Chapter 13: Successfully "Cuckolded"
September 11th, morning.
Class 4-A was in the middle of lessons when two figures suddenly appeared at the door—one tall, one short.
Chunin Instructor Yuya walked over. After a brief exchange, he brought the smaller figure to the front of the classroom.
In an instant, every student's gaze fixed on that diminutive form.
Among them, one child's eyes brightened slightly—Minato Namikaze.
As for the others, their attention focused mostly on the newcomer's hair, filled with curiosity.
After all, in the shinobi world, red hair was an extremely rare color. With Mito Uzumaki's crimson fading, Konoha no longer had a single red-haired person visible anywhere.
Standing before the entire class's scrutiny, Kushina Uzumaki displayed obvious timidity, her gaze evasive, not daring to meet anyone's eyes.
Seemingly noticing her fear, Yuya patted her shoulder reassuringly before addressing the class: "Starting today, this student will officially transfer to our academy—"
Before he could finish, the previously timid Kushina suddenly seemed to muster her courage. She raised her head, closed her eyes, and shouted: "I'm Uzumaki Kushina!"
Whether from keeping her head lowered earlier or due to her accent, Kushina's self-introduction came out somewhat shrill.
The moment she finished shouting her name, Kushina herself turned red and covered her mouth in embarrassment.
Her voice triggered roaring laughter throughout the classroom.
"Look at that hair color—I can't believe it!"
"How does it even get that red? So weird!"
"Chubby round face, red hair—this girl looks just like a tomato."
"First time seeing hair like that. Listen to her accent—she's from another village, isn't she?"
"Eh? No way! I don't want to study with someone from outside. The other classes will laugh at us!"
The students pointed and whispered, their mocking voices reaching Kushina's ears and severely wounding her pride.
Originally hoping to get along with her classmates, Kushina immediately had a stress reaction. Just as she was about to declare some bold proclamation to prevent them from looking down on her—
A single voice instantly silenced the entire classroom.
"Too loud..."
The light, casual words hit like a blast of cold air. Every student who'd been talking loudly shuddered involuntarily, almost reflexively shutting their mouths, lowering their heads, trying to minimize their presence.
This scene also extinguished the anger burning in Kushina's heart. She instinctively looked toward where the voice had come from.
At the very back of the classroom, occupying an entire desk by himself, sat Gojo Yoru. One hand propped up his face, the other holding a pencil. Like someone disturbed while working on a problem, he'd looked up and swept his gaze across the room. His beautiful ice-blue eyes met Kushina's.
After a few seconds, Yoru withdrew his gaze, lowering his head and saying flatly: "You can sit here."
Yuya's eyes immediately lit up. He smiled at Kushina: "Kushina, you'll sit next to Gojo Yoru. He's the fourth-year Chief Student. If you have any questions you don't understand, you can ask him directly."
After speaking, Yuya addressed Yoru: "Gojo Yoru, take care of your seatmate."
Understanding that Yoru simply had an awkward personality, Yuya felt completely at ease letting the two become desk partners.
But the students who didn't know Yoru's true character looked at Kushina with pitying eyes.
Sitting next to the demon lord—what a poor girl!
"I... I understand."
Kushina, curious about the boy who'd stood up for her, immediately responded and ran over to sit beside Yoru.
During this time, Kushina didn't notice that one gaze had been following her movement the entire time—filled with warmth and, rarely, tinged with a hint of regret.
Sitting beside Yoru, Kushina's first action was to politely introduce herself again: "H-hello, I'm Uzumaki Kushina."
The response she'd imagined didn't come.
Yoru merely glanced at her, raising his pencil to point at the neatly stacked books beside him: "These are last term's notes. Look through them if you want."
After saying this, he paid her no further attention.
So cold!
Making eye contact with Yoru at close range, Kushina finally understood her classmates' reactions.
White hair and eyebrows, and those eyes were cold enough on their own.
That gaze and voice were even more oppressive.
If Yuya-sensei hadn't said he was the Chief Student, Kushina would've assumed Yoru was some delinquent in the class.
But simultaneously, Kushina's curiosity about Yoru deepened.
Because this guy's appearance completely contradicted his earlier action of helping her—a striking contrast.
Aloof personality, warm-hearted behavior—clearly someone with a story.
Moreover, her classmates' mockery had made Kushina develop favorable feelings only toward Yoru. She wanted to understand this desk partner even more.
However, right now, Kushina couldn't find any topic of conversation and could only sit quietly beside him.
Since they were in the back row with all the students facing away from her, Kushina had the courage to observe them.
The next second, Kushina immediately locked eyes with someone.
When everyone else had their backs to her, this gaze turning around to secretly watch her was far too conspicuous.
Not knowing whether this person had just mocked her or not, Kushina simply glared fiercely at them.
Minato Namikaze, frightened by Kushina's glare, quickly withdrew his gaze.
Appearing to work on problems with his head down but actually paying attention to Kushina the entire time, Yoru saw this scene and nearly broke character by laughing aloud.
A transmigrator who knows the plot is invincible!
Having interrupted their fated "shared dream" moment, Minato's chances of attracting Kushina's attention again were probably zero.
After all, during their original academy days, he and Kushina had almost no interaction. He'd only dared to watch and pay attention from the shadows, like a male version of Hinata Hyuga.
After being discovered by Kushina, she'd even thought he was gloating and laughing at her.
Without the Cloud ninja incident and heroic rescue, who knew how long it would take Minato to change Kushina's impression of him?
Now with Yoru— who understood Kushina's personality and possessed plot knowledge—in the picture, by the time Minato gathered the courage to approach Kushina, what awaited him would probably be a warning from ANBU.
While writing reading comprehension answers in his textbook, Yoru simultaneously pondered how to interact with Kushina next, and what methods he should use to rapidly increase her favorable impression while avoiding suspicion from the higher-ups.
Yoru didn't know that his appearance of diligently taking notes was being observed by someone else at this very moment.
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi—still in his prime as the "Shinobi Hero"—had already developed the habit of smoking his pipe, currently puffing away.
Through the Telescope Technique, having watched the entire process of Kushina Uzumaki entering Class 4-A, Hiruzen stared at Gojo Yoru inside the crystal ball. His eyes beneath the smoke narrowed slightly as he murmured: "Satsu and Mio's child..."