A Childhood Love Story

Minato's POV

It's early in the morning and I could hear Mother scowling at the landing of the stairs, yelling for me to come down. Just like every single weekday it's time to go the Academy; it's obligatory for every child to go to the Academy if they want to become a ninja - which is what I aspire to be!

"Minato, you're going to be late again!" Mother scowled once more, with a hint of irritation with the constant repetition.

I clasped on my backpack's straps, hooked it on my shoulders and hurriedly rushed down the stairs to meet my Mother with a worried frown; "Gomei, kaa-san!" I said with a cheeky smile before I rushed down the stairs.

"Honestly, you're just hopeless in the morning."

I, like I always do in the morning (it's become a routine), brushed my sunkiss hair before strongly placing my thumb on my forehead. "When I become Hokage, I'm going to change the rules so I can have more time to sleep!"

My Mother sighed, took my hand and led my out of the door. I craned my neck to look at her face, she was smiling with her usual rosy cheeks. "Well," she sweetly began, tugging me along. "you just have to bump up your grades. Then maybe one day... I'll see you take the Hokage hat."

My lips curved into a coy smile, then my cheeks became tainted in a lighter shade of red than my Mother's. For once, I saw my mother smile after my naive claim.

By the time we reached the Academy the bell had rang and every student had already scurried inside. I felt my Mother's grip loosen around my hand before I was given a nudge forward.

I peered over my shoulder and saw her smiling and waving 'bye' to me. "Be a good boy now, Minato!"

With a simple chuckle I waved back, nodded and ran inside. I knew I was already late so I took my time walking in the narrowly, long corridor; casually glancing in the classes as I passed.

When I reached my homeroom, I could hear a lot of commotion inside and my Sensei shouting at the top of his lungs. I clasped the steel handle, pushed the door open and there my sapphire orbs shook when it bored towards the sight of long, scarlet hair; freely and without a care in the world swaying.

The girl stood tall next to our Sensei, waiting to be recognized by the class. I took the opportunity to slowly sneak to my desk. However, like it's always been, I was caught.

"I'm glad you finally decided to join us, Minato Namikaze." Our Sensei projected out in the class.

He normally says my whole name when I've done something mischievous or, like today, when I'm late. I placed my backpack down on the polished floor and sat down on my seat.

"Alright, this is our new student - Kushina Uzumaki." Sensei politely introduced before he stepped aside for Kushina to continue.

In the cluster of the classroom there were a few chuckles and sneers. Nevertheless she proceeded to reintroduce herself: "I'm Kushina Uzumaki.." she awkwardly paused as if she couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Look she's gone red like a tomato!" One of my classmates loudly claimed before the class started laughing in unison. I, however, remained unaffected on my seat.

"Silence!" Sensei ordered, slamming his hand on the table.

Kushina took a deep breath then slowly balled her hands into a fist. Just as the class died down, she closed her eyes before claiming something I claimed on the first day of school: "I'm going to be first female Hokage!"

"Ha! Tomatoes can't become Hokages!"

"Alright! Kushina you'll seat next to Minato." He plainly said, pointing at the vacant seat next to me.

I let out a quiet gasp but it didn't change the teacher's decision. My eyes followed Kushina's movement, no matter how tedious she made the journey from the front to me desk.

Casually she sat down next to me with a loud exasperated sigh.

"Minato get away from her! She's a pest!"

Our Sensei shook his head silently, just as he was about to raise his voice up again, there was a soft knock on the door. With a low mutter of what seemed to be blaspheme, he dragged his feet out and went out of the room.

Kushina turned around to the group who were muttering among themselves. I could see her eyes narrowing at every spiteful name they would say to call her next.

"No wait, she's like a tomato so... I got it!" A boy with spiky brown hair claimed. "Hot Headed Tomato!"

"Yeah!"

"Hey there, Hot Headed Tomato!" They taunted with laughs in between.

Kushina stood up from her chair and stomped towards the cluster of children. I tried to grabbed her wrist to stop her from acting irrationally but the aura that radiated around her turned my body numb.

I just watched; watched her pull their hair, throw reckless punches and kicks. Having every one of them on the floor granted her access to target the boy who branded her the name Hot Headed Tomato.

I could hear her snarl at him with her hands balled into a fist. My eyes widened even more when I saw her straddle him, punching his head in the process.

It wasn't until a girl with raven hair named Mikoto Uchiha, stepped in to pull the rather bold Kushina off the boy. "Hey, it's not good to set this kind on impression on your first day!" she scolded.

"I hate being called a tomato, ya' know!" Kushina growled, wriggling out of Mikoto's grip.

One of the members who was previously beaten down to the floor got up and pulled Kushina to him before slapping her on the face. "Who are you to talk, outsider?!"

I pushed myself off my chair, almost in vain, to hurry beside Mikoto and Kushina's side. I pushed past Mikoto and stretched my arms out in front of them. "Yamero." I claimed strongly with regrets spiraling in my head.

"What did you say, dobe?" He rhetorically asked. I knew he was giving my the chance to back away slowly as if nothing happened, but I stood firm.

"You heard." I finally said. "You shouldn't be acting tough. Since you were shamelessly beaten by a girl."

I watched as his arrogant face, filled with pride, darken into a bitter look. His teeth gritted together and his hands clenched tightly into a ball. "Minato..." he snarled, "You made a mistake saying that."

A punch struck deep in my abdomen which sent me down on my knees. It wasn't long till I found myself on the floor next to Kushina. I felt cold, liquid slowly streaking down on my nose. Slowly I touched my nose and then pulled my hand away till I saw blood dripping from my fingers.

The boy above me raised his foot and just as he was about to stomp down on me he was pushed away to the wall. I drowsily looked around my surroundings and saw a tall, muscular man with long, white spiky hair in front of me; separating me and the others.

I then heard Mikoto helping Kushina up on her feet before my eyes came to contact with the tall man's onyx eyes. He pulled me up and set my down on a chair.

He stood next to me with his arms folded. "What do you think you're doing; causing havoc in the classroom?"

"It wasn't me who started it!" He claimed.

I sniffed quietly, trying hard not to catch any attention but the man beside me glared down at me. "And you young man, what were you doing on the floor in such a sorry state?"

"I-um... I was helping that girl." I blatantly replied, pointing at Kushina who glared at me with her dark blue eyes. "She's new." I hastily added.

"Help?" The boy retorted in disgust, "You did nothing at all! And you claim that you want to become Hokage! Don't make me laugh!"

Rage made me stand up with a darkened face, I balled my hand into a fist but before I could relentlessly run to him, a fairly large hand obscured my path.

"Nani?" I gasped.

"Tell me kid, what's your name?"