Minato Namikaze leaned against the wall as he entered the classroom.
It had taken a lot of effort for him to get out of bed, but his body's natural reactions hadn't fully subsided.
His legs were still weak, and his face was pale.
"What did you do?"
Kushina Uzumaki noticed his unusual appearance and asked suspiciously, "Didn't you sleep last night?"
Minato was startled by her words and looked up at Kushina.
Is she concerned about me?
Has my performance finally touched her heart?
"It was just overtraining."
Minato pretended not to care and waved his hand, but his eyes kept glancing at Kushina.
Hehe, does she see my merits now that I'm working so hard?
"I knew it."
Kushina's face showed displeasure, "Sensei didn't come yesterday. Did he give you extra lessons? Seriously, I was the first to know Sensei. Why won't he teach me?"
"..."
Damn, Sensei Haruki is indeed my lifelong enemy!
Minato was speechless for a moment.
He had thought Kushina was starting to understand.
It turned out he was just deluding himself.
This hurts.
It's so hard to like someone!
But Minato felt he could still save the situation and was about to speak, but Kushina had already turned away and reached her seat.
She didn't even say goodbye.
He could only withdraw his sorrowful gaze, rub his sore waist, and wait for class to start.
Minato was close to graduation and had diligently mastered all the courses long ago.
The reason he appeared in the classroom was that the first class today was Haruki-sensei's history lesson.
He dared not skip it.
Haruki appeared on the podium with a textbook.
Seeing Minato, he was a bit surprised.
With his discerning eyes, he could naturally see Minato's condition.
He didn't expect this guy to be so passionate about learning.
"Today we continue talking about the deeds of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. Last time, we discussed his decision to join forces with the Uchiha Clan's Madara Uchiha to establish an unprecedented ninja world..."
Haruki knocked on the blackboard and began this week's lesson.
He was more relaxed than Tsunade.
The medical class had to be established from scratch, with many aspects to be perfected.
And there were too few medical ninjas at the Jōnin level.
As a result, Tsunade had to do everything herself.
Haruki planned to wait until the ninjas from the Oshima Trading Company arrived in Konoha before he could free up time to teach in the medical class, reducing her burden.
The lesson ended.
Haruki called Minato aside to start the next stage of Rasengan training.
But unexpectedly, Kushina followed them.
"Do you want to learn too?"
Haruki was surprised by her request.
Although he didn't mind teaching Kushina, she didn't need to learn the Rasengan.
Because as a member of the Uzumaki Clan, she possessed powerful sealing techniques.
Even the Nine-Tails couldn't do anything against her.
Honestly, Haruki was very envious of that.
He only knew the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
So the most suitable teacher for Kushina should be Mito Uzumaki, not him.
Moreover, Haruki knew she had no talent for medical ninjutsu, a yang attribute chakra.
"Yes, Sensei, you can't be biased!" Kushina pouted, seeming very aggrieved.
Haruki thought about it and had to admit she was very suitable for learning the Rasengan.
The Uzumaki Clan naturally possessed a large amount of chakra, which would be a waste if not used for the Rasengan.
Imagining Minato's family of three each holding a Rasengan in the future... the image, tsk.
"Alright." Haruki nodded.
"Yay!" Kushina jumped up excitedly.
They arrived at the same place.
Haruki took out the unused balloons and tossed them to Minato.
"Your task."
"Got it."
Minato began the work of inflating the balloons with water.
Haruki explained to Kushina as he had done the previous day.
"Here you go."
Minato handed over a water balloon in time.
"Thank you."
Kushina glanced at the boy who seemed inexplicably happy and thanked him.
"Minato, come over here. You two are too close; it will affect your training."
Haruki gestured to him from about seven or eight meters away.
"The second stage of training is the same as the first, but with a rubber ball filled with air. Using chakra to spin and burst it is not easy."
"I'll do my best!"
Minato was full of energy, showing no signs of his morning exhaustion.
"Kushina can see what's happening here. This is a great chance to change your image." Haruki smiled and tossed the balloon to him.
Ignoring the seemingly energized Minato, he turned his attention to Kushina.
In terms of talent, she wasn't as good as Minato, but she wasn't bad either.
Time passed.
Haruki did his best to guide them while giving Minato buffs.
Minato's scared yet determined expression made him feel amused.
Hmm, a ten-year-old boy.
Unwilling to lose face in front of the girl he likes.
As expected from the Uzumaki Clan.
After giving Minato three more rounds of medical ninjutsu, Kushina finally ran out of chakra.
"Kushina, take a break."
Seeing the sweat on her little face, Haruki couldn't help but say.
"Minato didn't take a break; I won't either."
Kushina looked at him, "Sensei, I want it too."
She had noticed Haruki's actions while practicing.
"Think it over carefully. It will be painful tomorrow."
"No problem, I can bear it."
Haruki smiled.
These two were alike in some ways.
But he didn't refuse and casually enveloped Kushina in light green chakra, dispelling her fatigue.
After giving her a soldier pill, he heard Minato calling.
"Sensei, here... quickly."
Haruki used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of the collapsed Minato.
He pointed at Kushina and smiled, "Do you know what characteristics the Uzumaki Clan has?"
The sudden question made Minato pause.
"A large amount of chakra?"
"Good physical strength."
"Huh?"
"Train your body well. Don't be so weak."
Haruki winked at him and relieved his fatigue.
"...?"
Minato looked at Haruki instinctively.
But Haruki's face was serious.
The teasing expression from a moment ago seemed like an illusion.
Did I imagine it?
Minato was a bit skeptical about life.
He looked at Haruki again.
"Minato, no slacking."
"Okay."
Minato, still hesitant, launched another attack on the rubber ball in his hand.
The sun gradually set.
Haruki clapped his hands, "Today's training ends here."
Kushina and Minato immediately stopped what they were doing.
"I'll be treating you guys to ramen."
Haruki stroked his chin and added, "Consider it a celebration for our team's formation."
Kushina immediately smiled.
She liked eating ramen.
"Sensei, aren't we missing one person?"
As Minato waited for the ramen, he suddenly remembered.
Typically, students graduating from the ninja academy formed a three-person team led by a Jōnin.
"Yes, you'll meet the third member soon, but he's not in the same class as you."
"Is it a senior?"
Minato didn't expect this but knew of some exceptions.
Three-person teams usually consisted of classmates, but occasionally included seniors who had recently graduated.
The reason was simple.
Being a ninja was a high-risk profession.
Losing teammates was common.
To complete the team, they had to be reassigned.
But any ninja chosen by Haruki must be a good teammate.
"He's the young master of the Hyuga Clan." Haruki smiled.