Chapter 458: Smiles
BANG! BANG!
Just as Kara had anticipated, unwanted conflicts and disputes flared up in various parts of the world.
Ninjutsu flew recklessly in all directions.
Scientific Ninja Tools were deployed without restraint.
The malice inherent in human nature could not be eliminated at once by the arrival of peace.
If anything, it was bred within it.
Whether it was corporate interests, national interests, or personal gain, all were inextricably tied to human desires.
Some who didn't want extra trouble, yet wished to see rival companies or competing clans fall, seized this opportunity to falsely label their enemies as members of Kara.
Others simply took matters into their own hands and struck directly.
This triggered pockets of chaos across various regions.
However, under the strict policies enforced by the Shinobi Alliance, these disruptions were quickly stamped out one by one.
The Shinobi Alliance refused to play soft.
Regardless of justification, anyone causing chaos was met with immediate, decisive intervention—and forced memory reading.
Claiming it was a "mistake" or an "accident" simply held no weight.
Consequently, citizens were strictly required to report potential Kara activity rather than taking action into their own hands.
Yet none of these tumultuous events affected the students attending the Academy.
Well... maybe just a tiny bit.
High atop the Hokage Monument.
"Curse it... Why has Dad gotten even busier these days? He didn't even come home to celebrate Himawari's birthday."
Boruto stared up at the serene sky, his face clouded with gloom.
Lately, Naruto Uzumaki had once again neglected his family due to the overwhelming volume of Hokage duties.
This left Boruto thoroughly frustrated.
It was always like this.
Was this any way to live?
Who in their right mind would even want that lousy job as Hokage?
Well... Sarada's dream seemed to be becoming Hokage.
Right... a few others wanted it too...
"Yo, Boruto. Spacey again? Want to go practice ninjutsu together? I just learned a new jutsu, and I guarantee it's super impressive," Mitsuki offered, walking up from behind him.
Boruto replied, "Nah. What's the point of practicing ninjutsu? I just want to zone out for a while."
"Don't you want to surpass your father? If you don't train, you might not even be able to stand up to one of his fingers," Mitsuki said with a light chuckle.
Boruto's mouth twitched at the remark. "No way. With my skill, there's zero chance of that."
Even though he hadn't been in the Academy for very long, his title as Konoha's prodigy had already spread throughout the entire school.
Under the rules prior to the Fourth Great Ninja War, he might have already graduated early.
It was only because the Academy's curriculum had been reformed that he remained enrolled instead of graduating to become a full-fledged shinobi.
Mitsuki continued, "I know you want to gain your father's recognition. According to the latest intelligence, that newly emerged terrorist group—Kara—is an organization that gives your father, the Hokage, quite a headache. If we grow strong enough to defeat an organization like that, it should earn you the Hokage's approval."
As Orochimaru's child, Mitsuki had access to a wealth of intelligence.
And Orochimaru made no effort to keep him in the dark.
"An organization like that... How could people like us possibly get involved right now? We aren't even Genin yet," Boruto muttered before turning the question back. "Besides, don't you want to gain your own father's approval?"
"My father? My father just wants me to grow up well and not get bullied at school. He doesn't have any major expectations for me," Mitsuki replied, pausing briefly.
He didn't possess a burning desire to earn Orochimaru's validation.
He simply followed what his father instructed.
That was the way to become stronger.
And he was supposed to make plenty of friends at the Academy.
While Mitsuki didn't fully comprehend all of it, he had gradually begun to engage with the people and events around the school.
Boruto sighed, "Your dad sounds so nice. My dad is totally different. He constantly neglects our home because of his work as Hokage, and he's super strict with me, too."
He shook his head, then added, "Whatever, let me go practice ninjutsu with you. You're right—as long as I become crazy strong, I'll get my dad's recognition sooner or later."
He secretly wished to deal with that stupid Kara organization as quickly as possible so Naruto's workload could return to normal.
The only problem was that graduation was still years away!
"Let's go. Take a look at my new jutsu—Instructor Kabuto taught it to me."
"Huh? Instructor Kabuto? Is he the head of the orphanage? I heard he was one of the key figures who started the Fourth Great Ninja War. Is that actually true?"
"It is."
"Then wouldn't he try to kill you? Isn't he some war maniac who wanted to start a global war?"
"No, Instructor Kabuto is a very gentle man."
"I find that a bit hard to believe."
The two leaped down from the Hokage Monument simultaneously, chatting as they descended.
Directly beneath the Hokage Monument lay the Konoha Ninja Academy.
Seeing figures plunging from such a height, the students below quickly scattered out of the way.
SOOSH! SOOSH!
Just as the crowd moved clear, the pair landed softly and vanished from sight in an instant.
"Woah... That Body Flicker Technique was incredible!"
"It's the prodigy Boruto and the cool guy Mitsuki!"
A few sharp-eyed students quickly recognized the two Academy celebrities.
Some upperclassmen who used to bully younger students had previously been put in their place by these two.
And those were fifth-year students—individuals who had already undergone systematic taijutsu training—yet they had been handled with ease.
Combined with their top academic marks, the students had bestowed upon them the kind of nicknames unique to kids.
Watching the two slip away, Sarada and Chocho Akimichi spoke up. "Curse them, they've already built up famous nicknames for themselves. When are we going to get ours?" Sarada sighed.
She wanted a cool title like that too.
Boruto looked pretty cool, too.
Sumire Kakei offered a gentle smile. "Let's all work hard together. If they can do it, we can do it too."
CRUNCH~
Chocho Akimichi took a bite of her potato chips. "I already have the title of Big Eater! Heh heh, among the girls, I'm definitely the most impressive, heh!"
Her words left everyone present speechless.
Was that really a title to boast about?
They couldn't quite understand.
"I heard the Seventh Hokage had a nickname when he was a kid, too."
"Eh? How do you know that? Tell us, quick!"
"The Dead Last."
"Ah? The Hokage I admire so much was actually called 'The Dead Last'?"
"Haha, of course! He also had another nickname: 'The Prankster'."
"As expected of the Hokage, having two titles at once."
Walking down the corridor, Naruto scratched the back of his head as he overheard the students discussing him.
Oh well, time to go find Iruka-sensei and arrange the next phase of reforms for the Academy.
The chatting students failed to notice the very Hokage they were discussing walking right past behind them.
They continued excitedly debating the Seventh Hokage's glorious exploits.
Even his legendary theft of the Scroll of Seals was pulled up for discussion.
This humble Academy had already turned into a formidable intelligence hub within the village.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Academy field...
BANG! BANG!
A yellow flash darted across the grounds, a fist coming to a stop just a hair's breadth away from a pretty girl's forehead.
"I win again!" Saitama flashed a wide grin.
This girl is really good. Dad told me that no matter what, I should always wear a smile around girls.
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