Author's Note: Hello, readers. I hope you have been well as of late. I myself am, for the most part. I apologize to anyone waiting patiently for me to update my other stories; I know I take forever but please continue to wait! For me, writing isn't particularly easy. I don't sit down and force myself to type what comes next. I usually only write when I'm smacked by inspiration. Otherwise... I got nothing.

Now as for this update for No Matter Where or When... This is an idea that came to me after noting how a lot of people use japanese honorifics—mainly the whole -Kun thing. While I myself am not claiming to be an expert on such things–(I don't even know most of the correct forms of using them)–I figured I'd take a shot at making a one-shot centered around the concept. Please don't laugh at me if it is incorrect, but do not hesitate to correct me. It is the only way we writers learn; by listening to our readers' critique with an open mind.

Disclaimer: In writing this fanfiction, I, in no way, make any claim about owning Naruto.

Summary: The reference to one without an Honorific can be either a form of utter disrespect or utmost intimacy. Sakura doesn't remember when her views of her teammate changed from the former to the latter.

—

Honorifics

—

"Oi, Naruto. Get your lazy butt off my couch and get to work!"

"Mn... Five more minutes, Sakura-chan."

"No, Naruto, now. If you wanted to sleep in you should've gone home last night." There was a pause and the sound of rapid smacks could be heard. "Naruto," the name was enunciated with more than a hint of irritation, "if you don't wake up right now I'll bring the visiting Mizukage down here so she can see Konoha's Hokage in his yellow tadpole underwear."

Apparently that had produced the desired result from the young Kage, if the smirk on the young rosette beside him was anything to go on.

"Sakura-chan is so mean." he grumbled, his voice hoarse from sleep as he pushed himself off the couch. He sat back, scratching the top of his head before turning towards his friend with a grin. "But I know you wouldn't really do it." At her raised eyebrow he continued, "You don't want another woman seeing me naked and falling in love with me. They might try to take me away from you."

Sakura barely managed to stifle her amused snort. "If only. You spend way too much time here." A pause. "Come on, Naruto, wake up. My mom's here and she made breakfast."

"Does she cook like you?" The question came out of the young Kage with more than a hint of trepidation.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Uh, your cooking sucks?"

"What happened to, 'I can really taste the love in your cooking, Sakura-chan'?"

"I can taste the love... just nothing else recognizable."

"Naruto."

"Hey, don't blame me for your inability to make cup ramen."

"Are you ever going to let that go?"

"I still don't see how you managed to make it catch fire; all you did was add water!"

"Naruto!" Sakura snapped, effectively quieting her former teammate. "I know what you're doing and it's not going to work."

"And what's that?" he sounded genuinely confused.

"You're just wasting time, baka!" Green eyes closed at the realization that she was getting entirely too worked up. Sakura took a deep breathe before releasing it in a long sigh. "Just hurry up so you can get to your meeting with the Mizukage on time."

"Alright, alright." Naruto relented before getting up and heading towards the bathroom. "Mind bringing me a set of spare clothes?"

"Yeah, sure. Just hurry up." the rosette replied dismissively before glancing at him when he sniggered. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing."

—

"Uzumaki-sama has grown into quite the interesting young man." Mebuki, Sakura's mother, commented as she watched her daughter stand in front of the sink, drying the dishes she'd just washed.

"You can say that again." Sakura muttered as she dried her hands on her way to the table. Sitting down she untied her hair from the small ponytail she'd had it in while washing the dishes.

"I can see why you've chosen him."

The rosette reached for her cup of tea, an eyebrow raised in confusion. "Chosen him? For what?"

"Why, to be your husband, of course." the resulting spray of tea erupting from Sakura's mouth caught the elder Haruno woman by surprise.

"What?!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot it's all about 'dating' with your generation." Mebuki chuckled at her daughter's reddening face. "But surely you two have thought about getting married?"

"No!" Sakura shrieked, a heavy blush on her face. Where was this woman coming up with these ridiculous conclusions? "Mom, Naruto and I aren't even dating!"

"You're not?" Mebuki asked, her eyebrows high. Sakura shook her head vigorously. "I just assumed; you two seemed so close. He even spends nights here?"

"Only because he says he feels uncomfortable in the Hokage manor by himself." the rosette clarified, becoming annoyed by her mother's sudden smile. "What?"

"Oh, nothing." Mebuki lifted her own tea cup to her lips in an attempt to hide her smile. When Sakura didn't look like she'd be convinced she placed her tea cup down. "You can't really blame me for thinking you two were together, dear. I mean, you two are just so close."

"He's my best friend, mom, of course we're close." Sakura rebutted, maintaining her affronted glare.

"I understand that, sweetie, however don't you think it's inappropriate to continue to behave in such a familiar manner with him now that he's Hokage if you're just friends?" Mebuki had expected her daughter's expression to morph to understanding thus when the younger Haruno merely raised an eyebrow she sighed. "He's the Hokage, Sakura. He's going to have to get married eventually."

"He doesn't have to," Sakura retorted stubbornly, "Tsunade-sama never did."

"Tsunade-sama wasn't twenty years old—even if she did look it." Mebuki countered. "At her age her only serious suitor was Jiraiya-sama and she never took him seriously.

"But you're right; Uzumaki-sama doesn't have to get married..." she paused for a second to meet her daughter's gaze, "but he's bound to want a family one day and you know it. And if you don't have any intention of being the one to provide him that then I think you need to step aside and distance yourself from him just enough for someone who does to step in."

