Sora walked through the streets of Konoha, heading toward the Ninja Academy.

  He had no other choice—his home was so remote that getting to the academy required passing through the main streets of Konoha.

  He was no masochist; the harsh words and sful looks from others made him feel deeply unfortable.

  After arriving at his , Sora sat down in his usual er seat.

  No o in front of him or to his right—no one wao be his deskmate.

  For the past three years at the academy, Sora had diligently focused on his studies.

  After all, if he wao ge his current situation, there was no path forward except to bee stronger.

  When Sora first began learning to refine chakra, he dedicated himself to mastering it as quickly as possible.

  It seemed he had a natural talent—while most students needed one or two days to refine chakra for the first time, Sora succeeded within just half a day.

  Yet, there was someone even more talehan Sora: Namikaze Minato, a civilian-born ninja.

  Over the past three years, Minato had sistently outperformed students from promi ninja s like the Uchiha, Hyūga, and Nara, earning the top spot at the academy.

  With his sunny personality and handsome appearanamikaze Minato was immensely popur at school.

  In trast, despite being handsome himself, Sora was shunned and disliked by everyone.

  Sora rested his head on his desk, waiting for css to begin.

  At this point, all he could do was attend school and wait for Uzumaki Kushina to appear.

  Sora's thoughts wandered.

  Havihe falsehoods and hypocrisy of Konoha, he started reviewing his memories, finding Uzumaki Kushina's experiences particurly peculiar.

  He recalled how, during their time as Genin, Uzumaki Kushina had been kidnapped by three Kumogakure shinobi who were at least special Jōnin.

  When she was nearing the border and beginning to despair, Namikaze Minato followed a trail left by her and miraculously rescued her. Despite being only a Genin at the time, he defeated all three Cloud shinobi and saved her.

  This story seemed far-fetched.

  Setting aside whether Minato could actually defeat three special Jōnin as a Genin, it was suspicious that Konoha—a vilge filled with skilled shinobi and perception experts—failed to track three invading Kumogakure ninjas.

  Were Konoha's sensory ninjas simply inpetent?

  Sora's thoughts spiralled into darker possibilities until a sudden realization struck him. He lifted his head, his gaze fixing on Namikaze Minato, who was chatting with someone nearby.

  The ails tainer.

  Uzumaki Kushina wasn't the ails' Jinchūriki at the time.

  After Uzumaki Mito, the First Hokage's wife and the first ails Jinchūriki he end of her life, Konoha had chosen Kushina to bee the ails Jinchūriki for strategic purposes and to maintain the bance of the Tailed Beasts.

  She had been brought to Konoha for this very reason.

  Uzumaki Kushina had no say iter.

  Sora remembered Kushina's words about the suffog loneliness and despair she felt after arriving in Konoha.

  She had been unwilling to accept this cruel fate, but she had no choice but to e.

  And why did Uzumaki Kushina say this?

  The first reason was that she could not ge the oute.

  The sed was likely her bond with Namikaze Minato. Uzumaki Kushina loved Namikaze Minato, and to stay in Konoha, she had to accept this cruel reality.

  It was highly probable that Konoha's higher-ups had been orchestrating this bond sinamikaze Minato rescued Uzumaki Kushina from the three Kumogakure shinobi.

  Perhaps Konoha had phis long in advanbsp;

  By encing Uzumaki Kushina, the orphan of the Uzumaki , to form a bond with Namikaze Minato, they could use that bond as a to bind her willingly to the role of Konoha's ails Jinchūriki.

  The oute was clear: Konoha succeeded.

  If Sora's suspis were correct, then Uzumaki Kushina had beeed as a tool from the very beginning.

  Namikaze Minato, sensing Sora's gaze, gnced in his dire.

  Sora quickly shifted his gaze elsewhere.

  Seeing that Sora wasn't looking at him, Namikaze Minato assumed he had imagi and resumed chatting with his cssmates.

  Sora's heart pounded.

  If his suspis were true, Konoha was far darker than he had imagined. It was even possible that Namikaze Minato, the future Fourth Hokage, was just another pawn in the grand scheme.

  Sora took a deep breath to calm himself.

  Whether his guesses were correct or not didn't matter to him right now. He inteo leave Konoha eventually. For now, improving his strength is his top priority.

  The uping Third Ninja World War would be a critical period for earning witness points. Without suffit strength, he wouldn't just fail to earn points—he might lose his life.

  Suddenly, the door opened.

  Sora's teacher, Masada Hayame, ehe room.

  Sora's eyes lit up as he noticed the small figure following behind Masada Hayame.

  After three long years at the Ninja Academy, it had finally happened!

  Uzumaki Kushina had arrived.

  Uzumaki Kushina stood beside Masada Hayame, looking slightly shy.

  Masada Hayame addressed the css, "This is the raudent who will be joining us today..."

  Uzumaki Kushina took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and mustered the ce to introduce herself loudly:

  "I am Uzumaki Kushina! Wow!"

  Realizing she had added an ued "Wow," Uzumaki Kushina quickly covered her mouth, looking shy and uneasy.

  Sora thought Uzumaki Kushina looked rather cute.

  However, the other students ughed at her.

  "Look at the colour of her hair! It's unbelievable."

  "How someone's hair be that red?"

  "It's so weird."

  ...

  Uzumaki Kushina scratched her red hair, feeling self-scious.

  Masada Hayame scolded, "Alright, quiet down! Everyone, be quiet!"

  Hearing the ridicule, Uzumaki Kushina's body trembled slightly, her small fists g tightly.

  She suddenly decred loudly, as if making an oath:

  "I... I want to be the first female Hokage of this vilge!"

  The fell silent, everyoaring at Uzumaki Kushina in disbelief.

  At that moment, Namikaze Minato stood up, fshing his bright, sunny smile.

  "I also want to bee an outstanding Hokage reized by the vilgers," he said.

  Uzumaki Kushina pursed her lips, looking at Namikaze Minato. She thought he seemed a bit too delicate and unreliable—how could someone like that bee Hokage?

  Masada Hayame then began arranging a seat for Uzumaki Kushina.

  Most of the seats in the were already occupied, except for the area near Sora.

  Seeing this, Masada Hayame frowned, a trace of disdain crossing his fabsp;

  "Well, there's no other choice. Sit over there for now," he said.

  Uzumaki Kushina looked toward Sora's er. Although the was rge, no o near him—it was clear he was isoted.

  At the same time, Uzumaki Kushina noticed the schadenfreude in the eyes of several cssmates.

  Irritated, she stomped over to Sora's er and plopped into the empty seat beside him.