Naruto’s Dump Station

Chapter 21: Rejection and Anger

“Teacher Yamaki!” Ruofeng greeted calmly, his gaze steady as he observed Yamaki’s arrival.

Yamaki nodded slightly before speaking. “You three are here. Follow me. Your classes have been arranged. Study hard, and bring honor to Kiba.”

His words carried a trace of authority, but Ruofeng remained indifferent. He had long since learned to filter out such rhetoric.

Kyuukino, however, was different. Her eyes sparkled with determination as she declared firmly, “I will become the first female Hokage of Kiba!”

She exuded confidence, her strong presence unmistakable. She then glanced at Ruofeng, as if expecting his reaction.

Uzumaki Reiko, in contrast, lowered her head slightly, her voice calm but reserved. “I understand.”

Yamaki observed their responses, feeling somewhat troubled. Fortunately, he was not their teacher—only the school administrator. Given the identities of these three students, he had no desire to be responsible for their training.

Among them, two were from the Uzumaki Zan, and one of them would likely become an influential figure in the future. If that happened, the other would at least be the close companion of a Jinchuriki, further elevating their status. As for Ruofeng, Yamaki had already pieced together his background—Jiraiya was his mentor, and he had been associating with the Senju Zan recently. Yamaki dared not interfere with any of them.

Best to let them develop on their own, he thought. He then led them to Class 1, silently sympathizing with their future teacher.

Bang. Bang…

The previously quiet classroom was interrupted by the sound of Yamaki’s arrival. The teacher, who had just begun his lesson, stopped and turned towards the door.

“Sir Yamaki… Is something the matter?” The teacher’s tone was respectful, fully aware of who his superior was.

Yamaki chuckled before shifting his gaze to Ruofeng and the others. “Yamada, these are three new students. They will be joining Class 1.”

A murmur spread through the room as students turned to examine the newcomers.

Yamada, momentarily stunned, recovered quickly. “I see. Are they transfer students?”

He had a feeling these three were not ordinary. It was clear that someone influential had arranged for their placement, and Yamaki’s escort only reinforced that assumption.

“Yes,” Yamaki confirmed. “I will leave them in your care. The Hokage is expecting great things from them.”

A flicker of understanding crossed Yamada’s eyes. “Understood. I will do my best to guide them.”

With that, Yamaki left, leaving Ruofeng and the others standing at the front of the class.

While Yamaki and Yamada spoke, Ruofeng had already scanned the classroom. Though he could not yet fully utilize his perception abilities, his instincts remained sharp.

Many faces seemed familiar.

Then, his gaze landed on a certain blond-haired boy. Though still young, there was no mistaking him—Minato Namikaze.

At the same time, Minato was also observing them, though his focus was primarily on Kyuukino and Reiko.

“Alright,” Yamada said, “since you are new here, introduce yourselves.”

A standard request, yet one that carried weight in a room full of unfamiliar faces.

Ruofeng nodded slightly and prepared to step forward. However, before he could, he noticed Kyuukino trembling beside him, her fists clenched in anger.

Following her line of sight, he caught the expressions of several students—faces filled with subtle rejection, silent but clear in their disdain.

With a burst of frustration, Kyuukino stepped forward and declared, “My name is Uzumaki Kyuukino! My dream is to become the first female Hokage of Kiba!”

Her voice rang with conviction, but it was met with laughter.

Ruofeng turned sharply, his eyes scanning the room. Many students chuckled, their mockery evident. They found her dream ridiculous. They found her anger amusing.

Yamada, visibly uncomfortable, quickly intervened. “Silence!” His authoritative tone cut through the laughter. “A person’s dream is their own! None of you have the right to mock it!”

The classroom gradually quieted. Yamada commanded respect.

Then, he turned to Ruofeng. “Now, it is your turn.”

Ruofeng cast a reassuring glance at Kyuukino before stepping forward. His demeanor changed in an instant, his expression sharpening as chakra stirred within him, though only slightly.

“My name is Ruofeng,” he said, his voice even but firm. “Remember this name, because one day, you will be proud to have known it. And do not look at us with such condescension—you have no right. You will only ever look up to me, never walk alongside me.”

With those words, he took Kyuukino’s hand, channeling a small amount of chakra into his palm, and led her back to their seats.

The arrogance in his statement sparked anger among the students, yet none dared to respond. His piercing gaze sent a chill through them, an instinctive warning to stay silent.

Unbeknownst to Ruofeng, his latent perception ability had momentarily activated, radiating an imposing presence. It was an inherited trait, though he had yet to fully understand it.

Yamada, watching from the side, raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. But when he heard Ruofeng’s name, his expression shifted subtly.

The classroom remained tense in the silence that followed. Eventually, Uzumaki Reiko stepped forward. Though timid, she managed a quiet introduction before quickly returning to her seat.

The three of them chose seats near the door, where no other students sat.

Yamada soon resumed the lesson, his voice steady. “Now that introductions are over, let us continue. Today, we will discuss chakra, particularly chakra extraction.”

The class gradually settled as he spoke. “Each individual’s physique and cellular energy vary, leading to differences in chakra extraction. Minato recently asked why, despite everyone being able to extract chakra, the strength of that chakra varies. To answer this, I consulted several experienced shinobi and learned that chakra’s power depends on a person’s physique and bloodline…”

As Yamada continued explaining, Ruofeng listened attentively. Though Jiraiya had taught him before, the knowledge had been incomplete. Now, he had the opportunity to fill in the gaps.

And so, their journey in Kiba’s Academy began, already marked by tension, rejection, and defiance.