As I don't have the energy or time to upload everything from Chapter 1 here and risk getting banned again, I'll instead upload the novel on Scribble Hub from Chapter 1 to Chapter 402. On Patreon, I will unlock up to 400 chapters for free and release 2 chapters daily, just like I did on WebNovel. This way, you can choose where to read.
For new people, this novel is truly amazing—it was consistently in the top three of the power rankings every week and was taken down alongside other incredible fanfictions, while WebNovel left behind many average ones. Don't miss out on this fantastic story, and I hope you enjoy the read!
Patreon//Emik01
ScribbleHub// Emik01 as the profile and same title name
https://www.scribblehub.com/series/1261114/naruto-i-traveled-with-a-max-level-account/
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For those who are new here, you have five chapters here to see if this is to your taste or not.
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Chapter 1: The New Transfer Student, Kushina, Shows Who's Boss
"Class, today we have a new student joining us. Let's all give her a warm welcome."
Mr. Uemura led a little girl with long red hair into the classroom, starting the applause.
"Go ahead, introduce yourself to your classmates."
"Hello, everyone. My name is Kushina, Uzumaki Kushina. It's nice to meet you all. Please take care of me."
But instead of the enthusiastic response Kushina hoped for, she was met with murmurs and whispers.
"Look, she has red hair."
"That's so weird."
"Yeah, nobody in Konoha has red hair. Do you think she's some kind of red-haired demon?"
"Pfft! More like a chili pepper, with that bright red hair."
Hearing her classmates' comments, Kushina, already nervous and feeling insecure, turned pale.
"..."
These brats, I'm standing right here, you know!
Mr. Uemura's face twitched with anger at their remarks. His face darkened, and he slammed his hand on the desk, roaring:
"Enough, you little brats! You can't talk about a classmate like that! It's rude!"
Seeing their teacher lose his temper, the students quickly shut up.
"Kushina, find an empty seat and sit down. Don't mind what they said. They didn't mean it."
Mr. Uemura immediately demonstrated what it means to change expressions instantly. His dark expression vanished, replaced with a warm, friendly smile.
"Yes, sir."
After bowing and thanking Mr. Uemura, Kushina looked around the crowded classroom.
After scanning the room, she found an empty seat.
The only available seat was in the last row.
So, she lowered her head and walked over.
The seat by the window on the right side of the last row was already taken, so Kushina had to sit in a slightly more central position.
I need to get along with my classmates and make new friends. That's the only way I'll fit in faster here in Konoha.
Remembering what Mito Uzumaki had told her, Kushina's eyes welled up a bit.
The kind grandmother who had been the closest thing to family here in Konoha was gone.
Now, she was all alone.
"Hello, I'm Kushina."
Kushina quietly encouraged herself, deciding to start by getting to know her seatmate.
"Huh?"
Kushina hadn't expected her seatmate, who had been staring out the window, to only glance at her indifferently.
His gaze was as calm as if he were looking at a complete stranger.
After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally spoke.
"Takuya."
What's the deal?
There were so many seats available, but you had to sit next to me?
Minato, come get your future wife!
"Nice to meet you."
Undeterred, Kushina continued.
"Mm."
Takuya didn't understand why Kushina was making an effort to chat, so after a slight nod, he resumed looking out the window.
She's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. It's better to keep my distance so I don't attract attention from the ANBU or the Root ninjas.
The Third Hokage and Danzo aren't people you want to mess with.
Besides, with who I am, it's better if I don't get too close to a Jinchuriki.
As the lesson began, Kushina tried to focus, but soon she began to feel sleepy.
She hasn't had a good night's sleep since she arrived in Konoha.
"Red-haired demon!"
"Little Red Pepper!"
"She's a freak!"
As soon as the teacher left after class, a group of brats turned their attention to the back of the classroom.
They hurled all kinds of insults at Kushina.
These kids are so mean!
Suddenly wide awake, Kushina's little face turned as red as her hair in anger.
Wow, you guys are really asking for it, messing with Little Pepper like that. You must have a death wish!
Takuya admired the boldness of these kids, daring to mess with Kushina.
Don't be fooled by her gentle appearance now, thinking she's an easy target.
But once you cross her line and truly piss her off, she'll show you why they call her the Red-Hot Habanero!
As her classmates continued to mock her, Kushina, who had just gone through the trauma of losing her family, couldn't hold back anymore.
She clenched her fists, trying to stay calm.
"Haha, look at her! She's mad! Her face is as red as her hair."
"Whoa, so scary! She really is a red-haired demon. No, wait, a red-haired witch! My mom says red-haired witches like to eat little kids... Ah!"
The kid who had been gleefully taunting her suddenly screamed as Kushina knocked him to the ground with a single punch.
Furious beyond measure, Kushina's red hair began to float as if lifted by an invisible force.
A terrifying chakra erupted in the classroom.
What's happening?
The ANBU ninja, who had been monitoring Kushina, was startled.
This Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's chakra is intense!
"You... all of you, just drop dead!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Kushina grabbed the terrified kids one by one and knocked them all to the ground.
Watching Kushina unleash her fury, Takuya sighed inwardly.
It's the same Nine-Tails, but why is the difference so big?
Inside Takuya's mind, in his consciousness space, a small fox resembling the Nine-Tails was lying down, yawning.
The difference was that this Nine-Tails was white, with softer features.
The chakra Kushina unleashed had traces of the Nine-Tails mixed in, making Takuya a bit envious.
Thankfully, my Nine-Tails, though still weak and slowly growing, won't be detected by anyone.
Unless I reveal it myself, no one will know I'm a Jinchuriki too.
And my Nine-Tails is exclusive, bound to me, and will never leave my body.
The safety factor is off the charts!
Before crossing over, Takuya had been lounging at home, eating watermelon, enjoying the air conditioning, and playing a Naruto mobile game.
Because of his love for the Sharingan, Takuya had chosen the Uchiha faction.
He had leveled up, gathered materials, and spent a lot of money to obtain the Mangekyō Sharingan, Eternal Mangekyō, and even the Rinnegan.
Just when Takuya thought he was about to "graduate" from the game, the developers introduced a Jinchuriki feature.
Players could spend money on tickets to draw the tailed beast they liked and become Jinchuriki, significantly boosting their combat power.
Takuya had spent a small fortune to get that white Nine-Tails.
But he never imagined that after finally obtaining it, he'd wake up in a different world.
"Wah, she's so scary."
Those who had mocked Kushina and given her nicknames were all beaten up, their faces bruised and swollen. The entire classroom was in chaos, like a large-scale brawl.
This was enough to show just how fierce Kushina's combat skills were.
"Haha... this girl is kind of scary."
Sitting in the third row, Minato tried to laugh it off, but it was clear he was nervous.
Earlier that morning, he had thought Kushina was adorable, especially with her long red hair that immediately caught his eye.
Who would have guessed that this red-haired girl was indeed a fiery pepper? Once provoked, she could beat you up until you were seeing stars.
After taking down everyone who had insulted her, Kushina finally began to calm down.
But just then, Minato let out a nervous laugh.
"What the hell are you laughing at?! What's so funny?! Laugh again, and I'll beat you up too!"
Kushina's just-calmed-down anger flared up again at Minato's chuckle.
She slammed her hand on the desk so hard that Minato nearly fell off his chair.
Gulp...
Seeing the handprint left on the desk, a few drops of cold sweat rolled down Minato's forehead.
He couldn't imagine what would happen if that hand had landed on him—he'd probably have a few broken bones.
Besides the kids groaning on the ground, the others no longer dared to make fun of Kushina.
After glaring at everyone, Kushina angrily walked back to her seat.
It was only then that Kushina noticed that her seatmate, Takuya, was quite a strange person.
When others laughed at her and bullied her, Takuya didn't react at all.
When she lashed out and started hitting people, Takuya remained seated, unperturbed, without even a change in his expression.
Even when she returned to her seat, he only gave her a calm glance before turning back to look out the window.
"What in the world happened here?!"
Hearing the commotion, Mr. Uemura rushed back into the classroom and saw the scene that looked like a massive brawl. His mind went blank.
Great. Just great. The parents of these beaten kids are definitely going to cause a scene.
"Teacher, Kushina hit us!"
A few of the kids who had been badly beaten quickly began to tattle.
_
Chapter 2: Call in the Parents? Who, Tsunade?
-
Kushina?
Mr. Uemura felt a headache coming on. The Third Hokage himself had told him that Kushina's background was special and that he should take extra care of her. But now, Kushina had gone and hit a bunch of kids—practically a third of the class.
"You're lying! You all made fun of me and gave me those awful nicknames!"
Kushina had quickly shed her earlier timid demeanor, transforming into the feisty, red-hot chili pepper she was known for. She was all thorns now—anyone who got too close would get pricked.
"Enough! All of you, shut up!"
Mr. Uemura shot a stern look at the tattletales. He knew exactly which students were the troublemakers. Sure, Kushina was at fault, but they weren't innocent either.
"Takuya, Minato, you two come to the office as well."
Why me? I was just watching the show.
Takuya sighed, standing up alongside Minato, and followed Kushina and the beaten-up students to the teacher's office.
"Takuya, that Kushina girl is really fierce. Since you're sitting next to her, you'd better be careful," Minato whispered as they walked.
"What?"
Takuya, lost in thought, hadn't been paying attention and turned to look at him.
Was I talking too quietly?
Minato blinked in surprise and raised his voice.
"I said, that Kushina girl is really fierce! Since you're her seatmate, you better watch out so you don't get hit!"
"Is that so?"
Takuya stifled a laugh, patting Minato's shoulder with a sympathetic look.
"I think you should worry about yourself. I have a feeling you're the one who's going to get hit."
"Huh?"
