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Hokage-sama, a title he at first loved to hear, now irritated him.
It wasn't that Obito hated being Hokage, on the contrary, he loved it. He just hated that one person refused to call him by his name.
“Sorry for the intrusion, Hokage-sama” speaking of the devil, she came walking into his office with a bunch of folders, no doubt the reports of that month.
The young doctor walked up to his desk, placing down the folders on the corner. She went to leave again, but Obito found his voice, “Sakura, do you have a minute?”
Sakura turned around, smiling, “Of course!”
He hadn't actually come up with anything to say to her though, making the silence stretch on between them. Awkwardly, he decided on, “Do you have plans for dinner?”
Sakura, still smiling kindly at him, lit up, “Is it time for team dinner again? I totally forgot!”
Obito's forced a smile on his face, “No, that's still two weeks away. I was asking it because I would like to treat you.”
Her mouth formed an o shape, before speaking up again, “I don't have any plans yet, no.”
“Then it's settled. I'll come pick you up at the end of your shift if you want?” Obito offered, feeling confidence bolster him.
She smiled kindly, “I'd like that, yes.” Sakura then looked down at the watch on her wrist, eyes wide, “Oh, I have to go now, I have a meeting in five minutes!”
Before Obito could say anything else, Sakura had flown out the door again. He sighed, slumping down in his chair.
Obito felt conflicted with his feeling for the young woman. He had been their unofficial second sensei, and had taken a liking to the then genin who reminded him so much of Rin. Having seen her grow up into the strong kunoichi she was today, Obito knew he shouldn't harbour the feelings that he did. Everything got made worse when he eventually got promoted to Hokage, now being of an even more superior rank to her.
Yet he couldn't help himself. Sakura had turned into his light at the end of the tunnel, always there to listen and brighten his day up.
Letting his hand hover over his eyepatch like he always did when he was nervous, Obito sighed deeply. It was just a dinner, nothing more nothing less. He shouldn't turn it into a thing it wasn't.
As he looked down at the pile of paperwork still left to do, Obito decided to shift his focus on that instead.
-♡-♡-♡-
Sakura paced in her office as she waited for Obito to come pick her up. Nibbling on her thumbnail, she couldn't help but feel anxious.
The whole of Konoha knew the young doctor had a massive crush on Obito. She couldn't help herself, having fallen for him when she was just a young girl being taught by the fun-loving man.
And now she was going on a dinner date with the man.
No, not a date she reprimanded herself. This was just a dinner between two comrades turned friends, right?
She hadn't been proud of her crush, believing it to just be a continuation of her younger self’s infatuation. He was the first to truly believe in her, so of course she caught feelings! But why couldn't her heart still not stop fluttering whenever she saw him?
Shaking her head, Sakura decided she'd just let it go. She had to stomp down her stupid childhood crush and let it die. He wouldn't even like her anyways.
A knock at her door made her stop pacing. Quickly regaining her composure, Sakira opened the door to her office, being faced with the man she had loved for many years already.
Stop it, Sakura! Focus!
“Are you ready?” Obito asked kindly, peeking behind her into her office.
Sakura nodded, coming to step out of the office to lock it, “Yep, finished ten minutes ago!”
Obito looked apologetic, “Sorry for being late, I had a bit more work to finish.”
“No need to apologise Hokage-sama!” Sakura insisted, missing the flash of annoyance on Obito's face as she locked the door.
Turning around, she looked up at him, “What are we having?”
“Yakiniku. Its been a while since we've had that.” Obito told her as they walked down the hallways of the hospital.
Soon enough, the duo was seated in a private booth at the yakiniku restaurant Obito had led them to.
Casual chatter flowed between the two, making Sakura's mind comment on how well they flowed together.
Shaking her head to shove that thought away, Sakura startled as Obito asked her, “Are you ok?”
“Ah! I'm ok, Hokage-sama!” Sakura quickly spluttered out, embarrassed.
This time she did catch the flash of annoyance on his face, causing Sakura to flinch. Had she done something wrong?
But instead of voicing his distaste of whatever she had done, Obito piled more meat into her bowl of rice, “Eat some more. I keep hearing Sasuke complain on how you don't eat enough.”
Sakura pouted, “Just because I don't eat as much as Naruto doesn't mean I don't eat enough.”
Obito chuckled at that, “Naruto does eat a lot.”
There was a moment of silence as the meat grilled and the duo ate the already cooked food. But when Sakura looked up at Obito, she realised he had been staring at her.
She quickly looked back down at the meat she was tending to, fighting her rising blush down.
It didn't mean anything. She was just being delusional.
The end couldn't arrive fast enough, as Sakura's thoughts were slowly spiralling. She wouldn't fuck up their friendship because of her delusions!
“Let me walk you home.” Obito told her after he paid for their meal, holding out his arm. Sakura fought down another rising blush as she hooked her arm through his.
It was just a friendly gesture, not a declaration of love.
Yet Sakura's face still felt hot in the cool evening air. Luckily for her, only the dim streetlights would show off her blushing face.
Sooner than she'd liked, they arrived at her apartment building. She carefully retracted her arm, bowing shallowly, “Thank you for walking me back, Hokage-sama.”
When she heard a deep and heavy sigh, Sakura righted herself again. She examined Obito's face and concluded he was frustrated with something.
“Did I do something wrong?” Sakura dared to ask this time.
Obito regarded her for a bit longer before his deep voice spike up again, “Please call me Obito.”
Shrilly laughing, Sakura told him, “Surely I can't-”
“I want you to though.” Obito insisted, interrupting her protests.
Sakura swallowed thickly as Obito's intense gaze dwarfed her. “Thank you for walking me back… Obito.” Sakura carefully tested the name she hadn't uttered in while on her tongue.
Obito then smiled at her, really smiled at her, before saying, “Have a good evening, Sakura.”
“Thank you, Hok- I mean, Obito.” Sakura caught her mistake in time.
Obito didn't look back at her, but lifted his hand to wave her goodbye.
What Sakura thus wouldn't see, was Obito's face lit up in red.
