Konoha Year 36, Ninja Academy.
The breeze was warm, and the first sun shone brightly. The classroom in the morning was soon full of people.
The third-year brats who had just finished their vacation looked worried, and everyone was listless until the homeroom teacher appeared, which made them cheer up a little.
They looked at the podium with some novelty, because today a special transfer student came.
"Hello everyone, my name is Uzumaki Kushina. 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, and crystal clear indigo pupils. Of course, the most eye-catching thing was her red hair, which was as hot as fire.
At this moment, the crisp voice echoed in the classroom, making the originally noisy classroom quiet instantly.
Almost all the students stopped talking to each other and began to look at Kushina.
Seemingly being stared at by so many strange eyes for the first time, Kushina suddenly felt shy, covering her small mouth, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Oh, it seems that our Kushina is very energetic!" The teacher's voice was full of enthusiasm, "Then, let's get along well!"
However, he did not receive applause and cheers from the students. What came from under the podium were undisguised jokes.
"Look at the color of that hair, it's unbelievable!"
"How can you become so red? It's really strange!"
"With such red hair, can she still be considered human?"
Kushina's hair color was eye-catching even in the clan, almost the same color as blood, bright and dripping.
However, these brats did not know that in the Uzumaki clan, the redder the hair, the higher the talent.
Seeing that the buzzing sound under the podium was getting louder and louder, the homeroom teacher quickly shouted: "Quiet, be quiet! Is this how you welcome new students?"
He quickly looked at Kushina. This was a person that the superior had instructed to take special care of. If something went wrong, he, a mere Chunin teacher, could not bear it.
Unexpectedly, he did not see Kushina's nervous and helpless appearance. The little girl, who was only 8 years old, quickly sorted out her expression.
Not only was she not embarrassed by the ridicule of her classmates, but she calmly stroked her red hair and looked up with a smile.
"You may not know that the current matriarch of Konoha, the wife of the First Hokage, Uzumaki Mito, also has red hair, right?" she said softly.
"As an Uzumaki clan member, I have never been ashamed of this red hair. On the contrary, this is my pride."
The homeroom teacher was stunned for a moment, and immediately began to clap hard, his eyes full of relief as he looked at Kushina.
As expected of an Uzumaki clan member, calm, confident, and proud, he felt that this little girl fully possessed the qualities that a ninja should have.
Under his leadership, applause began to sound in the class, and the students clapped their hands unconsciously. Only the few students who had previously made sarcastic remarks looked resentful and turned their heads to the side 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 Hokage with this red hair."
The crisp and childish voice resounded throughout the room, and the entire classroom instantly became silent.
Only in this way can I gain Uncle Shenyu's approval... Kushina thought so, and inexplicably thought of Uncle Shenyu's comfort before her departure:
'Don't be afraid, our Kushina will be the woman who becomes Hokage in the future!'
The brats were stunned, their eyes wide open, as if they were all shocked by Kushina's speech.
Just when the whole class was silent, a yellow-haired boy stood up silently.
He patted his chest lightly and said in a gentle voice, "My dream is also to be recognized by everyone in the village and become a great Hokage!"
Kushina smiled politely, but secretly pouted, a faint look of disapproval flashing in her eyes.
'Who wants to be recognized by everyone? Kushina only needs to be recognized by Mom and Uncle Shenyu!'
On the first day of school, Kushina had someone she hated.
But what a coincidence, she was actually a tablemate with this yellow-haired brat.
In the first class of school, the teacher did not talk about any substantive content. The first half was organizing homework, and the second half was promoting Konoha's benevolent ideas.
Kushina became vigilant in her heart, and Shenyu's earnest instructions echoed in her ears.
"No matter how Konoha publicizes their ideas, as long as there is anything about the Will of Fire, it is all bullshit! Close your ears and refuse brainwashing, this is the first task I give you..."
Therefore, Kushina's expression was particularly serious. Others might think that she was studying hard, but in fact, she was concentrating on wandering off.
At this time, someone gently touched her arm.
Kushina turned her head, "Do you have something to do?"
"That..." The boy smiled apologetically and said in a low voice, "My name is Namikaze Minato. I wasn't trying to take Kushina-chan's stage just now. We will be tablemates in the future, let's work hard together!"
"Okay, Minato-kun, please don't talk to me in class."
"Uh... sorry, sorry..."
At this moment, a crisp bell rang throughout the corridor, and it was time for class to end.
Kushina immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Well, good performance, she didn't hear a word of what the teacher said just now!
"Hey, little tomato!"
At this time, a few boys walked over with wicked smiles, surrounding Kushina's seat. They were the few who had just made sarcastic remarks about Kushina.
"From today onwards, you will be called Little Tomato. No objection!" The leading boy announced loudly with his arms folded.
A small follower showed a flattering smile, "That's right, a chubby round face, plus red hair, isn't that a tomato!"
Kushina frowned slightly, and felt a little annoyed when she heard the name.
Not because she hated it. In fact, "Little Tomato" was a nickname Shenyu gave her, and she liked it very much.
Only Uncle Shenyu and Aunt Hikari can call her this name!
Thinking of this, Kushina silently clenched her small fist, "Classmates, did I do something wrong? Why are you targeting me?"
"Hmph, you know it yourself. A tomato who just arrived here 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 will leave it."
"How can a tomato that is not liked be recognized by the villagers?"
Kushina lowered her head, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her emotions, trembling slightly with anger.
Minato, who was next to her, saw it and a few hesitation flashed across his face.
The three boys chattered, becoming more and more excessive, and finally escalated from verbal attacks to physical attacks.
"Look, the tomato is about to ripen."
The leading boy laughed and suddenly grabbed Kushina's hair, "The tomato festival is here. Go back and harvest the tomatoes! Hahaha!"
Suddenly, a hand stretched out from the side and grabbed the boy's wrist!
"Let's stop here, Inabi." Minato showed a polite smile, his voice still gentle.
"Huh? You kid, are you playing the hero saving the beauty?" Inabi was a little annoyed. This sissy had such a sunny smile, but his strength was terrifyingly great.
"Class is about to start. Please give me some advice for the tactical training next class." Minato looked at him, his blue eyes shrouded in shadow, no longer the pure ice blue, but like the undulating sea surface under the cumulus clouds, dark blue and deep.
"Okay, you're ruthless. I'll remember this!"
Inabi struggled to break free, rubbing his sore wrist, and glared fiercely, "If you offend our Uchiha, you won't have a good time!"
After he threw down these words viciously, he left in disgrace with his followers.
Minato sighed helplessly, turned his head to look at Kushina, and said in a concerned tone: "Kushina-chan, don't mind them. Uchiha is just like that. Just ignore them."
"Uchiha..." Kushina suddenly spoke, her hair covering her face, and only a faint voice could be heard:
"It's not like that."
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