as well as...
She declined the invitation from Konoha advisor Utatane Koharu!
The first three points alone would have been enough to shock everyone at Konoha Hospital, but the last point amplified their shock to an unprecedented degree.
So this genius also has a somewhat rebellious personality?!
As Araki's name spread to every corner of Konoha Hospital, many medical-nin who had never seen Araki developed a strong curiosity about Araki.
only...
Unbeknownst to the people at Konoha Hospital, while they were discussing Araki, the very person they were talking about embarked on his journey to the Ninja Academy for the start of the new semester.
" Araki, why are you leaving so early? I'm not even awake yet! How did school start so early without me even realizing it!"
Kushina followed behind Araki with her eyes soft. Their previous agreement was now completely ignored, and they weren't consciously maintaining their distance anymore.
After all, the development during this period was too rapid, surpassing Araki's overall development in the previous three years, allowing him to have a new identity and officially appear on the stage of Konoha's history.
This identity was enough for him to protect himself and gradually get back on track.
It's getting late.
Araki glanced at Kushina beside him and said gently, "You've been sleeping in late Tenten lately, haven't you had enough? If you keep sleeping, you'll be late."
"Damn it!" Kushina pouted helplessly and muttered, "Starting school is so annoying!"
Not far behind them, a figure silently followed them, its azure eyes reflecting a strange sadness.
Kushina didn't see the figure, but Araki had sensed it long ago, though he didn't say anything.
I didn't expect them to start tailing me on the very first day of school...
The figure belonged to none other than Minato Namikaze, the strongest student in this year's Ninja Academy.
Chapter 47 The Beginning of the New Semester
" Araki, have you heard? After we pass the Ninja Academy's graduation exam, we'll be divided into groups of three, each learning from a Jonin instructor until we grow into capable ninjas."
Kushina tilted her head and stared at Araki. As they got closer to the Ninja Academy, her drowsiness gradually subsided, and she looked much more energetic.
"Never heard of it." Araki shook his head.
"That's true, you're so busy, you spend all your time training, how would you know these things..." Kushina wasn't surprised, and instead stared at Araki, her beautiful eyes blinking, her pupils sparkling with curiosity, and said, "Have you thought about the people in your group?"
"No." Araki shook his head again.
"How could there not be?" Kushina suddenly pouted, hesitated several times before finally saying something.
"We haven't even fully started school yet, and you're already dreaming about what will happen after graduation?" Araki smiled faintly. Even he himself hadn't thought things through regarding group assignments. After all, with his current status, he could directly enter Konoha Hospital after becoming a ninja, at which point he might not even need any group assignments.
"Alright, we'll see when the time comes!" Kushina wasn't too concerned; she figured she'd deal with the future when it happened.
The two chatted as they walked.
Time flies.
They arrived at the entrance of the Ninja Academy in no time.
At this very moment.
Many students gathered around a large sheet of paper pasted on the wall near the entrance, on which names were written.
"What is this?" Kushina asked, puzzled.
"The list." Araki looked at Kushina and said, "You're a transfer student, so you haven't experienced the start of the school year before. Every year at the beginning of the school year, the class list is posted here. Because of the final exam system, if you don't pass, you have to repeat the year, so the list changes every year."
"I see." Kushina clasped her hands together in front of her chest, as if in prayer, and said, "I hope my name is on it."
Yes, it will.
Araki said calmly, without any worries. Based on the results of the mock duel in the final exam, Kushina could get a full 20 bonus points. With that, it was almost impossible for her to not exceed 60 points, so there was no reason for her to be demoted.
Let's go take a look.
Kushina suddenly grabbed Araki's elbow and pulled Araki forward. It was a very casual action, but it revealed the relationship between the two.
People who don't know each other well wouldn't do something that looks so intimate.
The entire process was witnessed by Minato Namikaze, who was following behind. His face turned dark green, and he felt an indescribable sense of distress.
Ever since Kushina arrived, Minato Namikaze felt that this girl was different from others, so he devoted more energy and attention to her, although he didn't show it so obviously.
This is partly related to his personality.
In these matters, he doesn't like to express himself easily. He prefers to observe the other person secretly first, and only take the initiative after confirming that there is a special feeling between them.
However, precisely because of this personality trait, he missed his greatest opportunity. After witnessing Kushina and Araki's close interaction, his heart felt like it was bleeding, and he was in a terrible state.
Minato Namikaze paused slightly in his steps.
