The Hokage and the Charming Knight
by Masked Lover

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I just write bad fanfics.

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The Hokage was guarded by many strong warriors, but all of these warriors he could defeat.

He often wondered what was the bother of having knights to protect him, but they remained adamant at staying by his side no matter how much he tried to get rid of them. He became really good and throwing off all of his bodyguards, except for one man who was secretly named Naruto's Knight in Shining Armor. Even though the Hokage never knew what they were talking about, he always felt like someone was taking care of him at their own expense and was eternally thankful.

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But still my dear if the end draws near what should I do?

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Gaara folded his arms, this was serious business.

He put on his most serious face, despite Neji being across from him and that made him weak in his knees.

Neji was nervous himself, his hand on his not so flat stomach, yet diverting his attention to the conversation at hand. "Naruto is horribly lonely, he should get married or at least get a hobby--" His voice trailed off as all eyes were on him.

The room was cramped, soon Naruto would notice that a percentage on his men were gone so they had to proceed with care and precision. Many Jounin, chuunin, gennin teachers cramped in the claustrophobic paper room. Shino and a handful remained behind in order to hold down the fort.

"What Neji is trying to say is that we cannot allow Naruto to remain unhappy after he has brought happiness to all of us," Gaara added, "did I get that right?" He held off the dear, and the room went up a bit in temperature.

Shikamaru kicked out his feet and placed them on the table, "so what is this, some kind of contest? That's some disrespect to our Hokage. That's a pile of shit, let's just go help him." He winced on his words, "sorry, Neji."

Neji just rubbed his belly absent-mindedly, it was Gaara who was more of a problem.

Kakashi took a good look around the room, most of his peers had retired, married and had kids. Konohamaru just scratched his head, Chouji was stuffing his face, Kiba looked a bit confused.

"Perhaps one or two of us should take Naruto on a Vacation," Iruka commented.

"Great Idea, Iruka-sensei!" Konohamaru cheered.

"Finally some real direction," Sakura murmured.

Kakashi flipped the page, trying not to get sucked into the conversation.

Neji quickly drew up a list, "well both Chouji, Gaara and I are married. Iruka is too busy teaching... Genma is... Genma can't do it. Sai is a pervert. Gai and Lee are too much trouble--"

"HEY!" The pair shouted in unison, "we're perfect for bringing back Naruto's youth." Sai himself looked annoyed, while Genma was beginning to wonder if he had been found out.

Sakura helped Neji with his list, "hmm... I suppose I could go with Naruto. It'd be great if... No... Forget I said anything." She caught herself mid-nolstagia, she missed her team, that wasn't the best team, but was good enough for her. "I don't know if I could bring Naruto happiness, we could ask... Jiraya... But he's too self-centred for that."

Kakashi finally closed his book, annoyed. He rose from his previous position, pulling attention to him like mosquitoes, hot-blooded and angry. "The problem isn't Naruto isn't happy, it's that he has lost sight of what he thinks is important to him."

"Kakashi," Iruka looked on stunned as Kakashi locked his gaze on him, causing him to recline in his seat.

"He locks himself in a tower and now is too used the the tower he is afraid to leave it even though he's a powerful shinobi, why?" He motioned to the room, that was achingly silent.

"Why?" Hatake asked again, causing Neji's grip around his stomach to tighten.

Shikamaru closed his eyes.

Even he was too late to stop the horror in live film.

"He was in love with Sasuke Uchiha."

Kakashi let the words die in his mouth, he felt sick because it was an obvious but neglected fact. Naruto and Sasuke were close. Perhaps in love, perhaps best friends, but the needed the other to drive them forward despite their own denial.

The room's voice died.

Sakura had started sobbing and had to be consoled. She hated knowing. She hated knowing they weren't together, even more than she hated and loved Sasuke and envied Hinata every passing day and every Uchiha heir born.

Kakashi had said what had been whispered amongst the world, but among all those in the world

"WHAT!! That doesn't mean anything." Lee shouted, "we should help him!! He... He... He's sad."

Kakashi boldly stood up against the young leaf, and the man quivered a bit, "So what?

"They had a close relation and through misunderstanding, even if they could mend their relationship now they can't ever fall in love again... And they've both realised this by now." Sasuke limped with guilt, his clan was flourishing, but his heart was dead and he looked upon Naruto with such eyes. Kakashi continued, "we should leave him alone. The both of them might come to terms with in years late, but they will. And maybe one of them will die before the other knows it but that's how cruel life is, isn't it? Even to the person that makes everyone happy.

"He's lonely... But it's not something he can lose in vacation, or a lover or wife."

Shikamaru sighed standing up, "I'll do it." He scratched his side. "Nothing against you, Kakashi. You all make it sound like Naruto is going to die, he's not. And he is depressed, but he's Naruto, he'll keep going. Because he's Naruto, he just needs someone to be by his side. He's kind of lost right now--" He looked Kakashi in the eye, "I think I can try, it'll be a lot of work... But if things continue this like this no one will be happy."

