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Chapter Text

Naruto woke up to the early sunshine filtering through his curtains. It took him a moment to gain his bearings. He blinked slowly as his eyes rid themselves of dryness. With a jaw-cracking yawn and a whine, he pushed himself up.

Gonna be a lazy Sunday, he thought.

True, as he struggled to convince himself to get up.

Last night was exhausting for him. Seven years' worth of Hokage training, and he will still never get used to how irritatingly difficult his final examinations were. Months of preparation with little to no help from his teachers, although he doesn’t know how much help they would be anyway. He could not imagine Kakashi imparting any meritable tips. Thus, his hard work was put to the test last night in a four-hour examination. Four hours.

It left his brain feeling like a sponge. Specifically sponge that had been squueezed dry after sucking up too much water. His body wasn’t spared either. His very bones ached from sitting still for so long to the point of numbness.

“Ugh,” he dragged out.

Yeah, he was ready for a very lazy Sunday.

Eventually, he gathered enough of his wits to get up and take a shower. With exhaustion came contentment, so he hummed for the whole of his weekend routine. After a simple breakfast of cup ramen- Fuck, I need to restock- and watering his plants- Gonna rub my morning glories in Ino’s face- he went downstairs for a walk.

Most of Konoha’s residents were still asleep, save for business owners who were pushing up shutters and turning on signboards. Some waved jovially at Naruto, to which he waved back with the same enthusiasm. The sun was higher up in the sky now, and the sunshine cleared the fog in his brain just as it chased away the darkness of the night.

Naruto stopped at a familiar bench in a park and sat down. He leaned his head backwards with a sigh and stared at the sky. With half-lidded eyes, he managed to focus on some clouds that began to take shape.

Heh, that one looks like a dick.

“Naruto?”

He turned to see Shikamaru. He smiled, happy to see his usually busy friend, “Hey!”

“Heard you had your examinations yesterday,” he said, in lieu of a greeting.

Naruto cringed, “Augh, yeah,”

Shikamaru sat down next to him. “How’d it go?”

“Shitty,” Naruto grumbled, “My brain hurts,”

His companion snorted, “I bet. I’d offer you a cig if I didn’t know better,”

Naruto hummed, turning back to the sky.

“Looking at the clouds?” Naruto heard him say, followed by a thump. Shikamaru must have leaned his head back, too.

“Yeah,”

“That one looks like a dick,”

Naruto barked a laugh, “I know!”

A moment of silence engulfed them as the two friends stared at the clouds. Slowly, the ruckus behind them grew louder as the villagers woke up and readied for the day.

“Hey, Shika?”

“Hm?”

“What's up with you and Temari?”

Shikamaru spluttered, “What's what with me and Temari?”

Naruto looked at him, confused, “Aren't you guys dating?”

Shikamaru's eyes went wide as saucers, “You shouldn’t know that!” he hissed.

“Huh, why not? Congrats, by the way,”

“Well, thank you- But, Naruto, nobody knows, since we only got together yesterday!” he insisted.

Naruto blinked, “Sakura told me everyone knew!”

They stared at each other, one confused and the other beyond embarrassed. Shikamaru sighed abashedly and dropped his head into his hands.

“I guess we were obvious,” his voice was muffled by his palm

Naruto laughed awkwardly and raised his hands placatingly, “Sorry…I guess Sakura meant you guys were practically dating,”

Shikamaru groaned loudly, dragging his hand down his face, “Please, shut up.”

“Fine,” Naruto dragged the word out.

Shikamaru revealed his face and seemed to have recovered his calm. “What a drag,” he muttered, “How’s Sasuke by the way?”

Naruto’s face must have fallen immediately. Shikamaru raised his brow.

“Miss him that much, huh?”

“Yeah,” Naruto felt himself turn wistful, “I haven't seen him in months,”

“That guy…” Shikamaru said, his eyes downcast.

“He’s happy though,” Naruto said with a small smile, “I haven't felt him be so…peaceful,”

“That’s so weird,” Shikamaru cringed. “I can't imagine being emotionally bonded with my best friends. I’d just be hungry all the time,”

At that, Naruto laughed with his whole chest.

Yes, he and Sasuke were emotionally bonded, or that’s just the easiest way to put it. They can tap into this so-called ‘Bond’ to share their emotions with the other. It started after they almost died together at the Valley of End. Naruto had passed out on the way back home, and Sasuke’s fear brewed so strongly that it woke him up like a nail to the head. For a second, he had interpreted Sasuke's fear as his own. He woke up to Sasuke clutching his chest and begging him to stay awake.

“You can still die!” he glared with those beatiful glassy eyes, “Don’t leave me now, usurotonkachi!”

Just then, he felt the Bond flare. Sasuke was angry, and for a moment, Naruto worried. That is, until he felt a tendril of hunger as well and realised Sasuke was just hungry and angry about it. He could imagine Sasuke’s handsome face screwed up in annoyance while holding his stomach. He snorted and sent some amusement over to Sasuke, to which he responded with more anger. It brought him more comfort the he bothered to admit.

“Look who’s here,” Shikamaru said, snapping him out of his reverie.

Naruto sat up and turned behind like Shikamaru to see Kakashi-sensei walking over to them.

“Good morning,” He said good-naturedly, his only eye crinkling. They echoed his greeting, and the older man's expression hardened. “Naruto, I’ve got some news for you,”

Naruto frowned. Has his paper been graded already? It usually takes about two whole days to mark his paper. Did they somehow mark it all so soon? His anxiousness must’ve shown because Kakashi raised a calming hand.

“It’s important, but you don’t have to be scared, Naruto. Come,”

…

“Full marks?”

“Full marks,”

Naruto stared in disbelief at a smiling Tsunade, “Your fucking with me, right?”

“Language,” she said sternly before her face softened, “Two hundred and forty marks. That’s a hundred per cent, Naruto,”

He could barely hear the applause that broke around him over the thundering blood in his ears. Suddenly, he felt every bit of the twenty-four years of hard life come crashing down on him. His breath felt harsher than usual, and his hands were shaking.

All he could bring himself to do was stare at the paper, his paper, in Tsunade’s hands. The paper that teachers and past hokages had taken turns throughout the night marking because Iruka sensei, his invigilator, had asked for it.

“Naruto,” Tsunade said softly, “You are going to be Hokage.”

Cheers broke out everywhere, and he felt himself almost fall to his knees if it weren't for Sakura. The girl had caught him in a bone-crushing hug while crying herself. The rest of his friends joined, all of them laughing and shouting. He felt Rock Lee wrap his arms around him and cheering while Ino somewhere yelled “‘Bout damn time!”. His mentors stood farther away but no less present. Iruka had tears in his eyes; he didn't bother wiping them away, and Kakashi looked as if all of his regrets were wiped away in one fell swoop.

It felt like Naruto’s heart could burst out of his chest. He smiled so hard it hurt, and his tears were ones of pure joy. He felt the Bond open up and be flooded with his flurry of emotions. The angered confusion he felt in return made him laugh openly.

He was going to become Hokage. A once faraway dream was now a breath away.

