Day 02: Mission Report


ii. i need not one thing more


Sakura adjusts well to the role of Hokage, surprising no one, really.

Gaara stays for a day more. Theirs is a friendship born out of struggles, from his poisoned brother to the loss of a common friend. They visit the graveyard together, share a meal, and Sakura walks him to the gates. All the while, they are being trailed by Shikamaru, Temari and Kankuro - and the ANBU responsible for her security hidden in the shadows.

Tsunade leaves after a few days. She had always been one for tough love, but now she's all compliments, gushing about her apprentice. Shizune lingers in the office too and she's equally proud, congratulating Sakura every so often and reassuring her she's going to do a wonderful job. When Tsunade leaves, Shizune goes back to splitting her time between the hospital and duties as assistant, though she sometimes voices Shikamaru is more than capable of handling everything on his own.

Kakashi stays around for two weeks after he stepped down, coming to the office regularly and helping as much as he can. Sakura tries to reassure him that it's fine and he should finally get some much needed rest, but nothing she says really changes his mind. War changed many things for many people, and though Kakashi is no stranger to losing teammates, maybe he's finally had enough of keeping people at arm's length.

At long last, it's finally just the two of them in the office - for most of the time. Shikamaru makes good of his promise and doesn't distract her from her work as Sakura powers through the piles of documents with a vigor he hasn't witnessed in the Sixth before. They're often interrupted by teams returning from missions, and she's always on call if they ever need her in the hospital. Regardless of being summoned or not, Sakura saves at least an hour of her day to visit the place and check herself if anyone needs her assistance.

He thinks at some point the novelty of being Hokage will wear off, but Sakura is known for her perseverance. That's how she went from a book smart genin to the woman sitting in the Hokage office today. She might get tired of the job someday, but she'll never not do her best when it comes to it.

At some point, other Kages and dignitaries come to have their official first meetings with the new Hokage. Sakura is familiar with most of these people, both from her time as Tsunade's apprentice and the War, and she goes through these meetings with unspeakable grace, and some patience that in unknown to her. She really is prepared for this. Not that he didn't know this already, but every time he's reminded of it, it only makes his fondness grow.

One day, Shikamaru finds himself outside her door late in the evening. It's rare, but Kages have days off, and it's the reason he loathes to be here, knocking on her door and disrupting her peace twelve hours she's set to return to the office, but he'd been there when an ANBU team came back from a mission and, well, being the Hokage's assistant means he's always working.

She's moved to the Hokage Residence. It's far too big for one person, she says, but it makes it easier for her and her security team. Judging by the hour and he unhurried knocks, she answers the door wearing short shorts and an oversized shirt, which has been missing from his closet for a month now. He gives it a pointed look and she giggles, opening the door wider in a silent invitation.

Being Hokage comes with many benefits. Housekeepers, cooks, other services that no one really has use for. Sakura gives them all at least a day off a week, easily willing to give them more if they ask, whether it's her own day off or not. Only one person can't make much of a mess here, so all they do is keep the place dust free and leave her dinner ready for when she comes home.

Today, she's been cooking. A bottle of sake sits on the counter, the rice is cooking and she's tossing around vegetables and meat for a simple stir fry. He kisses her on the lips when the door closes, leaves the folder on the low table in the living room and pours himself a cup. They don't have many chances of being domestic, and there's something good about kissing her behind the ear and wrapping his arms around her waist as they talk, mostly about work, before she's ushering him to set the table. He washes the dishes afterwards as she dries and puts them away.

They curl up together on her couch later, sake swapped for some herbal tea, mission report balanced on her bent knees as they go through it together. The war may be over and powerful ninjas gone, but evil can still be found in the word. Skilled civilians enrolled themselves in illicit activities, human trafficking being just one of them. Konoha partnered up with Iwa to take them down.

It's just the first part of the mission, reconnaissance, gathering information. She will have to send Kurotsuchi a message later to decide their next step.

With that out of the way, Sakura sets the unraveled scroll on the table and stands up, takes his hand to guide him to her bedroom. He's upon her quickly, her face in his hands and their mouths moving together in a slow rhythm as she guides them backwards to her bed. They stop as the back of her knees hit the mattress, and she pressed a gentle kiss to his chin.

"You can shower if you'd like," her hands are already working to peel away his shirt. "I think you need to bring over more changes of clothes."

He hums, lips busy on the bare skin of her neck. "I want to do something else first, and then you can join me in the shower."

She's warm, skin marred with some scars, but no less soft, made softer under his calloused fingers. Sakura shivers as they travel up her sides, lifting up the shirt. The skin to skin contact makes his head spin, and he licks into her mouth as they lower themselves down to the bed.

Today, it's unhurried. There's no rush, no urgency, so he takes his time exploring her body, mouthing at all the places that draw noises from her, working his fingers in her wet heat until she's pliant and boneless and begging. When he sinks in, he sighs and draws it out until the pleasure builds up and they chase it together.

Shower afterwards is quick, but they'll take a better one in the morning. They dry and slip into her bed, still unclothed, curling around each other and drifting off to sleep almost immediately. These are the nights when he gets the most sleep, when he's unconscious for some blissful, peaceful hours, waking up fully rested, nose buried in pink hair. He wakes her up with kisses on the nape of her neck and bare shoulder, and they spare a moment to just lie together and enjoy the morning.

Shikamaru cooks breakfast for them, sets the food on the table and slips into the bathroom for a shower as she piles the dirty dishes in the sink. When he returns, she's drying her hair and styling it for the day. He presses a kiss to her forehead and lips, and leaves the bedroom, goes to the living room to roll up the scroll and set it on the corner of the table by the front door. It won't do for her to arrive in the office without it in her hands.

He looks back just as he's unlocking the door, turning to catch her head poking out of her bedroom. Sakura blows him a kiss and he pretends to catch it, making her laugh, and he smiles, ready to face the day ahead.


a/n: I didn't mention it, buuut I'm using this as an opportunity to explore this AU. Also, I ran out of written chapters, so please be patient asfkhasl