It was a classroom where they had an Iryo-Nin examine my overall medical condition. The Chunin next to him started asking me questions.
"2+2?"
"4."
"10+14?"
"24."
"378-186?"
"192."
"Can you read?"
"No."
"How old are you?"
"Five."
"Where are your parents?"
"Don't know."
"Who founded Konoha?"
"Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha."
"Do you love the village?"
"..."
"..."
"Of course."
The Iryo-Nin left after giving the Chunin a quick nod.
"Good. You are elligible for entry into the academy. Classes will begin next week on Monday, 7 o'clock. War-orphans automatically receive a stipend upon entering the academy. For further information talk to Nono Yakushi at the orphanage. That will be all. You can leave."
A bit perplexed, I nodded. That's it?
Guess it was. And so I left.
I just didn't know where to go. I couldn't remember the way back to the orphanage. So I just dawdled around a bit.
What was I even doing? Am I going to become a ninja now? Why?
"Excuse me, could you show me the way to the orphanage?"
"Yeah sure, it's that way."
"Thank you."
Konoha is bigger than you'd think. As I walked through it's streets I could feel his the frock-faces' eyes on my back. I turned and looked up at them.
If I was to be a ninja I just had to make sure I could survive. It's not like I had a better idea of what to do with my life. Become a civilian? Yeah I don't think so.
When I arrived at the orphanage the sun stood already quite low on the horizon. The woman with the green eyes stood in front, waiting for me it seemed. Next to her on the ground was little trunk.
"There you are. I already heard. Congratulations. From now on you no longer have a place here. Oh, don't give me that look. You have a new place in the city. Here, the key. I will help you carry your things. Let's go."
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"Are you Nono Yakushi?"
"Of course I am silly. But you can still call me Maza."
"Okay."
She grabbed the trunk off the ground and led me back into the city. I trotted behind.
"Now, your stipend will arrive every month on the first day. This is the money for this month, take it. Make sure you eat properly. You should receive an official admission letter from the academy offices tomorrow. Attached to the letter you should find a nutritional guideline among other things. Do try to follow it. And don't spend your money recklessly, you won't get much."
After a couple minutes more we arrived at the place. A big block of a structure with uniform doors at precise distances from each other lodged in the stone.
"There we are. Take a look at your curriculum before you start at the adademy next week. It should arrive with your admission in the mail. And also: take this seriously. Starting now, you are not a child anymore. Don't forget that."
"..."
"Alright Kashime. With that I'll leave you to it. You have the key. You have your things. Don't be a stranger. Good bye. And good luck."
And with that she left.
I took my trunk, which was actually pretty light who would've guessed and looked around. Which flatnumber was I? Ah, there on my key. 46.
So I ascended the wooden steps outside which led me to the fourth floor. Sixth door to the right and I found my new home.
Which was a dim room with a bed, a small kitchen, a table and a small window at the far wall. A fan and a lonely lightbulb hung from the ceilling. A little bathroom was seperated from the main area by a navy blue curtain.
I opened my trunk and found the same getup that I was already wearing, a picture book, a pair of goggles and a box with a few crackers in it.
I threw the goggles and the book away and went to bed.
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I woke up and tried to take a shower, but no water would come out the showerhead. I went out, bought groceries and had breakfast.
Should I start training? But what should I train?
I went outside and strolled around. Nearby was a little park where you could watch ducks swim around. I sat down and just watched them toil a little.
A boy came by and lay down.
"Hey."
"Hi."
"..."
"..."
"You like to watch the ducks?"
"I guess."
"..."
"..."
"Wanna play some shogi?"
"Okay."
"Nice."
"You always have a shogi board with you?"
"Nah. My mom's on my case about training. If she sees me play at home she'll come for me. Haah, what a drag."
"I thought about training myself."
"I saw you at the entrance exams yesterday. You passed?"
"Guess so."
"Yeah me too. Don't know how. I didn't really do much."
"You're a Nara. Course you passed."
"You know me?"
"I've seen you before."
"Huh. Well, you know the rules?"
"No."
"I'll teach you."
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"Thanks for the game."
"You're too good at this."
"It's just experience."
"If you say so. I'm Kashime by the way."
"Shikamaru Nara."
"I know."
"Another round?"
"We played twenty games and you beat me twenty times."
"Is that a no?"
"No. When do you have to be home?"
"A couple hours. We're having a get together at my friends place. The Akimichi."
"..."
"You wanna come?"
"No thanks. If you wanted to become a strong shinobi, how would you do it?"
"I would have to train I guess. But I don't wanna."
"Yeah but hypothetically, if you were me, what would you train first?"
"Taijutsu. You need to train your body."
"Why?"
"You seem pretty smart. You should have a lot of spiritual energy. But you look weak. Exercising and practicing Taijutsu will increase your physical energy to match your spiritual energy. If you do that you will be able to form more chakra. Also, statistically every fight with another shinobi will propably involve Taijutsu. Most times the outcome of a battle is determined by who is faster, has more endurance and more chakra."
"Yeah I thought so too."
"Pretty easy. But too much of a hassle if you ask me."
"I know. I thought about training this morning, but I'd rather laze around."
"Yeah."
"Do you think if a war broke out again we would survive?"
"Man, I don't wanna think about it."
"Propably not right?"
"My family would protect me. If a war broke out, I'd be allowed to stay at home. You though..."
"I would be dead."
"Yes."
"I should go. I think I'll do some running."
"Okay."
"Wanna join?"
"Nah, I'm good. Are you here tomorrow?"
"In the morning."
"Kay. Let's play again."
"Sure."
I ran a bit. Did some exercise. The park was bigger than I first thought. After exhausting myself I went home and turned on the shower. Ice-cold water came out the showerhead.