Inside the Ninja Academy, the instructor was standing on the podium with a small, red-haired girl.
"This is the transfer student joining our school starting today—"
Before the instructor could finish, the red-haired girl spoke up first.
"I'm Uzumaki Kushina, dattebane!"
After instinctively blurting out her verbal tic, Uzumaki Kushina awkwardly covered her mouth.
Oh no, I accidentally said my verbal tic.
Uchiha Yakoto looked at Uzumaki Kushina on the podium.
That "dattebane" reminded him of a certain "dattebayo" from an old acquaintance.
It really goes to show, they truly are mother and son.
Exactly alike.
Most of the students' attention wasn't on the "dattebane," but rather entirely focused on her red hair.
"Look at the color of that hair, unbelievable!"
"How can it get so red?"
"It's so strange."
Seeing the class's discussion gradually head in a negative direction, the instructor quickly interrupted.
"Alright, alright, quiet down, everyone quiet down!"
Uzumaki Kushina was a little sad hearing the others' comments about her red hair, but then she remembered she had promised Grandma Mito to try hard to integrate into the Village.
So she forcefully raised both hands, clenched them into fists in front of her chest, and shouted like she was making an oath.
"I'm going to be the first female Hokage of this Village!"
The sudden loud declaration shocked the entire class.
The whole class entered a strange state of silence, and most people looked at Uzumaki Kushina with peculiar expressions.
Uzumaki Kushina was extremely embarrassed and unnerved by the sudden silence and strange looks.
Just as she was about to say something else,
Minato Namikaze, the Xiao Huangmao, sensing the awkward atmosphere, stood up considerately, revealing a bright and cheerful smile, and said,
"I also want to become an excellent Hokage recognized by the villagers!"
"Alright, alright, Kushina, find a seat for now, class is about to start soon."
After scanning the room, Uzumaki Kushina found that almost the entire class was full.
There was only an empty seat next to a black-haired, black-eyed boy in the last row by the window.
Black hair, black eyes? Is he from the Uchiha Clan?
Grandma Mito and Tsunade had given Uzumaki Kushina a lot of information about the Village to help her integrate successfully.
This included the Uchiha Clan.
She recalled Grandma Mito and Tsunade's various evaluations of the Uchiha.
Such as being very arrogant.
And very difficult to deal with.
Although there were some good evaluations, all in all, the Uchiha Clan was a very difficult Clan to approach.
Looking at that black-haired, black-eyed Uchiha classmate, Uzumaki Kushina couldn't help but feel a little intimidated.
Seeing that there were no other seats around,
Uzumaki Kushina, as if facing death, walked to the last row and sat down next to Yakoto.
Uchiha Yakoto cast a faint glance at Uzumaki Kushina, who sat beside him, then lay down to sleep.
Originally, Uzumaki Kushina had noticed that Yakoto hadn't discussed her hair like the other classmates.
She was about to greet this Uchiha classmate, who seemed unapproachable at first glance.
But after being given a cold look,
Uzumaki Kushina instantly dared not disturb Yakoto's sleep.
She could only silently say in her heart,
Grandma Mito and Tsunade were right, the Uchiha Clan really is difficult to deal with.
Thinking of her somewhat terrible self-introduction just now, and the strange looks from her classmates about her red hair,
Uzumaki Kushina felt that her future days might not be easy, and suddenly had a feeling of wanting to cry but having no tears.
Grandma, Tsunade, I want to go home!
After class, as soon as the teacher left,
Uzumaki Kushina was surrounded at her seat.
"Tomato!"
"From today on, you'll be called Tomato!"
"A chubby round face, plus red hair, isn't that a tomato?"
"How can a tomato become Hokage?"
"I hate tomatoes the most!"
"Me too, if there are tomatoes in a salad, I always leave them!"
"How can an unpopular tomato get the recognition of the villagers?"
"Hahaha."
Amidst the laughter of many, Uzumaki Kushina, who was being criticized by all, blushed, not out of shyness, but out of anger.
Just as Uzumaki Kushina was about to explode,
a slightly angry voice suddenly sounded from behind.
"Quiet! You're so loud!"
"Are you all that idle?!"
Uzumaki Kushina turned her head.
She saw that her Uchiha deskmate, who had been sleeping for the entire class, had woken up and was coldly looking at the noisy group of people.
The little brats, after being yelled at by Yakoto, all obediently shut their mouths and stood in a line.
Clearly, Uchiha Yakoto had high prestige in this class and was quite the class bully.
"All of you, get out!" Yakoto waved his hand impatiently and lay back down.
Hearing this, the group of children, as if granted a great pardon, instantly ran back to their seats.
Uzumaki Kushina looked at Yakoto with a great deal of gratitude, even though she had originally planned to beat them all up.
To see if those classmates would still dare to call her Tomato.
But Grandma Mito told her to be kind to people at the Ninja Academy and not to hit people all the time like Tsunade.
Yakoto's actions were a big help to her.
Time passed.
After Yakoto disciplined the class, no one bothered Uzumaki Kushina for the rest of the morning.
Uchiha Yakoto also successfully slept through until noon.
As the dismissal bell rang,
Minato Namikaze, the Xiao Huangmao, who had diligently attended class all morning, came up to Yakoto.
"Yakoto, let's go eat together."
"Mm."
Yakoto, who had just woken up, responded with a hum, said nothing more, and got up to go eat with Xiao Huangmao.
Seeing them walking together, Uzumaki Kushina was very shocked.
She never expected that Uchiha Yakoto, with his difficult personality, would actually have friends.
And it was the Xiao Huangmao who had previously intended to compete with her for the Hokage position.
Watching the two walk further and further away, Uzumaki Kushina gritted her teeth and chased after them.
"Hey! Wait a minute!"
Uchiha Yakoto, hearing the voice, did not turn around or stop, continuing to walk out on his own.
Minato Namikaze, however, stopped.
Uzumaki Kushina, taking large strides, arrived in front of Uchiha Yakoto.
"Thank you very much for what happened this morning."
"Mm."
Uchiha Yakoto spoke indifferently, not even giving Uzumaki Kushina another glance, and was preparing to leave again.
Uzumaki Kushina, hearing Yakoto's reply, couldn't help but clench her fists.
What does "Mm" mean?! You jerk!
People from the Uchiha Clan are really annoying!
Minato Namikaze, sensing that the atmosphere was a bit off, quickly spoke up to smooth things over for Yakoto.
"Uh, Yakoto just talks like that, don't take it too much to heart."