Hello! I hope you'll like this chapter!

Disclaimer: I own the OCs in this fic, the rest is Masashi Kishomoto's. Sorry for any spelling mistakes or any OCCness.

Character age:

Akane, Itachi: 23 - 24

Naruto, Sasuke: 18

Shisui: 27

Kakashi: 32

"How do we choose the Hokage?" Naru asked Itachi.

"Names are mentioned by the Hokage and the Elders, then they go to the Daimyo to tell him and it's up to him to officially choose the new Hokage."

"There's no ceremony or big symbolism then?"

"Apart from going to the Hokage Tower's rooftop and wear the hat, no." I put my hand on my stomach, which somehow, Itachi noticed immediately.

"I'm fine, just a stomachache because I'm anxious."

Kiribukai appeared too quickly to my taste. There were still lights and life in the street as it was New Year's Eve. We walked among the crowd to the Daimyo's palace. Two haetae in white stone were on each side of the entrance.

"What are they?"

"They're haetae, fabulous animals who supposedly distinguish good from evil and protects towns against fires," Haku replied. Sensei put her hand between my shoulder blades, and we entered the place.

A servant took sensei and I away. We had rehearsed the whole ordeal already. Sensei smiled at me, then blue and white ayam on her head and went to the ceremonial room. I accepted the burgundy silk haori and put it over my kunoichi outfit. This was my official Mizukage piece of clothing from the Daimyo. The Shodain, Nidaime and Sandaime all had one, but Yagura never did, and I doubted sensei had one as well.

Still, it meant to anyone in the country that I was the Mizukage. The white serpentine dragon on the back, which was linked to water, was embroidered sleeping, signifying a hidden power that would come out when needed; The haori reached the middle of my thighs and the middle of my hands for the sleeves.

It felt…very dignified.

I touched the kanzashi in my hair, stuck in the bun I made with the top half of my hair. I could do it.

"I, Shimizu Uryuu, thirty-sixth daimyo of the Land of Water and eleventh from the Shimizu line, accept your relinquishing, Terumi Mei, of the title of Godaime Mizukage." He removed the ayam with both hands. "May your wisdom and experience help your successor in their task."

"I swear, that despite leaving my position, I will remain loyal to my village and my country and will not renounce the reasons I became the Godaime Mizukage." Uryuu-sama nodded, and sensei went to stand next to Kasumi.

I took a deep breath and walked in the open. Uryuu-sama was in the middle of the room, the leader of each island and parts of the main island behind him. In front of them were Kasumi and now sensei. Then, closer to the walls around us were the others, important people among civilians, even civilians from Kiri, anyone who contributed a lot in how the country worked.

Naruto gave me a thumbs-up as I knelt in front of Uryuu-sama.

"Uzumaki Akane, after years of service in Kirigakure, your skills and actions have been recognized by many, here or abroad. You became an indispensable element in our international relations. As such, upon your achievements in the war against the Land of Earth and the Hidden Rain, and then with your involvement in the Fourth Shinobi War, we are unanimous about presenting you the title of Mizukage." Yeah, it was not as if turning it down would look good. "Do you accept this task?"

"I, Uzumaki Akane, humbly accept this task to protect my village and my country, rich and poor, healthy, or sick, without distinction. I will protect our people from threats." I stood up once he put the ayam on my head.

It was heavier than it looked.

"Then, by this blade inherited from the birth of this nation," he continued, a wakizashi now in his hand. The blade was sharp and shining under the light. One of his men brought an old-looking scroll and opened it. I noticed my name immediately, as well as my predecessors and their thumbprint in blood beneath the names. "I ask you to sign your loyalty to the Land of Water in blood."

I turned my right hand over, palm toward the ceiling and he cut my thumb open, enough for it to bleed.

"Today, I swear, upon my predecessors, to protect this country and to make sure that their will, will go on, to serve the Land of Water."

"Then, as the new year starts," he continued as I pressed my thumb underneath my name, "I hereby name you the Rokudaime Mizukage." The clock tower rang midnight outside.

The year was officially over, and I was officially the Mizukage.

"May you have a peaceful time," Uryuu-sama added more quietly. I nodded at him and bowed. He took the ayam back.

"Thank you for your trust."