He could not wait to tell Sasuke.

~~~

Sasuke felt a flare of happiness so strong, a hysterical laugh escaped his lips before he could stop it.

Puzzled, he did a double-take. Naruto’s emotions are far too strong. He sent back his own emotions and felt amusement bubble up. Sasuke raised a brow.

What had happened? Knowing the idiot, he probably got the biggest bowl of ramen he’s ever seen.

Naruto closed up the Bond, and he could no longer feel anything. A little disappointed despite himself, Sasuke took another bite of his half-eaten rice and fried fish, still confused.

He was in the middle of a random forest in the Land of Sound. After finishing a minor mission Kakashi had sent, he was on his way to a town nearby to stock up on his supplies. He was sitting on a tree branch far from the ground and eating fish he had caught just earlier this morning. He had no mood to fish, but alas. At least he didn’t need a fishing rod. If kusanagi could speak, she’d complain about being run through fish innards.

Sucking on a fish bone, he chanced a glance at the blinding sun. It wasn’t anywhere near midday, but he needed a few hours to get to the town. Quietly, as it was out of habit, he packed away his things and threw the bones at a feral cat who was eyeing him from the ground.

Sasuke had been travelling alone for seven years now. He comes and goes, never staying at a place for too long. If anything, the forests and jungles were his second home. He took minor missions that were far below his calibre as a shinobi, but he didn’t mind. Konoha, he visits rarely, but still visits. Partially, to show those shitty elders that he’s still alive.

But mostly, so he could see Naruto.

Naruto didn’t forget about him. Quite the opposite. He receives letters from him all the time. Sometimes, once a week, when nothing noteworthy happens, or thrice a week when it does. Note-worthy being gossip, a new expensive edition of ramen or complaints about Hokage training. His toad hates them both now.

And Sasuke pretends it’s a nuisance, but he answers each one, so his hawk hates them both now, too.

I should send one soon, he thought. He felt a rush of warmth at the thought.

…

When he reached the town, it was well past midday. His clothes were sticking to his body like a second skin because of the sweat. Annoyance was beginning to build within him before he finally spotted an inn. With a small sigh of relief, he pushed past a crowd of people and walked right into the dingy place.

“Room for one?” he asked the person behind the counter, taking off a layer of clothing.

The pipe in her mouth wobbled as she spoke with a thick accent, not bothering to look up from her magazine, “Room eighteen is free, darlin’,”

“How much?”

“How long ya stayin’?”

“Just the night,” he said immediately.

“50 ryo, then,”

He paid at went up to his room. Scowling, as he passed by a room that definitely housed a couple by the sound of their activities, he found his room at the end of the second hall. After pushing a creaky door, he finally sat down on a cheap bed and flopped backwards.

He was relaxed for all but five seconds before there was a thump on his door.

I’m not gonna get up, he declared in his mind. Stubbornly, he hoped whoever was at his door would just leave him be.

Thump, thump.

“Coming!” he said, barely teetering on a shout. With an annoyed sigh, he pushed himself up.

Upon opening the door, he saw nobody. On guard, he activated his sharingan-

“No need for that, it’s just me!” he heard something croak.

He looked down and found a familiar toad. It was quite ugly. It was a yellow toad with pink spots on its back and big bulging eyes with a bow around its neck. But the last time he said that, she threw up a bunch of dead bugs onto his cape. “Himeko,”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s me,” she said, obviously not delighted to send yet another letter. “Here you go, take your shit already, I got stuff to do,”

A bold claim, since he knows her hobbies include ogling Naruto any time she can. He simply took the scroll strapped to her back and slammed the door in her face.

A giddiness rose within him as he considered the scroll in his hands. Opening it, he realised Naruto’s writing was messier than usual. To his horror, there were droplets of water which he was inclined to believe were tears. With wide eyes, he began reading.

Dear Sasuke,

You will not believe what just happened!! Remember my final exams? I told you about them in my last letter?? I got full marks!! Yeah, like 100% !! Guess what that means? I can become Hokage way earlier than I thought!

I’m so happy, I'm literally crying as I write this. I’ve wanted this for so long, and now that it's here, I don’t know what to do with myself. I impulsively bought another plant, for some reason?

I can't belive it sasuke. I can finally do it. I can start to change Konoha for the better. There won't be any more kids like Neji, Itachi or Obito or you and me again. Not under my watch.

I know you're probably busy, but if you can, can you come to Konoha? Maybe not like right now since the inauguration will be like next month or something. Just whenever you can, I guess? I just want you to be here, since I wouldn’t be here without you. No pressure though!

See you soon (maybe?)

Naruto.

By the time he reached the end of the letter, he was smiling. A proper smile that only comes out for Naruto. Pride warmed his very blood. Unbidden, his brain conjured a scene: Naruto standing over a crowd of people with the Hokage hat on his head. A striking smile and bright blue eyes with a world of kindness within them.

Naruto, as Hokage.

Sasuke will leave tomorrow at daybreak.

Chapter Text

Naruto was still in disbelief of his achievement the next day. It felt like he was living in a daze. Suddenly, all that mattered was the inauguration that was happening in a week.

In sounds silly but he avoided thinking about it because it made him so damn nervous. Sure, he’s been waiting for years and he has a whole list of things he wants to handle -fuckass shinobi system- but it all felt too soon. Excitement and anxiety were at a constant war within his mind.

He groaned in the middle of his empty apartment. The slight pressure at his temples promised another headache, so all the lights were off. From his spot on the sofa, his only source of light was from the half-open window next to him.

A flare of chakra from inside his mindscape was followed by a voice.

Are you okay?

“Kurama?” Naruto rubbed his eyes, “I think so. It’s just another headache, I think.”

He heard the fox hum, You have been thinking too much lately.

“Fuck is that supposed to mean?” Naruto said defensively.

You’re stressed.

“I’m fine,”

Your headaches aren’t usually this bad, brat.

“I’ve been taking care of more things than usual! That’s all,” Naruto insisted.

You should talk to Sakura, Kurama’s voice was laced with worry now. It doesn’t feel like it usually does in here since you started your exams-

“You’re being stupid,” Naruto hissed. “I feel fine,”

He expected Kurama to respond, but was left with silence. Pouting, he realised he couldn’t even feel his presence, although he felt a dash of anger that was neither his nor Sasuke's.

“I’m not gonna apologise,” he said, wondering if the fox was even listening.

“Knowing you, you probably should,”

His eyes shot towards the source of the voice, jaw dropping as he realised who it was.

Sasuke cocked his head to the side, his expression impatient. “Are you going to let me in, loser?”

“Sasuke!” he exclaimed, getting up. “I thought you were busy, you bastard!”

“I was,” he explained as Naruto opened the other window, “I got here in a day from Sound.”

“In a day,” Naruto gasped as his friend jumped into his room, “Must've been fun,” he said, smiling.

Sasuke hummed. They stared at each other, a common habit between them. How long has it been since they saw each other? Months upon months…Even with their uncanny connection due to the Bond, there's nothing quite like being in Sasuke’s presence. He wasn’t a sensory type like him, of course, what with his lack of any doujutsu. Even so, something within him immediately eased when Sasuke was around. Homely, even.

“Is it true?” Sasuke’s deep voice broke the silence, “You’re going to be Hokage?”

Naruto grinned, “You bet! My inauguration is next week!”

“I see,”

“You came for me, right?” Naruto dared to ask. And then added- “Like for my inauguration?”

Sasuke paused, “Yes. For the inaugration,”

Naruto nodded after a beat, “Right,”

