Sasuke Uchiha fell silent.
Of course he knew. Even in this world, where relations seemed to have improved, the Uchiha were still labeled "arrogant," "insular," "dangerous," and "hard to control."
The Konoha Leadership, especially people like Shimura Danzō, had never truly stopped suspecting the Uchiha.
Winning their broad support for someone born an Uchiha to become Hokage would be next to impossible.
It was not just a question of strength. Deep-rooted distrust and the existing power structure stood in the way.
Seeing Sasuke's grave expression, Naruko suddenly changed tack. Her tone turned light again, with a hint of a secretive smile.
"But if you want to become Hokage, it isn't completely impossible."
"Hm?" Sasuke immediately turned to look at her, his dark eyes glinting faintly in the night.
Naruko sat up, brushed the grass from her clothes, and motioned for Sasuke to sit up too.
She leaned close. From inches away, her blue eyes gleamed with foxlike mischief as she lowered her voice and said, one word at a time:
"You just need to change your surname, dummy Sasuke."
Before Sasuke could react, she sprang to her feet, patted down her skirt, and waved at him with a brilliant smile.
"It's getting late. I should go home! See you tomorrow, future Lord Hokage!"
Then she turned and ran out of the training ground, light as a butterfly. Her golden ponytail traced a bright arc through the night before disappearing among the distant lights.
Sasuke remained sitting alone on the grass, staring in the direction Naruko had gone. Her words echoed over and over in his head—
Change my surname?
How could anyone just change their surname? Unless...
Suddenly, a possibility struck him like a thunderbolt!
Marry into her family? Take his wife's surname after the wedding?!
*If I married the