Then, as discreetly as it started, it ended. I was escorted back to the entrance of Kiribukai by Uryuu-sama, people clapping as we walked by. I bowed once more to him before leaving, reuniting with the others quickly.

Naru lifted me from the ground with a toothy grin.

"Oh God!"

"I can't believe it nee-chan! You're really Mizukage now!" He spun me around and I clenched his cloak for dear life.

"Naru, down, down!" He put me down. "It felt like it went on for hours."

"It was barely for a dozen of minutes," Sasuke corrected me, staring at my back. "It's not half bad."

"Thanks." I cracked my back. "The next thing is at noon, right?"

"Let's go home!" sensei said, clasping her hands together.

My hand didn't let go of Itachi's on the way back. He was quiet all the way.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked him in a whisper as Kiri slowly appeared in the distance.

"Hn." I furrowed my brows, but he gave my hand a squeeze.

He was just not in a talkative mood then.

When we arrived, a shinobi told us the Kazekage and his siblings had arrived and resting in their hotel room, but that Kakashi had greeted them as well.

"Akane, you can go home, I'll expect you at ten," sensei told me. I nodded.

"I'm going back to the hotel," Sasuke told us before leaving.

Once we were finally in bed, Itachi wouldn't let go of me. I didn't sleep long, maybe three hours top but I had troubles sleeping anyway. When I woke up, Itachi was already awake, kissing my neck.

I got up, a little bit against my will because I was perfectly fine cuddling in bed with my boyfriend, and got ready, hugged Mom, and left. I took my bag; Mom made it for me the day before and I just added my haori in it.

When I reached the Mizukage tower, she was having breakfast with the Sand Siblings.

"And here is the star of the day!" sensei greeted me with a smile. Temari stood up.

"Hey Mizukage-sama." I rolled my eyes.

"From now on, I will make you call me that each time we see each other." She smirked and crossed her arms.

"Right, make me." I stared at her, then looked at her brothers.

"She persecutes us too, we can't help you," Kankurou said, still eating.

"Who's persecuting who?" she growled at him, who widened his eyes in fear.

"Akane." I looked at Gaara. He was taller than me too now. "Can I have a word with you?" I nodded and we left the room.

"What is it?"

"It is about the future Hokage." I tilted my head on the side.

"You've already given your opinion though, haven't you?"

"Yes, but I wanted to understand yours. I think I know you better than to believe you're choosing to support Uchiha Itachi solely based on your relationship."

"I'd slap myself if I did." I leaned against the wall. "I don't know if you know much about Konoha's internal system, but having an Uchiha as the Hokage would change a lot of things. I am not saying Kakashi wouldn't do a good job, but he'd be better in staying in strictly shinobi-related position unlike the Hokage position. Plus, he'd be a great element to have for the transition after."

"You mean Naruto?" I nodded.

"He's been the superior to both Naruto and Itachi, and he's still respected as such. He would be a good element to have for the transition of the Sixth and Seventh Hokage." And it was Itachi's dream to be the Hokage, but he didn't need to know.

"I see. Thank you for your opinion."

Things went by quickly. The Sand Siblings left, and Mom arrived with Dai and Haku. We talked with the Elders and then came noon. We went to the conference room, where there was a balcony overlooking the biggest of the four bridges leading to the building.

I could hear people talking outside. Konoha and Suna were down there as well, on the first row. Tsunade-san and Gaara had their hats on as they were here as Kages.

"Are you ready?" sensei asked me.

"No. Do I have to make a speech?"

"I do it every January 1st," sensei reminded me. I sighed; my hands sweating. "It's like any first time, at first it's hard but then it comes naturally."

"Wow, you said that right in front of Akiko-san? That's rude Aneki." She blinked, confused.

"I agree though," Mom said with a nod. "Even for what you just said." Dai gaped. As they were talking, Haku turned me around, his hands on his shoulders.

"You can do it Uzu-nee, I know it. You're going to be a great Mizukage and I'll be here all the way to help you." I smiled and hugged him.

"I love you Haku, you're one of my best success this time around." He hugged me tighter.

"Thank you," he replied in a tight voice. When we broke the hug, he wiped a treacherous tear. "Come on, it's time."

Sensei went on the balcony and said a few words before turning half around and looking at me. I gulped and went on the balcony too, my haori blown by the soft wind.

