Konoha 37, July 5th, sunny.
As a teacher in the elite class of the Konoha Ninja Academy, Iruka Umino's talent was not considered outstanding among Konoha ninjas.
Born in Konoha 8, he entered the academy at 6, graduated at 12, and became a Chunin at 16.
This year, at 29 years old, Iruka Umino was still a Chunin.
Despite no significant advancement in strength during his more than a decade as a Chunin, he had mastered the application of various low-level ninjutsu used between Genin and Chunin, as well as battle strategies against other ninjas, to a perfect degree.
This solid foundation allowed Iruka Umino to speak eloquently when teaching talented students from various clans, never running out of things to teach.
Perhaps it was for this reason that the mediocre-in-talent Iruka Umino was valued by the Third Hokage.
So much so that Hiruzen Sarutobi personally approved the removal of Kurenai Yuhi, a veteran elite Jonin, from the list of teachers, and instead promoted Iruka Umino.
Of course, Iruka Umino's status as a staunch follower of the Will of Fire might also have played a part.
...
Having been a homeroom teacher for over a decade, and having witnessed the excellent ninjas of the new generation from various clans, Iruka Umino considered himself a seasoned individual who had seen all sorts of talented students.
At times, he could even offer reasonable advice to those children based on his experience.
This confidence lasted until Nawaki, a repeat student, and his three companions entered his class.
"Yōno I, who has mastered A-rank medical ninjutsu, Uzumaki Kushina, who possesses the monstrous strength of Tsunade-sama, and Namikaze Minato, who created the A-rank unseal ninjutsu, the Rasengan..."
"And then..."
Iruka Umino's gaze swept over the list with a complex expression, finally resting on the topmost name.
"Nawaki!"
A month and a half ago, a strange phenomenon of plants growing wildly occurred in the Senju compound.
Of course, this explanation of rampant plant growth was a story fabricated by the Konoha leadership to fool the younger civilians who didn't understand the true meaning of this phenomenon.
The older civilians and ninjas understood the extraordinary significance of the word "wood" (木).
The Senju compound, coupled with the dense forest that appeared out of nowhere.
What else could it be but the Wood Style used by the First Hokage to pacify the Warring States period?
To confirm his suspicions, Iruka Umino even went to inquire with the Third Hokage, who was also the principal of the Ninja Academy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not try to conceal it and nodded readily.
Upon learning that Nawaki had indeed awakened the First Hokage's Wood Style, Iruka Umino's heart was filled with an indescribable complexity.
"This..."
"I haven't even taught him much..."
"What kind of attitude should I adopt when I meet them later?"
Iruka Umino put away the graduation list and walked towards the classroom with a worried expression.
...
The annual summer vacation at the Ninja Academy had begun, and the entire campus was unusually quiet.
Except for the sixth-year students who had come to school for the team assignment ceremony...
"Although I like interacting with humans..."
"These kids are too noisy!"
A small ape with red fur was held in the arms of a red-haired girl wearing a hood. Hiding in the corner by the back door, the girl looked enviously at Kushina Uzumaki, who was animatedly recounting her experiences of leaving the village among a group of her peers.
The one speaking was the red-haired ape held by the girl, and its conversational partner was a lazy-looking figure squatting beside the girl and the Nine-Tails.
"Son, you just finished purifying the mental pollution within you and need to interact more with these children who have purer hearts."
"Besides, I brought you here mainly for you to accompany this girl, Amaru."
"This girl missed the age for enrollment, and that fellow Orochimaru wants her to experience the atmosphere of the Ninja Academy."
"Also, don't spend all day thinking about following me around. We are different now."
"If you want to live comfortably in Konoha like me, you need to find a compatible partner."
"I've been looking for a long time, and Amaru is the most suitable."
The small body of the Four-Tails squirmed uncomfortably in Amaru's arms and said shyly,
"But I... I don't want to be sealed again..."
Amaru tightened her embrace and gently nuzzled her face against the Four-Tails' hot fur.
"It's okay if you don't want to be sealed."
"I will ask Lord Orochimaru and Sister Tsunade not to trouble you."
The Four-Tails was somewhat flustered by the girl's gentle actions, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on its ugly face.
Its four octopus-like tentacles, its small tails, felt rather out of place, flicking back and forth in Amaru's arm.
"Tha... Thank you!"
Amaru smiled sweetly, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons.
"You're welcome!"
"Sister Kushina said that Tailed Beasts are friends to humans."
"It's my duty to think of my friends!"
The Four-Tails turned its head and looked into the girl's sincere eyes. After a moment of stunned silence, it nodded slightly.
"Oh..."
For some reason, the appearance of Roshi, with whom he had spent decades and which was almost etched into his memory, suddenly became a little blurred.
...
"You guys should have seen it, that giant fiery monkey was as tall as a mountain!"
"Just one leg..."
Kushina surveyed the adoring younger students and then pointed at the chubby Choji Akimichi, making a huge circle with her hand.
"Was as thick as ten little fatties!"
"Wow!"
Amidst the exclamations of the group of children, Choji scratched his head and tried to squeeze himself behind Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka.
Attempting to make his presence as inconspicuous as that of the members of the Aburame clan.
Seeing his somewhat awkward attempt, his companions burst into good-natured laughter. Compared to the giant fiery monkey Kushina was talking about, the little fatty suddenly seemed much slimmer.
"Quiet, quiet, do you still want to hear?"
Kushina, seeing that no one was paying attention to her, raised her voice and slapped the table.
The others quickly nodded and shifted their gaze back from Choji.
"Even though that giant fiery monkey was very powerful, I, Kushina-sama, was not afraid at all!"
"At that time, I remained calm and used the Super Shadow Clone Jutsu secretly passed down by the Second Hokage, creating thousands of clones at once."
"Then, with the combined efforts of thousands of Kushina-samas, we defeated that giant monkey in an instant."
"Even Master Orochimaru was stunned and kept praising me, saying I had the potential to be Hokage and that after he retired, the Fifth Hokage would be Kushina-sama."
"Hahaha..."
The companions who were about to shower her with praise were suddenly taken aback and then, in unison, scoffed at Kushina.
"Tch..."
Minato, who was standing in the background, felt so embarrassed he wanted to scratch his head.
Yōno I covered her mouth, her shaking body leaning on Nawaki's shoulder, struggling to suppress her laughter.
"Kushina, that's too much, too much..."
"We all know you want to be Hokage, but what you're saying is too unbelievable!"
Shikaku Nara covered his face with one hand and waved the other at Kushina, looking as if he couldn't bear to watch.
"Shikaku, you..."
Kushina's eyebrows shot up, and she rolled up her sleeves, ready to demand an explanation from Shikaku Nara.
Seeing this, Minato Namikaze thought, "This is serious!"
He quickly stepped forward, covered Kushina's mouth, and pulled her back to her seat.
"Kushina, stop talking, Teacher Iruka is here!"
Being treated like that by Minato in front of everyone, Kushina blushed and actually sat down obediently.
"Cough cough!"
Iruka Umino had been standing at the classroom door listening for a long time. Seeing that someone had finally noticed his presence, he cleared his throat and asked Kushina with a smile.
"Then, Fifth Hokage Kushina-sama, may I come in?"
"Haha..."
The classroom erupted in a thunderous wave of laughter.
Kushina's face turned a deep red, and she buried her face in Minato's back like an ostrich.
"This girl, she's so good at bragging, to spin the fight with the Four-Tails like that, it's hilarious!"
The Nine-Tails behind them shook with laughter.
The Four-Tails scratched its head with its tentacles and chuckled along.