Me? Get hit? By who?
Before Minato could fully process Takuya's words, he felt a pair of eyes boring into him. Instinctively, he looked up and shivered.
Kushina had stopped in her tracks, her fists clenched and was glaring at him with a fierce expression. Her long red hair was starting to float—definitely a sign she was about to lose her temper.
"Good luck!"
Takuya quickly slipped away.
"Hey! You traitor!"
Minato felt like crying—he was sure Takuya had just thrown him under the bus.
Why can't I keep my mouth shut? Now I'm in for it!
Kushina shot Minato a threatening look and then turned away with an irritated huff.
In the teacher's office, Takuya summed things up quickly.
"These idiots made fun of Kushina and gave her rude nicknames, so she hit them. That's the gist of it."
"Yeah, that's pretty much it,"
Minato echoed nervously. After already angering Kushina, he didn't dare say anything that might make things worse. The last thing he wanted was to get cornered after school and take a beating.
Mr. Uemura rubbed his temples, trying to ease the headache he felt coming on.
"Takuya, you shouldn't talk about your classmates like that."
"If they're useless and just like to cause trouble, what else would you call them?"
Takuya glanced at the group in the office with a cold, indifferent look.
Everyone he glanced at quickly lowered their heads, too afraid to meet his gaze. None of them dared to argue against being called useless.
"Takuya, you..."
Mr. Uemura sighed in frustration.
If it were anyone else, he might have scolded them, but Takuya had a point. Besides, he wasn't exactly on friendly terms with these classmates either.
The reason? Just like Kushina, he'd been given a nickname—"The Silver-Haired Uchiha Freak."
Takuya had started waiting for them after school, and anyone who dared cross him got a beating. Before long, these students started avoiding him like the plague.
"You and Minato can head back to class now,"
Mr. Uemura said, dismissing them with a wave before turning to Kushina.
"Kushina, this has turned into a pretty big deal today. I think it would be best if you went home and brought a parent back to discuss this. How does that sound?"
Pffft...
Takuya, who was just about to leave with Minato, burst out laughing at the suggestion.
Minato blinked in confusion, unsure of why this was funny. Isn't it normal to call your parents after getting into a fight?
Call a parent?
Who's she supposed to call? Tsunade?
Oh man, if Tsunade gets called to school, that's going to be something!
"Takuya, how about I come over to your place for dinner tonight? I can stop by the market after school to pick up some groceries," Minato suggested, eager to change the subject.
"Sure, whatever you think. I'll handle the rest."
"No problem!"
The two were neighbors and classmates, so they were closer than most. After Takuya had invited Minato over for dinner once, Minato kept trying to come over for meals.
"So, let me get this straight—you got teased by your classmates, so you hit them, and now they want you to bring a parent to school?"
Tsunade grumbled, scratching her tousled blonde hair in irritation. She'd been enjoying a late sleep when Kushina had dragged her out of bed.
Once she was awake enough to understand the situation, her irritation grew.
"Who asked you to bring a parent?"
Tsunade's temper flared instantly.
"I've been getting into fights since I was a kid, and no one ever dared to ask me to bring a parent!"
"Give me a few minutes—I'm going to teach them a lesson!"
Before Mito Uzumaki passed away, she had asked Tsunade to look after Kushina, so there was no way Tsunade was going to let this slide.
Not only did Tsunade think Kushina wasn't in the wrong for hitting those kids, but she also believed they deserved it. It reminded her of a certain perverted troublemaker who always got on her nerves.
After a quick wash that didn't do much to cover up the smell of alcohol, Tsunade stormed to the Ninja Academy with Kushina, kicking the office door open.
Inside, Mr. Uemura was struggling to deal with the angry parents of the beaten students. He was about to yell when the door was suddenly kicked open, but when he saw who it was, his anger vanished.
"Who the hell—oh, um..."
Seeing who had entered, Mr. Uemura quickly jumped up from his chair and offered it to Tsunade.
"Lady Tsunade, welcome."
But Tsunade wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. She shot a cold glare at the confused parents before turning to Mr. Uemura with a smirk.
"So, you're the one who told Kushina to bring a parent?"
"Uh, yes, I did..."
Why didn't I check the calendar before leaving the house today?
"Well, here I am. So, what's the problem? Don't waste my time, I've got a nap to get back to. And as for you all..."
Tsunade leaned back in the chair, crossing her legs, and pointed at the parents who had come to complain.
"Your kids bullied my little sister on her first day, and I haven't even dealt with that yet. If this isn't handled properly, I'll have my sister wait for them at the gate every day after school!"
Even though Tsunade hadn't yet earned the title of one of the Sannin, her fiery temper was well-known throughout Konoha. Combined with her status, she could practically walk on air in the village.
She was also the only one among the future Sannin who dared to openly scold Danzo and the two elders. Not even Jiraiya or Orochimaru would go that far, no matter how angry they got.
"I think I just saw Lady Tsunade!"
