“THAT’S WHAT I’VE BEEN SAYING!!!” Shinachiku emphasized, his green eyes widening when even he heard that even Choji thought the same way, “Grrrr, even you’re aide wants you to go home, you loser!! So, why?! Why do you always make your kids sad?!”

Again, Menma said nothing as he looked over to the old Team 7 photo and picked it up, seeming deep in thought. Which only caused Shinachiku to scowl at him in disgust.

“Kid… just shut up already. That goes for you too!” Choji frowned as he placed the boy back on his feet, though he kept his enlarged hand tightly around Shina, thanks to his Jutsu. Shina’s arms were still pinned to his sides to prevent any jutsu summonings. “So, are you going to behave and go back home quietly? Or will I have to detain you and put you in time-out in Konoha prison for the rest of the night until you chill out?”

Shinachiku only pouted and stuck his bottom lip out in a large frown as he kept quiet and seemed to be in thought.

“Anyways, as I was saying… we’re far behind on the preparations for the Chunin Exams. Also, there’s White Zetsu we need to worry about, and those ruins we found… Plus, I still haven’t figured out a way to send Shinachiku back to his world where he belongs,” Menma sighed tiredly, as Choji only frowned at this.

“Menma… It’s been about ten years since the 4th Great Ninja War happened. So for the Zetsu to show up now, I know it’s troubling…..” Choji admitted, now understanding Menma’s predicament. “But still- you need rest. You can’t do everything all on your own. So go home and finish celebrating with your kids, alright? That goes for you, too, Shinachiku.”

Choji then looks at the boy in his hand, as Shinachiku seems defeated.

Once again, they heard the door opening, followed by a scroll suddenly being flung out towards Menma, who caught it without looking. “Huh? What’s this?” Menma asked.

“It’s a souvenir from Kaguya’s palace….” Sasuke replies, leaning against the door frame with his shoulder, a hand on his hip.

“Sasuke!!” Menma blurts out happily as Sasuke walks in. The first thing that caught Sasuke’s eyes was the mess in the Hokage Office and the state of his desk. The second thing he then sees is Shinachiku and his emerald green eyes. Who looked back at Sasuke, looking just as confused as Sasuke was.

“Hn… who’s this now?” Sasuke asks curiously, noticing that Shinachiku looked much like Boruto and Menma, but also….

“O-Oh, this is Shinachiku Uzumaki, or Shina for short. He’s… my son.” Menma replies.

“Hn… Since when were you going to tell me you had three kids?” Sasuke asks, “And his eyes… and that large forehead… They remind me a lot of my wife.”

“Uh…”

“Ugh, don’t lump me up with him! He doesn’t even deserve to be called a father!! I’m Naruto Uzumaki ’s son!!” Shinachiku snarls, baring his teeth before yelping in pain when Choji squeezes a bit, before continuing, “And Sakura Uzumaki’s kid!!”

Hearing Sakura’s name Sasuke’s eye flashed Sharingan for a moment in shock as his hair moved a bit, revealing Sasuke’s Rinnegan too. Menma quickly got up and turned to Sasuke.

“It’s not what you think!! Calm down, Sasuke!” Menma jolts, then explains what he told Hinata and his parents four years ago about the events of Madara’s genjutsu that sent Naruto and Sakura from Shinachiku’s world into theirs, and that was how Menma learned the existence of another version of himself.

As he explained, Sasuke only went quiet, listening, and briefly remembered meeting that version of Menma and Sakura around ten years ago. He remembered because they both looked like they hadn’t seen Sasuke in a million years, even though Sasuke always lived in the village and never went rogue, unlike Naruto and Sakura’s version of Sasuke.

“Huh… So that explains it….” Sasuke sighed as he shut his eyes.

Sasuke then pulls Naruto’s old sweater out of his robe and hands it to Menma. “Here, I also found this on the way over here.”

“Hm?” Choji and Shinachiku pondered, looking over Sasuke’s shoulder at the tattered old thing.

“It was on the ground near your house,” Sasuke explained, causing Menma to gasp in surprise.

“Oh, I see….” Menma gave a sad smile. ‘Boruto must have thrown it out….’

“Yeah… So, it seems I’ve met both of your kids….” Sasuke replies before glancing at Shinachiku for a moment, whom Choji had finally let go of for the most part and released the Partial Expansion Jutsu on, though he still kept a good grip on his arm. “Both Shinachiku and Boruto act just like you when you were young, Menma.”

Shinachiku then made a gagging noise, causing Choji to glare at him on the side and Menma again looking shocked.

“What? But… Shinachiku’s not mine. He’s… the other me’s kid. And anyway, you’re wrong on both fronts.” Menma argued, “Shina… Shinachiku reminds me more of my mother, Kushina, when she was little. And Boruto… He’s a lot more like you.”

