Naruto relaxed in the Hokage office chair. He glanced at all the past Hokage's pictures, his gaze lingering on the picture of his dad.
"So... you went ahead and did what I told you not to.." Sakura folded her arms and glared at Naruto. Sakura had just entered the room with Kakashi who was early for once.
"Hehe... sorry. But Sakura, Hinata was really mad at me for not telling her sooner." Naruto scratched the back of his head.
"I know... she wasn't mad at you, she was mad at me. I mean, she called me in the middle of the night screaming and crying at me. I don't know if shell ever forgive me." Sakura sadly sighed as she thought about her earlier phone call.
"Really? Hinata never told me anything like that." Naruto stared at his pink haired teammate. "Oh, and Kakashi, Shikamaru doesn't do the paperwork like Shizune did with you and granny, so I hope you enjoy." Naruto grinned maniacally at Kakashi who just smile his signature eye smile. Despite the heaviness of the situation, he wanted to make light of it. What's the point of going around all depressed.
"Yeah.. Naruto?" Kakashi hesitantly started. "I.. want to know.. do you remember that time when there was this camera man with face paint on? You guys teamed up with him to see what was under my mask."
Naruto stared at Kakashi blankly before realizing what he was talking about. "Oh.. yeah! I do! Why?"
Kakashi just smiled a knowing smile. "Ill tell you later. But, only you." Naruto sweatdropped and crept away from Kakashi.
"I'm a married man! You shouldn't be creepy still! It's improper!" Naruto backed away from the silver haired man. Kakashi look blank for a moment before registering.
"What? No!" Kakashi folded his arms and backed away from Naruto who was pressed up against the window. Sakura ignored the two and remained in her thoughts.
"Hey Naruto?" Sakura looked up at her blonde teammate who had apparently fixed the terms between himself and his sensei. The Blonde answered almost immediately.
"Yeah?" Naruto glanced at his teammate. She had a glazed look in her eyes.
"When is Sasuke going to be back?" Sakura sadly looked at her friend. Sasuke had been gone for longer than she had anticipated. Maybe he had encountered some trouble, but he should have sent something like a hawk, or a message on his phone. Nothing was making sense.
"I don't know.. he's been gone for two weeks.. I guess well just have to wait and see." Naruto sighed and leaned back in his chair. He thought about some prospects for the next Hokage. Konahamaru, as he said earlier would be a good choice but he has a team. Sakura, would be an excellent choice, considering. Shikamaru would be an even better prospect but he didn't seem to want to be the next Hokage.
Sasuke, was an eligible man but he.. well, let's not get started on his attitude.
Naruto gave an exasperated sigh and put his face in his palm.
"What's wrong?" Sakura gave him a concerned look. Naruto smiled at her. "Just thinking about a new Hokage is all.. any suggestions?" Sakura glared at him. "Your gonna make it through this.. you can remain Hokage. I don't care what anyone said, you will live."
"Man.. okay. If that's what you believe, but I was thinking about retiring anyway. Do you have any suggestions, for the second time?" Naruto folded his hands under his chin. He was not excited about the idea of giving his dream job away, but he didn't want to die on duty. He especially didn't want to waste his last moments on the job while he neglected his family.
Sakura thought for a moment, her face lighting up with an idea. "How about Sasuke?"
Naruto sighed. "He'd be a good choice.. but honestly Sakura.. think about how he would interact with the villagers. Knowing him, any petition for any holiday that would be fun would be rejected by him. He is the legendary Emo Sasuke Uchiha."
Sakura snorted. "He'd be the perfect candidate. He's strong, Smart, he's handsome~!" Sakura giggled at her last few words.
Naruto deadpanned. "That's hardly a reason to become Hokage.."
Sakura ignored him. "I think you'd be stupid not to see the potential in Sasuke. He may not be good in communication, but he'd be a good leader. He just has that kind of personality. Where you lack in leadership, he makes up for it. And where he lacks in Communication, you make up for it. It's not that different."
Naruto thought for a moment.. "Konahamaru wanted to be Hokage after me.. actually he wanted to be the Seventh cause I would be the sixth, but now if I choose him he would be the eighth... Sasuke could take over the teaching of team 7 and Konahamaru could take my place."
Sakura, surprised with his sudden outburst of smart words nodded her agreement. "You always surprise me when you say something smart." Kakashi was listening. Sweatdropping at how easily he was forgotten. He cleared his throat to get their attention.
"I think, Naruto, Konahamaru would be a good choice. He is the grandson of the third Hokage after all. He would fit right in." Naruto and Sakura nodded. Naruto stood up grinning.
