Naruto: Power in Play

Chapter 9

Okawa did not lie when he said that he had some pomade leftover in his room. He handed Ando a small container the size of a baby's fist. Ando opened it and saw the green pomade inside, but it was only a small quantity. Okawa may have had to use it a lot.

"Thanks, Okawa-senpai," Ando sincerely thanked the other orphan. He knew that it probably was not easy for the other to come up with stuff like this in the academy.

"Don't sweat it," Okawa casually dismissed. "Just do me a favor, will you? Stay clear from trouble and look after your brothers and sisters in the academy!"

Ando chuckled as he applied some of the cream on his face. "I can't promise to stay out of trouble, but I will keep an eye on the other orphans for you."

The two of them slowly descended the stairs and left the 4th year's building, heading towards the Academic Courtyard. Okawa slowly introduced him to the system of the academy while they were on the way. It was as Ando had expected. The students were divided into Civilians, Clans, and Orphans.

The orphans were at the bottom, and the clan kids were at the top. This difference in status originated from their difference in strength and backing. The clan kids were trained and taught ninja skills ever since they could walk, in addition to having access to many other resources that the orphans and some civilians had to fight for.

Once every six months, the academy organized a small tournament for the academy students where they shared resources like skills, academy points, and various items. It was all done to motivate the students. The tournament was divided into three categories: low, mid, and high level. The low-level tournament was limited to the 1st years, the mid-level was for the 3rd years and under, then the high level was a free-for-all.

As one could expect, most of the time, the top 10 in the tournaments were always dominated by the clan kids. They monopolized the resources despite not having any real use for it, leaving only scraps for the other two groups to fight over. By the time Okawa was done talking about the tournament, the two of them had made it to their destination. They joined the other group of orphans for some casual chatter while they waited for the grand opening of the academy.

As time passed, more and more people gathered in the amphitheater, including some adults who were accompanying their children for their first day at the academy. Exactly at 8 AM, the officials flashed into the front. There was no smoke or anything. One second there was no one, and the next, a few dozen ninjas stood there.

"Hello, everyone," a voice echoed unexpectedly. If Ando hadn't witnessed the ninjas' sudden appearance, he might have been surprised. However, not everyone shared his vantage point. Based on the collective gasp reverberating through the crowd, it was evident that many present had missed the stealthy entrance.

A subtle upward twitch of his lips revealed the man's amusement. "I would like to have a moment of your attention, please. This is an important ceremony, one which will officially mark the beginning of another academy year."

Gradually, the people present stopped talking and moved to face the man. He waited until everyone was quiet before continuing his speech. "Ladies and gentlemen, today marks the commencement of the academic year. Whether you are new to this esteemed institution or returning for another year, I wish to emphasize a crucial point. We are not merely a collection of individuals; we are a closely-knit family. While disagreements and distinctions may arise, it is essential to recognize that we all originate from the same community. As we embark on this journey together, let us embrace the spirit of unity that binds us as one."

Ando found the speech inconsequential, considering the words as mere hollow propaganda. The sentiment being the result of his earlier altercation. Despite his attempts to conceal it, his boredom was evident on his face. Fortunately, he wasn't alone in his sentiments. A majority of the students shared a similar mindset. It seemed only the first-year students and the parents were genuinely attentive.

The ceremony was short; following the headmaster's concise introductory speech, each staff member was introduced along with their respective roles. Subsequently, the teachers efficiently took charge, individually assigning students to their designated classrooms.

Ando bade farewell to his seniors and walked alongside the 1st years towards his classroom. He caught sight of his two roommates along the way and caught up to the two. The three orphans were lucky enough to be assigned to the same class: 1-B. The classroom was moderate in size; it could accommodate up to 40 people. The seating arrangement consisted of long, sturdy benches with a smooth, polished surface. At the front of the class, there was a raised platform where the main instructor was waiting for them to fill the room. Ando led his group to the front seat and waited for the others.

"Now that everyone is here, let's begin," the instructor announced, clearing his throat before approaching the blackboard. With a swift motion, he picked up a white chalk and inscribed his name. "I am Soda Gorou, a chunin, and I'll be guiding your education this year. As for the academy rules, I won't reiterate them; you can refer to the guideline books for details. In essence, abide by them, and we'll have no issues."

"Moving on, I'll be assigning your academy points individually. Starting from the front row, kindly hand me your student card, step forward, and introduce yourself."

The announcement stirred murmurs among the students; they were visibly nervous about facing the front. Observing this, Soda subtly shook his head and singled out the student at the far left of the front row. "You're up first!"

The student was taken aback, freezing momentarily. Noticing the disapproving expression on Soda's face, he quickly gathered himself and nervously made his way to the front. "Your card?" Soda prompted, and once retrieved, signaled for the student to step forward and begin. This process continued, initially marked by nervousness that gradually transformed into confidence as the introductions unfolded.

When it was Ando's turn, he opted for brevity, sharing only his name and the fact that he was an orphan. His bruised face gathered some gasps and curious looks from the students. But the teacher himself did not seem to care, just like he expected. Ando finished his turn and passed the turn to the next student.

