Kushina Transfers Schools

The morning reading bell at the Ninja Academy had just rung, and sunlight filtered through the wooden window lattices, casting interlaced shadows across the classroom floor.

Uchiha Ling rested his chin on one hand, his fingertips tapping unconsciously against the edge of his desk as his gaze drifted to the half-withered cherry blossom tree outside the window.

The heavy rain from last week had knocked down most of the petals, leaving only a few scattered blossoms clinging to the branches, creating a somewhat melancholic atmosphere of "fading spring."

[Detected "awe" and "curiosity" from surrounding targets, emotion points +8]

The system notification in his mind was intermittent, and Uchiha Ling raised an eyebrow.

Ever since he tied for first place with Namikaze Minato in the last assessment, his standing in both the Ninja Academy and the Uchiha Clan had improved significantly.

The few Uchiha clansmen who used to mock him now greeted him proactively; even the basic ninjutsu instructor on the podium would find his gaze drifting toward him whenever he explained chakra refinement techniques.

The class bell rang, and Aoki Ken pushed the door open to enter the classroom, followed by a figure that instantly captured the attention of the entire class.

It was a girl wearing the academy uniform; she wasn't particularly tall, but she had a striking head of long red hair that hung down to her waist like burning flames, swaying gently with her movements.

Her cheeks were flushed with a faint red, and she gripped the straps of her school bag tightly, her knuckles turning white. She was clearly nervous, yet her eyes held a hint of deliberate toughness, like a little hedgehog with its quills raised.

"Class, settle down," Aoki Ken said, clapping his hands. "This is our transfer student, Uzumaki Kushina, from Uzu Village. She will be joining our class starting today. Kushina, why don't you introduce yourself to everyone?"

Uzumaki Kushina took a deep breath and looked up. Her voice trembled slightly, though she tried her best to raise its volume: "My name is Uzumaki Kushina, and I come from Uzu Village. My dream is to become the first female Hokage of Konoha. Please treat me well!"

After class, once Aoki Ken had left the room, the students in the class erupted into a buzz of conversation.

"The Uzumaki Clan? Is that the family famous for their sealing jutsu?"

"My god, her hair is so red! It looks just like the flame patterns on the Hokage Rock!"

"Isn't Uzu Village by the sea? Why would she transfer to the Konoha Academy?"

The discussion gradually turned sour, and a few boys in the back row who loved to stir up trouble began to speak with snide, mocking tones: "A red-haired monster! People from outside really are different!"

"Maybe she couldn't survive in Uzu Village anymore, so she came to Konoha to beg for food?"

"Hey, red-haired girl, did you dye your hair? It looks so scary! It looks just like a tomato!"

These words pierced into Kushina's heart like needles. Her cheeks turned bright red instantly—not from shyness, but from anger.

She snapped her head up, glaring at the boys who were jeering, her eyes slightly bloodshot: "You're lying! I'm not a monster! Uzu Village..."

Her voice cut off abruptly—Uzu Village had already been destroyed, and she had been brought to Konoha in secret as an orphan. She hadn't even told Aoki Ken about this.

Stung in her most painful spot, she could only clench her fists, her nails digging into her palms, not knowing how to retort.

"Hahaha, cat got your tongue? We must have hit the nail on the head!"

"Hey, let's throw a paper ball and see if she cries!"

One boy picked up a paper ball from his desk and hurled it at Kushina's back.

The paper ball was light, but it carried pure malice. When it struck her shoulder, Kushina could no longer hold back the tears welling up in her eyes.

Namikaze Minato watched Kushina being bullied, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.

Seeing Kushina shed tears, those boys grew even more emboldened, crumpling up more paper balls and preparing to throw them at her.

Just then, a lazy voice suddenly rang out, like ice water poured into a boiling pot, instantly silencing the classroom: "Hey, you lot, what kind of skill is it to bully a girl?"

Uchiha Ling stood up slowly from his seat, hands in his pockets. Sunlight fell upon his short black hair; despite the gentle morning light, his presence carried a sense of oppression.

The jeering boys shrank back the moment they saw him—Uchiha Ling had just made a comeback from being a dead-last student to the top of the academy last week, even defeating Namikaze Minato, let alone these average students.

"Uchiha Ling, this is between us and her! It has nothing to do with you!"

The boy who led the paper-ball throwing, Inoue Teru, shouted with forced bravado, though he couldn't help but take a step back.

"Nothing to do with me?"

