"Daddy! Daddy!" cried the young boy as he dashed through the entrance to the Police Headquarters, black ponytail streaming. "Come on! Time to go home!"

The head police chief looked up from his criminal case files and brushed his raven-black bangs out of his eyes. The coal-black orbs lit up with joy as he sighed and stood, stretching and rubbing his tired eyes. Laughing and shaking his head, he strode over to his son, hefting him up to sit on his shoulders.

"Your mother," he chuckled. "Even Konoha's only chief of police is bound by the law of dinnertime, I guess." He looked behind him at another policeman. "Can you finish up here, Mamoru?" The other man shrugged.

"How can I say no? Lady Sakura'll come after me if you're late, anyway." He chuckled. "And I'm too young to die."

"I owe you one, Mamoru."

"Like I said, man, too young to die."

"Alright, then. See you tomorrow."

"See ya, Chief Sasuke."

"Great dinner, Honey," Sasuke said. "Who knew rice was good in so many ways?" Sakura smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "How were the kids today?"

"Good for the most part. But having seven is a lot to manage." She shrugged. "Good thing they're growing into your quiet, brooding personality," she said, teasing his spiky hair. He brushed her hand away and turned to his eldest son.

"How's training been, Itachi?" The small boy's eyes lit up, then darkened.

"I'm at the top of the class. All A's again! Today Master Iruka said he's glad I'm a team, player, 'cause my dad sure wasn't. Is that true though, Dad? How can you be police chief and not be a team player?" Sasuke groaned.

"Agh, some example I was. He meant I wasn't when I was your age, Itachi. And I'll tell you all about that when you're older."

"But I thought Momma and the Sixth Hokage were on your team!" Itachi protested. "How could you not like them then when you do now?"

"Like I said, I'll explain when you're older."

"Aww, you're not fun!"

"No fun, huh? Then I guess you don't want to come walk with me since I'm so boring." Itachi gasped.

"No, I wanna go! I take it back! I -" Sasuke burst out laughing at his son's seriousness.

"Well alright, then. Let's go."

"I love Konoha!" said Itachi as they strolled down the streets in town. "It's so big and pretty!"

"Sure is," said Sasuke. They strolled by the police headquarters, and Itachi grinned and spun around to face Sasuke.

"You're so cool, Dad! Someday I wanna be in the Police Force just like you! I'll be Chief Itachi Uchiha, and I'll get to arrest rogues and beat up bad-guys just like you do!" Sasuke grinned.

"The Police Force needs a strong man like you, then. Maybe someday you'll even be an Anbu, just like your Uncle Itachi."

"Yeah. Maybe. But I'll be even stronger, just wait!" They passed more shops and houses, stopping to look up at the Hokage Rock. The face of the Sixth was illuminated by the setting sun. Itachi stared in awe at the stone faces, then smiled.

"The Sixth Hokage is my favorite!" he said cheerfully. "He's super-strong and super-cool, and he can defend the village against anyone!"

"Do you think you'd ever want to be Hokage, son?"

"Uh-uh. No way."

"Why not?"

"'Cause the Sixth Hokage is so cool. I never want him to leave, so he can stay Hokage." Sasuke paused.

"True," he thought. "Without him, I'd never be where I am now. I couldn't have been a policeman, or gotten married, or even lived here." He raised his hand in a respectful wave to Naruto's immortal portrait.

"I owe you so much," he said mentally. "You really do have the Will of Fire. Thank you for everything, Naruto. No. Thank you for everything, Lord Hokage."