The Spoils

(An aside: in the current timeline, Naruto had already become Jiraiya's apprentice, and Sasuke had undergone special training under Kakashi's guidance. Team 7 was thriving!)

With the Konoha Crush Plan underway, the Anbu guards in the Hokage Building had been cut down by more than half.

Josuke had come to borrow a few scrolls, that was all. Surely Konoha, with its deep pockets, wouldn't refuse him.

As for Kabuto Yakushi, well, sorry for the trouble. He was going to become a Rogue Ninja anyway, so Josuke was just giving him a little nudge. Surely he wouldn't mind.

The Hokage Building was practically deserted. Apart from the two Anbu guards at the entrance, there was no one else around. Of course, Josuke couldn't be sure whether anyone else was lurking in the shadows.

Disguised as Kabuto Yakushi, Josuke wandered around the Hokage Building.

"Where would the scrolls be?"

Josuke pondered.

He'd come looking for the Scroll of Seals that Naruto had stolen back then. Based on Josuke's years of watching clickbait videos,

it should contain the S-rank Ninjutsu he wanted: the Flying Thunder God Technique!

Josuke wanted to claim the Flying Thunder God Technique for himself. And if he could steal the Scroll of Seals, that would be even better.

But Josuke had no idea where the Scroll of Seals was. After all, the original story never mentioned where it ended up after it was recovered.

"Could it be in the Hokage's office?"

Josuke didn't know, but he decided to try his luck there first. So he headed to the Hokage's office.

He pushed open the door and saw a pile of documents stacked inside. Being Hokage seemed like hard work. Josuke wouldn't take that job even if you paid him.

It was exhausting. No wonder Naruto looked so worn out by the time of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. All that paperwork must have made his hair fall out.

Josuke searched the office but found no useful clues. Could it really not be here?

Josuke looked at the drawers in the Hokage's office.

He might as well check.

He opened all three drawers one by one.

What's this?

No way!

This is practically falling into my lap!

Josuke hadn't expected something as precious as the Scroll of Seals to be so casually left in a desk drawer by the Third Hokage.

He must have been very confident in his own strength, convinced no one could steal the Scroll of Seals from him.

Talk about overconfidence. Hadn't the First and Second Generation beaten him up enough?

Josuke carefully opened the Scroll of Seals. It listed all kinds of A-rank Ninjutsu, but those weren't what he wanted.

Impatient, Josuke sped up his search. At last, just as he was about to give up, he found the S-rank Ninjutsu he'd been dreaming of: the Flying Thunder God Technique!

This was pretty great.

Looks like I came to the right place. With the Flying Thunder God Technique, I'd have another layer of protection for my future strength.

Whatever, Tailed Beast Ball? I could just teleport it away. (#^.^#)

And what about some furious brat? I'd send him flying with a Flying Thunder God Second Step.

Great!

Now that he'd got it, he should get out of there. Josuke tucked the scroll away and hurried off. Konoha's wasting these techniques if they don't learn them, so I'll reluctantly take care of them for now. o(￣ヘ￣o＃)

And so Josuke slipped away again. This was Konoha for you: with its defenses so empty on the eve of a major battle, it had made things easy for him.

Back with Naruto

Sakura, Naruto, Shikamaru, and the Ninja Dog Pakkun made up a team of two people and two dogs—no, no, three people and one dog.

They headed after Sasuke.

Pursuers kept appearing behind them. The three of them didn't dare stop, and could only press on.

"Pakkun, can you smell Sasuke?"

Naruto asked anxiously. Pakkun thought for a moment, then replied calmly,

"His scent is very close. We should be there soon."

Sasuke had caught up with Gaara and the others, but Temari had stayed behind to hold him off.

She summoned a weasel with her summoning technique, immediately nullifying Sasuke's Great Fireball. Kankuro then took Gaara and continued fleeing.

Temari threw three kunai at Sasuke, and they hit him. But then, with a poof, it turned out to be a dog substitute!

No, a Substitution Technique.

Sasuke then wounded Temari with an Explosive Tag, knocking her unconscious.

After dealing with Temari, Sasuke continued pursuing Gaara.

Meanwhile, Shino and Kankuro were evenly matched, and Sasuke had also caught up with Gaara. Then, a sudden change took place!

Gaara's body suddenly changed, turning him into a half-man, half-beast monster.

Seeing this, Sasuke sneered.

"Is this one of Sunagakure's techniques? Looks flashy but useless!"

He followed up with three kunai.

But the kunai couldn't pierce Gaara's body. Gaara's hard Tailed Beast Cloak had blocked the attack.

Gaara flew into a rage.

He charged at Sasuke like a madman, snapping trees in two as he went. Sasuke couldn't match him and could only retreat while keeping him at a distance.

Just then, Sasuke spotted an opening!

Lightning gathered in his hand.

"Chidori!"

He turned and charged at Gaara. The Chidori pierced straight through Gaara's Tailed Beast body, but it did no good. Sand quickly repaired the wounded body.

"Gaaah!!"

The Chidori's attack drove Gaara into a frenzy!

"Die!"

He swung his hand back and slapped Sasuke away!

Sasuke slammed hard into a tree, leaving a crater in the trunk behind him. It hurt! He struggled to his feet, then gathered Chidori in his hand again.

But the Cursed Seal on his neck began to flare, scorching his body!

"Ah!"

Sasuke passed out.

Gaara sneered, his eyes full of savagery. His partially transformed body charged forward, ready to finish Sasuke off with a single claw swipe and send him to meet his parents.

A sudden change took place.

A flying kick sent Gaara tumbling through the air. He flipped backward several times before regaining his balance.

A flash of yellow, and the protagonist made his dazzling entrance: Uzumaki Naruto!

"Damn it!"

Gaara went berserk. He hated those wretched bonds!

They made him sick. Only his own strength mattered. Everyone else should die!!

"Naruto, sorry I'm late."

A familiar voice came from behind him.

Naruto turned around. It was Josuke. His heart surged with excitement. Now the whole of Team 7 was together!

After finishing up with the Scroll of Seals, Josuke had rushed over here without delay. He wanted to witness the kunai, Explosive Tags, and Thousand Years of Death with his own eyes!

Naruto adjusted his Forehead Protector and said excitedly,

"Yoshi, Josuke! Ikuzo!"

With that, he charged forward with a kunai in hand. Gaara naturally swung a huge claw and sent Naruto flying, but that was exactly what Naruto had planned.

He summoned a Shadow Clone beneath himself, then used its strength to launch himself straight behind Gaara.

Naruto thrust an Explosive Tag at Gaara's backside.

Naruto grinned.

"This is the secret Konoha technique Kakashi-sensei taught me: the Thousand Years of Death Technique!"

With an explosion, Gaara was engulfed in flames.