As each student finished their introductions, Ando discreetly observed the composition of the class. A balanced mix emerged—15 clan kids, 13 civilians, and 11 orphans, totaling 38 students. Among the clan kids, Ando's attention lingered on the two Inuzuka members. Given his earlier experiences, a subtle distaste for the clan had already taken root within him.

"Great, introductions are complete!" Soda clapped his hands, capturing the attention of the class. "You might have noticed the 100 points marked at the top right corner of your cards—those are your Academy Points. Each month, the academy grants you a hundred points, so spend them wisely. They're your currency for various academy utilities. If you run out, you'll have to wait for the next month's allowance."

Soda paused, a small smirk curling his lips. "But there's another way to earn AP," he continued, letting the suspense build. "Dueling. You can bet your AP, with a minimum of 5 points, and challenge anyone with their consent." He observed the puzzled expressions on the students' faces, noting that many hadn't fully grasped the importance of AP from the guidebook.

A subtle smile played on Soda's lips as he casually performed three handseals, channeling chakra into his right hand. An orange flame materialized, drawing awed looks from his students. "This is an E-rank ninjutsu, available for just 1000 AP. Redeem it at the exchange shop when you're ready."

Contrary to his laid-back demeanor, the classroom burst into an uproar. Soda's smile widened with amusement, satisfied that his small demonstration had stirred the desired reaction. Nevertheless, with a lesson to commence, he promptly hushed the students. "Now, now, everyone, settle down. We're about to begin our first lesson, and I need your full attention."

"I challenge you to a duel!"

Ando stared incredulously at the daring kid who blocked his path. They had just been released from the classroom when the guy next to him started provoking him.

Ando wondered what made the other guy think that he was an easy target, but then he remembered that his face was probably still full of bruises, thanks to his early morning altercation.

"What? Is the little orphan scared? You should know that it is an honor for you to fight me!"

Ando observed the kid, and his eyebrows lifted up in surprise.

Hamada Yutaka [LVL 11]

Age 8

The kid's level was impressive, for a first year. Even amongst clan kids, he should be one of the stronger ones. Still, Ando wondered why someone this talented would bother picking on easy prey like him. If he wanted to establish his dominance, he should have gone after the lone Uchiha in the room.

Regardless of it all, Ando had no intention of getting into a fight where he would have to lose his precious AP. Sure, fighting would bring him XP. But the consequent loss of AP would negate that small gain. AP was his ticket to getting stronger. He could not afford to squander them.

As such, Ando only had one answer to the problem which presented itself to him. He clenched his fist and swung it towards Hamada's arrogant face. Miraculously, the blow landed, though Ando hadn't exerted full force—not due to lack of intent but due to the necessity for a swift and agile attack.

12DMG

Ando knew the importance of having the initiative in a fight. Despite his lack of experience, he had seen and read enough action scenes to know. He was about to capitalize on the situation and take advantage of the staggering opponent when a hand suddenly stopped him.

"Children, while I appreciate the eagerness. I have to remind you that fighting is strictly prohibited within the classroom, or even the entire school building. If you want to settle scores, you should do so outside." The nonchalant manner in which Soda delivered those words was disconcerting, but even more unbelievable was his sudden appearance between the two of them. "Consider this your one and only warning."

With a smile on his face, Soda casually strode away. Ando glanced at the back of his teacher, then shifted his attention back to his angry and swollen-faced classmate. An amused smirk played on Ando's face as he realized he wouldn't be the only first-year with a swollen face that day.

"You heard him; let's settle this outside," Hamada declared in a cold tone, walking away. Ando briefly considered attacking him from behind, but he quickly dismissed the idea. He had no intention of provoking Mr. Soda.

The conflict was brief, but it nonetheless attracted the attention of the students of 1-B. They excitedly followed the two students outside. But they once again got another surprise when the seemingly unassuming Ando drop-kicked Hamada's back as soon as they stepped out of the school building.

22DMG

It was a much more satisfying number for Ando. Not wanting to give Hamada the opportunity to regain his bearings, he lunged at the other kid, ready to deliver another hit. But to his dismay, Hamada swiftly rolled to the side and executed a nimble flip to regain his footing, his expression now seething with fury.

Ando hesitated, and that split-second hesitation was all it took for Hamada to reverse the situation. He stomped hard on his left foot and threw a punch at the flustered Ando. The latter still had the presence of mind to try to block. But, sadly for the orphan, the punch was a feint. An intense pain in his abdominal area caused Ando to gasp, with spit flowing out of his mouth. He instinctively tried to clutch his stomach, which unfortunately gave Hamada the opportunity to deliver a forceful right hook on his unprotected face.

Ando's head violently snapped to the side, a burst of stars filling his eyes. He vaguely registered someone shouting "that's enough!" before his vision succumbed to darkness.

AN: Thanks for all the support. Next chapter is up on pAtre0n dot com slash RP741. See ya!