Naruto Uzumaki, Hero of the World, the Strongest Shinobi in History, Seventh Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, had been defeated by dead trees. Or more specifically, processed trees, called paper.

He slammed his head against the desk for the umpteenth time,sending the tall paper stacks crashing down on him.

"AGrh." He groaned as he dug himself out, putting the scattered papers back into messy piles.

Needless to say he was not having the best of days.

It was going to be another overnighter.

He didn't even have time to go home and change his clothes.

He glanced at the clock.

11:32

His right hand man had left about five hours ago to go have dinner with his wife and son.

After all, it was Naruto who needed to read and sign these papers, not Shikamaru.

Even during peaceful times, there was always something to do. If he wasn't overseeing issues in the shinobi world, then he was overseeing the civilian one. If he wasn't doing that then it was organizing festivities and parties. If it was not that, then he had meetings about economy and wages and funds and-AHHHHHH!

The list went on forever. And while there were people put in charge of these issues, helping with planning and organizing these areas of the village, some stupid and irreversible law made it so that all ideas and notions had to have his stamp and signature of approval (or disapproval in some cases).

He could use his shadow clones to help him read and sign all his information. It would be easy and fast. However, as he learned the first day, paperwork was not at all similar to physical training. After he had finished all his paper work in 6 hours, (the fastest Hokage work had been done in the history of Hokage) he dispelled his 7 clones and was immediately bombarded with hundreds of reports and issues as his clones minds merged back with his own. The result was a full day coma and a major migraine for two more days afterward.

(His energetic kids didn't help either.)

He never used clones to do his paperwork ever again. Partly because it was unhealthy for him, but mainly because of Hinata who, when he tried to convince her that if he used clones he could come home faster, told him it wasn't worth his health and that being Hokage meant no cutting corners. (Even if it meant less family time.)

Thus, his shadow clones ended up attending ceremonies that he need to attend to and interviews about inspiring the future generations. Doing everything else a Hokage did except the mundane job of paperwork (and attending Kage Summits). Which was left up to the original. Because if people caught a clone Naruto doing paperwork, the wonderful and wise (annoying) council would be on his back, biting his heels with criticism that he really did not need in addition to his workload.

So there he was. 11:37. Almost midnight. And still working.

Despite the work, he did enjoy the job and the title of being Hokage. He had this dream ever since he was a little boy. Living it out everyday was exciting even now. He was never alone. Everyone in the village was his family. (A concept he feared Boruto still didn't understand despite how many times he told his son.)

Speaking of Boruto, miscommunication and misunderstandings seemed to consist of all their conversations in the past years. It was a different generation for sure. Believe it. He missed the time when his son looked up to him and puffed up with pride as the four year old proclaimed that his dad was the Hokage and the coolest dad in the world. That was what? Almost eight years ago.

Sighing, Naruto stamped and signed the scroll he was reading about plans for a new renewable energy plant. Putting the scroll into the completed pile, he glanced up again at the clock.

11:49.

Groaning, he slumped in his chair. He should really be reading the next scroll, but he found his eyes searching his desk, finding the one paper he actually wanted to work on.

It was a blank ninja registration form that he needed to fill out for the ninja registry. Next to it was an old one that had been purposely lost by Tsunade, found but put in the back of the registry by Kakashi, and brought back to the front by Naruto. He picked up the worn sheet of paper.

Ninja Registration Profile

Name: Haruno Sakura

Ninja Registration Number: 012601

Blood Type: O

Height: 161 cm

Weight: 45.4 kg

Age: 18

Rank:Jon-

Classification: Medical-nin

Status: Activ-

He had updated it earlier in the day, but in his jubilation he had smudge the new ink making the changes unreadable. So he decided just to create another one.

With a large grin, he began filling out the form. Remembering the unbelievable day's events.

Konohamaru bursting into his office hours during the day wasn't a very good sign. The words, "What did Boruto do this time?" almost slipped from his mouth before he registered who was behind him.

Pink.

Pink hair.

That was the first color he noticed. Then,

Green.

Green eyes.

Eyes that swirled with emotions that threatened to overtake her.

He noticed the dark dried blood on her vest. Two gaping holes.

It couldn't be. His voice trembled.

"Sakura-chan?"

Despite his overwhelming happiness at his old childhood best friend, coming back from the dead after sixteen years. Her rejection to his proposition to show her around his Konoha and the fact that she did not want to spend time with him at all put a damper in his mood. It was almost like he had received another one of her chakra infused punches.

He understood. He really did.

Her world had been flipped. She had been prepared to die only to transported sixteen years into the future. Everything different and strange.

But really, they had spent sixteen years mourning her sacrifice. Her death. They were the ones who were haunted for years.

They were the ones who gathered every single year without fail at the memorial stone, to trace her name, to honor her memory.

He was the one who was plagued with memories of that night for five years.

The smell of copper in the air.

Bloodlust.

Hatred.

