"AH-CHOO!"

Naruto fell flat on the bed and immediately gave up on trying to get out of it. He had purposely stuffed some tissue to stopper his runny nose, both of which shot right out when he gave a monstrous sneeze. He caught a glance at Sakura peeking at his reflection on the mirror as she fixed herself; a soft smile appearing on her face. It was just a traditional sick day for Konoha's Orange Hokage and he wasn't at all that happy, considering he now experienced things like the common flu after Kurama was extracted from him. Said Bijuu was now roaming the hills and forests of the fire country, doing whatever his heart pleased.

Sakura left the room momentarily and he suddenly realized what kind of day he was going to have.

"I'll bring you the electric kettle so you don't have to leave the room, ok?" he heard her call from outside; his headache intensifying. She returned moments later with the kettle and cups of his favorite ramen which, on a regular day, would have made him a happy man.

She placed the kettle and stacked the cups - all five of them - near the bedside table, barely aware of his eyes drinking in her lovely form. He turned sideways to watch with drooping eyes, gathering strength in his arms to reach out for her, when she immediately got up to leave the room again. He groaned in frustration and rolled around the covers like a child, clearly not happy at the lack of attention he was getting. She came in, this time with a bowl of fruit and jug of water.

"Drink lots of water and eat those fruits. I'm letting you have the ramen for… your pleasure," she said, this time giving him a mischeivous grin as she sat and gave his head a soft pat through the blanket. "That's not a very mature way to deal with illness, Hokage-sama."

He uncovered himself, scowling as he glanced sideways at the ramen cups. "Where do you hide that stash? I could use them for when I can actually taste how good it is."

"Your favorite flavor, too."

"I never imagined you to be so cruel."

She arranged his covers and tucked him in, enjoying the sight of the usually strong willed Hokage being reduced to a whining fit.

"That's what you get for training in the rain, sweet heart."

"Stay here," he pleaded, arms wrapping around her stomach as he sat up to embrace her.

"It's just a cold, Naruto. You've gone through far worse," her hands stroked his hair as his hotter-than-normal breath tickled her neck.

"Remind me while you feed me chicken soup or ramen… or vegetables. I'll even agree to that."

"I can make you chicken soup when I get home. I also gave you fruits, that should be enough. And I have duties today."

He buried himself deeper into her arms, kissing her neck in between sniffles. "And I don't? Take a leave… take care of me."

"There are people who might need me today, Naruto," she whispered, kissing the shell of his ear.

"Me too, Sakura-chan. There might be an emergency that needs my immediate attention, but look… the Hokage is stuck in bed with no one to care for him, surely he'll be sick for much, much longer."

"Don't you think it's weird that you're referring to yourself in the third person?"

"Don't you think it's weird that you'd rather care for other people rather than your husband? Is Sasuke at the hospital today?"

She struck him on the back and he looked up with eyes pleading, "Ouch."

"Naruto -"

"Hus-band. You need to take care of your husband."

She let out a deep sigh and kissed him full on the lips. "What a baby you are, Hokage-sama."

He grinned and pulled her to lie down, wrapping his arms around her once more, resting his head just above her chest. Her lips lightly pressed on his forehead while she absentmidedly stroked his hair.

"Tell me about the time I went through far worse."

She looked down on him with brows furrowed. "Why? Don't you remember? Or you just want a little bedtime story so early in the morning?"

"Maybe a bit of both," he looked up to kiss her then found a comfortable spot in her arms as she tightened her hold and recounted that moment, not so long ago, when he had fallen in the hands of an enemy and was almost lost; his consciousness drifting, but only after he heard how she had pulled him from the darkness and saved his life.