Disclaimer in CH1

The Hokage's Maid-3


"Haah, it's so late. When will she be home?" Naruto wondered while looking pensively out of the window. Grayfia had gone out drinking with the other girls for a girls-night. While Naruto always wanted his wife to spend time with her friends, it didn't change the fact that he already missed her a lot. It was also getting pretty late in the night and he was growing concerned. Even though Grayfia was the strongest person in Konoha after himself and Sasuke, a husband's worries seldom seek logic.

"Should I go and pick her up?" Naruto got up to get dressed, but stopped when an overwhelming sense of dread overcame him.

"Naruto! Give the med-nin program more funds, dammit!"

"Hic-intelligence also ne-needs funds Naruto!"

"On second thought, I don't wanna deal with a drunk Sakura and Ino pestering me for more funds to their departments." Naruto shuddered at the thought. Those two women were violent enough sober; best to not be seen by them.

Naruto bounced uneasily on his feet. "Still, it's almost midnight. Is she doing alright? But how can I check without running into those damn debt-collectors!"

"What are you?"

"Huh?" Kurama's sudden question stumped him. "Whaddya mean by that? I'm Naruto."

A faint sound of Kurama slamming his head into some metal bars rung through Naruto's brain. "Idiot! What is your job?"

"I'm the best Hokage ever, believe it!" Naruto gave his signature pose, complete with a wide grin.

"What is the Hokage?" Kurama was fast losing patience. He was looking like a salaryman who had been forced to do a few days of non-stop work without overtime. Kurama didn't know where these words entered into his vocabulary from, but he understood the feeling very well.

Naruto palmed his chin with his hand. "Hmm, the Hokage is the strongest shinobi, chosen by the village, Konoha is my family, will of fire, king chess piece, bonds, friendship, ending the cycle of hatred, understanding among the people…" He trailed off, unable to think of more examples.

"Aside from summarizing the past thousand years in one sentence, what was the first thing you said?"

"The strongest shinobi!" Naruto declared triumphantly, only for his eyes to widen. "Ohhh! I am a shinobi, ya know? I could just check on Fia from afar!" he cheered, amazed at his own discovery.

Eyes deader than the abyss of chaos, Kurama could merely give a few defeated chuckles at the absolutely monumental incarnation of stupidity that was Naruto. "I don't know what a bonus is, but I need one."

Just as Naruto was prepared to head off to check on Grayfia, the doorbell rang. Eyes lighting up in glee, he ran to the door, excited to greet his wife.

Naruto opened the door with full force, as he had already sensed his wife outside. "Welcome home Fia- What is this adorable sight!" His eyes shot wide open as he trailed off, speechless at what he saw.

His beautiful wife, Grayfia, was indeed at the door, and she was just fine. But that was not the focus here. Grayfia was wearing a fluffy orange muffler around her neck, which came up to her nose and made her look impossibly cuddly. Her cheeks were dusted dark red, from a mix of cold and wine. She was clearly tipsy and wobbling slightly. Her clothes were relatively simple- blue jeans and a black cardigan, which made her look even cuter with her muffler and blush. To complete the cuteness, she was carrying a bottle of wine, clutching it tightly to herself. Grayfia was giving small hiccups from time to time, since Naruto was too dumbfounded to move.

"Yo, Naruto! Dropping off your wife!" Sakura exclaimed from beside Grayfia, looking soberer herself. Her medical Jutsus were good at that. "See you tomo- oh who am I kidding, he isn't even looking at my direction." Sakura muttered, seeing as Naruto hadn't even acknowledged her presence. The Hokage was too mesmerised by the first lady to care about anything else. With another goodbye, Sakura left for her own house.

Back with the couple, Naruto had managed to snap out of his cuteness-induced daze. He immediately wrapped his arms around his wife's shoulder, supporting her as she walked in. "Let's get you inside, okay? It's cold outside."

