Naruto: Power in Play

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

It was unclear to Ando what exactly the Hokage was talking about. He found it quite unlikely for the leader of the village to be fooled by his words. Yet, to give him such a lengthy speech afterward seemed kind of pointless, if the old man had seen through him. And how was he supposed to interpret those words? Ando couldn't help but feel that the Hokage might have confused the situation with something else.

Either way, Ando felt like he had messed up. Despite all his efforts to stay under the radar, his encounter with the Hokage had likely drawn unwanted attention. No plan ever survived contact with action, and he got to experience that saying today. As expected, he was no match for the seasoned players of the world.

Still, the fact that nothing had happened to him showed he was still in the clear. It was a minor setback, but that's all it was. What he had to do now was live with the consequences. He would probably be watched from now on, if that wasn't already the case from the very beginning.

With these points in mind, Ando stubbornly decided to meditate and continue trying to unlock his chakra that night. If he had already been watched from the start, changing his demeanor now would just be more suspicious. Plus, there was nothing wrong with trying to unlock his chakra.

Ando sat up and crossed his legs, easing himself into the lotus position. Blissfully unaware of the pair of eyes fixed on him from outside the window, he began his meditation.

The registration for the ninja academy was announced a week after the Hokage's visit. One day, they were told in the gathering hall that those who wanted to become ninja would have to go to the head matron's office. This announcement was followed by a speech depicting how ninjas were the guardians and pride of the village, and how lucky they were to get the opportunity to join their ranks.

Ando did not care for the manipulative speech. He has already been sold to the idea from the very start.

Ignoring the excited murmurs of the kids, he resolutely made his way to Takara's office. The door was left open, so after a quick knock, he walked inside.

"Ando! I had a feeling you would be one of the first to visit me." Takara looked at him with a knowing smile. "Have a seat."

The strange smile on the woman's lips unnerved him, but he still did as he was told and greeted her with a polite smile. The woman nodded at him and rummaged through the drawers of her desk before placing a document in front of him.

"This contains all the necessary information you need to know before you decide to join the academy. Consider it like a contract of sorts. Don't worry, there is nothing dangerous in there. I will remain at your entire disposal if there are any words you do not understand or points you want to clarify."

Ando looked at the document with surprise. He did not expect something this formal from the village. Reality was indeed vastly different from what he had seen on the show. Taking it in his hands, Ando started skimming through the content of the document. From time to time, a frown would cross his face.

"You have changed a lot." While Ando was engrossed in reading the document, Takara suddenly commented.

"Your friend Isobe told me that you only started training recently, yet look at you now."

The woman gave him an inquisitive look. Ando had expected this type of inquiry. He had noticed the caretakers asking around about him. Given how much he had grown in a month, it was only natural. His muscles were more defined, and he had even grown taller. Nothing too exaggerated, but compared to the others, and especially the past him, he was very different.