Tsunade was a celebrity in Konoha. Being the granddaughter of the First Hokage and officially recognized as the "Princess of Konoha" by the Daimyo made her impossible to miss.
Minato was buzzing with excitement.
Takuya yawned, slumping over his desk as he mumbled,
"What's there to be excited about? Shouldn't you be more worried about your safety? Tsunade is Kushina's guardian, and you just pissed Kushina off. What do you think she'll do to you?"
"..."
Minato's excitement evaporated, his smile freezing.
Please don't see me, please don't see me.
When Kushina came back to class, Minato silently prayed that she would overlook him and just let him be.
Thankfully, while Kushina was still angry, she wasn't in the habit of hitting people without reason.
Though she was annoyed with Minato for saying she had a bad temper, she wasn't planning to corner him after school.
Once school let out, Minato grabbed Takuya and ran.
He didn't want to take any chances of getting caught by Kushina.
Dude, that's your future wife. Could you embarrass yourself any more?
After the fight, Kushina gradually found her place in the class. The kids she had beaten up now gave her a wide berth.
Even Minato kept his distance.
"Takuya, would you like to have lunch with me?"
Kushina hesitated for a while before finally pulling out the oversized bento box she had prepared and inviting Takuya to join her.
Minato had just stood up to head over to Takuya when he saw this and quickly changed direction, leaving the classroom in a hurry. He clearly hadn't forgotten Kushina's fiery temper.
Not only was Kushina strong, but she was also easily the strongest in their grade. The only one who didn't seem to fear her was Takuya.
Minato might have been a genius, but at this point, he was still just an ordinary kid—not yet the fastest man in the ninja world.
At this stage, the best thing Minato could do when faced with Kushina was to steer clear.
"Sorry, I'm not a big fan of rice balls or sashimi."
Glancing at her bento box, Takuya politely declined and grabbed his lunch, heading after Minato.
_
Chapter 3: Takuya Yagami, Also Known as Takuya Uchiha
_
Feeling rejected, Kushina slumped over her desk. The lunch she had painstakingly prepared no longer looked appetizing. She had only wanted to thank Takuya for speaking up for her in the office—nothing more. But Takuya had turned her down.
"Aren't you and Kushina...?" Minato asked, surprised, as he looked at Takuya, who was now sitting beside him.
Takuya shrugged as he opened his lunchbox. "I don't like rice balls or sashimi. You know that, so I declined."
It was true—Takuya didn't care for those foods. But more importantly, he didn't want to draw the attention of the ANBU. Being under their watch would be uncomfortable, to say the least. After all, he had a lot of secrets that needed to stay hidden.
"Haha, you're a real bro," Minato laughed, misunderstanding the situation. He thought Takuya had turned Kushina down just to hang out with him.
"..."
Some bro. Takuya thought to himself. You could at least keep your chopsticks out of my lunchbox when you say that.
After a long day of classes, Takuya finally headed home. He slipped into the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. His once-blue eyes were now red, with two tomoe spinning in each of them.
So my single tomoe Sharingan evolved into two tomoe without any warning. Is this because of the game character's influence?
Takuya deactivated the Sharingan and flopped onto his bed, exhausted. His full name was Takuya Yagami, and he had Uchiha blood in him. His mother was from the Uchiha clan, and after his father died in battle, she had tried to bring him back to the Uchiha. But his silver hair and his own resistance to the idea put an end to that.
Not to mention, there were plenty of Uchihas who were against his return to the clan.
When Takuya first arrived in this world, he discovered that he already had a single tomoe Sharingan and the white Nine-Tails from the game inside him. Unfortunately, this special Nine-Tails was still small. It had taken over a year for it to grow to its current size.
The good news was that the Nine-Tails was unique to him, and unless he wanted to reveal it, no one would ever know it was there.
Takuya hadn't experienced any intense emotional trauma when his Sharingan first manifested. Even now, its evolution seems to happen without any real trigger.
If all my in-game abilities show up in this world, then...
Full control of a complete Nine-Tails with Sage Mode, and the Rinnegan at its peak...
If I can pull that off, Danzo wouldn't stand a chance! One day, I'll crush him like a bug.
For now, I'll just keep my head down.
It's fine to be a genius, but I can't be a freak. Geniuses get nurtured; freaks get targeted.
Meanwhile, Kushina returned to the Senju compound. Because she was still young, there was an agreement between Mito Uzumaki and the Third Hokage that Kushina would stay at the Senju compound until she graduated from the academy. This way, Tsunade could provide her with some help when needed.
"Wow, lunch is ready!" Nawaki exclaimed as he returned home, spotting the bento on the table and digging in. He even asked Tsunade if she wanted some.
"Kushina worked hard to make this lunch last night," Tsunade remarked, taking a rice ball and biting into it. "She told me she wanted to thank a classmate for helping her, so she made this. Looks like she got turned down."
"Turned down?" Nawaki's eyes widened. Who had the guts to turn down Kushina's kindness?
