At the last possible moment, another hand clamped tightly around the chubby little hand reaching for Kushina.
"Who are you calling a tomato? For the record, Kushina and I both hate tomatoes too! If I hear you call us tomatoes again, you'd better be ready to face the consequences."
Qi Luna used the Body Flicker Technique to step in front of Kushina. The children who had been mocking her jumped in fright when Qi Luna suddenly appeared, but soon they worked up their courage and said, "My big brother's a Genin! You just wait—next time, you're going to get it!"
Kushina peeked out from behind Qi Luna, her eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you, Qi Luna. But even without your help, I could've sent them all flying, dattebane!"
Just then, Kushina's gaze happened to pass over Namikaze Minato. Seeing him smiling as he watched her and Qi Luna, she thought he was laughing at them too. She clenched her fists and snapped, "What's so funny?"
Minato hurriedly turned around, no longer looking at Kushina and Qi Luna. But a few seconds later, he couldn't help turning his head slightly to sneak another glance.
After that, people in the class often came to bother Kushina and Qi Luna. But at Kushina's request, Qi Luna stopped fighting back. He hadn't been all that interested in it anyway, and they were no match for Kushina, so he stopped getting involved.
Days passed, and Qi Luna settled into a routine: attending classes at the Ninja Academy during the day, going home after school to study the basics of Sealing Jutsu with Grandma Mito, and practicing Taijutsu and precise chakra control on weekends.
Then one afternoon, Kushina came running back with red eyes. Looking dejected, she asked Qi Luna, "Can outsiders really become Hokage? Just because I'm from another village, they won't even help me when they see me being bullied. I wanted to make this place my new home, so I said I wanted to become Hokage, but..."
At Kushina's question, not only Qi Luna fell silent, but Uzumaki Mito did too.
"Wherever the people you cherish are, that's your home. Qi Luna is here, your big sister Tsunade is here, your big brother Nawaki is here, and I'm here too. No matter what anyone else says, this is our home. Kushina and Qi Luna aren't outsiders." Uzumaki Mito gently stroked Kushina's head, then spoke softly.
After hearing Grandma Mito's words, Kushina stopped feeling sad. She curled up in Mito's arms and slowly fell asleep.
"Qi Luna, you should get some rest too. We'll stop here for today." Uzumaki Mito gently picked Kushina up, ready to carry her back to her room. As she left, she didn't forget to remind Qi Luna to get some rest as well.
"Sarutobi, those two Uzumaki brats are both talented. Hand them over to me, and I'll turn them into proper tools."
In the Hokage Office, Shimura Danzō stood before Sarutobi Hiruzen, his eyes sinister. He stared at the man opposite him and spoke in a low voice that brooked no argument. "Sarutobi, those two brats are of special value to the village. Hand them over to me, and I'll turn them into obedient tools."
Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brow, his eyes full of resolve. "Danzō, that's impossible. Qi Luna and Kushina are both important members of the village, and they're living, breathing people. They should build bonds with the village, not be raised by you to obey orders like tools!"
Danzō gave a cold snort and slammed his cane against the floor. "Sarutobi, you're being softhearted! If we put their abilities to use, we can greatly strengthen the village's fighting force. Everything I do is for Konoha, and this is a necessary sacrifice!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen rose to his feet and stared Danzō in the eye. "A shinobi's power is meant to protect, not to be exploited at will. As Hokage, my duty is to protect every villager in Konoha. Don't even think about making me hand them over to you!"
Danzō gritted his teeth in fury. "Sarutobi, you'll regret this!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen drew a deep breath and snapped, "Danzō, I'm the Hokage!"
Danzō glared at him, then gave a final cold snort and stormed out.
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched him leave, worry showing in his eyes. The intelligence Anbu had gathered suggested that Kushina and Qi Luna weren't having much success forming bonds with their peers. "Kumogakure and Iwagakure have been making moves lately too. Looks like I'll have to think of something."
The end of the term arrived.
The atmosphere on the practical exam field was so tense it felt as though the air itself might solidify. Uzumaki Qi Luna and Namikaze Minato stood facing each other, each forming the Seal of Confrontation, their eyes full of resolve and fighting spirit.
"Come on, Qi Luna! Beat that sissy!" Kushina cheered from the sidelines.
Qi Luna gave a slight nod, and the fight erupted at once.
Minato flashed forward like a phantom, charging at Qi Luna with a Kunai gleaming in his hand. Qi Luna reacted quickly, nimbly dodging to the side as he formed Hand Seals. A towering waterspout surged toward Minato. "Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
Minato lightly pushed off the ground with his toes and leaped high into the air, avoiding the fierce attack. Then he used the Body Flicker Technique, appearing behind Qi Luna in an instant and reaching out to grab him. Qi Luna was ready for him. He spun around and thrust his Kunai at Minato.
But the moment the Kunai struck, Minato went poof and turned into a log. "The Substitution Technique?! When did he—?"
Qi Luna realized what had happened and dropped the Kunai embedded in the log, immediately sensing for Minato's location. Suddenly, a rush of air came from behind him. Three Shuriken shot toward him at top speed, leaving Qi Luna no choice but to knock them aside one by one with his Kunai. In that brief opening, Minato used the Body Flicker Technique again, appearing behind Qi Luna and pressing his Kunai against Qi Luna's neck.
"This time, I win," Minato said quietly.
"Not necessarily." Qi Luna smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting. As soon as he spoke, his whole body began to change, then turned into a puddle of water that fell to the ground.
"A water clone? You're as hard to deal with as ever." Minato gave a wry smile. He was the one at a disadvantage now.
While Minato stood there stunned, the puddle quickly gathered itself and surged toward him from all sides. In the blink of an eye, it had him tightly trapped. "Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"
Qi Luna appeared again and looked at Minato, trapped inside the water prison. Minato struggled with all his might, trying to break free, but the prison was extraordinarily sturdy.
Kushina leaped excitedly on the sidelines. "Great job, Qi Luna! Give that sissy a good beating!"
Minato didn't give up. He quickly formed Hand Seals, and ripples suddenly spread through the water prison. A formless wave of energy appeared, and Wind Release chakra rapidly tore apart the prison's structure.
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!" Minato shouted. An invisible blade of wind slashed out from the water prison toward Qi Luna. To dodge the attack, Qi Luna had to release the prison, which immediately burst apart.
After their fierce battle, both of them had nearly run out of chakra. Even someone from the Uzumaki Clan would be running low after using several Water Release techniques in a row without any water nearby.
So they began a Taijutsu match. Minato threw a side kick, but Qi Luna dodged to the side, caught his leg, and flung him away. Minato flipped in midair and landed steadily on his feet.
Then the two charged at each other. Minato clenched his fist and threw a powerful punch at Qi Luna. Qi Luna raised his left knee to block it, then slammed his right hand toward Minato's head. Minato blocked with one hand, but Qi Luna followed with a kick from his right leg. Minato dodged with a backward step, and by then both of them were panting with exhaustion.
Just then, their teacher blew the whistle and announced loudly, "Both sides performed exceptionally well. This fight is a draw. Exchange the Seal of Reconciliation."
Kushina ran over and took Qi Luna's hand. "Qi Luna, you were amazing! You didn't win, but you didn't lose either."
Minato came over too and held out his hand. "Qi Luna, that was a great fight. I'm looking forward to facing you again."
Qi Luna took his hand. "Me too."
After the practical exam, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the two of them and smiled with satisfaction. He knew these two children would one day become pillars of Konoha. And between them, a new leaf called a bond had quietly begun to take root and sprout.
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