"Mmhmm…" Grayfia mumbled and nodded slightly, snuggling into his side looking for warmth. "Hi-ku~!" she hiccuped and immediately covered her mouth, but the damage was done.

"Cute~!"

Once they were inside the living room, Naruto gently seated Grayfia on the couch. As he moved to sit on another sofa, he felt his wife holding on to his sleeve. "Fia-chan?"

Grayfia looked at him, her silver eyes gleaming with so much love and adoration. "Sit with me!" She gave him no room to argue, and pulled him down on her couch. She then proceeded to climb over Naruto like a kitten. Grayfia snuggled into Naruto's bigger frame, almost as if she was burrowing into it. "Mmmm, mine mine mine!"

"Hweh!" Naruto's jaw dropped in shock. His wife was acting so clingy and assertive. He loved it! Naruto didn't know what was happening, but far be it from him to complain. So, the Hokage settled for simply wrapping his beloved wife in a tender embrace, glad to be enjoying this time with her.

"Hic-Narutooo-shama~" Grayfia raised her head, which brought her face to face with Naruto. Since she was much shorter than Naruto and laying on top of him, she was comfortable. "Hic-Can I shay so-something?" she managed to warble out the words, which made her nose twitch cutely at the effort.

"Yes dear?" Naruto stroked the top of her head lovingly, making her let out small giggles. It was too adorable a sight.

"I luv yuu…"

Naruto's eyes widened some more. What a simple sentence, but it still managed to leave him speechless. How amazing was this woman in love with him? She was looking at him with such immense adoration and affection, that Naruto found himself falling head over heels for her again… for the millionth time. "I love you too, dear. Forever."

They laid there in companionable silence. His duties as Hokage, Her Devil heritage, or anything else mattered not at this moment. They were lost in each other's eyes, just as their hearts were lost in each other's. No words were needed to convey the love between them, so now words were said.

"Fia-chan, you are super adorable right now, ya know?"

Grayfia gave another drunk giggle. "Hihi~ Thank you, sweetie!"

Naruto tightened his hold on her. "Man, bubbly Grayfia is too lethal for my heart. Why don't you get drunk more often, dear?"

He immediately realised what he'd said, but it was too late.

After hearing his words, Grayfia went strangely quiet in his arms. When she looked up, her eyes were moist, glistening with unshed tears. "Beloved, am I too stern when sober?" She sniffled slightly, gently laying her head on his chest. "Am I a bad wife?" Her soulful silver eyes, which usually conveyed her love and happiness, were quivering in sadness as she awaited his response. She clutched at his shirt in nervousness. "Do-do you prefer me to be more cheerful?"

Naruto turned into stone and practically shattered right there. His very meaning for existence had gone down the drain. Grayfia was already drunk and impressionable, and his tactless words had made her get the most heartbroken look he had ever seen. It broke Naruto's own heart to even see tears on his wife's face. If he didn't run damage control right at this moment, his mother was going to beat the ever-loving crap out of him when he died.

"Never!" Naruto yelled, making his wife squeak in surprise. Naruto got up, and held Grayfia tightly by the shoulders. "I love you just the way you are. Cheerful, stern, whatever it is! As long as it's you, I love you. Whatever personality you have doesn't matter at all, ya know?"

Grayfia buried her head into the crook of his neck, closing her eyes tightly. "T-truly?" she was very vulnerable at that moment, which made Naruto feel even worse.

Naruto rubbed the her back soothingly, gradually calming his wife down. "Of course. Even if your words are stern, I see your love for me in your eyes, honey. So even if you yell at me or pinch my ear, I know that you love me, and I make you happy. That's all we need, isn't it?"

"I guess you're right…" Grayfia mumbled, but didn't loosen her hold in the slightest. "You really have a way with words, my love."

Naruto grinned sheepishly, a slight blush on his cheeks. He was still weak to nicknames like 'my love'. "These words are only for you, Fia-chan. Since you're the most precious person to me."

