Harvest

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

The launch of the Hidden Leaf Village Crush plan had reduced the Anbu guards within the Hokage Building by more than half.

Josuke had only come to borrow a few scrolls. Given the Hidden Leaf Village's vast wealth and resources, he trusted they would not refuse him.

As for Kabuto Yakushi, he would just have to work a little harder. He was going to become a rogue ninja anyway, so Josuke was merely taking the opportunity. Surely Kabuto would not mind.

The Hokage office building was practically deserted. Apart from the two Anbu guards at the entrance, there was no one else in sight. Of course, Josuke could not be certain whether anyone was hiding in the shadows.

Disguised as Kabuto Yakushi, Josuke wandered around the Hokage office building.

"Where would the scrolls be?"

Josuke pondered.

This time, he had come looking for the Scroll of Seals Naruto had once stolen. Based on Josuke's years of experience watching clickbait accounts—

It should contain the S-rank ninjutsu Josuke wanted: the Flying Thunder God!!

This time, Josuke intended to claim the Flying Thunder God for himself. If he could steal the Scroll of Seals as well, that would naturally be even better.

However, Josuke did not know where the Scroll of Seals was kept. After all, the original work had never mentioned where it went after being recovered.

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

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

The moment he pushed open the door, he saw stacks of documents piled up inside. Being Hokage seemed pretty exhausting. He would not be Hokage even if he were a dog.

It would work him to death. No wonder Naruto was so worn out by the time of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Handling all these documents would probably make him go bald.

After circling the office, Josuke found no useful clues. Was it not here?

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

Might as well open them and take a look.

He opened all three drawers one by one.

Wasn't this...?

Holy crap.

This was completely effortless!

Josuke had not expected the Scroll of Seals, something so precious, to have been casually placed in an office drawer by the Third Hokage.

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

What an ordinary and overconfident guy. He must have enjoyed getting beaten up by the First and Second Hokage.

Josuke carefully opened the Scroll of Seals. All kinds of A-rank ninjutsu were listed within, but they were not what he wanted.

Growing impatient, Josuke sped up. Finally, just as he was about to reach the end, he found the S-rank ninjutsu he had been longing for—the Flying Thunder God Technique!

This was indeed pretty good.

It seemed he had come to the right place. With the Flying Thunder God, his future strength would gain another layer of assurance.

Things like Tailed Beast Bombs? He could just teleport them away (#^.^#)

And some enraged brat? One second-stage Flying Thunder God would send him flying.

Good!

Now that that was settled, it was time to slip away. Josuke hurried off with the sealing scroll. The Hidden Leaf Village would be wasting these ninjutsu if they did not learn them anyway, so he would reluctantly keep them safe on their behalf.

Josuke quietly slipped out again. This was the Hidden Leaf Village, huh? With a war approaching, its defenses were so lacking that it had benefited him instead.

Back to Naruto's side.

Sakura, Naruto, Shikamaru, and the ninja dog Pakkun formed a two-person, two-dog—ptui, ptui, ptui—three-person, one-dog group.

They chased after Sasuke.

Pursuers kept appearing behind them. The three did not dare stop and could only press onward.

"Pakkun, can you smell Sasuke?"

Naruto anxiously asked from the side. Pakkun thought for a moment before replying calmly.

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

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

Using a Summoning Technique, she summoned a kamaitachi and directly neutralized Sasuke's Great Fireball. Kankuro immediately continued fleeing with Gaara.

Temari threw another three kunai, striking Sasuke. But with a poof, it was a substitution dog!

Ptui, a Substitution Technique.

Temari was then injured by Sasuke's explosive tags and fell unconscious.

Having dealt with Temari's obstruction, Sasuke continued pursuing Gaara.

On Gaara's side, Kankuro was locked in an even fight with Shino. Sasuke also successfully caught up with Gaara, when a sudden change occurred!!!

Gaara's body suddenly mutated, transforming him into a half-human, half-beast monster.

Seeing this, Sasuke said disdainfully,

"Is this the ninjutsu of your Sand Village? It looks flashy but useless!"

He immediately treated Gaara to three kunai.

But the kunai could not pierce Gaara's body at all. Gaara's hardened Tailed Beast cloak blocked the attack.

Gaara immediately flew into a rage!

He shot toward Sasuke like a madman, snapping trees all along the way. Sasuke could not match him and could only retreat while dragging out the fight.

Then, Sasuke spotted an opening!

Lightning gathered in his hand.

"Chidori!"

He turned and charged at Gaara. Chidori pierced straight through Gaara's Tailed Beast body, but it was useless. The wounded body was quickly repaired by sand.

"Aaaahhh!!"

Chidori's attack drove Gaara into madness!

"Die!!!"

With a backhanded slap, he sent Sasuke flying!

Sasuke slammed viciously into a tree, leaving an impact crater behind him. It hurt! Sasuke forced himself to slowly rise, gathering Chidori in his hand again.

However, the curse mark on his neck began to act up, frantically burning Sasuke's body!

"Aaah!"

Sasuke fainted.

Gaara sneered, his eyes filled with brutality. His half-Tailed Beast body charged forward, ready to send Sasuke to meet his parents with one swipe of his claws.

A sudden change occurred.

Gaara was kicked away by a flying kick. He spun through several backflips in midair before stabilizing himself.

A flash of yellow light, and the protagonist made his dazzling entrance—Naruto Uzumaki himself.

"Damn it!"

Gaara went mad. He hated this damned bond of theirs!

It made him sick just looking at it. Only his own strength was real. 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. Team 7 was finally fully assembled!

After taking care of the Scroll of Seals, Josuke had rushed here without stopping. He had to witness the kunai, explosive tags, and Thousand Years of Death with his own eyes!

Naruto adjusted his forehead protector and said excitedly,

"Yosh, Josuke, let's go!"

With that, he charged out holding a kunai. Naturally, Gaara swept his giant claw and sent Naruto flying, but that was exactly what Naruto wanted.

He summoned a Shadow Clone beneath himself and used its force to launch himself straight behind Gaara.

He drove an explosive tag toward Gaara's butt.

Naruto said with a grin,

"This is the Hidden Leaf Village's secret ninjutsu taught by Kakashi-sensei, the Thousand Years of Death!"

With an explosion, Gaara was engulfed in flames.