Naruto: Power in Play

Chapter 9

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.