Someone not Naruto - but his age - becomes Hokage, and circumstances follow to bring back our original situation, only... somewhat reversed. A one-shot in three pieces, total 1,250 words.

One: Sasuke didn't want this. 375 words.

Hokage

Rokudaime Hokage was in a position he never wanted to be in, but the elders insisted, and it was his duty to the village and so…

And so he was becoming Rokudaime Hokage. The position wasn't one he'd ever really considered. All he'd wanted was to avenge his late family and start a new one with someone he could, maybe, trust a little, and possibly even come to care for. And he'd done that – sort of; Itachi must have done something to become immortal because he could have sworn he'd killed the bastard at least twice now, but he was still out there and Sasuke was beginning to think that he always would be – and his wife was growing ever hopeful as the days passed that the first of their children was forming within her.

He didn't want to be Hokage, but the council of elders insisted, refusing to even consider Naruto despite his massive – inhuman, really, which might be why they didn't like it – energy and strength, and so he was. It was his duty. It was his duty. He had to do it.

His wife was delighted with the prospect. The fact that he was so obviously unhappy didn't seem to touch her, but then he wasn't much more than a prize to her, just like she wasn't much more than a means of producing heirs to him. He had found someone to trust and care for, but, well…

Naruto was surprisingly understanding. He had teased Sasuke a little about one-upping him again, but there hadn't been any real anger, or laughter in it, or anything other than… well, sympathy, really. They were both being used, Sasuke as the official protector and leader of the village, and Naruto, through their ties, as his pet and the real protector. Besides, he'd added, nobody remembered Hokages' names, and he wanted the village of Konoha to remember his.

They held each other tightly the night before the ceremony, too tense to get any more involved. And through it all, Sasuke kept thinking: he didn't want to do it. He really didn't want to do it. But it was his duty. Duty. He had to do it. The elders insisted that he do it.

So he did.

end one
.: not my idea, but what can I say :.