Three months had passed since that day.
The relationship between Naruto and Uchiha Mikoto had seen little progress, as though everything had reverted to square one.
Yet, Uchiha Mikoto knew that an unspoken sense of understanding had formed between them—an intangible connection that occasionally led them to go fishing together.
Humans are inherently social creatures. Even children instinctively form groups to navigate life together.
Minato Namikaze, with his unique charm and approachable personality, got along exceptionally well with his classmates.
In fact, one could say he possessed natural leadership qualities, always surrounded by a group of children.
On the other hand, Naruto, also blond, seemed utterly isolated by the entire class. The seat next to him remained conspicuously empty.
Naruto, however, enjoyed the solitude. He disliked meaningless chatter or activity around him.
His previous life had taught him, through bloody lessons, that relying on others was never as dependable as relying on oneself.
Naruto and Minato were like two sides of the same coin—seemingly connected yet fundamentally different in essence.
---
Morino Masakazu, a former member of the Torture and Interrogation Force, harbored an exaggerated love for cold, mechanical ninja tools.
While other classes had moved on to lessons on chakra refinement, his class was still focused on the distinctions between standard weapons, kunai, and shuriken. He could even lecture for an entire period on the uses of a single chakra steel wire.
A sliver of sunlight streamed through the window, casting its glow on Naruto's cheek.
Naruto stretched lazily, letting out a quiet sigh. Spending three years in a place like this—it would drive him mad with boredom.
Maybe he should apply for early graduation?
The idea of graduating early resurfaced in his mind.
After all, he wasn't a ninja who depended on tools to grow stronger. Such ninjas had glaring weaknesses—once their weapons were stripped away, their fate was usually grim.
The knowledge Morino Masakazu taught had little utility for him, making it dull and monotonous. But for students still building their foundation, it was undoubtedly valuable.
With a clatter, the classroom door slid open.
Morino Masakazu entered, holding a lecture book, his expression stoic. Behind him followed a girl with long, vivid red hair—so strikingly bright that it immediately drew the students' gazes.
---
The students, who had been fooling around in Morino's absence, instantly reverted to silence at the sight of him, as if transformed into entirely different people.
Staring at the vibrant hair, they couldn't resist whispering among themselves.
"Look! Doesn't her hair look like the tomatoes we grow at home?"
"Yeah, but up close, it's kind of creepy—like the color of blood."
"Stop saying that! You're making my skin crawl."
"Honestly, how does someone with hair like that even put up with it?"
Although the students tried to whisper, Morino Masakazu, with his enhanced senses as a former Torture and Interrogation member , heard them loud and clear. To him, the classroom sounded as noisy as a marketplace.
Frowning, he slammed his lecture book onto the desk and barked, "Quiet!"
The students immediately fell silent, their fear of the teacher almost instinctual.
Satisfied, Morino nodded. "Today, we're welcoming a new student to our class."
Turning to the red-haired girl, he said, "We're short on time. Introduce yourself briefly."
The girl spoke enthusiastically, her voice loud and clear:
"Hi! My name is Uzumaki Kushina, and I'm going to be the first female Hokage!"
As soon as she finished, Kushina realized she had blurted out her personal catchphrase. She'd promised Grandma Mito that she would restrain herself, yet she broke her vow on the very first day.
Her pale cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Good grief", Naruto thought, pinching the bridge of his nose. He couldn't help but mentally critique her. The sheer déjà vu was overwhelming.
She reminded him of a certain someone from the original story—a reckless, scatterbrained dreamer who seemed utterly unreliable.
Morino shook his head. This was the child highly praised by the Third Hokage? She didn't seem particularly bright.
"Uzumaki Kushina, your seat is to the right of Uzumaki Naruto. Since you both share the Uzumaki name, make sure to get along well."
Uzumaki Naruto?!
Walking to her assigned seat beside Naruto, Kushina couldn't help but glance curiously at him. Was this person her clanmate?
Grandma Mito had told her she was the last of the Uzumaki clan.
Naruto was about her height, with golden hair—a stark contrast to hers. He must be from a branch family, she thought.
His hairstyle resembled a scarecrow in a field, and his icy demeanor made him seem unapproachable.
Neither welcoming nor dismissive—that was the attitude Kushina sensed from Naruto.
She let out a small sigh of relief. For some reason, she cared deeply about how he perceived her.
"Hello, my name is Uzumaki—"
Before she could finish, Naruto interrupted, "Morino-sensei is teaching right now. If you don't want to end up standing in the hallway as punishment, I suggest you stay quiet."
With that, he turned away, as if unwilling to spare her even a second more of his attention.
Kushina was left speechless.
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