Grayfia sighed longingly, her heart fluttering like a young maiden. The alcohol had already amplified her emotions, but here Naruto was, wooing her with words like knights did in her world. Even after years of marriage, he still spent just as much time and effort courting her and making her feel cherished. And she loved him for it.

"M-my love, carry me to bed. I'm shleepy~." Grayfia was back to hiccupping again.

Naruto gently kissed her on the forehead and picked her up in a bridal carry, missing the soft smile and gentle blush on her face. "As you wish, my queen." While 'Queen' was a term from Grayfia's world, Naruto felt it fit rather well for her. He preferred it over 'My Daimyo' for sure. That wasn't romantic at all.

If he were being honest, Naruto was expecting a snarky comment from Kurama. The fox always hated lovey-dovey moments and never hesitated to make it known. However, Kurama was strangely silent.

In the mindscape, Kurama was nowhere to be found. There was simple a wooden desk in the cage, which was a bit worn out. On the desk were some photos, a lamp, a stapler and a letter.

" To whomsoever it may concern,

With a heavy heart, I am tendering my resignation. The corporate greed is too much for me to bear, and I feel I am just not cut out for this rat-race.

My family has a farm in the village, where I will spend the rest of my days cultivating potatoes. I will marry and settle down, having led a peaceful life. I hear springtime is nice in my village. I wonder whether the crops will grow well.

I would like to thank all my seniors and colleagues for their invaluable guidance and advice, they will forever be in my memories. I pray that my friends find the wisdom to escape this black company as well.

- Oh so very tired,

Kurama."


Grayfia walked into the Hokage's office with an unnoticeable smile on her face. Ever since she'd returned home drunk, she hadn't lost that smile in the slightest. Initially, she had feared that her husband wouldn't care for her unsightly appearance and scold her. After years together with him, she should have known that Naruto loved her far too much to ever scold her like that.

"Dear Husband looks rather dashing today. I wonder what's different?" She looked at Naruto with a slight dusting of pink in her cheeks. Naruto was just grumbling while signing some papers, but to his wife, he looked more handsome than usual. She noted that she was finding him more handsome recently.

Since that night when Naruto had said those sweet and kind words to her, Grayfia had also fallen even deeper in love with him, which she thought impossible. But now, whenever she looked at Naruto, it appeared as if he was glowing with a radiant light, surrounded by roses and other pretty flowers.

Now that she thought about it, this was the reason why her husband would always stare dumbly at her whenever she walked into a room. "You look like you're surrounded by snowflakes, Fia-chan. I can't keep my eyes off you." Grayfia resisted the urge to burst into a full giddy grin, seeing as she was in the office. Her blush did indeed darken a little, but she'd allow it just this once.

"You look like you're surrounded by snowflakes, Fia-chan. I can't keep my eyes off you."

"Wh-wha?" Grayfia jerked in shock, having heard exactly what she was thinking. She was so surprised that she dropped the papers she was carrying, which was an insult to her abilities as a secretary.

"Hehe, what a nice reaction." Naruto snickered from his desk. He had just witnessed the stuff of legends. It wasn't everyday that the Ice Queen of Konoha squeaked in surprise and look around for papers with a huge blush on her face.

"Eh-hem!" Grayfia composed herself perfectly, the papers neatly stacked in her hand. "How did you know what I was thinking, Hokage-sama?"

Naruto whined. "Maaaan, this again? Call me Naruto and I'll tell you." His eyes gained a mysterious glint. "Or better yet, call me darling~!"

Grayfia's brow twitched, which looked dangerous even with her flustered face from the request. She raised a hand menacingly, making pinching motions with the thumb and index finger. The message was loud and clear, and Naruto's face paled when she started walking closer.

"Wait wait wait! No need to be hasty, ya know?" Naruto tried to placate her, sweating nervously. "I'll tell ya!" Anything to avoid the cheek-pinch of doom! That thing hurt more than a Chidori!

