Memory 4: Late Nights

It was another one of those days.

The days Naruto really dreaded but didn't know until it was too late.

He walked into the Hokage Tower with a great grin, happily greeting everyone he met on his way. Just like any other day, he opened his office door and stopped.

Then he closed it.

That...was a dream right? He mentally pleaded for mercy as he opened the door again.

It wasn't a dream.

He sunk to his knees, his bright, happy mood long-gone.

Naruto ignored the whispers from behind him. They didn't understand his pain! Kami, why did people have to give him so much paperwork?!

And so, Naruto passed his day in the office, frantically trying to finish his workload. He had tried using bunshin to make it go faster after his office was swamped with paperwork, but the memories that bombarded him after they were dismissed... He hadn't been able to move for two days.

The young Hokage yawned and stretched before looking out the large glass windows behind him. "Damn, it's already this late?!"

The sun was barely visible now, the stars already peeking out from the darkness of night. He wondered if Gaara and his new wife Asami were watching the setting sun in Suna. Those two were always watching the setting sky, waiting for the stars to shine down on them. He had never known Gaara was such a romantic until Asami secretly told him one day when he visited the couple in Suna for the Chuunin Exams. Then again, it could just be Asami's doing.

Honestly, he had been so happy his friends were doing so well together. It was great to see all of his friends moving on in life after the war. Maybe some of them would even be able to fulfill their dreams? After all, he had fulfilled his dream of becoming Hokage.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he looked back in his office at the clock. His eyebrows rose and he debated whether to stay or not.

His gaze fell on the stack of paper he was currently on. It was a new proposal on how to make the orphanage better. Even now, he could still remember how horrible it was when he stayed in the orphanage. No one played with him, and no one paid attention to him.

Deciding he didn't want other kids to have to go through such mistreatment, he pushed ahead, setting a goal to finish the stack before heading home. His gaze fell to the man on his couch. Usually Genma stood behind him, but that was only when someone was coming in, otherwise, the man sat or laid on the couch.

"Hey Genma," the man looked over with a raised eyebrow, "You can head home first. I'll come home when I finish this proposal for the orphanage." He raised his hand to stop Genma's protest. "Look, I know you're tired okay? Go ahead, you deserve a break," he shooed the man with his hand and smiled to reassure the man. "I've still got my ANBU, and they rotate so they're not tired like you."

Genma sighed, "Fine," he grumbled unhappily, "Don't stay too late, you need your sleep as well." Naruto just nodded back before he looked down, focused on his current and future orphan citizens. They deserved happiness just like any other kid.

When Naruto looked up again at the clock, his eyes widened. It was already past midnight?!

His blue orbs found their way to the cause of his late night, and he glared at the stacks of paper. The orphanage proposal had been checked thoroughly by him, not wanting any loopholes for greedy jerks to use, but then he noticed that the file underneath was about the security routines in Konoha. Remembering how easily he had snuck into the Hokage Tower as a thirteen-year-old, he itched to the fix the security.

Which took another hour and a half when he realized how he had to efficiently use his available shinobi without tiring them out. He didn't want to overwork his shinobi, but he didn't want some missing-nin to get his or her grubby hands on Konoha's secrets. In total, he spent about three hours just making a draft. He'd have to go over this with his ANBU Commander and Shikamaru before it was finalized.

Stretching to help his stiff body, Naruto stood up and yawned. "Ah, I'm exhausted..." Looking around, he only felt more exhausted when he noticed that there were still plenty stacks left. That would take him at least a week to complete! Not to mention, the stacks would be growing as well!

He wanted to scream and yell out in frustration, but the last time he did that, his ANBU Guard squad had freaked out, thinking some enemy shinobi had done something to him. So, as much as he'd enjoy shouting and cursing at the cruel world, he held it in. Naruto wasn't in the mood to get complaints from his citizens as well since that meant more paperwork!

With a resigned sigh, he left the building. The last time he tried using shunshin when he was tired left him in a very awkward position (Ino still held it against him for accidentally appearing at her place. Damn Genma for leaving a bouquet of sunflowers and lilacs!).

Usually, Genma would be by his side as they headed home together, but Naruto had no one by his side tonight. The blond knew Genma was tired, noticing the dark circles under the other's eyes. He wasn't really sure what was keeping Genma up so late, but he didn't want the man to tire himself out.

Plus, even in his exhausted state, he had his ANBU squad to protect him and even then, he could still protect himself. He wasn't Hokage for nothing after all!

Feeling happy about that thought, he grinned and decided to take the scenic route back home. He walked slowly, enjoying the night sky. The air was warm, signaling that summer was on its way. As much as he enjoyed spring, summer was welcomed by him. Sure it was sometimes hotter than Sasuke's fireball jutsu, but he looked forward to spending time with his friends.

