Two or Three Things About the Konoha Ninja Academy

At the critical moment, another hand tightly locked onto the chubby little hand reaching toward Kushina.

"Who are you calling a tomato? Let me state this clearly: Kushina and I both dislike tomatoes just as much! If I hear you calling us tomatoes again, I'm afraid you won't like the consequences."

Kirana used the Body Flicker Technique to block Kushina's front. The few children who had been mocking Kushina were startled by Kirana's sudden appearance, but they quickly gathered their courage and retorted, "My brother is a genin, so you'd better remember this! Next time, you'll see what's coming to you!"

Kushina peeked out from behind Kirana, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Kirana, though I could have beaten them all flying even without your help, ya know."

Just then, Kushina's gaze swept over Minato Namikaze. Seeing him smiling as he watched her and Kirana, she assumed he was mocking them too, so she immediately clenched her fists and demanded indignantly, "What's so funny?"

Minato was so startled that he quickly turned his head away, but after only a few seconds, he couldn't resist the curiosity and turned slightly to peek again.

From then on, people in the class would often come to trouble Kushina and Kirana. However, at Kushina's request, Kirana didn't take action again; after all, Kirana wasn't particularly interested, and since they were no match for Kushina anyway, Kirana stopped paying them any mind.

And so, the days passed. Kirana lived a life of attending the Ninja Academy during the day, returning home in the afternoon to study the basics of sealing jutsu with Grandma Mito, and practicing taijutsu and precise chakra control on the weekends.

Until one afternoon, when Kushina ran back with red eyes and asked Kirana in a dejected tone, "Can an outsider really become Hokage? Just because I'm from another village, they watched me get bullied and didn't come to help. I only said I wanted to be Hokage because I wanted to make this place my new home, but..."

Faced with Kushina's question, not only was Kirana silent, but Mito Uzumaki was as well.

"Where your cherished ones are, that is your home. Kirana is here, your sister Tsunade is here, your brother Nawaki is here, and I am here. No matter what others say, this is our home. Kushina and Kirana are not outsiders at all." Mito Uzumaki gently stroked Kushina's head and whispered softly.

Hearing Grandma Mito's words, Kushina was no longer sad, and she curled up in Grandma Mito's arms and slowly fell asleep.

"Kirana, you should get some rest early too. Let's stop the lessons for today." Mito Uzumaki gently picked up Kushina, preparing to carry her back to her room, and didn't forget to remind Kirana to rest early as she left.

"Sarutobi, both brats of the Uzumaki clan have great talent. Hand them over to me, and I will train them into qualified tools."

In the Hokage's office, Danzo Shimura stood before Hiruzen Sarutobi with a sinister look in his eyes. He looked at the Hiruzen opposite him, his voice low and brooking no argument: "Sarutobi, those two brats have special value to the village. Give them to me, and I will turn them into obedient tools."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows were tightly locked, his eyes filled with resolve. "Danzo, that is impossible. Both Kirana and Kushina are important members of the village, and more importantly, they are living beings of flesh and blood. They should build bonds with the village, not be trained by you into tools that only know how to follow orders!"

Danzo let out a cold snort and slammed his cane heavily onto the floor. "Sarutobi, this is womanly weakness! If the abilities they possess can be used by us, it would greatly enhance the village's combat power. Everything I do is for the sake of Konoha, and this is a necessary sacrifice!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, his gaze fixed firmly on Danzo. "A ninja's power is meant for protection, not to be used at will. As Hokage, my duty is to protect every villager in Konoha. Don't even think about me handing them over to you!"

Danzo gritted his teeth in anger. "Sarutobi, you will regret this!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and said angrily, "Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

Danzo glared at him, finally let out a cold snort, and swept out of the room.

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched his retreating back, a trace of worry in his eyes. According to intelligence gathered by the Anbu, the establishment of bonds between Kushina, Kirana, and their peers was not going very smoothly. "Cloud and Rock are also stirring recently. It seems it's time to think of a solution."

