After Hours

Morning came and with it work had already begun. Naruto headed to the Hokage offices. The day was shaping up to be cold but nice and sunny as he walked the all too familiar route.

All morning he thought about being a father. He was confident that Sakura would finally ditch the pill. Although he did understand because of her being the disciple of Tsunade she would likely follow in her footsteps. He was sure that the generation of women after her could convince themselves to be powerful and great moms at the same time. At least he had one example in his own mother.

Spending the summer chasing Uzumaki ghosts was fulfilling and empowering. Even Sakura got to know quite a bit about the first lady Hokage who was a jinchuriki like he was. Sakura was smart but so much of their history had been hidden from them. Becoming a kage gave access to all kinds of records and secrets he'd never dream of before but it was the access his fame gave him to the people that exceeded his expectations.

"Hey Sasuke how long are you going to follow along in silence," Naruto said continuing to walk his path to the Hokage offices.

"I'm not in the mood for small talk today," Sasuke replied.

"Sakura's throwing out the pill for me. I'm catching up to you teme. I'll be a daddy soon," Naruto said grinning.

"Hn,"

"Yeah our kids will be the greatest friends when we pass on," Naruto said.

"Naruto I need you to be the Hokage," Sasuke said.

"So all the promises made will be kept," Naruto questioned.

"Something like that," Sasuke said.

"Don't worry I've been working on it," Naruto said. He was sure Sasuke was talking about Karin again and he just didn't understand what was taking so long for everything to work itself out. She wasn't a threat to the village. Kakashi had some power but told Naruto it wasn't enough to reach out and pardon Karin and everybody Sasuke every associated with. As far as Konoha was concerned she was a member of at least three organizations with bad intentions towards Konoha and their allies.

In the end it was all politics.

"I'm going in to give my report and that's it. I don't want to discuss Karin with him."

"I know how you feel."

"You don't"

"Listen Sasuke the village messed up your clan-

"Don't. You don't have to list off my grievances we can just go in now and get this over with. I'd rather hear about you and Sakura," Sasuke said.

"Geeze thanks," Naruto said. He felt bad about everything. Sasuke and Karin should have a little home right here in the village where they could raise Miyako.

"Come over later it will feel normal to have friends around every once and a while. Bring Sakura and spend some time," Sasuke said.

"Sure," Naruto said a little surprised that Sasuke invited him anywhere.

The two went into the Hokage building and were greeted by Jounin there. Everyone seemed to be busier than usual. Naruto knew that everyone was still hard at work on the case involving Ino. A representative from the Yamanaka clan was in the office speaking to Kakashi as Naruto waited by the door. The case took on a serious note just then.

"I wonder who we are dealing with," Sasuke said to Naruto who just shook his head. Shinobi rushed by with paperwork and others with directives. Naruto was quick to notice how calm everyone was despite the hurried environment.

"Whoever it is they picked the wrong people to mess with," Naruto said suddenly looking back at his friend.

000

Karin heard her husband make his way down the hall. She knew the mission that he was just on must have taken its toll by the way he walked. For the mission to require his assistance could only mean that it was a serious one.

Sasuke loved his private time so she sat up in bed listening to the water run in the bath. She knew he would do this so she had the forethought to put the Yunohana (an herbal bath salt the flower of the hot springs) next to the tub for him.

She spent quite a bit of time gathering the ingredients a mixture she made herself. He wouldn't want to be bothered or have to visit the hospital again and she wanted him to take care of any wounds he might have.

Right now she wanted to see him. It had been weeks and she worried. Usually she worried about something but this time things were amplified by Ino's ordeal. She thought to herself, I'll just wait five minutes. Taking a deep breath she watched the minute hand on the clock. She made it to about three and a half then got out of bed and headed for the bath.

She knew his routines well but he always changed something up worried that becoming too predictable would be detrimental. It amazed her how he could manage to stay organized and disorganized at the same time. Another side of him seemed forgetful and late but maybe that was only because he stayed away for long stretches of time.

Then it was also difficult putting up with his egotistical side. Well that was also a contradiction because he was hard working and extremely modest compared to some. The thing that remained consistent was his calm demeanor. Always calm never raising his voice he wasn't easily frazzled.

