Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN Naruto or any characters associated with it. If I did, I kind of wouldn't have to make fanfics about it. I do own the plot though, so nuh!

Pairings: Sasu/Naru, Iru/Kaka, Gaara/Naru, and Naru/Sasu.

Warnings: Definite yaoi. Don't like, don't read. Rating will change according to content in chapters.

A/N: If you'll notice, the sectional breaks in the story itself are little thought line thingies that go along with the story. It's kind of like the character in the first section's thought towards the character in the next section in a way. The one under this and the recap part are not important. All the others after those have a slight importance to them. All my reviewers, readers, and people who show your like of this story, thanks a lot for your support. You guys rock! Anyway, enjoy.

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Slight recap: Naruto just gives him a soft duh look and smiles almost knowingly as if he knows the thoughts that flit through his teme's mind. It seems to Sasuke that very often, Naruto knows more than he thinks. He knows the dobe has a sharp intellect hidden behind that careless grin. Maybe the dobe isn't such a dobe after all…

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Gaara sits in his office calmly, catching up on a few things. His mind is focused until Kankuro walks in and sits across from him. "Hey Gaara, how's lover boy doing?"

Gaara looks up at him with a slightly grim look on his face. "For now, Naruto is doing well."

Kankuro raises a brow curiously. "For now? Okay, what's going on with him?"

"Sasuke has returned seeking redemption and forgiveness for his mistakes in the past. I told Naruto to use the month we are apart to decide one of three things. He can choose Sasuke, me, or both of us. What ever he decides, I will abide by it."

"You would share him with Uchiha?"

"I would rather share him than not be a part of his life at all other than our hokage duties. If he chooses both of us, at least I will feel better leaving him there because the Uchiha would be there to make sure Naruto doesn't forget to eat and knows how to take a break from work. He still has trouble with that and it worries me. "

"Okay, I get that much, but what makes you think Uchiha would be as demanding about those things as you are?"

Gaara smirks. "I know he would not be as demanding Kankuro. He wouldn't have to be. Sasuke has his ways of making Naruto do what he asks of him. In fact, he wouldn't have to fight Naruto about it as much as I do, once would be enough and Naruto would eat or take a break whenever Sasuke suggests it. Before the betrayal, I saw how they were together and how Naruto adored him and listened to him more than anyone else. Even now, Naruto listens. Sasuke came to him seeking redemption and a second chance at life and Naruto gave it to him. If Naruto's teme wishes to speak to him, he will get to him as fast as he possibly can. That is how it has always been for them. That's why if Naruto chooses to be only with Sasuke, I will walk away without a fight."

"What about your feelings Gaara? What happens to the relationship you and Naruto have had for six years?"

"I will cherish what time we had together because I finally know what real love is. Those two were together from the ages of ten to fourteen. In four years, they had a stronger bond than the one Naruto and I have gained in six years. They fought, they picked on each other, but they loved more deeply than any couple I've ever seen before. Naruto somehow knew beyond all reason or logic that Sasuke would come back to him so he would personally go to the Uchiha mansion, pack up the old linens and pillows and clothes and replace everything with something new so the house would be ready for Sasuke to live in again. He replaced Sasuke's wardrobe with one in a bigger size every year and made sure that the place was aired out twice a month. He saved everything that was important to Sasuke before anyone had the chance to steal it. He even polished every little bit of metal and kept the weapons sharp and in good working order whenever he had tha chance to. Even after what Sasuke had done to him, he willingly gave up time and what little money he had to do that for him. If that's not love and devotion, I don't know what is."

Kankuro snorts softly. "Come on Gaara, Naruto would do that for anyone he cared about."

Gaara glares lightly at him. "Bullshit Kankuro. Nobody in their right minds would do all he did for everyone they care about unless they loved that person above all else. Even I know that and I grew up with less love in my life than Naruto did."

"I see your point. Wouldn't it hurt you though?"

"It would break my heart, but Kankuro I think it will work out for the best in the end. That's why I am not afraid to give him a choice. If I was selfish about it, he would only hate me and I wouldn't forgive myself for that."

Kankuro lets out a long, slow sigh and grins at Gaara. "Just don't lose yourself in this mess Gaara. I hope everything works out for you. I'm out of here before Temari has my head for being late to dinner." Gaara waves him off carelessly and goes back to his work, not as focused as before.

My heart cries out for you, yearns for you, and begs you to remember me when you think you should always only be with him…

Naruto was officially tired of people. He had managed to get to his office from Sasuke's house two hours late, had gotten yelled at for being late by his assistant who wouldn't shut up about how imperative it was for a hokage to always be on time, and to top it all off every adult in the village that wasn't a ninja came to tell him how wrong he was for unleashing a menace in their quiet little village. Sasuke of all people, a menace to a QUIET Konoha that had spent over half the day YELLING at him? That was highly doubtful and unreasonable to boot. If it wasn't for the fact that he is the hokage of said village, Naruto would've screamed and pulled his hair out in frustration. To top it all off, he had skipped out on both breakfast and lunch thanks to the sweet, loving, oh so caring villagers and that highly annoying stick-up-her-ass-at-all-times assistant of his. He had kept it calm, he'd never lost his cool during all of that, but one more word out of any them and he would snap. The only people he was not upset with are the ninja, the teachers, his friends, and Sasuke. Everybody else, he was annoyed with and beyond pissed at.