Ah, he hated speeches, but it seemed like he was doing a lot as of late, when Naruto had "fallen asleep" he had to give one. That Naruto was a guy full of troubles but, "I don't want to give up on Naruto because he never gave up on anyone, even Sasuke even that guy abandoned him time after time again. Because Naruto needs us the most," he stumbled thinking what he needed to say again. "

An applause lead by Kakashi broke out, "spoken like a true prince--"

"I'm not a prince," Shikamaru playfully tapped the scarecrow, who in turn allowed himself be tapped. "I'm a knight, maybe you should start playing shougi because you're a little rusty, Hatake-san."

Kakashi smiled, realising his own idiocy, "Iyaaa, Shi-ka-ma-ru." Shikamaru was fully grossed out with the display of new affection. "I might fall in love with you too, but Naruto is mooooore charming."

It wasn't long before they both started laughing, even Sakura's tears had been removed and she was filled with a new optimism. Neji sighed in relief and left quietly with husband for to alone time.

Naruto stopped listening at this point. So this is what everyone disappeared to. He closed his eyes and the crystal ball turned back to Sasuke and Hinata, his children were beautiful and even though they were not in love they found their happiness in this makeshift family.

Sasuke was as handsome as ever, Hinata was still pure and a good mother.

But he still hated him.

Even Sasuke had moved on.

His thumb began to bleed from all the biting, but healed up again in seconds. "Fuck!!!"

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O In the Streets of Konoha O

"I'm glad that Shikamaru decided to help," Neji smiled, Gaara stopped walking to look back on his pregnant partner. Neji was slow and more alert now that his pregnancy was confirmed. Neji wouldn't let people touch him once the morning sickness began to surface, afterwards when Temari pointed it out to the mother-to-be he isolated himself in their bedroom for three days, only eating and sleeping as if to escape from reality.

It drove Gaara through the wall, but eventually Neji settled down and came into the light again. He seemed happy and excited, in a stoic Hyuuga sort of way, yet lightly afraid of Gaara's prowess in getting him pregnant.

In truth, Gaara didn't want Neji to have a child and was rather careful when engaging with Neji, but Neji was surprisingly pushy and careless when in came to intercourse. The fact that they had both be lucky on many levels to this point was extraordinary. "But really, what is Naruto thinking. Ah, Gaara, can we pick up some strawberries."

"Of course," Gaara secretly smiled, "anything for my baby."

"Hey, stop calling me that. In public, it's embarrassing." Neji let Gaara scoot closer to him, and before long there were side by side, despite Neji hating this sort of affection and attention in his hometown. "This place keeps changing each time I come, must be Naruto's hard work. But some things stay the same. Hey, is that Naruto?"

Naruto was indeed a hippy, a man of revolution. His hair was long and curly like some over-dolled porn actress and was poor braided and thrown over his shoulder. There was something in his hair that looked like a fork and he reeked of flowers and tea, peace and justice and was rather than dirty and uncivilised.

Naruto's face was much like the forth's, but the was a bit more masculinity in his visage. His skin was tanned like a surfer and look like he would take his high-sun afternoons to the beaches and party down, he wore his robes like it was a bother and manly, muscle blessed chest was on display despite his ancient clothes. His blue eyes were still blue and true under sunglasses that were pink tinted and in the shapes of hearts.

Naruto looked at Neji--

And pointed at his stomach, "AH! Neji got knocked up--gahhhhhh!!!"

He barely dodged for his life as Neji threw his Kazekage husband who seemed happy to be thrown. Gaara had no problem landing on his feet and all while managing to find a strawberry vendor.

Naruto just gaped at an enraged Neji, until he fell to his knees begging for mercy.

"Neji, you shouldn't be exerting yourself, even though you're mad at Naruto." Gaara merely purchased the strawberries Neji was craving and made his way back to his fuming spouse, even with the high possibility of being thrown again. He gave his wife a sweet kiss, while passing the basket or strawberries.

Gaara was such a mild husband, it made Naruto a bit jealous.

"Sorry, Neji." Naruto finished his final bow and rose to the tall, strong, dependable Hokage height. "I just haven't seen you in three years and it's amazing that you could have a child." Naruto's arms were stretched wide and flailing, as the sky was as blue as ever and Naruto was the same 12 year old dreamer he always was.

People bustled by, bowing a "hi" and "hello" to the Hokage and he kept that unending smile on his face.

Sasuke...

You idiot.

You gave this up?

Naruto turned back to the two visitors, they looked really happy. Mostly everyone had paired up. These two were just one of the few he had to stay strong, in order to protect the future.

"Gaara, you, dog. I'm really jealous, Congratulations!" He shouted full of energy, "and Neji, long suffering." He ruffled up his immense sleeves, lifted his rose tinted sunglasses and beamed, "since these guys are a first they should receive my blessing--"

"Who would want you blessing?" Shikamaru chimed in.

"Okay, okay. Ahem," he opened his eyes and took Neji's left hand and Gaara's right and and brought them together, "if you have a son, may your son be wise in the ways of the world and the ways of knowing himself. AND if you have a girl, may she be as sweet as the morning sun and as gentle as the moon."

