The Transfer Student Arrives as Promised

Back home, even after turning the place upside down, Chiba Genichi only managed to find a D-rank Body Flicker Technique and a C-rank Wind Release: Great Breakthrough. While training these, he also put the Rasengan on his schedule.

As the only ninjutsu in the original series with a detailed training method and no elemental restrictions, the Rasengan was a must-learn technique that every transmigrator could learn and master.

Genichi intended to replicate this technique as soon as possible to reinforce his persona as a genius, thereby attracting the attention of the village's upper echelons.

After all, Konoha's control over ninjutsu resources was incredibly strict; for commoners with average talent, the path forward was fraught with hardship.

Ordinary ninja graduates could only be led by Chunin to catch cats or farm, eventually becoming cannon fodder on the battlefield, whereas exceptionally talented graduates were led by Jonin who would personally teach them ninjutsu and nurture them with care.

Genichi did not have the luxury of being a "Ten-Mile Slope Sword God." Compared to slowly developing for six years at the Ninja Academy, appropriately showcasing his talent was a better strategy, as the rewards far outweighed the risks.

Without realizing it, a month had already passed since enrollment. Day after day, school life always passed quickly, yet it was also very fulfilling.

The future five-star Jonin Minato Namikaze once gave the following assessment: "Genichi's strength comes from his tireless, day-and-night efforts."

Every day, he followed a planned regimen of weighted training to further develop his body's potential. In terms of chakra control, he was already able to stand on trees and run across the surface of water.

Occasionally, after finishing his training, he would invite Minato for a hearty taijutsu duel.

"So hardworking, too hardworking!" Minato felt the pain and joy of his own progress.

Incidentally, during their duels, Genichi recalled that one of Minato's major advantages was his rapid neural reflex speed, so he added two new training projects.

In a static environment, he would try to quickly lock onto moving targets—whether it was leaves blowing in the wind, a bird taking flight, or an insect jumping in the grass—Genichi tried every method to train his dynamic vision.

At the same time, he would dodge unsealed ninja tools thrown by his classmates to train his physical reaction speed and coordination, avoiding the embarrassing situation of discovering danger but being unable to react in time.

Now, while he wasn't practicing ninjutsu and spent most of his time conditioning his body, Genichi seized every opportunity to improve himself.

"Students, we have a new classmate joining our class today. Let's give her a round of applause."

"Clap, clap, clap!"

Sarutobi Kimura walked into the classroom with a little girl with long red hair, leading the applause as he introduced her.

"Come, stand on the podium and introduce yourself to everyone."

Kushina Uzumaki suppressed the anxiety in her heart regarding the unfamiliar environment and gathered her courage to speak:

"Hello everyone, I am Kushina, Kushina Uzumaki. I hope to become friends with all of you. Also, my dream is to become the first female Hokage of this village, ya know!"

"How strange, she has red hair."

"There's no one in the village with hair that color, right?"

"An outsider wants to be Hokage?"

"She does have red eyes, though."

"And this is clearly the color of a chili pepper, right? A red-haired chili pepper?"

Listening to the increasingly excessive comments, Genichi slammed his hand onto the desk with a "bang," drowning out the intermittent laughter in the classroom.

"What pathetic groans from the weak. Can people who mock their own comrades really become excellent ninja?"

"Student Genichi is right. Kushina, there's an empty seat over there; go ahead and take it." Seeing that the situation was about to spiral, Sarutobi Kimura nodded, taking the out Genichi had provided.

After bowing to thank the teacher, Kushina hurried toward the corner.

In the third-to-last row sat a sissy with yellow hair who kept a faint, ambiguous smile on his face. Is he mocking my red hair? Kushina felt a surge of anger, her fists tightening as she quickly passed him to reach the second-to-last row.

Sitting there were the black-haired boy who had just spoken up to help and two girls who were smiling very gently. They don't seem to think I'm strange. Could I become friends with them?

Kushina whispered a quiet "Thank you" and sat down behind Genichi.

At the same time, inside the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded as he observed this scene through his crystal ball. He had been keeping a close eye on this elite class for a long time.

Not only did it contain the next generation of heirs from the Ino-Shika-Cho clans and bloodline ninja from the Uchiha and Hyuga, but it had also produced two exceptionally talented commoner ninja, Chiba Genichi and Minato Namikaze, and now, the prospective Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails had joined their ranks.

The fact that Kushina could quickly integrate into this collective was powerful proof that the "Will of Fire" had gradually been passed down into the hearts of these seedlings at the Ninja Academy.

"Good, very good. This makes all the effort I put into writing the textbook Detailed Explanation of the Will of Fire and taking the time to promote it at the academy every year worthwhile. My efforts have finally paid off; the future of the village looks bright." This was what the Third Hokage thought.

"Hand the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki over to Root, Hiruzen. I will train her into the village's most powerful weapon."

The bandaged man in the shadows interrupted the Hokage's reverie.

The Hokage, already accustomed to being interrupted, didn't get angry and casually refused:

"Danzo, do not bring that Root mentality of yours into the village. Lady Mito said that we must let that child, Kushina, truly integrate into the village. Letting her enter school now to build bonds and filling her heart with love—that is the key to controlling the Nine-Tails."

"Hiruzen, you will regret this." Danzo wasn't angry at the refusal; he knew the Third Hokage wouldn't agree, and he was just testing the waters—if it worked, it worked.

"Enough, Danzo, I am the Hokage!" Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that the conversation had reached its end, pretending to be displeased by Danzo's insubordination.

"Hmph! I will have my Root operatives take charge of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's safety." Danzo refused to lose face, leaving behind a harsh threat before slamming the door on his way out.

Watching the direction Danzo had left, Sarutobi Hiruzen thought: "Kushina is living in the village now, and the Nine-Tails hasn't been transferred yet. Having Root personnel protecting her is enough."

"Genhu, withdraw our people from around Kushina Uzumaki. Focus our intelligence gathering on Kumogakure and Amegakure for now. They have been making small moves lately, and I have a bad premonition."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Returning to Root, Danzo thought carefully and realized:

"As long as Mito is still alive, she will never agree to let me lay a finger on the next Nine-Tails jinchuriki. Rather than wasting my energy on a little girl, it is better to send people out to gather intelligence for the village."

Danzo, whose primary duties included collecting intelligence from outside the village, was well aware that Kumogakure and Amegakure had been restless lately.

"Come in. Withdraw the squad monitoring the prospective jinchuriki; the protection of the Anbu is already sufficient."

On the perimeter of the school, the members of Root Squad Four first watched as the Anbu were called away, and then received the order to return to Root.

Taking one last look at the prospective jinchuriki in the classroom who now had no one guarding her, the Root captain chose to lead his team away. After all, Root ninja did not require personal feelings, and they could not refuse an order.

Even though he found it strange, he still diligently executed the command of Lord Danzo.