บท 39: Chapter 39 - Fourth Year 02.

[Chapter Size: 1600 Words.]

Third Person POV

Konoha, Year 35.

...

Time passed, and the last few weeks had been lonely; Tsuna and Mikoto, for their own reasons, had not been able to join Minato in the usual training. Despite this, he had not slowed down, continuing his rigorous practice alone, always seeking to improve his skills and knowledge.

On this day, marked with the start of the fourth year, Minato felt a mix of excitement and curiosity about what the new school year would bring. He adjusted his equipment bag, ensuring he had everything he needed - kunais, scrolls, and of course, his intermediate Fuinjutsu book given by Mito-sama.

Walking through the streets of Konoha towards the academy, Minato watched the village wake up. Merchants prepared their shops, shinobis ran past with missions for the day, and children, like him, headed for another day of learning. There was a palpable energy in the air, a sense of community and purpose that always filled him with pride for being part of this village.

Upon arriving in the classroom, he looked around, searching for Tsuna and Mikoto, hoping they would also be in their usual spot. His eyes found Mikoto sitting alone at the usual table, while Tsuna was in another part of the room, isolated and seemingly absorbed in her own thoughts.

Surprised and a bit confused by this change in the usual pattern, Minato approached Mikoto, curious to understand what was happening. "Hi, Mikoto," he greeted. "Why is Tsuna over there? It's not common to see you two separated, no matter how much you argue with each other."

Mikoto looked at him with a calm expression. "Hi, Minato," she replied. "Tsuna is a bit distant this year. She said she's going to sit with the new student living at her house."

Minato arched an eyebrow, surprised by the news. "A new student... so soon..." Minato murmured already understanding the situation.

"Yes," Mikoto confirmed. "It seems she came from another village and is now under the care of Tsuna's family. Tsuna mentioned that she is quite special and needs some time to adjust. That's why she wants to be there to support her."

Minato nodded, understanding the situation. "I see. That's very kind of her. I hope we can all meet and train together soon."

Mikoto gave a slight smile. "Yes, that would be good. I think Tsuna really wants us all to get along."

As the students settled into their places and the murmuring conversation decreased, the classroom door opened, announcing the arrival of Professor Fuuma again. He entered the room with his usual air of calm authority, but today, there was something different. At his side, a new figure, a girl with bright red hair, entered the room timidly.

"Silence, please," announced Professor Fuuma, as everyone in the room directed their attention to him and the new student at his side. "Today, we're starting a new year and have a new student joining us. So I will start the class by introducing her to everyone. She comes from the Uzumaki Village and will be with us from now on. Please, welcome Kushina Uzumaki."

The mention of the name 'Uzumaki' caused a buzz to run through the room. The Uzumakis were known to be a precious ally of the village. Everyone knew of their longevity, their sealing abilities, and, of course, their notable lineage, which was linked to the wife of Konoha's founder.

Minato, upon hearing the name, immediately recognized the significance of the girl. Kushina Uzumaki, his likely future wife.

Kushina, for her part, seemed a bit overwhelmed with all the attention turned towards her. Her bright red hair was a distinct mark, and her posture, though a bit shy, seemed to gain some courage. She waved timidly to the class, a slight blush on her cheeks.

"Hi," she said with a voice that, despite being nervous, she shouted out strangely as she closed her eyes. "I'm happy to be here. I hope we can get along, dattebane!"

"That's good, Kushina. Can you tell what your goals are to your classmates?" Professor Fuuma continued speaking.

Meanwhile, a growing murmur ran through the class. Her unique appearance, especially the vibrant red hair, drew looks and comments. The children, curious and some a bit cruel in their youth, began to whisper among themselves, the same way they did when they saw Minato in the first year.

"Did you see her hair? It's so... red," whispered a child, unable to hide their surprise.

"Yes, I've never seen anything like it. She's really weird," another agreed, looking at Kushina with a mix of curiosity and disdain.

The words "weird" and "different" floated through the air, some said in jest, others with a hint of malice. It was the natural reaction of children facing something or someone that didn't fit into their usual norms.

