Naruto: The Clanless Prince

The morning class had ended, and it was still recess time.

After class, Uzumaki Kushina found herself surrounded by several boys from the class.

"Tomato! From today on, you're called Tomato! With your fat, round face and red hair, you look just like one!"

"How could a tomato ever be Hokage?"

"I hate tomatoes the most!"

"Me too! If there's tomato in the salad, I leave it all behind!"

"How can an unpopular tomato ever be recognized by the villagers?"

"Hahaha..."

Uzumaki Kushina pouted, anger bubbling inside her, but she couldn't refute their words.

Because, truthfully, with her round face and red hair, she did resemble a tomato.

"An unpopular tomato and an unpopular 10-year-old boy. No wonder you two ended up sitting together."

"Tomato 10! What a perfect match!"

...

Sora curled his lips in disgust. He had a nickname in school, too—Mixed Breed.

The reason for his nickname? That's what the parents of these little devils called him.

Seeing the brats mocking Uzumaki Kushina and dragging him into it, Sora could no longer turn a blind eye.

More importantly, Sora glanced at Namikaze Minato. Although Minato looked at Uzumaki Kushina, he didn't seem to have any intention of stepping in to help.

Just as Sora stood up and walked over, one of the kids grabbed Uzumaki Kushina's hair.

"It's almost ripe! Tomato Day is here—time to harvest the fruit!"

Uzumaki Kushina grabbed the kid's hand, about to go berserk, but Sora had already stepped behind the kid holding her hair.

"Hey, can you make way?"

The group surrounding Uzumaki Kushina immediately turned their attention to Sora, pointing their fingers at him.

"What gives you the right to tell us to move? Get lost!"

Sora spoke calmly. "You'll embarrass yourselves if you start something here, won't you?"

Sora had been blocked by a group of students when he first started school. But as a half-Senju, his physical fitness was exceptional, and he'd managed to handle multiple opponents at once.

Since then, although Sora's strength wasn't on par with Namikaze Minato's, he was still among the strongest in the school.

Gradually, none of the bullies dared to trouble Sora again.

Hearing his words now, the kids froze.

Sora stepped forward, bumping the kid still holding Uzumaki Kushina's hair with his shoulder, forcing him to let go. Without another word, Sora walked out of the classroom.

Once outside, Sora suddenly stopped in his tracks, a thought dawning on him.

Uzumaki Kushina… probably didn't need him to intervene.

With her fiery personality and the Uzumaki clan's unique resilience, she wasn't someone to be trifled with.

The next second, Sora heard voices erupt from the classroom.

"Who are you calling Tomato?! For the record, I hate tomatoes, too!"

Uzumaki Kushina grabbed the arm of the kid who was pulling her hair and swung it hard, sending the group of kids around her flying.

Then, Kushina climbed on top of one of them, her small fists raining down on his head. "If you underestimate me again and call me a tomato, you won't be able to eat it!"

At that moment, Uzumaki Kushina noticed Namikaze Minato watching with a bright smile. She glared at him and snapped, "What's so funny?!"

Namikaze Minato quickly turned his head away, daring only to glance at her from the corner of his eye.

The afternoon class was about to begin.

Sora returned to the classroom after buying a rice ball from the convenience store. He sat in his seat, quietly eating.

Uzumaki Kushina sat nearby, pouting angrily.

Sora glanced at the kid who had harassed Uzumaki Kushina earlier. His head was covered in bruises.

Is she upset because she feels like she didn't hit them hard enough?

Without commenting, Sora focused on Masada Hayame's lecture.

During class, Uzumaki Kushina began peeking at Sora even more frequently, making him increasingly uncomfortable.

By the time the afternoon class ended and school was over, Sora couldn't wait to leave the classroom.

His mind was entirely preoccupied with the Breath of Thunder techniques.

He didn't notice that Uzumaki Kushina's hand was half-raised, and her expression was awkward.

Kushina had wanted to speak to him. She thought that since they were both isolated, they might have something in common.

Despite her bold personality, Uzumaki Kushina still longed for friends, especially in a strange, unfamiliar place like Konoha.

Sora's earlier actions, standing up for her, had made her want to befriend him.

Watching Sora leave, Uzumaki Kushina clenched her fists, determination flashing in her eyes, and she chased after him.

Sora hurried home, almost running in his eagerness to dive into his training.

Behind him, Uzumaki Kushina, her short legs pumping furiously, chased him relentlessly.

As they reached the outskirts of Konoha, Kushina shouted breathlessly, "Hey! Wait!"

Sora paused, surprised by the familiar voice. When he turned and saw Kushina, he was taken aback.

Kushina staggered to a stop, hands on her knees, gasping for air.

Sora walked up to her and asked, "Do you need something?"

Kushina took a deep breath, stood up straight, and stretched her hand toward him. "My name is Uzumaki Kushina!"

Sora raised an eyebrow at her strange enthusiasm.

Kushina felt a bit uneasy under his gaze.

"My name is Sora," he replied, briefly shaking her small hand before letting go.

Kushina tilted her head. "Sora? Is that your first name or your last name?"

"First name. I don't have a last name."

"Huh? No surname?" Kushina frowned, her head tilting further. "Is that even possible?"

Sora shrugged and asked, "So, what do you need from me?"

Summoning her courage, Kushina declared, "I want to be friends with you!"

Sora had suspected as much.

"Kushina-kun, you saw how I'm treated in class."

Kushina nodded earnestly. "Yeah, you're as isolated as I am."

Sora smiled faintly. "Our situations aren't the same. I'm isolated from the entire village. If you become friends with me, you'll probably be isolated too.

It's only your first day at school, and you've already met some bad kids. But you'll make friends in time.

Ask the teacher to change your seat because staying by my side will only make things harder for you. It's getting late—you should go home. Goodbye."

After politely declining, Sora waved at Kushina, turned, and walked away.

Kushina stood there, watching his retreating figure, her head lowering in despair.

She had finally worked up the courage to reach out and make a friend, only to be rejected. Her chest tightened with an unfamiliar discomfort.