"Hmph." Grayfia huffed, "Go on."

Naruto looked away in embarrassment, which dealt critical damage to his wife. "Ehehe, I know you so well, so it just came from the heart…"

Ba-dump.

Grayfia's eyes widened at the response, her mouth slightly ajar in shock. How… how very sweet! She coughed again into a fist to try and calm her furiously beating heart. She couldn't look him in the eyes without losing composure, so she too looked away, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Hoh?" Naruto's grin turned snarky, seeing as his wife was failing to maintain her work mode. "Is the Hokage's secretary blushing and smiling on the job?" he gasped, "How unprofessional!"

"I am not!" Grayfia snapped reflexively, but then reigned in her irritation. It wouldn't do to partake in this foolish prank of her husband. "It was merely a momentary lapse of concentration. It shall not happen again." She sniffed, raising her nose haughtily in the air.

"Is that so?" Naruto challenged.

"Of course."

"Hook, line and sinker."

Grayfia felt that she had just started something she couldn't see through. How right she was.


"You…" Grayfia muttered as she walked beside Naruto, "You're entirely too much!" She yelled at him, her entire face having gone a deep red. Steam was coming out of the top of her head, because her brain had simply overloaded on embarrassment.

When Naruto had challenged her to not blush, she had accepted it as one of his foolish games. How she wished she hadn't. From singing about his love for her in the main square, to hiding her chair so she had no choice but to sit on his lap, Naruto had done everything to embarrass her. Well, she could have just gotten another chair, but she wouldn't deny that the arrangement was comfortable. She would never admit it though, absolutely not.

Ten years with Naruto had turned her from a cold-blooded soldier into an easily flustered woman who just liked to act cold. And it was the best thing that had happened to her.

"Haah, today was the most fun I've had in a while!" Naruto guffawed as he walked, hands behind his head. "You're just too easy to tease, Fia-chan!"

"It's because you never cease to embarrass me so!" Grayfia swatted his arm, in a childish attempt to get back at him somehow. But after a couple of swats, she instead grabbed his arm and hugged it tightly.

There was no one else in the vicinity, which was the only reason she was being so bold. "But, I do not, per se, have any misgivings about it or somesuch…"

"You're a bigger tsundere than Kurama, aren't you sweetie?"

"Cease your teasing at once!"

"Hehe, never change, Fia-chan. Never change."


OMAKE

Kurama looked up from the freshly tilled soil, the autumn wind feeling fresh on his fur. He smiled at the setting sun, wiping a bead of sweat off his brow. Even though he was a being made of Chakra, he was still somehow capable of sweating, just like he was somehow capable of cultivating potatoes.

"The soil has been kind to my harvest this fall…"

The setting sun reminded Kurama of the good old days. The days when he was a giant fox, sealed inside his partner. He was still a giant fox and still sealed inside his partner, but that wasn't how stress-induced hyperventilations worked, did they?

"I wonder how young Naruto is faring?" Kurama looked sagely at the potato in his hand. "I will boil this one for lunch today. I thank you for your nourishment, potato." Kurama had achieved a new level of enlightenment, enabling him to let go of all material pursuits of the world.

It was a simple life, Kurama mused. Wake up, have breakfast, till the fields, come home and sleep. Free from the worries of the Ninja world, and most importantly, free from the nauseating sweetness that was Naruto's married life. He was content here, happy. He wished not to go back.

In Naruto's mindscape, Kurama was out cold on the ground, snoring away softly. When Naruto appeared to check on his silent partner, he was confused about just one thing-

"Why's this furball murmuring about potatoes?"


A/N- Done.

Every day with Naruto for ten years has got to melt even the coldest of hearts.

Kurama needs a raise for sure.

Ah man, now I'm tempted to write about him and his imaginary potato farm.

Make sure to Review if you liked it!