To the young students born after the First Shinobi World War, the Third Hokage of Konoha Village, Fumori Masaki, was a real presence, while Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju were merely legends from textbooks.
Every year during the opening ceremony, the busy Fumori Masaki would take time out to visit the Ninja Academy, offering blessings to the new students and encouraging those already studying there.
Minato Namikaze and Fugaku Uchiha had both seen Fumori Masaki at the opening ceremony, and only then.
Now, Fumori Masaki was at the Ninja Academy outside of an opening ceremony, which made people curious as to why he was there.
"Speaking of which, Kushina, do you know the Third Hokage?" Minato Namikaze noticed Kushina's form of address at this moment; she actually called Fumori Masaki "Uncle," which was not something an ordinary student would do.
Fugaku Uchiha also noticed this point.
He knew Kushina was from the Uzumaki clan, but the Uzumaki clansmen who came to Konoha Village with Kushina in the past had started studying at the Ninja Academy early, so by the time Kushina enrolled, no one thought she was special.
But now it seemed this girl was not so simple.
The current Kushina was not like her counterpart in the original story.
In the original story, Kushina was an orphan, coming to Konoha Village alone, with her family far overseas and unable to offer any help.
As an outsider with no foundation, she could only assert her position with a strong attitude, which was also the origin of her nickname, the "Red Hot-Blooded Habanero."
Because there had been Uzumaki children enrolled before, by the time Kushina arrived at the Ninja Academy, her classmates had already accepted the fact that Uzumaki people lived in Konoha Village.
Naturally, Kushina would not be ostracized or bullied as she was in the original story.
Without the pressure of the external environment, Kushina was just an ordinary girl at school, albeit with a straightforward personality, possibly due to growing up with Mito and spending time with Tsunade.
Kushina was not one to show off, so no one knew that she actually had a very close relationship with the Hokage's family.
An unintentional address at this moment, however, revealed her secret.
"Hmm, something like that." Kushina's words were vague.
Watching her reaction, Minato Namikaze and Fugaku Uchiha confirmed that Kushina definitely knew the Third Hokage, and their relationship was quite close.
For a moment, they both speculated about Kushina's identity.
They both knew Kushina was from the Uzumaki clan, which was no secret at the Ninja Academy, and the Uzumaki clan was a distant relative of the Senju clan; the First Hokage Hashirama Senju's wife was from the Uzumaki clan.
Previously, because there were quite a few Uzumaki clan members—nine before Kushina, and even more now—no one made a direct connection, but now it seemed Kushina might be closely related to the First Hokage's wife, and thus knew the village's Third Hokage.
Fugaku Uchiha and Minato Namikaze were both quick-witted and soon reached a conclusion, and one very close to the truth.
They hadn't expected Kushina to have such a background, yet she remained low-key at school, with few people knowing about it.
Now, however, they had found out.
"You two better not tell anyone else; I don't want them to look at me differently." Kushina made a gesture for them to keep it a secret.
Both understood this point, especially Fugaku Uchiha.
As a rising star of the Uchiha clan, he was often flattered and surrounded at the Ninja Academy, which he found very annoying.
Now that they knew Kushina's background was related to the Hokage, and she requested discretion, they naturally wouldn't be tactless and both promised not to tell anyone else about it.
Kushina nodded contentedly.
She secretly glanced at Minato Namikaze, feeling a slight relief.
Her relationship with Minato Namikaze was quite good on normal days, and now that he knew about this, she was worried whether he would become like those people Akemi-nee-san talked about, becoming sycophantic opportunists.
But from what she just saw, Minato Namikaze's expression was normal, showing no signs of abnormality, which made her a little happy, feeling that their relationship wouldn't be estranged because of this.
Come to think of it, it seemed that she was willing to be friends with him precisely because Minato Namikaze was different from the other classmates, with his humble attitude and gentle demeanor.
As for Fugaku Uchiha, Kushina wasn't too worried.