This time, the silence wasn’t so comfortable. Naruto scratched his neck. “You need a place to stay?” he asked finally.

“Yes,” Sasuke said immeaditely.

“You can stay over!” Naruto suggested.

“Sure,”

Fuck, Sasuke, give me something to work with.

Oblivious to his inner battle, Sasuke reached into his messenger bag. He pulled out a scroll and handed it to him hesitantly.

“Asshole,” Naruto laughed, “Already giving me mission reports?”

“No,” Sasuke said. He lowered his hand, where it hung awkwardly. “It’s a gift,”

Naruto’s easy smile wavered. “Oh,” he let out a nervous chuckle, heart rate picking up slightly, “Gee, Sasuke, you didn’t have to!”

“Shut up and open it,” Sasuke ordered.

Naruto harumphed but did as told. Quickly, he did the necessary hand signs. The scroll burst into a puff of smoke and out of it, something popped out. Naruto barely had time to catch it. Sasuke watched in amusement as he yelped.

He glared at him, “Fuck you,”

Sasuke shrugged, reserved once more.

Naruto focused on his gift. A simple pot, with a gorgeous bunch of flowers in it. They were pearly white, small and grew in groups. A smell rose from the blooms, herbaceous and slightly spicy despite its innocent appearance.

“Nokogiriso,” Sasuke explained. And then slightly more confident, he added, “Congratulations. On achieving your dream,”

For the second time this week, Naruto was frozen in surprise. He stared at the blooms as if they would tell him how to react. When they did no such thing, Naruto forced himself to meet Sasuke’s eyes.

“Thank you so much,” he said, smiling.

Sasuke relaxed. He met his eyes and nodded.

“Come on, bastard,” he said playfully, “I’ve got leftovers!”

…

Sasuke loses his mind a little when he meets Naruto after a long time away from him.

The idiot insisted on sitting with him as Sasuke ate. As usual, he did most of the talking. Filling him in on how the legal processing for Konoha’s next Hokage was done and dusted, and how all that’s left to do is the ceremonial inauguration. It was a big deal with specific rituals for leadership and wisdom where officials, elders, clan leaders and Konoha’s people would bear witness.

“It's so much work!” Naruto said angrily. “I don’t mind the crowd, but the clothes I need to wear are crazy! Tsunade and Kakashi were lucky Konoha needed a Hokage too badly for them to do all this.”

“I can’t lie,” Sasuke said, toying with the last baby tomato, if only to continue the conversation, “I’m looking forward to seeing you in those robes. Hopefully, you’ll fall on your face,”

Naruto groaned, “You’re horrible!”

Sasuke smirked. For some reason, Naruto looked away.

“Anyway,” his friend continued, “How was your journey?”

“Same as usual,” he said, finally stabbing his tomato. “Missions here and there. Other than that, I travel.”

“More monks take you in?” Naruto teased.

Sasuke pointed his chopsticks at him, “That was one time. You know very well I just wanted to look at their texts,”

“Yeah, a lot of good those brought you,” Naruto giggled. “Gentleness is the key to living life,” he quoted.

Sasuke sneered, “I should’ve never told you about that.”

“You were so mad. Felt it all day, y’know. Gods, that was funny,”

“Fuck you,”

Because he was a very mature adult, Naruto blew a raspberry.

Conversation was easy between them. Banter was even easier. He wouldn’t say it was like no time had passed between now and when they were genins, but it was a close thing. When Naruto wasn’t around, he barely spoke. He liked it that way. Silence was Sasuke’s favourite sound. But he didn’t mind hearing Naruto's cheerful chatter or his playful insults once in a while. Like the rest of him, he felt more at home than Konoha ever will.

“I’m done,” he announced, standing up and picking up his plate.

Naruto stood as well, “I’ll set everything up.”

Sasuke washed his plate, and Naruto went to set up his futon. When Sasuke went to Naruto’s room, he found said man lying on his bed with a rolled-out futon on the floor next to him.

Naruto yawned, “Your towel’s in the bathroom.”

Sasuke hummed and turned off the lights. He slipped into the bathroom where all of his toiletries were still there, next to Naruto’s. A blue toothbrush next to an orange one. A simple black towel next to a fluffier white one. An expensive hair gel next to a small vial of hair oil.

Moving on autopilot, he barely noticed the time passed as he bathed and slid into his night clothes.

When he went back outside, Naruto was fast asleep. His chest rose and fell in steady beats, and his mouth was slightly agape.

Sasuke noticed that he hadn’t covered himself properly with his blanket.

He considered the thin fabric. A moment passed as he stared.

Biting the inside of his cheek, Sasuke lay down and forced himself to sleep.

Chapter Text

He woke up to the sound of clothes shuffling quietly. As consciousness returned, Sasuke blinked open his dry eyes, tasting the sourness of slumber in his mouth. He squinted, trying to make sense of everything. He realised it was still the crack of dawn, the sky outside the window painted in dark blue and orange. There was also a dark, moving shape at the foot of his futon. When his eyes finally adjusted to the dim lighting, he saw Naruto getting ready for the day while failing to stay silent. His lips quirked in a smile as he watched the other struggle.

“Good morning,” he said, voice raspy.

Naruto looked at him sharply, “Oh, sorry,” he said sheepishly, “Did I wake you up?”

“No,” Sasuke lied. “Classes?”

Naruto shook his head and grinned, “Not anymore. There are just a few more things I need to settle with Shizune before the ceremony,”

Sasuke hummed and pushed himself up until he was sitting. Naruto continued while he tried to blink the dryness away in his eyes, “I made breakfast by the way. Not ramen, so don’t worry, heh. I’ll come back for lunch. Do you wanna go out?”

“No,” he sighed, rubbing his face, “I’ve been eating out too much. I need home-made food,”

“Oh,” Naruto said, looking at him with surprise, “Do you want me to cook?”

“No,” he said quickly, “Sorry, I meant I’ll cook,”

Naruto bit his lip, “You sure? I just ran out of groceries,”

Sasuke pushed himself up with a groan, “Don’t worry, I’ll buy some stuff,”

“Do you need money?”

“Don’t insult me, Naruto,” he grumbled.

Naruto snorted and reached for the door handle, “Don’t tell me what do. And don’t burn down my kitchen!” he shouted before he walked out.

“It’s barely a kitchen!” he shouted back.

“Yeah, yeah!” Naruto threw a grin over his shoulder, “I’ll see you at lunch!” Sasuke heard the main door shut.

He snorted, a grudging smile twitching on his lips.

Idiot, he thought.

He sat in silence, letting the early morning sink into his bones. The dim light from the peeking sun was filtering through the curtains in weak beams and he watched them make strange shapes on the walls. His skin felt soft with slumber and familiarity. The smell of eggs wafted from the kitchen, mixing with the scent unique to Naruto and everything his gentle hands touched.

He shook his head at that last, very unnecessary thought. Scowling, he threw the blankets aside and stood up.

…

“Sasuke?”

Sasuke stopped, recognising the familiar voice. He sighed, dreading the encounter. Turning around as slowly as he could in the middle of the busy street, he saw Kakashi’s smug face.

“Didn’t know you were in town,” he said, walking closer with his Hokage robes fluttering behind him.

“Didn’t want too many people knowing,” he said, rolling his eyes and turning his back to his teacher.

“Oh, c’mon, don’t be like that,” Kakashi’s voice said mockingly as he caught up to him. “I’m assuming Naruto told you the good news?”

“Yes,” Sasuke said impatiently.

“Good. Crazy, isn’t it? Felt like yesterday when I met all of you brats for the first time,” he reminisced fondly. “Naruto was such a scruffy kid-“

“Aren’t you supposed to be in the office, Kakashi?” he snapped.

“Yes, because I’m Hokage, which you refuse to address me as,” Kakashi said equally as fast.

“That’s irrelevant-“

“It’s not even that hard, y’know. It goes ho-ka-ge-,” he said in a baby voice, “-sama. Not very ha-,”

“Is there a reason you're talking to me?”

“Oh, please, I just wanted to have a conversation with my favourite student,” he explained.

Sasuke’s lips pursed, but he resigned himself to Kakashi’s presence.

“So,” Kakashi started and Sasuke held himself back from strangling him, “Wanna know the latest gossip?”

“Whatever it is, Naruto probably told me already,”