Sakura was silent for a few seconds, her mouth opening and closing, trying but failing to articulate a response until finally she was forced to look away. "This is ridiculous!" She exclaimed, sitting back on her chair while crossing her arms. "I don't have to do anything. There's nothing going on—never been anything going on between Naruto and I and everyone knows this. If someone wants to be in a relationship with that baka, they're more than welcome to try. That is, of course, if they can manage to get that baka to look up from his ramen long enough to notice them."

Mebuki mirrored her daughter's posture while she waited for Sakura to finish her tirade about how Naruto's obliviousness and thickheadedness was the only thing preventing him from finding a relationship. He was the Hokage, after all and before that the Hero of the Leaf. Women had to have been practically throwing themselves at him since the end of the Fourth Great Shinobi War.

"—all assuming that idiot's even looking for one because I for one can't remember him ever showing an interest in women besides..."

The way her daughter trailed off, her emerald eyes widening before the unmistakable red of a blush crept up her face as she realized just whom the only person their young Hokage had ever sought to be in a relationship with was almost enough to make Mebuki laugh. Instead she affixed her daughter with a mother's patented 'well go on, child, prove me right' look.

When Sakura refused to speak Mebuki sat up slightly in her seat, resting her hands on her lap. "Our esteemed Hokage spends all his free time with the only woman he's ever shown an interest in, they behave so intimately around each other in public that most people are either in awe of or disgusted by them and he spends most nights at her apartment yet you wonder why everyone thinks you two are involved?"

"But-but-but," Sakura stammered, face so hot Mebuki could practically see steam radiating off of her. "We're just friends!" Sakura's shout only caused her mother to sigh again. The blonde woman glanced at the clock hanging in her daughter's kitchen before standing up.

"If that's what you say, dear. I don't have time to sit here and argue about this." She ignored the groan of frustration her daughter made. "I left your father at home alone and you know the mischief he gets up to when neither of us is there to reign him in."

Sakura nodded, remembering the numerous times her dad had set fire to the kitchen over the years when he'd attempted to make them dinner by himself. The rosette stood up to walk her mother to the door. "If you were going to come visit why didn't you send him out on an errand first?"

"A burned down kitchen seemed an acceptable sacrifice when I thought I'd be interrogating my daughter about just how serious her relationship was with our Hokage." Mebuki dropped one final bombshell on her daughter as she put her shoes on at the entrance. She turned to regard Sakura one last time. "Promise me that you'll consider what we talked about in regards to how you behave around Uzumaki-sama."

Sakura pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm not going to distance myself from my best friend just because some people can't see that that's all we are." Her mother frowned but seemed to know better than to press the issue when her daughter stood ready to close the door.

With the elder Haruno gone Sakura busied herself with cleaning and straightening her house after another night of her former teammate staying over and making sure to leave his freshly washed clothes hanging before she left to start her shift at the hospital.

It wasn't until lunch time that the conversation with her mother was brought to the forefront of her mind.

"Hokage-sama! Hokage-sama! Hokage-sama!" Came the excited cries from the group of kids currently running around them after catching sight of her and her ex-teammate walking to lunch during their break. Her blond companion didn't hesitate to stop and crouch down so he was eye level with the children.

"Konnichiwa, children, what can I do for you?"

The children, probably around seven or eight, seemed to remember their manners and proceeded to give a slight bow as they all chorused, "Konnichiwa, Hokage-sama."

"Is it true what Iruka-sensei said?" One kid asked.

"That depends," was Naruto's amused response, "what did he say?"

"He said that you saved the whole world!" Another kid exclaimed, jumping and spreading his arms.

"Oh. Of course! Gah!" Naruto had to catch himself when Sakura nudged him with her leg. When he turned to protest he caught sight of her disapproving look. "You didn't let me finish, Sakura-chan. Of course not." The children stopped their excited fidgeting. "I was part of a team that saved the world."

"But Iruka-sensei said you were the one who won the war."

"While Naruto certainly helped turn the tides of the war, he didn't end it alone." Sakura moved to lean over the blond, putting her elbow on his head, a move he gave no indication of protesting about. "Everyone played a part. And I was actually one of the people on that team." She declared, smiling down at the children in front of Naruto.

"Huh?" One of the boys looked at her, incredulously, making her smile become forced. Before he could say anything however the lone girl in the group elbowed him in the ribs none to gently.

"That's Hokage-sama's teammate, Sakura-sama."

Suddenly all the children's attention was focused on her. "You were the one who saved Hokage-sama?" Sakura blinked once, about to answer in the affirmative until she suddenly found herself off balance as Naruto moved to stand up.

"Yup! Sakura-chan saved me and that in turn let me assist in saving everyone else. So you see, if it wasn't for her, none of us would be here right now," Sakura felt her face warm slightly under the praise, "probably."

"What do you mean, 'probably'?"

For the next few minutes the pair was under siege from the multitude of questions the children asked them. It wasn't until one of the kids' mother came and ushered them away that they managed to escape, but not before the woman said something that made Sakura go rigid from shock.

"I'm sorry that the children interrupted your date, Hokage-sama."

"We are not on a date!" Sakura hurried to correct the misunderstanding.

Naruto, for his part, didn't seem to mind, casually waving off the apology. "No need to apologize, I'm always happy to talk with any of my charges, no matter how young. It's as important a part of being Hokage as anything else."

