The Seventh Hokage

Sakura knew this wasn't going to be easy. Being the Head Medical Ninja in the entire Leaf Village you'd think she of all people would know what to do in this situation. But ready about it in a book and applying it in life are two entirely different things.

She took a careful step forward but despite that still managed to knock her belly against the medical table. With a wince Sakura stepped back, holding her aching stomach.

"Sakura."Ino said turning to her." Are you alright?" She along with several others of the medical staff appeared around her.

"Don't worry." She said waving them off." I'm fine." The others backed away as Sakura managed to balance herself despite the pregnant belly.

Even though the war had been over for a year now she knew things would never be the same. Naruto became Hokage replacing their old teacher Kakashi the 6th Hokage. After the pain passed her Sakura thought it would be best to go and visit her husband. So she pulled herself together and made her way over to the Hokage's Office. She put on her coat an ear-muffs and prepared to brave the cold outside.

People stopped her along the way to congratulate her. They gave their congratulations, best wishes, hopes for a boy or girl. Sakura accepted them kindly and gave a polite 'No thank you' to their offer of helping her up or down the stairs.

And then she came to it finally, Naruto's office. There was a guard stationed outside the door who greeted Sakura upon seeing her. She pushed opened the door and walked inside to see the Hokage's desk less than ten feet in front of her. But the chair was turned away from her. No doubt meaning Naruto was looking outside the window to view the village, a favorite pass time of his.

"Good Afternoon." She greeted him. But silence was her answer as she continued to make her way across the room." Good Afternoon." She said again but still there was no answer." Naruto?" she reached forward and put her hand on the chair." Are you-" But when she spun the chair around and looked forward she came upon a frightening sight. The chair was empty." The Hokage was neglecting his duties again." NARUTO!"

And at that moment the Hokage was at his favorite spot in the whole Leaf Village Ichiraku Ramen. Sitting with him were some of the younger ninja of the village. The seats were filled and those who couldn't sit stood in the hopes of eating and hearing a story from the Hokage.

Naruto gulped back another bowl and set it back down as a refreshing 'ah' left his mouth.

"Another!" He yelled. Teuchi nodded and got to work making more." For everyone!" And the children cheered at his generosity. But the cheering died down right as another hot bowl was set down before Naruto." Ah" He sighed picking up his chop-sticks and preparing to eat." You know Teuchi you cook better than my wife maybe I should hire you to cook from now one."

"Oh really?" said a voice in his ear. And it was a voice Naruto knew all too well. He turned around to see none other than Sakura standing there.

"Cherry Blossom." Naruto greeted her with an innocent smile." H-How long have you been standing there?"

"How long have you been eating here?" She asked. But gave him no time to answer." Get up."

"Alright, Alright." He said rising to his feet. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a big fold of money." Here you are, for everyone." He pointed to the children around them and set the money on the counter." Keep the change." He turned and put one arm around his wife's shoulders and began walking away. He was ready to ask her how her day was, how she was really but she beat him to it.

"Is that where you were all day?" she asked him.

"No." He responded shaking his head and not looking at her.

"Oh? Then where were you?

"My Office. Where else would-"

"Really? Because from what I heard you weren't there for more than an hour before you left." Naruto sighed he knew where she was going with this." Do you know how long I was at the hospital today?"

"All day." He responded. He leaned down to put his head down next to her's." And I know you've worked so hard." He put one hand on her belly and the other on her shoulder.

"Naruto I'm serious I-" but she was cut off as he silenced her with a kiss." You're the Hokage you-" He silenced her with another kiss. And when he was finished he spoke next.

"You worry too much. Everything's going to be fine." Sakura let out another sigh.

"Just no more joking around." She said." You've got responsibilities now. You've got the whole village to look after."

"That's why I'm out here with my people." He said raising his arms up over to his head." Their my people. Let them see me, let them know me." Sakura reached out her hands and put them on his shoulders.

"Let them see you from your office doing your work." She corrected him." That is how you can help the village." Naruto's shoulders slouched under her touch." Alright?"

"Yes, yes." He managed a smile." Alright. " She could tell it hurt him somehow to hear this and even more to admit to it. But he wanted this position and this is what it required. Only time would tell if he could be up for it." You know the Rinne Festival's coming up." He said to her." What do you plan on getting me?" Sakura did not answer but instead pointed down to her giant belly.

The next day was very much the same. And during her own break Sakura decided to go and visit Naruto to see if their talk the day prior had any effect on him.

"Naruto?" she said upon pushing open the door. And to her great surprise there he was. Behind his desk working diligently.

"Sakura." He said in a frantic voice." Good to see you."

"You seem busy." She smiled despite herself as she walked deeper into the room.

"Oh I have to be." He replied." It's my duty." He managed to pry himself away from his work for a moment to hold her in his arms.

"You know you've gotten heavier." He commented." I hope you manage to shed some of this weight after the baby." And that was something no woman ever wanted to hear. So Sakura acted naturally and punched Naruto in the face, sending him flying through the wall.

But then to make her even madder Naruto did not stay laying on the ground for long. Instead he disappeared into a cloud of smoke. Naruto was never here at all, it had all been a trick.

And if continued to skip out on work what would he do when the baby arrived.

The Hokage was meanwhile in the streets of the Village. Overjoyed with this festive time of year along with the fact that he had tricked his wife. He jumped from one rooftop to the next putting up decorations as he went a cheerful laugh to accompany him as he went along.

On the ground Shikamaru Nara and Kiba Inuzuka watched him jump along and then land before them.

