"Dattebane?"
Hearing this strange verbal tic, the students below the stage laughed one after another. They began to whisper about her hair, mocking the unbelievable, vivid shade of red. One student called it strange while others simply stared. Hearing the discussions from below, Kushina's face turned slightly red, and she touched her hair unnaturally. She found it incredibly annoying. She didn't choose this color; it was a part of her, and there was nothing she could do about it. Her heart, which had just relaxed, was once again filled with tension at this moment.
Just then, Minato's voice rang in her ear. "I think it's very beautiful, just like a flame. It looks so full of life." His voice wasn't loud, yet it seemed to contain a certain steady power, clearly reaching everyone's ears. Hearing Minato's words, Kushina's mood suddenly calmed down, and she stared blankly at him. This was the first time anyone had ever complimented her hair for being beautiful.
"Yeah, I think it looks very nice too." Yakushi Nonou heard Minato's words and chimed in with a gentle tone. Hearing the two of them, the class quieted down a bit, but Kōta snorted and looked at Minato provocatively. He asked if Minato liked the girl, calling her a tomato.
Minato looked at Kōta and broke into a smile. "Is there something wrong with that? I like everyone who is optimistic, kind, and positive. Similarly, I also hate every dark-minded, ill-intentioned piece of trash."
"Bastard! Who are you calling trash?!" Hearing this, Kōta was instantly enraged and slammed the table as he stood up.
"Ah-re? I didn't say it was you, why are you so worked up?" Minato tilted his head slightly, his smile as sunny as ever, but anyone could hear the banter in his tone. The class immediately burst into laughter.
"Damn you, you guy—!" Kōta's face flushed red as he clenched his fists tightly. He just wanted to punch that annoying smiling face right now.
"Alright, everyone quiet down!" Iruka Umino frowned and stopped Kōta, then gently patted Kushina's shoulder. "Kushina, tell us about your hobbies and dreams."
"I... I like eating ramen! My dream is to become this Village's first female Hokage!" Becoming the Hokage was the dream of the vast majority of Konoha's children. Kushina wasn't obsessed with that position; she just felt that by doing so, she could better integrate into the Village. The air went silent for a moment, but no other blind fools jumped out.
Minato clapped lightly and then raised his hand. "Teacher, I have an empty seat here." Iruka Umino nodded, telling Kushina to sit next to Minato. Kushina walked quickly to Minato's side and sat down, letting out a long sigh of relief.
"It's nerve-wracking being watched by so many eyes, isn't it?"
"I'm nervous to death!" Kushina curled her lip, suddenly relaxing, which caused her to unconsciously reveal a bit of her true nature. She gritted her teeth and asked in a low voice, "What's the name of that bastard who made fun of me just now?"
"His name is Kōta." Minato didn't hide it. To be honest, compared to her timid appearance when she first arrived yesterday, he preferred this real Kushina.
"Just because of a different hair color, he speaks out to mock me. What a disgusting guy!" Kushina snorted, then noticed Minato's smiling gaze and realized she had exposed her true nature. "What... what are you laughing at?" Kushina lowered her head in embarrassment, her small chubby face turning slightly red, looking very cute.
Minato said gently, "Nothing, I just think this Kushina is a bit more real." Hearing this, Kushina subconsciously remembered him complimenting her hair earlier, and her face turned even redder. She looked up timidly and asked if he really thought her hair was beautiful. Minato nodded firmly, telling her it suited her very well.
Kushina felt like her face was so hot she could even fry an egg. She didn't know what was wrong with her; she felt dizzy, and her mind was filled with Minato. The tranquility when he cooked, the gentleness when he spoke, and the decisiveness when he defended her. At this moment, it was as if a seed had quietly sprouted in the depths of her heart. Kushina didn't hear a single word of the lesson. It wasn't until the bell rang that she snapped out of her thoughts.
"I... I'm going to the restroom!" Kushina stood up with her head down and walked quickly out of the classroom.
In the front row, Kōta and the other two looked at each other and followed silently. Catching their movements out of the corner of his eye, Minato's expression was subtle, but it returned to normal in an instant as he walked out of the classroom unhurriedly. Inside the restroom, Kushina leaned against the sink with both hands, looking at her flushed face in the mirror.
She turned on the faucet and patted her face gently. Just then, a blonde girl came over to her side and washed her hands. Kushina recognized her as the girl who had just spoken up for her. She thanked her politely and asked for her name.
"Yakushi Nono, just call me Yakushi Nonou." Nono smiled friendly. "No need for thanks. Minato said this morning that a friend would be transferring to our class. Minato's friend is naturally my friend too." Hearing this, Kushina was stunned, and an inexplicable emotion welled up in her heart. She asked if Nono and Minato were very close.
"I suppose it's pretty good? We were seatmates at the start of school, and we occasionally sit together afterward. But Minato is gentle to everyone, so I'm not sure what he thinks of me."
Nono's words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the heat on Kushina's face. Kushina gave a stiff smile, assuming that was why he took such care of her. Nono didn't say out loud that Kushina was actually the first person Minato had specially cared for. Looking at Kushina's dimming gaze, Nono suddenly felt a surge of disgust toward herself. She took Kushina's hand and they walked toward the classroom together.
Before they had gone far, three figures suddenly blocked their path. Kōta, Tetsuo, and Yukio stood side by side with their arms crossed. Kushina frowned, seeing them. Yukio shouted with an exaggerated expression, mocking the tomato for being able to talk. Kushina pulled Nono behind her, her eyes darkening as she faced the three of them.
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