After her struggles in the village a few days ago, Kushina resolved to train until the Ninja Academy starts.
The memory of that day, being turned away from the Senju compound, wandering the streets alone, and realizing just how isolated she was, still sat heavily in her chest. She had spent the following mornings pushing herself in taijutsu training to occupy her mind.
She didn't yet have access to any ninjutsu training. The few scrolls Mito had left her were mostly theory-heavy fuinjutsu texts filled with complex formulas that looked more like puzzles than techniques. At her current level, they were almost incomprehensible.
So she focused on the basics, taijutsu.
Every day she ran laps around the training grounds, counting each step in her head, imagining herself outpacing every classmate she would soon meet. Her knuckles became raw from striking practice logs over and over. Push-ups, sit-ups, and squats filled her mornings and evenings. The ache that had once come from ritual soreness now came from muscle training.
As an Uzumaki, her body naturally brimmed with vitality, her stamina far greater than most children her age. Each session pushed her strength higher. She knew, with a quiet confidence, that her taijutsu was already far beyond what any ordinary academy student could manage.
And now, the day had arrived when she could finally go to school.
Normally, she wouldn't have cared so much about something as boring as school, but after days in that empty apartment, the thought of being surrounded by children her age felt like a gift. She wanted to talk to people, to laugh with someone, maybe even to find friends who wouldn't turn their backs on her.
She woke before dawn, unable to sleep from anticipation. After a quick shower, the water colder than she liked but refreshing nonetheless, she ate a simple breakfast: rice, grilled fish, and a pickled plum Grandma Mito used to say "woke up the tongue."
Then she dressed carefully, standing in front of the cracked mirror to inspect herself.
Her ivory dress fit perfectly, its black markings tracing along the hem like ink strokes. Black stockings kept the morning chill off her legs, and she pinned her long red hair back with her favorite hairpin. The bright strands cascaded down her back like a fiery waterfall, almost glowing in the dim light.
She tilted her head, studied her reflection, and smiled faintly. "If anyone sees me now, they'd have to admit I'm adorable," she muttered, then caught herself. Not that I care, Hmph. What matters is that today I'm starting my journey to the top!
The last few days had been rough, yes, but Kushina had always been strong-willed. Stubbornness was her shield, and hope was her weapon. She raised her fist at her reflection and grinned.
"Today I can make new friends and start on the path of becoming Hokage, dattebane!"
----
The Academy Gates
The sun had risen fully by the time Kushina reached the Academy. The building loomed ahead, large but not intimidating, with a tiled roof and wide doors that seemed to welcome everyone equally. Its walls were decorated with banners showing Konoha's crest. The scent of fresh wood suggested that parts of it had been rebuilt recently, perhaps due to training accidents.
Around the gates, clusters of children stood with their parents. Some clung nervously to their mothers' hands; others boasted loudly about how strong they already were. A few practiced basic kunai-throwing motions in the dirt, earning proud smiles from watching fathers.
Kushina slowed her steps. She hadn't realized how many kids would be here. The cheerful chaos of families laughing together struck her unexpectedly hard. That familiar ache pressed against her ribs, an echo of something missing.
She forced herself to exhale, straightened her back, and walked forward. I'm fine. I don't need anyone holding my hand!
Her sharp eyes scanned the crowd, cataloging faces almost instinctively. Among the older students stood a boy and girl with spiky black hair and matching dark eyes, their posture confident. The fan-shaped crest stitched onto their clothes marked them as Uchiha. Even without knowing much about Konoha politics, Kushina recognized the symbol from Mito's explanations: a powerful clan, proud and disciplined.
Nearby, three boys stood together talking animatedly. One had pale blond hair and clear blue eyes. Another was stockier and chubby, with spiky brown hair and round cheeks. The third had black hair shaped oddly like a pineapple top; it was almost distracting.
Her gaze drifted further. Three more children stood a little apart from the rest: two boys and a girl, all with straight black hair. The girl's strands carried a faint purple sheen, and their pale, pupil-less eyes reflected the light in an eerie, almost ghostly way.
Kushina shivered slightly. Those eyes felt… unsettling, like they could see straight through her. She shook her head quickly. Stop being weird. They're just eyes.
Deciding not to linger on it, she approached the group of younger children, the ones who would be starting alongside her. She didn't know anyone yet, but she would. That was the whole point of today.
----
Enrollment
"Alright, children, new students gather here!"
The instructor's voice cut through the chatter. A man with short dark hair and a warm expression stood at the front, waving them over.
Kushina joined the forming line.
"I'm Iroha," he said, smiling kindly, "and I'll be evaluating your enrollment and class placements today. Some of you might even have me as your teacher for the next six years if you land in Class A."
He gestured to several adults standing nearby. "Now, line up in front of one of the proctors here. They'll check your chakra reserves to make sure you have enough to begin training. After that, you'll take a basic written test so we know you can read and write."
The children murmured nervously as they shuffled into lines.
Kushina remembered what Mito had explained: not everyone had enough chakra to become a shinobi. These tests weren't meant to be cruel; they were meant to prevent children from being thrown into a life they physically couldn't survive. Without sufficient chakra, a person couldn't form jutsu properly; they'd be liabilities on the battlefield.
