Time gradually passed.
Konoha still hadn't found Tsunade's whereabouts, despite using various methods.
However, a clue was found: numerous spies from an organization called Kara had infiltrated various forces in different countries.
Some were willing, some were controlled by special Ninjutsu, some by Scientific Ninja Tools, and others had their families threatened.
Their goal, in any case, was to collect all sorts of intelligence from various countries and then transmit it back to the Kara organization through some means.
According to Konoha's investigation, Kara was divided into Inner and Outer members; Inner members were the core, while Outer members were those who endorsed Kara's ideology.
Konoha captured many Outer members, but the Inner members were nowhere to be found.
They were hidden extremely well...
Four years passed just like that.
Many young children began to grow up, and many started attending school.
Ninja Academy.
"We're going to school! I heard the Ninja Academy's cafeteria has a two-star chef who can make the most delicious food for everyone," said a little girl with a very dark complexion, munching on potato chips, to the children around her.
"Chocho, you shouldn't eat too much. I heard that if you get too fat, you'll be at a great disadvantage when training in the Physical Training System," Inojin, with his blonde hair, interjected.
He couldn't understand how Chocho, who was only six years old, could fit so much food in her stomach.
Then he looked at his own body; this was the perfect physique.
Akimichi Chocho 'crunched' down a potato chip and said carelessly, "My dad said that's not true, and it can even enhance training effects. The accumulated fat will turn into fuel for the body, making it stronger. Besides, the Physical Training System can only be used after the second year, once you can skillfully control Chakra."
"Skillfully controlling Chakra? That's too simple. I can already use Super Beast Imitating Drawing!"
Inojin smiled and patted the scroll on his back.
Nara Shikadai, wearing a white undershirt with a green jacket over it, said, "That's just simple control. I heard you need to achieve the ultimate form of transformation to use it, otherwise, you'll have to wait until after graduation and meet the body's requirements to train there. Right now, it's a paradise for all Ninja who train in taijutsu, so it's not that easy to get in."
As someone who often used his brain, he knew it wasn't that simple.
His grandfather and father had both told him that to enter the Physical Training System early, one needed to learn the Chakra control methods taught at the Ninja Academy and achieve the state of 'free-flowing love'.
Only then would the facilities inside ensure that a young Ninja's body wouldn't be damaged during growth under immense gravitational pressure.
"No matter what, I will achieve it," Inojin declared.
"But speaking of which, for a taijutsu Ninja like Chocho, Chakra control must be very difficult to practice, right?"
Akimichi Chocho 'crunched' in response, "It's fine. My dad taught me how to use Chakra since I was little, and my Chakra control is very good now."
They underestimated the Akimichi clan too much.
Their Chakra control was among the best of the Konoha clans.
For example, her father, Akimichi Choji, could use the Butterfly Mode without relying on secret medicines, which required incredibly strong Chakra control.
It's worth noting that the Butterfly Mode ability converts stored body fat into Chakra, concentrating every attack into a punch, so the required control is immense.
"Let's go, school is starting. I wonder what Boruto is up to; he's not here yet?" Shikadai looked around. Boruto, who he was quite familiar with, wasn't at school yet... Woohoo~
On the Thunder Train heading to the Ninja Academy, Boruto and another boy were fighting against three others, and the battle only stopped when the Ninja guarding the Thunder Train intervened.
"Hmph, Denki, if these three guys dare to hit you again, just tell me, and I'll beat them up. My dad is the Hokage," Boruto said, looking at the three boys who resembled delinquents.
Next to him, a boy wearing blue clothes was the same age as him.
"Boruto, even if your dad is the Hokage, you can't just hit people, and you might even get a beating from Hokage-sama yourself."
The guarding Ninja naturally recognized Boruto, the Hokage's son, but he hadn't expected him to dare to fight on a fast-moving Thunder Train.
Fortunately, each train car had a Ninja assigned for defense.
This was even to prevent such situations.
However, the Hokage-sama's son was truly strong.
Just now, he felt that if Boruto had used Ninjutsu, he wouldn't have been Boruto's opponent.
It was only by relying on the advantage of his adult body, combined with the superior combat experience of an adult who trained at the Ninja Academy, that he managed to subdue these few people.
Konoha's geniuses were truly increasing.
He remembered being a genius himself back then.
But it was different from this new generation like Boruto.
Ever since Kakashi-sama handed the position of Hokage to Naruto-sama, more attention had been paid to the growth of the new generation.
Perhaps it was because the Sixth Hokage had overseen the recovery period after the Fourth Shinobi World War, and now under the Seventh Hokage, things were slowly changing.
Boruto pouted, "Dad, that guy who just knows how to work all day, I don't want to listen to him."
Boruto was very dissatisfied with Naruto's frequent absence from home.
"Eh, your dad also has to work every day? My dad does too, you know."
On the chair behind him, a bald boy heard Boruto's words and spoke up.
"Who are you? You look a bit familiar?" Boruto heard the voice, turned his head, and a bright, bald head came into view.
He didn't know why, but he felt the other person looked familiar.
"Hello, I'm Saitama," Saitama said politely, extending his hand to Boruto.
"Hello,... Are you Saitama, the son of the Deputy Director of the Technology Development Bureau?"
"That's right."
"But what do you mean by 'like your dad'?" Boruto asked, puzzled.
He finally realized why he looked familiar. A few years ago, he had gone to that place where the wedding was held, the biggest one, and it was the most fun he'd ever had. He originally said he'd go often, but his dad never had time, and it was a bit far, so he hadn't been back.
He had indeed seen a little bald boy at the wedding then.
But what did he mean by 'like his dad'?
Is Deputy Director-sama also very busy?
Saitama nodded and said, "My older siblings told me that Dad loves to use Shadow Clone to do all sorts of things, which makes everyone always think he's the real one. But I can feel who the real one is."
"Wow, what an irresponsible dad, right?" Boruto complained.
He hadn't expected that the Ninja rumored to be on par with his idol was also like his dad.
Sasuke-uncle definitely wouldn't be like that.
Saitama: "No, Dad is very busy, but it doesn't matter. Grandpa and Mom all say we don't need to bother with Dad."