"Yeah, I got turned down."
Kushina emerged from her room, looking dejected, and flopped down next to Tsunade. She irritably ruffled her hair. "Takuya said he doesn't like rice balls or sashimi. Ugh, I spent so much time preparing it."
I never thought I'd see the day when this little girl would be so troubled by something.
Tsunade nearly burst out laughing. She kicked Nawaki under the table, making him wince in pain.
"Do you know anything about this Takuya Yagami kid? What's he like?"
"Takuya Yagami?"
Nawaki rubbed the spot where he'd been kicked and thought for a moment before replying, "I think he's a lower-grade student. I've heard some girls in our grade say he's really good-looking. They're all crazy about him."
"Oh no,"
Tsunade grinned mischievously and nudged Kushina with her shoulder. "Kushina, you're under a lot of pressure. Handsome boys are always popular, unlike some people."
"No way!"
Kushina's face turned bright red. She admitted Takuya was good-looking, but that wasn't why she wanted to thank him!
"Why are you dragging me into this, Sis?"
Nawaki felt a pang of injustice. I'm not as bad as you're making me out to be. And I'm your brother—your real brother! What kind of sister calls her own brother ugly?
Ignoring Nawaki's grumbling, Tsunade offered Kushina a suggestion.
"Here's an idea. How about you invite him over for dinner sometime? That way, you can thank him properly, and I can see what he's like!"
"What? No way!!"
Kushina leaped up, blushing furiously, and shouted, "It's not like that at all! I just wanted to thank him, Tsunade! You're being so mean!" With that, she covered her face and ran back to her room.
Tch, little girls get embarrassed so easily.
Tsunade laughed wickedly.
You're acting like you're so mature, Nawaki grumbled internally.
"Forget about dinner at home. You're better off eating out. It's not going to happen here," he said aloud.
"Why not?" Tsunade asked, confused. Then, narrowing her eyes, she clenched her fist. "Are you saying that brat won't give me the respect I deserve? Does he not know who I am? I'm Tsunade Senju!"
"That's not it!!" Nawaki quickly explained, seeing Tsunade ready to explode. "It's because Takuya Yagami goes by another name."
"What do you mean? How many names does one person need?"
"Takuya Uchiha."
Nawaki spread his hands in resignation. "Some girls say Takuya Yagami is his birth name, but before his mother passed away, she wanted him to return to the Uchiha clan because he has Uchiha blood. But it never happened."
"An Uchiha kid, huh?"
No wonder Nawaki reacted the way he did. This could be a problem, especially since Kushina was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Never mind, let's just forget this whole thing. It's probably for the best that he refused!
Even if he wasn't officially part of the Uchiha clan, his bloodline made it unwise for him to get too close to a Jinchuriki.
Tsunade didn't have any prejudice against the Uchiha, even if most of them were a bit... off. But the Third Hokage, Danzo, and the elders wouldn't allow something like that to happen.
If Takuya and Kushina stayed just classmates, maybe even friends, it might be okay. But if they got any closer, the higher-ups would do everything in their power to keep him away from her.
"Today, we'll be covering shuriken throwing techniques. Please turn to page..."
Takuya was back to his usual self, staring out the window as if something outside had caught his interest.
Kushina glanced at him, then looked again a few moments later. Finally, she couldn't resist and passed him a note.
A note?
Takuya almost forgot the last time he'd seen one of these. Probably sometime in middle school back in his previous life, before everyone stopped passing notes. Who would've thought that after crossing worlds, someone would send him one?
"Why aren't you paying attention in class? You're always looking out the window," the note read.
Takuya glanced at it, then pushed it back.
"Because there's nothing else to do. If you already understand the lesson, you can do the same."
"Oh!"
Kushina hadn't expected Takuya to answer her aloud instead of passing another note.
"Takuya Yagami! Kushina Uzumaki!"
Mr. Uemura had finally had enough. He slammed his hand on the desk and yelled, "Even if you already know the lesson, don't disrupt the class! If you're going to pass notes, don't do it in front of me!!!"
...
Uh-oh. We've been caught.
Kushina blushed furiously and quickly buried her face in her arms on the desk.
But Takuya acted like nothing had happened, completely unfazed by Mr. Uemura's scolding and ignoring the strange looks from their classmates.
Everything that happened in the classroom was observed by the ANBU. They even saw what Kushina had written on the note.
"You're saying Kushina passed a note to that Takuya Yagami kid?" The Third Hokage asked, reviewing Takuya's file. "I didn't realize this kid had such a connection to the Uchiha."
"Has he shown any interest in joining the Uchiha?"
"No, Lord Hokage. Ever since his mother passed away, Takuya Yagami hasn't visited the Uchiha compound."
"And it seems the Uchiha aren't too keen on having him back, either."
A Nine-Tails Jinchuriki showing interest in someone with Uchiha blood? That's not good. Fortunately, Takuya hasn't joined the Uchiha.
