Sora held the key in his hand and looked at his new home. It was an old apartment building, and only this single room beloo him.

  He didn't expect Sarutobi Hiruzen to act so effitly. Everything had been arranged just the previous night.

  However, there seemed to be no other residents in the building. This was likely deliberate, sidering the vilgers' animosity toward him.

  At the same time, Sora couldn't help but chuckle.

  Sarutobi Hiruzen had said st night that the matter of the ninjutsu wasn't urgent. Yet now, he'd sent a ninja to remind him to report to the Hokage Building once healed.

  Nent? It was clear that the words "I'm very anxious" were practically written all over the Hokage's face.

  Sora opehe door and stepped inside.

  The interior was well-maintained, with a plete set of furniture and a yout.

  He sank onto the sofa, finding it quite fortable.

  Looking at the clo the wall, he saw it was already 9 o'clo the m.

  Sora decided not to visit the Hokage Building today. If he was instructed to go after his injuries healed, there was no reason to rush—especially if it wasn't truly urgent.

  Instead, Sora's thoughts turo Uzumaki Kushina and the words she had shared with him the previous night.

  He was eager to see her again.

  However, after several days without bathing, Sora smelled strongly of sweat. He decided to return to his dipidated hut to gather his belongings, including his standard sword.

  The standard sword was a reliable oe his earlier rough handling, it had held up remarkably well.

  After pag everything, Sora moved his belongings to his new home. He then took a long shower to refresh himself before setting off for the Ninja School.

  By the time he arrived, it was lunchtime.

  As Sora ehe , he saw Uzumaki Kushina g her fists and striking someone.

  When Kushina spotted him, her expression lit up with surprise.

  "Sora! You're out of the hospital?!"

  Hearing his name, everyouro look at him.

  Most of the students didn't know that Sora was hospitalized. His absence over the past several days had gone unnoticed, and now that they saw him, their expressions were more amused than ed.

  Kushina released the student she had been holding down, hurried over, and asked, "When did you wake up?"

  Sora smiled gently. "Right after you left the hospital st night."

  Kushina's eyes widened, her face reddened, and she stammered, "Y-you weren't unscious? How do you know I visited you?"

  Snced around. He didn't want the two of them to be the tre of attention.

  Reag out, he took Kushina's hand. "This isn't the pce to talk. Let's go outside."

  Kushina's face, already red, turned an even deeper shade as though blood might drip from her cheeks. Her mind bnk, she let herself be led out of the like a puppet.

  Suided Kushina to the grove behind the Ninja School. Ohere, he released her hand and noticed her face was flushed, her eyes unfocused, and her expression dazed.

  Sora waved his hand in front of her face. "Kushina? Kushina, snap out of it!"

  Uzumaki Kushina came back to her senses, saw Sora standing in front of her, and took a step ba fright. "You... you... you..." she stammered, uo form a plete sentence.

  Sora expined with a smile, "I was indeed in a a st night, but my sciousness was very clear, and I could hear everything."

  Uzumaki Kushina lowered her head slightly, her voice so soft that Sora had to strain to hear it. "Is that so…"

  Inside, Uzumaki Kushina was battling herself.

  She had made up her mind to befriend Sora, but now she couldn't find the words to speak. Nervousook over, and sweat broke out on her forehead as faint wisps of white smoke floated from her head.

  Seeing Uzumaki Kushina's adorable, flustered state, Sora exhaled and spoke seriously, "Kushina, I've made up my mind too!"

  Kushina looked up at Sora, fusion evident in her eyes. She didn't uand what he meant.

  Sora's gaze was firm as he said, "I also want to be your friend—your lifelong friend! So… Kushina, will you be my friend?"

  He stretched out his hand toward her, patiently waiting for her response.

  Uzumaki Kushina's mind pletely shut down, her ears ringing. She stood frozen, uo respond.

  Sora remained patient, his haended, waiting silently.

  After a few minutes, Uzumaki Kushina's overwhelmed mind finally rebooted. She slowly reached out her small hand, pced it in Sora's, and whispered, "Okay… it's a promise. We'll be friends for life."

  Sora's smile lit up his face, and Uzumaki Kushina's matched it.

  For the first time, both of them had made a true friend.

  In his heart, Sora swore to protect her smile no matter what.

  Uzumaki Kushina, initially shy and reserved, began to rex. Soon, she started chatting and reting her ret experiences.

  She described how the boys who tried to bully her ended up as "rotten tomatoes" after she was doh them.

  "And now," Kushina said, pouting, "they've given me a niame at the Ninja School—Blood Red Pepper."

  Sora chuckled softly.

  Kushina puffed her cheeks in annoyance. "Sora, do you think that niame suits me?"

  Sora shook his head with a warm smile. "Of course not. I think you're amazing, Kushina. Beating them all to a pulp on your own? That's incredible."

  Kushina pced her hands on her hips, beaming with pride. "Of course! I've never lost a fight!"

  But her mood suddenly shifted, and she looked down in disappoi.

  Sora frowned, ed. "Kushina, what's wrong?"

  Kushina pyed with a strand of her red hair, her lips pursed. "Sora… do you think my hair is ugly?"

  Sora pced his hands gently on her shoulders, lookiraight in the eyes. "Kushina, your hair is beautiful. The colour is vibrant, and its length is adorable. Someday, it'll look even more stunning. Don't let what others say make you doubt yourself.

  You're amazing. No, you're the best!"

  Kushina's cheeks, which had just returo normal, turned beet red again. She punched Sora lightly on the chest, turned around shyly, and held her fa her hands. "H-how you say things like that?!"

  Sora winced and rubbed his chest.

  There was no denying it—Kushina was strong. That punearly khe wind out of him.

  Just then, the school bell rang, signalling the start of the afternoon csses.

  This time, it was Uzumaki Kushina who took the initiative. She grabbed Sora's hand with a pyful grin and said, "e o's get to css!"

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