Kushina Uzumaki hurried out of the classroom, brushing past Shirota Hon and Mikoto Uchiha, who were just about to enter.
Mikoto Uchiha noticed the faint blush on Kushina Uzumaki's cheeks and instantly understood what had happened. A quiet sense of joy rose in her heart, and a small smile appeared on her face.
It seems those two are getting along quite well, Mikoto Uchiha thought to herself.
There were still many students remaining inside the classroom, though their expressions were strange and awkward.
Seeing this, Shirota Hon spoke.
"Everyone, go take your lunch break. And what happened in class today—don't spread it around carelessly."
After saying that, he turned to Minato Namikaze.
"Minato, come with me."
Minato Namikaze nodded.
He exchanged a glance with Mikoto Uchiha. She gave him a reassuring look, and Minato Namikaze responded with a gentle smile before turning and following Shirota Hon out of the classroom.
Behind him, Mikoto Uchiha's voice called out.
"Minato, I'll be waiting for you! You still haven't tried the rice balls I made."
"Mm."
Minato Namikaze paused briefly, replied softly, and then stepped out into the hallway.
During lunch break, the Ninja Academy training grounds were usually empty.
Shirota Hon led Minato Namikaze to the edge of the training field, near the wire fence. Then he casually sat down cross-legged.
"Sit."
He gestured for Minato Namikaze to do the same.
Minato Namikaze hesitated slightly before nodding and sitting down across from him.
Observing Shirota Hon's expression, Minato Namikaze noticed that it didn't contain much blame.
"Shirota-sensei… aren't you angry with me?"
Minato Namikaze lowered his head slightly.
Although he did not regret what he had done, he still felt guilty for causing trouble for his teacher.
Shirota Hon smiled gently when he heard the question.
"Compared to that… Minato, can you tell me something?"
"Why did you come to the Ninja Academy? Why do you want to become a ninja?"
Minato Namikaze froze.
He clearly hadn't expected such a question.
After a moment, he frowned slightly and began thinking seriously.
Shirota Hon quietly watched the blond boy in front of him.
This was one of the biggest differences between Minato Namikaze and other children his age.
The judgments Minato Namikaze made didn't seem like something a seven-year-old could reach so independently.
No matter what the situation was, Minato Namikaze always thought things through carefully before acting.
Shirota Hon continued observing his expression.
As Minato Namikaze thought, Shirota Hon noticed a fluctuation in the boy's emotions that he had never seen before.
Several minutes passed.
Gradually, the uncertainty in Minato Namikaze's eyes faded and turned into firm determination.
Minato Namikaze took a deep breath and looked up.
"Because… I want to protect someone I want to protect."
"And for that, I must gain power!"
Meeting his gaze, Shirota Hon smiled.
"That's a very clear goal."
It was a genuine smile.
These first-year students had only been at the academy for less than a year.
Most of them probably had no idea what kind of people they would become in the future.
For them, the concept of being a ninja was still vague and distant.
But Minato Namikaze—only seven years old—already possessed such a clear purpose.
From the boy's expression, Shirota Hon could tell he was completely serious.
This wasn't the careless talk of a child.
"So… is Kushina Uzumaki one of the people you want to protect?" Shirota Hon asked.
Minato Namikaze paused for a moment.
Then he nodded.
Shirota Hon looked slightly surprised.
"You only met today, didn't you? Why would you make that decision so quickly?"
Minato Namikaze struggled to answer.
When he thought about the red-haired woman who had begun appearing in his mind since that day, he felt confused.
Every time the image of that red-haired woman appeared, he seemed to lose control of his emotions.
"I don't know."
"But I just want to protect her."
"No matter what price I have to pay."
As if guided by a voice deep within his heart, Minato Namikaze answered firmly.
Even Shirota Hon was startled by the strength of that determination.
He couldn't imagine why a seven-year-old child would possess such unshakable resolve.
It seemed that his student would not grow into an ordinary person.
Although the future was still unknown, Shirota Hon couldn't help but feel that way.
"So… does that make Akasaka U your enemy on the path to protecting Kushina Uzumaki?"
Shirota Hon's voice suddenly became serious.
He could overlook Minato Namikaze's actions earlier, but there was something he needed to confirm.
"No."
"Akasaka U is also someone I want to protect."
Shirota Hon had not expected that answer.
Minato Namikaze replied without hesitation.
However, toward the end of his sentence, a hint of guilt appeared in his voice.
After all, he had just injured Akasaka U.
This left even Shirota Hon confused.
Minato Namikaze seemed to understand what he was thinking and quickly explained.
"Even though it might sound hypocritical coming from me… since I was the one who hurt him."
"But no matter how much I dislike him, he is still part of the village."
"And because of that, I want to protect him too."
"To me, everyone in the village is like family."
Even as a chunin, Shirota Hon had never possessed such an outlook.
From what he knew, people who held that kind of belief often grew into truly important figures within Konohagakure.
For example—
the most powerful ninja in the village today.
The man admired and respected by countless people.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
For a seven-year-old child to think this way was the most shocking part of the day for Shirota Hon.
"Shirota-sensei… is there something wrong with thinking like that?"
Minato Namikaze asked when he noticed his teacher's strange expression.
Shirota Hon snapped out of his thoughts.
"No… there's nothing wrong with it."
"In fact, you've thought about things more thoroughly than your teacher."
Minato Namikaze smiled and shook his head.
"A teacher is still a teacher."
"Anything I've thought of is only possible because of your guidance."
Those words made Shirota Hon feel as if Minato Namikaze was the one guiding and comforting him.
After speaking, even Minato Namikaze himself was slightly surprised.
He didn't know why those words had come out so naturally.
After a moment of thought, Shirota Hon said,
"Alright. I understand your intentions now."
"We'll leave today's matter at that."
"I believe you already know what you should do next."
Minato Namikaze stood up and bowed respectfully.
"I will apologize to Akasaka U."
"My reaction earlier was too extreme."
Protecting someone was not wrong.
Even family members sometimes clashed with one another.
However, Minato Namikaze admitted that he had used too much force earlier.
Even though Akasaka U had insulted Kushina Uzumaki, Minato Namikaze should have stopped him rather than resorting to violence.
Violence used to suppress violence was always the worst solution.
But at that moment earlier, Minato Namikaze's mind had gone completely blank.
Shirota Hon still vividly remembered the fierce, beast-like look in the boy's eyes.
"Alright, go eat your lunch and rest."
Shirota Hon stood up.
After a few quick movements, he disappeared from Minato Namikaze's sight.
Minato Namikaze remained standing there for a moment before turning back toward the classroom.
As soon as he stepped into the hallway, he passed by a boy leaning against the wall.
The boy looked about the same age as him.
Suddenly, the boy spoke.
"Minato Namikaze."
"Why do you hide your strength at school?"