Genya stood surrounded by everyone, letting their words go in one ear and out the other, nodding now and then.
Tsuki set down her glass of juice and glanced at her father, her eyes clearly saying, "Serves you right."
Hinata covered her mouth and chuckled.
Black Zetsu trembled as he struggled to hold back his laughter.
Izumi kept her head down, her shoulders shaking.
Sarada stood outside the crowd, watching all those uncles and aunties surround Uncle Genya and lecture him, then glanced at her own uncle.
Itachi noticed his niece's gaze and looked at her without saying anything.
Sarada swallowed back what she had been about to say.
Genya finally endured the villagers' round of lectures and took a deep breath.
"Everyone, I was joking."
Everyone fell silent.
The middle-aged man's sake cup stopped halfway to his lips. The auntie's chopsticks hovered over a plate of food.
The young ninja's mouth was still open.
They had spent all that time lecturing him, only for him to say it was a joke.
Genya coughed twice.
"How could we let a six-year-old child take such an important position as Hokage? Sarada was just so adorable that I wanted to tease her."
The villagers exchanged glances. Some shook their heads, some laughed, and some carried their sake cups back to their seats.
As they walked away, they said, "Lord Genya still loves his jokes."
They were still gossiping as they sat down.
Sarada stood where she was, watching Genya.
Her lips were pressed together, and the light in her eyes that said, "I'm definitely going to become Hokage," had not faded. If anything, it shone even brighter.
Genya glanced at her, and his heart gave a jolt.
This little girl isn't easy to fool.
He picked up his teacup and took a