“Ah, well, Naruto doesn’t tell everything,” he said sneakily.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, “Does this concern me?”

“Yes. A few people tried to ask out Naruto,”

Sasuke’s blood ran cold. Shedding his nonchalance swiftly, he turned to Kakashi with wide eyes, “What? Who?”

“Hinata,” Kakashi clarified, definitely smirking now, “The Hyuuga? And the Kazekage,”

“Gaara?” Sasuke seethed. And the quiet one, seriously?

“That’s the one,”

“And how did the idiot respond?”

“As well as you’d expect. Freaked out both times,”

“But he rejected them,” he insisted. And then, with a nagging sense of doubt, “Right?”

Surely Naruto would tell him if he was in a relationship? Unbidden, his mind imagined a grinning Naruto with his arms around Gaara, who looked extremely pleased with himself and Hinata, who looked at him with shy admiration. Bile almost rose to his throat.

Kakashi tilted his head in thought, eyes alight with amusement, “He considered Gaaras’s offer for a day. But he rejected him after that. As for Hinata, it was immediate rejection, poor girl,”

Sasuke let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. His eyes snapped forward, his blood finally cooling. Eyes blinking, he realised how comically he had reacted. He coughed.

“No wonder Naruto didn’t tell me,” he said slowly, “It wasn’t worth mentioning,”

“My old age and lack of doujutsu didn’t render me blind, dear student. You seem to think it was quite ‘worth mentioning’,” Kakashi said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Whatever. I don’t care who the idiot he dates,” he said tensely. Where was that fucking grocery shop?

“Sure,” his ex-teacher drawled. “There's the grocery shop Naruto goes to,”

“I know,” he said snappishly, quite done with the other’s presence.

The Bond flared and Sasuke stilled. Naruto was confused, no doubt by Sasuke’s series of emotions from Kakashi’s earlier revelation. Quickly, he reassured Naruto with his current calmness. Once he felt Naruto send back what felt like an affirmation, he relaxed and turned his attention to the aisles of groceries.

To his dismay, the other followed him into the shop as well. He grabbed a basket and scanned the shelves as the shopkeepers and customers greeted the Hokage. Sasuke tried his best to slip away, but as expected, Kakashi was on his heels.

“Fine,” the man groaned, “I’ll talk about something else,”

Sasuke squished a bell pepper with more force than needed, scowling, “I’d rather you didn’t talk at all,”

“Too bad,” he smiled behind his mask, “Did Naruto mention his troubles with security?”

Sasuke slowed his walk, “No,”

“It's nothing really,” he shrugged, “Naruto is supposed to choose a few ninjas as his personal security team. But, Tsunade mentioned that he might need more security than the previous Hokage, because of his popularity. There are also rumours-“ Kakashi’s voice dropped, “-that some people are scared of what he has planned,”

“What?” Sasuke pried.

“No one knows. But you know how ambitious he is. People know his ideas will change Konoha, possibly the world. Tsunade’s right, he needs more protection. I’ve already started looking through our Jonin files to see who will fit,” he raised his voice to its normal volume, “Not that I’ve succeeded so far,”

Sasuke slowly turned to the onions he had been inspecting.

Naruto had many good connections, friends even. Of course, this means more enemies. He thought back to the earliest Hokage's premature death, Naruto’s father. And then Sarotobi, at the hand of Sasuke’s ex-master. At the end of the day, the strongest ninja was the Hokage, so their people, security or not, will never be on the level of their self-protection.

Unless, of course, it does.

In a way, Hashirama had lived a long life with Mito Uzumaki and his brother Tobirama by his side. Tobirama himself had Sarotobi. Tsunade with Jiraiya and Kakashi. Kakashi with Naruto. They weren’t even security, but in a wa,y they were. Just the intimidating idea of taking on the Hokage and their powerful -almost as powerful as them- subordinates fended off plenty of enemies with malicious intent.

“Well,” Kakashi said suddenly, snapping him out of his reverie, “I should be off. I can only be so long before Shizune realises I'm gone,”

He raised his hand goodbye and left the shop, leaving Sasuke alone with his thoughts.

…

Sasuke set the grocery bags on the counter and let out a breath. He began taking the items out of the bag and restocking Naruto’s pathetic excuse of a kitchen.

What should I make…

He settled on spinach salad and beef rice. Quickly, he got to work. About an hour later, he was pushing the steaming rice and beef into two separate plates for Naruto and himself. The aroma made his mouth water and he hoped Naruto wouldn’t be long. He was starving.

Totally the only reason.

He set the two plates on the table, accompanied by a bowl of vegetables. Smirking, he wondered how he should taunt Naruto into eating them. Make it into a competition, maybe?

Happy with his work, he covered the food with a big food cover. He stepped away and looked around, wondering what he should do until the idiot came back.

People know his ideas will change Konoha, possibly the world.

His face pinched, displeased. Why was he thinking of Kakashi’s words now? Of course, Naruto would change the world, he wouldn’t expect anything else from him. And yet…

They could never thoroughly discuss politics in their letters in case they somehow fell into the wrong hands. However, their conversations when Sasuke comes back once or twice a year were more insightful. Naruto spoke of Hyuuga’s twisted slave system and Konoha’s treatment towards orphans. Sasuke had been reassured, both by his words and his previous actions. And yet...

What exactly has Naruto planned?

His eyes roved over the humble apartment. The living room had a large balcony that led to Naruto’s small garden. Among the lush leaves and colourful petals, was the new nokogiriso he had gifted. The rest of the apartment was simple and homely. There was a stack of books on a short table next to the sofa. One of them was a leather-bound book with a pen wedged between the page and cover. Could it contain…?

He dropped his eyes to the food. What was he thinking? Naruto had so much trust in him and here he was, musing the idea of going through what could be classified as Hokage-to-be information or worse, his diary. Teeth gnawing at his lip, he willed himself to forget about it.

Besides, he could just ask Naruto about it. The other man had insisted again and again that they were best friends and now even Sasuke had learned to accept the label. Best friends told each other everything, right? They pretty much have that down, what with how they can barely go a week without sending letters to each other. Yes, he will just ask.

Naruto’s worry washed over him. Sasuke’s eyes widened. Had his emotions flooded the Bond again? Speedily, he sent back a sense of comfort, hoping it would be enough. After a beat, he felt Naruto relax.

Grumbling, he reached for one of his books on Naruto’s shelf that he had left the last time he was there. He sat and settled down to read until his friend reached home.

…

Naruto whistled as he walked down the hallways of his apartment. Shizune had helped him inspect the last of the documents and now he has absolutely nothing to worry about until the ceremony. Despite the ridiculous outfit he’s expected to wear, he still practically vibrates with excitement at the thought of the event. He’ll finally be able to right the wrongs of Konoha and hopefully drag the shinobi world kicking and screaming towards a peaceful future. Of course, there is also the first reason he wants to be Hokage, so that everyone will respect him. That’s pretty much done and dusted, though.

He stops in front of his door and unlocks the door before stepping in and saying, “I’m back!”

Sasuke looked up from his book, “Lunch is ready,”

“Good, 'cause I'm starving,” he said, rubbing his hands together, “What did you cook?”

“Beef and spinach,”

“I take that back,” he groaned, “You’re tryna poison me!”

Sasuke glared as he pulled a chair, “You’re seriously going to become Hokage while refusing to eat vegetables? Konoha is more doomed than I thought,”

Naruto stuck out his tongue and sat down, “I didn’t eat too many vegetables growing up and I turned out fine!”

“You were the shortest among the genins,” Sasuke deadpanned.

“Ya’ll just tall,” he grumbled. “Also, I’m pretty sure I was just malnourished in general,”