Without a word, sensei removed the Mizukage hat from her head and placed it on mine. I turned around and gulped. The bridge was crowded with people, just like the ground below the bridge on each of its side, and I could only see black spots.

I was freaking out. As I looked down at my paper, shaking in my hands, I felt a light push on my shoulder, almost like a friendly punch. I looked on my left, but there was no one.

I looked up.

I knew they were watching, all the people who died along the way.

I took a deep breath and started my speech. When it was over, there were some cheers and I was quickly in my new office, stripped from sensei's any belonging.

"From now on, this is your office. Enjoy." I shot her a quick look and sat down in the chair, the hat still on my head. I turned around and looked at Kiri through the window.

It was so, so strange.

"How are you feeling honey?" Mom asked me, next to me.

"Strange, to be honest; it's hard to believe it actually happened."

"And yet."

Sensei had planned a small, intimate party. It was great. Shisui had a new eye. Fugaku-san had asked Tsunade-san to keep it in case he lost one, so it was almost as if he had never used the Izanami.

He made Naru drink, which Mom and I were against, but it was not every day I became the Mizukage, so we let it go.

I was happy once I was in my room though. Itachi still had this thoughtful look in his eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, it's just…" He sighed. "I don't like sharing you and this, no matter how much I knew it was coming, was a rough reminder I had to share you."

"Well, you're still special."

"I know. I'm not even ashamed of being possessive right now." I hugged his neck from behind, my chin on his shoulder.

"It's going to be fine."

"Hn."

We didn't let go of each other all night long.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

"I think I'm jealous."

"In the next six months, everybody has them." I had a desk phone, and a laptop.

My first month was hectic. I was half living in the Mizukage's quarters, half at home. I had a lot of official visits to do to introduce myself and see how things were myself before suggesting changes. I dispatched my team throughout the village. Choujurou, unlike what I originally thought, was happy with his job at the Academy. He was the supervisor of the fighting instructors.

I told him, about him being the Sixth. He struggled to believe it at first, but when he saw my apology was sincere, he said that was okay. Things had happened differently and had a different outcome, but he was happy to have a direct involvement with the youth.

My five-year plan was almost done, but I had everyday paperwork to deal with.

"Haku." He looked up from his own paper. "Do you think once we have enough fundings, I could hire someone to deal with civilians' business and filtrate what needs my direct input?"

"You're the Mizukage, you choose." I looked up and pointed at Dai.

"No prank calls." He pursed his lips, disappointed.

"When is Konoha going to have them?" I shrugged.

"I don't know, but they better hurry." Shinobi villages, for some reason, were always late technology-wise compared to big civilian cities.

It was frankly annoying; I wanted to call Itachi and make him put Sushi on the phone.

I missed them both a lot. Getting accustomed to Kiri once again had been…harder, this time. The picture he left me…wasn't enough.

A month turned in two, then three. I received a letter from Sasuke telling me he had left Konoha for a journey, like he told me, and that he'd stop by Kiri when he'd be around. He also said Itachi had been officially chosen as the Rokudaime, to which I yelled in glee in my office, but that it had not officially announced yet. He also gave me phone numbers for Mikoto-san's place, mine, and Mom's.

Needless to say, when Itachi called my apartment, he was more than annoyed Sasuke spoiled the surprise. He told me that, Tsunade-san being more than eager about retiring, his promotion would be quick and that he wanted me there.

As I was on my way to Konoha with Dai, in June as Itachi would become the Hokage at the same age Oji-chan was, twenty-four, I made a summary of what I had done. My first official meeting with the Daimyo had been intense; a lot of things were talked about. I told him I wanted a part of Kiri to be a beach resort near the harbor, and that the money from that would help up fund the school and medical projects we had with Dai.

He wanted a total revision of how the hospital work. He had done a few things when sensei was the Mizukage, but there were other priorities. His project was good. He wanted every employee, even the cleaning staff, to have a first aid experience. Then, all medical staff needed to have the basis of fuinjutsu mastered and a better medical training for everyone. There were other things, like the paperwork and separating the hospital for civilian and shinobi wounds, then a more general area, with doctors affiliated to different areas and doctors making rounds around the village in the smaller areas. He had written a beautiful project, explaining he would like, if possible, or to have some of Konoha medics to come teach our medics, or have some of our medics come to Konoha.

