Rest

After classes ended at the Ninja Academy that day.

Josuke hurried home and began training his Taijutsu. He'd had a full year, and the grief he'd felt after his parents died had faded. Still, whenever he thought back on it, he couldn't help but feel sorrow.

But he'd had almost no time to rest all year, and he'd talked less and less with Naruto and Ino. He could tell they cared about him, but he was too weak to take a break.

After a year, Josuke's Chakra reserves had reached the average level of a Genin. He could cast the Great Fireball ten times.

But it still wasn't enough. His Sharingan was a huge drain on his reserves; after using it just a few times, he was already exhausted.

So mastering Senjutsu was crucial. It all came down to whether he could earn the approval of the Three Great Sage Lands. As for the Tailed Beasts, he'd thought about them too, but someone as insignificant as him wouldn't even make a decent snack for one. QAQ.

On his way home, Josuke couldn't stop thinking...

A sudden shout jolted him from his thoughts. He looked toward the voice.

"Josuke..."

It was Ino, holding a bouquet of Daisies. (Daisy symbolism: hidden love. (Author's note: There are so many meanings for every flower, I'm losing my mind. Something like that, anyway. Also, Josuke doesn't know flower symbolism.))

Josuke froze for a moment, then instinctively took the flowers.

"Thanks..."

He didn't know why Ino had given him Daisies, but he knew what it meant when a girl gave you flowers...

Ino's eyes glistened. She'd heard from her parents about everything that had happened to Josuke's family.

"Josuke... I'm sorry. I had no idea you'd been through so much this past year... I'm really sorry."

Josuke had a pretty good idea what the girl was trying to say. He sighed, then waved a hand. "It's because I'm too weak, isn't it?"

Josuke didn't say anything more. He apologized to Ino and left.

He knew what Ino had meant, of course. He'd watched plenty of Naruto, and he was basically Sasuke's brother. He knew what Ino was thinking.

People in Naruto really matured early. The Hokage's Consort seemed to have fallen for Naruto when she was only four or five, and Sakura and Ino had both liked Sasuke since they were little. But maybe because Josuke had come along, Ino hadn't fallen for Sasuke.

She'd fallen for him instead. No, no, no—why was he so full of himself? They were just ordinary classmates. There was no reason to read so much into it.

In the original Naruto series, Josuke actually liked how Ino was bold enough to love and hate openly. And her ending was about as happy as it could get. That guy Sai had always rubbed him the wrong way.

By the time of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations,

she'd really made him understand what a married woman could be like (#^.^#). (Everyone who's read those books, come on out!)

She was practically Konoha's most beautiful flower.

Ahem, he was getting off track. Ino's words had made Josuke think for a long time. He really did need to take a break.

It had been ages since he'd properly rested.

(⊙o⊙)...

Why not go eat at Ichiraku Ramen today? Hehe.

With that, Josuke headed to his absolute favorite ramen shop, Ichiraku Ramen.

He spotted a blond boy eating there. Naturally, it was Naruto.

For some reason, Naruto suddenly turned around, spotted Josuke, and greeted him enthusiastically. Josuke returned the greeting politely.

Josuke ordered a bowl of miso ramen and sat down beside Naruto.

Looking at Naruto, he suddenly remembered the first time they'd met. He'd been happily eating ramen with Itachi and Sasuke, and Josuke still remembered that he'd ordered pork-bone ramen that day.

Naruto hadn't been nearly as cheerful back then. He'd been caught in a spiral of self-doubt and lacked the confidence he had now. The villagers still shunned him, of course.

But at least he'd made plenty of friends at the Ninja Academy.

"Naruto."

Josuke looked at him and spoke.

Naruto shoveled the whole bowl of ramen into his mouth.

With his cheeks puffed out, he asked,

"What is it?"

Josuke looked up, smiled, and said,

"Do you remember where we first met?"

Josuke's words brought Naruto back to when he was much younger. He'd had no friends and no parents. He'd only had Third Grandpa, and Uncle Ichiraku had been the one who cared about him most. The villagers had looked down on him ever since he was little,

calling him the Demon Fox, the evil star. Even now, he still had to put up with those rumors.

He hadn't even dared to eat Ichiraku Ramen with other people around.

He could only watch from a distance and wait until they left before coming over. Of course, he couldn't afford to eat at Ichiraku every day. Most of the time, he lived on instant noodles for all three meals.

That day, he'd finally saved up enough money to treat himself to a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen.

Then he'd seen three people: an older boy and two children around his age. He didn't think he'd ever seen them before.

Then he'd thought, maybe he could eat ramen with them. The gears of fate began to turn. He'd asked, and they'd actually said yes!

Naruto still remembered that scene to this day. He'd made his first and second friends.

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

Back in the present,

Naruto smiled and scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

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

Josuke waved a hand. (Of course I have to get on good terms with you, Kizaru. Otherwise, when my brother and I run off later, there'll be no one to speak up for us.)

"I should be thanking you too, Naruto," Josuke said sincerely.

Naruto laughed and slapped Josuke hard on the shoulder, nearly knocking him over. That was Naruto for you, always so carefree.

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

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

Josuke looked serious. "You have unwavering convictions and a goal to work toward. I'm always wandering around feeling lost."

Naruto considered that for a moment. "Everyone feels lost sometimes. The important thing is finding your own path and taking it one step at a time..."

Josuke nodded, seeming to ponder Naruto's words.

Just then, the owner brought over steaming bowls of ramen.

"Come on, don't think so much. Let's eat!"

"You're something else..."

All good times had to end eventually, and theirs was no exception.

Josuke quickly finished his Ichiraku Ramen, said goodbye to Naruto, and headed home.

But he didn't know that someone in the shadows was watching everything intently.

Inside the Hokage's Office in Konoha...