Naruto: Power in Play

"You think you're tough? Let's see if you can handle a real fight. I challenge you, right here, right now!" Shido Inuzuka bellowed, his voice booming across the silent field and shocking the crowd.

The silence broke as the civilians, always eager to curry favor with the clan kids, began to cheer Shido on. Their voices rose in a cacophony of encouragement, some even goading Ando into accepting the fight. It was almost a comical sight.

Ando, unfazed by the clamor, fixed his gaze on Shido. "You think I'm afraid of you?"

He scoffed, eyeing the level 13 Inuzuka with a smirk. With deliberate calm, he walked up to Isamu and retrieved his student card, glancing at his current AP balance with satisfaction.

Then, without warning, he bolted in the direction of the dormitory. "Fuck you, Inuzuka!" he shouted over his shoulder, his voice carrying back to the stunned audience.

For a moment, the crowd stood frozen, watching in disbelief as Ando sprinted away. It took a few seconds for reality to snap back, but by then, Ando was already too far to be caught. Surprisingly, no one made an attempt to chase after him. The clan kids, too proud, refused to give chase after an orphan, while the civilians, too scared to take the lead, remained rooted in place.

And so, Ando managed to safely return to his studio, leaving behind a bewildered crowd and a fuming Inuzuka Shido.

Level: 9
Age: 8
HP: 108/365 [20/30mn]
CP: 201/343.67 [17.4/30mn]
Vitality: 20
Stamina: 20
Agility: 13
Spirit: 23
Intellect: 12
[Available status points: 5]

Inside his studio, while covered in bruises, Ando started laughing maniacally. Thankfully, his two roommates were still outside so they did not have to witness it. To Ando, this was the biggest achievement of his life.

Well, his second life. However short it was.

Either way, it felt insanely good to finally win. And added to that was the level up, plus the Academy Points. Laying down on his bed, Ando could not wipe the wide grin on his face. Thinking back about all those times when he was one sidedly beat down, bullied. From now on, it was his turn.

Ando was a petty person. At least he regarded himself as one. He practically remembered all those who had once wronged him at the academy. In his mind, he was already making up a list of who he was going to enact revenge on first.

While Ando was feeling good about his hard-earned victory, the consequences of his fight started to make themselves known.

Soda Gorou has not always been the most diligent of people. In his early years, his parents have scolded him for his laid-back attitude, something which, as per his parents, was almost on par with the Nara clan people.

Sadly, despite their similarities, he was not as smart as the Nara clan kids. He was just someone who lacked motivation. Which was why, when he was tasked with keeping watch over Ando Yoshio, he was quite reluctant.

But over time, his reluctance slowly faded and was replaced with deep curiosity. In his life, he has never seen someone as motivated as the kid.

Never.

He believed that not even the prestigious Uchiha or Hyuga clan had people as driven as Ando.

Despite having no one on his back to push him forward, the orphan had always maintained a rigorous discipline. Something almost bordering on obsession.

That was not the only illogical thing about Ando thought. During the short time he has been observing the orphan, he has noticed a lot. From the way Ando was behaving, his advanced intellect, his violent tendency of seeking fights with the clan kids, to his miraculous healing ability.

And all of it was documented inside the small scroll in his hand.

"Mr Shimamoto Kin." Soda nodded his head in a salute as he looked at the academy chairman. "I have come to submit my report."

The chairman, Shimamoto Kin, was a man of average height with neatly combed silver hair that framed his calm, sharp features. He wore the standard-issue flak jacket over his traditional clothing. He welcomed Soda with a warm smile. "Ah, Mr Soda. It's a pleasure to see you. Has it been a month already?"

He started as he invited the teacher to take a seat. "Time sure flies when each day unfolds just like the orther, eh?"

"It does, indeed." Soda replied with a practiced smile.

"I'm sure you find these days boring. Don't you miss the thrill of doing missions outside of the village? You know, we could really use some strong men to help the village. If you-"

"I will stop you right there, sir. I still prefer this peaceful way of living compared to taking dangerous missions outside the village." Soda replied, already used to the chairman's poaching.

"But the pay is very good you know?"

"I know. But coming from a family with two jounin, money is not really an issue for me."

"Right." Shimamoto nodded. Not seeming to be bothered by Soda's rebuttal. "Anyway, let's talk about some other matters then. What have you noticed about class A2 during that one month you spent alongside them? Did anyone stand out?"

"A couple of kids. They all seemed to be motivated to train in my class. And I owe it all to one peculiar orphan." Soda's lips tugged into a smile as he handed the scroll over. "I must say that it has been quite an interesting month."

