Chapter 20 — What She Wanted Wasn't Charity, but Recognition
On the training field.
Kinoshita Hikaru had willpower weights strapped to his legs as he sprinted across the field at high speed.
Willpower weights were a special kind of training weight—small in size but extremely heavy. A single strip weighed 50 pounds (about 25 kilograms).
In the original story, during the Chūnin Exams, Rock Lee had eight strips wrapped around each leg—400 pounds per leg.
Hikaru normally trained with willpower weights as well, though only one strip per leg—100 pounds total.
That already exceeded his own body weight.
Now, however, he took out two more strips. Each leg now bore 100 pounds, doubling the load. His goal was simple: break through his limits.
While he raced across the field in focused training, chaos erupted inside the classroom.
During the break, Uzumaki Kushina sought out the students who had mocked her.
Her red hair whipped through the air as her fists struck fast and fiercely, leaving those so-called clan prodigies bruised and swollen.
This wasn't the ordinary class from the original story. Anyone who could enter this class was a genius—how could they be so weak?
But they couldn't fight back because Nara Shikaku had immobilized them with the Shadow Imitation Technique. Facing their resentful stares, he gave a helpless smile.
"Since the captain acknowledged her—and because of Nawaki's request—I had no choice but to step in."
Namikaze Minato stared blankly at Kushina. "So pretty…"
"Hey, you sissy, what are you staring at? I'll beat you up if you keep it up." Kushina waved her little fist, looking adorably fierce.
"S-sorry!"
"Tch~" Uzumaki Kushina returned to her seat and looked out the window.
Not manly at all—and those eyes.
But his name was Kinoshita Hikaru… a rival…
Kushina fell into a daze.
Having just experienced the destruction of her homeland and escaped from wandering displacement, Kushina's heart was fragile and sensitive. Like a hedgehog, she masked herself with spines.
All her relatives had left her behind, plunging her into loneliness.
Mito had seen through this and sent her to the Ninja Academy—to find companions of her own.
To step out of her pain and embrace a new life.
Because Mito knew that Konoha had paid a heavy price to rescue Kushina. They hadn't done it so she could live quietly. As the next jinchūriki, she had to find a sense of belonging in Konoha.
It could be friends or comrades—but ideally, a lover.
Only then would Hiruzen Sarutobi feel at ease. Only then would Mito feel at ease.
Otherwise, once Mito passed away, what awaited Kushina would be another round of misery.
There was even the possibility she would be turned into a killing machine.
At the same time, everything Kushina did was recorded by the Anbu and submitted to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The report was extremely detailed—every word she spoke, every action she took, even the smallest unconscious gestures. Nothing was omitted.
Hiruzen read it carefully. He needed to understand everything about Kushina, to analyze her deeply. The results would determine how Konoha treated her.
He had already endured enough from Mito.
She was like a towering mountain pressing down on him.
He couldn't deploy her. He couldn't command her. For a Hokage, that was intolerable.
After a while, he closed the file.
"I hope you come to acknowledge Konoha, Kushina."
...
The sunset painted the sky in glowing clouds. With the crisp ring of the bell, students streamed out of the Academy in groups of twos and threes, laughter filling the air.
After school.
The group gathered as usual to begin their training for the new day. It was an unspoken agreement between them.
But one person was missing.
"Where's Nawaki?"
"There~" Namikaze Minato pointed into the distance.
Senju Nawaki was running toward them, dragging Uzumaki Kushina along.
"Everyone, Kushina wants to join too."
No one spoke.
It was obvious—the squad was no longer something just anyone could join. The downside of mutual recognition was that they wouldn't easily accept newcomers.
They all looked toward Kinoshita Hikaru.
He had already become the soul of the team.
There was anticipation in Minato's eyes.
Kushina felt slightly nervous.
Some were even resistant, unwilling to let someone join so casually.
"Can you eat?" Hikaru asked.
"Uh."