Screams.

Tears.

Crimson blood staining his clothes, making his skin stick to his vest.

It was not his blood.

It never was.

He watched the life fade from her eyes; her stiff body fall from his arms.

Never to laugh again. Never to live again.

He held the greatest power in the world

Yet, he was powerless to do anything to stop it.

He wanted to scream.

They had to experience the pain of being left behind. The ones still living. They had to struggle to move on. They ha-

A quiet knock interrupted his thoughts. He knew who it was in an instant. Hinata? What was she doing here so late at night? The kids had been put to bed hours ago. Unless Boruto and Sarada had a fight again. He shuddered. Those arguments could take longer to negotiate than his actual negotiation meetings.

The door opened revealing his (beautiful) wife. The slightly red streaks on her cheeks told him that she had been crying.

He frowned. He didn't like to see his wife unhappy.

Concerned, Naruto approached Hinata, bring her into a hug, "Hinata? What's wrong?" Please don't tell me Boruto and Sarada blew up the house.

"B-boruto," she stuttered. Realizing this, she took a deep breath before continuing. "Boruto, told me that he talked to Sakura today. Sarada confirmed it too when she came home. I don't know how, but could it be that she's ali-No," she pulled away from him, "I'm being silly. Of course not. Sorry to bother you, Naruto-kun. I'll lea..."

His wife's words faded away as Naruto became more consumed with his thoughts. He was a real idiot. He had forgot to send a clone to tell his wife the wonderful news that the woman who had the greatest impact on his wife. Their friend. Was alive. Alive. After sixteen years. He inwardly groaned, instead she had been told by their oblivious son. Boruto, you always make this hard on me...The Hokage was so busy berating himself that he barely caught his wife's last words.

"Bye, Naruto-kun." She turned to leave.

"AH!" He yelled, grabbing his wife by the arm to stop her from leaving the room. He pulled her into a strong hug, "I'm sorry, Honey. I was going to tell you when I got home in the morning, but..." He paused. How was he supposed to tell her the news?

"But?" She inquired. Uncertainty adorned her features.

She's so cute! i just want to kiss her. Wait... Naruto stopped himself as he was leaning in for the prize. I'm supposed to tell her, not- Her face turned into an adorable pout. Okay, nope. She's just too cute.

He swooped in and gave her a peck on the lips. She squealed. Obviously not expecting the sudden move. Lifting her up and spinning her around, he smiled, "Sakura-chan's alive!"

Silence.

Okay, not really the reaction he was expecting. He set her down gently, still holding her shoulders.

He started to see tears pouring out of her pearly eyes. He internally panicked. Was she mad that he didn't tell her? He was almost ready to get on his knees and beg for forgiveness, when he heard a quiet whisper.

"She's...alive?" Her head was bowed, so that he could see her eyes.

Naruto gave her a moment to process the new information.

Suddenly, she clasped his shoulders and glanced up at him, determination flaring in her eyes that he had witnessed several times during his lifetime. "Take me to her."

He was about to argue that Sakura needed time to process and explain that she probably didn't want to see them yet. But as he gazed into her eyes, he could tell that Hinata would find their mutual friend with or without his help.

Glancing at the mounds of paper stacked on his desk, Naruto grimaced. He was due for a break anyway. The evil processed trees were not going anywhere.

His paperwork could wait.

It didn't take the Hokage long to locate the newly promoted Jonin with his Sage Mode. Of course she would be at the Haruno's house. Where else would she had gone? Still Naruto had half hoped that she had gone to Ramen Ichiraku. He hadn't had dinner yet. Maybe he could get something to eat there. Auntie and Uncle always gave him something.

Wasting no time, he grabbed Hinata by the waist, flashing them to the Haruno's doorstep. The light shimmering from the cracks in the door, told the pair that there was someone home.

Byakugan! She could wait no longer. Walls and barriers having no meaning under the scrutiny of her eyes. She searched the whole house, honing in on the three chakra signatures within the living room. One was significantly more developed, however. She could see an enormous amount of chakra stored on the forehead. The chakra was...

Her veins surrounding her eyes, giving chakra to them, receded as her shock overwhelmed her. The walls became visible again and her 360 degree vision faded. Her knees gave out. Next thing she knew, she was falling. But her mind paid no heed to the sudden descent, there was only one thought running through her brain before darkness overtook her.

Sakura is alive.

Luckily for the Uzumaki Matriarch, Naruto caught her before even her hair touched the ground. "Whoa, there." He chuckled. "I thought you were over this fainting over me thing." The response he received was a blank stare. "Hey, Hinata!" He shook her slightly. Again no response. Don't tell me she fainted! The Uzumaki patriarch panicked slightly. He tapped her cheek lightly. "Hey. Hey. Hinata!"

No response.

He tried again, flicking her face harder, "Hinata!"

"What's with all the," the door opened suddenly, revealing Sakura Haruno with a scowl on her face. "Commotion? Naruto?!"