Sasuke’s eyes hardened, “Fuck the Third,” he said hotly.

“Hey, c’mon, don’t say that,” he said, startled, “He wasn’t all that bad-“

“He let you starve, I’ll say as I please,” he shot back, stabbing his food.

Naruto cringed, “Yeah, okay, he wasn’t awesome,”

Sasuke pointed at him, “The day you properly hate someone is the day pigs fly,”

Naruto barked a laugh, “I’ve hated people before!”

“Yeah, who?”

“Augh,” he growled, “Right now? Probably the elders,”

“There we go,” Sasuke smirked, “Tell me, then,”

So, Naruto launched into a story of the elders trying to contain his studies to just basic Hokage material instead of all the historical law books. He spoke -well, complained- about how the elders went about this objective as they finished their lunch. Eventually, they end up on the couch, and Sasuke’s face falls. Naruto, of course, noticed.

“You okay?” he said, brows furrowed.

Sasuke looked at him for a long moment before hesitantly asking, “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything,” Naruto assured.

Sasuke was unnaturally still as he spoke, “What exactly do you have planned once you're Hokage?”

Naruto leaned closer and cocked his head, “That’s not such a bad question. Why were you weird about asking it?”

Sasuke raised a brow, “You haven’t told anyone else,”

Naruto frowned, “Yeah but you’re not just anyone. Look-“ he turned to grab his journal under a stack of books and opened it, “Here. Everything’s there,”

Sasuke stared for a moment at the book. His eyes flitted up to Naruto’s and Naruto pushed the book closer to him. Finally, Sasuke slowly took the book.

“Don’t laugh, okay?” Naruto said suddenly, forcing himself not to blush.

“I won’t,” Sasuke reassured.

He opened the book and Naruto watched as his mismatched eyes roved the contents. Sasuke hides his rinnegan behind his bangs most of the time. When he doesn’t, either he’s fighting or in Naruto’s home which Naruto is glad Sasuke considers a safe place. Sasuke’s other eye is cool too. As dark as a deep lake that he could drown in, occasionally spinning into a crimson red that made his pale skin look more vampiric. Smiling, Naruto thinks to himself how thankful he is since he can decipher the flashes of emotion in his eyes in Sasuke’s otherwise emotionless, doll-like face.

“-down the elders council?”

Naruto snapped out of his daze, “Huh?”

Sasuke shoved the book closer to Naruto, his finger pointing at a particular line of messy writing, “This. Says you plan to take down the elders council,”

Naruto looked at Sasuke and took a deep breath, “Yeah. That’s one of the first things I plan to do,”

Sasuke slowly shook his head, “Is that even possible?”

Naruto nodded his head vigorously, “Yes. The elders are still advisors at the end of the day. The Hokage is still above them. It's just that for years, the elders have made it clear that they’ll make the Hokage’s life harder if they don’t do as they say. Either by slowing down the legal process or just going behind their backs. That’s why Hokage's tend to follow their lead,”

“Right, so?” Sasuke looked at him expectantly,

“So, the system is flawed. Even though the Hokage is above them, they have too much power to override the Hokage anyway. That’s why my plan is-“ Naruto looked around anxiously as if someone might be eavesdropping, “-to bring it to the Daimyo’s court. If I can show them the elders' position is toxic for the shinobi world's future by using their past mistakes, he’ll have to hear me out,”

“And if he doesn’t?” Sasuke challenged. “Itachi’s sacrifice is classified information.”

“Not for long,”

Sasuke stared at him, mouth slightly ajar. For the first time in a long time, Uchiha Sasuke stuttered, “Y-You’re going to bring the Uchiha Massacre to..court?”

“It’s crazy that no one else did before me,” Naruto said angrily, “I can’t just sit back and let your clan’s name get dragged through the mud. Konoha wouldn’t even exist without you guys!”

Sasuke was looking at him with wide eyes. Naruto realised the change in the air and looked at Sasuke confused, “Do you not want me to?”

“No,” Sasuke answered, “No, I mean, yes. Yes, Naruto, please bring this to court. I’d like that,”

Naruto let out a breath and laughed nervously, “Oh, uh, good! ‘Cus y’know or else I wouldn’t have much to work with. Until I get my hands on the Hokage records, heh,”

“Right,” Sasuke said, turning to him.

They sat in silence for a moment as Sasuke mulled over something Naruto couldn’t guess. His fingers twitched on the book in thought. Naruto waited with bated breath, wondering what his friend was at war with inside his head.

“You’re having security issues, right?” he said suddenly, looking at Naruto with his eyes aflame.

Naruto leaned back, reeling, “Uh, yeah! How did you-?”

“Kakashi,” Sasuke explained quickly, “You need a personal bodyguard, right?”

“Yeah? Where is this go-?“

Sasuke grabbed his hands and clasped them between his own. Naruto stopped breathing as Sasuke leaned in close as if to beg. Those coffee-black eyes looking into his own with burning purpose and Naruto felt himself become weak under their gaze-

“Let me be your bodyguard, Naruto.”

Chapter Text

The day the entire village has been holding its breath for is here: Naruto’s inauguration.

By six in the morning, the villagers were wide awake. The last of the delicate decorations were being hung up from building to building with precision. People under them scurried like mice to clear up the roads for the crowds already spilling through Konoha’s gates.  Ninjas, both behind masks and wearing hitai-te, were tasked with security and moved in small, mysterious squads with their hands resting on their weapons.

Naruto had been watching the scene unfold from the only window in the changing room. He and Sasuke had risen early in the morning to get here. A few ninjas led Naruto to this room while Sasuke stood guard outside.

Uchiha Sasuke, once a rogue ninja who defected from the Leaf, is now Uzumaki Naruto’s bodyguard. What a thought. Kakashi was thrilled when he got the news. The legal process was over in the blink of an eye. Now, Sasuke was dubbed simply as his bodyguard. Not a ninja of the leaf or even a jonin. Just Uchiha Sasuke, Head of the Uchiha Clan, is positioned as the new Hokage’s trusted personal bodyguard.

A door opened with a bang behind him, and Naruto jumped, frightened out of his train of thought.

Tsunade marched into the room with a large box, no doubt containing his ceremonial robes. Following her were two other women who wore simple kimonos with the sleeves tied back. Both of them moved silently, not meeting Naruto’s eyes even though he craned to look at them curiously. In their hands were trays with bottle upon bottle of ointments, powders, soaps and oils.

Tsunade, in a stark comparison to the other two women, had the air of a cranky aunt who was woken up far too early, if her poorly combed hair and wrinkled haori were anything to go off of. She waggled a finger at Naruto, the box sitting on one side of her hip.

“You look a mess!” she scolded. “Did you even try to make this easier for me?”

Naruto’s hackles rose, “You said you’d help me with everything last night!” he shot back.

Tsunade waved him off, “I was drunk! I didn’t mean you could just wake up and throw something on before coming here!”

“Yeah, well, too late…hag,”

“What was that?!”

“Nothing,”

Tsunade growled.

They were in the Hokage’s changing room in the Hokage Tower. It only ever gets used anytime a Hokage is inaugurated, but since Kakashi and Tsunade didn’t have the privilege of a ceremony, the room had been practically abandoned. And yet, you wouldn’t be able to guess it as it was sparkling clean. The many mirrors with intricately carved frames standing around them sparkled, the sofa cushions smelled of sandalwood, and the bathroom in the corner of Naruto’s eye was so white, it hurt to see. Making him look like his absolute best was not just something to mark off in the schedule for today, but rather a goal set out for the three women.

He gulped.

“Alright, in the bathroom to take off your clothes,” Tsunade said, setting the box down and jerking her head towards the bathroom, “Sawako and Komi will help you.”

Naruto gawked, “What? Help me?!”

“Yes,” she snapped, “They’ll bathe you.”

“Why?” Naruto demanded before looking at the two women, “No offence,”

One of them went red while the other shook her head, looking bored. Well, at least he wasn’t the only one mortified about this whole situation.

