The Envoy from Kumogakure!

"I'm heading out!"

The first rays of morning sunlight had only just reached the earth. While everything was still asleep, Uzumaki Kushina grabbed a small bag and ran out of the house.

"Do your best today! Make sure you pass the exam!" At the gate of the estate, Uzumaki Mito, Tsunade, and Jiuming stood watching Kushina leave for school. Mito even waved both hands to cheer her on.

"I know! I'll definitely pass. After all, I'm going to be the first female Hokage!" Kushina called back before disappearing at the end of the street.

"By the way, Big Sis got up especially early today. Isn't she usually the type to arrive at the school gate right as the bell rings? Why's she so eager today?"

Jiuming was young, but he already spoke very clearly. Compared with other children his age, he was nothing short of a genius when it came to speaking.

"I know. Teacher Sarutobi told me a few days ago."

"He said a delegation from Kumogakure, in the Land of Lightning, is coming to Konoha today for an exchange visit. One of the things they'll be doing is touring the Ninja Academy."

"The Ninja Academy Second Hokage founded is one of a kind in the Shinobi World!"

Tsunade couldn't hide her pride as she said this. After all, the Ninja Academy had truly protected many children in a sense, and it was a groundbreaking institution in the Shinobi World.

During the Warring States Period, the average age of children going to war was around eight. The founding of the Ninja Academy raised that age to twelve. They were still sending child soldiers to fight, but fifty steps were better than a hundred. There was no denying that this was progress. At the Academy, teachers also taught the children some basic combat techniques, and after graduation, Jonin led them on simple missions. This greatly reduced the death rate among young ninja.

Konoha was still a long way from the ideal village Hashirama and Madara had envisioned, but there was no question that the Ninja Academy was a pioneering institution. As for why children ended up on the front lines when war broke out again after Mito's death, that was a question for the people leading Konoha at the time!

Looking back, though, one couldn't blame the Third Hokage. For someone without a Kekkei Genkai to reach such heights through the family's inherited summoning beast was already impressive. In the Shinobi World, where people seemed to have cheat codes everywhere, there weren't many ninja who could reach the Third Hokage's level through personal ability alone.

"Kumogakure? That's the ninja village that's always stealing Kekkei Genkai, right?" Jiuming blurted out after hearing Tsunade's words. Under the surprised gazes of Mito and Tsunade, he quickly corrected himself:

"I heard some people in the village talking about it~" Cold sweat appeared on the back of Jiuming's head.

"You little rascal, you sure know a lot." Tsunade ruffled Jiuming's hair, believing his explanation. Mito nodded too, accepting his story.

"You're right. Kumogakure is that kind of village. But sending an envoy this time is actually a good thing. This is the first time Konoha and Kumogakure have exchanged visits since Second Hokage died."

"Teacher Sarutobi is having a hard time maintaining the current situation." Tsunade sighed. Since Second Hokage's death, the Shinobi World had known no peace. Thanks to Mito's deterrence, the flames of war hadn't reached Konoha, but other nations had long been locked in conflict. The small countries caught between the great powers were truly suffering.

"Come on, Jiuming. Today I'll teach you the Four Symbols Seal." Mito patted Jiuming's head, not particularly concerned about Kumogakure's delegation. As long as she was alive, Konoha wouldn't be affected by war!

"All right, Grandmother." Jiuming took Mito's hand without being asked and turned to head back to the study. Tsunade's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she heard them. "You're teaching him the Four Symbols Seal at his age?"

"Grandmother, don't teach him whatever you please! How can a child learn something so dangerous?"

Tsunade looked utterly disbelieving. She couldn't believe Jiuming was learning the Four Symbols Seal at his age. It wasn't some low-level Fuinjutsu. In terms of rank, it could be considered an A-rank Fuinjutsu. A child shouldn't be able to understand a technique like that.

But Tsunade had no idea that Jiuming's ability to understand things was exceptional. After all, he wasn't a child in the truest sense.

"All right, go do what you need to do. Stop making such a fuss."

"By the way, don't tell anyone that Jiuming is learning ninjutsu. Not even Monkey."

"Understood?"

Mito had her own plans. She had known for a long time that Jiuming was a genius—not only in learning ninjutsu, but also because his physical constitution was one in a million among the Uzumaki Clan. Mito had kept this under wraps all along to protect him.

If you asked what kind of person had the shortest life in the Shinobi World, the answer was undoubtedly a genius—especially one without anyone powerful to protect them!