Everyone facepalmed. That was so like Kinoshita Hikaru.
"Yes." Uzumaki Kushina nodded firmly.
"Then I have no objections. But our training is brutal. You'll have to prove yourself through action—earn your comrades' recognition."
"No problem." Kushina nodded. Before coming, she had already heard Nawaki talk about them. She was looking forward to it.
Hikaru glanced at the others. "Partners, it seems Kushina-chan is pretty confident. How about we let her experience our devil training—see if she's really up to it?"
"Hmph, I bet she won't last," Uchiha Shigeru said.
Kinoshita Hikaru didn't reply, instead speaking calmly, "Then let's try. If she makes it, you treat everyone to barbecue. If not, vice versa. Deal?"
"Alright, but I'll be the lead runner," Shigeru said, eyes challenging Hikaru.
"Confident, Kushina-chan?"
"Yes."
"Everyone agree?" Hikaru asked the group.
"I agree."
"Agree."
"Such a hassle."
Everyone agreed to the proposal. Hikaru grinned. "Shigeru, let's begin."
Shigeru let out a light snort (ノ=Д=)ノ┻━┻.
"Kushina, if you can't keep up, just say so. Uchiha doesn't bully the weak."
Everyone went silent. They were used to their friend's sharp tongue—it was his style to provoke. One word could ignite Kushina's temper.
"Go!"
At the signal, Shigeru shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. The others followed close behind.
Three months of grueling training had already transformed them. They no longer looked like eight-year-old children, but like wild beasts. Dust billowed around them, their footfalls heavy and powerful.
This was partly because everyone wore weights.
Yet even so, Kushina was struggling to keep up. She fell behind at the rear.
Shigeru glanced at Hikaru provocatively, as if to say, See? She can't do it.
Hikaru ignored him. Kushina may not have explosive speed, but her endurance was another matter entirely.
She was an Uzumaki, with a naturally immortal body, abundant chakra, and immense stamina.
Soon, everyone noticed: no matter how exhausted Kushina became, she didn't falter. Her body seemed like a perpetual motion machine, continuously generating strength.
Shigeru clenched his teeth and increased his speed by another thirty percent.
Damn it, was this girl a monster? She could actually keep up!
He was shocked and stopped holding back—he would give his all.
Kushina pushed herself, Hikaru pushed himself, each squeezing their limits. Their bodies screamed for rest, but neither yielded.
Trailing at the back yet keeping pace, Hikaru gained a newfound respect for Kushina.
He had only seen her in the manga before. Now, she stood alive before him, demonstrating unyielding determination.
His admiration for her grew. Every person who worked hard deserved respect.
Kushina locked eyes on Shigeru, her resolve firm, her goal clear.
She could not fail.
Her mind wandered—thinking of the happy life in the Land of Whirlpools, the bandits who destroyed her home, and the fact she was no longer the princess of her country, but someone living in dependence, reduced to surviving by charity.
Was she unwilling to accept it? Certainly.
Was she desperate? Yes.
But what could she do? Having lost everything, what options remained?
Her expression hardened. She would not bow to fate; she would make her voice heard.
...
As time passed, finally, they reached the destination. Kushina's perseverance held strong to the very end.
The group stopped, turning to Shigeru with smiles.
"Tch~" he walked over to Kushina. "Congratulations. You made it."
A simple statement, yet it filled Kushina with overwhelming emotion.
"Really? Thank you."
She was enveloped in immense happiness—not charity, but recognition earned through her own strength.
This was what being acknowledged felt like!
She would remember this, never forget it. In the darkest moments of her life, being recognized was like a shining light.
She smiled—brightly, radiantly—tears spilling over.
At that moment, she felt utterly relaxed. But as she finally relaxed, the world went black—she fainted.
"Crap!"
Everyone panicked, rushing to support Kushina. Minato was the most anxious, carrying her on his back toward the Ninja Hospital.
Senju Nawaki smiled. "As expected of Minato… so enthusiastic."