He laughed sheepishly, "Hey, Sakura-chan!" He raised Hinata's arm and shook it in a wave of hello. It flopped around as its owner was currently unconscious.

Sakura turned to Hinata in his arms. Concern marked her features, Hinata didn't look injured, but she needed to check. She turned to allow Naruto entrance, "Why don't you take her inside?"

It's dark.

Was the first assertion her barely conscious mind made.

It was way too dark for night time and-

Huh, maybe it was because her eyes were closed.

"Is she..."

A voice.

"Do you need..."

"No, I'm..."

There were voices.

They were distorted. But familiar.

"Sakura-chan, there's...emergency..."

"Leaving... Hokage..."

She could recognize that voice in her sleep.

Naruto.

Leaving? Emergency?

"Take care of..."

Of who?

Slowly, she felt her mind waking up. Apparently so did someone else as well.

"Hinata?!"

A female voice. Whose?

"C'mon, Hinata. Wake up!"

There was also a hand on her forehead.

Chakra.

There was relaxing cool chakra seeping into her head, soothing her vertigo. She was sure if she opened her eyes she would see green surrounding her head.

Medical Chakra. Her sleepy mind placed.

Who?

Who was this person? Wait-

Sakura?!

She shot up into a sitting position as her eyes snapped open and found concerned green ones staring back.

The medical ninja's hand retracted back as the green aura surrounding it ceased.

"Hey, Hinata, I-Oof!" Sakura was interrupted as Hinata collided into her, wrapping her arms around her long lost friend. The Haruno had to take a step back to balance both of them before they both fell into the floor.

"You're alive!" she breathed. Silent tears started to stream down Hinata's face. "You're here!" She exclaimed as she held Sakura in the tightest hug she had ever given the girl in their lifetime.

Sakura mouth curved into a small grin as she returned the hug with the same fervour.

"I'm here."

"So you're alive! How? Have you been alive this whole time? Where have you been then? You still look 18!" Hinata blubbered as they sat on the couch facing each other. Usually, she would have never dreamed of asking so many questions in such a long sentence, being a quiet type of girl her whole life, but this situation was the exception. The Uzumaki matriarch needed to know.

"I don't really know. The last thing I remember was the war." Sakura explained as she tried to remember anything that would help her confusion. "All I know is that I've been gone for a while, I'm still 18, alive, and," she picked up one of the many pictures of the Uzumaki family on the floor, "That you all have kids."

Hinata smiled as she reached for another tissue to dry her eyes. "Yes, well. That is a one of the biggest changes." She noticed the several pictures and old wedding pictures strewn around the living room, "I assume your parents already filled you in."

"General information." Sakura informed. "They wanted to tell me more, but they fell asleep about 2 hours ago. So I've just been going through these by myself. " It was still so weird to say. Kids. Her friends had kids now.

Hinata gave her a sympathetic smile, placing a warm hand on her shoulder, "I understand. If you have any questions or need help adjusting, I'm here."

Sakura nodded, "Thanks, Hinata."

Hinata suddenly sprang up of the couch, "We have to tell everyone! Ino-san, Neji Nii-san, Tenten-san, Tsunade-sama, Kakashi-" She noticed Sakura had a reminiscent smile on her face, "What?"

"You don't stutter regularly anymore."

"I don't anymore, do I?" She mused. She hadn't really realized that she had stopped stuttering. As time went on, she changed without knowing. If she stopped to think about it. A lot of things had changed. A pang went through her heart. Sakura had sacrificed so much for them, for the village, and what did she get in return?

A changed world and changed friends. She couldn't imagine how that would feel. To have your whole world crashing down. To have-

Her eyes fell on a picture of the very first team 7 picture taken hanging on the wall, paying more attention to the scowling boy in blue.

Sasuke Uchiha.

Her eyes widened as her mind put the two and two together. Oh. No.

How? What was her friend feeling? She had given up her hopes of a happy ending the second she stepped in front of the pair. But that was during the war, during the heat of battle, the adrenaline of certain death. Now...?

She was going to make sure Sakura achieved what she deserved, happiness. It was a start to make up for the unpayable debt to her friend.

"As for telling everyone," Sakura drawled catching Hinata's attention, "I was thinking about visiting everyone one at a time." She ran a hand through her glossy pink hair, "I don't think I could handle all of them at once." All the hugs, the tears, the smiles. It was too overwhelming even if it was all happy feelings. "So please, let me tell them individually."

"Okay, but on one condition."

"Hm?"

"Don't sacrifice yourself ever again!" She ordered as she wrapped Sakura up in another hug.

Sakura laughed as hope swelled up inside her. Her (old) friendship with Hinata was still held the same familiarity as it had even after sixteen years.

Despite her whole world being torn apart into fragments of change and the unknown, perhaps the one thing that remained the same was her bonds that connected her with her comrades, her friends, her family.