Hidden Leaf Village Year 36, Ninja Academy.
A gentle breeze, the morning sun high, the classroom was quickly filled with people.
The third-year brats, just back from vacation, looked gloomy, each one listless, until the homeroom teacher appeared, which perked them up a bit.
They looked at the podium with some curiosity, because today a special transfer student was coming.
"Hello everyone, my name is Uzumaki Kushina, and today is my first day at the Ninja Academy, please take care of me!"
The speaker was a girl with a round face, pure and lovely, with crystal clear indigo eyes, and of course, the most striking thing was her fiery red hair.
At that moment, the crisp voice echoed in the classroom, instantly silencing the originally noisy room.
Almost all the students stopped their whispering and began to size up Kushina.
Seemingly being stared at by so many unfamiliar eyes for the first time, Kushina suddenly felt shy, covering her small mouth, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Oh, it seems our Kushina classmate is very energetic!" The teacher's voice was full of enthusiasm, "Then, everyone get along well!"
However, he did not receive applause and cheers from the students, what came from below the podium was undisguised teasing.
"Look at the color of that hair, unbelievable!"
"How can you get it so red, it's so weird!"
"With hair that red, can she even be considered human?"
Kushina's hair color was eye-catching even within the Uzumaki Clan, almost the color of blood, bright and vibrant.
However, these little brats did not know that in the Uzumaki Clan, the redder the hair, the higher the talent.
Seeing the buzzing sound below the podium getting louder and louder, the homeroom teacher quickly shouted, "Quiet, everyone be quiet! Is this how you welcome new classmates?"
He quickly looked at Kushina, this was someone the higher-ups had instructed him to take special care of, if something went wrong, it was not something a mere Chunin teacher like him could bear.
Unexpectedly, he did not see Kushina looking nervous and helpless, the little girl, only 8 years old, quickly composed herself.
Not only was she not embarrassed by the ridicule of her classmates, but she calmly stroked her red hair, raised her eyes and smiled lightly.
"You may not know, the current mistress of Hidden Leaf Village, who is also the wife of the First Hokage, Uzumaki Mito, also has red hair, right?" she said softly.
"As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, I have never been ashamed of this red hair, it is my pride."
The homeroom teacher was stunned for a moment, then immediately began to applaud vigorously, looking at Kushina with eyes full of relief.
As expected of a member of the Uzumaki Clan, calm, confident, proud, he felt that this little girl fully possessed the qualities a Ninja should have.
Under his lead, applause began to sound in the classroom, the students clapping their hands unconsciously, only a few students who had previously made sarcastic remarks looked disgruntled, turning their heads away in a fit of pique.
Kushina raised her head and took a step forward, "Don't underestimate this red hair, maybe one day in the future, I will become the Hokage with this red hair."
The crisp and childish voice resounded throughout the room, the entire classroom instantly becoming silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Only in this way can I get Uncle Shin'yu's approval... Kushina thought, inexplicably recalling Uncle Shin'yu's comfort before departure:
'Don't be afraid, our Kushina, will become the Hokage's woman in the future!'
The little brats were stunned, each one staring with wide eyes, seemingly shocked by Kushina's statement.
Just as the whole class fell silent, a blond boy stood up quietly.
He gently patted his chest and said in a gentle voice, "My dream is also to be recognized by everyone in the village and to become a great Hokage!"
Kushina smiled politely, but secretly pouted, a hint of imperceptible unwillingness flashing in her eyes.
Who needs to be recognized by everyone? Kushina only needs to be recognized by Mom and Uncle Shin'yu!
On the first day of school, Kushina had someone she disliked.
But coincidentally, she was desk mates with this blond kid.
In the first class of the semester, the master didn't talk about any substantive content. The first half was spent organizing homework, and the second half was spent promoting the benevolent ideas of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Kushina became vigilant, Shin'yu's earnest instructions echoing in her ears.
"No matter how the Hidden Leaf Village promotes their ideas, anything about the Will of Fire is all bullshit! Close your ears and refuse to be brainwashed. This is the first mission I'm giving you..."
Therefore, Kushina's expression was particularly serious. Others might think she was studying hard, but in reality, she was concentrating on daydreaming.
At this moment, someone gently poked her arm.
Kushina turned her head: "Is there something you need?"
"That..." The boy smiled apologetically and said softly, "My name is Minato Namikaze. I wasn't trying to tear down Kushina just now. We'll be desk mates from now on, let's work hard together!"
"Okay, Minato, please don't talk to me during class."
"Uh... sorry, sorry..."
Just then, a crisp bell rang through the corridor, signaling the end of class.
Kushina immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Well, not bad. She didn't listen to a single word the master said just now!
"Hey, Little Tomato!"
At this moment, several boys walked over with mischievous smiles, surrounding Kushina's seat. They were the same ones who had mocked Kushina earlier.
"From today on, you'll be called Little Tomato, no objections, right!" The leading boy announced loudly, arms crossed.
A little follower showed a flattering smile, "That's right, that's right, a chubby round face, plus red hair, isn't that a tomato!"
Kushina frowned slightly, feeling a little annoyed when she heard this nickname.
Not because she hated it. In fact, "Little Tomato" was a nickname Shin'yu gave her, and she actually liked it very much.
Only Uncle Shin'yu and Aunt Light can call her that!
With this thought, Kushina silently clenched her small fist, "Classmates, did I do something wrong? Why are you targeting me?"
"Hmph, you know very well. A tomato who just arrived also deserves to be Hokage?" The leading boy snorted coldly.
"I hate tomatoes the most!"
"Me too. If there are tomatoes in the salad, I'll leave them."
"How can an unpopular tomato be recognized by the villagers?"
Kushina lowered her head, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her emotions, trembling slightly with anger.
Minato, standing beside her, saw this and hesitated.
The three boys chattered, becoming increasingly excessive, and finally escalated from verbal attacks to physical ones.
"Look, the tomato is about to ripen."
The leading boy laughed and suddenly grabbed Kushina's hair, "The tomato festival is here, hurry back and harvest the tomatoes! Hahaha!"
Suddenly, a hand reached out from the side and grabbed the boy's wrist!
"Let's stop here, Inaho." Minato showed a polite smile, his voice still gentle.
"Huh? You kid, trying to be a hero to save the beauty?" Inaho was a little annoyed. This sissy in front of him had such a sunny smile, but his grip was terrifyingly strong.
"Class is about to start. Please give me your guidance in the next tactical training class." Minato looked at him, his blue eyes shrouded in shadow, no longer the pure ice blue, but like the undulating sea under cirrus clouds, dark blue and deep.
"Okay, you win this time. I've noted this debt!"
Inaho struggled to break free, rubbing his sore wrist, glaring angrily, "If you mess with us Uchiha, you won't have a good time!"
After he spat out these harsh words, he led his followers away in disgrace.
Minato sighed helplessly, turned to look at Kushina, and said with concern, "Kushina, don't mind them. The Uchiha are just like that. Just ignore them."
"Uchiha..." Kushina suddenly spoke, her hair covering her face, only her clear voice could be heard:
"That's not what they're like."
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