All these things just added up to who he was. As she came into the bath she smiled at the sight of his wet hair falling down. The bath soak gave the room a pleasant aroma it was very relaxing. He had his eyes closed and his head rested on the edge of the tub. Maybe the opposite of what she wanted from him.

Just like he was with his abilities she was surprised to find Sasuke was nonchalant about his appearance. She could stare at his face for hours he was beautiful. She sighed to herself. Thinking about how different his public perception was even amongst friends.

She had to force herself not to laugh as the color started to creep into his cheeks. He hated when she stared at him it made him self conscious. She was so glad she could have this effect on him when so many others mattered not to him.

"I was waiting for you to come here," he said.

"I wanted to give you some private time," she replied.

He looked her over.

"Thanks for the bath soak," he said.

"It was nothing at all…How are you doing," she asked making her way to sit at the edge of the tub.

"Don't worry it's nothing," he waved away her troubled thoughts.

"Still I want to check you out," she said.

This earned her a mischievous grin. Damn he was adorable, she thought. He shifted in the water to face her taking her hand.

"Why don't you get in," he invited her. The last thing he needed was more reminders he could be seriously injured again. His focus shifted as Karin dropped the robe and made her way in the tub.

"I don't deserve you," she said cuddling up to his chest.

"I don't deserve you back. You're so beautiful," he said.

"I'm not so-

"Exquisite," he interrupted and kissed her shoulder blades.

"You're the beautiful one," she said twisting to face him she turned the tables it wasn't fair for him to have all the fun after all. Nor was it fair that he could come up with such an extravagant word to describe her when all she had was a plain one.

"I'd prefer something more like handsome or-

"Oh no, your perfectly beautiful," she giggled. It was funny that he had read her exact thoughts and was now coming up with descriptions for her. She settled for tracing his face with her fingers.

"We can have this argument forever. Just kiss me," he said.

She stopped teasing his lips with her finger and kissed him. This kiss made her top five but then again he made her feel like that every day.

"I wanted to see you tonight and I'm so glad you came home," Karin said and removed her glasses. She sat them on the edge of the tub she could barely see a thing but they were useless fogged up and added, "I've missed you Sasuke."

"Likewise," Sasuke said tilting her face closer, "This is probably the longest I've stayed anywhere. I understand how you feel we aren't the type to stay."

"That life must seem selfish to others. Lonely…," she said trailing off it was quite an adjustment for her surrounded by his childhood acquaintances and friends. It took some getting used to the way they thought about the village as home. These days she'd give anything to call a place home and Konoha was the best bet by far.

A cold shiver ran up his spine at the thought of her leaving. His heart was so open to her, their souls intertwined to the point that if she left it would crush him.

"You're thinking that you gave me too much control over your heart," Karin said after the long silence between them.

"You feel that," he asked.

"It feels like a curse to have you here only to leave again. It is like a piece of me is gone too," she answered.

"Or soul," he added.

"Our memories and thoughts make up our souls I believe. So yes I feel I can see your soul. That sounds so cliché," she said trailing her fingers up and down his arms.

"The way we are now is not exactly what you deserve," he said.

"What are you saying," she asked.

"Our daughter is getting older now-

"She's barely a toddler so don't start with the speech about leader of the Uchiha clan," she argued protectively.

"What I mean is…the agreement with the Hyuuga should have been taken care off by now. You should be in the village here with me and our daughter," he said. The thought of all the paperwork and red tape made his shutter but it wasn't just that, the leaders involved were making things tough. Every time he made a move to use his power as Hokage, Kakashi had to stick his neck out for something else. For instance Sasuke's pardon used a tremendous amount of that power. He couldn't ask Kakashi to involve himself in clan affairs. Karin would continue to be seen as a criminal as well to most of them.

"Miyako is going to be alright. We can talk about that some other time. Things just keep happening it isn't your fault that Konoha had other pressing issues like finding a new Hokage, the Akatsuki, protecting Naruto, rebuilding the village or even the war," she said thinking back to the Invasion and the prewar frenzy that went along with it.

"Naruto would have accepted-

"It is in the past now…and I am here now so it doesn't matter," she said.

He had his hands full as it was now to push his luck with the current arrangements he had concerning his wife would be foolish.