[Minato Column 2] The Tale of Minato's Love: Budding Romance

This column series will look back on the life and adventures of Minato Namikaze to celebrate the publication of Masashi Kishimoto's new one-shot manga, Naruto: The Whorl Within the Spiral, available in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 33!

Today's article is the second of the series, and will cover the budding of Minato's romance with Kushina Uzumaki, his one true love.

The two first meet when they are still very young, the day Kushina is introduced at the Ninja Academy after moving to Konoha from Uzushio-Gakure Village.

Kushina later tells Naruto her first impression of Minato was that he "seemed rather girly and undependable", but readers are left to wonder what Minato's thoughts were when he first laid eyes on Kushina.

In class that day, both young ninja speak of their dreams for the future.

Kushina, not wanting to be snubbed by everyone, boldly declares: "I'm gonna be the first female Hokage!"

Minato finally draws Kushina's attention the day he saves her from enemy ninja in a dramatic rescue that earns him fame both in the Land of Fire and beyond its borders.

While captured, Kushina leaves a trail using her red hair, and Minato is the only one who sees it, following the bright strands to come to her aid.
Kushina finds herself falling for her gallant rescuer, and the relationship between the two continues to grow.

The love they cultivated while overcoming challenges both on the battlefield and at home bears fruit as Kushina conceives the child she and Minato always longed for.

Article and Composition: Yuichi Ohba (Caramel mama)