Uchiha Ling stopped, turning to block the path in front of Kushina. He was half a head taller than Inoue Teru, looking down at him from above.

Uchiha Ling reached out and suddenly grabbed Inoue Teru's wrist, his fingers tightening slightly.

Inoue Teru winced in pain, trying to pull away, only to find the other boy's strength was shockingly immense.

"You were the one who threw the paper ball just now, right?"

Uchiha Ling's tone remained lazy, but his eyes had turned cold.

"If I see you bullying a classmate again, I don't mind letting you taste a 'chakra paper ball'—after all, a paper ball condensed with chakra would probably make your face swell for three days if it hit you, right?"

A chakra paper ball? That was no joke! Inoue Teru turned pale with fright and nodded frantically: "I get it! I won't dare do it again!"

Uchiha Ling let go and patted his shoulder, his smile still playful: "Wouldn't it have been easier to just do that in the first place?"

He turned around to face the other boys, who had already lowered their heads in fear, pretending to read their books and not daring to even breathe loudly.

[Inoue Teru's fear +35]

[Jeering classmates' fear +80]

[Kushina's gratitude +40]

Kushina stood behind Uchiha Ling, looking at his back—not particularly broad, yet exceptionally reliable—and felt a complex mix of emotions.

Before she came to Konoha, her clansmen had told her, "The Uchiha Clan is arrogant and cold; don't associate with them."

Yet, this Uchiha had stood up for her at her most vulnerable moment. When he blocked the way in front of her just now, she even felt as if all those malicious gazes had been completely shut out.

Uchiha Ling turned around, looked at Kushina, and raised an eyebrow: "That's a remarkable dream!"

Kushina looked up. Uchiha Ling was standing by his seat, a warm, sincere, and sunny smile on his face. There was not a hint of mockery in his eyes, only pure encouragement and validation:

"Becoming Hokage to protect the village is one of the greatest dreams in the world. Welcome, classmate Uzumaki."

Kushina was stunned for a moment, her cheeks flushing slightly, and she hurriedly shook her head: "Thank you, Uchiha Ling."

For the next few classes, Kushina was somewhat distracted. Every now and then, she would steal a glance at Uchiha Ling, her mind replaying the scene from earlier over and over again.

When the bell rang for the end of the school day, the students packed their things and left one after another. Namikaze Minato walked over to Uchiha Ling and said with a smile: "Ling, you were amazing just now! Those guys finally quieted down."

"It was nothing, I just couldn't stand them bullying others." Uchiha Ling stretched and stood up.

Kushina also hurriedly packed her bag. She stood to the side, watching Uchiha Ling, and after hesitating for a long time, she said in a low voice: "Uchiha Ling, um... to thank you for helping me, let me treat you to ramen?"

Uchiha Ling was taken aback, then laughed: "Oh? You're quite polite. Sure, let's go to Ichiraku Ramen. Their tonkotsu ramen with extra spice is incredible!"

Namikaze Minato's eyes lit up: "Ichiraku Ramen? I want to go too! Ling, Kushina, can I join you?"

"Of course, the more the merrier." Uchiha Ling nodded.

Business at Ichiraku Ramen was as booming as ever, and the aroma of steaming hot ramen wafted toward them. The owner, Tezuka Osamu, saw them and greeted them with a smile:

"Ling, Minato, bringing a new friend today?"

"Yeah, boss, three bowls of tonkotsu ramen. Two extra spicy, one regular."

Uchiha Ling found a seat by the window and sat down. Kushina sat opposite him, and Namikaze Minato sat to the side.

In the gap while waiting for the ramen, Namikaze Minato asked curiously:

"Kushina, what is Uzu Village like? Is there a lot of ocean there?"

At the mention of Uzu Village, the light in Kushina's eyes dimmed, and her voice dropped:

"Well, Uzu Village is on an island. There is blue ocean everywhere, and there are many seashells on the beach... but now, it doesn't exist anymore."

She looked up at Uchiha Ling and Namikaze Minato, her eyes reddening: "Uzu Village was destroyed by an alliance of other villages. I am one of the few survivors of the clan, and I was brought to Konoha."

Namikaze Minato froze and hurriedly apologized: "I'm sorry, Kushina, I didn't mean to..."

"It's okay." Kushina shook her head, "I didn't want others to know, but after what they said earlier, I..."

"Don't pay any mind to what those people said."

