Kushina's Thoughts

They left the Hokage office.

Namikaze Minato said his goodbyes to them, and that soaking-wet adult, Jiraiya, led him off in another direction. Kushina felt a pang of jealousy, convinced that he would eventually turn into that same sloppy, middle-aged man.

Before leaving, Minato had smiled gently and said, "From now on, we're rivals. Let's both do our best," which only made Kushina feel incredibly annoyed.

...Do my best at what...

Becoming the first female Hokage?

Kushina pouted, struggling to control her emotions, trying her best not to look so angry.

She didn't want to appear so childish in front of Hiroki.

But...

That guy was still so annoying! He was like a sissy, and in this assessment, even though he and she hadn't really done anything, he still acted like he could become Hokage?

Kushina couldn't help but sneak a glance at the bean sprout beside her.

Silky black hair, a slender and lithe build, and well-defined features.

He wasn't the most outstanding person in class, but his tone of voice was always different from everyone else's. Even when he used her nickname, it was the same.

When others called her Red Hot Habanero, their tone was always mocking or provocative, sometimes even accompanied by a silly face, but only when Hiroki said Red Hot Habanero was his tone calm.

It was as if it were simply a fact.

Her hair certainly looked like a red hot habanero; even Kushina couldn't deny that. Otherwise, why would she get so angry when others called her Red Hot Habanero or Tomato?

They were right.

But Kushina hated it when others called her that on purpose to tease her! She didn't want to seem so special.

But the bean sprout didn't call her that way; when he said it...

Kushina subconsciously looked left and right. That annoying Namikaze Minato had already disappeared around the street corner, leaving only her and Hiroki walking side by side on the sun-drenched street, where the surrounding noise seemed to fade away.

She secretly cast a glance at the boy beside her from the corner of her eye.

When he said it, it was just like he was addressing any other classmate—natural, calm, and unremarkable.

Hiroki didn't seem to think her red hair was special at all; he seemed to think she was no different from any other student in the village.

This was the reason Kushina liked interacting with Hiroki.

Now, what was Hiroki thinking about?

Kushina sized up the Hiroki at her side.

Hiroki didn't speak; even the joy of becoming a genin didn't seem to linger on his face for long.

He just walked quietly, his gaze fixed on the ground, yet he walked as if lost in thought, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes unfocused.

Was he thinking?

What could he be thinking about?

Such a thought popped into Kushina's mind.

Could it be... was he worried about that teacher named Orochimaru? That guy Minato had said he was a very formidable person. Was he feeling pressured because he had to face such a powerful teacher?

No, that wasn't it. Kushina quickly shook her head internally.

In her mind, Hiroki was the most powerful one.

He could defeat three Cloud Ninja by himself and use that mysterious, incomprehensible ninjutsu to make the assessment instructor disappear with a "poof." How could someone like that be troubled by a teacher he hadn't even met yet?

Little Kushina subconsciously ignored the bean sprout's usual disguise; the guy who pretended to tactically avoid group activities must have been hiding his true strength.

Little Kushina pondered, wondering what Hiroki could be thinking about.

Was it something he discovered during the assessment? Or was it... something the Hokage and the others had said?

Kushina tried hard to recall, but she found her brain wasn't quite up to the task. She couldn't really understand the complex looks in those adults' eyes or the hidden meanings in their words.

A small sense of inferiority, like a pebble thrown into the lake of her heart, sent ripples spreading outward.

It wasn't just because she couldn't understand what the adults were saying, but also because of her own abilities.

In this assessment, she hadn't actually done anything.

Minato's Body Flicker Technique was so fast, and his attacks were powerful; if she had gone up there, she would have been easily knocked down by Minato. He always seemed to find the perfect timing.

Hiroki was the core; he could see through genjutsu and use methods no one could imagine to seal the deal.

And what about her?

It seemed... she had just recklessly charged in and was easily dodged. Aside from causing trouble, she didn't seem to have played any real role.

Hiroki was so smart; what he was thinking about now must be something profound that she couldn't understand at all. If she was so clumsy that she couldn't even guess why he was unhappy, how could she ever help him?

And...

Little Kushina pouted. More importantly, if things went on like this, she would only end up as a mediocre and ordinary female ninja, and there would be no way she could become a female Hokage!

This sense of powerlessness made her feel somewhat dejected.

It also made her even angrier at what Minato had said before he left.

She looked at the slightly thin profile of Hiroki, the sunlight casting faint shadows upon his long eyelashes. He clearly still looked like that skinny "bean sprout," yet he always shouldered worries she couldn't understand.

No! She couldn't just watch like this!

Kushina secretly cheered herself on.

Even if she didn't understand what he was thinking, and even if she couldn't be of much help, at the very least, she couldn't let him brood all by himself!

She took a deep breath, as if having made a great resolution, suddenly stopped in her tracks, reached out her small hand, and gently, tentatively tugged at Hiroki's sleeve.

"Hey..."

Hiroki's train of thought was interrupted; he turned his head and looked at her with some confusion.

"You... you haven't said a word since just now." Kushina puffed out her cheeks, trying hard to make her tone sound like a complaint rather than cautious concern, "We passed the exam, you know! We're Genin! How come you aren't happy at all?"

Hiroki looked at her, the depth and distance in his eyes slowly dissipating. He blinked, as if he had only just truly returned to this bustling street. He shook his head and said softly, "It's nothing, just thinking about some... future matters."

"Future matters?" Kushina tilted her head.

This answer was too vague; she still didn't understand. However, she had her own way of doing things.

"Thinking about things is the most exhausting thing for the brain! Once the brain gets tired, the stomach gets hungry!" She suddenly announced righteously, as if she had discovered a great truth.

Before Hiroki could react, Kushina had already grabbed his slightly cool wrist, a smile as bright as the sun blooming on her face.

"I know a shop that has the best salt ramen in all of Konoha! Let's go! My treat! There's no trouble that a bowl of ramen can't solve!"

Without waiting for Hiroki to answer, she was already pulling him firmly, running toward another direction.

The warmth and strength transmitted from her wrist made Hiroki slightly stunned.

But before he could react, little Kushina asked in a low voice with a hint of expectation in her eyes:

"Um... Hiroki... after we finish the ramen, can you teach me how to become stronger?"