The weeds on the Ninja Academy training ground had just been cut back, leaving behind the damp scent of soil.
Uchiha Ling walked into the field in the morning light. In the distance, he spotted a red-haired figure practicing Hand Seals beside a wooden post.
Kushina's ponytail swung with her movements. Her long red hair danced like flames, and her fingertips left afterimages in the air, but she was always a beat too slow on the final seal.
"Hey, Kushina, at that Hand Seal speed, an enemy would take your head off."
The familiar teasing voice came from behind her. Kushina spun around, her cheeks instantly flushing. The wooden Kunai in her hand nearly slipped to the ground. "Uchiha Ling! You were spying on my training again!"
"Who was spying?"
Uchiha Ling strolled over with his hands in his pockets, a familiar smile playing on his lips. "You're the only one on the whole training ground practicing so 'diligently.' It's hard not to notice. Besides, who was it that begged me to practice with her yesterday?"
At the mention of yesterday, Kushina's ears turned even redder.
During yesterday's sparring practice, she'd made a mistake with her Hand Seals and been scolded by Teacher Aoki Ken. After school, she'd tugged on Uchiha Ling's sleeve and asked in a small voice, "Could you come early tomorrow and help me practice Hand Seals?" Now that he'd called her out on it, she wished the ground would open up and swallow her.
"I... I just wasn't at my best!" Kushina gripped her Kunai and retorted, chin raised. "If you're so good, then teach me how to make Hand Seals faster!"
"I can teach you," Uchiha Ling said, raising an eyebrow and holding out his hand. "But I'll need something in return. How about..."
Kushina froze for a moment, then blushed. "Fine, something in return. Just consider it a favor I owe you!"
[Target "Uzumaki Kushina" detected: emotions "embarrassment" and "joy," emotional value +40]
The system notification chimed in his mind, and Uchiha Ling secretly rejoiced. Kushina was so straightforward. He only had to tease her a little, and emotional value came rolling in.
He put on a serious expression, took the Kunai from Kushina, and demonstrated the Hand Seals.
To teach Kushina Hand Seals this morning, Uchiha Ling had made a point of exchanging for Hand Seal Mastery in the System Store the previous night.
After buying it, he'd discovered the boost was far beyond what he'd imagined.
Before, he could only make three seals a second. Now he could make six, putting him on par with Uchiha Itachi in the original story.
He'd even asked the system about the standards for beginner, proficient, mastery, and perfect levels.
[Beginner level means you are just starting out and can barely perform the technique.]
[Proficient level means you have the signature ninjutsu of an average Chunin.]
[Mastery level means you have the skill of an elite jonin.]
[Perfect level means you have the skill of a Kage Level powerhouse who has spent years mastering it.]
"Making Hand Seals faster isn't the point. What matters is making them smoothly. Your problem was the transition from 'Snake' to 'Horse.' You turned your wrist too quickly, which actually slowed you down. Come on, follow me."
Uchiha Ling slowed his movements. His fingertips passed through "Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit" in sequence, each seal flowing naturally into the next, as smooth as running water.
Kushina's eyes widened as she carefully copied him. Red strands of hair fell beside her cheeks, swaying gently with each breath.
The sun climbed higher, and more people arrived at the training ground. When Namikaze Minato came running over with his schoolbag on his back, this was the scene he saw: Uchiha Ling stood behind Kushina, correcting her Hand Seals one by one, while Kushina tilted her head up, her eyes full of concentration. She hadn't even noticed him approaching.
"Ling, Kushina, you're here early!"
Namikaze Minato's voice broke the moment between them. Kushina leaped away like a startled rabbit, her cheeks so red they looked ready to bleed.
Uchiha Ling, on the other hand, looked completely at ease as he patted Kushina on the shoulder.
"See? Did you remember what I just taught you? Don't forget it during sparring practice later."
"I won't forget!" Kushina muttered, then secretly practiced the Hand Seal she'd gotten wrong again.
Kushina had indeed improved during the afternoon's sparring practice.
When her opponent attacked with Water Release, she quickly formed Hand Seals and countered with "Water Style: Water Wild Wave." The jutsu wasn't very powerful, but her Hand Seal speed was nearly twice as fast as it had been yesterday.
Teacher Aoki Ken saw it and nodded. "Kushina, you've improved a lot. Keep it up."
Kushina looked excitedly at Uchiha Ling, her eyes shining like stars. Uchiha Ling gave her an "OK" sign, unable to hide his smile.
[Target "Uzumaki Kushina" detected: emotion "gratitude," emotional value +35]
During the lunch break, Kushina took a lunch box out of her schoolbag. A small Uzumaki Clan crest was embroidered on the red box, and steam rose from it when she opened it.
"H-here, I brought you lunch." Kushina pushed the box in front of Uchiha Ling.
Her other hand clutched the hem of her clothes. Her long red hair fell on either side of her face, but couldn't hide the blush spreading from her ears down her neck.
She didn't dare look up at him, keeping her eyes fixed on his shoes. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "Thanks for practicing with me this morning. I... I made this myself. I even put in the fried meatballs you said you liked."