“Because you don’t need to just look good. You need to smell good, your skin needs to glow, your hair needs to look fluffy-“ Tsunade counted off her fingers, before sighing, “It's just for one day, brat.”

Naruto ground his teeth, his cheeks colouring, “Fine! God this is so fucking embarassing,”

Sawako and Komi followed him silently as he walked into the spacious bathroom. One of them handed him a fluffy towel. He looked at her, smiling nervously.

“You’re…?”

“Sawako,” she smiled. “You can take off your clothes while we wait for the water to rise, Naruto-san,”

“Naruto is fine,” Naruto assured.

Sawako shook her head, “We can't, Naruto-san. You’ll be Hokage soon, we must address you with respect.”

“Respect is overrated,” Naruto scoffed.

Sawako giggled and bowed her head politely before joining her friend in arranging the bottles.

Naruto watched them for a second. Once he’s Hokage, everyone will have to treat him with respect. He wanted that, of course. But he hoped it wouldn’t erect a wall between him and his friends for the sake of professionalism. To that, Naruto made sure to remember to remind his friends not to call him anything else except his name. His friends, addressing him as Hokage-sama? A strange thought…How would Sasuke look calling him that?

Unbidden, his mind created a vivid answer to his question.

Sasuke leaned close to his face, face impassive as usual. His pale hand reached out to brush away the cloth hanging off the Hokage’s hat. Naruto’s heart hammered as his fingertips grazed his cheek. Those sharply carved lips twitched upwards in lieu of a smirk. “Hokage-sama? You're still usuratonkachi to me,”

“Naruto-san? Your clothes,”

Naruto jumped for the second time today. “Sorry!”

He stripped to the nude, trying to ignore the fact that there were two other women in the room with him. Once his boxers dropped to the floor, he quickly grabbed the towel he was given off his shoulder and wrapped it around his waist in record time. It was a small mercy that the water was still rising in the tub in the middle of the room. Naruto leaned against the sink and watched the women work. The sure-footed way they walked and the elegance in their hands calmed him.

After pouring countless fragrant oils and flower petals into the tub, the steaming water finally reached an appropriate amount. Komi turned to him, and he straightened at her serious gaze, “Please take off the towel and get into the water, Naruto-san. We will turn,”

Naruto blushed as they turned away from him. Grudgingly, he took off his towel. The chill air made the hairs on his body stand. Quickly, he moved closer to the tub and sank into the water with a plop. Some of the water splashed out, but Sawako and Komi didn’t seem to mind as they turned back to him.

“We will start of by bathing you with this water and our hands to get your whole body wet and loosen the dead skin” Sawako explained patiently, “After, we’ll drain the water and get you on a chair before we scrub you with some of our sponges to get the dead skin off. This might hurt if you’ve never done it before. Then we’ll use another batch of water – ice water this time- to wash your hair and body. Then some soap will be applied to your skin, and it might burn a little; don’t worry, it’s just to make your skin brighter. We’ll leave it to dry for about fifteen minutes to shampoo and condition while we wait. Then-“

“Fucking shit,” Naruto said, aghast. “Just do it before I escape,”

Komi chuckled darkly, and Sawako gave him a pitiful smile.

…

By the time Sawako and Komi were done with him, he felt like three layers of skin and had been scrubbed off, and then the remaining skin had been polished to a shine. It burned to move so once Komi had patted him dry and applied a lotion that helped a little, he’d crashed into the closest sofa, modesty be damned. As he lied there, groaning and processing the longest, most painful shower he’d ever taken, Tsunade threw a towel over his bare ass.

“Well,” she said, looking from Naruto and then to the women, “Thank you, ladies. That’s all we needed. Please collect your payment from the ninja outside.”

“Thanks, guys,” Naruto said, his voice muffled by the cushions, “But I hope we don’t have to meet like this again.”

“That’s ok, Naruto-san. Good luck!” he heard Sawako say cheerfully. He simply raised a weak thumbs up in return. He dropped it limply when he heard the door close, indicating the women were exiting.

“I take it that you didn’t like the bath?”

“Please never make me do that again,” he said quickly.

“Nah, don’t worry. It’s just a one-time thing.”

“Better be,” he scowled as he pushed himself up.

Naruto found that his skin didn’t hurt as much. He stretched this way and that just to make sure before he dug into his bag to wear his underwear. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Tsunade, who was watching him expectantly. She jerked her head towards the centre of the room, where the mirrors formed a semicircle around the area.

Naruto walked closer and stopped where Tsunade needed him. She reached for the robes laid out on the table. Blue eyes followed the direction of her hand-

His breath caught in his throat.

There was a kamishimo in the lightest orange with sunflowers and crimson nine-tailed foxes stitched along the fabric. His kosode was snow white with barely-there embroidery in a geometric pattern that hypnotised him. A hakama was next to it, the pleats neatly arranged with blood red linings at the ends. The silks seemed to shimmer as the light bounced off their planes.

His heart began to race.

“Oh,” he breathed.

Tsunade looked at him knowingly “It finally hit you?”

Naruto’s hands twitched. Not for the first time, he felt the ghost of the hokage hat’s weight on his shoulders. His skin seemed to tingle, almost as if considering the responsibility these robes would bring. The air around him felt alive as it thrummed around him, drowning out the sounds from the rest of the building, focusing on Naruto’s very pulse.

Up until now, it hadn’t felt real. He spent his life living for this moment, and yet it had always felt so far away from his fingertips. Years of training to be the strongest. Hours of studying history, politics and law. One too many people who had poured oil on the fire of his dream with their tragic stories, so in-tune with the pain of his own. Neji, Gaara, Itachi, Kakashi, Pain, Obito.

Sasuke.

‘Let me be your bodyguard, Naruto’

Naruto closed his eyes as if pained, “Yeah,”

“I’m proud of you, brat.”

Naruto smiled melancholy and looked at Tsunade, “Thanks, granny.”

…

Sasuke and several other ninja were standing guard outside Naruto’s changing room for who knows how long now. He shifted his weight to his other leg, Kusanagii clinking from where it was strapped to his hip. If he were any lesser man, he would have requested a chair by now.

At long last, the door opened. The sight that followed made the other ninjas gasp behind their masks. Sasuke’s eyes widened, and his lips parted.

He wanted to say Naruto looked ridiculous because the man looked supremely uncomfortable in his whole outfit. But as someone who once grew up surrounded by silks and satins, Sasuke knew Naruto was quite the sight. The kamishimo brought out Naruto’s natural warm tones, making him look like a painting of Konoha’s blinding high noon. His hair was combed and gelled to neatness. The skin that was visible despite the modest covering of the kosode was bright and even with tanned smoothness.

Sasuke blinked at the sight before sobering, “You look like a traffic cone.”

Tsunade barked a laugh, and Naruto seethed, “What?! Augh, I knew you’d say something!”

“My pleasure. Is it comfortable?”

“Like shit,” he snapped, “Its tight and heavy-“

“That’s normal,” Tsunade interjected in a serious tone, “You guys need to go now, by the way.”

“Right,” Sasuke nodded his head curtly to the Anbu stationed with him.

They nodded once back and moved with ghost-like silence around Naruto. Naruto seem to know better than to deny the security because he didn’t show any displeasure. He pursed his lips, no doubt biting back a retort on how this was all unnecessary for the Number One Unpredictable Ninja. Sasuke smirked before standing in front of him, hand resting on Kusanagi.

Tsunade nodded, satisfied and turned to him, “I’ll leave it to you then.”

“You won't be with us on the stage?” Naruto inquired, frowning.

Tsunade shook her head, smiling, “It's gonna be just you, Kakashi, the elders, the monks and security. I’ll be in the crowd with everyone else,”

“Aw man,” huffing, he relented, “Okay. See you later,”

