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"I'm Uzumaki Kushina."
"I…"
"I'm going to be the first female Hokage of this village!!!"
The voice rang out firm and clear from the red-haired girl standing at the podium. But instead of applause, her declaration stirred murmurs and sideways glances. Her fiery hair and sudden appearance as a transfer student made her the instant target of whispers.
Yet—
To one boy seated by the window in the back row, it was all just... noise.
Seikyū Hikaru leaned on his desk, tousled black hair shadowing striking features that could stop hearts. He gave the girl on stage a glance, then let out a silent sigh.
"So she finally showed up. Took her long enough—half a month into the term and Uzumaki Kushina has arrived."
His gaze swept calmly over the nervous-looking redhead. Complex emotions stirred in his chest.
He wasn't from this world.
He was a transmigrator.
Five years ago, he'd hit the cosmic jackpot. When he next opened his eyes, he was a baby—abandoned at the gates of Konoha's orphanage.
From there, life went on.
He grew up in the orphanage, quietly blending in for five long years. The name he now bore—Seikyū Hikaru—was one he chose for himself. Something to anchor him in this new world.
Recently, he was tested and found to have talent in chakra refinement. That got him transferred into the Ninja Academy.
Thankfully, there were no tuition fees. Otherwise, penniless as he was, he'd never have made it through the door.
But then again… it made sense.
Out of the countless civilians in the ninja world, how many actually had the talent to mold chakra and become shinobi? It wasn't about desire. It was about capability.
Which was why villages like Konoha would welcome any child with potential, no matter their background.
And that was how Hikaru had made it in.
After enrolling, he'd quickly noticed a familiar face—Namikaze Minato. That alone told him where he was in the timeline. They were classmates, which meant Kushina would transfer in soon.
And now, just two weeks into term, here she was.
"This is Year 31 of Konoha's founding," Hikaru thought, eyes narrowing. "The Second Great Ninja War is just around the corner."
He'd gleaned what little information he could from the orphanage and school. His world was small, filled with children and caretakers—few of whom knew anything beyond Konoha's walls.
Still, some things stuck in his memory.
The Land of Rain… turned into a bloody chessboard between the great nations.
And more importantly—Shinju would die in that war.
But from what Hikaru could tell, Shinju hadn't even graduated yet. At present, he was just another upperclassman at the academy.
That meant one thing: the war hadn't truly begun.
Hikaru, however, didn't care much about the Second Great Ninja War. Ninja Academy had a five-year program. By the time he graduated at ten and a half, the conflict would likely be winding down.
He'd be safe—this time.
But next time?
The Third Great Ninja War? He'd be the perfect age to be drafted.
And that was a problem.
He had no bloodline, no inheritance, no clan. His chakra control was average at best. Compared to heirs from noble houses—or geniuses like Namikaze Minato—he was utterly unremarkable.
Aside from his face.
That was the one thing he had going for him: a face that could rival any protagonist in a romance novel.
So when he realized he was in the same class as Minato, Hikaru formed a bold idea.
He'd live off a woman.
If Namikaze Minato could end up dating the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and get noticed by the village elders because of it—hell, even learn sealing arts from her—then why couldn't he do the same?
In fact, he had a trump card Minato didn't.
He was better looking.
With enough charm, deliberate timing, and carefully crafted interactions, he was confident he could win over Uzumaki Kushina and ride her coattails straight to the top.
I'll be the one by her side. I'll take what should've been his.
Class ended quickly.
During break, the classroom erupted with jeers.
"From today, we'll call you Tomato! Chubby cheeks and red hair? Total tomato!"
"As if a tomato could ever be Hokage!"
HA HA HA HA!
The taunts flew freely as a group of boys surrounded Kushina. Their words were sharp, their laughter cruel—and one reached out to tug at her hair.
SLAP!
A hand caught his wrist midair.
Seikyū Hikaru's grip was firm, his voice calm.
"That's enough."
"We're all classmates here. Is there really a need to gang up on Uzumaki like this?"
He spoke gently, almost disarmingly—but there was purpose in his intervention.
Because for five long years, nothing special had happened.
No cheat, no golden finger. His chakra aptitude was just... passable. Nowhere near enough to stand out, especially not in a class with clan heirs and prodigies.
He wouldn't be sent to the Second Great Ninja War.
But the third? That was coming.
And if he didn't find a way to break the mold before then, he'd just be cannon fodder.
He had no clan. No fortune. No natural talent.
So when he saw that he shared a classroom with Namikaze Minato, he'd made a decision.
If Minato could charm his way into a relationship with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and reap the benefits…
Then so could he.
And Hikaru was confident. His face alone gave him a head start. All he needed was the right opportunity—and the right push.
He would take Kushina for himself.
"Seikyū Hikaru! This is between us and her! Mind your own business, unless you wanna get hurt!"
One of the boys glared at him, fists clenched.
"Our business?" Hikaru raised an eyebrow. "Bullying a transfer student in broad daylight is your business now?"
He shook his head.
"Today it's Uzumaki. Tomorrow it could be anyone. You think we'll trust comrades like you with our backs on the battlefield?"
His tone sharpened.
"Shame on you. Are you even worthy of becoming shinobi?"
The classroom quieted. All eyes turned to the small group of bullies, who were now fuming.
"You damn pretty boy!!"
That did it.
They couldn't win the argument. Their pride was already in tatters. And with everyone watching, their frustration exploded.
"You're dead, pretty boy!"
"Get him!!"
They were young. Hot-headed. Not yet shinobi. And completely unprepared.
The instant they charged—
Hikaru struck first.
BAM!
One punch sent the lead boy sprawling.
He spun, drove his fist into another gut. THUD! Another one down.
The others froze, dumbfounded.
Three moves. Three enemies floored.
And just then—
A sound echoed in his head.
DING! You have defeated an opponent. Material dropped: Chakra...
—
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