SasuNaru, Yaoi, OOC and unbeta-read

Standard disclaimer applies as we all know it.

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Chapter 23: His struggle

Blasted Hokage! He's not doing a proper job.
He could definitely do more.
He should improve Konoha more. Spend more time thinking about the village instead of getting mushy with that Uchiha.
What a sloppy hokage. He's probably the worst.

These were few of the statements he heard being whispered behind his back when they thought his sensitive ears won't hear them anymore. Other ststements were degrading that it made his heart bleed while others spiraled around his head almost driving him to madness.

But instead of killing those villagers as Kyuubi strongly suggested, he decided to work harder without risking his relationship with his family.

When he was ensured that his family was now in a deep slumber, he would slipped out from the house to walk around the village, hidden in the shadows thinking of ways to improve the village. Even the guards on patrol would never notice his presence no matter how sharp their senses were. Sometimes, Naruto would burn the candle as he poured his attention over scrolls of information while his hand was busy writing notes.

Naruto didn't know that his efforts were like rain falling to the dessert - always never enough. He gave more to the village… more and more until there was no time left for himself. He pushed harder, wanting to please all the villagers because it was his responsibility as the hokage to do so. In his desire to live up to everybody's expectations, he had forgotten his welfare. In his wish to make every villager he offered all the things that he could offer. He stifled the demands of his body; ignored Kyuubi's warning because somehow, in serving others he found meaning of his existence as a hokage even if such meaning was slowly destroying him as a person.

He didn't notice that as he gave more, few of the villagers selfishly demanded more because to them hokage existed to serve and pamper them.

In addition, because Naruto was secretive with his ways, not even Sasuke noticed the changes of his behavior. Naruto's deadly habits continued without anyone being aware. He was slipping towards destruction and this time nobody was there to take his hand.

- SasuNaru is love -

After a serious meeting and a personal conversation with Sumaru, current hoshikage and one of Naruto's close friends, Naruto started walking him to the door.

He felt so light… lighter than he felt every time he and Sumaru would have a friendly chat. He felt like floating or to be exact gliding across the floor and he couldn't help but giggle childishly. Then the next moment, the carpeted floor became the ceiling and the pristine ceiling became the floor but it didn't matter because he was flying, rising upwards and falling, spiraling downwards. Higher, he found himself free. Lower, he found himself unchained. He was free of any responsibilities. He was free in its truest meaning. Free and light and it felt heavenly. From a distant he could hear a voice but he never paid any attention to it as he surge upwards and plunge downwards.

A panicking Sumaru looked at Naruto in his arms. He had just caught the blonde in time before he would hit the floor. He was shaking him and calling his name and when there was no response, he became more worried. For a brief second he wondered if the ANBU guards stationed outside would think that he had attack their hokage. Then he shook such thought and leaped towards the door. He stepped outside and saw Konohamaru walking towards him.

"Konohamaru-san, Naruto is-"

He never got to finish his sentence because his shaky voice and worried look was good enough to cause the blonde's secretary and the on-duty ANBU guards to immediately move towards the room.

-SasuNaru is love-

Sasuke had been looking after Akemi while supervising Yuuzuki's training when Mie, Naruto's former ANBU teammate before he became the hokage, appeared.

"Uchiha-san, you are summoned by Tsunade-sama to the hospital," he heard her say.

"Why?"

The woman just shrugged her shoulders, "You better go now. I'll look after them."

Trying to stop his heart from beating too fast and his imagination from running away from his control, he nodded. He informed Yuuzuki of his sitter and gave Akemi to Mie before he finally left.

What does she want from me?

-SasuNaru is love-

Sasuke looked at the too-serious Tsunade.

"How is Naruto? Do you notice anything strange about him for these previous weeks?"

Hearing his wife's name, panic slowly rose within him like a bubble. "Is something wrong with him?"

"I asked first, Uchiha." And the other knew from the sudden change of name that Tsunade wanted him to answer her questions. Now.

"No. He was in his ordinary self," he answered immediately. "Is there something wrong?"

"He was brought here unconscious. Hoshikage-sama said that Naruto just collapsed."

"W-what? Is he okay? Is there something wrong with him?"

"Just fatigue. He'll be okay."

Sasuke frowned. How could Naruto reach that state when he always made sure that he got enough rest? More importantly, how come he, his husband, didn't notice any signs? He knew fatigue symptoms, having read them from some books and he was sure that Naruto wasn't showing any signs of suffering fatigue. He was his usual cheerful self. Did he use some henge? No, that couldn't be. He would have found it sooner or later anyway so why then didn't he notice anything? He got angry with himself when he couldn't answer his questions.

