Chapter Text
Everybody thought that Naruto had accomplished all of his wishes and dreams. He is the strongest shinobi after all, what would stop him from getting what he wants?
After the war, everyone started treating him differently, like he’s some kind of God. Well, he did save the whole world with the help of Sasuke, Kakashi, and of course Sakura chan.
And he is the reincarnation of the son of a God. But at the end of the day he is still a human being. Nothing more, nothing less.
He wasn't used to everyone being so nice to him and the fact that there were a couple of girls that were flirting with him? He’s not really sure if they were flirting or just being nice to him. But Sakura chan said that they were 100% flirting with him. She said it with a tone like it was so obvious and he's the only one not seeing it.
If he was being honest with himself, he never saw anyone like that. Well, except for Sakura chan of course but he knows that it's not going anywhere because she loves Sasuke. And he wouldn't want to be in their way. He would be happy if she's happy so he would just watch from a far.
At least that's what he said to himself over and over again every single night, every single time he sees her with him, every single time he hears how happy she is with him, and every single time he has to be with another girl instead of being in her loving arms that wrapped around him it's another girl.
He doesn't want to admit it and he will never admit this to anyone else but whenever he sees Sakura chan with Sasuke he pictures himself in Sasuke’s stead. Just imagining it makes his heart flutter to no end. And as shameful as it is, whenever he’s with another woman he imagines that it's her that he's holding, her embracing him, her hungrily kissing him, her saying his name, her making love to him.
He knows that what he's doing is bad. That he needs to move on because everybody else has already moved on except for him. But no matter how much he tried, no matter how much he thinks that he is over her, whenever he sees her again, all the emotions that he thought he threw away, come crashing back in like a tsunami.
—----
He knows that when they were kids, he was such an overbearing child. He was such a chatterbox to everything, especially to her because he wants to get her attention away from Sasuke.
That was the only thing he could think of with his little brain of his, he admits it's not that good of a plan now that he thinks about it. But in his head, any type of attention whether good or bad is still attention that she would give him. Anything to get her attention.
And when Sasuke left, he knew she was heartbroken and he wanted to comfort her and tell her that everythings going to be alright. But he knew that wouldn't do anything so he made her a promise. He promised her that he would bring back Sasuke no matter what. Just to see that smile of hers again.
Sasuke is such an idiot to not appreciate Sakura and leave her alone. He would treat her so better if she just gives him a chance but whenever he looks at her, she's either looking at Sasuke or when he left, she was thinking about him.
With the promise that he made, he had to train to be more powerful so that he can drag Sasuke back to the village whether he wants to or not. He will bring him back. For Sakura.
Regrettably, he had to leave her too. For three years, training with Jiraiya while traveling the world. He really didn't want to leave her because in his head he's leaving her just like Sasuke did. But he promised her that he would write to her every week no matter what.
Over the years, they both wrote to each other. He learned that she's the apprentice of Tsunade now. And that she's a great medical ninja. He wrote that he was so proud of her. Sometimes, she even mails him some ichiraku ramen when he said he's feeling homesick and that he misses ichiraku ramen. It's sealed so it won't get rotten too quickly.
Finally, after three years he finally went back. He went back and the first thing he saw was her. She looked so beautiful. Well she always looked beautiful but he thinks because he hasn't seen her for a while his eyes made her more beautiful in his head and that's why he couldn't breathe for a while. His thoughts were completely of her. And he doesn't want it any other way.
When she hugged him. That's when his whole world stopped. Just for him to savor the moment. And when they did the bell test again, he was utterly shocked and speechless. He didn't doubt Sakura when she said that she became stronger too but she has such a monstrous strength even with that little body of hers. He was not expecting that at all. Now, he's even more scared to make her angry and hit him flying across the forest.
“Naruto kun” someone called him. Who is it? He was enjoying reminiscing about his memorable days. “Naruto kun are you awake?” That same voice asked. He opened his eyes and he saw a blurry figure in front of him. He blinked a few times to see who the figure is. Hinata
Of course, it's Hinata, who else could it be? He asked himself. He did marry her but he’s still not used to it. After he married her, he became Hokage just as fast. And well, he spent most of his days and nights there. And Hinata said that she was fine with it because he's the Hokage and he has to do a lot of important things to protect the village.
If he's being honest with himself, he's just avoiding her because he doesn't know how to talk to her without it being so awkward. Yes, before he tried talking to her when Sakura insisted that he loves her so he believed her of course and also because he wants to move on from his long time unrequited crush with the pink haired kunoichi.
