When Yuuki heard Uzumaki Kushina's self-introduction, he couldn't help glancing at Minato Namikaze sitting not far away.
In a way, Kushina's words often carried more weight than the Hokage's in the future.
"Hahaha, did she just say she wants to be Hokage?"
"Hokage? I thought she said she wanted to marry the Hokage."
"Idiot, she said she wants to be Hokage."
Just as Yuuki expected, the situation unfolded just like in the original story. Some of the students started mocking Kushina's dream.
Being new here, Kushina didn't dare say anything back. She lowered her head and stared at her toes.
"Alright, having a dream is a good thing. Can any of you say your dream is to become Hokage?"
Mizukawa Katsumi's words immediately silenced the mockers.
None of them dared.
In terms of strength, they were near the bottom of the class.
Academically, they were no better than Inuzuka Tsume.
And now, it seemed even their courage was smaller than the new girl's.
Realizing they had nothing left to say, the kids shut their mouths.
Mizukawa scanned the classroom and spotted the only empty seat.
"Kushina, your seat is over there."
When Mizukawa pointed, Yuuki instantly realized something was off. He looked around and saw that the only empty spot was next to him.
"Hi, is it okay if I sit here?"
Kushina's soft voice came from beside him. Yuuki looked up and saw her standing there, head lowered, eyes red and teary as if she might cry.
"Sure."
Yuuki shifted over, making room for her at the window seat.
"Thank you."
Kushina sat down and thanked him quietly.
Yuuki nodded without saying anything.
It was hard not to sympathize with an eight-year-old child, torn from her homeland and family, forced to come to an unfamiliar village, surrounded by strangers, and carrying the heavy burden of becoming a jinchuriki.
But Yuuki knew what kind of person Kushina was.
Strong-willed and lively. That was the best way to describe her. She didn't need anyone's pity or unnecessary help.
Besides, it was best to let things happen naturally.
If Kushina didn't fall in love with Minato, was Naruto supposed to spring from a rock like the Monkey King?
And honestly, Yuuki really liked Minato and Kushina as a pair.
Days passed quickly.
One afternoon, after class, Yuuki opened his lunch box and started eating.
Even though it was just cold rice and vegetables, he ate heartily.
Suddenly there was a loud crash from the back of the classroom that made him look up.
So soon? The scene of Kushina being bullied from the original story was already playing out.
"Hey hey, your hair is red. That's so weird."
"Like a tomato?"
"Yeah, just like that!"
Yuuki watched the bullying unfold as if he were watching a show, munching on his food like it was popcorn.
With Kushina's personality, there was no way she would take this lying down.
Sure enough, it only took a few minutes before she snapped.
"For the record, I hate tomatoes too!"
Gritting her teeth, Kushina grabbed the arm of the kid who was pulling her hair.
As Konoha's next jinchuriki, Kushina's talent was outstanding even among the Uzumaki clan.
And besides their sealing arts, the Uzumaki were known for their incredible physical strength and massive chakra reserves.
Once she lost her patience, her natural gifts showed through at once.
Gripping the arm tightly, Kushina unleashed her strength.
With a powerful spin, she cleared the area around her, sending the bullies flying. She slammed the kid she had grabbed down onto the floor, then straddled him and started pounding away with left and right punches.
Caught up in the moment, she happened to glance forward and saw Minato smiling at her.
"What are you looking at, you sissy?"
Minato flinched, quickly wiped the smile from his face, and turned to stare straight ahead.
Yuuki watched it all play out, enjoying the show while shoveling food into his mouth.
With a loud scrape, Kushina angrily pulled out her chair, sat down hard, and shot Yuuki a glare.
"Hm?"
Seeing her expression, Yuuki raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
"What's so funny?"
"Am I that amusing to you?" Kushina demanded.
Yuuki swallowed his mouthful of food and shook his head.
"No, no, of course not."
Kushina scowled and turned her head away, muttering,
"You're all the same."
Yuuki caught her words and immediately replied,
"I'm not like them."
"Oh really? How are you different?" Kushina shot back. "You're either thinking of bullying the new kid or pretending not to see anything. What's the difference?"
Yuuki fell silent.
She kind of had a point.
Shaking his head, he decided to change the subject.
"Do you know why they picked on you?"
Kushina grabbed a lock of her red hair.
"Because I look different from them."
Yuuki shook his head.
"That's not it."
Kushina blinked and looked at him.
After a moment's thought, Yuuki decided to tell the truth.
"Because you're from another village."
Kushina frowned, clearly not understanding.
Seeing her confusion, Yuuki gave an example.
He pointed at his own hair.
"My hair's different too. It's naturally silver."
Then he pointed at the others.
"That blond kid you called a sissy? He was born with that hair. That guy in the back with the pineapple hairline that looks like a dog chewed it? Nobody bullies them."
"Hey, Yuuki! I heard that!"
"Orange hair, pink hair, blue hair, they're all here. Do you know why no one gives them trouble?"
Kushina's eyes widened.
"Why?"
"Like I said. Because you're from another village. You don't have family here."
Kushina froze.
Yuuki's words hit home.
"Don't you have any grown-up you trust in the village? Bring them here to the classroom. I guarantee no one will mess with you again."
"Really?"
"Give it a try. It can't hurt."
Kushina looked like she couldn't quite believe it, but she was determined to try.
Yuuki turned back to his desk and started getting his books ready for the afternoon.
In his mind, as long as Kushina brought someone she trusted, the bullying problem would be solved.
Of course, for an ordinary kid, this might not work. It could even make the bullying worse.
But Kushina was different. She had very few people in Konoha she trusted.
Uzumaki Mito was one, but she was getting old and probably wouldn't come.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was another.
Given the importance of the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, Yuuki was sure Hiruzen would make time to visit.
It was rare to have a chance to win Kushina's trust and goodwill.
Yuuki figured even Danzo might jump at the chance. The man would probably send his Root nin to drag the bullies over to Kushina on the spot.
Thinking about that scene, Yuuki found himself kind of looking forward to it.
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