The next day.
Moonlight Ruyun pushed open his door with dark circles under his eyes and set off for the Ninja Academy.
Last night, he had tirelessly practiced swordsmanship and Taijutsu, savoring his newfound strength with immense satisfaction. He had only stopped when his whole body ached.
Just one piece of green-quality equipment, even discounting the currently useless [Maiden's Blessing] trait, had provided such an enormous boost through a single strength-enhancing trait.
What about equipment of a higher grade?
What about when he had all twelve pieces?
The thought alone sent him into a frenzy. He wished he could gather all twelve pieces right away and cram them into the slots.
"I need equipment materials, and money. I've got to make money!"
Thirty thousand ryo per crafting attempt was hardly cheap.
Ordinary ninja earned their money through missions.
The village took nearly half the mission fee. If there was a team leader, a large portion also went to that teacher.
For a Genin, thirty thousand ryo amounted to several C-Rank Missions.
Besides, he was still an Academy student and wasn't allowed to accept missions.
"I've got to find another way to earn some equipment money..."
Then, as long as he had enough money, he could simply sweep up the materials and refine them in an instant.
"Good morning, Ruyun."
Before he knew it, he had reached the Ninja Academy, where a blond boy was greeting him at the gate.
"Good morning, Minato."
Minato Namikaze wore a gentle smile, looking positively sunny.
"I was a little rude yesterday. I'm very sorry."
"It was just a normal spar. Besides, we made the Seal of Reconciliation afterward, didn't we?"
Moonlight Ruyun waved it off. A loss was a loss. His feelings weren't so fragile that he couldn't take a beating.
That was the mindset he had developed after failing to beat Minato Namikaze even once in three years.
"Minato, are you free after school this afternoon? Want to spar again?"
After a night of getting used to his strength, he was now capable of injuring Minato Namikaze if he caught him off guard.
As long as he got some of Minato Namikaze's blood and found a way to scrape together some money, he could immediately craft his second piece of equipment-[Minato Namikaze's Kunai].
Considering that [Kushina Uzumaki's Red Hair] had the traits "luck" and "strength," which related to her personality and abilities, [Minato Namikaze's Kunai] would very likely yield a speed-related talent...
With boosts to both strength and speed, he might even be able to defeat Minato Namikaze.
He was really looking forward to it.
The main problem was that Minato Namikaze was ridiculously strong. Many people assumed he relied solely on Flying Thunder God and Rasengan, using the same tricks against everyone with little variety in his fighting style.
Without those crutches during his Academy days, Minato Namikaze couldn't possibly be that strong.
He had once thought the same thing.
Until Minato Namikaze revealed... terrifying combat instincts and reaction speed.
At the Ninja Academy, where most students couldn't even perform the Three Basic Jutsu properly, he was absurdly overpowered.
Minato Namikaze paused, then said apologetically, "I'm very sorry. I have to train with someone after school."
A thought stirred in Moonlight Ruyun's mind. Had he already met Jiraiya at this point?
"What about tomorrow?"
"Uh, I'll be busy for the next few days... How about the next class combat test? It's in half a month."
"All right." He nodded.
Minato Namikaze smiled. "I'll have to keep working hard for our match in half a month, too. You're really strong, Ruyun."
Moonlight Ruyun: "..."
What little ray of sunshine? I bet he's all sweet on the outside and devious underneath!
Half a month. Even with Jiraiya teaching him, he probably can't make some huge leap in strength, right? Surely not?
A sense of urgency rose in him again. Why did this suddenly feel less certain?
During the morning lessons, he racked his brains over how to make money.
By a conservative estimate, achieving "equipment freedom" would take at least several million ryo...
Moonlight Ruyun propped up his head, feeling troubled.
I can't just borrow money from someone, can I?
Not a single person he knew had money. They were all broke buddies, except... Kushina Uzumaki.
That would be awful, borrowing money from a little girl. I'd be better off asking Tsunade. At least she's an older blonde woman.
Wait, Tsunade?
Tsunade had loved gambling since childhood, apparently picking it up from Hashirama Senju.
It seemed her nickname, "the Legendary Sucker," hadn't spread yet.