The one, concrete thing that happened in the past six months was that, apart my hair now below my shoulder blades, was that the national railroad network was way better, and trains were more numerous. There were still those taking materials from one place to another, but not just from Kiri to Kiribukai, but there were now trains to just go from one place to another, as well as trains going from one harbor to another. Most of the D-rank missions I'd give to genin now were about helping with the food supplies in isolated areas where people still struggled with growing food. Yet, on this aspect, the earth had healed very well since the Bloody Mist ended.

Overall, on a national point of view, things were going on the right way on the main island, and they were going quick. Some smaller island, like Doronko, were fine too. Juhyou Island…I needed to talk about it with Haku.

Most if all, I'd need to talk to Itachi about railroads from the harbor in the Land of Fire that was the connection with the Land of Water.

"Damn it!" Dai suddenly exclaimed.

"What?"

"Itachi's going to have his face in the cliff, isn't he!?" I blinked and widened my eyes.

"Oh shit, you're right!" Seeing Kakashi's face was odd already…

But to be fair, his mask played a part in it being odd.

"Am I staying at a hotel?" he asked me.

"I'm sure Mom won't mind having you at her place."

"Tsk, so you won't even suggest housing me?" I deadpanned at him.

"I haven't seen Itachi in six months, we're not going to play cards."

"Rabbits." Well…he wasn't entirely wrong about that.

But have you seen Uchiha Itachi? It was hard not to.

I kept the hat tied on my lower back on the trip, but once Konoha came into view, I put it on, my haori lightly blown by the wind. We were greeted by Kotetsu and Izumo and I sighed once the gates behind us.

"You're hot? The summer here seems to be…"

"An excruciating pain?" I finished for him. "I mean, it's nice, you have stuff to do and Konoha in the summer is beautiful but…I'm not made for this."

"Deal with it like a kunoichi."

"How?"

"In silence and endure."

"Next time you forget to use '-sama' I will make you pay for it." We went to the Hokage Tower. I knocked on the door, Tsunade-san telling me to get inside.

Itachi was sitting in her chair, her chair until the next day, and she was standing next to him, looking at what he was doing without a word. Shikamaru was there, probably listing things that had to be done until we came.

Itachi tried to stand up, but Tsunade-san kept him in his chair.

"Hello, I hope you've had a nice trip."

"It was good, thank you." I looked at the papers on the desk. "How is it going?"

"He should be ready for tomorrow." She was not letting him speak. She glanced at him. "What, do you seriously think I'm going to let her break your focus?" He pleaded at me to help him when he glanced at me.

I just looked away.

"Maybe a break would…" Shikamaru tried, only to get Tsunade-san's glare in return. "Nothing."

"Tsunade-san, are you going to work at the hospital?" I asked her more seriously. She raised a brow. "I wasn't going to come empty-handed."

"Do you have something written?" Shikamaru asked us. Dai handed him a scroll. "We'll take care of it quickly."

"Thanks. On this note, good luck." We left. We went to my mom's and we entered. "Hello?" Ganbaru welcomed me. I crouched and scratched him on the head. "Oh, you're still a good boy, aren't you Ganbaru?" Dai scratched him between the ears. I removed my shoes and went to the backyard.

"Oh, hi honey," Mom greeted me, an iced tea in her hand as she was on a deckchair, sunglasses, and a hat on. Her leg was on the side, her dress hiding the stump.

I looked toward the garden. Naruto was working, shirtless, sweating and had dirt on his face.

"Are you exploiting your nephew?"

"I am disabled."

"You said you'd throw my ramen away!" Naru yelled, pointing an accusing finger at her. She removed her straw from her mouth and looked at him above her glasses. Naru, despite being a war hero, gulped loudly. "Never mind, love you Aunty."

"Are you thirsty or hungry?"

"Yes," I replied in sync with Dai. Mom put her glass down, put her leg back on in a matter of seconds and stood up as if it was nothing, going back to the kitchen.

It was as if she never was amputated.

"You're used to the prosthesis now?" Dai asked her as we followed her to the kitchen.

"Yes, it's not as if I had two legs, but it's close. It's close enough to have people shocked when they realize I'm amputated." I swallowed my iced tea almost in one go. "Have you seen Itachi?"