Menma then looked up at Sasuke, who stared back at Menma with a blank stare as Menma thought about their similarities. “No, wait… I take that back. He’s different than how you were then, too. And so is Shina. All of the clothes they both wear are always brand-new or something. So I guess you and I are just behind the times, right, Sasuke?”

“No way. You’re wrong for both children. Do you know why? The will of fire within a shinobi never changes, even if the times do.” Sasuke states in a demanding voice.

Menma smiles at this “...What? So, are you saying Boruto and Shinachiku are like me, and you sort of?” Menma chuckles as he shuts his eyes, “I doubt that, Sasuke. Trust me. I think the winner of this argument is me.”

“Hmph, well, you’re one to talk. Loser.” Sasuke smirks.

Shinachiku frowned at this, wanting to leave the Office and return home. He struggled a bit against Choji’s grip, causing the flyer for the Chunin Exams to fly out of Shinachiku’s pocket. When Menma saw the paper fall to the ground, he picked it up slowly.

“Huh? What’s this? Why do you have this, Shina?” Menma asks, “This was supposed to go only to the members of Squad 7.”

“Mitsuki gave it to me. He said I could take the Chunin Exams with Boruto and Sarada in his place so we can finally show you…!” Shinachiku replies as he glares at Menma with determination in his expression.

“Huh? Show me what exactly?” Menma asked quizzically as he glanced at the boy.

“Show you our power , that’s what! Because if we both can, you’ll just have to take us seriously from now on and come home more often! Dattenaro!” Shinachiku declared before pointing a finger directly at Menma. “If we win this thing, we can earn your trust. Your respect! And that’s why I want to enter the Chunin Exams, please!”

“.....Hmph. So, what do you say, Menma?” Sasuke asks, looking back over to Menma as well.

“Hmm… well, having two of the ‘Hokage’s’ kids in it could be interesting, don’t you think?” Choji asks, “Well, according to the public, anyways. Since you did say you didn’t want anyone to know where Shinachiku came from, after all.”

“..........But their teamwork….” Menma replies worriedly, “And so soon? It’s too late for the 3 of them to develop it that quickly. The Chunin Exams start in about a week!”

“I can do it! Boruto and I had trained every day, even before he was in the Academy during that one-week suspension! I just have to work it out with Sarada, right?” Shinachiku questions, “Please… I-I want to enter the Chunin Exams. I’m a shinobi, too, after all! Mitsuki said he was uninterested and only wished to stay with Boruto in the Leaf. Team 7 needs a three-person team to enter, or else they can’t.”

“...That is true too,” Choji adds, and after a couple of minutes, Menma finally relents and sighs. Especially when he kept seeing bits of himself in Shinachiku’s expression, he felt that even if Menma said no, Shinachiku was somehow determined to join the Exams.

“Fine then, I’ll work it out with Konohamaru, and… you can take Mitsuki’s place as a Squad 7 member for the Chunin Exams.

Shinachiku smiled wide-eyed at that, “YES!! I almost forgive you for missing out on Himawari’s birthday, then. You won’t regret this! Dattenaro!”

Menma smiled back at the boy, “Sasuke… could you do me a favor and walk him home? It’s late and dark out there.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Sasuke smirked before taking the boy by the shoulder and walking him back.

‘Looks like the result of our little argument has not been decided yet,’ Sasuke thought as he walked Shinachiku out of the Office. In contrast, Menma looked at the scroll Sasuke had brought from Kaguya’s.

Sasuke then looked outside the windows when he thought he saw movement. Surprisingly, he saw Boruto running full force into the Hokage building.

“What is it, Uncle Sa-”

Before Shinachiku could even finish speaking, Sasuke teleported them both outside as he and Shinachiku reappeared directly in front of Boruto, blocking his path.

“Wh- Huh?” Boruto gasped as he looked up to see Sasuke standing in his way next to Shinachiku with a dumb expression. “U-Uncle Sasuke?”

Sasuke was too confused to say anything, even as he and Shinachiku kept staring at Sasuke with questionable looks.

Boruto gritted his teeth and growled at the man, “Were you in there talking to my Dad?!”

Before Shinachiku could say anything, Sasuke interrupted him. “No, we just finished.”

“Huh? Oh, uh, okay?” Boruto asked, seeming surprised by the sudden outburst.

“Anyways, you said you wanted to beat up your Dad, right Boruto?” Sasuke asked as Shinachiku made a little gasping noise.

‘He said that to Uncle Sasuke?’ Shinachiku asked before remembering Sasuke had mentioned he had met Boruto earlier. ‘Did… Boruto tried to beat up Sasuke when he came over, mistaking him for Menma?’

“Yeah, I did.” Boruto revealed before immediately getting into a fighting stance against Sasuke, “And if you dare try and interfere with that, then I’m not going to hold back!!!”

Boruto roared as he charged in at Sasuke, preparing to punch him. But, before he could even do anything, something knocked Boruto down and sent him flying at least 5 feet away before the two Genin knew what happened.

