-kun."

Their lips found each others again and they fell back onto the couch. Hinata pulled back for a second and quietly said, "Naruto-kun…it…it's Friday."

"Friday? Is it really?"

"Yes…"

"Wow, Friday already…well, no time like the present…is Kazoru asleep?"

"Just nodded off a few minutes ago." Naruto smiled and picked up his wife bridal style. "Then maybe it's time for us to turn in as well, darling." Hinata giggled as Naruto sped up the stairs with her in his arms, right into their room, closing the door behind them as he laid her on the bed and allowed himself to melt into her kiss…

A/N: VOILA! SHE IS COMPLETE! I love Gaara in this fic, who knew he could be so good with kids. I guess Naruto beat some more sense into the sand guy than we thought lol. Looks like Naruto and Hinata are gonna be busy tonight…and enjoying every minute of it too XD. Reviews welcome, as always! Thanx for reading!