If even her own future husband didn't care, why should I, an outsider, get involved? Anya shook his head and went back to thinking about that genjutsu from yesterday.
Sure enough, right after class ended, several boys surrounded Kushina Uzumaki at the back of the classroom.
One boy pointed at her mockingly, "Fat round face plus red hair—doesn't that make her a tomato? I hate tomatoes most. She wants to become Hokage? Dream on."
Another boy chimed in, "Same here. I hate tomatoes too. Never eat them."
"Wanting villagers' recognition with that appearance? Hilarious."
Perhaps their laughter had grown too loud, Minato finally turned around to look. Anya gave him a meaningful glance: Aren't you going to help? This is your future wife after all.
Minato looked hesitant, as if thinking whether he should intervene.
Kushina kept her head lowered in anger, saying nothing.
Seeing she offered no resistance, the boy's courage grew bolder—he stepped forward and pulled her red hair while jeering, "So red! The tomato must've already ripened. It's ready for picking now."
Feeling pain, Kushina angrily grabbed the boy's arm and lifted him straight up. Then with a spin, she knocked all surrounding boys flat onto the ground. She straddled the boy who had been shouting the loudest and started punching him left and right as she declared, "Don't ever call me tomato again! Keep doing it, and I'll make you regret it badly!"
The boy yelped in pain as she kept hitting him.
Seeing this, Minato couldn't help but laugh.
Spotting his smile immediately, Kushina shot him a sharp glare and snapped, "What's so funny?"
Minato chuckled awkwardly and turned away his head.
Anya sighed helplessly when he saw that: "No wonder they're a destined couple—they've already known how scary she can be at such a young age."
After disciplining those boys, Kushina rushed straight out of the classroom. Her fiery red hair danced gracefully in the wind as she ran. At some point, Minato—who previously refused to turn his head—had unknowingly started staring at her receding figure.
Fed up with his lovesick behavior, Anya reminded him, "Come on, you don't need to be so captivated. Only you would fancy such a fiery little pepper."
Before Minato could respond, several beaten-up boys stood up again and declared, "Right, let's call her chili pepper instead! From now on—we'll nickname her The Red-Hot Habanero!"
Oh, so this was how Naruto's mom got her nickname! These kids really have a knack for coming up with nicknames. Anya inwardly remarked appreciatively, finding it quite fitting indeed.
Beside him, Minato shook his head and prepared to sit down reading. Anya patted his shoulder.
Looking slightly puzzled, Minato glanced at him.
Helplessly, Anya pointed toward the small boy whom Kushina had just beaten, "School hasn't dismissed yet. Why would this brat run off now? I guess he probably went home to fetch reinforcements after losing face earlier. Don't you want to help that spicy little pepper?"
Hearing this, Minato immediately put down his book and vanished using [Shifting Body Technique] before Anya's eyes.
Whoa! This guy really has severe love-brain issues!
Who knows, wait for me.
Anya also vanished from the classroom using the Shifting Body Technique, though naturally her speed couldn't compare with Minato's. However, catching up to Kushina who had just run off wasn't a problem.
As expected, that little boy went and got his older brother.
Also a teenager not much older, but he was a head taller than Kushina. And on his forehead was a forehead protector, clearly marking him as a true ninja.
They got into a fight right away. The older boy threw a kunai at Kushina first, but obviously held back—The kunai embedded itself into a tree.
Kushina noticed his opening and turned around, charging forward and knocking him down. But the boy transformed into a block of wood—the Substitution Jutsu. Before Kushina could even locate her target after missing her strike, the older boy already appeared behind her, hitting her with a single knife-hand strike.
Well played, huh? Anya watching from above gave praise. He prepared the Substitution Jutsu in advance, pretending to show a weakness to lure her in, then circling behind and defeating her with one move. Neither hurting her nor losing his temper—now that's skill. Back in those war days, every ninja had some tricks up their sleeve.
The older boy grabbed Kushina's red hair from behind and mocked, "Can't even detect a Substitution Jutsu? Seems like you're just a kid after all. Although this hair feels as stiff as thread—it's really annoying."
The younger boy previously knocked down by Kushina laughed smugly from the side, "Serves you right for hitting me earlier."
After saying that, the younger boy noticed Kushina crying and froze completely, panicking.
Kushina stood up and struggled forward, yelling furiously, "I don't like this red hair either, but it's a part of my body."
The force she exerted when moving forward directly tore out the grabbed strands of red hair. Even the older boy was shocked—wasn't this girl afraid of pain?
Taking advantage of the older boy's distraction, Kushina launched a series of punches knocking him down, just like she did back in the classroom—left hook, right cross.
Watching this scene unfold from above, Anya's eyes became slightly serious. He realized Kushina's physical strength was actually superior to his own. That incredible explosive power from just now—ordinary Genin wouldn't normally be capable of such feats, yet she made it seem as easy as breathing. No wonder she would later be able to seal away the Nine-Tails; her vitality was indeed extraordinary.
Minato, who was about to intervene, saw this and remained motionless on the tree branch. After finishing venting her anger, Kushina spotted Minato and angrily demanded, "Is it because I'm an outsider that you didn't help me?"
Minato had barely begun speaking, uttering only the word "I," when she cut him off.
"That's exactly what you were thinking."
After saying that, Kushina ran off without looking back.
Just as Minato was about to chase after her, Anya blocked his path, shaking his head and saying, "Relax, we're still inside the village. Nothing will happen to her. Besides, since you didn't help her earlier, chasing after her now would just invite more scolding, wouldn't it?"
Looking at Anya, Minato said, "She must've been really hurt just now."
Anya replied carelessly, "A foreign kid often carries a fragile heart. This kind of pain is something only time can mend. Once she gets used to being here, things will get better."
Minato said admiringly after hearing this, "Even though we're the same age, you know a lot more than I do. I'll work hard to learn from you in the future."
Anya wasn't moved by Minato's words and waved him off, "Forget it. You'll have teachers to guide you later, so there's no need to learn from me. My goal is just to keep a low profile and live in peace."
Minato, also an orphan, understood the fear hidden in Anya's heart and encouraged him, "Then let's train hard together. Once we become strong, we'll definitely be able to live peacefully."
Looking at Minato's current innocent self, Anya couldn't help but think of the path he'd one day walk, and smiled sadly, "I hope so..."
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Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** on the weekend!