Most of the lessons for new students focused primarily on theory.
After all, the human body required time to grow, and this development formed the foundation for chakra. For children still in their growth phase, the amount of chakra they could refine was extremely small.
In fact, within Minato Namikaze's class, there were still five or six students who couldn't properly gather chakra at all.
"That's all for the morning lesson. Everyone remember to eat your lunch properly!"
After Shirota Hon announced the end of class, the once calm classroom was instantly filled with lively chatter and energetic activity.
Shirota Hon simply smiled and shook his head at the noise.
His gaze drifted subtly toward Minato Namikaze.
Throughout the entire morning, he had been observing the boy from time to time.
Normally obedient and attentive, Minato Namikaze hadn't listened to the lecture at all today. Instead, he had spent the entire time quietly watching the newly transferred student—
Kushina Uzumaki.
"Ah… what does all of this even mean? I can't understand any of it at all!"
Unlike the other students who were happily preparing for lunch, Kushina Uzumaki sat at her desk, irritatedly tugging at her red hair while glaring at the ninja handbook on her desk.
Even the way she spoke carried a strange verbal tic at the end of her sentence.
She had clearly resolved to treat this academy as the first step toward achieving her dream.
But after sitting through the entire morning's lessons, she realized something shocking.
She was completely terrible at this!
The morning lesson had mainly covered the fundamentals of chakra—its origin, its nature, and the basic methods of refining it.
Kushina Uzumaki felt like everything she heard had gone straight over her head.
Even though she had been trying her best to listen carefully, everyone had things they were good at and things they weren't.
And it seemed that theoretical study was something Kushina Uzumaki was particularly bad at.
Beside her, Mikoto Uchiha watched with a soft smile.
These lessons were extremely simple for Mikoto Uchiha. As a member of the Uchiha Clan, she had already learned much of this material even before entering the Ninja Academy.
Watching the different personalities among his students, Shirota Hon smiled lightly. After tidying up his teaching materials, he left the classroom.
During lunch break, most students did not return home.
Instead, they ate the bento lunches they had brought with them to school.
However, Kushina Uzumaki continued staring intensely at her ninja handbook, completely absorbed in it.
Even though the classroom had once again become extremely noisy, nothing seemed able to distract her.
"Alright, stop thinking about it for now. Would you like to eat lunch together?"
A gentle voice pulled Kushina Uzumaki out of her thoughts.
Mikoto Uchiha tilted her head slightly as she looked at her, a hopeful expression shining in her dark eyes.
It had to be said—Mikoto Uchiha was very beautiful.
She possessed a natural warmth and kindness that made it almost impossible for anyone to dislike her.
Caught off guard by the invitation, Kushina Uzumaki blinked in surprise.
Then a faint blush appeared on her slightly round cheeks.
"Pfft."
Seeing her adorable reaction, Mikoto Uchiha couldn't help laughing softly.
She pulled out a small bag and placed it on the desk.
"I made these rice balls myself. Please, help yourself."
Mikoto Uchiha gestured politely.
Kushina Uzumaki looked at her, then glanced down at the rice balls inside the bag.
Encouraged by Mikoto Uchiha's hopeful expression, she slowly reached out her hand.
But just then—
an unfriendly voice suddenly rang out.
"Hey, new girl. Do you really think you can just take Mikoto's food like that?"
Both girls turned toward the source of the voice.
Standing in front of the desk was a boy.
Kushina Uzumaki looked confused, but Mikoto Uchiha immediately frowned.
"Akasaka U, what does this have to do with you? I told her to take one!"
The boy named Akasaka U was known as one of the more mischievous troublemakers in the class.
As Mikoto Uchiha spoke, two or three other boys walked over.
They were clearly Akasaka U's usual group of friends.
"Now that I think about it," one of the boys said as he approached Kushina Uzumaki, "her hair color is really strange. It looks like red thread."
Hearing this, Kushina Uzumaki's young face showed clear irritation.
Still, she simply turned to leave, tossing out a sharp reply.
"What does that have to do with you?"
Unfortunately, two other boys had already moved to block her path.
Akasaka U finally shifted his gaze away from Mikoto Uchiha and looked directly at Kushina Uzumaki.
"You've got quite the attitude for a new student."
Four boys roughly the same age as Kushina Uzumaki surrounded her near the edge of the classroom.
Mikoto Uchiha's face filled with worry.
Her eyes quickly scanned the room before landing on Minato Namikaze's seat.
Minato Namikaze was already looking in their direction.
However, he was leaning on the desk with one arm while the other hand ran through the bangs covering his forehead.
His expression looked extremely strange.
"Minato…"
Mikoto Uchiha had never seen him like this before and felt slightly startled.
At the same time, she was worried about Kushina Uzumaki and didn't know what to do.
At that moment, inside Minato Namikaze's mind—
the image of the red-haired woman appeared again.
This time, her face had become slightly clearer.
Minato Namikaze saw the painful expression on her face.
She was lying curled up on a bed inside a dimly lit room.
Her long red hair was scattered messily around her.
Tears shimmered in her beautiful eyes as she bit her lower lip tightly, soft sobbing sounds escaping from her mouth.
Minato Namikaze couldn't stop the vision.
His entire body trembled.
He didn't want to see this scene.
Even though he didn't know who the woman was, one thing was certain—
he didn't want to see her suffering.
He didn't want her to be hurt.
For that reason, he would be willing to pay any price.
Even his life.
Just then, mocking voices rang out near his ears.
"Hair like red thread and a round face… from now on we should call you Tomato!"
"I hate tomatoes the most! If I saw one in my lunch, I'd definitely leave it behind!"
Hearing these insults, the pain inside Minato Namikaze's mind faded slightly.
He raised his head.
Akasaka U and the other boys were surrounding Kushina Uzumaki, pointing at her and laughing loudly while throwing out cruel insults.
Kushina Uzumaki stood there with humiliation written across her face.
Her small fists were clenched tightly, and her slender body trembled.
Seeing how embarrassed she looked, Akasaka U's mischievous side took over.
He reached out and grabbed a strand of Kushina Uzumaki's long red hair.
"Such a strange color…"
Seeing this, Mikoto Uchiha's dark eyes widened slightly.
She was just about to step forward—
when an angry shout suddenly echoed through the classroom, overpowering all the noise.
"No one is allowed to bully her!"
In the eyes of the Ninja Academy students present, Minato Namikaze moved like a phantom.
Before anyone could react, he had already appeared in front of Akasaka U.
With a swift motion, Minato Namikaze kicked out fiercely.
Bang!
His foot struck Akasaka U squarely in the stomach.
The boy was sent flying.
Akasaka U crashed through the back classroom door and slammed violently into the wall of the hallway.
In that instant—
the entire classroom fell silent.
Shocked gazes turned toward Minato Namikaze.
The usually humble and gentle Minato Namikaze had exploded with fury for the sake of a newly transferred student.
Both Mikoto Uchiha and Kushina Uzumaki stared in stunned silence.
Minato Namikaze stood in front of Kushina Uzumaki, protecting her.
In his deep blue eyes burned fierce anger.