“Boruto,” Naruto’s shadow clone had an indecipherable expression on his face as he looked at the three-man cell of his son alongside their Jonin sensei — Konohamaru.

“This better not be another one of your clones, Dad,” Boruto threatened while raising his fist angrily.

Naruto smiled and turned to look at Konohamaru, “How was the mission?” He asked.

“Hey, old man! Why are you ignoring me, dattebasa?” Boruto got agitated at Naruto’s dismissal of his words.

Naruto sported an appreciative smile and told Boruto, “You should be more patient Boruto. Let your sensei give me his report. I will listen to your side after that.”

“It was a simple mission, the three still have some ways to go for their teamwork …” As Konohamaru started his report, Sarada lightly pulled Boruto’s sleeve, making him look at her.

“What?” He asked with annoyance, his frustration with Naruto evident.

“Does Seventh-sama seem different to you?” She asked.

“Huh?” Boruto asked, “What are you talking about,? He’s the same as always, dattebasa. I’m still being ignored for the mission report as usual.”

“No, Hokage-sama hasn’t chided you about you referring to him casually in this office — he always corrects you and tells you to refer to him as the Hokage — not to mention his expression,” Sarada said, “it looks much calmer than before — as if he has had a weight lifted off of his chest — even though the stack of papers on his desk is the same as this morning when he assigned us the mission.”

Boruto looked at her weirdly, “How closely do you watch my father, dattebasa?”

“I have to examine how he works and what he does so that I can become a Hokage who can one day stand in his shoes,” Sarada said casually while focusing on Boruto, not noticing the side-eyed look that she got from Naruto as he acted as if he was focusing on Konohamaru’s report.

“Honestly, Boruto,” Naruto shook his head after Konohamaru finished his report, “You’re so eager to prove yourself that you keep trying to do everything yourself. Do you know the reason behind the three-man cell rule for all genins?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Boruto said with an uncaring shrug, “all that’s for normal people. I can use shadow clones to turn into a five-man cell, dattebasa. Sarada and Mitsuki just needed to sit back.”

“Teamwork, Boruto,” Naruto said, “is the most vital part of being a ninja alongside guts. A ninja who is alone is a dead ninja. D-rank missions aren’t testing your capabilities as a ninja, their entire purpose is to practice teamwork —”

“I don’t need no stinkin’ practice,” Boruto acted all high and mighty after interrupting Naruto, “Wind release, lightning release, I’m even getting close to mastering water release at this point, dattebasa.”

“Being able to cast a single jutsu is merely the entry-level of nature transformation, Boruto,” Naruto shook his head, “Even if you got Konohamaru to teach you nature jutsu earlier, without mastering the essence of nature transformation, you are doing nothing but memorizing the hand signs and casting the jutsu. Seriously, Konohamaru, teach him the basics, will you?”

“Why are you talking to sensei?” Boruto’s frustration turned into agitation as he slammed his palms on the table, “Enough about all of this, if you dare to forget Hima’s birthday tonight, you’ll be answering to me, dattebasa.”

Naruto was about to respond to Boruto but a knock on the door stopped his words, “Who is it?”

“Pardon the intrusion, Hokage-sama,” A spectacled man with a square face and a chubby body entered the office.

“Katasuke,” Naruto said, his voice devoid of the warmth that was present when talking previously. The temperature of the room dropped as everyone noticed the change in the Hokage’s tone, “What is it?” Naruto acted as if his tonal shift was nothing and asked coldly.

“A-as the head of the ninja Science and Weapons Division,” The scientist stuttered at the unwelcome and cold tone of the Hokage, but he was determined to show off his product despite the pressure, “I-I have a humble request of our Lord, the Seventh Hokage.” Naruto continued looking at him expressionlessly as his chin rested on both his hands. Gulping audibly, the scientist continued, “In the next chunin exam, would you be so gracious as to allow the usage of our Scientific Ninja Tools?” Uncouthly approaching Konohamaru, the man grabbed the shinobi’s arm and showed the contraption that was strapped to his arm, “The genins will no longer need to go through the grueling and harsh training—“

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“No can do, Katasuke,” Naruto refused without any leeway, “The chunin exams are not some show that you use to advertise your product. It is both a test and a training exercise for the genins. External means like that tool will render the purpose of the exam completely moot.”

“Is that so,” The scientist suppressed his disdainful expression, “I shall take my leave then.” He glanced at Boruto before turning around, not daring to meet the eyes of the Hokage whose presence seemed so overbearing for the first time in his life.

