Kushina had been feeling troubled recently. Since enrolling three months ago, she still hadn't made a single close friend.
The matter could be traced back to the day of the class selection.
Although the meteor shower interrupted the class assignment activities on the first day of the new semester, the selection proceeded as planned the next day once the danger had passed.
After overcoming numerous challenges, Kushina had secured first place in the new student entrance exam, while the second place went to a blond boy named Namikaze Minato.
However, when Kushina and the other top students went on stage to receive their awards, some jealous students whispered among themselves below, snickering quietly.
"Red with yellow… looks just like scrambled eggs with tomatoes!"
Upon hearing this, Kushina flew into a rage and shouted down at them: "Cowards! Do you dare say that directly to my face?"
Many of them had already been envious of Kushina's privileged upbringing, and now, after being insulted in return, their dislike for her only deepened.
Minato, by nature obedient and cheerful, had a modest family background but never felt inferior. He brushed off others' teasing with a smile.
By comparison, these students quickly developed a strong prejudice against Kushina, seeing her as a spoiled, arrogant girl.
And so, three months passed in the blink of an eye. By the middle of the semester, Kushina was still alone.
Seeing her situation, Minato felt guilty. He thought that if he had stood up for her back then, it might have prevented others from misunderstanding her.
Over time, he often noticed Kushina's solitary figure in class and wanted to apologize, but each time, she would storm off in anger.
Arima also knew about Kushina's predicament but had no intention of intervening.
One day, Kushina lay in Arima's arms, feeling upset, and said, "Arima-nii all the classmates avoid me and won't play with me. Did I do something wrong?"
Arima gently stroked Kushina's red hair and comforted her.
"Prejudice, jealousy, fear, these are all negative emotions of the human heart. They cannot simply be dispelled with strength! Only sincerity can earn genuine responses!"
At that moment, Tsunade walked in from the kitchen carrying a tray of snacks.
Since the New Year before last, Tsunade had been living with her Arima.
They had originally planned to hold a grand wedding that New Year, but the unexpected attack from Otsutsuki Isso forced them to postpone until the threat was eliminated.
Tsunade placed the snacks on the table and pushed them toward Kushina, teasing, "Kushina, have you met anyone you like at school?"
Kushina popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth, chewing fiercely. "Hmph! I don't have anyone I like! I'm going to marry Arima-nii someday!"
This made Tsunade laugh heartily, and Arima couldn't help but chuckle as well.
Kushina, seeing their reaction, immediately pouted in protest: "I'm serious! Those annoying boys are the worst!"
Tsunade drew out a long "Oh" and then looked at her brother with a feigned puzzled expression. "Then… what's this 'egg' thing about?"
Kushina's face flushed crimson. "It's not 'scrambled eggs with tomatoes'!"
In her excitement, Kushina accidentally added her speech quirk.
Tsunade was amused by Kushina's cuteness and even imitated her expression perfectly.
Kushina then threw herself into Arima's arms, pouting: "Arima-nii, Tsunade is bullying me!"
Arima winked at Tsunade and, raising his voice playfully, scolded her thoroughly.
Finally, Kushina couldn't stand it anymore and wriggled out of Arima's arms, soothing him.
"Arima-nii, it's okay. Tsunade was just teasing me!"
To show she bore no ill will, Kushina gave Tsunade a big hug.
What Kushina didn't realize was that these two adults had been smiling the entire time, clearly putting on a show for her.
Tsunade then asked opportunely, "Kushina, what do you think of that boy, Namikaze Minato?"
Kushina thought for a moment. "Not much. He's seems weak! And he wants to become Hokage? That's like the council leader of the ninja world. Quite an ambitious goal!"
Arima asked curiously, "Then what about your own wish, Kushina?"
Kushina stood firmly before Arima and Tsunade, her voice solemn: "I wish to become a hero of the ninja world like Arima-nii, protecting this land of the shinobi!"
At that moment, both of them could hear the determination in her words.
Arima returned to the house and soon came back with a crystal necklace.
He carefully placed it around Kushina's neck. "I hope you'll bravely pursue your dreams, little Kushina. This necklace is a family tradition, and now you're officially recognized by us!"
Kushina looked at the necklace, jumping with excitement. From that moment, she truly felt rooted in this family.
She ran off without looking back, shouting as she went, "Natsuka, I have a necklace too!"
Arima and Tsunade exchanged smiles, embracing each other and imagining the lively life they would have with children someday.