"In any case," the woman bowed in gratitude before everyone turned when they heard the children causing a commotion further down the street, "please excuse me."

Naruto chuckled as he watched the woman hustle towards the rowdy bunch of kids. He turned to see if his companion was as amused as he was only to find her distracted.

"Sakura-chan?" He called, snapping her out of her stupor. "You okay?"

"Just thinking that you really have matured." was her excuse. Naruto grinned.

"I mean, I am the Hokage now. Anyways, let's hurry." He moved to to put his hand on the small of her back to hurry her along, as he'd done numerous times when they were running short on time. Except the moment his hand made contact with her Sakura yelped and shuffled forward.

"W-what are you doing?" She demanded. Naruto stared at her in confusion.

"Nothing? I was just trying to get us moving so we had enough time to eat before our lunch break is over." He explained as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You sure you're okay?"

Sakura nodded, all the while mentally berating her mom for getting into her head with her unwanted accusations.

'—don't you think it's inappropriate to continue to act so intimately with him now that he's Hokage?'

—

"Wait, wait, wait. You mean to tell me that you and Naruto-sama aren't dating?" Sakura flinched at the volume with which her friend spoke—they were in a public cafe after all, no matter if it was relatively empty—while noting that even Ino had taken to referring to Naruto with an honorific.

"No. Does everyone really think we are?" The fervor with which Ino nodded her head made Sakura groan. "Why?"

"Oh, I don't know? Maybe it's because for as long as anyone can remember that man has been crazy about you?"

"But that was when we were teenagers. Naruto got over his crush ages ago."

"You guys are always going out on dates."

"We are not!"

"Sakura, we've gone out on double dates together!"

"No we haven't!"

"Yes we have! Why else do you think I'd spend one of the few precious nights Shika's in the village eating out with you and Naruto so often? You're the only other couple in our group. Or at least, we thought you were."

"I just go to keep you company while Naruto and Shikamaru talk about the 'good ole days'."

Ino could only stare at her friend incredulously. "What about the fact that the only way we can get you to go anywhere without Naruto is if we tell you it's a girls night out? Otherwise you two either always show up together or are the only ones absent."

Sakura tried to refute her friend's claim but found herself unable to. They did have a habit of either Naruto going to her house to pick her up or her going to his because if he didn't show up at hers it usually meant he was still in his office signing paperwork and she had to forcefully pull him away.

"It's no secret he spends nights at your house and I'd be willing to bet you've spent a few at the Hokage manor."

"But it's not like that." Sakura felt her cheeks redden. "He sleeps on my couch."

Ino leaned back in her seat while crossing her arms. "I notice you didn't deny spending the night at the Hokage manor."

"So what if I have?" Sakura challenged. "It's only after particularly late gatherings and I sleep in a guest bedroom. All two of the times Sasuke-kun has returned he spent the night at the Hokage Manor as well. Are you going to accuse him of sleeping with Naruto too?"

It was Ino's turn to blush as she pictured the two easily most desirable men from their generation going at it. She recovered her composure soon enough.

"You're also the only person that still refers to him as just 'Naruto'. Everyone else refers to him as either Naruto-sama or Hokage-sama."

"I've lost count of how many times he's asked you all not to do that."

Ino couldn't contain the aggravated sigh that came from her lips. "It isn't proper, Sakura. He's our Hokage. That's a position that comes with a certain level of respect."

"So if I was Hokage?"

"Yes, Sakura, I"d refer to you as Sakura-sama." Ino replied before smirking. "But since you're not, I'll stick to Forehead."

Sakura gave a fake laugh before saying, "I'm still a Sannin," to which Ino merely waved her off. She stared down at her cup, deep in thought. "Surely—"

"Sakura!" Ino interrupted her. "Everyone is under the assumption that you and Naruto are not only an item but that it's only a matter of time before you two get married and have a bunch of little pink haired, blue eyed babies together."

Sakura recoiled from her friend but couldn't stop herself from thinking that, genetically speaking, her green eyes would probably win out over Naruto's blue ones. The wayward thought only made her pale before she tried to bury it into the furthest recesses of her mind.

"But we aren't like that..." Sakura spoke weakly. After a few seconds of silence she looked up at Ino. "Do you think my behavior might be deterring women from trying to approach Naruto?"

Ino held her gaze. "If you want my honest answer? Yes. At least," she continued when Sakura looked back down at her cup, "that was the case with Hinata-san."

"Wha—Hinata-san?"

"She visits Neji's grave and I see her often when I go to visit my dad and Asuma-sensei's. It's fine." Ino said preemptively when she saw Sakura getting ready to apologize. She'd had years to come to terms with both their deaths. "Anyways, we talk sometimes and once I asked her if she still had a crush on Naruto-sama." Ino paused to gauged her friend's reaction but other than looking at her expectantly there wasn't much of one.

"She said that she did still like him but that she could see now that you two were always meant to be."

Sakura felt her breathing quicken. Was her mother right? Was she really getting in the way of her best friend finding someone just because she was too blind to acknowledge that her behavior towards her best friend, towards her Hokage, was inappropriate? If Hinata, the woman who had held a crush on Naruto since as far back as she could remember; Hinata, who had gone so far as to confess to him during an attack and not as a ploy to get him to abandon his quest to save his teammate; Hinata, who had always been kind to Naruto even before he had proven himself time and time again; Hinata, who was arguably the person not only most deserving of having her feelings reciprocated but of loving their blond Hokage thought there was something going on between her and Naruto and had backed off because of it...

