Looking for Trouble

"Dattebane?"

Hearing this strange verbal tic, the students below the podium burst into laughter.

"Look at the color of her hair, unbelievable!"

"It's so red! How could it possibly be that red?"

"It's so weird..."

Hearing the whispers from the class, Kushina's face flushed slightly, and she touched her hair with an unnatural movement.

I hate this!

I don't want to have hair this red either.

But it grows on me, it's a part of me, what can I do about it?

The inner calm she had just found was once again flooded with tension.

Just then, Minato's voice rang out beside her: "I think it's beautiful, just like flames; it looks full of vitality."

His voice wasn't loud, yet it seemed to carry a certain steady strength, reaching everyone's ears clearly.

Hearing Minato's words, Kushina's mood suddenly settled, and she stared at him in a daze.

This was the first time anyone had ever complimented her hair.

"Yes, I think it looks very pretty too."

Hearing Minato's words, Nonō added in a gentle tone.

With the two of them speaking up, the classroom quieted down slightly, but Kotai let out a scoff, looking at Minato with a provocative expression: "It looks just like a tomato. Minato, don't tell me you like her?"

Huh?

Why is he handing out an assist?

Minato looked at Kotai and smiled brightly: "Is there something wrong with that? I like everyone who is optimistic, kind, and positive. By the same token, I despise anyone who is dark-minded and malicious trash."

"You bastard! Who are you calling trash?!"

Hearing this, Kotai was instantly enraged and slammed his hands on the desk as he stood up.

"Oh? I didn't mention you, so why are you getting so worked up?"

Minato tilted his head slightly, his smile as sunny as ever, though anyone could hear the mockery in his tone. The class erupted into laughter.

"Damn it, you guy—!"

Kotai's face turned beet red, his fists clenched tight; he wanted nothing more than to punch that annoying, smiling face.

"Alright, everyone quiet down!"

Ikkaku Umino frowned to stop Kotai, then patted Kushina's shoulder gently: "Kushina, tell us about your hobbies and your dreams."

"I... I like eating ramen! My dream is to become the first female Hokage of this village!"

Becoming Hokage was the dream of the vast majority of children in Konoha.

Kushina wasn't obsessed with the position itself; she just felt that by doing so, she might be able to better integrate into this village.

The air was silent for a moment, but thankfully, no other short-sighted person jumped out to cause trouble.

Minato clapped softly, then raised his hand: "Teacher, there's a seat here."

Ikkaku Umino nodded: "Mm, then Kushina, go sit next to Minato. Everyone, get along well!"

Kushina nodded, walked quickly to Minato's side to sit down, and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Being watched by so many eyes, you must have been nervous."

"I was nervous to death!"

Kushina pouted. Suddenly relaxing made her unconsciously reveal a bit of her true nature, and she gritted her teeth, whispering: "What's the name of that bastard who laughed at me earlier?"

"His name is Kotai."

Minato didn't hide it. Honestly, compared to the timid girl who had just arrived yesterday, he preferred this authentic Kushina.

"Just because my hair color is different, he mocks me. What a disgusting guy!"

Kushina huffed, then noticed Minato's smiling gaze and realized she had let her true colors show.

"What... what are you laughing at?"

Kushina lowered her head in embarrassment, her little bun-like face turning red, looking quite adorable.

Minato said gently: "Nothing, I just think this version of Kushina is more real."

Hearing this, Kushina instinctively remembered him complimenting her hair earlier, and her face turned even redder.

She timidly raised her head: "Do you really think... my hair is beautiful?"

"Yeah!"

Minato nodded firmly: "It suits you perfectly!"

"I see..."

Kushina felt as if her face were hot enough to fry an egg.

She did not know what was wrong with her; she felt dizzy and lightheaded, her mind filled entirely with the image of Minato.

The tranquility when he cooked, the gentleness when he spoke, the decisiveness when he stood up for her.

In this instant, it was as if a seed had quietly sprouted at the bottom of her heart.

Kushina did not hear a single word during this class, and it was only when the bell rang that she jolted back to reality from her thoughts.

"I... I'm going to the restroom!"

Kushina stood up with her head lowered and walked quickly out of the classroom.

From their seats in the front row, Kotai and his two companions exchanged glances and silently followed after her.

Catching their movements out of the corner of his eye, Minato's expression turned subtle for a moment before returning to normal, and he walked out of the classroom at a leisurely pace.

Inside the restroom, Kushina braced her hands against the sink, looking at her flushed face in the mirror, her eyes harboring some indescribable emotion.

Splash—

She turned on the faucet, wet her palms, and patted her face gently, trying to cool down her cheeks.

Just then, a blonde girl came to her side, turned on the adjacent faucet, and began washing her hands with gentle movements.

Kushina recognized her as the girl who had just spoken up for her.

"Um... thank you for what happened earlier."

Kushina thanked her politely: "My name is Kushina. May I ask what your name is...?"

"Yakushi Nonō. Just call me Nonō."

Nonō smiled in a friendly manner: "There's no need for thanks. Minato mentioned this morning that a friend would be transferring into the class, and Minato's friends are naturally my friends too."

Hearing this, Kushina froze, and an inexplicable emotion surged in her heart.

"Um, are you and Minato very close?"

"I suppose we're on pretty good terms?"

Nonō's eyes flickered as she pretended to ponder: "We were seatmates at the start of the term, and we've sat together occasionally since then. But Minato is very gentle with everyone, so I'm not really sure what he thinks of me."

Gentle...

With everyone?

Nonō's words were like a basin of cold water, instantly extinguishing the heat on Kushina's face.

So that's how it is...

The smile on Kushina's face grew slightly stiff: "I... I see. No wonder he's been so attentive to me, haha..."

No, you are the first person...

To be treated specially by Minato!

Nonō did not say these words aloud, merely agreeing gently: "Right? He really is a very gentle person."

Watching the light fade from Kushina's eyes, Nonō suddenly felt a wave of disgust toward herself.

"Let's go, let's head back to the classroom together."

Pursing her lips, Nonō gently took Kushina's hand, and the two walked toward the classroom together.

They hadn't gone far when three figures suddenly blocked their path.

Kotai, Tetsuo, and Shio stood with their arms crossed, blocking the way side-by-side.

"It's you..."

Kushina furrowed her brows.

"Wow! The Tomato can actually talk~"

Shio shouted with an exaggerated expression, and Kotai and Tetsuo burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?"

Glancing at the number of people in front of her, Kushina silently pulled Nonō behind her.

Noticing Kushina's action, a flash of surprise crossed Nonō's eyes, followed by a darkening of her expression, though it was unclear what she was thinking.