As the morning progressed, the quiet halls of the Academy transformed. The once-empty classroom swelled with students, their high-pitched chatter and childish laughter creating a chaotic symphony that echoed off the wooden walls.
Amidst the noise, Minato sat perfectly still. His fingers traced the worn, dog-eared edges of his ninja manual. He had memorized its contents long ago, yet he believed that mastery was not a destination but a continuous refinement. He lacked the high-level techniques of the elite clans, but he understood a fundamental truth: a mountain is only as stable as its base. He had the one thing many geniuses lacked—the patience to wait for his time.
"Alright, everyone. Quiet down."
Shirota-sensei's voice cut through the din. It wasn't loud, but it carried the weight of authority. The children, destined for a life of discipline and duty, settled into their seats instantly. Absolute obedience was the first lesson of the shinobi, one that began long before the first kunai was thrown.
Minato tucked his manual into his desk and sat straight, his gaze fixed forward.
"Before we begin today's lesson, I have someone to introduce," Shirota-sensei announced. "We have a new classmate joining us today."
He stepped out of the room for a moment, leaving a vacuum of silence that was quickly filled with curious whispers. Across the rows of desks, Minato and Mikoto exchanged a knowing glance; they had been forewarned, but the anticipation in the room was palpable.
When the door slid open again, Shirota-sensei was not alone. He led a young girl by the hand. She kept her head bowed, her long, vibrant red hair cascading forward like a silken curtain, veiling her face from view.
The moment Minato saw that shock of crimson, his heart gave a violent, agonizing throb.
For a split second, the classroom vanished. He saw a silhouette—taller, older—with that same red hair flowing like a river of blood in a dark forest. The face was a blur of light and shadow, and no matter how he reached out in his mind, he couldn't touch it.
"Guh..."
A low, guttural sound escaped his throat.
The student sitting next to him nudged him roughly. "Minato? You okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Minato blinked, his body trembling slightly as the vision dissipated into the mundane reality of the classroom. He wiped a bead of cold sweat from his temple. "I'm... I'm fine."
What was that? he wondered, his brow furrowed in confusion. Why does it hurt so much to look at her?
"Now, please introduce yourself," Shirota-sensei said gently, releasing the girl's hand.
The girl took a shaky breath and slowly turned. Her face was delicate, her eyes large and filled with a defensive shimmer. She looked at the sea of faces, sensing the judgment before it was even spoken.
"Look at her hair... it's so weird." "How can someone even have hair that red?"
The whispers were like tiny needles. On the podium, the girl's small hands clenched into white-knuckled fists. A strand of bangs fell over her eyes, and she brushed it back with a sharp, agitated motion. She wasn't just timid; she was a cornered animal deciding whether to flee or fight.
She chose to fight.
She took a deep breath, her chest swelling with defiance, and screamed her declaration so loudly the windows seemed to rattle.
"My name is Kushina Uzumaki! And my dream is to become the first female Hokage of this village!"
The classroom plunged into a stunned silence. Even Shirota-sensei looked taken aback by the sheer audacity of the claim.
Minato felt the pang in his heart again, but this time, it was followed by a wave of warmth. He didn't see a girl with "weird" hair; he saw a kindred spirit. Without thinking, he stood up, his hand moving to rest over his heart. He offered her a smile—the kind that held the warmth of a midday sun.
"My dream is also to become Hokage," Minato said softly but clearly. "I want to be a Hokage who can protect everyone I consider family in this village."
It was a peace offering, a bridge built of shared ambition. But Kushina didn't cross it. She narrowed her eyes, staring at the golden-haired boy with a look of sharp suspicion and wariness.
"Hehe... well," Shirota-sensei broke the awkward tension with a strained smile. "I never expected to have two aspiring Hokage in one class. It's certainly a lively start." He gestured toward the back. "Minato, take your seat. Kushina, you'll be sitting over there, next to Mikoto Uchiha."
Kushina didn't look back. She strode toward the window seat, her head held high even as the mocking giggles trailed after her. As she sat down, Mikoto leaned in, her smile gentle and devoid of the malice Kushina had come to expect.
"Hello," Mikoto whispered behind her hand. "I'm Mikoto Uchiha. I hope we can be friends."
Kushina blinked, her guarded posture softening just a fraction. She was sensitive—perceptive enough to realize that in this room of strangers, only the girl beside her and the "weak-looking" blonde boy hadn't looked at her like she was a monster.
"Mm," Kushina grunted, then glanced toward Minato's back. She leaned closer to Mikoto, her voice a timid murmur. "That guy... what's his name?"
Mikoto followed her gaze, her expression turning fond. "That's Minato Namikaze. He's the kindest person I know."
"Minato... Namikaze?" Kushina whispered the name to herself, testing the weight of it. She shook her head quickly, turning her attention to the front of the room. She couldn't afford distractions. This Academy was the first step toward a dream that felt a thousand miles away.
Shirota-sensei watched the interaction, feeling a sense of relief. Perhaps Mikoto's influence will temper her, he thought.
He noticed, however, that Minato—usually the most attentive student in the room—kept stealing glances at the red-haired girl. The boy's focus was shattered, anchored to the newcomer by a thread he didn't yet understand.
"Alright, class," Shirota-sensei announced, opening his textbook. "Let's begin."