“Whoa!! Are you alright, bro?!” Shina gasped as he rushed forward and knelt beside him as Boruto slowly got up again, holding his ribs.

“Ow…. Yeah, I’m fine, Shina. Don’t worry about me.” Boruto winced before quickly getting up to his feet again and glaring at Sasuke angrily. “What the hell?! How’d you do that? I didn’t even see you move!!!”

“Hmph, at your strength, do you think you’re ready to take him on?!” Sasuke growled.

“What?!” Boruto gritted his teeth, looking ready to fight again and trying to hide his fear.

“Boruto, stop!” Shina tried, patting his shoulders.

“Listen to me, both of you.” Sasuke proclaimed as both boys turned to look at him, “Here’s some advice, the way either of you are right now? You’re never going to be able even to get close to him! So why don’t both of you just go home already and give it a rest before you end up hurt, alright?”

“Tch, yeah. Like I’d ever do that!” Boruto glared stubbornly before making the hand sign for the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Then, in a puff of smoke, two other clones of Boruto suddenly appeared. Boruto quickly joined them, and all three began attacking Sasuke.

Sasuke didn’t even seem bothered by the number of clones, however as he lazily dispatched each of them, punching and kicking the clones so fast that Shinachiku and Boruto couldn’t even see his movements before finally he grabbed Boruto by the arm and twisted it behind his back, pulling his wrist up towards his shoulder blade.

“Owowowowowow!!!! That hurts!!!” Boruto shouted as he tried to get free. But, even with only one arm, Sasuke was strong.

“L-Let him go! You’ll break his arm, dattenaro!!” Shinachiku growled as he put the chakra into his fist and charged at Sasuke. However, Sasuke threw Boruto at the boy and knocked them both to the ground before Shina could even touch him too.

“Are you satisfied yet?!” Sasuke asks, “Now you know just how strong either of you are….”

Shinachiku frowned as he helped Boruto again, as the two looked down at their feet. Then, Borutos’ and Shinachikus’ shoulders began to shake in glee as Boruto spoke first, “Y-You’re amazing, Sasuke!!!”

“Huh?????????” Sasuke replied, confused at the sudden outburst.

“Hehe… That’s it, I’ve decided then!” Boruto fist pumped with both hands, “Please, Uncle Sasuke, make me your student! You’ve just gotta train me!!!”

Now it was Shinachiku’s turn to look surprised at Boruto now.

“Wh- Huh? My student?” Sasuke asked, taking a step back in surprise.

“Please…….. It’s just… I must take down my Dad, no matter what it takes!!” Boruto pleaded.

“But why? Why are you going so far just to rebel against your father like this???” Sasuke asks.

“ Because…! ” Boruto started, his body tense, “That jerk only sent a Shadow Clone to my little sister's birthday! He broke a sacred promise between men! And because he made Himawari cry, I will never forgive him for it!!”

“Boruto…” Shinachiku looked sadly at Boruto, remembering how upset he was too, but more because Boruto was just as upset as Himawari when Menma ruined Hima’s birthday party.

“Being Hokage is a very difficult job. Sometimes somethings are just beyond his control and-”

“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT!!!” Boruto blurted out, swiping his hand furiously to the side as he interrupted him, “I’m so damn tired of hearing that excuse, Dattebasa!! And besides that, even after becoming a Genin, that stupid old man kept treating me like a dumb little kid. I get no respect at all from that guy!!! He never notices me, and I’m so sick of it!”

Sasuke stays quiet as he looks down at Boruto silently. He slowly looks down at Boruto’s clothing, noticing he didn’t have any dirt or rips in his clothes, even after that scuffle they had earlier.

‘I get it now… Looks brand-new…’ Sasuke thought before looking at Shinachiku’s clothes too.

“Uh…?” Boruto wondered as he tilted his head when he noticed Sasuke seemed deep in thought.

“Can you even perform the Rasengan yet, Boruto?” Sasuke suddenly asks when he sees kid Menma within Boruto.

“The… what-engan?” Boruto asks as he remembers the spinning chakra sphere that Konohamaru had used on their mission earlier that day, ‘That’s the one with the change-in-chakra nature, right?’

“If you truly want to make Menma pay, then at this stage, if you can’t even, at least, pull that jutsu off, you can never be a student of mine, got it?” Sasuke inquired before he slowly began walking away.

“What?! H-Hey, wait a minute!!!” Boruto gasped and shouted, causing Sasuke to stop walking. “That’s-!!” Boruto then ran after him and stood before Sasuke, blocking his path. “S-So…! If I can master it, you’ll make me your student. Is that it?”

“ If you can master it, sure,” Sasuke replies bluntly.

“Heh, then, no sweat! I’ll master that jutsu in no time flat!!” Boruto grinned as Shinachiku tried to correct Boruto and tell him how difficult mastering that jutsu off. But before he could, Boruto was already off.