Chapter 26: Tatsuma Never Breaks Character

In Tatsuma's self-assessment, he gauged his present strength and the exclusive Ninja Tool Throwing technique bestowed by Minato. With ample "firepower," confronting a Chunin posed no significant challenge.

Indeed, Tatsuma's proficiency in Ninja Tool Throwing surpassed the conventional standards. He confidently opined that even an average Jonin might not match his expertise in this particular skill.

However, it's crucial to note that this evaluation pertains solely to skill. In terms of sheer power, Tatsuma acknowledges that he still has much to learn and experience.

However, at the tender age of six, he has just embarked on his second year. Judging by his current progress, there's a possibility he could ascend to the rank of Chunin or its equivalent before his eighth birthday. While not necessarily classified as exceptionally gifted, such rapid advancement is undeniably noteworthy.

This accelerated growth might also extend to Minato under his influence, potentially outpacing the trajectory of the original narrative. The prospect of Minato, endowed with talents that could manifest sooner, graduating ahead of schedule remains uncertain.

Tatsuma, however, harbors reservations about this outcome. He fervently wishes for the timely arrival of Kushina Uzumaki to captivate Minato, a boy exhibiting precocious emotional intelligence, in the hope of averting such an accelerated trajectory.

Tatsuma's sentiments toward Kushina? If she were of age, perhaps certain reflections would arise, but Tatsuma is resolute in not allowing himself to descend into inappropriate behavior. He staunchly rejects the notion of becoming a person who fosters unwarranted connections.

In the early stages of romantic inclinations, particularly within the generally precocious world of Naruto, youthful relationships are not uncommon. However, there exist instances of childhood sweethearts navigating a relationship marked by innocence and purity. In Tatsuma's previous life, during primary school, he harbored admiration for a young girl. Yet, during that time, the intricacies of falling in love and the nuances between boys and girls were beyond his understanding.

Following his enlightenment, Tatsuma found himself forever distanced from the pure, innocent sentiments of childhood. Since arriving in this world, he's been determined to approach young girls with a mature understanding of love, steering clear of any inappropriate tendencies.

In essence, Tatsuma's preference leans towards young ladies of 18 years and above. There's an additional rationale behind this choice—his current demeanor doesn't draw the attention or affection of younger girls, given its somewhat unconventional nature.

Typically, girls of that age bracket are drawn to cool, composed individuals or handsome boys who captivate them at first glance. Tatsuma, however, embodies warmth, sincerity, adept social skills, and an inherent initiative—qualities that the older generation perceives as virtues in a young man.

Furthermore, garnering affection at Tatsuma's current age proves to be quite challenging. A prime example unfolded during Valentine's Day earlier in the year, where Minato's desk overflowed with chocolates, and Uchiha Tenko and Hyuga Sento received even more lavish displays of affection.

Even Shikaku and Inoichi found themselves recipients of chocolates, while Tatsuma's experience was notably different. His involvement extended only to Minato querying whether he desired chocolates, a gesture prompted by Minato's concern that he couldn't consume them all.

Tatsuma, adamant in maintaining the facade of disliking chocolates, consistently asserted his aversion. In an effort to uphold this image over the past six months, he went to the extent of removing chocolate toppings from ice cream in front of Minato and others before indulging.

With no alternative, Tatsuma resolved to cultivate inner strength in the face of life's challenges!

Running his fingers through his hair, Tatsuma pondered ways to completely eliminate his curls before reaching adulthood. The prospect of relying on the ninja world's senseis for a solution loomed if he couldn't find one himself.

After consulting the system panel and indulging in a brief daydreaming session, Tatsuma regained his composure. Subsequently, he proceeded to freshen up, utilizing a hairdryer to meticulously dry his hair with a stream of cold air. 

Prior to retiring for the night, he conscientiously reviewed the contents of his first-grade books.

