Chapter 31
"Hmph. These are our class's new transfer students: Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Rina. Behave yourselves around them."
"If I hear even a whisper about anyone bullying them, you'd better start explaining things to your parents."
After silencing the room with one roar, Teacher Yamano gave a cold snort.
He turned back and gave a brief introduction of the two girls' names, not forgetting to issue one final warning to the class.
"Alright, they'll introduce themselves now. Listen carefully."
Finally, Yamano stepped aside, placed the two girls at the front of the podium, and moved to the side to observe—glaring at the usual troublemakers to keep them in line.
The two girls slowly walked from the door to the podium. Facing a classroom full of staring students, both felt nervous and stayed silent for a long moment.
In the end, the bold and straightforward Kushina stepped forward first and addressed the class:
"My name is Uzumaki Kushina. My dream is to become the first female Hokage. I like eating ramen, I hate wimps, and finally—don't mess with me, or I'll beat you until you cry."
After delivering her rather domineering introduction, Kushina quickly stepped back, giving the podium to Uzumaki Rina for her turn.
"Hah? You want to become Hokage?"
"Hahahaha, that's hilarious! Look at yourself—red hair, round face like a tomato, and you think you can be Hokage? Dream on."
"Yeah, that weird hair color. Never seen anyone like you in Konoha. Hokage? Give me a break."
"And so arrogant too. Who could you even beat? Beat us to tears? Keep dreaming."
Before Rina could even speak, mocking laughter and jeers erupted from the room.
The students who'd lost their bets immediately vented all their frustration on Kushina. In their minds, she was the reason they'd lost their pocket money.
Kushina clenched her fists tightly on the podium, glaring death at the loudest mockers. She silently vowed to corner them after school and make them cry for real—to show them just how strong she was.
The classroom grew noisy again. Even Yamano, standing to the side, had massive anger marks popping on his forehead. He strode toward the podium, about to speak—
But Ling Yu stood up first and shouted:
"Shut up! Who do you think you are to mock her? You lost a stupid bet and dumped all your anger on her. You don't even have the right to talk!"
"Let me make this clear: Kushina and Rina are under my protection. If anyone dares target them again, I'll come for you first."
Ling Yu had noticed Minato starting to stand up, so he spoke first. Besides, the things those students said were way too harsh—he couldn't hold back.
Pointing directly at the loudest offenders, Ling Yu unleashed a verbal barrage, leaving them speechless.
"!!"
Ling Yu's words struck Kushina deeply. All her anger melted away. She lifted her head and looked at the boy defending her. She remembered him—he was the one she'd seen a few times at Granny Mito's house.
"Sigh… this class really is…"
Yamano watched the scene with resignation. Ling Yu wasn't wrong—he stood up for the new students—but his words were a bit too harsh.
With a mental sigh, Yamano decided not to interfere. He knew Ling Yu and Kushina already knew each other, and her guardian had mentioned someone would look out for her.
"Ling Yu, don't say it like that. Everyone's classmates—we should get along. If you speak so harshly, no one will dare talk to you later."
At that moment, Minato—as class representative—stood up to mediate. Seeing the heavy atmosphere, he tried to smooth things over.
While easing the tension, Minato also took the chance to introduce himself with a bright smile toward Kushina:
"Hi, I'm Namikaze Minato, class representative. Nice to meet you. My dream is also to become Hokage. We share the same goal, so let's work hard together from now on."
Minato hoped to leave a good impression on the transfer student—so she wouldn't feel isolated and friendless.
Truthfully, Minato's sunny smile was quite infectious. Even some of the girls in class had become his little fans. Truly worthy of being Konoha's acknowledged "little sun."
"Hmph. What a wimp. Gross."
Kushina muttered under her breath, looking at Minato's gentle personality.
In her eyes, compared to Ling Yu, Minato was from heaven and earth—no comparison at all.
"Mm, Minato's right. You're all classmates now, so don't make things too tense. Take a step back, apologize privately, and it'll be fine."
Yamano clapped his hands, finally stepping in. Minato's words were exactly what he wanted to hear.
For a teacher managing a class, Minato's gentle, harmonious personality was the most likable—that's why he'd given him the class rep role.
"Now it's your turn, Uzumaki Rina."
"I… I'm Uzumaki Rina. I don't have any dreams…"
Rina was naturally timid. After witnessing so many intense scenes since arriving in this class, her voice became even smaller. Almost no one heard her clearly.
Yamano could only introduce her briefly on her behalf before letting both girls find seats.
He placed Kushina next to Ling Yu—since they already knew each other, and her guardian had said someone would look after her.
As for Rina, her personality was too introverted to sit beside Ling Yu. After thinking for a long time, he decided Minato was the best choice.
Minato's gentle nature made him perfect for helping a shy transfer student settle in.
"Thank you."
After being seated beside Ling Yu, Kushina immediately walked to the back of the room. When she sat down next to him, she quietly thanked him.
"No need to thank me. Honestly, you're pretty impressive. Doing something on your first introduction that I never dared to do back then."
Ling Yu smiled and replied. With a girl who had a sharp tongue but a soft heart like Kushina, going along with her personality was the best way to get closer.
"Hmph. You're not bad either."
Kushina gave a small huff. On the surface she stayed expressionless, but inside she felt happy from Ling Yu's praise.
She suddenly felt that Ling Yu's personality matched hers quite well.
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