"Ohoo~ I like the sound of that." Shimamoto egged him on. "And an orphan, you say? Is it…?"

Soda nodded. "Ando Yoshio, yes. I now see why you have tasked me with keeping an eye on him. There are some things about him that don't quite add up. He's just a kid, or at least he looks like one. But every now and then, he'll say something that feels off, like it's not quite his own thought. There's also his behavior. It is almost too controlled, too deliberate, like he's trying to blend in but isn't entirely sure how. It's subtle, but it's there—a certain disconnect that leaves you wondering what's really going on beneath the surface."

"You're inferring that he is hiding something. What could it be?" Shimamoto frowned.

"I'm definitely certain that he is trying to hide something. There is more than one reason which pushed me to this conclusion. And it's all written in the report. But," Soda locked eyes with Shimamoto. "He's not a spy. Of that, I am sure."

Shimamoto paused and stared at Soda for a moment, then let out a light-hearted chuckle, the sound almost unexpected in the tense atmosphere. "Not a spy, huh? That's quite a bold statement, Soda," he said, amusement flickering in his eyes. "What makes you so certain?"

Soda leaned back slightly; his expression thoughtful. "It's in the way he carries himself. A spy—especially one this young—would be trained to blend in seamlessly, to become the role they're playing. But with Ando, there's a hesitation, a disconnect between what he's saying and how he's saying it. Like he's not fully committed to the part he's supposed to play."

Shimamoto tilted his head, considering this. "You think it's more than just a lack of training?"

Soda nodded. "Exactly. It's not that he's inexperienced; it's that he's… unsure. Like he's trying to figure something out for himself. A spy wouldn't have that kind of uncertainty. They would know their mission inside and out. But Ando, he's different. He's hiding something, yes, but not for the reasons you'd expect from a spy."

Shimamoto's curiosity deepened. "So, if not a spy, then what? A child with secrets, but what kind of secrets could a child his age have? Perhaps, he's just confused."

Soda let out a slow breath. "Maybe. Or maybe he's caught in something bigger than himself, something he's trying to navigate without fully understanding it. There's his weird healing Kekkei Genkai, which he has done a wonderful job of exploiting in his training. His incredible pain tolerance, at least, from someone his age, is something you would expect to see in someone who has been trained."

"Yet, he doesn't carry the kind of confidence or intent you'd expect from someone who's been sent with a mission. Instead, there's a vulnerability, a sense of someone who's still figuring things out, who might be more lost than he lets on."

Soda glanced at Shimamoto with a pensive frown. "He seems genuine, but at the same time, there's a complexity to him that makes it hard to say for sure. He strikes me as someone who's just trying to do the best he can, even if he's not entirely sure what that is."

Shimamoto nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting. In any case, if he's not a spy, then we have no reason to take action against him. For now, just keep observing him."

"Understood." Soda nodded. Understanding the need for a hands-off approach.

Shimamoto's expression softened into a warm smile. "Good. Well, if there's nothing else, I'll be sending you on your way. I still have to talk to the rest of the teachers, you see,"

"Of course, I appreciate your time, Mr. Shimamoto." Soda stood up and gave a light nod to the man.

Shimamoto nodded, watching Soda leave before turning his attention towards the report that the teacher had made. He ignored most of the content which pertained to the other students of class A2 and jumped straight to Soda's observations and speculations about Ando Yoshio.

"This is pretty elaborate. How uncharacteristic of Soda." Shimamoto mused. It went on to prove that there definitely was something abnormal about the orphan. Enough to awaken the curiosity of the likes of Soda.

"Oh, he's being coached by Chika. Now that is interesting." A small laugh escaped Shimamoto's lips as he fiddled with the report. "I wonder how those two will develop in the future."

Danzo Shimura moved quietly through the dim light of his underground study, the steady rhythm of his steps being the only sound in the stillness. The room, lined with rows of shelves, held a lifetime of secrets and strategies, all meticulously organized. Despite the room's cold, unwelcoming atmosphere, it was a place of comfort for Danzo—a place where control and order reigned.

He approached his desk, his eyes scanning the clutter of documents and maps, each one representing a piece of the intricate puzzle that was the Hidden Leaf Village's security. Among the papers, a single scroll caught his attention. It was new, still crisp and tied with a plain, white ribbon. Danzo picked it up with a deliberate, measured motion, his fingers brushing against the parchment as he untied the ribbon.

Unfurling the scroll, he saw the name written at the top: Ando Yoshio.