Uchiha Ling interrupted her, his tone more serious than usual, "They are just ignorant; they don't understand the significance of Uzu Village to Konoha—the Uzumaki Clan are Konoha's allies. Your coming to Konoha is Konoha's honor, not some act of 'begging'."

He looked into Kushina's eyes and continued:

"Also, your hair color is beautiful. It's like fire, much better than those monotonous colors. If anyone dares to call you a monster again, tell me, and I'll deal with them for you."

Kushina looked at Uchiha Ling's earnest gaze, and it felt as if something had struck her heart, leaving it feeling warm.

She nodded vigorously, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. That smile was like sunlight after the rain, dispelling the gloom in her eyes: "Yeah! Thank you, Uchiha Ling!"

[Target "Uzumaki Kushina" detected experiencing "touched" and "joyful" emotions. Emotion points +35]

Just then, the owner walked over with three bowls of ramen, the steaming noodles sprinkled with scallions and overflowing with fragrance. "Your ramen is here!"

Uchiha Ling picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a large mouthful of noodles, and slurped them up: "Mmm, still the same taste! Kushina, hurry and try it. If you don't like it, I'll eat it for you!"

Kushina was amused by him and picked up her chopsticks, taking a bite of the ramen. The spicy broth spread in her mouth, stimulating her taste buds, yet it made her feel exceptionally warm.

None of them noticed that in the shadows nearby, a pair of eyes was coldly staring at their backs before disappearing around the corner of the street.

In a secret room at the Root base, a Root ninja wearing a black uniform knelt on the ground, reporting in a low voice to Danzo, who sat in the shadows:

"Lord Danzo, Uchiha Ling and Uzumaki Kushina were together at the ninja academy today and went to Ichiraku Ramen together after school. It is suspected that they have developed an affinity for one another."

Danzo sat in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, his eyes sinister.

He had long known Uzumaki Kushina's true identity—a survivor of Uzu Village, a pure-blooded descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, possessing powerful vitality and a talent for sealing jutsu. She was the Third Hokage's designated "candidate for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

"The naturally evil Uchiha; they must be plotting something regarding the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki..."

Danzo's voice was low and cold. He stood up and walked to the window, looking at the Hokage Rock in the distance:

"They must be stopped. You may withdraw; I am going to see Hiruzen."

"Yes!" the Root ninja replied respectfully, turning and vanishing into the shadows.

The next morning, in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was reviewing a mountain of scrolls. Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on his silver hair and making him look more exhausted than usual.

"Hiruzen." Danzo pushed the door open and walked in.

Hiruzen looked up, and seeing it was Danzo, he frowned: "Danzo? Why are you here?"

"It's about Uchiha Ling and Uzumaki Kushina." Danzo walked to the desk, his tone grave.

"They are getting too close."

Danzo's voice carried a sense of oppression, "The naturally evil Uchiha Clan must be plotting something regarding the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki! I have said it before: the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki should be monitored by Root."

Hiruzen looked up, his eyes filled with a touch of helplessness: "It was Lady Mito herself who brought Kushina here, specifically to ensure Kushina would have a healthy environment in which to grow."

At the mention of Mito Uzumaki, Danzo's expression turned ugly.

"Then transfer Uchiha Ling to Root; I will train him into a sharp blade for Konoha!"

"Uchiha Ling is a child who carries the Will of Fire in his heart; he is different from the other Uchiha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up a sheet of paper from the corner of his desk—it was the very essay on the Will of Fire that Uchiha Ling had written.

"I believe Uchiha Ling will become a bridge for communication between the village and the Uchiha clan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, his tone turning solemn: "He possesses the Will of Fire."

"The Will of Fire?" Danzo sneered, "It is nothing more than empty talk on paper! The teacher said it long ago: the Uchiha clan is inherently evil."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at Konoha. "I have already made my decision on this matter; there is no need for you to interfere."

"Hiruzen, you will regret this!" Danzo's tone was icy. "The people of the Uchiha can never be trusted!"

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was resolute. "He has the Will of Fire, and that is enough. I will not agree to your suggestion regarding this matter. You may leave."

Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's firm gaze and knew that saying anything more would be useless.

"Bang!" He let out a cold snort, turned, and left the Hokage office, the sound of the door closing carrying a hint of anger.

Watching Danzo's retreating back, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed helplessly. He picked up the essay on the desk and read it once more—perhaps this Uchiha youth could truly become the key to changing the Uchiha.