"Hmm..."
Kushina stood in the classroom doorway and quickly scanned the room, only to freeze on the spot.
Then.
She looked again.
Only then did she spot Araki in the back corner by the window.
Once she found Araki, she relaxed, knowing she had not lost him. At the same time, an odd feeling welled up inside her.
Why did Araki seem to turn invisible once he entered the classroom? He has no presence at all.
Kushina muttered inwardly. She had wanted to sit beside Araki, but then she remembered their agreement.
I'd better keep a little distance in front of other people!
I can't put too much psychological pressure on someone who's suffered an emotional shock on our very first day together. That wouldn't help with his treatment later.
Without realizing it, Kushina had placed herself in the role of a doctor, while Araki was the patient on her mind.
With that thought...
Kushina went straight to an empty spot on the other side of the classroom and sat down.
This seat was a little farther back than Araki's, giving her a perfect view of him so she could watch his every move at any time.
By the time Kushina arrived in the classroom, class was about to begin. Most of the students were already there, and her arrival attracted the attention of almost everyone in the class.
It was not just because she was a new student, but also because her red hair was simply too conspicuous.
That was not all.
The Ninja Academy's students were almost entirely children from Konoha.
They had known one another before starting school.
They had long since formed a little circle.
Years would pass without a single transfer student arriving. This was like a newcomer entering an established circle, and it was bound to attract attention.
"Look, there's someone new!"
"Her hair is actually red!"
"Why would someone suddenly transfer here?"
"Her face looks all round, like a tomato!"
"..."
The students began whispering among themselves, and some of their quiet remarks reached Kushina's ears.
Kushina's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She was somewhat displeased, especially when she heard words like "tomato" coming out of so many mouths.
But...
She suddenly remembered Araki's words...
I can't stand out too much.
And I can't say anything arrogant.
I shouldn't make too many enemies.
Without Araki's words, she might have turned on these children outright, refusing to put up with anyone running their mouth.
But now, thinking of how she wanted to keep being friends with Araki, she decided it was better not to do anything that would make him uncomfortable.
I'll just pretend I didn't hear anything!
They're only children, after all!
In that instant, Kushina sorted out her feelings. Though she still felt somewhat unhappy, she cared more about Araki, who sat in silence as if invisible, than about the people laughing and casually giving others nicknames.
Tap, tap, tap...
Just then, a series of footsteps rang out, followed by a man in Konoha ninja attire entering the room.
He was their class teacher, Ibuki.
"Ahem..."
Ibuki-sensei cleared his throat softly, immediately drawing the students' attention. Their chatter came to an abrupt halt.
"Before we begin today's lesson, I have an announcement."
Ibuki's voice was solemn and serious, his face completely expressionless as he kept a firm grip on the atmosphere in the room.
Ibuki was very satisfied with the students' response. In particular, their complete silence while he spoke gave him a great sense of prestige and accomplishment.
"Come introduce yourself."
Ibuki focused his gaze on Kushina and nodded at her, signaling for her to come up and speak.
Kushina rose from her seat without hesitation, looked toward the lectern, and stepped forward.
As she took her first step, she glanced unobtrusively in Araki's direction and happened to see him looking back at her.
The moment their eyes met, she felt as though she had received the message Araki was sending.
Don't stand out too much!
That thought arose in Kushina's mind, and she walked up to the front with firm steps.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Kushina Uzumaki. I moved to Konoha from another village, so I still don't know much about Konoha. I look forward to learning from all of you!"
After saying this, Kushina bowed deeply to the students before her. Her overall manner was very humble, immediately leaving many of them with a somewhat favorable impression.
Then.
Kushina prepared to leave the front of the room and return to her seat.
But just then, Ibuki-sensei stopped her and kept her there.
"The topic of today's lesson is..."
Ibuki lightly rested his left hand on Kushina's shoulder, signaling for her not to leave yet. His features softened a little, giving him something short of a smile.
"What is your dream?"
Ibuki-sensei's voice carried to every corner of the classroom, reaching everyone clearly, including Araki, who sat there without any presence at all.
"Everyone has a dream. Whether that dream is big or small, we must give our all to achieve it!"
Ibuki-sensei turned to look at Kushina.
"Kushina, let's start with you. What is your dream?"
Chapter 9: Minato Namikaze
Whoosh!
Almost in an instant.
Everyone in the class turned their eyes to Kushina.
Including Araki, who had little presence.
The scene immediately sent a surge of hot blood through Kushina, making her want to say something bold so that no one here would look down on her.
But just then...
Araki's instructions rang through her mind again.
"My dream is..."
Kushina took a deep breath, calming herself as much as she could. She clenched her fists tightly, hiding the original dream that had just risen in her heart rather than saying it outright. Instead, she said something her classmates might find pleasant to hear.
"I want to be friends with you... with all of you!"
Kushina's voice kept rising as she spoke. In particular, before saying "all of you," she deliberately emphasized "you." The others might not understand what that meant, but she knew better than anyone whom she was referring to.
At those words.
The class fell silent.
Apologetic expressions appeared on the students' faces.
Only a short while earlier, they had been laughing at Kushina's red hair, inwardly feeling somewhat hostile toward this girl who had inexplicably joined their class.
But now, those feelings vanished like smoke when Kushina said she wanted to be friends with them.
In the corner at the back of the classroom.
Araki nodded silently.
Kushina had finished introducing herself and returned to her seat without incident, without provoking the intense reaction she had in the original course of history.
To some extent, his conversation with Kushina had quietly altered the course of the ninja world's history.
Though this seemed like only an insignificant part of it, it had produced a real effect.
Pretty good.
Araki offered a silent word of praise.
Kushina was now living in his home. His classmates did not know this yet, but it was not a secret that absolutely had to be kept. They would find out sooner or later; it was only a matter of time.
If I can put it off for a while, I'll put it off for a while.
But...
Araki knew that Kushina was pretty and would inevitably attract attention. There was no hiding something like that.
In the previous course of history, many boys in the class had bullied Kushina. Deep down, they knew better than anyone that they were doing it for no other reason than to attract her attention.
During their school years, the more a boy liked a girl, the more he would often bully her. It was the simplest, most direct approach taken by boys who did not know how to attract a girl's attention.
Araki did not know what troubles would come his way once everyone in class learned that Kushina lived in his home. But there was one thing he could be sure of: in many matters, he and Kushina were now tied together.
The less trouble Kushina encountered, the less trouble he would have.
Every little bit less counts.
Araki's requirements were already very low.