Because he had maintained a relatively safe distance from the two people in front of him, so that even if Araki or Kushina turned around and saw him, they wouldn't think he was following them.
But now that Araki and Kushina have stopped, he has also stopped, making the whole scene seem to freeze.
Minato Namikaze just watched from a distance, not daring to approach. To be precise, he didn't dare to approach because he didn't know how to face these things.
" Araki, I saw your name! It's so eye-catching!"
Kushina pointed to the names on the list. The names were written from right to left, ranked in order of scores. The first name in the top right corner was Minato Namikaze, but because Araki controlled his score, he kept himself in the middle of the class, making him very conspicuous in the very center of the list.
"I passed by luck." Araki smiled faintly, not taking it too seriously. This was the last final exam, so rankings and such didn't really matter.
Where am I?
Kushina seemed not to hear Araki's words and continued searching for her own name among those names.
This scene reminded Araki of times he had watched anime where characters searched for their own names, and of Might Guy.
"Found it!"
Kushina jumped up excitedly. She saw her name at the bottom of the list, slightly behind Araki.
"Thanks to your 20 points!"
"I knew I wouldn't get a very high score!"
"Look at my ranking now, I'm still near the bottom. If it weren't for your points, I might have to repeat a year!"
" Araki, you're so kind, thank you!"
Kushina suddenly turned around, grabbing Araki's arm and shaking it back and forth. If there weren't so many people around, she might have gone up and kissed Araki.
"It's nothing. Since it's approved, let's not crowd around here and disturb others from looking at the list. Let's go to class," Araki said casually.
"OK--"
Kushina's voice was drawn out, and as she spoke, her gaze remained on the list, seemingly trying to see if anyone had repeated a grade; her eyes landed directly at the bottom of the list.
" Maemoto Takashi!"
" Araki, I saw his name! He did repeat a year!"
"Losing 20 points is unacceptable!"
"I knew he wasn't the type to score over 80!"
"So from today onwards, we're classmates!"
Kushina spoke one sentence after another. She had thought about whether Maemoto Takashi would repeat a grade, and in her understanding, she felt that Maemoto Takashi was very likely to repeat a grade.
However, when she actually saw Maemoto Takashi's name, she was still very shocked. After all, this was the first time she had seen a high-ranking student repeat a grade since she came to the Konoha Ninja Academy.
Let's go.
Araki wasn't interested in other people's affairs; if Kushina hadn't mentioned Maemoto Takashi's name at this moment, he would have completely forgotten that such a person existed.
" Araki, do you think this Maemoto Takashi will come looking for trouble again?" Kushina followed Araki into the school.
"Who cares?" Araki, completely unconcerned.
"That's true. If you can beat him once, you can beat him twice. I believe in you!" Kushina's eyes were filled with strong confidence as she looked at Araki.
Standing at the school gate, Minato Namikaze watched the two enter the teaching building before walking towards it himself.
As he passed the gates of the Ninja Academy, he did not go to the list to check his name like the other students.
There's absolutely no need for that.
Because anyone else might have to repeat a grade, but he definitely wouldn't. He still had that confidence. It's just that he wanted to have some communication and get to know Kushina, but he didn't know when to start, as if he had lost a certain degree of social function.
On this point.
Minato Namikaze also felt powerless.
He had imagined countless times how he would greet Kushina when he saw her, but when he actually saw her, he could only offer a silent smile and wave. As a result, even though Kushina had been there for more than half a year, they had not exchanged a single formal word.
He communicates with the other students in the class very smoothly and fluently, with a warm smile on his face, like sunshine shining on them, making them feel comfortable as if they are bathed in a spring breeze.
It's fair to say she's very popular within the class.
Almost everyone wants to be his friend.
There has never been a single negative review about him.
But...
This person, who is like a little sun, didn't know what to say when facing Kushina. He was extremely nervous when he saw her, and could only smile. He could hardly say a word.
As Minato Namikaze entered the classroom, he saw Kushina and Araki sitting in their usual seats, without any overly intimate contact. He slowly breathed a sigh of relief, his anxious feelings dissipating considerably.
Minato Namikaze put down his schoolbag and sat down in his seat, staring at the empty blackboard in front of him, his mind still replaying the events that had transpired on his journey.
During the past three months of vacation, that wisp of red hair kept lingering in his mind. He didn't even know why, but he just kept thinking about that person.
So when school started, he really wanted to see Kushina. He estimated Kushina's usual school hours and hoped to bump into her by chance.
only...
pity...
It was a chance encounter...
The process wasn't entirely satisfactory!