Across from the rosette, Ino didn't have to see the tears to know, she could tell from the sniffles and trembling hands that her friend was crying.

"—d-do?"

"What was that?"

"What do I do?" Sakura spoke louder, more clearly. "How do I make sure that I don't get in the way of someone who could love him the way he d-deserves to be loved?"

Ino couldn't help but pity the young woman across from her; the thought that she was the one who could provide their Hokage with that had probably not even crossed the rosette's mind. She reached across the table and placed her hand over Sakura's.

"You don't have to give up your best friend, Sakura. It's as simple as picking an honorific."

—

It turned out it wasn't as simple as picking an honorific. Sakura had gone home after her chat with Ino to find Naruto waiting for her at the corner of her street. When he saw her he gave her his customary smile as she approached.

"Heavy traffic on your commute from work?" He joked, commenting on the fact that her shift had ended a little over an hour ago. The small, tired smile Sakura gave him caught his attention. "Are you okay?" He raised his hand to place it on her shoulder but Sakura stepped away from his grasp. "Sakura-chan?"

"It's nothing, Na—" she faked a yawn. "It was just a long day. I just want to go home and go to sleep." She walked past him. "Let's hang out another day?"

Naruto stared at her with those expressive eyes of his. She could see the worry he had for her but he respected her request nonetheless. "Okay, Sakura-chan. Good night, then."

"'Night." Was all she said as she closed her door. That had been almost painful, considering she wanted nothing more right now than to relax with her best friend. Not to mention she hadn't even been able to say his name since she hadn't yet decided what honorific to use yet.

Over the next few days Sakura found herself avoiding her best friend while she wracked her brain over a suitable way to refer to her ex-teammate.

Her referral of Naruto as just that, his first name with no honorific, had started in their academy days because she had not liked him. She had disliked him so much, in fact, that she had used his name disrespectfully, without his permission. Many people had, though of course this was no excuse.

She had grown so used to just calling him by his name that even after she began to befriend him she continued to call him just Naruto. Never once had she thought to ask him if that was okay. And now he was her best friend. They were so close that many mistook her use of just his name as intimacy.

An intimacy which, if she were entirely honest with herself, wasn't entirely imagined. In retrospect, many of their interactions were much closer than what most intersex friends considered appropriate. They were very physical with one another, she clearly more than him thanks to her famous temper but he had been known to give her the occasional forehead slap or shoulder shove and the like. They also had a tendency to touch one another as they interacted. It wasn't unusual for them to share food or drink with one another and, although rare, Sakura could remember feeding Naruto, sometimes forcefully if he didn't comply, food from her plate if she thought it was really good and wanted him to try it. With her chopsticks!

The question then became, when had her use of his name gone from utter disrespect to utmost intimacy, not just in others minds but in hers?

'-sama' was out of the question. She had seen too many instances of her teammate being an outright dunce for her to ever refer to him as 'Naruto-sama' with a straight face. Besides, even if he was the Hokage, her own position as head Medic almost made her his equal in Konoha and as Tsunade's successor as the slug Sannin she was on the same level as the five Kages. '-dono' might be more appropriate.

While '-san' might seem the easiest fix, it was a bit too impersonal for two people who had been through so much together, especially considering he was her best friend. And '-kun' made her feel both embarrassed and wrong at the same time.

She hadn't felt this overwhelmed since the time Sai told her that Naruto...

Sakura had yet to make a decision when she received a summons to attend a meeting with the visiting Mizukage in which Naruto would be present. The thought almost gave her a panic attack but she put on her best professional mask.

"I hope we didn't pull you away at a bad time, Haruno-dono." The Mizukage said by way of greeting when Sakura entered Naruto's—the Hokage's office.

"Not at all, Mizukage-sama." Sakura replied, trying to ignore the way Naruto's face appeared to be set in stone. Was he mad about her avoiding him? "Hokage-sama."

Naruto's eyebrows rose, clearly confused about the formal address but made no comment about it. "Thank you for joining us." Sakura had heard Naruto's Hokage voice before but it still caught her off guard more often than not. "Mizukage-sama has a request she'd like you to hear despite the fact that I've assured her I already know your answer."

"Now now, Hokage-sama. If you're so sure about her response then this is nothing but a formality." The Mizukage, Terumi Mei, spoke while waving off the clear irritation in Naruto's voice. "I would hate for her to never even know of this opportunity should you decide not to inform her."

Sakura bristled at the insinuation that Naruto, her Hokage—her best friend would decide something for her and then proceed to not tell her but managed to keep her voice calm. "What is your request, Mizukage-dono"

"I would like to know if you'd be willing to teach a class of young Academy aged children from across the shinobi villages, all of whom show tremendous talent towards becoming Mednin."

Was that all? She had no problem with teaching future medics. No. It couldn't be. As if on cue Naruto cleared his throat.

"This would of course take place in Kirigakure and would thus require you to reside there for the duration of the course."

Oh. That was certainly a problem. Moving to another village even if only temporarily wasn't something she had ever even considered. But if it was for a cause such as this perhaps she'd be willing to make regular visits. Naruto again cleared his throat causing the Mizukage to roll her green eyes.

"I would also like for you to consider allowing any promising students to sign the slug summoning Contract."