"Well done Naruto." Shikamaru said. The Nara man had a black hair growing on his chin while the rest of his body was bundled up in a scarf, gloves and a heavy jacket. Kiba was dressed similar in a big heavy fur coat, with the fur running across his shoulders and around his neck but exposed to show his chest.

"Here." Kiba said handing Naruto a cup of hot chocolate.

"Tis the season." Naruto chuckled." Cheers." And he began drinking his. When he was finished he looked past his friends. And between their heads he could see Sakura making her way around the marketplace, a grimace chiseled into her face." Oh My God!" He jolted dropping his drink.

"What?" Kiba questioned looking around.

"What is it?" Shikamaru asked doing the same.

"Sakura's coming."Naruto said in a harsh whisper." If she asks you haven't seen me." Without another word he turned and dashed off into the crowd leaving his two confused friends behind.

"What do you think-" Shikamaru began.

"Hello boys." Said a voice from behind them. Turning around they saw the woman of Naruto's fears Sakura standing there.

"Sakura." Shikamaru greeted as he turned to her.

"Mrs. Uzumkai." Kiba said.

"Yes that's right." Sakura said." Speaking of which you haven't seen Mr. Uzumaki around have you?"

"I'm afraid I haven't." Shikamaru replied shaking his head.

"I haven't either." Kiba added. To avoid saying more he drank his hot chocolate.

"Uh-Huh." Sakura said nodding her head. After growing up with these two and being around them so often she'd grown somewhat wise to their antics. And right now her Bullshit meter was going off." Well if you do just happen to see him you'll send him my way, understand?" She said poking Kiba in his exposed chest.

"Yes ma'am." He replied.

"Good. Now button up." She said running her finger along his exposed chest and neck." It's winter." Kiba quickly did as he was told covering his body in the fur of his jacket.

Sakura turned away and in the distance she thought she could see a familiar yellow haired ninja making his way about. Sakura prepared to sprint into a full speed run.

But right as she took a step forward the baby kicked and the wife of the Hokage found herself buckling over from the pain. She looked forward hoping Naruto wasn't too far away so when the pain passed she could chase after him.

But when she looked he was nowhere to be found.

"Oh you wanna play games." Sakura said despite the pain." Oh we're playing games."

The next day Naruto had a sudden summons. But he wasn't found in his Office or the Training fields. He was found at Ichiraku Ramen drinking the last of his bowl away.

"NARUTO!" a voice yelled in his ear. It was so sudden that Naruto spit out his ramen on onto Teuchi's face. He turned around and saw Kiba standing there panting his guts out." We've got trouble!" he told.

"Where?"

"The Hospital." He answered. Naruto's face twisted with confusion." It's Sakura." Naruto's eyes widened with shock. Without a moment to loose he took a step forward and began running off towards the Hospital.

"Hey you still have to pay!" called Teuchi. Without a second though Naruto dug his hand into his pocket grabbed the handful of money that was there and tossed it in the old man's face. He continued to run as Teuchi began counting." Hey your still three dollars short!"

Kiba instead of following his Hokage stayed back and paid the rest of the bill.

Naruto himself arrived at hospital pushing open the doors and looking around frantically.

"Naruto!" Ino called as she appeared before him." This way." She pointed to him." At the end of the hall." He didn't even wait for her he just ran down and kicked the door open before him.

And before him he could see Sakura lying on the table surrounded by the medical staff.

"Sakura!" He said moving around and coming to her side. And on further inspection he could see she was not well. Her face was pale and her eyes were barely open." Sakura what's wrong?" He said moving closer to her.

"Naruto." Ino said getting his attention." I was trying to tell you. The baby came early…and didn't make it. There's not much else we can do for Sakura."

"No." Naruto said hanging his head.

"Naruto." Sakura's weak voice broke out. Quick as a flash Naruto bent down to her.

"I'm here." He said to her." I'm here." He pressed her hand between the two of his.

"Naruto." She said again. But her head began to bob back and forth. She was fading fast.

"I'm so sorry Sakura. I'm so sorry." Naruto said." I should have been here." Sakura continued to look at him but looked as if she was fading fast. "And I will be here." He continued." I'll find a way to balance everything. Work, the Village, and you."

"Promise?" Sakura grunted turning her head to him slightly.

"I Promise." He responded.

"Good." Sakura replied in her normal voice. Then in one quick motion the Hospital team backed away and Sakura jumped off the table and to her feet.

"W-What's going on?!" Naruto shrieked." You, the baby?"

"The baby isn't due for another few weeks." Sakura responded turning to him." But let this be a lesson to you." She pointed a finger in his chest." To remember your duties for the future."

"W-What?"

"Good job everyone." Sakura said jumping to her feet. She turned to see Naruto with a look of bewilderment on his face as he tried to comprehend what had just happened." Shall we go home?" She extended her hand to him. Most likely without comprehending the situation he took her hand and rose up to his feet." I think maybe we should get takeout?" she said as they began walking." How about Ramen?"

"Really?!" He asked looking at her and understanding.

"No dumbass."

The following afternoon Sakura paid a visit to Naruto's Office. And when she pushed open the door and was sitting behind his desk signing paper after paper.

"Naruto." She said upon entering.

"Sakura." He responded tilting his head up for a glance at her before returning to his work.

"Working hard?" she said walking over and standing at his side, observing him carefully.

"Hardly working." He responded with a joke.

"When do you get off?" she asked. "I thought we might get lunch."

"I can't." He said to her." I've got to sign all these papers. Then I have a meeting with the Village Elders at two. Then at three I-" Without warning or provocation Sakura reached out and punched Naruto in the face. Sending him from his chair and onto the ground." WHAT THE HELL?!" He yelled holding his face.

"Just making sure you weren't a clone." She smiled.