Uzumaki Kushina

The atmosphere of war never seemed to reach the children in the Ninja Academy. Ignorant of the world around them, they played and bickered, never lacking in laughter and joy. To be born in Konoha was itself a kind of fortune.

Since the day he ignored Minato, Ye Zi had been isolated by all his classmates. But this was exactly what he wanted. Still in that corner, still alone, he enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Over this period, Takagi had not brought up any knowledge about Chakra, instead focusing on the theory of ninja tool usage. This continued for several weeks, which irritated Ye Zi greatly. Because from the moment he awoke in this world, his memory and comprehension had become exceptionally sharp. He grasped Takagi's lessons in an instant. But not everyone was like him. So while a single day was enough for Ye Zi to understand the function and purpose of one ninja tool, others needed Takagi to explain the same tool repeatedly for several days before moving on to the next. Unfortunately, ninja tools were indispensable equipment for shinobi, and their variety was considerable.

This approach fully demonstrated that Takagi was a very meticulous person. Such a meticulous man was indeed suited to be a teacher. Hiruzen had chosen Takagi for this term's instruction precisely because of this trait. The only thing that bothered him was that Takagi was harsh with both people and matters.

Gazing out the window at the empty training ground, Ye Zi slowly let out a sigh. He suspected that if he had to spend three years like this, he might go mad.

Rustle.

The sound of the door sliding open drew Ye Zi's attention. The burly Takagi walked in expressionlessly, followed by a girl with vivid red hair.

The moment the door opened, everyone instantly stopped what they were doing and sat up straight and quiet. But upon seeing the red-haired girl, many couldn't help whispering among themselves.

A shinobi's senses were sharp. Though those speaking kept their voices low, Takagi still heard them. He furrowed his brow and said in a deep voice, "Quiet."

What Takagi said was more effective than anything else, and more intimidating than any of the children's parents. In an instant, the whispering kids obediently shut their mouths.

Ye Zi looked at the girl with her head slightly lowered. For a moment, he was dazed, but quickly calmed down. The eye color and hair color were different. Though the facial features bore some resemblance, this girl was not Ye Rui.

This girl with the vivid red hair was Uzumaki Kushina. She quietly lifted her head to glance at the seated crowd, enduring everyone's stares. Her heart began to tighten with nervousness, and she couldn't help looking away.

Seeing the classroom finally quiet, Takagi glanced at the girl with her head down and said flatly, "Briefly introduce yourself..."

Before Takagi could finish, Kushina interrupted loudly, lifting her head: "I'm Uzumaki Kushina, dattebane!"

Takagi paused, looking at Kushina who had her head raised but eyes tightly shut. He shook his head slightly and didn't take offense.

After finishing her self-introduction, Kushina realized she had accidentally blurted out her catchphrase. She quickly covered her small mouth, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

After a brief silence in the classroom... the commotion Takagi had suppressed instantly rebounded.

"Look at the color of her hair!" someone said, turning to a companion beside him with a grin.

"No one has hair like that."

"How do you get it that red?"

"Such weird hair."

Ye Zi turned his head to glance at these childish brats, then looked at Takagi. In his view, Takagi would immediately assert his authority and silence these kids. But for some reason, Takagi didn't speak this time, letting the classmates freely comment on Kushina's hair.

Ye Zi's brow furrowed slightly, confusion flickering in his eyes.

Listening to their unrestrained remarks, Kushina silently touched her own hair. She couldn't argue back, because she herself hated this vivid red hair. But... even if she hated it herself, she wouldn't allow others to belittle and gossip about it.

"I... I'm going to become the first female Hokage in this village!"

Her words shocked everyone, instantly silencing all noise.

Those who had been gossiping stared at Kushina with wide eyes, momentarily speechless.

"Hokage?"

Ye Zi turned his head to look out the window, a cold smile on his lips.

Takagi still said nothing, standing expressionlessly beside Kushina.

Just then, as everyone fell silent, Minato stood up. He clenched his right hand into a fist and pressed it to his chest, squinting as he smiled: "I also want to become an excellent Hokage recognized by everyone."

Kushina looked at Minato, who smiled so gently. She felt he looked like a girl, not reliable at all. How could someone like that become Hokage?

Minato, however, had no idea what Kushina really thought. He maintained his gentle smile, and his words came from the bottom of his heart.

Perhaps almost no one present could see just how serious Minato was about those words. But Ye Zi and Takagi could...

Compared to Kushina's words, blurted out under the pressure of the atmosphere, Minato's statement carried far more conviction.

"Find a seat and sit down." Takagi, who had been silent all along, glanced at Minato and then spoke.

"Oh."

Kushina responded. Like Ye Zi, she chose an empty seat.

After Kushina sat down, Takagi said in a deep voice, "Class begins."

Then came another tedious lecture. Takagi could drag out the explanation of a single ninja tool endlessly. On this point, Ye Zi could only raise both hands in admiration.

Perhaps in his view, what Takagi did was completely meaningless. But in truth, only a teacher this conscientious and responsible could lay a solid foundation for these tender saplings.

After a full hour, Takagi ended the lesson, turned, and walked out of the classroom, giving the children a brief ten-minute break.

As soon as Takagi left the classroom, the stifling atmosphere instantly turned lively, like a withered flower blooming again in mere moments.

Several restless and mischievous boys immediately sought out Kushina, surrounding her at the back of the classroom. One of them pointed at her and laughed strangely: "Tomato! Red hair, round face, just like a tomato."

"Haha, I hate tomatoes the most," another boy with a buzz cut chimed in.

"Me too. I always leave my tomatoes uneaten."

"A tomato everyone hates—how could it ever earn the village's recognition?" A boy with both hands clasped behind his head laughed loudly. As his words fell, everyone surrounding Kushina burst into laughter.

Surrounded by so many people, listening to their mockery, Kushina's cheeks flushed red again. Too shy, she couldn't help lowering her head. Her bright red face really did look just like a tomato.

Minato, sitting in the front row, heard the noise and turned to look at Kushina, surrounded by the others. He was slightly surprised but said nothing.

Ye Zi, sitting in the very back row, was the direct victim of the noise pollution. He looked at the bullies ganging up on one person, and silently stood up.

He hadn't wanted to step forward, but this scene stirred memories from his childhood—unlike the playful teasing now, back then it had been a struggle for food.

"Wow, getting riper and riper." Watching Kushina's face grow redder, one of the boys laughed and couldn't resist reaching out to grab her hair.

Ye Zi caught the boy's outstretched hand.

Kushina sensed the movement but couldn't react in time. Turning her head, she saw a slightly handsome black-haired boy with a cold expression holding back the hand that had been reaching for her hair.

In the classroom, everyone watching this scene was stunned, and the atmosphere fell silent.