But everyone knew that, barring unusual circumstances, she lost every bet she made.
If I can find Tsunade and bet against whatever she picks...
After a moment's consideration, Moonlight Ruyun decisively shelved that very tempting idea.
Forget it. I'll keep it as a backup.
It wasn't that he was worried about finding Tsunade. If he staked out Konoha's gambling dens, he was bound to run into her.
The main problem was that Konoha was far too fond of settling things with violence. Did Tsunade's Monster Strength Fist, so full of the Will of Fire, have a rule against hitting children?
Low costs, quick money... How did I forget Jiraiya?!
It was as though lightning flashed through his mind. His brow instantly relaxed as the idea of following Jiraiya's example occurred to him.
What does Jiraiya know about "Icha Icha Paradise"?
It's time to broaden these people's horizons in the Shinobi World.
Something like, "Young Jiraiya's grades at the Academy weren't exactly stellar..."
Just then, the classroom suddenly grew noisy, and he looked up.
The sunlight was lovely that day, slanting through the windows and casting patches of light across the floor.
The teacher led a red-haired girl into the classroom.
"This is Kushina Uzumaki. Starting today, she'll be joining our class," the teacher said from the front of the room. "I hope you'll all get along."
Kushina stepped onto the platform, faced the class, and took a deep breath.
"My name is Kushina Uzumaki."
Her voice was clear and bright. She surveyed the class, her gaze passing over unfamiliar faces. First, she spotted a gently smiling blond boy, before finally settling on Moonlight Ruyun by the window in the back row.
A hint of joy appeared in her eyes.
"My dream is-"
She puffed out her chest. "To become Konoha's first female Hokage!"
Minato Namikaze's gaze lingered on her red hair, his thoughts unreadable.
The classroom fell silent for a few seconds.
"Pfft!"
A boy in the front row snickered.
"Hahaha, she wants to be Hokage?"
"Do you even know what you're saying, you red-haired freak?"
"What weird red hair. It looks like it's smeared with ketchup."
Mockery rolled in like a tide. The first boy to speak rocked back and forth with laughter, even making a show of wiping tears from the corners of his eyes.
Kushina stood there with her cheeks puffed out and her fists clenched tight.
"Who are you calling a freak? Say that again!"
The boy laughed even harder and sneered, "My grandma said so. Redheads are freaks."
Minato Namikaze snapped out of his thoughts and frowned. He looked at the arrogant boy, wanting to say something.
Moonlight Ruyun watched the masked man standing outside the door. He was the same one who had picked up Kushina Uzumaki yesterday.
The masked man said nothing, merely watching from outside.
The teacher who had brought Kushina into the classroom didn't intervene either.
Konoha really is full of lunatics!
He had no interest in listening any longer. He snatched up the book on his desk and hurled it at the boy laughing the loudest.
Smack!
The book slammed onto the desk with a heavy thud.
The classroom went quiet, and the boy turned to look.
Moonlight Ruyun said coldly, "Shut up. You're disturbing me."
The boy shrank back under his glare but stubbornly retorted, "I wasn't talking about you."
"Forgot what you said about me three years ago? Want to corner me after school again?"
It was Konoha's most celebrated slogan. When he entered the Ninja Academy three years ago, he had also declared that he wanted to become Hokage. What could he say? It was very much in keeping with the Will of Fire.
"I already apologized. That's in the past."
Moonlight Ruyun: "..."
So these people really think an apology makes everything fine?
Is this some time-honored tradition?
The teacher at the front cleared his throat. "All right, everyone. Let's welcome Kushina."
A smattering of applause rose through the classroom.
Minato Namikaze clapped the loudest.
"Kushina, where would you like to sit?"
A faint glimmer of anticipation appeared in Minato Namikaze's eyes.
Kushina Uzumaki stepped down from the platform.
She felt someone watching her and turned to give the blond boy a puzzled glance, then continued straight to the back row.
"Ruyun, we meet again."
The girl held out her hand, brimming with energy.
Minato Namikaze: "..."
Snowflakes drifted, the north wind sighed~
Before you continue