"Uncle, I'm telling you it's really thanks to them today! If they weren't there, I'd have no clue what the teacher was talking about."
Kushina's words tumbled out as she bounced beside Akira Senju. Her expression lit up with excitement as she gestured toward the two people behind her, who stepped forward without hesitation.
"Lord Mito, Lord Akira," said one of them politely. "I'm Uchiha Mikoto. My grandfather used to talk about you both often."
"Oh?"
Mito narrowed her eyes slightly as she gave Mikoto another look. She nodded to herself once recognition settled in.
"So you're Chen's granddaughter… The last time I saw you, you were barely one month old."
"Hehe…"
Mikoto scratched the back of her head, then gave Minato Namikaze, who stood beside her looking completely overwhelmed, a little shove with her foot.
"Uh-my name is Minato Namikaze… Please guide me well!"
Out of sheer nervousness, Minato accidentally bowed using the kunoichi-style "kick-down" form, his heel tucked behind him improperly as he bent forward stiffly, which caused Kushina and Mikoto to burst into laughter.
Minato straightened quickly, face flushing as red as it could get. He didn't know what to do with his arms and ended up standing ramrod straight, fists clenched by his sides.
More giggles came from the girls before Mito cut in.
"That's enough-it's impolite to tease others."
Her firm tone instantly silenced them both. Minato raised his head again with surprise when he sensed no malice from Mito-only calm authority. He drew in another breath to settle himself.
"Are you Minato?"
"Yes!"
His reply came out automatically. Mito watched him for another second before giving the faintest smile.
"You don't have to be so nervous. Relax. Think of this place like your home for now, just consider it my way of thanking you for helping Kushina today."
"Th-thank you, Mito-sama!"
Minato offered another awkward but heartfelt bow. Mito's warmth made him think she might be even easier to talk to than he'd imagined. Gaining some courage, he voiced the concern that had been eating at him since they arrived.
"Mito-sama… If it's not too much to ask, could you stop Kushina from bullying the other students?"
"…Hm?"
Just like that-the air in the room dropped several degrees colder. Even Akira went noticeably silent.
"What did you just say?"
Mito's tone flattened. Her gaze fixed on Minato sharply, though her speech remained outwardly calm. Internally though-she felt irritated. Outsiders pointing fingers at Kushina? That didn't sit right under any condition-not after everything.
Minato started realizing his mistake too late. He stood rigid now, but he had already opened the floodgates. He bit on the inside of his cheek and pushed forward anyway.
"Kushina-san attacked other students her first day in class… and Akira-sama even injured one. If students act like that before they even know how to work together, how are we supposed to place trust in each other after graduation?"
Minato finally took another breath after finishing-but he noticed how awkward it had become around him fast. Even Mikoto glanced away uncomfortably while Kushina crossed her arms and stared at him without speaking at first.
Akira hadn't moved or reacted either-but Mito gave him a brief sideways glance that asked without speaking-Is this really the kid?
Akira sighed and offered the smallest nod before turning his attention on Minato directly.
"Minato, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"Do you remember why Kushina punched that other student?"
Minato kept his posture controlled but answered with what he believed was the truth.
"It was just some misunderstanding between classmates."
Akira exhaled once through his nose and shifted his weight forward slightly-as if preparing himself to bother explaining things to someone who really didn't get it.
"So… just a misunderstanding? Really? Mikoto."
Mikoto straightened up at the sound of her name-caught off guard. Her eyes widened slightly as she turned toward him.
"H-huh? Yes?"
"Hit him."
"…What?!"
For half a second she thought she'd misheard, but when she saw Akira's face remain unchanged. that brief moment of disbelief twisted into hesitation and confusion. She turned toward Minato again but hesitated lifting a single finger against him.
"Master Akira! What are you talking about?! I just wanted Kushina-san to cool down…"
Others shared similar thoughts and expressions-the scene felt unreal now.
Akira ignored them completely.
"Do you know why I invited you here today?"
"Um-I thought… it was because I said nice things about Kushina in class? So you wanted us to become friends?"
Akira nodded.
"Right. I did admire your kindness, and that's exactly why I wanted you two to be friends. Just friends though."
He gave Minato another neutral look and then added.
"But once you're on the battlefield, I won't allow Kushina to be anywhere near you."
Minato stiffened again, but this time it wasn't nerves; it was rejection sinking into his spine like icewater. He stared wide-eyed at Akira and fought down the sudden rush of panic rising in his throat.
"…Why?"
Akira didn't answer him, not directly anyway. He just turned again toward Mikoto.
"Mikoto, beat him up first. Talk after."
"I-what??"
Even now she hesitated-but someone else shot forward without needing another word.
Kushina stepped in with one clean pivot and swept forward with her fist already cocked back-
Crack!
Minato took the punch full force without resistance or understanding. The blow threw him across the courtyard floor where he tumbled once-twice-before landing flat on his back with dirt pasting itself into his hair and shirt. A faint grunt left his throat as he tasted dust and grass in his mouth for the first time in hours.
His last groggy thought drifted somewhere between coherence and absurdity-
"Who am I… where am I… what was I doing again?"
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