Chouji always hosted a barbecue party at the Akimichi household and everyone who attended always brought something. Naruto loved it when Hinata cooked something hearty and when Sakura brought paper lanterns that gave off a nice glow. Ino always brought the dinnerware, stating that she absolutely abhorred Naruto's blinding orange plates that clashed badly with the aquamarine napkins.

All the guys, including him, usually just brought over snacks like chips and cookies, a bit too lazy to do anymore. Sometimes he'd bring over a nice piece of steak though, a gift from a daimyo's daughter he rescued a few years ago or from a village he had unknowingly saved.

As he arrived in front of his house, he admired the place he called part of his home. Konoha was his home, but this was where he could just relax and pretend he lived a normal life.

Until he remembered he left an important document at the Hokage Tower that was needed for a council meeting tomorrow. Then he had to shunshin his way to his office, find where he left it, and then return home tired with his eyes drooping from exhaustion.

He stopped as he tried to recall if he had an important document due tomorrow. His head felt slightly fuzzy, and he gave up with a sigh, not wanting to get a throbbing headache. Screw it, I'm too tired to go back even if I do have something!

Once inside, he threw his Hokage cloak haphazardly on his white couch and dragged himself to his bedroom on the second floor. He didn't think his body could stand up any longer.

Seeing his white and orange bed, he almost cried in relief. Actually, he couldn't tell if a tear slipped out or not, he just plopped down face-first, not caring to undress. So what if his clothes were going to be wrinkly, he was tired. He'd deal with it tomorrow.

Then he felt his bed shift and turning his head, he weakly glared at the other occupant in his bed. His bed. "What are you doing in my bed?" He couldn't even bring himself to sound irritated, too tired to be using any more energy.

Genma raised an eyebrow and was about to smirk, but he noticed Naruto's tired eyes. So instead, he became fussy over his Hokage and completely ignored the question. "What time is it?"

Naruto huffed out before muttering, "About one now." He shouldn't have taken his sweet time walking back home. Dammit.

The brunet sighed at Naruto, no other man he worked with stayed this late for paperwork, in fact, most of them high-tailed it out as soon as the day was done. Naruto really did work too hard for Konoha. Once again, Genma thought the blond was very stupid, yet he was also very admirable.

Bringing a naked arm over to Naruto, he brought the other man closer to his bare chest, the bed sheet the only separation from Naruto's head being against Genma's chest.

Tired, Naruto barely resisted, only shuffling to get under his bed sheets. He knew Genma always slept half-naked, so he just ignored how his legs brushed against Genma's shinobi pants.

"You should at least take off your shirt as well," Genma added, trying to see if exhaustion would make the blond go through with his suggestion.

"Shut up," Naruto replied back tiredly, "I'm tired, let me sleep Genma-teme."

With a chuckle at the addition to his name, Genma made sure that he heard soft snores before bringing Naruto closer into his arms. Internally, he preened proudly as Naruto reciprocated his hug.

When the blond told him to go home first, he only shrugged, deciding that he'd surprise the blond with a feast-like dinner.

Then the blond didn't show up.

He was about to shunshin over to the Tower, drag Naruto to eat dinner with him, bathe with the idiotic fool he had a soft spot for, and then have his way with said fool in their bed.

The only reason Naruto still had his V-card was because of a timely shunshin from TenTen, a member of Naruto's ANBU squad. The young woman quickly told him about Naruto's efforts to better Konoha as a way to placate him.

It didn't work.

Then she threatened to gut him right there if he didn't let Naruto work in peace. The brunette didn't want her younger friend to be disrupted when he was so concentrated. Genma sat back down at the dinner table, a frown on his face when she pulled out a scroll with a menacing smile.

And so, Genma waited for the blond. He put away the dinner he made for later, took a shower, and began pacing around the living room. Ever since he became Naruto's bodyguard, he visited bars less often just because he was completely focused on trying to be a good "sensei" to Naruto. Although really, he just wanted to spend more time with his blond Hokage. When it was past eleven, he stopped pacing and went to bed, a new plot lesson, ready to test out.

Now that he had Naruto in his arms, cuddling with him, Genma decided he could hold that lesson back. For a few days anyway.

His smug smirk was large enough anyway.

So, as Genma laid on his side, watching the blond softly snore, his other hand traced the highlighted cheekbones and pushed away the soft hair from the whiskered face.

He didn't dare to do any more than that though, fully aware that even if Naruto was sleeping, the Kyuubi inside of him probably wasn't.

Was it creepy he watched the young blond sleep?

Yes.

Would he be damned to the lowest level of Hell for his desires and thoughts?

Most likely.

Did he actually care about that?

Nope. Not one bit.

-To Be Continued-