Chapter 37: The Red-Hot Habanero

In the Ninja Academy's training grounds, students from two classes had gathered. 

Two students were currently sparring in the center, exchanging blows, but their skill level was quite ordinary. Most of the spectators' attention was focused on Minato and Uchiha Homura.

A year ago, the duel between these two prodigies was far more captivating than the current match in the center.

It was that very battle that made these students realize the true extent of Minato's abilities, despite his usually gentle and humble demeanor.

After a year, how much had the skills of these two talented youths progressed?

"I really want to see them spar!" Many people thought inwardly, even the homeroom teacher of Class Three, where Uchiha Homura belonged, shared this sentiment.

Uchiha Homura's gaze occasionally flickered towards Minato, while the latter remained composed.

"The winner is Takenouchi Rin!" At that moment, the match in the center ended with a victor.

The two combatants were female students, one of whom appeared dejected, evidently the loser.

"Perform the Reconciliation Seal," Kunio Shindō called out, standing between them.

The two girls smiled at each other, overlapped their hands, and performed the traditional Reconciliation Seal after sparring at the Ninja Academy.

"Next up, Kushina Uzumaki versus Akasaka!" Kunio Shindō announced the participants for the next match.

The gazes that had been fixated on Minato and Uchiha Homura suddenly shifted elsewhere.

Upon hearing her opponent's name, Kushina raised her eyebrows slightly before striding onto the field.

The looks directed at her were now averted, while her opponent's expression filled with trepidation and unease.

"Sensei Shindō, why me?" Akasaka protested, his demeanor expressing refusal. He would have preferred sparring with Minato or Uchiha Homura over facing Kushina in her current state.

Akasaka's skills were by no means weak among his peers, ranking only behind Minato, Uchiha Homura, Mikoto, and Kushina.

However, no one considered this an evenly matched bout.

The looks on Akasaka's spectators were filled with pity, and some had already started sighing for him.

"Hey, are you even a man? It's just a spar, I promise to go easy on you," Kushina said, though her clenched fists emitted faint cracking sounds from her knuckles.

The faint smile on her lips at that moment looked like a demon's grin to Akasaka.

"Akasaka, hurry to the center," Kunio Shindō urged, arranging this match out of necessity, as no one dared to spar with Kushina anymore.

Minato's previously calm expression was now filled with an awkward smile. During regular sparring sessions, Kushina's opponents were usually him or Mikoto, but today, it was Akasaka.

This...

Suppressing his unease, Akasaka reluctantly took his position opposite Kushina in the center.

"Begin!" At Kunio Shindō's command, Kushina charged straight at Akasaka, fists raised.

Her long red hair swayed slightly as she moved.

While fearful, Akasaka's fundamentals were solid, and Kushina's speed wasn't as exaggerated as Minato's or Uchiha Homura's.

He dared not block Kushina's punches directly, opting to evade them instead.

However, as he dodged Kushina's first punch, a mischievous smile appeared on her delicate face.

"You fell for it!" Kushina exclaimed, ducking low as she threw her punch and sweeping Akasaka's legs.

Akasaka hadn't expected the usually straightforward Kushina to employ such tactics, but his reaction time was decent enough to avoid her sweep. However, this caused him to lose his balance and stumble backwards.

Seizing the opportunity, Kushina threw a direct punch that Akasaka couldn't evade, forcing him to cross his arms and brace for impact.

"Bam!"

The punch sent Akasaka reeling backward, and he lost his footing, collapsing to the ground.

Kushina followed up with another punch, which Akasaka couldn't dodge due to his lack of mobility. He managed to turn his head, the punch grazing his face before slamming into the ground.

Dust kicked up, and Akasaka's eyes widened in fear, realizing that a direct hit from that punch might have knocked him unconscious.

Kushina continued her relentless assault, her subsequent punches narrowly missing Akasaka's vital areas.

"Oh my god, the Red-Hot Habanero is going to kill me!" Akasaka cried out, tears nearly streaming down his face.

The spectators seemed to have anticipated Akasaka's predicament from the start, their expressions filled with pity.

The Red-Hot Habanero was the nickname Kushina had earned over the past year.

Due to her somewhat violent approach, she often lost control of her strength during simple spars, becoming overly excited. Combined with her fiery red hair, the nickname was born.

Apart from Minato and Mikoto, no one could withstand her "fiery" assaults.

"Stop!" Kunio Shindō hadn't expected Akasaka to succumb to defeat against Kushina so quickly, and he intervened before any serious harm could occur. Kushina clicked her tongue but relented.

She ran up to Kunio Shindō and said, "Sensei Shindō, this isn't a real spar. My opponent is too weak, and I can't improve like this."

"Can you assign me a different opponent?" Kushina continued.

Kunio Shindō wiped the cold sweat from his brow and looked towards Minato in the crowd. "Minato, why don't you spar with Kushina again?"

Before Minato could respond, Kushina interjected, "It's boring if I always spar with Minato. Since we're training with Class Three today, why don't I have him as my opponent instead?"

Kushina extended her finger, pointing at Uchiha Homura in the crowd from Class Three.

Kunio Shindō felt helpless against Kushina's fiery personality, but her request wasn't unreasonable despite her stubbornness.

The onlookers' expressions turned expectant, curious to see who would prevail between the recently emerged Red-Hot Habanero and Uchiha Homura.

However, Minato and Mikoto's expressions became grave, recognizing Kushina's challenge as a deliberate provocation.

Evidently, she still harbored resentment from the events a year ago.

"I refuse," Uchiha Homura flatly declined, his attention not focused on Kushina at all.

"You jerk!" Kushina clenched her fists, ready to charge forward, but Kunio Shindō held her back.

"Since your opponent refuses, I declare this match invalid. Get off the field quickly; other students still need to practice!"

By the end, Kunio Shindō's tone had grown stern. Kushina didn't dare defy her teacher's orders, glaring at Uchiha Homura before returning to her spot.

"Kushina, you haven't performed the Reconciliation Seal with Akasaka!" Kunio Shindō reminded her.

Reluctantly, Kushina turned back to the center and perfunctorily performed the Reconciliation Seal with the exhausted Akasaka.

"Tch, what's so great about him? I'll find an opportunity to beat him up, no matter what!" Kushina huffed, her puffed-out cheeks making her look adorable as she rejoined Minato and Mikoto, who could only exchange smiles.

"Alright, don't be so stubborn. Don't embarrass Sensei Shindō," Mikoto gently admonished Kushina.

At that moment, Kunio Shindō announced the participants for the next match.

"Next up, Uchiha Homura versus Mikoto Uchiha!"

(End of Chapter)