After the morning training session, Minato and Kushina left together for the academy, whispering and giggling the whole way. Hoshiyomi didn't say anything aloud, but he quietly followed behind them.
Seeing is believing. He had to witness this Uchiha Kuugetsu for himself to understand what kind of child she really was.
Hoshiyomi didn't plan to do anything else today—just observe this girl closely and see whether there was anything strange about her.
To prevent any unnecessary misunderstandings, Hoshiyomi had reported his presence to Mitsui beforehand. Then, he activated his Transparent Escape Technique and silently climbed a large tree just outside Minato's classroom.
His mastery of the Transparent Escape had reached an advanced level—he moved so silently and efficiently that even Minato couldn't detect his presence.
Kushina might've sensed something if she was actively using sensory techniques, but that girl was carefree and loud by nature. It was unlikely she'd waste chakra checking her surroundings unless she had reason to.
As long as Hoshiyomi didn't stare directly at her for too long, Kushina wouldn't notice a thing.
And so began Hoshiyomi's mission of the day: observation.
Kuugetsu just happened to be seated near the window—ideal for Hoshiyomi's surveillance. From his vantage point in the tree, he had a clear view of her every move.
The last time he saw Uchiha Kuugetsu was on the day Kushina first enrolled. Now, years had passed, and they were already in their fourth year at the Ninja Academy. Kuugetsu had changed quite a bit in that time.
She no longer wore her old twin braids. Her hairstyle had become long, straight, and black, with thick bangs cut straight across her forehead.
Those heavy bangs obscured her eyes—really, most of her face—making it nearly impossible to see what she actually looked like.
The once-timid girl seemed even more withdrawn now. Her shoulders were tense, her head perpetually bowed. Even during class, she never brushed aside her bangs.
At first glance, she looked like an ordinary shy girl—completely unremarkable, nothing that stood out.
But just as Hoshiyomi was studying her carefully, Kuugetsu subtly tilted her head—so slightly that most would miss it.
The movement made Hoshiyomi's heart skip a beat. As a seasoned shinobi, he recognized it instantly: a calculated, cautious glance. It was the kind of probing action one made upon sensing an enemy's gaze but not wanting to alert them in return.
She might not have directly spotted him, but it was clear she had sensed someone watching her.
And for a girl her age to detect someone under the Transparent Escape Technique? Nearly impossible. Which meant... it was purely instinct?
Even that single motion told Hoshiyomi one thing for sure—this Uchiha Kuugetsu was far from simple. At the very least, she was nothing like the timid persona she projected. That gesture revealed a sharp sense of awareness and a high level of vigilance.
With that conclusion in mind, Hoshiyomi stopped watching her directly. He shifted his gaze elsewhere.
As expected, once she sensed the "staring" had stopped, Kuugetsu turned her head back and resumed a pensive expression.
From that point on, Hoshiyomi only glanced at her briefly every ten or fifteen seconds. This way, Kuugetsu wouldn't sense anything again. She remained in that stiff, composed posture for the entire class session.
During the break after class, Kuugetsu stayed in her seat. She exchanged idle conversation with Mikoto and Kushina, who had come over from the other side of the room.
Naturally, most of the talking was done by Kushina and Mikoto. Kuugetsu only chimed in occasionally when directly asked a question.
If there was anything different about her today compared to the norm, it was that she looked out the window far more often than usual.
Was it just a coincidence? Or did she really sense something?
Under her thick bangs, her eyes flickered with confusion. Her fists quietly clenched in her lap.
Thanks to the heads-up Hoshiyomi had gotten earlier, he knew that Minato's class would be holding a sparring exercise that afternoon.
He'd been waiting for this part—it was the best chance to evaluate Kuugetsu's actual combat capabilities. If the records were accurate and she really was proficient in Uchiha-style kenjutsu...
Then no matter how much she tried to hide it, her swordsmanship wouldn't escape his trained eye.
...
The afternoon arrived quickly. Led by their homeroom teacher, the students filed out of the classroom and gathered at the training ground.
Kuugetsu and her two friends were the slowest to come out due to Kuugetsu's presence, and because Kushina and Mikoto were always by her side, no one dared to bully her.
During the short period of free activity before the exercise officially began, the students broke into small groups to play around. Kuugetsu quietly followed behind Mikoto and Kushina, silently listening to their chatter.
Compared to graceful Mikoto and cheerful Kushina, Kuugetsu really did resemble some plain little maid trailing after two noble girls—completely unremarkable.
It's worth noting: unlike in the original timeline, Kushina wasn't bullied or mocked as "tomato girl." Due to a large number of Uzumaki clan members being integrated into Konoha, the Uzumaki had real influence here.
As the little princess of the Uzumaki, Kushina held status—and no one dared pick on her. In fact, many girls admired her outgoing personality and strength. She was quite popular in class.
The brats who liked to bully others simply redirected their attention to Kuugetsu—the quiet, timid type who made an easy target.
Before the instructor called the class to assemble, Hoshiyomi saw a little boy casually walk by Kuugetsu and suddenly give her a shove, laughing as he dashed away.
Kushina immediately turned around, ready to pummel the boy—but Kuugetsu quickly held her back.
"It's fine. I'm not hurt anyway," Kuugetsu said softly.
Kushina frowned, visibly upset on her friend's behalf.
"You're such an idiot. It's because you always let them get away with it that they keep doing this!"
"Hmph! But don't worry. In today's sparring, I'll make sure that guy pays!"
"T-thank you…"
After murmuring her thanks, Kuugetsu lowered her head again, her whole demeanor retreating into itself.
Watching from the tree, Hoshiyomi chuckled quietly. Her center of balance was excellent—just from that brief interaction, he could tell her foundational stance training was solid.
As the teacher's whistle blew, the sparring assessment officially began. Hoshiyomi had no interest in the chaotic scuffles between the other students.
After seeing Minato and Kushina win their matches with ease, it was finally Kuugetsu's turn.
Hoshiyomi didn't pay much attention to her opponent—judging from his build and how the class treated him, he didn't seem like anyone exceptional.
To most of the onlookers, the match was unimpressive. The two clashed—one using a wooden sword, the other a kunai—exchanging a few sluggish blows. In the end, Kuugetsu seized a small opening, disarmed him, and narrowly won.
But Hoshiyomi saw much more.
For instance, Kuugetsu's sword swings were remarkably clean. While not fast, they were devoid of excess movement—every action was precise.
He also noticed that several of her initial strike motions were aimed at the opponent's vital points. But each time, before her blade actually swung, her target shifted to a safer location.
The instructor, likely only at chūnin level, wouldn't have picked up on any of that. Even Minato might only conclude she was "holding back."
But Hoshiyomi saw the truth clearly.
Her exact skill level remained uncertain—but one thing was obvious: her kenjutsu was far from ordinary.