…
A year passed in the blink of an eye. The new semester began once more.
Kushina was now a second-year student and had grown into the leader of her grade.
Ever since Arima had given her the family-significant necklace, she was brimming with confidence, no longer afraid of others' cold treatment.
Her courage and self-assurance were fully restored.
This changed how others saw her, and classmates began to approach her proactively.
When she later defeated an upperclassman who bullied one of her classmates, her popularity skyrocketed, making her the de facto leader of her year.
By chance, she befriended the fourth-year leader, Uchiha Mikoto, and the two quickly grew close.
Through Kushina's introduction, Mikoto also met Nawaki and Natsuka.
Thus, among the six grades at the academy, four student leaders came together: sixth-year Nawaki, fifth-year Natsuka, fourth-year Mikoto, and first-year Kushina.
The four became inseparable, jokingly dubbed the "Kyoto Ninja Academy F4" by other students.
Seven years into the ninja world era, in the 32nd year of Konoha's history, Nawaki graduated top of his class and passed the Chunin exams a month later.
On the first day of the new semester, Nawaki, as one of the most outstanding graduates, was invited back by Head Instructor Hiruzen to give a speech to the new students.
Also invited were Uchiha Fugaku,Hiruzen's son, Third Raikage's son and others.
This tradition had been established by Arima after the founding of the Konoha-Kumo alliance, aimed at increasing contact between ninjas from different regions and gradually eliminating barriers.
The ceremony this year went smoothly, without incident.
A year had passed since the meteor shower, and its memory still haunted many.
During this time, the alliance ninjas had not given up searching for a passage to the moon, though all attempts had failed so far.
However, their efforts were not entirely in vain.
During their search, they unexpectedly discovered the hidden underground base of the Evil God Cult in the Land of Hot Water and successfully eradicated all its members.
At that moment, Arima stood on Hokage Rock, looking at the school grounds in the distance. "Little Natsuka's grown up… finally able to handle things on her own!"
Tsunade beside him asked, "Arima, how will you assign her role?"
Arima thought for a moment. "Let her follow her own wishes. As long as she's happy! With me here, no rain will touch her!"
Tsunade asked next, "And me?"
Without hesitation, Arima said, "You're the mole on my heart. Even if hail falls from the sky, it won't touch you!"
Tsunade smiled sweetly, releasing her fingers from his waist. "You've been doing well lately, so I'll let it slide for now, won't ask who you'd save first if someone fell into the river!"
Arima asked lightly, "Who came up with that question anyway?"
Tsunade grinned. "Of course, Jiraiya! That ridiculous love training manual he wrote seven or eight years ago somehow became popular.
That fool's now a somewhat famous author, finally standing tall!"
Arima said meaningfully, "Jiraiya still hasn't found a girlfriend, right?"
Tsunade laughed. "With a book like that, the female ninjas look at him funny. He'll probably end up hanging with Orochimaru!"
Arima shook his head, frustrated. "I think he's too scared to get a girlfriend. All those problems are his own doing! I'll talk to Aunt Yoko so her son doesn't stay single forever!"
Tsunade whispered into Arima's ear, "Arima… you might not know, but Jiraiya actually has someone he likes."
Arima was surprised. "Which poor girl has caught his eye?"
Tsunade gently punched his chest, smiling. "Orochimaru guessed it. The girl is in the Land of Demons, probably the shrine maiden Kasumi he met during our mission there. Love at first sight, they say!"
Arima exclaimed, "No wonder Jiraiya keeps asking me for missions in Earth, Ghost, Snow, and Bear regions. Those places are all near the shrine!"
Tsunade chuckled. "He even wrote her letters. Orochimaru once secretly read one to me!"
Arima asked with interest, "What did the letter say?"
Tsunade recited: "Bright moon shines, yet I cannot sleep; the beauty unseen, my heart is sorrowful; riding wind and clouds, he returns; hidden beauty moon returns, my heart shines clearly!"
Arima repeated the words thoughtfully. "Sounds interesting… kind of like ancient language."
He remembered seeing a similar style on a stele in Mount Myoboku, supposedly a gift from the Sage of Six Paths to the Great Toad Sage.
Arima smiled. "If they're willing to be together, I'd be happy to be the officiant… oh well, let them be!"
At that moment, a white-haired Anbu carrying a short sword appeared before Arima and Tsunade.
Anbu knelt on one knee. "Lord Arima, a large number of rogue ninjas are heading toward Kyoto!"
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