"This little rascal really has that kind of talent?" Tsunade still didn't believe it. She bent over and studied Jiuming with a puzzled look. Under her gaze, Jiuming's skin prickled with goosebumps.

"That has nothing to do with you. Spend this time learning the Yin Seal I taught you. It'll be very useful to you." With that, Mito led Jiuming away, leaving Tsunade standing there in bewilderment. She didn't notice the faint blue diamond shape appearing on Jiuming's forehead. Once the sunlight fell on it, it vanished from sight.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

"Thud, thud, thud!"

Three kunai whistled through the air, and all three struck the center of the target almost at the same time. A wave of enthusiastic applause followed.

"Clap, clap, clap, clap!"

"Very impressive. He's a talented kid!"

On the field at Konoha Ninja Academy, an Academy teacher was showing a visiting delegation from Kumogakure around as they watched the students' graduation exams. The blond boy who had just thrown the kunai with pinpoint accuracy earned applause and praise from the delegation.

"Heh, he's the most talented student among this year's graduates. In terms of strength, even some older Genin can't match him." The Academy teacher smiled as he watched Minato Namikaze in the middle of the field. He waved for him to leave and called up the next examinee.

"Hmph! Show-off!" Kushina was the examinee after Minato. Seeing him throw three kunai at once, all of them hitting the bull's-eye, left her feeling extremely annoyed. She immediately felt the resentment of a struggling student toward a top student~

"Oh? A redhead? Is this child from the Uzumaki Clan?" The leader of the Kumogakure delegation caught sight of Uzumaki Kushina stepping onto the field. A glint flashed in his eyes, too subtle to notice. He then asked casually, as if inquiring about an ordinary student.

"Yes, her name is Uzumaki Kushina. She's also quite talented as a ninja, but she has a bad temper. She's the little tyrant of the school." When Kushina entered the field, the Academy teacher's smile faded slightly, though he also felt a little relieved.

After all, Kushina was a little terror, and she'd caused him no end of trouble at school.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

"Clang~"

"Thud, thud!"

Instead of throwing one kunai at a time as she usually did, Kushina copied Minato and threw three at once. Unfortunately, she had no control over her strength or aim. Two kunai collided and veered off course: one missed the target completely, while the other struck its outermost edge. The third, however, hit the bull's-eye.

"Heh, one good thing about this child is that she refuses to give up." The Academy teacher had just praised Kushina's talent, and she immediately pulled a stunt like that, leaving him a little embarrassed. But he quickly found a way to cover for himself.

"Heh heh heh, this student is interesting. I admire her willingness to take on a challenge, too."

"How about this? I have a little gift here. Let's give it to her as encouragement."

The leader of the Kumogakure delegation seemed to think highly of Kushina. He took a kunai from inside his clothes and handed it to the Academy teacher. It looked no different from an ordinary kunai. The teacher examined it briefly, saw nothing wrong, and called Kushina over to accept it.

"Kushina! Come here for a moment." The Academy teacher beckoned her over. Kushina walked up slowly, thinking the teacher was angry that she'd missed her mark. She was a little worried she might fail.

"Don't be nervous. These gentlemen are envoys from Kumogakure. They saw how you performed and thought you had the courage to take on a difficult challenge, so they're giving you a kunai as a reward." As he spoke, the Academy teacher handed Kushina the kunai. After all, kunai were strategic tools in those days, essential for ninja combat.

Giving a ninja a kunai was like giving a samurai a katana. The item itself might not be especially valuable, but it carried a nice meaning.

"Thank you, Teacher! Thank you, sir!" When Kushina realized the teacher wasn't scolding her but rewarding her instead, her face lit up with joy. She took the kunai with both hands, rubbed it briefly, and slipped it into the back pocket at her waist.

"Do your best on the remaining exams. If you perform as usual, you'll definitely pass." The Academy teacher encouraged Kushina before waving her away. Afterward, he continued showing the Kumogakure delegation around the school, introducing its history and teaching philosophy.

Encouraged by the teacher, Kushina performed steadily in the rest of the exams and passed every test, successfully earning her Genin Forehead Protector. The Kumogakure delegation stayed until late. After all the examinees had finished, they toured the school a few more times before their escorts led them back to the guesthouse.

By then, the sun was already close to setting.

"I did it! Jiuming, Grandmother, Tsunade! I did it!" The sun hid behind the clouds, and the horizon turned crimson. The scenery at dusk, just before night fell, was truly beautiful. But Kushina's shout shattered the tranquil evening.