Red Tomato

"Today, we have a new student joining our class. I hope you'll all get along with her."

As homeroom teacher Sugiki Kenji spoke, the girl beside him stepped up to the front of the classroom.

She was a cute girl with long red hair: Kushina Uzumaki, princess of the Uzumaki Clan.

Having left the war-torn Land of Whirlpools and arrived in Konoha only recently, Kushina looked uneasy.

She glanced around. Most of the eyes on her held curiosity or mockery.

"Whoa, red hair. Is she a monster?"

"She looks just like a tomato. Did one come to life?"

"Hahaha! Tomato Freak!"

Hearing her classmates, the already nervous Kushina clenched the hem of her clothes.

Truth be told, she wanted to hit someone. But Grandma Mito had told her to get along with her classmates, so she held back.

She wasn't trembling because she was scared. She was fighting the urge to punch someone.

But when her gaze fell on a white-haired boy sitting in the corner, some of the tension left her face.

He lounged in his seat with one leg crossed over the other, occasionally taking a rice-cake-like snack from a metal box on his desk and tossing it into his mouth.

As if sensing her gaze, he looked over. Their eyes met for several seconds before he gave her a casual wave.

Then he tilted his head back and stared blankly at the ceiling.

Kushina didn't know why, but she was curious about him now.

What is he eating? It looks delicious.

She lifted her chin and introduced herself.

"My name is Kushina Uzumaki, and my dream is to become Hokage! It's nice to meet you all!"

Unfortunately, the boy didn't look at her again. Her introduction only drew more ridicule from the others.

"Hey, why's your hair as red as a tomato?"

"Hahaha, it really is! How's a tomato supposed to become Hokage?"

Kushina puffed out her cheeks, on the verge of exploding. The teacher hurried to stop the bullying from spreading; he had no desire to get in trouble with Tsunade.

"Don't make fun of the new student! You need to get along, understand? Remember that!"

Only then did Ryuuzaki Eiji raise his head and look around.

He glanced at the Civilian Ninjas mocking Kushina and frowned slightly.

The people of Konoha really are experts at bullying. Mocking someone so much stronger than they are? They must have a death wish.

She's one of the last surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan. If she gets bullied at school, they'll have hell to pay.

Do they think Mito Uzumaki and Tsunade will just let it slide?

And what about their parents? Can't they teach their kids to behave at home?

But none of that was Eiji's problem. Soon, he would be strong enough to do whatever he pleased.

Ryuuzaki Eiji was a transmigrator. He had arrived in this world by being born into it.

Transmigration was a good thing, of course. In his previous life, he had been nothing more than an overworked employee.

But Eiji had noticed that this world's timeline seemed muddled. Some characters' ages didn't match the original story.

He suspected his arrival had somehow caused a major shift in the timeline. At first, he worried it might change how the story unfolded.

Fortunately, the effects didn't seem too severe. Kushina had enrolled in school, so surely the story would get back on track from here.

"Kushina, find a seat you like. Class is about to begin."

Kenji, the homeroom teacher, gave Kushina a strained smile.

Honestly, Kenji was at his wits' end. Having the Uzumaki princess placed in his class put him under enormous pressure.

She had been bullied by her classmates on her very first day. If Princess Tsunade found out, he might get beaten up himself.

Kushina nodded. Eiji's striking looks had already drawn most of her attention.

And when the others mocked her, he had looked displeased. Figuring he wouldn't look down on her, she walked briskly toward him.

"Can I sit here?"

Kushina stopped beside Eiji and asked tentatively.

"Of course. Have a seat."

She was the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, so getting along with her couldn't hurt. Besides, Kushina was cute, and Eiji liked her.

After sitting down, Kushina noticed her classmates still turning to give her mocking smiles. It infuriated her.

She propped her cheek on one hand, looking thoroughly annoyed. I never should've listened to Tsunade. The people at this school are awful.

I only need to learn Sealing Jutsu from Grandma Mito. Coming to the Ninja Academy to make friends? What a joke.

Then she glanced sideways at her quiet new seatmate.

And this guy hasn't said a word since I sat down. Shouldn't he say something to someone he's just met?

Kushina held out for a while, but finally spoke first.

"...What's your name?"

"Ryuuzaki. Ryuuzaki Eiji."

After that, Eiji fell silent again. He propped his cheek on his hand and stared into space.

Would it kill him to say a couple more words!?

Kushina was a little upset. She hated all the attention from the others, but being ignored by him bothered her even more!

No. I'm going to get him to talk to me.

"Now, let's begin today's first lesson."

As the teacher began speaking, Eiji made no effort to listen. He lounged in his chair, occasionally popping another white rice cake into his mouth.

The teacher didn't stop him from eating or scold him for not paying attention. Eiji's scores on written exams were always among the best.

Such were the privileges of a good student!

As for what he was eating, it was Kikufuku.

On his first day at school, he had awakened the Character Template System. It had immediately given him a task: eat ten thousand pieces of Edamame Cream Kikufuku.

Eiji had watched Jujutsu Kaisen. Unless he was an idiot, he knew exactly whose character template he was about to unlock.

Satoru Gojo!

Kikufuku was a type of Daifuku. The Shinobi World didn't seem to have a recipe for the edamame-and-cream flavor, but Eiji had loved desserts in his previous life and learned how to make Kikufuku online. Making it himself was no great challenge.

Of course, eating ten thousand pieces in a short time was unrealistic. For his health, Eiji had planned to finish them over a year and a half.

And today was the day he would finish all ten thousand!

Just three or four more, and he would fully awaken the system and gain the power to do as he pleased. The Daifuku almost made him sick by now, but it would all be worth it!

Once he unlocked the Character Panel, he swore he would never eat Daifuku again. At the very least, he never wanted to touch this flavor!

Kushina listened to the teacher drone on, her cheek resting in her hand. She looked thoroughly uninterested.

She was bored. It was her first day in the unfamiliar Ninja Academy, and she badly wanted someone to be her friend.

She noticed that Eiji wasn't listening at all. He was eating snacks in class, and the teacher was completely ignoring it.

Soon, she stopped paying attention too and simply watched Eiji's face as he stared ahead.

Eiji seemed so mysterious to her. He was exceptionally good-looking, and girls in the Shinobi World tended to mature early. Young Kushina found herself drawn to him.

And what is he eating?

It looks kind of tasty!

When a boy and a girl began to take an interest in each other, curiosity was often the first step toward falling for someone. Young Kushina had yet to realize that.