Kushina's Shuriken

Minato watched his Tadpole undo the Summoning Jutsu and could only smile helplessly.

"...Ahaha, this is bad."

"I spent so long negotiating with it and found it so many caterpillars before it agreed to become my Summoning Beast. Now I have to start all over again."

"..."

Uchiha Chen looked toward Mikoto, who had been chatting with Kushina off to the side.

"Mikoto, what did Orochimaru teach you?"

"Um... let me think. Lord Orochimaru taught me some of his insights into Ninjutsu, as well as how to combine the five elemental release techniques. He also taught me how to make, identify, and avoid common traps. In short, it was all about things that could save your life."

Look at Mikoto—she told Uchiha Chen everything. Then look at Minato, how sly.

But now that he thought about it, Uncle Snake truly had no equal when it came to staying alive. As a scientist who had mastered core technology, he was someone who lived all the way to the end and even grew younger with age.

Uchiha Chen thought it over carefully and realized that the three of them had each received something representative of one of the Sannin.

Uchiha Chen had learned Tsunade's Monstrous Strength, Minato had gained Jiraiya's Mount Myōboku Toads, while Mikoto had received Orochimaru's guidance in Ninjutsu.

The second class was once again Uncle Nishimura's.

As a ninja, Uncle Nishimura might have looked a little old, but unexpectedly, he was a versatile talent. That was why the Third Hokage had entrusted him with such an important duty.

In his own words, he had been an artsy young man back in the day. If he had not become a ninja, he would have become a writer.

He might have written several novels already.

"All right, all right, brats, hurry back to your seats."

Teacher Nishimura entered the classroom with a thick stack of forms in his hands.

"Ah, another test? Didn't we just have one not long ago?" At the sight of the thick pile of paper in his hands, the troublemakers led by Uchiha Liang immediately began protesting.

Tch, typical poor-student mentality. Uchiha Chen silently looked down on them. Top students only got more excited the more tests there were.

"No." Uncle Nishimura shook his head.

"Our second year is nearly over. There is still some time before the second-year final exam, so today will be our last outdoor training class. Everyone, come with me to the Training Room."

Why this again? Do teachers just love outdoor training? Uchiha Chen grumbled inwardly.

After all, he had just returned from training with Tsunade.

It was the same familiar atmosphere, the same familiar Training Ground.

Uchiha Chen could even see the marks left on the ground by the Earth Release Ninjutsu Orochimaru and Jiraiya had used.

"Ahem, this outdoor class will mainly test everyone's shuriken throwing." Uncle Nishimura raised the thick roster in his hand.

"I'll count the results of this test as part of your usual grades and include them in your final scores. So whether you usually perform well or poorly, you must take this test seriously."

"I don't want to be calling your parents during summer break." After saying that, Teacher Nishimura glanced at Shikaku, who was holding his head and looking troubled.

Shikaku's heart jolted. After all, his mother had just scolded both him and his father over his surrender last time, saying they neglected their proper duties. It had left him with a bit of psychological trauma.

"First, following the order of your student numbers from enrollment, Uchiha Liang, you're first. Come on up."

"Yeah."

Uchiha Liang, the leader of the trio, strode forward with his head held high.

He took four shuriken from the Ninja Tool Pouch on his thigh. With a slight flick of his wrist, the shuriken shot out at tremendous speed and buried themselves viciously in the bullseye ten meters away!

The students erupted in astonishment. His two lackeys put on an especially enthusiastic performance.

"A."

After glancing at the target in the distance, Nishimura announced Uchiha Liang's score.

The highest grade a teacher could give a student was A+, followed by A, A-, B+, and so on.

It had to be said that members of the Uchiha Clan were far more outstanding than ordinary people when it came to shuriken.

Perhaps it was a matter of genetics.

The outdoor training class passed bit by bit. Since it was not yet Uchiha Chen's turn, he was bored enough to hide off to the side and chat with Nawaki and the others.

It was not just Uchiha Chen and his group. The other students who had not yet taken their turns were not particularly well-behaved either, all scattered around the Training Ground chatting.

Uchiha Chen noticed that Kushina seemed nervous.

"Kushina, are you not very good at throwing shuriken?" Uchiha Chen asked.

"No... Um, I guess I'm not very good at it. I haven't practiced much these past few years."

Uchiha Chen remembered that Naruto was terrible at this too. It seemed that was inherited as well.

Just like the Uchiha Clan, it was a genetic issue.

"Next, Uzumaki Kushina."

"Good luck, Kushina." Uchiha Chen cheered her on.

"Mm, okay. I'll do my best!" Kushina slowly walked forward.

Before Uzumaki Kushina transferred in, the Third Hokage had summoned Teacher Nishimura and specifically instructed him to look after Uzumaki Kushina. He was not to let the other students bully her.

The Third Hokage's reason was that Kushina was a war orphan from the Land of Whirlpools. She had just arrived in Konoha and was unfamiliar with everything. Since Kushina would live in Konoha in the future, they needed to cultivate her favorable impression of Konoha.

Since the Hokage had personally given advance instructions, Teacher Nishimura had to show Uzumaki Kushina extra concern no matter what, if only for the sake of his ninja career.

That was why Teacher Nishimura had placed her name in the middle of the list. If she had been last, it might have made Uzumaki Kushina feel isolated.

However, from his perspective, Uzumaki Kushina was terribly unqualified when it came to shuriken. He could spot errors even in her throwing posture—what more could one expect from her aim?

Uncle Nishimura sighed. Another problem child.

"Since the Hokage specifically asked me to look after her, I have no choice. I'll just casually give her an A+ later..." Teacher Nishimura muttered to himself.

Uh. Uchiha Chen really wanted to report Teacher Nishimura to the Hokage right now.

Kushina grew nervous under so many gazes.

She looked again at Uchiha Chen and the others. They were all cheering her on.

Kushina rubbed her eyes and straightened her clothes.

"Ha!"

Standing before the target, Kushina gave a loud shout and hurled her shuriken with all her strength.

Uchiha Chen admitted that Kushina's voice sounded lovely, but that aim... was truly awful.

If Teacher Nishimura, standing beside the target, had not promptly used the Substitution Jutsu, Kushina's shuriken would likely have turned him into a sieve.

Teacher Nishimura's eye twitched as he hesitated greatly.

After all, the result was right there. He could not go against his conscience.

"...But... Kushina is someone the Hokage personally cares about. I can't embarrass him. I'll give her an A, then. That grade is passable, right?" Teacher Nishimura kept finding excuses for himself.

"..."

Wake up, Teacher Nishimura. At this rate, Konoha's future will be ruined in the hands of a Chunin like you, understand?

Kushina fell silent. Just moments ago, she had been full of excitement, but now she walked away looking dispirited.