The Approaching Chunin Exams

After so many days of preparation, the Chunin Exams were just around the corner.

Over the past few days, Josuke had gone over the plot again. After confirming several details, he no longer had too many concerns.

At last, the day had arrived.

That morning was the same as usual.

Team 7 gathered on a street, waiting for Kakashi to arrive.

Just like in the original story, Konohamaru showed up, and Naruto immediately saw through his clumsy disguise.

So Konohamaru, Otsutsuki Moegi—pfft, Moegi—(Commentary: I'm only half-familiar with Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and have watched quite a few explanations. Can someone tell me what's up with Moegi? Why does she know Wood Release?)

And some extra showed up too. Just like in the original story, except that in the same place at the same time, there was now an extra Josuke.

Josuke had to say, Konohamaru really was something else.

Just moments ago, Kakashi had arrived and told everyone to prepare for the Chunin Exams. Then Naruto invited Sakura to practice ninjutsu with him.

Only to receive a round of mockery and sarcasm from Sakura.

Sakura herself went off to fawn over Sasuke.

Sasuke said flatly, "Instead of wasting time here, you might as well practice more ninjutsu."

It dealt a hundred thousand points of critical damage to Sakura's fragile heart. And, as luck would have it, Konohamaru pointed at Sakura and asked Naruto with a sleazy grin, "Is that woman your girlfriend, Boss?"

Damn.

Naruto was stunned, but after thinking it over, he talked himself into it. What he got in return was a beating from Sakura, who sent him flying with one punch.

Konohamaru did not fare much better either. Sakura punched him too.

He ran, she chased; even with wings, he could not escape.

Naruto, Konohamaru, and the others were chased by Sakura all the way into an alley. Josuke knew they had arrived there, so he followed behind them.

Sure enough, from his hiding place, Josuke saw Konohamaru struggling as Kankuro gripped him by the collar. Naruto rushed forward to save Konohamaru, only to be tripped by puppet strings.

Kankuro did not forget to taunt them. "What's this? Are these the Hidden Leaf Village's ninja?"

Josuke merely smiled from the shadows. Kid, in a few episodes, you won't be laughing anymore.

At that critical moment, Sasuke, the king of pretenders, made his entrance. A thrown stone struck Kankuro's arm, making it bleed immediately.

Kankuro had no choice but to release Konohamaru in pain. Sasuke stood on a tree branch, still posing as cool as ever. "What are you doing in someone else's village?"

Josuke snickered. This bastard never forgets to show off, even now. You really are something. At the same time, those words and Sasuke's handsome face made Temari blush. It was not necessarily attraction—just a normal reaction to seeing a handsome guy.

"Damn it!"

Kankuro snarled and reached behind his back, preparing to take something out, but he was stopped.

"Kankuro, stop."

The moment Kankuro heard that voice, cold sweat broke out all over him. Sasuke was startled as well.

Because he realized that the owner of that voice had silently appeared behind him!

If this had been a battlefield, that alone would have been enough to get him killed.

Josuke stepped in as well. His two-tomoe Sharingan opened as he leaped down from a tree and stood between the opposing sides. Without offering any explanation, he used the Shadow Clone Technique.

He summoned three identical clones, instantly raising his aura to the max.

Kankuro and Temari stared at those bewitching eyes beneath the sunlight in utter shock. "The Sharingan?"

Josuke nodded.

"That's right. The Sharingan."

Then Josuke closed his eyes, complaining inwardly. The Sharingan really burns through chakra. I barely opened it a few times, and it already drained a lot of my energy.

"I hope you don't mean any harm."

Josuke added.

Gaara also descended from the tree at that moment. He coldly stared at Team 7, but did nothing.

Then Temari took out a pass.

"This is our pass. We came to participate in this Chunin Exam."

"The Chunin Exams?"

Naruto was surprised, then happily muttered to himself.

"Doesn't that mean it's the exam we're taking too?"

Temari rolled her eyes at Naruto, who looked like his IQ had gone offline. Seeing this, Josuke dismissed his Shadow Clones. The Sand Village group did not linger and soon left.

As they left—

Sasuke, still acting cool, exchanged names with Gaara. Josuke complained inwardly, Just wait until Shukaku wipes the floor with you.

The four of them and Konohamaru's group did not stay any longer either and left as well. Josuke also knew that everything they had done was being watched by that sneaky old bastard.

After bidding everyone farewell, Josuke went to Ino's flower shop at her invitation.

The moment he entered, he saw the small figure bustling about. Josuke quietly watched her. The setting sun, the busy girl in the flower shop... together, they formed a beautiful picture.

After working for a while, Ino faintly sensed that someone seemed to be watching her from behind. She appeared to have already guessed who it was.

Ino put down the watering can and smoothed her beautiful hair before turning to face the person who had been waiting for her for so long in her best posture.

"Josuke-kun, have you been waiting long?"

There was a girlish playfulness in Ino's tone, as if she were reproaching him, yet also happy to see him.

Josuke nodded.

"Where are you inviting me to today, Ino-chan?"

A few days ago, Ino had come to Team 7 and told Josuke to come to her family's flower shop that afternoon. She had invited him out to play.

With a beautiful girl inviting him, Josuke naturally agreed. Of course, he would not go out with just any beautiful girl who invited him. At the academy, quite a few girls had confessed to Josuke as well.

His popularity was no less than Sasuke's—if anything, he was even more sought after. After all, who could refuse a sunny, gentle boy?

Back to the point. In the eyes of outsiders, Josuke and Ino were already practically a confirmed couple, you know? Even Choji, who only cared about snacks, acknowledged it. One could imagine just how close their relationship seemed.

Josuke only wanted to say to that: hehe, they were overthinking it. The two had not even held hands yet. But a confirmed couple...? Pfft, what were you people thinking? Pure friendship. Really.

(A while ago, I searched Baidu for what age was considered normal to date in Japan. It told me fourteen or fifteen. No idea whether that's actually true?)

Whether in the past or now, Josuke had always been jealous of some loser named Sai. Why, Kishimoto? You were obviously only vaguely familiar with Naruto.

Alright, back to the point. Under Josuke's puzzled gaze—

Ino finally spoke.

"Look, the Chunin Exams are coming up soon, right? How about we go eat somewhere outside? Once we become Chunin, we probably won't have any time."

Ino looked at Josuke expectantly, making the old man blush.