Rest

After school let out for the day.

This book is exclusively published on t w k a n . c o m

Jouzou hurried home and began his Taijutsu training. He felt this year had been fulfilling; the pain from his parents' death was no longer as sharp, though recalling it still brought him grief.

However, he had little time off throughout the year and spoke less with Naruto and Ino. He could sense their concern, but being so weak, he simply had no time to rest.

After a year, Jouzou's Chakra levels had reached the average for a Genin, and he could now perform ten Great Fireball Jutsu.

But it wasn't enough. His Sharingan was still a massive Chakra drain; he'd become weak after only a few uses.

Therefore, practicing Sage Mode was crucial. It all depended on whether he could gain recognition from the Three Great Sage Lands. As for the Tailed Beasts, he had considered them, but with his current pathetic strength, he wasn't even enough to fill their teeth, QAQ.

Jouzou's mind was lost in thought as he walked home...

A sudden shout snapped him back to reality. He followed the sound.

"Jouzou-kun..."

It was Ino, holding a bouquet of Daisies. (The meaning of Daisies: hidden love in the heart.) (Author's note: So many flower meanings, it's overwhelming. Just get the gist. Jouzou doesn't understand flower meanings anyway.)

Jouzou blinked in surprise and instinctively took the flowers.

"Thanks..."

He didn't know why Ino was giving him Daisies, but Jouzou knew what it meant when a girl gave flowers...

Ino's eyes welled up. She had learned about what happened at Jouzou's home from her parents.

"Jouzou... I'm sorry. I didn't know you went through so much this past year... I'm truly sorry."

Jouzou understood what the little girl was trying to say. He sighed and waved his hand, "It's all because I was too weak, wasn't it?"

Jouzou didn't say much more. He apologized to Ino and left.

He naturally understood what Ino meant. Having watched so many Naruto episodes, he knew how his "brother" Sasuke felt, and he knew what Ino was thinking.

The Naruto world truly had early bloomers. The Hokage's Consort apparently had a crush on Naruto from the age of four or five. Sakura and Ino also liked Sasuke when they were young. But perhaps because of his arrival, Ino didn't like Sasuke.

Instead, she liked him. Pah, pah, pah! Why was he so conceited? They were just classmates; there wasn't that much to it.

In the original Naruto story, Jouzou actually liked Ino's boldness in love and hate. And her ending was exceptionally beautiful. He disliked Sai from the bottom of his heart.

In Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, it truly made one understand what a young married woman was (#^.^#) (Anyone who's seen the hentai, speak up.)

She could easily be called the most beautiful flower in Konohagakure.

Cough, cough, cough. The topic has strayed. Ino's words made Jouzou ponder for a long time. He really should take a break.

He hadn't had a proper rest in so long.

(⊙o⊙)...

Why not go eat Ichiraku Ramen today? Heh.

With that, Jouzou arrived at his most beloved Ichiraku Ramen shop.

He saw a blonde-haired guy eating noodles. The person eating was, of course, Naruto.

For some reason, Naruto suddenly turned around and saw Jouzou. He immediately greeted him enthusiastically, and Jouzou naturally responded politely.

Jouzou ordered a Miso ramen and sat next to Naruto.

Looking at Naruto, he suddenly remembered their first meeting. He was happily eating ramen with Itachi and Sasuke. Jouzou still remembered the Tonkotsu flavor they had that day.

Naruto back then wasn't as cheerful as he was now. He was trapped in a whirlpool of self-doubt and lacked confidence. Although he was still ostracized by the villagers, he had fortunately made many good friends at the Ninja Academy.

"Naruto,"

Jouzou looked at him and spoke.

Naruto shoveled a mouthful of ramen into his mouth.

With his cheeks puffed out, he asked, "What is it?"

Jouzou looked up and smiled, saying, "Do you remember where we first met?"

Jouzou's words transported Naruto back to his younger days. He had no friends, no parents, only Third Grandpa and Uncle Ichiraku who cared about him. He had been discriminated against by the villagers since childhood.

They called him a Demon Fox, and even now, he still faced such rumors.

He didn't dare eat Ichiraku Ramen with others.

He could only watch from afar and only dared to approach after they left. Of course, he couldn't eat Ichiraku Ramen every day; most of his meals were instant noodles.

That day, he had finally saved up enough money to eat at Ichiraku Ramen.

He saw three people: a big brother and two children around his age. He had never seen them before.

At that moment, he suddenly thought, maybe he could eat ramen with them. The gears of fate began to turn, and he asked, and surprisingly, they said yes!

Naruto still remembers the scene from back then, when he made his first and second friends in life.

It was also the first time he experienced what it was like to have friends care about him.

The perspective returns to the present.

Naruto smiled and scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"Yeah, I remember. You were my first friend. Thank you, Josuke."

Josuke waved his hand (I definitely need to build a good relationship with you, Kizaru. Otherwise, if my brother and I run away later, no one will speak up for us.)

"I should thank you too, Naruto," Josuke said sincerely.

Naruto chuckled and clapped Josuke forcefully on the shoulder, almost knocking him over. What a carefree guy, Naruto.

"Hey, easy there!" Josuke steadied himself. "But seriously, I really envy you, Naruto."

"Envy me?" Naruto blinked in confusion. "What's there to envy about me?"

Josuke said with a serious expression, "You have firm beliefs and goals to strive for. Unlike me, I'm always wandering in confusion."

Naruto listened and said thoughtfully, "Actually, everyone gets lost sometimes. The important thing is to find your own path and then take it step by step..."

Josuke nodded, seemingly pondering Naruto's words.

Just then, the owner brought over steaming hot ramen.

"Alright, don't overthink it. Let's eat first!"

"You rascal..."

Wonderful times always come to an end, and these two were no exception.

Josuke quickly finished his Ichiraku Ramen and then said goodbye to Naruto before returning home.

But what he didn't know was that an eye was staring intently at everything unfolding before it from the shadows.

In the Hokage's Office in Konoha