"We went to the Hokage office, he was there, with Tsunade-san and Shikamaru." She pursed her lips.

"He's been working a lot between Uchiha matters and this." I raised a brow at her. "He visits me Akane, he said it was normal because you weren't there and with the disability, he was just acting as a regular son-in-law." I blushed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "And I can complain to his mother if I need to."

"Right. Anyway, can you house Dai while we're in town?"

"Of course, your room is free." We talked until the end of the afternoon, Naru joining us once he was done gardening and he had taken a shower. They asked me how it was going in Kiri and I said what I could.

I told them my nodachi would be fixed soon. I went to Natto, the man who filed my teeth back then and who was a weapon expert. After looking at it, he told me it was a particular metal that was shaped with the chakra of the user or something like that.

I needed to go to the Furou Springs.

I left around six. Sushi was in the hallway when I went home, sighing happily at being back here.

"Come say 'hi' to momm…" She left. "Sushi?" I tried to pet her, but she scratched my palm. "Hey!" She hissed at me, and I moved away. "Okay, you're mad at me, I get it."

I fed her some fresh fish Mom gave me and let her come to it on her own. She did, and then she let me brush her. I gave her some space after that and went to have a bath.

She was pouting. My furry baby was pouting because I was not living with her anymore. I sighed and sunk more in the water. I was not an expert in cat behavior, but maybe it was like for humans, I needed to let her get used to me again.

However, it was not as if I was going to stay for a long time either, so I would just leave her again.

"Akane?"

"Bathroom!" Itachi opened the door a second after. He pointed at me.

"You don't move from here," he ordered me firmly.

"Okay?" He took the quickest shower ever and was in the bath with me, my back against his chest. He sighed deeply and leaned his cheek against my head. "Wait, just so you could join me?"

"A problem maybe?"

"No sir." He kissed my neck.

"Welcome home." I pouted, which he noticed. "What is it?"

"Sushi's mad at me." I showed him my hand. He healed it quickly. "That's useful."

"She's sitting at the door. She already was when I got here." I tried to leave to check but he kept me trapped against him. "I get it, she's mad but right now, pay attention to me."

"Happy late birthday. Happy anniversary too." His hand slid between my legs. "Wai…wait Itac…" His other hand started to fondle my breast. "I…"

"You didn't expect me to not try anything with you naked and soaking wet, right?" he asked me hotly in my ear. "I'm starving sweetheart, and you're already getting wet." I bit back a moan. "Your head on my shoulder now." I did as he said, and he captured my lips.

I moaned, his tongue against mine. I breathed faster when he started pumping his fingers in and out of me and clasped my hand around his arm.

"Ita…Ita…" I stuttered against his lips.

"Be good for me sweetheart," he replied with lust.

I came, arching my back against him.

He made me climax in what, five minutes? That had to be a new record.

He got us both out of the water and pinned me to the wall, my legs around his waist. I bit my bottom lip at his dark, clouded gaze. He smirked.

"I missed you," I whispered.

"I hope so." He rubbed his tip against me, pushing it against my sensitive clit. "Can I ask you something?"

"What?" He pursed his lips, looking for his words.

"Can you…use '-sama' after my name?" I gulped.

"It won't…be weird with people calling you that after?"

"I want to hear it from you."

"Alright…Itachi-sama." He smiled softly.

"Good girl." He thrusted in me without a warning, his hips locked against mine. I squeaked in shock. "You're so warm and tight."

"Don't…I'm too horny for dirty talking 'tachi." He clicked his tongue. "Itachi-sama."

"That's better." He pounded into me roughly, leaving love bites on my breasts as I was moaning loudly.

I didn't last long, and neither did he. His lips swallowed my moan as I came, after moaning his name again and again, and he came after me.

We stayed in this position for a few minutes, just savoring the moment. Itachi licked his lips and pulled out, putting me down gently. My legs were shaking.

"I need another shower," I mumbled against him.

"I'm not against this idea." I whined weakly.

The next day, I watched from the crowd, my Mizukage hat on my head, Tsunade-san give him the Hokage hat. I was on the verge of tears.

Mikoto-san, who was next to me, was close to crying too.

When we went home, I jumped in his arms the second he removed his shoes.

It was…a wonderful development.

Hey! Thanks for reading and please leave a review to tell me what you thought of this chapter!

Bye!