"My apologies, Mizukage-dono, but the slug contract is a Konohagakure treasure and it would be irresponsible of me to allow anyone not of Konoha to sign it without first consulting not only my Hokage but also my former master, Tsunade-sama." Sakura replied curtly. "It is also impossible for me to leave my village for extended periods of time as I am Naruto-dono's personal Medic."

Neither Naruto nor Mei showed much of a reaction apart from the blond's quick glance towards her.

"If I could make a suggestion; someone could teach them in Kirigakure with regular trips here to receive lessons from myself." This time Naruto smirked while the Mizukage chuckled.

"Almost word for word as you said, Hokage-sama." Mei said. "You really know your girl."

"Believe me, Mizukage-sama, I consider it a point of pride that I know Sakura-chan so well." Naruto boasted. "I would never presume to speak for her otherwise."

"What I wouldn't give for a man to know me so well." The Mizukage spoke wistfully. "I will relay your suggestion to the Raikage and the Tsuchikage. I trust you will speak with the Kazekage?" Naruto nodded. "Good. Hopefully they will all be agreeable; though when has the Raikage ever been agreeable, hm?"

Meeting seemingly over the Mizukage stood up, bid them farewell and left. Suddenly Sakura was alone with her best friend, whom she had been avoiding.

"If that is everything." She tried to excuse herself.

"Is everything okay, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, making the rosette freeze.

"Of course—"

"It's just, you've never referred to me as 'Hokage-sama' before, is all."

"It seemed appropriate, given the atmosphere when I entered."

"I just never would have thought you capable of saying that with such a straight face." Sakura fought to keep her composure even as she felt her ears burn over the fact that he knew her so well. "You know you don't have to act like that, though, right? Everyone knows I'm just Naruto to you."

That was the problem.

"Your lunch break is coming up, isn't it?" He asked, moving to get up. "Want to have it with me?"

"Uh, I have to head back to the hospital. I never clocked out." Her excuse was lame and she knew it wasn't going to work.

"I'll walk with you." At the flash of panic in her eyes he offered, "Or I could meet you there, if you want?"

She didn't know why she nodded knowing full well she wasn't going to go.

—

Knock-Knock-Knock

Haruno Mebuki was more than a little surprised when she opened her door to find the Hokage standing on the other side. "Hokage-sama." She bowed. "To what do I owe this honor?"

"Hello, Mebuki-san. I apologize for dropping by unannounced but I was hoping you might be able to help me?"

"Of course, Hokage-sama." Mebuki ushered the young Kage into her home. "I don't know what help you'd need from me but I'd be glad to provide it if I can."

"Hokage-sama!" Came the boisterous voice of her husband when he noticed who had stepped foot into their home. "What a pleasant surprise."

"Ah, ohaiyo, Kizashi-san." Naruto bowed in greeting. "I hope I'm not intruding?"

"We were just finishing up with lunch." Kizashi waved for Naruto to sit at the table. "Have you eaten yet, Hokage-sama?"

"Uh, no but don't worry, I'll get something to eat—"

"Nonsense! Mebuki, serve our guest some food, would you?" Naruto blinked when he noticed Sakura's mother seemed to have already been in the midst of serving him when her husband had asked her to. "So what brings you to our humble home?"

"It's probably that daughter of yours." Mebuki supplied as she set the meal in front of him.

"Actually, it is about Sakura-chan." Naruto stated after he had thanked her for the meal. "I'm worried about her. I think she's been avoiding me."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because she's been avoiding me..." Naruto answered glumly. "She won't talk to me outside of her official capacity and even then she's taken to referring to me as either Hokage-sama or Naruto-dono."

"Sounds like she's mad at you." Kizashi sounded as if he spoke from experience, especially if the glance he sent towards his wife meant anything. "Did you two fight?"

"Not that I'm aware of." Naruto turned his gaze towards his half eaten meal. Sakura clearly hadn't inherited her mother's cooking skills. But he had always liked that about her. "Feels like she's been acting strangely ever since the Mizukage came to visit."

Kizashi snapped his fingers. "She's probably jealous!" He shouted as though he was one hundred percent certain. "The Mizukage is a very beautiful woman. Ah, as I'm led to believe." Another glance towards his wife, who merely sat calmly sipping her tea. "I'm sure Sakura's just feeling a bit insecure and you know how she is, that daughter of mine."

Mebuki almost choked on her tea when she heard the Hokage mutter, "Sakura-chan's prettier," in a voice so low she could swear she imagined it. "I don't think that's it. It's not like this is the first time we've dealt with the Mizukage. The first time I thought we might have a war on our hands after Sakura-chan reprimanded the Mizukage for being too flirty during the meeting. Thankfully the Mizukage was pretty lax about the whole thing. She doesn't flirt with me all the time anymore though she does complain a lot now."

Hearing about the rudeness of her daughter towards a Kage from another village had Mebuki ready to face palm while her husband simply laughed. "Okay, so it's probably not about the Mizukage." Kizashi stroked his chin.

"Hokage-sama," Mebuki called as the young man was finishing up his meal, "if I may, I believe that my daughter is simply coming to the realization that it might not be entirely proper for her to act so familiar with you so as to not give people the wrong idea."

"What do you mean?"

"For example," Mebuki poured him a cup of tea, "are you aware that the majority of the village population is under the assumption that you and my daughter are together?"