“See you. Good luck with your speech!”

“Thanks!” and then, when she was gone, “I’m gonna need it,” he said to Sasuke, scowling. “Took me days to write and then twice that to memorise,”

“Don’t choke, loser.”

“Shut it, bastard. I can do this,”

…

“I can’t do this,”

Sasuke sighed, and Kakashi looked upwards, as if begging for divine intervention.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Sasuke said, rolling his eyes. “I saw you pouring over your speech at, like…everywhere,”

They were inside, about to head out onto the balcony of the Hokage tower. Sasuke’s new Anbu subordinates had left and were all around the balcony in their respective positions that Sasuke had chosen. In the room now were he, Naruto, Kakashi, a few monks and the elders.

Naruto, who had all but marched to the door that led to the balcony, froze at the sight of the crowd and dissolved into this- this-this puddle of anxiousness and sheer fright. Sasuke almost felt bad.

“That’s not enough!” Naruto shouted, fingers gripping at his locks, effectively ruining Tsunade’s handiwork in a matter of seconds, “I can’t- Maybe- Fuck, look at the crowd!”

“Naruto, you’ll be fine,” Kakashi tried, tiredly.

Sasuke heard whispering and looked at the monks from the corner of his eye. One of them looked onto Naruto’s breakdown with a disapproving frown, his saggy skin pulling around his lips. He leaned close to his companion and whispered.

“Is this our new Hokage? Are we sure Konoha isn’t doomed?”

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He turned fully towards the monks and pushed aside his cape with a flap. Kusanagi came into view, and the one who had whispered smacked a hand to his mouth.

“I advise you to watch your mouth,” he said in the same low tone.

“Forgive my companion,” the other, shorter monk said. He raised his hands placatingly, “He doesn’t know his place sometimes.” he turned to his taller friend and whisper-yelled, “What did I tell you about reading a book by its cover?! I’ll have you know that this boy had-“

He scoffed and turned back to Naruto and the rest. The future Hokage seemed to still be in shambles if his shaking like a leaf was anything to go by. Sasuke pursed his lips and walked towards him.

“Hey. You're not seriously getting stage fright right now, are you?” he said.

Naruto looked up and growled, “Shut up! I am not!”

Sasuke raised a brow. Naruto’s façade crumbled.

“Fine,” he said, defeated, “Maybe a little,”

Sasuke’s lips twitched, amused. He turned to the others, “Give us a minute,”

Kakashi didn’t look the slightest bit surprised. He gave them a thumbs up and ushered the small crowd away.

“Alright,” he said patiently when the others left the room, “What's wrong?”

“Nothing,” Naruto insisted.

“Doesn’t seem like anything when you were pulling chunks out of your hair,”

He groaned, “Granny’ll kill me.”

“Seriously,” Sasuke pried, “What's wrong?”

Naruto's eyes dropped to his shoes. Sasuke cocked his head in confusion. It's rare for Sasuke not to be able to read Naruto. The bond aside and even their history aside, Naruto was fairly an open book.

Sometimes though…

Sometimes it felt like Naruto could retreat into his mindscape, too far away for even the Bond to reach. A place where he ties up his emotions to a chair and throws it behind a locked door. For the longest time, the hate he had against the villagers resided behind that door. Then came the guilty resentment he had against the men who had wronged him in life. The Third Hokage, who handed him his survival in the form of crisp bank notes in an envelope. Kakashi, who knew his parents and did nothing to soothe an orphan’s pain. His Sage master, who failed as a godfather for half of Naruto’s life. His father, who unknowingly doomed him to isolation.

Deep down, Sasuke knew that he was one of those men. A friend who forged an irreplaceable bond with lonely Naruto. Only to hack at it with all his might once he got a lick of power.

He stared at Naruto, wondering if he was in that mindscape at that very moment.

“Please,” he almost begged, “Talk to me,”

“I’m just-“ he said before sighing exasperatedly, “I’m scared. It's so stupid, cuz ive wanted this my whole life. I’ve been preparing for this my whole life! And I’m not second-guessing this at all. It's just. It didn’t feel real up until now, damn it. And I didn’t let myself think about it. So here it is, I guess. All of it crashing down on me, right now,”

Sasuke’s hand twitched on his side. He stopped himself from reaching out to stroke Naruto’s hair or pull him into a hug. Naruto wouldn’t want that. Instead, he looked at Naruto in warning. He looked at Sasuke quizzically, but his eyes soon widened when Sasuke forced the Bond open.

Naruto’s fears washed over him like a cold wave. His palms were quick to dampen, and he gritted his teeth to stop them from chattering. The loud noise of the bustling crowd outside died down to focus on some kind of ragged noise. It was his shallow breaths.

After gathering his wits, Sasuke looked at Naruto.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Naruto whispered.

“The Bond,” Sasuke began, straightening, “that we share… is strange. Nobody else has it, and we don’t know how it happened either. But we know how it works. If your emotions are strong enough, I will feel them. If you want me to feel your emotions, I can. And if your emotions are too much, I can take them on with you,”

“Sasuke-“

“I can handle your emotions, Naruto,” he said firmly, “Just like you do with mine. I went down the wrong path and strayed from my place next to you. I’ll spend the rest of my life atoning for that. And I’ll use this Bond for that goal,”

“You bastard,” Naruto said breathlessly.

“So please,” he said, painfully vulnerable, “Since you bear the burden of my hatred, let me bear the burden of your pain.”

Naruto’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. Sasuke stiffened, hoping he hadn't said the wrong thing. Then, Naruto laughed brokenly.

“You just reused my lines.”

Sasuke shrugged, “You’re better at this than I am.”

“Weird as fuck that youre admitting that im better than you at something,”

“Don’t get used to it,” he said, amused, before sobering, “Naruto, I know you're nervous, but you were excited about this for a month. That excitement was real, wasn’t it?”

Naruto nodded, smiling weakly, “Yeah, yeah, it was.”

“Then what's the big deal? Just focus on that excitement. I’d hate for you to be a wreck the whole ceremony when this whole day is for you.”

“You're right,” Naruto nodded, the colour returning to his face.

“I am,” Sasuke said, “Look, the ceremony will start with Kakashi’s speech and then the elders’ speech. This is all before Kakashi initiates you. It should be enough time for you to calm down. If you feel like it's too much, open up the Bond. I'll be at the other end,” he reassured soothingly.

Naruto nodded again, “Okay. Okay!” he slapped his cheeks with his palms, “Okay. I've got this!”

Sasuke let out a relieved breath when Naruto turned away. His friend began wringing his hands and hopping from one foot to the other as if readying for a battle. Sasuke shook his head, bemused.

“We’re ready!” he called out to the doo.r

The door slammed open, and the short monk stormed in, followed by the others. “About time! I apologise, boys, but it's high time we get out there!”

Kakashi hummed nonchalantly, “Yes, yes, we should hurry.”

“Right!” Naruto said, voice cracking, “Let's do this!”

…

Kakashi opened the door at long last, and Naruto’s breath was stolen from his lungs.

The ground below them was overflowing with people. They began to roar with reckless abandon once they caught sight of Naruto. The gravel at his feet seemed to shake with their voices, shouting and screaming his name. Some thumped their chests and stomped their feet with an almost insane ferocity.

Naruto’s eyes shot to the buildings along the large crowd. Almost all of them had screens propped up on their roofs. Gone were the advertisements and signboards. Instead, there was a projection of his and Kakashi’s faces.

And Naruto? Despite it all, he was smiling. He hadn’t even felt it form on his face until he caught sight of himself on those screens. Immediately, almost as if he was never nervous at all, pride bubbled up within him.

With Sasuke's words echoing in his head, he smiled wider, greeting the crowd with a large wave. They shrieked in their hurry to wave back.

