Chapter 1: The New Transfer Student, Kushina, Shows Who’s Boss

"Class, today we have a new student joining us. Let's all give her a warm welcome."

Mr. Uemura led a little girl with long red hair into the classroom, starting the applause.

"Go ahead, introduce yourself to your classmates."

"Hello, everyone. My name is Kushina, Uzumaki Kushina. It's nice to meet you all. Please take care of me."

But instead of the enthusiastic response Kushina hoped for, she was met with murmurs and whispers.

"Look, she has red hair."

"That's so weird."

"Yeah, nobody in Konoha has red hair. Do you think she's some kind of red-haired demon?"

"Pfft! More like a chili pepper, with that bright red hair."

Hearing her classmates' comments, Kushina, already nervous and feeling insecure, turned pale.

"..."

These brats, I'm standing right here, you know!

Mr. Uemura's face twitched with anger at their remarks. His face darkened, and he slammed his hand on the desk, roaring:

"Enough, you little brats! You can't talk about a classmate like that! It's rude!"

Seeing their teacher lose his temper, the students quickly shut up.

"Kushina, find an empty seat and sit down. Don't mind what they said. They didn't mean it."

Mr. Uemura immediately demonstrated what it means to change expressions instantly. His dark expression vanished, replaced with a warm, friendly smile.

"Yes, sir."

After bowing and thanking Mr. Uemura, Kushina looked around the crowded classroom.

After scanning the room, she found an empty seat.

The only available seat was in the last row.

So, she lowered her head and walked over.

The seat by the window on the right side of the last row was already taken, so Kushina had to sit in a slightly more central position.

I need to get along with my classmates and make new friends. That's the only way I'll fit in faster here in Konoha.

Remembering what Mito Uzumaki had told her, Kushina's eyes welled up a bit.

The kind grandmother who had been the closest thing to family here in Konoha was gone.

Now, she was all alone.

"Hello, I'm Kushina."

Kushina quietly encouraged herself, deciding to start by getting to know her seatmate.

"Huh?"

Kushina hadn't expected her seatmate, who had been staring out the window, to only glance at her indifferently.

His gaze was as calm as if he were looking at a complete stranger.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally spoke.

"Takuya."

What's the deal?

There were so many seats available, but you had to sit next to me?

Minato, come get your future wife!

"Nice to meet you."

Undeterred, Kushina continued.

"Mm."

Takuya didn't understand why Kushina was making an effort to chat, so after a slight nod, he resumed looking out the window.

She's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. It's better to keep my distance so I don't attract attention from the ANBU or the Root ninjas.

The Third Hokage and Danzo aren't people you want to mess with.

Besides, with who I am, it's better if I don't get too close to a Jinchuriki.

As the lesson began, Kushina tried to focus, but soon she began to feel sleepy.

She hasn't had a good night's sleep since she arrived in Konoha.

"Red-haired demon!"

"Little Red Pepper!"

"She's a freak!"

As soon as the teacher left after class, a group of brats turned their attention to the back of the classroom.

They hurled all kinds of insults at Kushina.

These kids are so mean!

Suddenly wide awake, Kushina's little face turned as red as her hair in anger.

Wow, you guys are really asking for it, messing with Little Pepper like that. You must have a death wish!

Takuya admired the boldness of these kids, daring to mess with Kushina.

Don't be fooled by her gentle appearance now, thinking she's an easy target.

But once you cross her line and truly piss her off, she'll show you why they call her the Red-Hot Habanero!

As her classmates continued to mock her, Kushina, who had just gone through the trauma of losing her family, couldn't hold back anymore.

She clenched her fists, trying to stay calm.

"Haha, look at her! She's mad! Her face is as red as her hair."

"Whoa, so scary! She really is a red-haired demon. No, wait, a red-haired witch! My mom says red-haired witches like to eat little kids... Ah!"

The kid who had been gleefully taunting her suddenly screamed as Kushina knocked him to the ground with a single punch.

Furious beyond measure, Kushina's red hair began to float as if lifted by an invisible force.

A terrifying chakra erupted in the classroom.

What's happening?

The ANBU ninja, who had been monitoring Kushina, was startled.

This Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's chakra is intense!

"You... all of you, just drop dead!"

Unable to bear it any longer, Kushina grabbed the terrified kids one by one and knocked them all to the ground.

Watching Kushina unleash her fury, Takuya sighed inwardly.

It's the same Nine-Tails, but why is the difference so big?

Inside Takuya's mind, in his consciousness space, a small fox resembling the Nine-Tails was lying down, yawning.

The difference was that this Nine-Tails was white, with softer features.

The chakra Kushina unleashed had traces of the Nine-Tails mixed in, making Takuya a bit envious.

Thankfully, my Nine-Tails, though still weak and slowly growing, won't be detected by anyone.

Unless I reveal it myself, no one will know I'm a Jinchuriki too.

And my Nine-Tails is exclusive, bound to me, and will never leave my body.

The safety factor is off the charts!

Before crossing over, Takuya had been lounging at home, eating watermelon, enjoying the air conditioning, and playing a Naruto mobile game.

Because of his love for the Sharingan, Takuya had chosen the Uchiha faction.

He had leveled up, gathered materials, and spent a lot of money to obtain the Mangekyō Sharingan, Eternal Mangekyō, and even the Rinnegan.

Just when Takuya thought he was about to "graduate" from the game, the developers introduced a Jinchuriki feature.

Players could spend money on tickets to draw the tailed beast they liked and become Jinchuriki, significantly boosting their combat power.

Takuya had spent a small fortune to get that white Nine-Tails.

But he never imagined that after finally obtaining it, he'd wake up in a different world.

"Wah, she's so scary."

Those who had mocked Kushina and given her nicknames were all beaten up, their faces bruised and swollen. The entire classroom was in chaos, like a large-scale brawl.

This was enough to show just how fierce Kushina's combat skills were.

"Haha... this girl is kind of scary."

Sitting in the third row, Minato tried to laugh it off, but it was clear he was nervous.

Earlier that morning, he had thought Kushina was adorable, especially with her long red hair that immediately caught his eye.

Who would have guessed that this red-haired girl was indeed a fiery pepper? Once provoked, she could beat you up until you were seeing stars.

After taking down everyone who had insulted her, Kushina finally began to calm down.

But just then, Minato let out a nervous laugh.

"What the hell are you laughing at?! What's so funny?! Laugh again, and I'll beat you up too!"

Kushina's just-calmed-down anger flared up again at Minato's chuckle.

She slammed her hand on the desk so hard that Minato nearly fell off his chair.

Gulp...

Seeing the handprint left on the desk, a few drops of cold sweat rolled down Minato's forehead.

He couldn't imagine what would happen if that hand had landed on him—he'd probably have a few broken bones.

Besides the kids groaning on the ground, the others no longer dared to make fun of Kushina.

After glaring at everyone, Kushina angrily walked back to her seat.

It was only then that Kushina noticed that her seatmate, Takuya, was quite a strange person.

When others laughed at her and bullied her, Takuya didn't react at all.

When she lashed out and started hitting people, Takuya remained seated, unperturbed, without even a change in his expression.

Even when she returned to her seat, he only gave her a calm glance before turning back to look out the window.

"What in the world happened here?!"

Hearing the commotion, Mr. Uemura rushed back into the classroom and saw the scene that looked like a massive brawl. His mind went blank.

Great. Just great. The parents of these beaten kids are definitely going to cause a scene.

"Teacher, Kushina hit us!"

A few of the kids who had been badly beaten quickly began to tattle.