Neji just smiled gently, "thank you, I guess you're not so useless after all."

"I hope we are blessed with a child with your heart, Hokage-sama."

Naruto's heart skipped a beat.

"What are you doing?" Shikamaru forced Naruto to let go of the reddening couple's hand and apologise for being an idiot due despite Naruto's refusal. "Don't you have work?"

"I did it already," Naruto pouted.

Shikamaru was usually on baby-sitter shift and although at times it was easy, when it was hard, it was extremely hard to find the Hokage. "Naruto, I had to look all over for you..."

"Helping Hinata," Shikamaru pulled his punches when a frightened and also pregnant Hinata appeared waving to Naruto.

"Excuse me," Hinata spoke elegantly. She really did look the part of being a Uchiha wife.

"Shikamaru, this is a very important D-rank mission," before Shikamaru could speak, Naruto made his way to retrieve the bags.

Hinata smiled, bowing slightly, "this is a pleasant surprise, Neji. Congratulation on your child. The both of you must be overcome with joy." Hinata looked a bit sickly, but overall there had been some kind of change that had happened between the missing years. She was dressed in an elegant black kimono and had some of the Uchiha symbolism in her hair pieces.

"How are your children, Hinata." They were no where to be seen, which probably meant that Sasuke was training them up as heirs. He shuddered to think.

"Actually, it's Seiji's birthday." She smiled ear to ear, Hinata was at least a little happy. "Naruto and I are just picking up gifts and last minute details." Naruto stumbled back with some gifts and a cake box balancing on his head, which Hinata removed and carried in her hands. "you're both welcomed to join in."

Gaara really didn't want to see a Uchiha party run by Hinata and Naruto. All he could imagine was Naruto summoning those frogs and them just doing jutsu tricks.

"We'll have to decline as we are leaving tonight," Gaara and Neji said a careful good bye and fled. The thought just gave them the chill and made their hearts quiver.

Naruto was an impossibly strong person.

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O the Uchiha Compound O

The party was in shambles, Sasuke was against the decorations and confetti but Naruto insisted. Most of the invited children were napping but Seiji Uchiha, the birthday boy of three years old, was full of admiration. His hands were playing in Naruto's mane and he was in sheer bliss.

"Get a haircut," Sasuke threatened, kunai pointed at Naruto as Hinata cradled her daughter. Naruto just let Sasuke's son admire his greatness as his Seiji's father threaten his very life. "I won't have a strange looking man hanging around my children."

"I like my hair, it makes me look like a girl." He giggled very girlishly that made something in Sasuke's stomach spin.

"Yeah, a real easy girl," Sasuke tried to call his three year old son away from the sexy Hokage with little to no results.

Seiji was a big Naruto fan, and loved how Naruto was full of energy and was a 'cool' adult. He also like Shikamaru, because he reminded him of pineapple. "How do you get your hair so long, Uncle. Don't people like daddy try to cut it off."

"Like this?" Sasuke tried to do such and Naruto expelled legendary powers in order to prevent it.

Shikamaru sighed, "why do I always get dragged along?"

"Because you're such a good friend. Have you asked him on vacation yet," Hinata asked, she had been a secret, but not full-member of the operation and had been one of the few who first saw Naruto's loneliness.

Truthfully, she was torn between the two men.

One side, a man who was a dutiful husband and was the father to her children. She had been more than distraught, but he had been so gentle and sweet he eventually won him over. The children made him a good man, not the vengeful person he once was and the shadows over his heart had long dissipated.

The other man... Naruto Uzumaki, she loved him. She loved him in different ways than Sasuke, when she had first married Sasuke, he never abandoned her. But ever since, there had been some sort of pain. Perhaps the loss of Sasuke.

She loved both Naruto and Sasuke and it was a complicated thing, but no one could ever be as happy as they could be. It would always be second choices, never first.

"I don't think he deserves one," Naruto used Seiji as a shield, but to Seiji tickling his father was a ton of fun and this the best Birthday ever. Naruto had been there when Seiji was born, because Sasuke was away on mission and was practically a second father to the young Uchiha.

Hinata pointed at the pair of warring rivals. "Hey, don't you think that Naruto would make the best parent?" Sasuke had caught Seiji and now in had devolved into a full out brawl.

Sasuke wasn't pulling punches, but Naruto was just dodging his attacks.

"Who would put up with him for so long..." Shikamaru watched as Naruto stumbled and fell on a confetti blower, as if he had heard those cruel words and faltered.

For some reason, a blow had been landed and Sasuke could only pull his fingers from Naruto's bleeding body.

Naruto wouldn't die, but he was wounded.

A mild wound, over an old one.

In his mind he had returned to that time, when he had betrayed Naruto and felt his heart crumbling to waste.

No one had really noticed besides the adults and Seiji, the children still resting. Hinata merely scolded the two men and Shikamaru tried to calm down Seiji who burst into tears in seeing one of his favourite people injured. Shikamaru tried to supress the sinking feeling it was all his fault and there would be more trouble to come... Between him and Naruto.

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