Your Situation Is Different from Mine

The morning classes had ended, and it was still recess.

After class, Kushina Uzumaki was surrounded by several boys from the class.

"Tomato, starting today, your name is Tomato! That chubby round face and red hair—you look exactly like a tomato, don't you?"

"How could a tomato possibly become Hokage?"

"I hate tomatoes the most!"

"Me too. If there are tomatoes in my salad, I always leave them behind!"

"How could an unpopular tomato ever gain the villagers' recognition?"

"Hahaha..."

Kushina Uzumaki puffed out her cheeks in anger, but she could not refute them.

Because now that they put it that way, she really did seem rather tomato-like.

"An unpopular tomato and an unpopular Two-Five-Boy. No wonder you two ended up desk mates."

"Tomato and Two-Five-Boy—what a perfect match."

Chiyu curled his lip in disgust. He had a nickname at school too: Two-Five-Boy.

The reason he had that nickname was because these brats' parents called him that.

Seeing these brats grow increasingly excessive, even dragging him into it to mock Kushina Uzumaki, Chiyu could no longer turn a blind eye.

More importantly, Chiyu glanced at Minato Namikaze. Although Minato Namikaze was watching Kushina Uzumaki, he did not seem to have any intention of helping her out.

Just as Chiyu stood up and walked over, one of the brats grabbed Kushina Uzumaki by the hair.

"You're almost ripe! The Tomato Festival is here—it's time to harvest the fruit!"

Kushina Uzumaki grabbed the brat's hand and was about to explode when Chiyu arrived behind the brat holding her hair.

"Hey, could you move?"

The brats surrounding Kushina Uzumaki immediately turned on Chiyu. "What right does a Two-Five-Boy like you have to tell us to move? Get lost!"

Chiyu said quietly, "If we fight here, it'd be pretty embarrassing for you guys, wouldn't it?"

Not long after starting school, Chiyu had also been cornered by several students. But perhaps because he had half the bloodline of the Senju Clan, his physical condition was exceptionally good. He could take on several of them by himself.

After that, although Chiyu was not as strong as Minato Namikaze, he was still among the best in the school.

Gradually, none of those bullies who picked on the weak dared trouble Chiyu anymore.

Hearing Chiyu say that, the brats' expressions stiffened.

Chiyu walked forward and shoulder-checked the brat still holding Kushina Uzumaki's hair aside, then left the classroom.

The moment he walked out, Chiyu suddenly froze. He remembered.

Kushina Uzumaki... seemed like she did not need him to rescue her at all.

Kushina Uzumaki herself was someone who refused to admit defeat, and the Uzumaki Clan's physique was unlike that of ordinary people.

The next second—

Chiyu heard a voice from inside the classroom.

"Who are you calling Tomato?! Let me make this clear first—I hate tomatoes too!"

Kushina Uzumaki grabbed the arm of the brat who had pulled her hair and swung him hard, directly sending all the surrounding brats flying.

Then Kushina Uzumaki sat on top of one brat, her little fists raining down on his head. "Look down on me again and call me Tomato, and I'll make you regret it!"

At that moment, Kushina Uzumaki noticed Minato Namikaze's bright smile. She snapped irritably, "What are you laughing at?!"

Minato Namikaze immediately turned his head away, only daring to look at Kushina Uzumaki from the corner of his eye.

The afternoon classes were about to begin.

After buying a rice ball at the convenience store, Chiyu ate as he returned to his seat in the classroom.

Kushina Uzumaki was pouting, looking very angry.

Chiyu glanced at the brats who had surrounded Kushina Uzumaki earlier. Their heads were covered in bumps.

Was she angry because she felt she had not hit them hard enough?

Chiyu listened silently as Shota Hayabusa continued the lesson.

During class,

Kushina Uzumaki clearly began sneaking looks at Chiyu more often.

An entire afternoon of it made Chiyu feel uncomfortable all over.

At last, the afternoon classes ended and school was finally out. Chiyu eagerly left the classroom.

Thunder Breathing was all Chiyu could think about now.

However, Chiyu did not notice Kushina Uzumaki's hand half-raised in the air, her expression somewhat awkward.

Kushina Uzumaki had just wanted to speak to Chiyu. Chiyu was an outcast, and so was she, Kushina Uzumaki.

Still just a child, and especially since she had come to an unfamiliar place for the first time, Kushina Uzumaki longed for friends.

Chiyu's act of helping her out earlier made Kushina Uzumaki want to be friends with him.

Watching Chiyu's departing back, Kushina Uzumaki clenched her little fists, her eyes filled with determination, and chased after him.

But Chiyu was desperate to get home and practically ran the whole way.

In order to catch up with Chiyu, Kushina Uzumaki also pumped her short little legs wildly as she chased him.

Only after they had left Konoha's streets and reached the outskirts of Konoha did the exhausted Kushina Uzumaki shout after Chiyu, "Hey! Wait!"

Hearing that familiar voice, Chiyu turned around in surprise. When he saw Kushina Uzumaki, he was beyond shocked.

Seeing that Chiyu had finally stopped, Kushina Uzumaki braced her hands on her thighs and panted heavily.

Chiyu took the initiative to walk over to Kushina Uzumaki and asked, "Did you need something?"

After taking a deep breath, Kushina Uzumaki held out her little hand toward Chiyu and announced loudly, "My name is Kushina Uzumaki!"

Chiyu looked at Kushina Uzumaki with an odd expression.

Kushina Uzumaki grew increasingly uneasy under his gaze.

"My name is Chiyu."

Chiyu lightly shook Kushina Uzumaki's little hand, then immediately let go.

Kushina Uzumaki asked in confusion, "Chiyu? Is that your surname or your given name?"

"My given name. I don't have a surname."

"Huh? You don't have a surname?"

Kushina Uzumaki's little mind was a little muddled. Were there really people without surnames?

Chiyu asked again, "Did you need something?"

Gathering her courage, Kushina Uzumaki said, "I want to be friends with you!"

Just as I thought, Chiyu thought.

"Kushina Uzumaki, you should have seen my situation in class too."

Kushina Uzumaki said innocently, "Yeah, I know. You're isolated just like me."

Chiyu smiled. "Your situation is different from mine. I'm isolated by the entire village. If you become friends with me, you might be isolated by everyone too.

"Today was only your first day of school. You just ran into some bad students, that's all. You can still find friends in the future.

"Try to ask the teacher to change your seat. Even being desk mates with me will make it hard for you to find friends. It's getting late. You should go home too. Goodbye."

After gently refusing Kushina Uzumaki, Chiyu waved to her, turned around, and left.

Kushina Uzumaki watched Chiyu's retreating back and lowered her head in disappointment.

She had finally worked up the courage to ask Chiyu to be her friend, only to be rejected. It made her feel a little miserable.