The time for the final exams arrived.

On the practical training ground for the final exam, the atmosphere was so tense it felt as if the air were about to solidify. Kirana Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze stood facing each other, each performing the Seal of Confrontation, their eyes filled with determination and fighting spirit.

"Go Kirana, beat that sissy!" Kushina cheered from the sidelines.

Kirana merely nodded slightly, and then the battle erupted instantly.

Minato Namikaze flashed forward like a ghost, rushing toward Kirana with a kunai glinting with cold light in his hand. Kirana reacted quickly, dodging nimbly to the side while rapidly weaving hand signs. A water vortex the height of a person surged toward Minato. "Water Style: Water Shockwave!"

Minato tapped the ground with his toes and leaped high, dodging the fierce attack. Immediately after, he used the Body Flicker Technique, appearing instantly behind Kirana and reaching out to grab him. Kirana was prepared; he spun around and thrust his kunai at Minato.

But the Minato struck by the kunai turned into a piece of wood with a 'poof'. "Substitution Jutsu?! When?"

Kirana realized instantly, dropped the kunai stuck in the wood, and began to sense Minato's location. Suddenly, a sound of air being pierced came from behind, and three shuriken flew toward Kirana at high speed. Kirana had no choice but to block them one by one with his kunai. It was precisely this opening that Minato used to appear behind Kirana again with the Body Flicker Technique, holding a kunai to Kirana's throat.

"I win this time," Minato said softly.

"That's not necessarily true," Kirana said with a smirk. As he spoke, his entire body began to change, finally turning into a puddle of water that fell to the ground.

"A Water Clone? As difficult to deal with as always," Minato said with a wry smile. Now, he was the one on the defensive.

Just as Minato was distracted, the puddle of water surged rapidly, rushing toward him from all directions and wrapping him tightly in the blink of an eye. "Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!"

Kirana reappeared, looking at Minato trapped in the water prison. Minato struggled with all his might inside, trying to break through the restraint, but the water prison was exceptionally sturdy.

At this moment, Kushina jumped up excitedly from the sidelines: "Kirana, well done! Give that sissy a good lesson!"

However, Minato did not give up. He quickly wove hand signs, and suddenly, ripples surged within the water prison. An invisible wave appeared, and Wind Style chakra rapidly disrupted the structure of the prison.

"Wind Style: Wind Cutter Jutsu!" Minato shouted, and an invisible wind blade slashed from the water prison toward Kirana. To avoid the attack, Kirana had to release the water prison, causing it to shatter upon impact.

After the intense battle, both of their chakra reserves were essentially bottomed out. Even for the Uzumaki clan, using multiple Water Style techniques in a waterless environment left their remaining chakra stretched thin.

Thus, the two began a bout of taijutsu. Minato threw a side kick, which Kirana dodged, seizing the opportunity to grab his leg and throw him away with force. Minato flipped in the air and landed steadily.

Then, the two rushed at each other. Minato clenched his fist and delivered a heavy punch toward Kirana. Kirana blocked it with his left knee, simultaneously smashing his right hand toward Minato's head. Minato blocked with one hand, but Kirana followed up with a kick toward Minato's side, which Minato dodged by stepping back. Both of them were panting heavily by then.

Just then, the teacher blew the whistle and announced loudly, "Both sides performed excellently. This battle is a draw. Both sides, perform the Seal of Reconciliation."

Kushina ran over, took Kirana's hand, and said, "Kirana, you were amazing! Even though you didn't win, you didn't lose either."

Minato also walked over and extended his hand. "Kirana, that was a brilliant battle. I look forward to facing you again next time."

Kirana shook his hand. "Same here."

After the practical training ended, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the two of them and revealed a gratified smile. He knew that these two children would surely become the pillars of Konoha in the future, and a new leaf between them, known as a bond, was quietly taking root and sprouting.