After a full day of training, Uzumaki Kushina arrived at the gates of the Senju estate.
She hadn't been in Konoha for long, but the village had already started to feel like home.
Sure, someone had mocked her on her first day, calling her a tomato—but after that, no one dared tease her again.
Thinking about it still made her puff up with frustration. Her already round cheeks puffed out like a warm little steamed bun.
What Kushina didn't know was that the bullying stopped precisely because she chose to sit in Uchiha Kaien's row.
Kaien held a unique position in the class. No one could bring themselves to dislike him. His [Affection] effect on others was practically a passive genjutsu—subtle and persistent. Whether male or female, students instinctively viewed him differently, as if he were naturally above the rest.
Only a few could ignore that aura and genuinely understand his true personality. And once they did, they found themselves drawn to the gentle soul behind his aloof exterior.
Then there was his combat strength—utterly absurd for someone their age.
At the beginning, those kids who picked on Kushina weren't truly malicious. They just wanted attention. Children at that age loved to show off, and they hoped to make this outsider girl submit so they could feel superior.
And, of course, Kushina was adorable. Her face was flawless, her crimson hair framed her pale skin perfectly. In terms of appearance, she was the only one who could rival Uchiha Kaien in the class.
No one dared lay a finger on Kaien. So their next target became the lonely new girl: Uzumaki Kushina.
If it had been any other kid, they might've succeeded. But Kushina was different. Back before the fall of the Land of Whirlpools, she had been a princess—in every sense of the word.
The education she received surpassed what most could even imagine. Well, maybe still a step behind Namikaze Minato in terms of emotional maturity, but close.
She kept that side of herself hidden, masking it beneath a bright, cheerful personality. It was her way of trying to fit in—seeking approval in a new world.
Luckily, she had Kaien. And that made all the difference.
Thanks to the prestige of the Uchiha name, people instinctively placed Kaien—and those he acknowledged—on a pedestal. In the simple minds of children, if Uchiha Kaien accepted her, then she wasn't someone to be messed with.
Especially after she showed off her massive chakra reserves during practical training. Her strength had been proven—no fool would dare challenge her now.
Kushina, for her part, was content with her new life. She had friends who accepted her, trained diligently every day, and returned to the warm company of Grandma Mito in the evening. Maybe... she wasn't such a stranger here after all.
...
"Kushina, you're back!"
Uzumaki Nawaki looked up from an exploding tag he'd been studying in the courtyard, eyes lighting up the moment the gate creaked open.
"Come on, Kushina! Dinner's finally ready!"
Carefree as always, Nawaki's excitement was as honest as it was infectious.
...
After dinner, as usual, Kushina made her way to Uzumaki Mito's room for seal training.
She was the only one with a real chance of carrying on the full Uzumaki sealing arts.
Mito took that responsibility seriously. Her own time was limited—just a few years at most—and she was determined not to let the clan's knowledge die with her.
"Kushina, come sit next to Grandma," Mito said, patting the spot beside her, eyes full of warmth.
Despite her age, Mito's appearance remained striking—more like an elegant eighteen-year-old than a woman past her sixties. Her long, flowing red hair matched Kushina's, while her twin buns gave her an energetic charm. The refined kimono she wore added to her grace.
If you only looked at her from the outside, you'd never guess she was a woman with decades of history behind her. The gentle light in her eyes clashed almost ironically with the depth of experience they held, creating a presence that was impossible to ignore.
"How's academy, Kushina?"
"It's fine! There are lots of interesting classmates. There's the Nara guy who sleeps all day, the Akimichi who's always eating, and the Yamanaka between them who looks constantly annoyed…"
Mito listened patiently, noting that Kushina's face was free of bitterness or frustration. Only after making sure she was truly doing well did she continue the conversation.
"And what about that blond girly-boy you mentioned? Jiraiya's student, wasn't he?"
"Him? He's not that girly. And... well, he's actually stronger than me right now."
"What about Orochimaru's student?"
"Kaien? Mmm... he smells really nice," she said with a dreamy smile. "Whenever I sit next to him, there's this faint fragrance. And he's so gentle…"
Whether or not Kaien seemed effeminate didn't bother Kushina one bit.
He was special.
Being with him was just so easy—like having a best girlfriend who also happened to be way too good-looking. And that gentle scent of his? It made her want to lean closer and breathe it in...
...
"Yes," Mito nodded. "Both Orochimaru and Jiraiya's disciples are good children."
She held no prejudice toward Kaien or Minato. In fact, she wanted Kushina to grow closer to them.
Rumor had it that the Uchiha boy had already awakened his Sharingan. To possess such eyes at his age... it was possible—just possible—that he might reach the same heights as Madara one day. If so, the Nine-Tails might finally be tamed again.
And as for that golden-haired boy, Mito had him investigated in secret. What she discovered shocked even her: Namikaze Minato carried Senju blood.
His mother had been from a Senju branch that quietly merged into Konoha's population. For Hashirama's dream of peaceful integration to actually work—and work so perfectly—it was incredible.
No wonder the boy could match an Uchiha in growth.
And that shining blonde hair... in Konoha, only the Senju ever produced such a spectrum of unique colors.
"You're happy at the Academy, and that's what matters most. Want to hear a story tonight?"
"Yes, please~ I wanna sleep with Grandma Mito tonight!"
Her big round eyes sparkled with joy as she threw herself into Mito's arms, hugging tight.
"Alright, alright. But Kushina has to listen closely."
"Okay~!"
"Long ago," Mito began, "there lived a great fox in the Land of Fire. It had nine long tails and would roam the forests at its leisure every day…"
"Eh?! A fox with nine tails?"
"Of course. Would Kushina like to see it someday?"
"Yes!"
"If the chance comes, you definitely will…"
Mito gently stroked Kushina's forehead, while mentally scolding the Nine-Tails inside her to behave.
"You agree, don't you, Nine-Tails?"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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