Everytime he tried to initiate a conversation with her she starts stuttering and going insanely red in the face. He doesn't know what he's doing wrong. So. he talks and talks while she just listens which, don't get him wrong there's no problem with that because he talks a LOT but sometimes he just wants someone to add things or at least say anything.
“Oh, Hinata. What are you doing here?” Here, being the hokage tower in his office because he yet again fell asleep with all his unfinished paperworks. He's still rubbing his eyes away from sleep when Hinata replied “Oh, I-I just wanna give you some breakfast because I heard from Sakura chan that you've been working so hard again with all the new additions in the hospital.”
“Oh, yeah. thanks Hinata.” He smiled brightly at her and stood up to hug her. Hinata started stuttering again, no doubt feeling nervous because he hugged her. While they were hugging, the door suddenly opened and showed the face he was just having a dream about not too long ago.
“Wow, you two are quite the lovebirds huh?” smirking at Naruto while leaning against the door. “Sakura chan, what are you doing here?” letting go of Hinata to greet the pink haired doctor. “I’m just here to drop off some paperwork from the hospital.” she smiled at both of them while going to his desk and dropping the said papers and went towards the door. When she reached it she stopped and looked over her neck and said “Don't let me disturb you two!” continuing her path to the door.
“Wait Sakura chan!” he yelled out when she reached for the door knob. “Hinata's just about to leave right Hinata?” He looked at her with- he doesn’t know what face he has on right now but he hopes it's not some kind of a desperate or pleading face. But whatever face he had on Hinata saw it and had a face of confusion and a little bit of—sadness?
“Uhm- yeah I-I was actually going to go already because I have to uhm father called for me actually.” Hinata said while looking down at her feet. “Oh, are you sure you don't want more time with each other?” Sakura asked looking at her with a confused look on her face. “I mean, me and Naruto can always just discuss about this later.” Hinata looked up at her and then at him and said “NO no it’s fine Sakura Chan.” She started heading for the door and before she left she said “Bye Naruto kun, bye Sakura Chan” she practically sprinted away from them.
“okayy, so how are you guys?” raising one of her brows. “What do you mean Sakura chan?” she passed by him, heading to the sofa on the corner of his room making him follow her lead and sitting beside her. “You know, how are the newlyweds' lives going?" having a bright smile plastered on her face with genuine curiosity in her eyes.
Seeing her this close makes him forget what they were talking about. She looks so beautiful– well she always looked beautiful but he doesn’t know why but every time he looks at her it feels like she just becomes more and more beautiful. Like, she's the most beautiful woman he's ever seen and will ever see in his entire life. “Naruto!” That brought him back to their conversation. “Are you even listening to me?” he can hear annoyance in her voice if her face isn't a sign enough.
“Oh, I'm sorry sakura chan, it's just that I haven't slept properly for a while now” The annoyance in her face slowly disappeared and was replaced by softness. “What were you saying?” he asked, fully intent to actually listen to her and not be distracted with how beautiful she looks. “I was just asking you why are you always here? I heard that you pactically lived here now.” Concern creeping up on her voice. “Oh. it's just that you know being a new Hokage and– It's just a lot of work and new things to get used to.”
“Is Shikamaru not helping you or not doing his job properly? I swear if he's out there cloud gazing again instead of doing his job–” Naruto interrupted her while she started beating Shikamaru in her mind “No no it's not like that, actually he's of great help it's just that when I took in the seat of Hokage it coincides with all the new documents that needed approval and some researches, like your hospital Sakura chan”
“Okay, that's good. But I think you still have to at least give Hinata some of your time. I mean you're still newlyweds after all.” Naruto thought about what she just said and she was right. It's just that it just feels wrong. He doesn't know why. “Yeah you're right Sakura chan. I'll try to do that. But enough about me, how's the hospital going?”
She looked like she still wanted to talk about that topic but eventually gave in and let a deep sigh loose. She gave a thin smile and said “As of right now, our research has made progress, and the new technique we discovered in treating people more effectively and efficiently became a success!” She finished off with a bright smile, proud of her progress with the hospital. Naruto slowly smiled liking how happy she is with her work. “That's great to hear Sakura chan!” “The files I brought you showed the details of our report and progress. I hope you can tell me your input after you read all of them.” She said standing up reading to leave. “Okay, I have to go now Naruto. I don't wanna waste too much of your time Hokage sama.” She added teasingly with a hint of a smirk on her face.
Naruto spluttered not expecting her to call him that. He gets extremely flustered whenever she calls him that and he doesn't know why himself. Sakura also discovered this one day and calls him “Hokage sama” every now and then to tease him whenever she feels like it.