After Kushina set the lunch box on the stone table beneath the cherry tree, still blushing, Uchiha Ling sat down beside her and tapped the lid with his fingertips.
"Hurry up and open it. I want to see what you brought. I spent half an hour practicing Hand Seals with you this morning, so I'd better get a good taste of this 'thank-you gift.'"
As he spoke, he took the chopsticks Kushina offered and popped a fried meatball into his mouth. Its crisp outside and tender center spread across his tongue, the salty-sweet flavor mingling with a hint of sea salt. It tasted even better than the ones he'd had at the Konoha snack street last time.
"Kushina, you're pretty good at this. If you ever quit being a ninja, you could open a meatball shop and make a killing," Uchiha Ling said around a mouthful.
Kushina's cheeks were faintly red. "Grandma taught me. She says the fried meatballs from Uzu Village need just a little sea salt to give them the taste of the ocean."
At the mention of her grandmother, her expression softened. Her fingers gently traced the crest on the lunch box. "Grandma's the only family I have in Konoha. She isn't in very good health. I visited her yesterday, and she asked if I had any friends at the Ninja Academy..."
She lifted her head to look at Uchiha Ling, hesitated for a long moment, then asked in a small voice, "Uchiha Ling, d-do you have time tomorrow afternoon? Grandma wants to meet you."
Uchiha Ling was taken aback, then smiled. "Meet me? Your grandmother knows about me?"
"Yeah." Kushina nodded, her ears turning red. "I told Grandma you've helped me a lot and taught me ninjutsu... She said she wants to thank the person who helped me."
[Target "Uzumaki Kushina" detected: emotions "expectation" and "nervousness," emotional value +30]
"Sure," Uchiha Ling agreed without hesitation. "I don't have class tomorrow afternoon anyway, so I'll go with you. But do you think your grandmother will mind that I'm from the Uchiha Clan?"
"Of course not!" Kushina shot back. "Grandma says that no matter what clan someone belongs to, if they're a good person, they're worth befriending."
"Don't worry. When have I ever let you down?" Uchiha Ling said, patting his chest. He thought, Just writing an essay about the Will of Fire isn't enough. If I can earn Mito Uzumaki's approval, that'll give me another layer of protection.
That afternoon, as soon as the school bell rang, Kushina grabbed Uchiha Ling and ran toward the southeastern edge of the village.
"Slow down, Kushina. Your grandmother's house isn't going anywhere." Uchiha Ling let her pull him along, a helpless smile on his lips.
"I can't! Grandma must be waiting!" Kushina kept running, and soon they reached the Senju Clan compound.
The streets here were quiet and tidy. Cherry trees along the roadside were in full bloom, and a black plaque bearing the golden Konoha symbol hung at the entrance to the estate.
As they pushed open the heavy wooden gate, the courtyard came into view. The broad leaves of the calla lilies spread wide, red phoenix blossoms carpeted the ground, and wisteria covered the wooden veranda. Pale purple petals drifted on the breeze, and a faint floral scent hung in the air.
Mito Uzumaki sat on a stone bench beneath the veranda, dressed in a deep blue kimono. Around her waist was a belt embroidered with both the Senju Clan crest and the Uzumaki Clan crest.
"Grandma!" Kushina hurried over, knelt beside Mito, and gently took her hand. "Why are you sitting where the wind blows? It's so windy—you'll catch a chill."
Mito Uzumaki lifted her head, her gaze settling on Uchiha Ling. Her expression was calm, yet her eyes held the power to see through people.
"Come in, Kushina—and you too, little one from the Uchiha Clan."
Uchiha Ling took a deep breath, composed himself, and followed Kushina into the tea room after removing his shoes.
The tea room was softly lit and filled with the faint scents of tea and sandalwood. An elderly woman knelt on the tatami, arranging the tea set with graceful movements.
She wore a plain kimono, and her white hair was neatly combed. Though her face was lined with age, her eyes were clear and deep, as if they could see through anyone.
Her presence was vast as the sea. Beneath its calm surface lurked a terrifying power capable of destroying heaven and earth. This was Mito Uzumaki.
Uchiha Ling immediately bowed, making himself as humble as possible. "This junior is Uchiha Ling. My respects, Lady Mito."
"There's no need for such formality, child. Come sit down." Mito looked up and smiled gently. Her gaze lingered on Uchiha Ling for a moment. There was scrutiny in it, but no malice—more like a senior's curiosity and consideration toward a younger person.
Kushina obediently sat beside Mito, then signaled with her eyes for Uchiha Ling to sit across from them.
Uchiha Ling sat as instructed, his back straight, respectful but not obsequious. He could feel the pressure beneath Mito's gentle gaze, so palpable that the chakra within him began circulating faster without him meaning to.
"Recently, whenever Kushina comes home, she talks about school and the two friends who've been looking out for her. One is Namikaze Minato, a sunny, cheerful boy. The other is you, Uchiha Ling."
Mito spoke slowly, her voice as calm as a murmuring stream. "She says you're strong, and different from the other people in the Uchiha Clan... not quite like them."
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