Naruto laughed, and he could barely hear it with his ears. He turned to Sasuke, who was behind him. He was smirking, and it was dangerously close to a smile. He cocked his head as if to say, ‘Told you so,’.

Naruto bit his lip and turned back to the crowd as he walked to his assigned seat. He held himself back from running to the rail and looking for familiar faces. While he and the elders and monks sat in the middle of the balcony, with Sasuke behind them, Kakashi walked to the podium in front of them to their left.

He was in his casual Hokage regalia, consisting of his cloak and hat. He leaned over the mic, and the sound of it turning on was enough to silence the crowd under them. Naruto watched in awe when his cool demeanour slipped away into a stern one; the first post-war Hokage, Hatake Kakashi.

“My fellow villagers. Thank you all for attending today for this sacred ceremony. As you all know, we are all here to bear witness to the seventh Hokage’s inauguration. And that person is, Uzumaki Naruto.”

“Special class Joinin level Ninja, jinchuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox, Kurama, Hero of the Pain Attack and one half of the key to our winning of the Fourth Shinobi World War. His list of feats goes on, and there might be more that we may not even know of. It is with great pride that I admit that there is no one else I would rather pass down my hat to.”

Naruto beamed when Kakashi stole a glance at him, smiling with his eyes.

“To open the ceremony with a happy note,” he continued with a glint in his eye, “I’ve decided to retell his journey. Starting from the very first day he became my student and a part of the three-man cell called Team 7…”

And on he went, for at least an hour, recalling Naruto’s story like it was an epic tale. At times, Naruto caught himself listening as if it weren’t his experiences. Hearing it being told like that was eye-opening; he never caught a break, did he? And to think he was complaining about years of Hokage training when the most normal day for sixteen-year-old Naruto was avoiding the clutches of the Akatsuki…

Kakashi finally began to close his speech, “That being said, once again, I must admit, there is no better man for this role. I can only imagine what a progressive Hokage Uzumaki Naruto will become. I can only say that he may drag us all to peace, whether we like it or not. Naruto,” he said, looking directly at Naruto now. Naruto sat up, training his focus on his old teacher’s face, “We are all so proud of you. More than you can imagine. Please continue to bring us pride. To yourself, to your government and your village,”

Naruto stared, the words feeling like a prophecy. He nodded with determination. Kakashi seemed pleased when he turned back to the crowd. “That is all from me. As expected, this will be my last speech as the Sixth Hokage. I hope I have served you well, my people. From now on, you are in Naruto’s caring hands.”

The crowd burst into thunderous applause. Kakashi stepped away from the podium. He sagged as if the speech stole a great deal of his energy away.

“Good riddance,” he whispered as he sat next to Naruto. He snickered in response.

Next was a representative of the elders. Koharu, an old woman with a head full of grey hair tied into a bun, stood up with surprising steadiness. Her eyes, which had stayed closed for the entirety of the ceremony up until now, slowly opened. Naruto narrowed his eyes, hackles rising when Koharu watched him impassively as she stood. They broke eye contact in less than a moment as she walked towards the podium.

“Good morning, all,” she said, voice cold as steel, “Today will be a memorable day indeed. Our most esteemed candidate is becoming the seventh Hokage. His face will be carved into the Hokage mountain, as permanent as anything can be. Speaking of permanence, one must remind oneself of what the Hokage’s role is. We are a hidden village, and hidden villages are hidden for a reason. We hold the largest battalion of ninjas in the fire village. First and foremost,” her voice gained a sharp edge. “We are a ninja village. Our goal is to promote discipline, plant patriotism, and maintain dignity. One must not stray from the path that has been set for Konoha, the Village Hidden in the Leaves. One must continue to keep the village’s best interests in mind with every step we take, every breath we breathe. I beseech you, people of Konoha, Ninjas of our barracks and our new seventh government; set your heart ablaze with the will of fire.”

Cold sweat dripped down Naruto’s neck. He barely noticed when Koharu walked back to her seat next to him and her companion, Homura. The crowd clapped their hands politely, unaware of the weight of Koharu’s words.

Kakashi was back at the podium, “And now, the purifying ritual, courtesy of the High Monks of Kyomo Mountain,”

The ritual required him to sit in the middle of the stage with the monks moving around him. They hummed mantras and sometimes gave him things to hold or made him inhale certain incense as they moved the burning herbs in front of him in circles. The smell was ridiculously strong and reminded him greatly of his bath with Sawako and Komi. After that, he couldn’t bring himself to pay attention in the slightest.

Finally the monks stepped away. Naruto took a deep breath of fresh air and tried not to sneeze. With a shaky breath, he realised his most awaited moment was here.

Kakashi walked towards him, a small microphone attached to his robe. Naruto watched with bated breath as he pulled the Hokage’s Hat off his head and came to stand behind him. Naruto shivered and straightened his spine, looking forward into the crowd. They watched on, just as breathless as him.

“Uzumaki Naruto,” Kakashi said in a booming voice behind him, “You have succeeded in finishing five years of Hokage training, ten years as a ninja and a jinchuriki since birth. Today will be remembered henceforth as the day Konoha witnessed the inauguration of its Seventh Hokage, possibly its most capable Hokage yet. It is with great honour that I will hand over the weight of my responsibilities to your promising care.”

The patriotic music around them rose to a crescendo, and Naruto could barely hear the thumping of his rapid heartbeat over it. The crowd’s pin-drop silence was somehow louder than their cheering. When the fabric of the hat grazed his neck, Naruto almost jumped out of his skin. Almost as quickly as he had felt it, the rest of the hat followed, settling on his head like it was meant for it. The sunshine was blocked from his eyes, and when Naruto focused long enough past his own uneven breathing and erratic pulse, he realised-

He was now Hokage.

The crowd erupted with shouting and laughter once more, and Naruto sighed in relief and joy.

He made it.

He felt a palm on his shoulder and looked up. Kakashi was smiling at him behind his mask. He grinned back and mouthed ‘thank you’ to his old teacher. Kakashi shrugged at nodded towards the podium.

Naruto got up slowly and walked towards the podium. The applause and cheers died down once more as he stopped behind the mic. When he looked down and the people- now, his people- he finally recognised some of them. Tsunade, Iruka were in the front row, alongside his friends, the Rookie Nine. Some of them waved as he caught sight of them, and he chuckled. Finally, he turned to the crowd.

“People of Konoha,” he began, shocked at the professionalism in his tone, “I stand before you now as the Seventh Hokage. I have done many things to earn this position that I have sought after since I was a child. At first, it was a matter of pride; I wanted people to respect me. But over the years, I’ve met people who changed the way I see the world,” his smile started to fall. “Those people have gone through a lot of pain. Sometimes the pain is greater than mine. And mindlessly, I promised to change the world for them, so that no one else would go through what they did,”

“And I intent to keep those promises. Now, being Hokage isn't a matter of respect anymore. I intend to use this power for the greater good of this village and hopefully, this world. I will work towards a future where children will no longer be orphaned, where war cannot be so easily triggered by prejudice and people with souls will no longer be regarded as tools. With the power given to me now as the Seventh Hokage, I will try everything I can to stop the cycle of hatred.”

“So I ask you, my people, to lend me your strength. Put your faith in me, your strength, your worries! I will bare it all and lead us to a brighter, happier future!”

“Believe it!”