Naruto blinked. "But that's just people teasing us. They've always done that." He waved her off and this time it was Mebuki's turn to blink in confusion. "They know we're just friends."

He couldn't be serious.

"Hokage-sama, I can assure you they are not teasing you. Some people are even under the impression that it's only of matter of time before you two get engaged." The look of pure panic and disbelief on the blond's face was almost comical. "That's why I went to visit last week. I had heard things were getting serious between you two and wanted to make sure my daughter was ready to take that step. She's never been much good at housework, you know, but what I saw that day was a woman as comfortable in the kitchen—albeit maybe not with cooking—as she is on the battlefield or in the surgery room."

Naruto, face buried in his hands, let out a muffled groan as he leaned back in his chair. "Please tell me you didn't say any of that to Sakura-chan?" He pleaded.

"No," Mebuki hesitated, wondering if she should tell him what they had talked about. In the end, she decided, he just looked so lost. "I never got a chance to. Our discussion veered towards whether or not it was proper for her to behave so intimately with someone who was just her friend."

"Mebuki," Kizashi chided, looking at his wife disapprovingly, "you know things are different amongst the youth today."

"But don't you think she's sending the wrong message, Kizashi? And it's not just her but Hokage-sama whom is being affected." the lone woman turned towards the youngest member of the group. "I can only imagine how many women must have been discouraged from pursuing our esteemed Hokage-sama because they think our daughter has already laid claim over him."

"But the same could be said of our Sakura." Kizashi rebuked. "How many men must have been warded off by the rumors that she was involved with our esteemed Hokage-sama? Thanks for that, by the way." Kizashi winked at Naruto, grinning. At the younger man's raised eyebrows he elaborated, "What father wouldn't be happy to hear that his daughter was being courted by the Hokage? I mean, on the one hand, my little girl has one heck of a suitor and on the other it's a great way to keep the wolves at bay!"

"Kizashi!" Mebuki couldn't believe what she was hearing. "So you're fine with our daughter standing in the way of Hokage-sama finding a wife?"

"If that keeps her a virgin forever then yes." Kizashi crossed his arms stubbornly.

"Kizashi!"

"Mebuki-san," Naruto's voice cut across the couple's bickering, "I appreciate the vote of confidence but I'm afraid you are overselling me. Thus far in my life I have only ever had to turn two women down. And out of those two, only one was difficult. The other was more of a misunderstanding that was created when I was younger.

"And," Naruto stood up after noting his break time was nearing its end, "although she herself never told me, I know for a fact she has turned down at least as many suitors." He could tell Mebuki wanted to ask if he knew who they were but he purposely made to leave before she could. After all, he was only supposed to know about one, since Sakura had confided in him about Lee's confession.

Sasuke had been the one to tell him about his own rejection.

—

"Sakura-sama, your three o'clock is here."

"Send them in, please." Sakura responded as she washed her hands after a rather unpleasant check up with a particularly dirty little boy.

"Hello, Sakura-san." the familiar voice drew Sakura's attention towards the raven haired beauty entering her examination room.

"Hyūga-dono." Sakura greeted the reinstated Hyūga heiress.

"Please, Sakura-san. There's no need for you to be so formal."

"If you insist, Hinata-san." Sakura averted her gaze before mentally reprimanding herself. Now wasn't the time to feel guilty. Right now she was a doctor and Hinata her patient. "What brings you in today, Hinata-san?"

"Actually, I'm sure not many are aware but members of the Hyūga clan are forbidden from seeking Medical treatment outside of clan healers." Hinata spoke as she took a seat.

"But I've had many Hyūga patients." Sakura pointed out. She had even healed Hinata after the Pein invasion.

"You may have healed many Hyūga patients, but how many have come back for their mandatory check-ups? How many have come in with a problem that wasn't mission related?" Sakura found herself unable to give a response. "The Hyūga clan and even the Uchiha clan, previously, have always gone to great pains to ensure that the biophysiology of their kekkei genkai remain clan secrets. It's something I hope to change when I become head of my clan. We're only hurting ourselves by refusing to seek help from Healers as skilled as yourself."

Sakura felt a flush of embarrassment beginning to work its way up her neck. "What brings you here, then?"

"I actually came here to talk about you and Naruto-kun."

Sakura stilled. "O-oh?"

"What's going on with you two?"

"There's nothing going on between us!" Sakura's outburst clearly caught the Hyūga heiress off guard. "Sorry."

"It's fine." Hinata reassured her. "Perhaps I should have elaborated more. Why have you been avoiding him?"

"Wha—I haven't been avoiding him. I've just been a bit busy, that's all."

"Sakura-san, forgive me if I'm overstepping myself here but please don't lie to me. We may not be the closest amongst our peers but I'd like to think I know enough about you to know that something has happened. And whatever that was has caused a change in your relationship with Naruto-kun."

"Nothing happened between Naruto-dono and I, Hinata-san." Sakura found herself struggling to maintain her composure. "In fact, there's never been anything between us."

The disappointed sigh Hinata released surprised Sakura.

"Ino-san informed me of your attempting to distance yourself from Naruto-kun because you are under the assumption that I stepped aside because I thought you two were a couple." Hinata spoke with more than a hint of exasperation, a first as far as the rosette was aware. "And while I won't pretend that I didn't get my hopes up for a little upon hearing that, I came here to tell you that, honestly, winning his heart means nothing if he longs for someone else. Anyone who is okay with being settled for doesn't deserve Naruto-kun."