The following day, Minato, sporting a braided hairstyle reminiscent of a blond Hidetora Tojo, and Tatsuma, with a similar braided look resembling a white-haired Yasuo, made their way to the Academy together.

On this day, akin to when Tatsuma and Minato first entered the school a year ago, numerous parents escorted their children to the campus.

As they strolled past the playground, Tatsuma and Minato took a moment to peruse last year's academic rankings. Having not crossed paths at the close of the previous semester, both had maintained an impeccable record in the three battles, mirroring their achievements from the initial semester and securing the coveted dual top positions.

A subtle premonition crept into Tatsuma's thoughts, hinting at the possibility that this academic prowess might be perpetuated by the school. If this trend persisted throughout the year, a year from now, they could find themselves becoming the objects of envy among other parents.

The performance of these two commoners surpassing the students from ninja clan stirred a sense of competition among their own children. Be they ninja or commoner, parents utilized these accomplishments as a motivational tool for their offspring.

Surprisingly, Tatsuma found himself not averse to this sentiment. Perhaps Jiraiya was onto something—standing out had its merits, at least for Tatsuma's own morale.

Upon returning to the classroom and settling into their seats, the class bell promptly chimed. However, Sarutobi Atoma-sensei, who typically arrived punctually, was notably absent. Shikaku even teased, suggesting that Atoma-sensei might have forgotten that school started that day.

As the classroom transitioned from a lively atmosphere to an eerie silence, Sarutobi Atoma finally made an appearance, accompanied by a red-haired girl who kept her head low, exhibiting signs of social anxiety.

Sarutobi Atoma reveled in the newfound tranquility of the class before addressing the students, "Dear students, starting from today, we have a new transfer student. Everyone, please..."

"I'm Kushina Uzumaki!"

Kushina abruptly interjected before Sarutobi Atoma could complete his sentence. It was only after her exclamation that she noticed the curious atmosphere surrounding her.

Whispers erupted as people discussed Kushina's vibrant hair color and commented on her unconventional behavior. Just as Sarutobi Atoma was poised to intervene, Kushina, undeterred by the attention, boldly declared, "I am determined to become the village's first female Hokage!"

A hush fell over the classroom as all eyes turned to Kushina. After a brief pause, Minato shot a few glances in Tatsuma's direction, noting his lack of response. To prevent any potential embarrassment for the newly arrived girl, Kushina, Minato took the initiative and stood up.

"Hello, I, too, aspire to become a Hokage recognized by the people in the village," Minato declared.

As Minato diffused the tension, Sarutobi Atoma sighed in relief, preparing to guide the conversation in a different direction. However, Kushina, fixated on Minato and his distinctive braided long hair, voiced her discontent.

"Are you trying to challenge me, sissy boy?" she exclaimed.

"???"

Even Minato found himself a bit perplexed in this moment. Atoma-sensei promptly waved his hand, signaling for Minato to resume his seat, and then addressed the class, "Alright, alright, let's find a seat first. There's an empty spot next to Minato; you can sit there."

Observing Minato, whose braided hair seemed to possess an ethereal quality, Kushina pouted, clearly dissatisfied. Nevertheless, she begrudgingly made her way to the vacant seat and settled in.

Minato, unsure of how to navigate the situation, offered Kushina a warm smile. However, her response was a dismissive snort as she turned her head away, steadfastly avoiding any eye contact with Minato.

Tatsuma, who had been quietly observing the unfolding scene, couldn't help but smirk. He had been aware of Kushina's initial disapproval of Minato, perceiving him as an unreliable and effeminate individual.

However, the depth of Kushina's bias against Minato now appeared more profound than Tatsuma had anticipated. He contemplated whether it was linked to Minato's distinctive hairstyle, entertaining the suspicion that he might have played a role in advising Minato to maintain his long hair and braid it.

"Well, this might pose a bit of a challenge. If Minato ends up feeling discouraged and decides to opt for early graduation, it won't bode well," Tatsuma mused.

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