Boruto’s eyes widened as if he’d found another way to annoy Naruto, “Your weak-ass era’s coming to an end, Dad!” He turned around and ran out of the office, “Get with the times,” He disappeared after leaving those words.

Naruto sighed while shaking his head, ‘Even after growing up, he never bothered doing what needed to be done. The signs were always there. I just ignored them.’

“Mitsuki, Sarada, you guys did very well, especially while keeping up with the loose cannon that is Boruto,” Naruto praised with the same warm tone as usual as if the pressure from before wasn’t even a thing. His words made satisfied smiles appear on the faces of both genins.

“Thank you, Lord Hokage.” Both spoke in tandem and bowed respectfully.

“I was planning on handing all three of you the chunin registration forms, but since one of you is gone,” Naruto trailed off and grabbed three sheets of paper from his drawer, “Mitsuki, can you hand Boruto one of the forms?” He handed two to Mitsuki.

“Yes, sir.” The white-haired boy nodded and carefully took the two forms from Naruto. Sarada impatiently looked on as the two empty forms were handed to Mitsuki before she turned to look at Naruto intensely.

“Sarada, I need to talk to you about something, so you can stay behind. Konohamaru and Mitsuki are dismissed,” Naruto said, leaning back in his seat and resting Sarada’s registration form on his desk, right under his hand.

The girl was as impatient as ever but stayed quiet in the face of the man she respected the most even while fidgeting with her fingers behind her back.

“Understood, Lord Hokage,” Konohamaru nodded and turned to leave the room alongside Mitsuki.

“Konohamaru,” Naruto called, stopping the man in his tracks at the door, “Keep an eye on Boruto for me. I don’t want him to do something stupid.”

“I understand, Hokage-sama,” Konohamaru nodded, “I will make sure to keep an eye on him.”

Naruto didn’t say anything further as the two left his office, leaving Naruto alone with Sarada as she nervously fidgeted in her place. Her feet weren’t stationary as she continued gazing at anything other than Naruto while twiddling her fingers.

“Sarada,” Naruto called warmly with an amused smile on his face.

“Yessir!” She jumped and stood straight up while looking at him.

…

Meanwhile, Boruto was being coerced by Katasuke, “Will you be partaking in the chunin examination, young master?”

“Hm? Not a chance. It’s lame, dattebasa,” Boruto refused without a second of thought.

“Is that so?” The man pushed his glasses higher to rest them on the bridge of his nose, “That’s such a shame. Everyone is very eager to see your strengths and talents. Especially your father.” The words left Boruto with a thoughtful look in his eyes. Katasue knew that the boy had fallen for his bait, “Well, I’ll be off. Let me know if you change your mind, young master.”

Boruto didn’t register the man’s words for a while and was left standing in his place with a thoughtful expression.

“There you are!” The exclaim finally pulled Bouto out of his thoughts as he looked up, seeing Mitsuki looking down at him from a balcony.

“What is it?” Boruto asked while stepping back.

“Why are you hiding in the alley behind the Academy like that? Are you doing something you shouldn’t be?” Mitsuki asked teasingly before jumping down from the balcony.

“I was just about to head to the burger joint,” Boruto said, “You can tag along if you want. Where’s Sarada?” His tone was casual enough to express that he didn’t really care about her whereabouts and was merely making conversation. Putting his hands behind his head, he started walking toward the main road.

“She’s still with Lord Hokage. He said that he wanted her to stay back,” Mitsuki said, “Oh, by the way, here’s your form for the chunin exam registration.”

Boruto looked at the paper in Mitsuki’s hand for a few seconds, “I don’t think I’m going to register, dattebasa,” He said despite taking the form from Mitsuki’s hand.

“Sarada will kill you,” Mitsuki said casually, “Unlike you, she cares very much about ranking up. I wouldn’t put it behind her to threaten you to death just to make you register. She has plenty of chances when we’re out on missions. All it takes is a kunai. With a bad judgment call she could —“

“Fine, fine, I get it, dattebasa,” Boruto said, “I’ll think about it. I already took the form, didn’t I?” He snapped.

“Just saying,” Mitsuki was as casual as ever.

“What does my old man have to talk to Sarada about, anyway?” Boruto asked, his curiosity had been piqued when Mitsuki told him that Sarada was talking to his father.

“Who knows?” Mitsuki shrugged, “Maybe he decided to teach her some unique jutsu because unlike you, she wants to succeed him.”

“I wanna learn new jutsu!” Boruto shouted, only to notice the amused smile on Mitsuki’s face, “You’re fucking with me.”

“I really don’t know why Hokage-sama held her back,” Mitsuki raised his hands in defeat.