"Naruto-dono doesn't 'long' for me—"

"He's never wanted anyone else, Sakura-san." Hinata interrupted her. From the way she said that, Sakura couldn't help but feel like that admission hurt Hinata more than being run through by Pein's metal rod.

"He may have had a crush on me when we were younger but that was years ago." Sakura tried to reassure Hinata. "Trust me, he doesn't have those kind of feelings towards me anymore."

"If nothing else," Hinata continued, regaining her composure, "you are his best friend and as such getting along with you should be as much a part of being with him as anything else. You stepping out of the picture—because you aren't distancing yourself from Naruto-kun, you've completely cut him out—isn't doing anything except making him miserable."

Sakura, unable to defend herself, merely looked away while gripping her left elbow with her right hand. Hinata took a breath.

"I tell you this not in an attempt to relieve you of any guilt you may have about my unrequited feelings," Hinata's voice cut across the rosette's thoughts, making her gaze snap towards the other occupant in the room, "but because you are hurting Naruto-kun and I won't be used as an excuse for it. The truth is that Naruto-kun rejected me."

"He... what?" Sakura was under the impression that Naruto had never responded to Hinata's confession during the Pein invasion. "When? Why?"

"During the Toneri incident." appeared to be all Hinata was willing to say.

Sakura supposed she could understand why Hinata wouldn't want to go into detail about that particular incident. She had been kidnapped and Hanabi had lost her eyes, a major contributing factor for why she'd been reinstated as the Hyūga heiress. And she had apparently been officially rejected. Sakura couldn't decide which might be worse; that Naruto had chosen that exact moment to respond to Hinata's confession from the Pein invasion or that the Hyūga heiress had made a second confession only to be turned down.

"Before I go I want to say one more thing." Hinata stated as she stood up. "I don't know why Ino-san shared my comments about you and Naruto-kun to you when everyone knows you have a tendency to… overreact but my comment that day was nothing more than my personal opinion." She paused when she reached the door. "After all, I was certain Neji-nī-san and Tenten-san were meant to be as well."

Sakura remained alone in the examination room for quite a while after Hinata left. The dark haired beauty had given her much to think about.

—

Two weeks.

Today marked two weeks since she'd begun avoiding her best friend and she wasn't afraid to admit that she missed him. Greatly.

Each and every day had been difficult—Sakura hadn't realized just how accustomed she'd become to his constant presence. The days just seemed to drag on and when she'd tried to hang out with some of her other friends she'd come to a startling realization. Everyone had better, more important things to do.

Ino wanted to spend time with her boyfriend while he was in the village and she'd feel awkward suggesting they hang out together, the three of them. She'd just be a third wheel without... Besides, Shikamaru had already made his opinion clear about what she was doing and why it made no sense.

Tenten had more or less receded from the Shinobi life after the war and now owned a weapon store that took up most of her time.

Chōji currently had little time to himself outside of attending matchmaking meetings his clan was setting up for him.

She still found it awkward to talk to Lee after he had attempted a serious confession and she'd rejected him.

Sasuke was off… who even knew, honestly? Sakura couldn't decide between whether she was glad that he hadn't returned for his birthday a few days ago or not. Not even so much because he had also 'confessed'—if one could even call him asking her if she was still convinced she was in love with him a confession—but because it meant she didn't have to face Naruto outside of official business.

Kiba and Shino were... Kiba and Shino.

Hinata probably wasn't none to pleased with her for continuing to keep her distance from Naruto but Sakura could finally say her efforts were bearing fruit.

It had taken almost two weeks but from what she'd heard, for the last couple of days, Naruto had been seen having lunch with a girl that wasn't her. The rumors claimed that it was a visiting dignitary's daughter but from the descriptions of the woman Sakura thought it sounded like one of the receptionists at the Hokage Tower but that wasn't important.

Someone had approached Naruto after she'd spent the last two weeks keeping her distance to make it evident that they weren't in fact a couple. And he'd been having lunch with this woman for the last couple of days. Perhaps he wasn't as oblivious as she'd assumed.

Would he be in a serious relationship already if it wasn't for her?

Would she?

Probably not.

Over the last couple of weeks she'd come to the realization that for a long time now her life had revolved around nothing but work and Naruto. Now that all she had was work she was forced to admit that she didn't have a life.

It was why she found herself at the hot springs with her parents on a Sunday night.

"You getting out, mom?" Sakura asked when she heard movement. She cracked open her eye to see her mother wrapping the small towel the hot spring provided everyone around herself.

"I think I'll go join your father in the mixed area." Mebuki sniggered, poking fun at her daughter for freaking out over Kizashi's prank that the women's hot spring was closed but they could all enjoy some family time in the mixed hot spring .

"Forgive me if I don't want to see my dad in all his naked glory." Sakura's dry response only made her mother shake her head.

"Obviously he'd wear a towel if you were there." Mebuki paused. "Perhaps it's a good thing that you won't be there."

"Ew."

Mebuki's laughter rang through the air as she reached the changing room entrance. Once she was gone Sakura made herself comfortable, deciding to soak for a while longer. A few minutes later soft footsteps alerted her of someone else entering but she kept her eyes closed, not wanting to be disturbed from this moment of relaxation.

"Sakura-chan."

No.