They weren't close to begin with, so things would be as they were.
Moreover, as a member of the noble Uchiha clan, he wouldn't stoop to being a sycophant.
"Why would the Third Hokage come to the school?" Minato Namikaze murmured softly.
"If we're talking about recent events, it should only be the older students collectively requesting to go to war, right?"
Saying that, Minato Namikaze shifted his gaze to Fugaku Uchiha next to him.
Fugaku Uchiha's expression tightened slightly.
He also felt that the Third Hokage might have come because of this matter; otherwise, aside from things like the opening ceremony, there shouldn't be anything else at the Ninja Academy that would warrant the Third Hokage taking time to deal with.
Not knowing the Third Hokage's stance on this matter, Fugaku Uchiha was very nervous.
He knew that once the Third Hokage made a decision, it would be set in stone and absolutely unchangeable.
Amidst these thoughts, everyone received a notice from the school, instructing all students to gather in the hall where ninjutsu lectures were usually held.
That hall was previously used for senior ninjas or school leaders to give speeches.
Since Fumori Masaki was going to speak, he could only choose that location.
Soon, the students gathered in the hall, sitting in their assigned seats according to grade and class.
The entire hall was instantly filled with people.
The young students, with eyes reflecting various emotions, looked towards the seats on the podium.
The school leaders, who should have been there, could only sit to the side at this moment.
After a while, Fumori Masaki emerged and walked to the front of the podium, looking at the vibrant faces of the students before him.
He felt deeply gratified, took a light breath, and amplified his voice using chakra, acting as a microphone, to project his voice throughout the entire hall.
"Greetings, everyone, I am the Hokage of Konoha Village, Fumori Masaki." Fumori Masaki's voice was very calm.
"I am very happy to see you all so healthy.
I believe that under the guidance of the school, you are slowly growing and will surely become the pillars of the village in the future.
I also believe that the future of the village can be entrusted to you."
Upon hearing this, the first and second-year students were all overjoyed, and even the older students couldn't help but show happy expressions.
"However, that is a matter for the future.
For now, as members of the school, you should act as students, and nothing else." When Fumori Masaki said this, his meaning was already very clear: his purpose this time was to stop the students' intention to participate in the war.
Fugaku Uchiha, as a graduate, was not supposed to be at the Ninja Academy.
He had only come to recruit Minato Namikaze and couldn't leave now, so he sat among the sixth-year students.
Hearing Fumori Masaki say this, he couldn't help but sigh.
"I know that the reason for such a request is because you love the village, hate the invaders, and hope to contribute your strength to the village.
As the Hokage of Konoha Village, I am very happy to have such students.
As long as you are here, I firmly believe that the village will become stronger and stronger in the future, and peace throughout the ninja world will be maintained," Fumori Masaki said.
"If that's the case, why isn't the Hokage-sama willing to let us go to war?" At this moment, a student couldn't help but stand up and ask.
"Because your experience is very shallow right now; rashly sending you out to battle is sending you to your deaths." Fumori Masaki said to that student, and to all the students, "There are still many, many ninjas in the village.
They haven't gone to the battlefield yet, they haven't fallen yet, so it's not your turn, children, to go up.
We are not that incompetent that we need to use your lives to fight!"
Seeing the student speechless, Fumori Masaki smiled slightly, nodded at him, and said, "Of course, I affirm your spirit of willingness to contribute.
However, contributing to the village does not mean you need to fight the enemy.
The village has other needs for you."
Upon hearing this, the student's eyes immediately lit up, and he quickly asked, "Hokage-sama, if there's anything you need us for, just command."
"Don't be in a hurry." Fumori Masaki pressed his hand down, motioning for the student to sit, and said, "Everyone has their own responsibilities.
For students, your way of contributing to the village is to study hard, hone your skills, and contribute to all aspects of the village in the future.