After thinking it over, the Third Hokage instructed the ANBU, "Keep monitoring them. If Takuya Yagami shows any interest in Kushina, intervene immediately. We can't allow a Jinchuriki to get too close to someone with Uchiha blood."
Even if Takuya wasn't fully part of the Uchiha clan, the risk was too great.
"Understood, Lord Hokage."
The ANBU left the Hokage's office and resumed shadowing Kushina and Takuya, keeping a close watch on their every move.
"Master, there's someone outside who doesn't seem to like you very much."
A soft, feminine voice echoed in Takuya's mind.
It was the Nine-Tails. Takuya's white Nine-Tails was female, the opposite of the one sealed inside Kushina.
Even though gender didn't really apply to the tailed beasts, Takuya figured their voices were a good way to tell them apart.
_
Chapter 4: Does Being Handsome Mean You Can Do Whatever You Want?
-
Takuya was well aware that the ANBU were watching him. They had only started keeping an eye on him because of Kushina. As long as he didn't do anything drastic, their focus would eventually shift away.
"Hey, Nine-Tails, when will you be as strong as that big fox next door?" Takuya asked.
"Master, I'm still young, and my chakra refining is really slow," the little Nine-Tails pouted. The big Nine-Tails next door had split off from the Ten-Tails, while she had to grow from nothing. It was a much slower process.
"Takuya, would you like to have lunch together?"
It was lunchtime, and a female classmate had invited Takuya to share her lunch. Kushina's eyes widened as she watched, curious to see if Takuya would accept or reject the invitation as he had with her.
"Sorry, but I don't like eating with people who aren't good-looking," Takuyareplied bluntly, turning the girl down with a stinging rejection.
This was why, despite his good looks, most girls stayed away from him. Being rejected was one thing, but being insulted? That was something else. Not many could handle that kind of treatment.
Takuya was tired of playing dating games with these little girls. He found it easier to reject them outright, leaving no room for hope.
"Wahh! Takuya, that's so mean!" The girl ran off, crying, with her face buried in her hands.
Kushina was stunned. She had been holding a grudge over being turned down by Takuya, but now, it didn't seem so bad. At least he hadn't called her ugly. For some reason, Kushina felt a wave of relief.
Thank goodness... at least I'm not ugly.
Wait, what am I even relieved about? He rejected me too!
As she remembered her own rejection, Kushina's mood quickly soured again.
That evening, when Kushina got home, she asked Nawaki, "Nawaki, how do you guys usually turn down a girl's invitation?"
"If you don't like the person, you just politely decline. Why do you ask?" Nawaki gave her a curious look. "Did you get rejected again?"
"Ow!!"
Nawaki yelped as Tsunade stomped on his foot, causing him to jump in pain.
"If you can't say anything nice, then keep quiet," Tsunade scolded, pulling Kushina into a hug and pointing at Nawaki. "Don't listen to him. He's never even been asked out by a girl, so he has no advice to give. Listen to your big sister instead."
"..."
Nawaki suddenly felt a different kind of pain. Does my foot even hurt anymore? I think my heart hurts more.
He wanted to ask, Are you really my sister?
"Was it that Takuya Yagami kid who rejected you again? Should I go teach him a lesson for turning down our sweet little Kushina? How clueless can he be?"
"It's not like that," Kushina protested, her face turning red. She quickly shook her head. "Today, Takuya turned down another classmate. His way of rejecting her was... a bit different, so I was just curious."
Oh, I see. Tsunade rolled her eyes, realizing she had jumped to conclusions. I thought you were upset about getting rejected again, silly girl.
"So, how did he turn her down? Tell us."
Nawaki, whose foot had miraculously stopped hurting, leaned in, eager to hear how a good-looking guy rejects girls.
"Well..." Kushina thought for a moment, then mimicked Takuya's expression and tone. "Sorry, but I don't like eating with people who aren't good-looking."
What the...
Tsunade could feel her blood pressure rising. She instinctively raised her hand to rub the back of her neck, trying to calm down.
Nawaki was dumbfounded. He had to admit, Takuya's way of turning down girls was... unique.
Does being handsome mean you can do whatever you want?
That's just too much.
But then again, maybe being handsome does let you get away with things...
Nawaki glanced at Tsunade's face and felt a pang of jealousy. How did we come from the same parents? Why is there such a big difference between siblings?
It's bad enough that I'm not as good-looking as my sister, but I'm also not as talented. Did all the good genes go to her?
"What are you staring at?" Tsunade snapped, noticing Nawaki's odd expression. She glared at him, making him flinch and jump to the side to avoid getting hit.
"Pathetic," Tsunade scoffed. "Tomorrow, get ready. I'm taking you to see Orochimaru. I don't know what you're thinking, wanting to be his student."
Nawaki was nearing graduation and had decided to pull some strings. Tsunade was planning to take him to see Orochimaru and seal the deal.