Minato, however, remained aloof from this wave of judgments and comments. He observed Kushina with a serene look, indifferent to the opinions of others. He knew, more than most, that appearance said little about a person's true character and potential. Besides, he was well aware of the esteem and respect that the Uzumaki lineage held and the notable abilities that Kushina might possess.

As the murmurs and stares persisted, Kushina tried to maintain her composure, her face tinting a red that rivaled her hair. She was clearly aware of all the comments and judgments, and the tension grew within her with each whisper and muffled laugh.

Finally, reaching her limit, Kushina stood up abruptly, her face now a mask of determination and indignation. "Enough!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the room's noise like a blade. A surprised silence fell over the class, all eyes now fixed on her.

With all eyes on her, Kushina took a deep breath, her posture firm and defiant. "I don't care what you think about my appearance or where I come from. I am Kushina Uzumaki, and I will become the first female Hokage of Konoha, dattebane!!"

Her declaration echoed through the room, silencing all the gossip about her appearance, a silence established in the next moment, even the teacher was stunned by this. However, this silence was abruptly broken by an explosion of laughter and mockery from some of her classmates. Kushina's courage and determination, instead of inspiring respect, seemed to have become the target of ridicule.

"She, the Hokage? What a joke!" a boy shouted, triggering more laughter.

"A weird girl like Hokage? It'll never happen!" another child added, with a reckless cruelty so common in childhood.

"Did you hear her, what's with that dattebane?" Another child laughed.

"What a weird girl, she should go back where she came from!" another mocked.

"Why is she in the elite class? How can she be among us?" a child complained.

Humiliating phrases and sneers continued to be hurled towards Kushina, each trying to outdo the other in cruelty. She stood there, visibly shaken, her face a mix of shame and anger, the words cutting deeper than any weapon.

Minato, who had been watching with a growing sense of disgust and anger, could no longer contain himself. The disrespect and cruelty of his classmates were intolerable. Just like him, Tsuna was also extremely irritated by how the students were treating Kushina, the girl she had met a few days ago, her great-grandmother had asked her to personally take care of the girl, but when she was about to explode to make the other children respect Kushina.

A boy with blond hair stood up abruptly before her, his chair falling backward with a crash, he faced the class with a cold and controlled fury.

"Shut up!" he shouted, his voice loaded with authority and indignation. A shocked silence fell over the room, all eyes now turned to him. "How dare you laugh and mock someone's dreams or someone's appearance? Do you think that's funny? Do you think it's right to humiliate someone like that?"

His reprimand echoed through the room, and many of the students looked away, ashamed. Minato, usually calm and controlled, rarely showed such fury, and his discontent was a powerful indicator of how unacceptable he considered their behavior.

He then turned to Kushina, his gaze softening. "Don't listen to them, Kushina Uzumaki. Your dream is valuable and possible. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You need only have the strength and determination to make it a reality."

As soon as Minato said these words, a new silence took over the atmosphere of the room, Mikoto looked at Minato bewildered by her side, and even Tsuna looked at him the same way, even Kushina amidst these humiliations, was surprised by the boy defending her.

Professor Fuuma, who had also been stunned and let the situation get out of control, decided to intervene, quickly taking control of the situation. "Enough! All of you!" he announced, his firm and authoritative voice restoring order in the room. "This kind of behavior is unacceptable. You must not treat a fellow Konoha classmate this way, Kushina, please sit next to Tsuna."

Kushina, still shaken by the harsh words of her classmates but also touched by Minato's unexpected support, walked silently to the table where Tsuna was sitting. Tsuna, who had already known and talked with Kushina in the past few days, cast a welcoming and supportive glance at Kushina, moving her things aside to make space for the new student.

As Kushina sat down, her gaze met Minato's. There was a mix of emotions in her eyes - surprise, gratitude, and perhaps a glimpse of admiration. She wasn't used to being the center of attention in Uzushiogakure, so being the target of mockery for being different in a strange village was quite uncomfortable, but having someone so openly defend her was a new and impactful experience. She had no words, but her look conveyed a silent message of thanks.

Minato, now a bit calmer but still irritated with his classmates' attitude, just nodded subtly in acknowledgment of Kushina's gaze. He hadn't defended Kushina seeking gratitude; he did it because it was the right thing to do.

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