-SasuNaru is love-

When Naruto opened his eyes, he found himself staring at a pristine white ceiling and the antiseptic scent told him that he was in the hospital.

"Glad you're awake," a lazy voice greeted him from the window. He turned his head to the right and saw a bored-looking Shikamaru sitting on the window ledge, obviously gazing at the clouds until a second ago.

"What happened to Sumaru?"

"He left two days ago after being assured that you are okay."

"Wh- How long had I been sleeping?"

"Almost four days," then frowning he added, "You had us all worried."

Naruto looked away then sat up. He had no time to be lying around in bed and sleeping because as it was, he was already behind his schedule. He was about to leave his bed when Shikamaru pushed him back making the blonde growl.

"I am running late, Shika."

"Naruto, you're troublesome as always. Do you know why you collapse?"

"Tell me when I have free time," and he tried once more to get out but the lazy genius pushed him back once more.

"Don't make me tie you to the bed," he threatened. "You overworked yourself, Naruto."

Overworked? How could he overwork himself when there were still a lot of things he needed to deal with?

"I can't rest all day!" he retorted, "The villagers won't be pleased about this."

"Villagers?" he echoed and his gut told him that something bad had happened or was still happening. He never liked it to see his friend suffering especially if it was done by some villager who could not appreciate Naruto for all that he was. If these assholes caused permanent damage to the blond, Shikamaru was sure he would not be the only one who would be plotting the village's complete annihilation

And before Naruto could stop himself, he told the brunette about the complaints he had heard from the villagers and what he had done.

After hearing his friend's story, Shikamaru frowned, obviously displeased with those villagers. He scratched his head before he looked at the blonde who was kind and considerate to a fault, "Nobody can please everybody, Naruto. The only thing you can do is do what you think is good for the majority." He wanted to stop there but something in the way Naruto was looking at him made him continue, "We all know you're doing your best and anyone who can't see that is hopelessly blind and stupid. You're doing good, Naruto and I'm not saying this as your friend but as your subordinate and a Konoha villager."

He stood up and as he made his way to the door, he stopped and added, "And yeah, it's okay to be selfish once in a while." And then he left the room and nodded to Naruto's spouse who was leaning against the wall near the door. Judging by the aura Sasuke was emanating, Shikamaru didn't have to ask to know that the former had heard the conversation.

Naruto looked up when his door opened to see a frowning Sasuke walking inside. The blonde immediately gave him an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke," he said so sure that it was him that put his spouse in a bad mood. He bowed his head, waiting for the scolding and the trashing talk he so deserved but none of that came as he found himself pulled against a familiar hard chest.

Sasuke really did have every intention to scold Naruto for doing some reckless things but when he saw the blonde looking so meek and ready for his scolding, Sasuke's anger, frustration and annoyance gave way to gentleness.

"Naruto," he heard Sasuke say so softly. That was that. There were no harsh words or anything and Naruto was glad for that.

"Like a trunk that has branches, you have us to help you," Sasuke whispered as he held his wife tightly, trying to infuse his strength to Naruto's weak body. "Don't struggle on your own because we're here for you. I'm always here for you."

I'll be your pillar of strength.

"Sasuke," Naruto whispered back, his hands clutching the front of Sasuke's shirt. It was in moments like this when he could feel Sasuke's strong arms holding him safe that made realize how vulnerable he was and how he badly needed the other man.

"You may be the hokage but it's okay to ask for help; it's okay to say you're tired and rest." The ANBU captain then leaned back to push away the blonde hair covering Naruto's eyes. "Never forget that." And then Sasuke swooped down to take those luscious lips for a gentle kiss and Naruto responded just as gently.

A moment after, a breathless Naruto placed his head on Sasuke's shoulders. I'm tired, Sasuke" he whispered as his eyelids started feeling heavy once more.

"Then rest," was Sasuke's reply and he felt Naruto's lips moved against his neck to say a wordless 'thank you'.

Later on, Sasuke settled a sleeping Naruto back on the hospital bed and when he saw a soft smile placing on his blonde's lips, he couldn't resist but to give it a butterfly kiss.

"Goodnight, dobe" he whispered as he continued watching Naruto sleep.

TBC

Just a bit fluffy chapter because this fic had turned more angsty than I planned so I am shifting the mood.

Next chapter summary: If Sasuke feared that Yuuzuki will turn to Itachi, Gaara, on the other hand, believe that Yuuzuki will turn out into someone like three of his favorite persons unless Naruto would take the necessary measures.-giggles-