As for the graduates—"
Fumori Masaki's gaze slowly swept over the sixth-year students in the front row, pausing on Kushina, then moving to Minato Namikaze next to her, and then to Fugaku Uchiha.
"Graduates will be assigned to corresponding positions to hone themselves as apprentice ninjas.
This is also contributing to the village's war effort, learning how seniors deal with war.
Do not think these are unimportant jobs.
Including those students nearing graduation, the school can immediately arrange graduation exams to assess their qualities as ninjas.
Those who meet the standards will be granted genin qualification and assigned to corresponding positions with graduate benefits," Fumori Masaki said.
Fugaku Uchiha's expression immediately brightened.
He had originally thought he wouldn't have a chance to contribute to the village yet.
Although it wasn't stepping onto the battlefield, since there was a place where he could be useful, there was nothing to complain about.
It was better than being able to do nothing at all.
The internship places were always related to the war, and if it were the old internship places, there probably wouldn't have been these conditions.
At this point, Fumori Masaki had nothing else to say.
He simply gave some instructions regarding the upcoming school curriculum and the arrangements for graduates, and then left the hall.
After he left, the school leaders took the stage to give a final summary.
Except for those nearing graduation, all other students returned to their classrooms to receive their new course schedules, while those nearing graduation would be informed about the upcoming graduation exam.
"I thought the graduation exam would start a bit later," Kushina whispered to Minato Namikaze.
"Me too." Minato Namikaze nodded slightly, then asked, "Kushina, I remember you were studying logistics and support, right?
Are you planning to go to the logistics department?"
"Yes." Kushina nodded, her expression somewhat mournful.
She actually didn't want to go to the logistics department; she preferred to go to the medical department or other auxiliary departments.
Of course, the best would be to directly enter a combat unit to fight against the Hidden Mist Village ninjas and avenge her parents.
However, because she was destined to inherit the Nine-Tails and become a jinchuriki, she was absolutely forbidden from leaving the village unless under special circumstances.
Therefore, the only place Kushina could choose for her internship was the logistics department.
Her position would also definitely be one that didn't require her to go to the battlefield.
Although from the perspective of contributing to the village, Kushina's task was not meaningless, her personal wish was not to go there.
However, some things were not up to her own will.
When she chose to accept the fate of a jinchuriki, she should have been prepared for her freedom to be restricted.
This was a matter of principle.
Even if Fumori Masaki was the Hokage, he couldn't indulge Kushina's whims.
A jinchuriki was a ninja village's ultimate strategic weapon, and their safety was paramount.
Once a jinchuriki was lost, if the tailed beast died with them, it would take several years for it to revive.
Not to mention the cost of resealing the Nine-Tails, just the period of losing the tailed beast could lead to many upheavals.
"I envy you so much, Minato.
You're probably going to a combat unit, aren't you?" Kushina looked at Minato Namikaze, her tone a little sour.
"There's nothing to envy." Minato Namikaze shook his head and said, "For those who participate in war, war is never something to be happy about."
"Huh?" Kushina was a little surprised, and Fugaku Uchiha on the other side also looked at Minato Namikaze with some astonishment.
Minato Namikaze smiled at Kushina, then said, "In any case, I wish us both good luck in our respective departments.
If I ever go to the front lines, Kushina, I'll have to rely on you to arrange the logistics well, so that my chances of survival are a little higher."
Minato Namikaze's tone was very relaxed, as if he wasn't talking about his own life or death.
Kushina gave him a glare, then turned her head and said, "I will definitely do my job well, it just depends on whether my abilities are good enough."
"Thank you." Minato Namikaze smiled, then looked at Fugaku Uchiha and said, "Fugaku-kun, do you still want to go to a combat unit?"
"That goes without saying." Fugaku Uchiha heard this, smiled, and shook his head.
"I was originally planning to go to a combat unit.
Although it's not quite what I expected, it's still good to go.
I'll be in your care then."
"Yes, please take care," Minato Namikaze said.