"Your kenjutsu is stronger than mine, but my Water Release and taijutsu are better than yours."
Nawaki spoke with genuine sincerity. "We should spar often. We can improve together."
"Sure."
Natsuki nodded.
He had to admit—Nawaki really was similar to Uzumaki Naruto. A genuinely good person.
The only difference was that Nawaki didn't have protagonist plot armor. He'd died young.
Natsuki wondered if his presence as a butterfly might change things. Would Nawaki still die to an explosive tag like in the original timeline?
He didn't want that to happen.
Having someone like Nawaki as a friend was invaluable. The same went for Namikaze Minato.
Tsunade watched them and couldn't help but smile.
Nawaki was extroverted by nature, but his status and talent meant he didn't have many friends his own age.
This Natsuki kid was quite good.
"You guys are so strong, dattebane!"
Uzumaki Kushina suddenly blurted out.
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized her verbal tic had slipped. A faint blush colored her cheeks.
"A very cute quirk."
Natsuki said with a smile.
Kushina blinked, then looked away bashfully.
"Since your sparring is finished, I should head back to Konoha Hospital."
Tsunade paused. "Are you coming with me, or staying here to train?"
"It's vacation anyway—training anywhere is the same. I'll stay with Natsuki."
Nawaki answered without hesitation.
"I want to stay too."
Kushina looked at Tsunade hopefully.
"Alright then."
Tsunade considered for a moment before agreeing.
According to Konoha's regulations, after becoming the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, one had to remain in seclusion for an extended period.
The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was Konoha's ultimate trump card. The fewer people who knew, the better.
But Uzumaki Kushina wasn't the Jinchuriki yet. There was no need for such strict measures.
That was also why she was permitted to attend school.
After Tsunade left, the three began training.
Although they trained together, their focuses differed.
Natsuki practiced tree climbing. Nawaki worked on Water Release. Kushina studied sealing techniques.
In Konoha, the most famous Water Release user was Senju Tobirama.
As Senju Hashirama's grandson, Nawaki naturally learned Tobirama's techniques.
The sealing jutsu Kushina studied wasn't ordinary either—it was the secret art of the Uzumaki clan.
It was no exaggeration to say the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques were the strongest in the ninja world.
The supposedly invincible Tailed Beasts were mere obedient pets before Uzumaki sealing jutsu.
By comparison, Natsuki's tree climbing training was utterly mundane.
Without his cheat, he had no idea how he'd ever catch up to Nawaki and Kushina.
A month passed quickly.
March ended, and the Ninja Academy welcomed the new semester.
"Natsuki, our medical training class is holding its first exam next Monday."
Yakushi Nonou said as they walked.
"What are you being tested on?"
Natsuki asked curiously.
"Theory and practical."
Nonou paused. "The practical portion involves performing surgery on a fish."
"I see."
Natsuki immediately recalled that in the original story, Haruno Sakura's medical ninjutsu training had also begun with healing a fish.
"If you can't make it, you don't have to come."
Nonou tilted her head to look at him.
"It's fine. I can request leave."
Natsuki lifted his chin slightly. "I took first place in the practical combat exam, after all. Ishida-sensei won't give me trouble."
Top students had privileges everywhere.
With his current ranking, even if he skipped class, Ishida Yu wouldn't say anything.
Of course, the condition was that his ranking couldn't drop in the next exam.
If it did, Ishida Yu would definitely have words.
"Mm."
Nonou nodded happily.
As usual, after walking her to Konoha Hospital, Natsuki arrived at the Ninja Academy.
New semester, new classroom. They had moved from Class 1-A to Class 2-A.
"Natsuki."
Namikaze Minato smiled. "How was your vacation?"
"Not bad. You?"
Natsuki asked in return.
"I spent the whole break training."
Minato answered honestly. "Mainly the Three Basic Jutsu, ninja tool throwing, and basic taijutsu."
"With your current level, those won't help you improve much."
Natsuki offered a suggestion. "If you're not planning to apply for early graduation, you could ask Ishida-sensei to teach you more advanced ninjutsu."
"My thoughts exactly."
Minato nodded.
He wasn't planning to graduate early just yet.
First, because he was still young.
Second, because he still wanted to settle the score with Natsuki.
Natsuki might be stronger right now—but Minato wouldn't concede so easily.
9 AM.
Ishida Yu entered the classroom on schedule.
The students of Class 2-A stopped chatting, but their gazes all drifted to the unfamiliar girl standing behind him.
A new face made everyone curious.
"Kushina, introduce yourself first."
Ishida Yu said.
Uzumaki Kushina nodded and walked to the front of the room.
Looking out at the sea of faces, she took a deep breath.
"My name is Uzumaki Kushina. I'm a new transfer student. And my dream is to become Konoha's first female Hokage!"
By the end, her voice had grown much louder.
"Ha! A brat who just got here wants to be Hokage? Know your place!"
Onodera stood up and sneered.
"Yeah! Big talk for a newcomer!"
"Look at that face—round as a tomato. And that red hair too. From now on, your name is Tomato!"
"Red hair is so ugly!"
With Onodera leading the charge, several boys who followed him joined in mocking Kushina.
Her fists clenched. Her expression darkened.
Natsuki glanced at Namikaze Minato.
Minato remained seated, unmoving—just like in the original timeline.
In his previous life, Natsuki had always been confused.
Why hadn't Ishida Yu or Minato stepped in when Kushina was being bullied?
Now he understood. Such incidents were so common that even someone like Minato tacitly allowed them to happen.
But against these petty bullies, Natsuki had no intention of staying silent.
"Red is the color of the Hokage."
He stood and spoke calmly. "Are you mocking the color red—or are you mocking the Hokage?"
The laughter died instantly.
If anyone else had spoken up, they would have ignored it—or added that person to their list of targets.
But this was Natsuki.
First place in practical combat. None of them could beat him.
"Natsuki is right."
Ishida Yu quickly backed him up. "From now on, you're all classmates. You should be united and friendly."
Natsuki's accusation had been sharp—almost dangerously so.
Who would dare answer that question?
Uzumaki Kushina instinctively looked toward Natsuki.
A smile spread across her round little face.
As expected. Natsuki is the best.
During their vacation training, they had already become friends.
But today—watching him stand up for her—his image in her eyes transformed completely.
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