"Kushina," Tsunade said, pulling her close and speaking in a more serious tone. "If you trust me, then don't get too close to that Takuya Yagami kid. It won't do either of you any good."
"Why not? We're just classmates," Kushina replied, confused.
"Never mind." Tsunade shook her head. There was no point in pushing the issue. After all, they really are just classmates right now. It wouldn't be right to warn her about anything more.
It's better to let things happen naturally.
If they do end up getting closer one day, we'll deal with it then.
By then, Kushina might be able to make her own decisions.
As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and with her own growing strength, Kushina would be a force to be reckoned with. The higher-ups would have to think carefully before making any moves. Being a Jinchuriki is a sensitive issue, especially when it involves the Nine-Tails, the most powerful of the tailed beasts. If it ever broke free, the consequences would be unimaginable.
School, training, and rest—that's what life at the ninja academy was like. Boring and repetitive. If Takuya could learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu, he'd send a clone to class in his place.
What a waste of my chakra. All this chakra and I can't even use a Shadow Clone to help with school. What a shame.
"What did you say?" Minato looked over at him.
Takuya replied without missing a beat, "Nothing, just saying you're handsome. Your smile is so bright and sunny, like a little sun. You should go by 'Little Sun' from now on. It suits you."
"Get out of here!" Minato wasn't falling for it.
"I could say the same for you, Silver-Haired Kid. Why don't you accept that nickname?"
"Because the people calling me that are just kids. Of course, I'm not going to like it," Takuya replied with a shrug.
Nice try, but you're not fooling me. No way I'm letting you trick me into that nickname.
Sure, Minato might've tolerated being called Little Sun before, but after meeting Takuya, he was completely turned off by the idea.
Especially after he learned what the sun could symbolize, Minato decided he never wanted to hear anyone call him that again.
"By the way, tomorrow's a day off. Want to go on a picnic? I'll handle everything else; you just take care of the grilling."
Takuya's cooking was something Minato couldn't get enough of. Whenever he had the chance, he'd try to convince Takuya to cook.
"Sure," Takuya agreed. "Nothing else going on, and we can train afterward. Sounds like a good plan."
"Uh... can I join you guys?"
A small, pale hand suddenly appeared in front of Takuya and Minato.
Takuya looked up, immediately passing the decision to Minato.
-
Chapter 5: Do I Need to Join the Uchiha to Survive?
-
"Minato came up with the idea for the picnic. If you want to join, go talk to him. I'm just handling the food, nothing else."Takuya quickly passed the responsibility to Minato, waving at him with a smirk as he bolted away.
"Wait up!" Minato started to chase after him but found himself blocked.
"Minato, do you think I could join your picnic too? I mean, we're classmates, so you wouldn't say no, right?" Kushina smiled sweetly, but her eyes hinted at something much less friendly.
Last time, you got away, but if you say no this time... well, you know what'll happen.
Do I even have a choice? Minato thought miserably. Takuya, you traitor!
"No, no, of course not, Kushina! We're classmates, after all. You're more than welcome to join us. Trust me, Takuya's grilled meat is top-notch. I'll handle the hunting; you just enjoy the food," Minato said, patting his chest in assurance.
"Awesome!" Kushina jumped with excitement. "Minato, you're such a nice guy! Don't worry, I won't beat you up. We're classmates, after all."
Classmates? You just threatened me! What kind of classmate does that? Minato sighed internally. Well, at least Takuya's doing the grilling.
With that thought, Minato felt a bit better about the situation.
Kushina skipped home, her spirits high. "I'm a Jinchuriki, so I can't just run around wherever I want. I need to think of something... If the picnic spot is too far out, it could be a problem."
Her gaze settled on Tsunade. If I can't go alone, why not bring Tsunade along? That would solve everything!
"Tsunade, I'm going on a picnic with my classmates tomorrow. You should come with us," Kushina said with a grin.
"No way. Why would I tag along with a bunch of kids? You go have your fun, but leave me out of it," Tsunade replied firmly. She had plans for her rare day off, and they involved sleeping in, not babysitting.
Kushina wasn't surprised; she'd expected this. "Nawaki, did you know that yesterday Tsunade... mmph mmph!"
Tsunade's face paled, and she quickly clamped a hand over Kushina's mouth. If Nawaki finds out I gambled away his allowance and lost, he'll never let me hear the end of it.
"Alright, alright! What do you want?" Tsunade gritted her teeth, clearly annoyed.
Come to the picnic with me, or I spill the beans to Nawaki. Kushina's eyes sparkled mischievously as she struck her bargain.
"Ugh... fine, you win. I'll go, but you're a real piece of work, you know that?" Tsunade sighed, defeated.
Kushina flashed a victorious grin, making a playful face that only made Tsunade grind her teeth in frustration. I should spank her for this.
"You're so sneaky!" Tsunade muttered.
The next morning, Minato burst into Takuya's house, ready to confront him. "You totally ditched me yesterday!"