"Alright! Konahamaru, the eighth Hokage! How does that sound?" Naruto eagerly looked at the previous Hokage and his teammate. Shikamaru also gave his approval later when he heard his decision. Naruto was given leave when Shikamaru heard of the exchange between Naruto and Kakashi and agreed to help Kakashi settle back in to being Hokage. The village wasn't very happy, but understood that he wanted to spend more time with his family. Judging from the amount of clones he made everyday, they were wondering when he'd take a break. Of course nobody aside from the people he told knew about his illness, but it still didn't make a difference when you see a Hokage that's always tired.
He slowly trudged home occasionally covering his mouth with a yawn. He wanted to sleep as soon as he got home. He quietly opened the door, and took off his shoes. As soon as he stood up again, he felt arms wrap around his legs.
"Daddy? Why did you give up being Hokage? Was the job to hard for you?" He smiled seeing the blue eyes of his daughter. Himawari was the most adorable thing. Sure, you might say he's byist but everybody thought so.
"Cause you guys need me more right?" Naruto leaned down to give his daughter a hug. She clung tightly to his neck and giggled when he stood up with out letting her go. He walked towards the kitchen with Hima still clinging to his neck and stopped when he noticed Boruto reading a scroll.
"Hey, Boruto. What are you reading?" Naruto sat next to his son, Hima sat on his lap and peered curiously at her brother.
"He hasn't lifted his eyes off of that page for quite a while. I don't think he's reading Daddy... do you?" Hima whispered in her Dads ear. Naruto glanced worredly at his son.
"Are you okay Boruto?" Boruto continued to ignore his Dad before sighing. "Why did you resign?"
Naruto glanced at his daughter who was looking at him questionably too.
"Cause, like I told Hima, you guys need me more!" Naruto smiled at his scowling son. Boruto shook his head.
"No.. I don't need you. Uncle Sasuke will come back and train me. He said so.. I don't need you, but Hima does. You can stay with her." Boruto stood up and walked past his dad ignoring the hurt expression on his dad's face. He was secretly happy that he was home, but he was mad at him. And he felt something more was going on, ever since the day he came home early, his mom had been acting distant, not responding when he called her, and always staring into space. He was mad that no one wanted to tell him. He was thirteen years old, he could handle it if it was a dangerous villain.
Naruto stared at his sons retreating back. "Well.. that wasn't very nice was it daddy.. Boruto was being mean." Himawari hugged her dad and asked him if he wanted to go see mom. She led him upstairs absentmindedly chattering. Naruto smiled at his daughter as he told her to go bother Boruto for a little bit. Hima nodded and left to her brothers room.
"Hinata?" Naruto opened their bedroom door. His wife was laying on the bed sleeping. He could see the tear streaks on her cheeks and sadly wiped the remaining tears away. He walked back downstairs and since Hinata was sleeping, he would make dinner today.
"Hima?" Naruto knocked on Boruto's bedroom door. He asked her if she wanted to help him make dinner, to which she readily agreed. She took charge over the meal, being with her mom and helping her so much definitely had its perks. She directed him, and he was surprised to how much she knew.
"Wow Hima! You will be a great wife just like Mom!" Naruto grinned at his daughter and ruffled her hair. She beamed at the praise and smiled. Dinner was ready in less than half an hour so Hima went to fetch Boruto while Naruto went to see if Hinata was awake yet. Seeing as she was still asleep, Naruto slipped downstairs to see both of his children sitting quietly at the table.
"Where is mom?" Boruto questioned.
"She's sleeping." Naruto answered his son. He could tell Boruto was puzzled at his response, rightly so since Hinata was usually the first one up and also it was pretty late in the day, so it was most definitely weird that she would be sleeping.
"Why?"
Naruto shrugged and sat down in his usual spot. They began eating after Naruto made a special plate for his sleeping wife. He also added a plate of cinnamon rolls, which he bought earlier on the way home.
After eating the dinner in silence besides Himawari's occasional chit chat they each went in their respective locations, Boruto's being his room. Himawari went to the couch to read a book. Naruto silently washed the dishes, ignoring the ever frequent stomach pains. He had them earlier as well, but when he was more energized, it was easier to hide them.
After washing the dishes, he crept back up to his room to check on Hinata. He noticed fresh tears and figured she must have been awake at some point. He crept in the bed besides her and pulled her close to him. He laid his chin on her head and slowly started to drift to sleep. He heard Boruto calling his sister for bedtime and vaguely remembered forgetting to do that.
"Oh well.." Naruto thought before drifting off to sleep.
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