Niri, his assistant, comes in with ten villagers and three ninja, looking all high and mighty and snooty as heck. Naruto's eyebrow twitches at her snotty tone and he finally snaps when she chastises him in front of everyone in that room. "Hokage-sama, You shouldn't have let Sasuke stay, who knows what he will do to this village if given the opportunity. And furthermore…"

Naruto's fists slam down on his desk, making the piece of furniture bounce, and his eyes burn with anger. "IF YOU SO MUCH AS DARE CHATISE ME IN FRONT OF ANYBODY EVER AGAIN I WILL BANISH YOU FROM THIS VILLAGE BECAUSE IT'S SNOTTY ASS SPOILED BRATS LIKE YOU WHO ARE THE MENACE TO THIS VILLAGE, NOT MEN WHO HAVE LIVED THROUGH HELL AND ONLY WANT JUST ONE MORE CHANCE AT LIFE! IN CASE YOU PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN, I AM HOKAGE AND I MAKE THE DECISIONS AROUND HERE AND YOU TRUST THOSE DECISIONS WITHOUT QUESTIONING MY AUTHORITY TO MAKE THEM!! FURTHERMORE NIRI, YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF A NEW JOB BECAUSE AS OF THIS MOMENT, YOU'RE FIRED!!! SO YOU CAN GET OUT OF MY SIGHT NOW AND IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO YELL AT ME, QUESTION MY DECISIONS OR THE WISDOM OF MY DECISIONS ONE MORE TIME TODAY, I WILL BANISH ALL OF YOU SO ONLY NINJA, CHILDREN, AND TEACHERS ARE LEFT IN THIS VILLAGE!! NOW GET OUT AND LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE UNLESS IT'S ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT I SHOULD DO ABOUT SASUKE!! OUT OUT OUT!!" Everybody but the ninja scatter and run from the room. When angered, their hokage definitely did not bluff or joke around.

Naruto takes deep, calming breaths and gives the ninja a slight smile, much calmer now. "I am sorry you had to hear that. You're here for your mission aren't you?"

A young male ninja nods slightly, "Hai hokage-sama, we are the team you sent for, and don't worry about your outburst. I am sure even a hokage has a right to snap on people who have unwisely questioned him and tried to push him around all day. You have a right to those moments."

Naruto smiles a little more, "Thank you. Here are the mission specs, you three will leave tomorrow, if you feel the need to bring along a jounin you trust, you may, just make it back safely and give me a report the day after you return."

The three bow their heads in respect and chorus, "Hai hokage-sama."

"You may go." Watching them leave, Naruto waits until they have closed the door behind them before plopping down in his chair once more. Naruto groans softly when his stomach growls. "I need ramen…"

"Then go get some dobe. Ichicara's is just down the street."

Not really surprised to find Sasuke's voice a husky whisper beside his right ear, Naruto smiles slightly and turns his head so their lips touch briefly. "Only if you'll come with me teme."

"Only if you're sure I'm worth the trouble."

"You're worth it Sasuke, trust me on that…"

Sasuke's lips brush over his in a light kiss before he softly says, "Fine then Naruto, I will take your word for it. Now get up already, you need lunch and a break as well, this stuff can wait for a couple of hours alright?"

Naruto smiles. "Alright Sas." Sasuke steps back as Naruto stands and they both leave the building walking side-by-side companionably.

I've shown them all that they were wrong about me, and now that you're here with me again, I will show them that they are wrong about you too.

Once at Ichicara's, they order what they want and talk between bites of food. Surprisingly enough, no one protests to Sasuke's presence. The owners merely smile and pick at them a bit now and then as their other customers stare in awe at the couple. No one has seen Naruto smile that freely in eleven years, so now they all put aside any worries they had about Sasuke and respectfully leave the men to eat in peace. If their hokage needed Sasuke back in his life to laugh and smile as he once did, then they would help the man find his redemption. They had come to an understanding at the chunin exams that they had indeed misjudged Naruto for things he'd never been responsible for and they had come to love him and accept him into their lives. If one person could mend his broken heart, then they would not stand in their way. After all, Naruto was their Hokage. He kept the peace, he kept them safe and well cared for, and he even went so far as to build an orphanage and staff it with the most loving and caring individuals in the entire village. It even had its own hospital wing and a small staff for that as well. The orphans there are taken care of and shown love until they are adopted. He had given so much to the village that had once shunned him so this was the least they could do for the cheerful blonde.

A little bit of love goes a long way at the beginning, middle, and end of every day, show them all how much you care and they'll soon return the favor…

Sasuke was the first to notice the villagers' behavior, or so he thought. "Um, Naruto… why are they all smiling? Are they planning something evil?"

Naruto chuckles softly and smiles at Sasuke, confusing him even more. "No, they're not planning anything evil Sas. Believe it or not, they have come to care for me and I've given everything I can to this village because I care about the people here. They smile because I haven't laughed or smiled like this since the day you left. They see that you make me happy, so for my sake, they accept you and trust my decision to let you stay. Most of them will not give you the same amount of trouble as they would've before so they can help you find redemption."

Sasuke blinks at him and pokes his shoulder. "Since when did you become so perceptive dobe?"

Naruto gives him a secret smile and his blue eyes sparkle with inner laughter as he teases him a bit. "Since the day you decided to act more like a dobe than me teme."

Sasuke raises a brow and smirks. Naruto wanted to tease? Well, two could play at that game. "And when was that exactly? Before or after I turned you gay?"

Naruto gapes lightly, but is really applauding him inside for the comeback. He smirks and plays along with the game he started. "Before the time I made myself look and sound like you to fool Sakura into thinking you liked her. Technically, I think I turned myself gay with that one because I got jealous when she wanted to kiss you and hang all over you."

"Oh, you're a smart one, making yourself jealous. And that accidental kiss in class that day… wasn't really an accident." As they playfully bicker back and forth, everybody that walks by watches them in bemusement. Things were finally starting to get back to normal after all these years…

End of chapter!!!! Chapter four will be typed up soon!!!

A/N: This chapter… was fun to write. I hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. The plotness has been good to me; I have yet to get writer's block on this story. Again, thank you all for your support, you guys rock, you really do.