Chapter 6: The Ones I Want to Protect

Kushina hurriedly ran out, brushing past Kunio Shindō and Mikoto who were about to enter the classroom. Seeing Kushina's slightly flushed cheeks, Mikoto couldn't help but feel extremely happy. 

It seemed that the relationship between Minato and Kushina had greatly improved.

In the classroom, there were still quite a few students, but their expressions were rather strange. Seeing this, Kunio Shindō said, "Everyone, go take a break. Don't randomly spread what happened in the class today."

After saying that, he looked at Minato and said, "Minato, come out with me."

Minato nodded and exchanged a glance with Mikoto, who gave him a reassuring look. Minato smiled slightly, then followed Kunio Shindō out of the classroom. Behind them, Mikoto's voice could be heard.

"Minato, I'll be waiting for you to come back. You haven't tried the rice balls I made yet."

"Mm." Minato paused slightly, responding with a sound, then walked out of the classroom.

During the break, the training grounds of the Ninja Academy were generally empty. Kunio Shindō brought Minato to the wire fence at the edge of the training grounds and casually sat down cross-legged.

"Sit down," he indicated to Minato. Minato hesitated for a moment, then replied and also sat down.

Minato observed Kunio Shindō's expression, which didn't seem to have much reproach.

"Teacher Kunio, aren't you going to blame me?" Minato asked, slightly shrinking his neck. Although he didn't regret his actions, he had caused trouble for his teacher, so he felt a little apologetic.

Upon hearing this, Kunio Shindō smiled slightly and said, "Rather than that, Minato, can you tell me why you came to the Ninja Academy to learn and become a ninja?"

Minato was stunned, apparently not expecting his teacher to ask such a question.

He then frowned slightly, pondering the question.

Kunio Shindō watched him intently. This was the biggest difference between Minato and children of the same age. Some of the decisions he made didn't seem like something a seven-year-old child could make.

No matter what happened, he always thought it through.

Kunio Shindō observed Minato's expression, noting the ripples in his eyes during the thought process, until after a few minutes, the wavering in his eyes finally solidified.

Minato took a deep breath, raised his eyes, looked at Kunio Shindō, and said, "Because I want to protect the ones I want to protect, and for that, I must gain power!"

Looking into Minato's determined eyes, Kunio Shindō smiled and said, "That's a very clear goal."

This was a genuine smile from him. These new students, who had just entered the academy less than a year ago, probably didn't even know what kind of people they would become in the future.

The concept of a ninja was still too vague for them. Yet Minato, at only seven years old, already had such a clear goal. From his expression, Kunio Shindō could see that he was serious, and it wasn't just words spoken casually by a child.

"So, is Kushina one of the people you want to protect?" Kunio Shindō asked further.

Upon hearing this, Minato paused slightly, then nodded.

Kunio Shindō was a little surprised and said, "You two must have met for the first time today, right? Why did you make this decision?"

Faced with this question, Minato didn't know how to answer. The red-haired woman who had only occasionally appeared in his mind since today, he didn't know why, but whenever she appeared, he would lose his rationality.

"I don't know, but I just want to protect her, no matter what price I have to pay!" However, it seemed that there was a voice deep within him that made him answer in such a determined way, almost as if possessed.

Minato's determination even surprised Kunio Shindō. He couldn't imagine why a seven-year-old child would have such a firm will.

It seemed that this student of his would not be an ordinary person in the future.

Although everything was still unknown at the moment, for some reason, he just felt that way.

"So, is Akasaka the enemy you have to face to protect Kushina?" Kunio Shindō's voice suddenly became a bit solemn. He could overlook Minato's mistakes, but there was one thing he had to confirm.

"No, he's also family, someone I want to protect." 

However, Minato answered without hesitation, though his voice held some regret towards the end, after all, he had just injured Akasaka.

Even Kunio Shindō was a little puzzled by Minato's thoughts.

It seemed that Minato knew what he was thinking, so he continued, "Although I just injured Akasaka, which makes me sound hypocritical to say this, no matter how much I dislike him, he is part of the village, and I have to protect him because to me, everyone in the village is like family!"

Even as a Chunin, Kunio Shindō had never had such thoughts before. And as far as he knew, those who possessed such thoughts eventually became great figures in the Konoha Ninja Village.

For example, the current most powerful and highly respected Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

A seven-year-old child had the mindset of a great figure like that. This was what surprised Kunio Shindō the most today.

"Teacher Kunio, is there anything wrong with thinking like this?" Minato asked, sensing that his teacher's expression was a little unusual.

Kunio Shindō snapped out of his surprise and said, "No, there's nothing wrong with your thinking. In fact, what you've thought of is more comprehensive than your teacher."

In response to such an evaluation, Minato smiled and shook his head, "You're still the teacher, and as your student, no matter what I think of, it's the result of your guidance."

Minato's words made Kunio Shindō feel that the former was actually guiding and comforting him.

After saying this, Minato himself was a little startled, not knowing why he had said it like that.

After being a little surprised for a moment, Kunio Shindō said, "Alright, I understand your thoughts. Today's incident ends here. I don't think I need to tell you; you know what you should do next, right?"

Minato stood up, then bowed to Kunio Shindō and said, "I will go apologize to Akasaka. I overreacted."

There was nothing wrong with protecting others, but even among family, there would be some conflicts. What Minato should have done was to stop Akasaka from hurting Kushina, not act in such a violent manner.

It's just that earlier, Minato's own mind had gone blank, and that fierce look in his eyes was still fresh in Kunio Shindō's memory.

"Alright, go eat and take a break now." Kunio Shindō stood up, then disappeared from Minato's sight in a few flashes.

Minato stood there dazed for a moment, then headed towards the classroom.

As soon as he entered the hallway, Minato passed by a figure leaning against the wall. That figure leaning against the wall was a boy about the same age as him. He called out to Minato, who was walking towards the classroom.

"Minato Namikaze, why do you hide your true abilities at the academy?"

(End of Chapter)