Takuya was well aware that the ANBU were watching him. They had only started keeping an eye on him because of Kushina. As long as he didn't do anything drastic, their focus would eventually shift away.

"Hey, Nine-Tails, when will you be as strong as that big fox next door?" Takuya asked.

"Master, I'm still young, and my chakra refining is really slow," the little Nine-Tails pouted. The big Nine-Tails next door had split off from the Ten-Tails, while she had to grow from nothing. It was a much slower process.

"Takuya, would you like to have lunch together?"

It was lunchtime, and a female classmate had invited Takuya to share her lunch. Kushina's eyes widened as she watched, curious to see if Takuya would accept or reject the invitation as he had with her.

"Sorry, but I don't like eating with people who aren't good-looking," Takuyareplied bluntly, turning the girl down with a stinging rejection.

This was why, despite his good looks, most girls stayed away from him. Being rejected was one thing, but being insulted? That was something else. Not many could handle that kind of treatment.

Takuya was tired of playing dating games with these little girls. He found it easier to reject them outright, leaving no room for hope.

"Wahh! Takuya, that's so mean!" The girl ran off, crying, with her face buried in her hands.

Kushina was stunned. She had been holding a grudge over being turned down by Takuya, but now, it didn't seem so bad. At least he hadn't called her ugly. For some reason, Kushina felt a wave of relief.

Thank goodness... at least I'm not ugly.

Wait, what am I even relieved about? He rejected me too!

As she remembered her own rejection, Kushina's mood quickly soured again.

That evening, when Kushina got home, she asked Nawaki, "Nawaki, how do you guys usually turn down a girl's invitation?"

"If you don't like the person, you just politely decline. Why do you ask?" Nawaki gave her a curious look. "Did you get rejected again?"

"Ow!!"

Nawaki yelped as Tsunade stomped on his foot, causing him to jump in pain.

"If you can't say anything nice, then keep quiet," Tsunade scolded, pulling Kushina into a hug and pointing at Nawaki. "Don't listen to him. He's never even been asked out by a girl, so he has no advice to give. Listen to your big sister instead."

"..."

Nawaki suddenly felt a different kind of pain. Does my foot even hurt anymore? I think my heart hurts more.

He wanted to ask, Are you really my sister?

"Was it that Takuya Yagami kid who rejected you again? Should I go teach him a lesson for turning down our sweet little Kushina? How clueless can he be?"

"It's not like that," Kushina protested, her face turning red. She quickly shook her head. "Today, Takuya turned down another classmate. His way of rejecting her was... a bit different, so I was just curious."

Oh, I see. Tsunade rolled her eyes, realizing she had jumped to conclusions. I thought you were upset about getting rejected again, silly girl.

"So, how did he turn her down? Tell us."

Nawaki, whose foot had miraculously stopped hurting, leaned in, eager to hear how a good-looking guy rejects girls.

"Well..." Kushina thought for a moment, then mimicked Takuya's expression and tone. "Sorry, but I don't like eating with people who aren't good-looking."

What the...

Tsunade could feel her blood pressure rising. She instinctively raised her hand to rub the back of her neck, trying to calm down.

Nawaki was dumbfounded. He had to admit, Takuya's way of turning down girls was... unique.

Does being handsome mean you can do whatever you want?

That's just too much.

But then again, maybe being handsome does let you get away with things...

Nawaki glanced at Tsunade's face and felt a pang of jealousy. How did we come from the same parents? Why is there such a big difference between siblings?

It's bad enough that I'm not as good-looking as my sister, but I'm also not as talented. Did all the good genes go to her?

"What are you staring at?" Tsunade snapped, noticing Nawaki's odd expression. She glared at him, making him flinch and jump to the side to avoid getting hit.

"Pathetic," Tsunade scoffed. "Tomorrow, get ready. I'm taking you to see Orochimaru. I don't know what you're thinking, wanting to be his student."

Nawaki was nearing graduation and had decided to pull some strings. Tsunade was planning to take him to see Orochimaru and seal the deal.

"Kushina," Tsunade said, pulling her close and speaking in a more serious tone. "If you trust me, then don't get too close to that Takuya Yagami kid. It won't do either of you any good."

"Why not? We're just classmates," Kushina replied, confused.

"Never mind." Tsunade shook her head. There was no point in pushing the issue. After all, they really are just classmates right now. It wouldn't be right to warn her about anything more.

It's better to let things happen naturally.

If they do end up getting closer one day, we'll deal with it then.

By then, Kushina might be able to make her own decisions.

As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and with her own growing strength, Kushina would be a force to be reckoned with. The higher-ups would have to think carefully before making any moves. Being a Jinchuriki is a sensitive issue, especially when it involves the Nine-Tails, the most powerful of the tailed beasts. If it ever broke free, the consequences would be unimaginable.

School, training, and rest—that's what life at the ninja academy was like. Boring and repetitive. If Takuya could learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu, he'd send a clone to class in his place.

What a waste of my chakra. All this chakra and I can't even use a Shadow Clone to help with school. What a shame.

"What did you say?" Minato looked over at him.

Takuya replied without missing a beat, "Nothing, just saying you're handsome. Your smile is so bright and sunny, like a little sun. You should go by 'Little Sun' from now on. It suits you."

"Get out of here!" Minato wasn't falling for it.

"I could say the same for you, Silver-Haired Kid. Why don't you accept that nickname?"

"Because the people calling me that are just kids. Of course, I'm not going to like it," Takuya replied with a shrug.

Nice try, but you're not fooling me. No way I'm letting you trick me into that nickname.

Sure, Minato might've tolerated being called Little Sun before, but after meeting Takuya, he was completely turned off by the idea.

Especially after he learned what the sun could symbolize, Minato decided he never wanted to hear anyone call him that again.

"By the way, tomorrow's a day off. Want to go on a picnic? I'll handle everything else; you just take care of the grilling."

Takuya's cooking was something Minato couldn't get enough of. Whenever he had the chance, he'd try to convince Takuya to cook.

"Sure," Takuya agreed. "Nothing else going on, and we can train afterward. Sounds like a good plan."

"Uh... can I join you guys?"

A small, pale hand suddenly appeared in front of Takuya and Minato.

Takuya looked up, immediately passing the decision to Minato.