Sakura's eyes snapped open, green irises taking in the curvaceous source of the voice that had addressed her. Konohogakure's Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto, her—definitely former after this—best friend was standing in the women's bath in his Oiroke form, towel wrapped around his—her?—waist, one hand grasping the other arm behind her—his?—back leaving her—definitely her—generous bust exposed. Her head was tilted downwards, staring at her feet, one of which was nervously rubbing against the other one, but she could still discern the heavy blush adorning her tanned features.

Sakura snapped out of her stupefied state as she suddenly remembered where she was and the fact that she was very much naked.

"NA-RU-TO!"

"Sakura-chan, wai—Aiee!"

—

When Naruto woke up, a few minutes later, he was in his regular form, laying on the floor of the women's bath, still in just a towel. Although his jaw felt sore when he went to rub it there was no discernible bruise.

"You better have a damn good explanation, Hokage-sama." the pure malice in Sakura's voice had Naruto sitting up, looking for escape routes until he remembered why he was there and he squared his shoulders. Besides, a robed Sakura was standing at the only exit unless he wanted to jump over the wall.

"What's going on?"

"Do you think for a second that I'll believe that you don't remember sneaking into the women's bath using that perverted Jutsu of yours and peeping on me while I'm naked in the hot spring?"

"No," Naruto's slow, elongated response, "I mean before this." He took a steadying breath. "What's going on with you? Why are you avoiding me?"

Sakura's anger seemed to falter for a second. "I have no idea what you are talking about. What are you even doing here, Hokage-sama."

"And why," he stood up slowly, making sure to keep his guard up just in case, "why are you calling me Hokage-sama? And Naruto-dono? Seriously?"

"I'm sorry if my decision to act more professionally offended you, Hokage-sama but—"

"Sakura-chan, please, stop it." Naruto interrupted her. He fought the urge to flinch when she glared at him. "I know about your conversation with your mom." Sakura's eyes widened. "She's the one who invited me here—"

"She what?!"

"—so I can finally tell you that you're being stupid."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm sorry but if you seriously believe that you were getting in the way of me finding a girlfriend then you're being ridiculous."

Sakura found herself gaping at the blond in front of her. Finally she crossed her arms. "If I'm being ridiculous then who have you been having lunch with the last few days?"

"Are you talking about the daimyo's fourteen year old niece?" Naruto asked incredulously. "Who, might I add, only came so she could meet you and couldn't stop asking if it would be possible for you to join us."

"She... did?"

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "The only reason I had lunch with that kid was because you kept ignoring my requests to join us and she looked so sad." Naruto took a step towards Sakura only to receive a wary glare from her making him sigh.

"That doesn't excuse coming in here like that." Sakura tightened her robe around herself and Naruto couldn't remember the last time Sakura had sounded so betrayed.

"Sakura-chan. I'm truly sorry for coming in here the way I did but you left me no choice. I knew if I waited for you to come out you'd just run and I guess I was just so desperate to talk to you." He chanced another step and when Sakura didn't react he took it as a good sign. "I miss hanging out with you."

Sakura watched the blond cautiously make his way towards her. "I suppose I do miss my best friend." At her admission Naruto seemed to visibly relax. His next steps were noticeably more normal. He was within arms reach now.

"I miss you, too." Naruto slowly took hold of her by placing his hands on her arms. He waited until she tilted her head to look up at him, "Can we please go back to being just Naruto and Sakura-chan?"

—

"Wake up, Naruto."

Mebuki couldn't help but smile as she heard her daughter attempt to wake their esteemed Hokage.

"Five more minutes, Sakura-chan."

Some things never changed, it seemed.

"No, Naruto, now." the faint sound of rustling sheets followed by, "Naruto!" The name had been shouted with more than a hint of surprise, accompanied by the sound of bed springs protesting the sudden added weight. "Let me go, if you don't get up we're going to be late for the meeting with the wedding planner!"

And some things did.

"Tell me again why we have to attend this meeting?"

"It would only be me as Ino's Maid of Honor but you just had to beg Shikamaru to be his second Best Man."

But thankfully not too fast.

"Well of course. If you're going to walk down an aisle of a western style wedding with someone it's gonna be with me."

"… baka."

It had only been a couple of months since her daughter had finally begun dating her best friend. And, as she understood it, young people these days normally dated for at least a year before they got engaged.

Besides, when she really thought about it, Mebuki figured she was a little too young to be a grandmother any time soon. Though Kizashi was a little upset that their daughter's days as a virgin appeared numbered. Assuming, of course, that they hadn't already crossed that line.

Mebuki's eyes widened when she realized her daughter and her boyfriend were being entirely too quiet for entirely too long. In her daughter's bedroom.

"Sakura? Can you come help me?

"Sakura?"

"Coming!"

—

End.

—

Author's Note: Interpret that final word however you want.

Holy shit. This took entirely too long to write. It was never supposed to cross the 5k word threshold but ended up being 8k+.

This was finished as a favor to a fan that reached out to me but either way I'd been trying to get back into writing for a long time now. I think I've finally gotten over the ending of the Naruto series enough to write about them. I still can't bring myself to read any new NaruSaku fics but... all in due time, I suppose. If there are any really good ones feel free to recommend them to me.

While I may write another one shot for NMWoW, my main focus is on NWD. I've got a few chapters done but want to finish at least ten before I start posting. And then that's all my focus will be on.

P.S. I have to thank the HarMione community for their excellent fanfics. Thanks to them I was able to realize that a pairing doesn't have to be canon to be canon.