She glanced at the proctors. They were sensor-nin, trained to feel chakra signatures with a touch.
One by one, the children stepped forward. The process moved quickly until it was her turn. Kushina hesitated briefly, her stomach tightening. What if they notice? What if they feel it?
The Nine-Tails inside her might make her chakra stand out in a way she couldn't control.
She swallowed hard and stepped forward. The proctor, a man with sharp eyes softened by a small smile, placed a hand gently on her head.
For a moment, his expression stayed calm. Then his eyebrows shot up. His mouth opened slightly before he caught himself, forcing his face back to neutrality.
She stared up at him, trying not to fidget.
He gave her a quick, almost conspiratorial wink and announced, "P-passed." His voice carried a faint tremor.
Kushina exhaled in relief and moved aside. She didn't fully understand why he reacted that way, but she was grateful he hadn't said more.
The physical tests were next: push-ups, sit-ups, jogging around the training yard. Sweat quickly dotted foreheads, and children panted heavily after just a few rounds. Kushina, on the other hand, breezed through every station. Her body felt light, strong, and eager to move. She lapped several classmates during the run, her long red hair streaming behind her like a banner.
By the time they finished, she wasn't even winded. A few kids stared at her like she was some kind of monster. Kushina ignored them.
The academic tests followed: simple reading comprehension, basic arithmetic, and writing exercises. Though Kushina wasn't a natural scholar, Mito had insisted she practice her studies each evening. Compared to sealing formulas, these questions were easy. She finished quickly and set down her brush with confidence.
Once everyone had completed their tests, Instructor Iroha gathered them again. "Alright, kids, if you passed the chakra, physical, and academic assessments, your name will be on this list. Find the classroom next to your name. A proctor will help if you get lost."
Kushina scanned the list and found her name: Class A. She smiled proudly but realized a moment later that she had no idea where Class A actually was. After a few awkward minutes wandering the hallways, she finally admitted defeat and asked a proctor for help.
By the time she entered the correct room, she was slightly flushed, not from running but from embarrassment.
Several students were already seated. As she walked in, conversations dipped briefly. She felt their eyes on her hair. The Uzumaki's bright red locks were rare here, almost startling amid the browns, blacks, and blondes.
She pretended not to notice and found an empty seat.
She had barely sat down when footsteps approached. A boy stood beside her desk. He looked utterly ordinary, with brown hair and brown eyes, but there was a smug curve to his lips.
"Bright red hair," he said with a snicker. "Like a tomato."
The class tittered quietly.
Kushina's entire body stiffened. Her fists clenched on instinct. Heat flared in her chest, sharper than she intended.
Without a word, she stood, pivoted, and punched him square in the jaw.
The impact was immediate and brutal. Uzumaki strength was not something to be underestimated. He dropped like a stone, unconscious before he hit the floor.
The classroom went dead silent. Every pair of eyes widened, flicking between the collapsed boy and the red-haired girl who had just knocked him out with a single punch.
Kushina crossed her arms, cheeks flushed with equal parts anger and sudden embarrassment. She gave the downed boy a small kick for good measure, huffed, and sat back down.
Moments later, Instructor Iroha entered. He froze briefly at the sight of the unconscious student, but recovered quickly. This wasn't the first time he had walked into chaos.
He began calling attendance, his tone calm and professional, but when his eyes landed on Kushina, something shifted.
For just an instant, he felt it, an overwhelming wave of malevolent chakra, raw and suffocating. His skin prickled, his breath hitched. Killing intent? At her age?
Then, as quickly as it appeared, the sensation vanished.
"Yes, teacher?" Kushina tilted her head, expression innocent and confused.
Iroha blinked rapidly, pale. To him, her wide eyes no longer looked harmless; they felt like the eyes of the beast he had just sensed.
"N-nothing, Kushina-chan," he muttered, deciding immediately to report this to the Hokage later. Whatever this was, it was far above his responsibilities.
He cleared his throat and addressed the class. "Alright, let's begin with introductions. One by one, come to the front, tell us your name, and share your dream."
The first to step forward was a boy with bright blond hair and blue eyes. His posture radiated confidence, and when he smiled, it felt warm enough to light the room.
"I'm Minato Namikaze. My dream is to become the Hokage."
The class reacted instantly. Girls whispered excitedly; some boys nodded with admiration. His charm was undeniable.
Kushina, however, frowned slightly. He doesn't look tough at all. The Hokage has to be strong, not just smiley. Wimp.
Next came a girl with blond hair, green eyes, and round glasses. She held her hands nervously in front of her.
"M-my name is Nono Yakushi," she said softly. "My dream is to become a medical ninja and heal people."
"That's admirable, Nono," Iroha said warmly before calling the next student.
One by one, children stepped forward, each announcing their names and ambitions.
Finally, it was Kushina's turn. She marched to the front, feeling the room's attention sharpen. Some kids still looked uneasy, others curious. She could feel their eyes lingering on her red hair.
She straightened her back, grinned boldly, and declared:
"My name is Kushina Uzumaki, and I will become the first female Hokage, dattebane!"