Qi Luna and Kushina settled into the Senju Ancestral Residence. Though it had once been the First's home, and was quite large, warmth seemed to fill every corner. Neatly folded bedding rested on simple tatami mats, and several old but storied paintings and calligraphy hung on the walls.
By evening, they had met the bold and brash Tsunade and the hot-blooded fool Nawaki. Tsunade wore a carefree grin, but was actually trying to swindle them out of their pocket money. Nawaki often acted like a lovable airhead, but he also told them amusing stories and shared things he'd learned at the Ninja Academy.
After they'd gotten to know one another, they watched the gentle evening sun spill over the courtyard. Uzumaki Mito sat in her rocking chair and asked Kushina kindly, "Kushina and Qi Luna, what do you plan to do from now on?"
Kushina's eyes sparkled as she answered earnestly, "Grandma Mito, I want to go to the Ninja Academy. I want to become Konoha's first female Hokage, dattebane! I want to protect the people I cherish."
Uzumaki Mito smiled with satisfaction and patted her head. "That's wonderful. It's good to have a dream. But the path of a ninja isn't an easy one. You'll face plenty of difficulties."
Tsunade stood nearby with her arms crossed and encouraged her. "Kushina, if you go to the Ninja Academy, I'll teach you a few techniques. Don't let those brats bully you at school."
Nawaki waved his little fists beside her. "Yeah! I'll help you too!"
Qi Luna nodded silently, her eyes full of support for Kushina's decision.
"And you, Qi Luna? What do you plan to do?" Seeing Qi Luna standing quietly to one side, Uzumaki Mito thought she had grown taciturn because her clan had been wiped out. Her heart went out to her, but all she could do was ask gently, her face full of kindness.
"I want to go to the Ninja Academy too. That way, I can protect my cousin Kushina and work hard to become stronger. Most importantly, I'll rebuild the Uzumaki Clan!"
After thinking it over carefully, Qi Luna decided to enroll after all. Training alone, she realized, wouldn't help her improve as quickly as sparring with others at her level and learning from each other's experiences.
And as it happened, there was a genius at the Ninja Academy whose skills she could test herself against! As for Sealing Jutsu, bloodline techniques, and other ninja arts, she could always learn them from Grandma Mito after school.
"Rebuild the clan, huh? You and your brother Nawaki have the same idea. What an impressive dream." Uzumaki Mito felt ripples stir in her heart. She looked at Qi Luna with approval and hope in her eyes. "But achieving that dream won't be easy. It'll take a lot of hard work."
Tsunade stepped forward and patted Qi Luna on the shoulder. "Qi Luna, since you're so determined, I'll help you too. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."
Nawaki leaned in with a grin. "If there's anything you don't get about ninjutsu, you can ask me too. I know more jutsu than Sis does, at least!"
Qi Luna looked gratefully at everyone, a warm feeling rising in her heart. "Thank you, everyone. I'll do my best."
Just then, the sunset glow fell over them, casting their figures in a warm and determined light.
Kushina took Qi Luna's hand, her gaze resolute. "Let's work hard together. I know we can make our dreams come true and make the Uzumaki Clan shine again."
Everyone nodded. In the warmth of that moment, they felt their determination burn bright as they looked ahead to their lives as ninjas.
That night, Uzumaki Mito sat in a rustic room, her expression firm yet gentle. She summoned an attendant and spoke softly but firmly. "Go tell Monkey that Qi Luna and Kushina want to enter the Ninja Academy."
The attendant accepted the order and hurried away, their footsteps stirring a faint breeze.
The news soon reached Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was seated in the Hokage Office, reviewing a stack of documents. Hearing what had happened, he set down his pen. A hint of satisfaction showed in his eyes, and his lips curved into a faint smile as he nodded in approval. Then he quickly picked up a sheet of paper and a pen, wrote out the enrollment arrangements, and summoned a ninja. He gave the instructions gravely: "Arrange for Qi Luna and Kushina to transfer into the school. Make sure they can fit in with their class."
The next morning, when Qi Luna and Kushina heard their enrollment had been approved, their faces flushed with excitement. Kushina bounced around the room, her eyes full of anticipation for her future as a ninja. Qi Luna clenched her fists and declared, "I'm going to become a powerful ninja!"
Kushina wasn't about to be outdone. She put her hands on her hips and shouted, "I'm going to become the greatest ninja of all and protect Konoha, dattebane!"
After they'd packed their things, Tsunade took them to the Ninja Academy and introduced them to the teacher who would be in charge of their class.
Qi Luna and Kushina followed their teacher into the classroom, where their classmates turned curious eyes toward them. The teacher began, "These are our new transfer students, starting today..."
"Qi Luna Uzumaki," Qi Luna said calmly.
"I'm Kushina Uzumaki, dattebane!" Kushina was a little nervous, but she lifted her chin and spoke loudly.
As they introduced themselves, their classmates began whispering among themselves. "Look at their hair color. Unbelievable..."
"How do you get it that red?"
"That's so weird!"
Listening to the comments, Kushina instinctively touched her hair. Even after the teacher told the class to be quiet, the whispers didn't stop.
"I... I'm going to become Konoha's first female Hokage!"
At Kushina's words, the classroom fell silent.
Then a blond-haired little boy stood up and spoke slowly. "I want to become an outstanding Hokage, someone everyone in Konoha can respect too."
His face shone with confidence, as if he weren't describing a dream but sincerely stating a future certainty.
Found you, Qi Luna murmured, the corner of her mouth lifting as she watched the boy shine like a little sun. She spoke so softly that only she could hear herself.
The morning classes ended quickly. Since Qi Luna and Kushina were transfer students, they hadn't studied the earlier material in any systematic way. Luckily, they'd learned plenty at their clan school, so it wasn't too difficult to follow along. Before long, they'd connected what they already knew with the new material.
Just as Qi Luna was thinking about how to approach Namikaze Minato, an unpleasant voice reached her ears.
"Tomato, from now on, your name is Tomato. With that chubby, round face and red hair, what else could you be but a tomato?"
"And the one who came with you is one too. How could a tomato ever become Hokage? I hate tomatoes more than anything!"
"Me too. If there are tomatoes in my salad, I leave them behind."
"Who'd ever accept a tomato everyone dislikes? Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
Surrounded by a group of boys, Kushina listened to their jeering one remark at a time, then slowly lowered her head. Maybe the nickname "Tomato" had hit a little too close to home and embarrassed her; even her little face had turned red.
"Hey, she's practically ripe!"
"It's Tomato Festival! Hurry up and harvest the fruit!"
After someone let out a weird cry, one of the boys surrounding Kushina reached out to tug her hair.
Just as his hand was about to touch Kushina's hair, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her and grabbed the chubby little hand reaching toward her.
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