"Come on, don't be mad. You're the sunshine of our group; you can't get angry! The sun's supposed to warm people's hearts," Takuya teased, waving his hand dismissively. "Besides, I'm not good at saying no to girls, so I had to leave it to you."
Yeah, right! Not good at saying no to girls? Minato thought, rolling his eyes. You've turned down how many girls at school? Every single one without hesitation, and now you say you can't refuse?
"Yeah, well, I agreed," Minato said, crossing his arms, resigned to his fate. Might as well just go with it.
"Pfft!" Takuya nearly spat out his water. "You agreed?"
Seriously, dude? That's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki! Wherever she goes, ANBU and Root Ninja follow. And you agreed?
Well, can't blame him. Minato doesn't know Kushina's secret.
"Of course I did. You know how scary Kushina can be when she's mad. There's no way I could say no to her, not after seeing her angry," Minato shuddered at the memory of Kushina's fiery red hair floating and her eyes blazing with rage.
"...Yeah, I guess you're right," Takuya conceded. Running into Kushina now would mean getting your butt kicked.
Minato sighed, pulling Takuya to his feet as they headed out. "Alright, enough shock. I'm not like you and Kushina, with all that chakra. I still don't get how you two are so strong."
"Let's get moving. We don't want to be late and keep the ladies waiting, right?"
After buying all the ingredients, the two headed to the school entrance. From a distance, they could already see Kushina's red hair and a blonde woman looking rather impatient.
Whoa! Tsunade? She's here too?
"Am I seeing things? Maybe you should pinch me," Minato muttered, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
"Ow!!" Minato yelped as Takuya pinched him hard, making him jump and wince in pain.
"What the heck? Why so hard?" Minato rubbed his sore arm, glaring at Takuya.
"You asked for a pinch, so I made sure it hurt enough to feel real," Takuya replied with a smirk.
But you didn't have to pinch that hard! Minato thought, feeling a mix of annoyance and resignation.
"Takuya, Minato!" Tsunade and Kushina noticed them, and Kushina ran over, waving cheerfully.
Tsunade trailed behind, looking utterly uninterested. I'm only here because of Kushina's blackmail.
Just act like I'm invisible, Tsunade thought, her shoulders slumped in defeat.
Tsunade crossed her arms, and Takuya, noticing her mood, made sure not to stare too long. Better not risk a punch from her. I've heard the stories.
He deliberately lagged behind a bit, giving Tsunade her space.
"Today, I'm with Kushina, so you guys can head back and tell the old man not to bother me," Tsunade ordered the hidden ANBU.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade," the ANBU replied, not daring to argue with her. If Tsunade was in charge, they were off the hook. They'd just report back to the Third Hokage.
They arrived at a familiar spot by the river, where they had often gone for picnics. Minato immediately dashed into the woods.
"Take a break; I'll handle the hunting," Minato called out.
Takuya didn't expect Tsunade or Kushina to do any work, so he grabbed a kunai and started chopping firewood.
"You have Uchiha blood?" Tsunade asked directly, not bothering to hide her curiosity from Kushina.
Takuya looked up from his fire-making. "Yeah. My mom wanted me to go back to the Uchiha clan and even change my last name, but I'm not interested."
"Why not?" Kushina asked, genuinely curious. "With your talent, wouldn't joining a big clan mean better training opportunities?"
Among their peers, Takuya was top of the class, even slightly ahead of Minato. The teachers saw him as a true prodigy, which is why they often turned a blind eye to his daydreaming in class. Good grades came with privileges, after all.
"I don't really like the Uchiha vibe. Maybe I'm just too stubborn," Takuya said with a self-deprecating smile. "And honestly, they didn't really want me there anyway. Why should I beg to join them?"
Wow, that's some serious backbone, Tsunade thought, her opinion of Takuya rising a notch. If they don't want me, I don't need them!
"You've got guts, but you're giving up a big opportunity," Tsunade remarked, impressed despite herself.
They don't want me? Well, I don't want them either! Takuya thought defiantly. Who says I need the Uchiha to survive?
"Won't it be hard to learn new jutsu?" Tsunade asked, knowing that as a non-Uchiha, Takuya would have to rely on mission rewards to learn new techniques unless he found a mentor willing to teach him.
"I'll manage. Things will work out," Takuya replied confidently.
If I can't make it with all the cheats I've got, then nobody else has a chance.
The Uchiha? Who needs them? They're just a clan that's slowly getting pushed into a corner by the higher-ups.
Don't worry, Danzo and the Third Hokage will get to you soon enough. Just wait.
"I'm back!"
A short while later, Minato returned with two rabbits and a small boar, tossing them on the ground before flopping down to rest. His part was done.
Takuya set to work with his kunai, preparing the meat, and soon the smell of roasting meat filled the air by the river.
Kushina's eyes lit up, and she looked at Takuya like he was a treasure. Even Tsunade, who had been grumbling about coming along, started to look forward to the picnic.
She was also starting to take more interest in Takuya himself.