She wore an amicable smile as she looked up at them. As she scanned the student body, she spoke confidently and excitedly, with just enough volume to be heard in the back of the hall.
“I know you haven’t even started learning yet, but I am already so proud of all of you. You’ve left your homes and families to come here, to Kumogakure, and learn the way of the shinobi. A way fraught with difficulty, with danger, with death.” She looked around the room, her face set into a mask of seriousness, as she let her final word hang in the air.
Pakin felt a heavy air descend over the students around him. I knew it, a lot of them probably didn’t read the waiver. A few of the students seemed unaffected, like Kyo and Kanae. However, the majority appeared at the very least more focused than before.
Osako’s face relaxed minutely, as she continued, “It’s true, a shinobi’s life is perilous. However, that danger is born from our very purpose. The purpose of every shinobi in Kumogakure. To protect our home!” She let her smile bloom once more as she exclaimed, “That is why I am so proud of you all already, because you’ve joined us in our great mission!”
Osako began to clap, and the other adults behind her clapped as well. The students around him visibly relaxed, their posture and faces losing the tension they’d just gained.
Jeez, this is hokier than my orientation at Uni. Pakin shook his head, trying to push his cynicism down. No, this is different. We are actually risking our lives by becoming shinobi. Director Osako probably understands that better than any other person in this room.
The clapping died down quickly, and Osako continued speaking, “So! I hope that at the end of this year I’ll get to see each and every one of you leave this Academy wearing a headband just like ours!” She pointed to the one tied neatly around her forehead before saying, “Unfortunately, I do have other business to attend to, so I’ll leave you in the capable hands of our esteemed teachers.”
The shinobi, whom Pakin had met in the hallway, stepped up to take Osako’s place at the front of the group, a clipboard appearing from his side. Osako made her way out of the room, and Kohei began speaking.
“Thank you, Director Osako.” He gestured to himself and the teachers behind him, saying, “We would also like to thank you for joining our program, and I’m very excited to see you all do well here. To start, I’ll explain your schedule going forward and go back over the rules you agreed to follow when you signed the waiver to join the Polisher Program.”
Pakin could see that many students around him had started to look confused before Kohei began speaking again.
“So, firstly, all of us here at the Polisher Program are now legally considered your guardians until you either graduate or leave the Academy. That means if you have any problems, and I mean any, you come see one of us. We’re your teachers, but we also want to ensure you are all taken care of while you learn.”
Hmm, I remember some of that from the waiver, but it was couched in so much legal jargon that it was hard to make out. Pakin considered that fact and wondered, Are there, like, shinobi lawyers?
“Next, you must come to class six days a week for the full eight hours, from six in the morning till two in the afternoon. There will be one rest day every week, no holidays, and we ask that you inform us immediately if you are physically unable to attend class for any reason. We have a nurse on staff who will personally care for you.”
Pakin heard a spattering of complaints as Kohei explained there would be no holidays. I hadn’t really thought about holidays, but I suppose it doesn’t matter much. Back in Fuwayama, chores needed doing no matter what day of the year it was. They still celebrated, however they never took the full day to relax. I imagine a lot of my fellow country bumpkins will have experienced the same thing. Pakin looked over and found Kyo unmoved by the news, but Suzume looked confused and slightly taken aback. She mouthed something in shock as Kohei continued.
“Next, you will be split into different classes for these first four months. After those four months, you’ll be split up and get to experience class with other students.”
That must be when the advanced students are separated. Pakin guessed. I’ve got four months to prove I can be a great shinobi. He recalled his chat with Osako and how she believed in him. He thought about his family, his promise to Hika, his new friends in the various towns he’d visited, and the friends he’d made in his short time in Kumo. Mostly, he thought of his sensei and how much she cared for and believed in him. I can’t let them down.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
With his ambitions affirmed, he listened to Kohei finish his explanation.
“Finally, you’ll all receive a place to stay and a monthly stipend to take care of yourselves.” His eyes grew severe, and he said, “If you run out of money before the end of the month, there will be no assistance for you. We expect you to learn to live like responsible, independent genin while learning with us. There will be a lesson on personal finance at the beginning of our second day, but that will be all the help you get.”
Jeez, they’re rather serious about that. It’s a bit much for kids our age to handle, but I suppose they want to ensure that we can really make it as genin. It’d suck to train us up for a year and then learn we starved to death or got into massive debt right after.
“That is everything we needed to cover here. Next, we’ll split you all up into your different classes. You’ll spend some time in your homeroom meeting your teacher, and then they will show you your new apartments. Today will only be a half day, so that should leave you enough time to move into your new apartments from the motel or whatever other lodging you’ve been staying in. When you hear your name, come down here and join the teacher who called you.”
A teacher farthest to the right of Kohei stepped up and called out, “Ado from Matsubo.”
Pakin turned to look at Kyo and Suzume, who both looked lost in thought. They seem nice, and Kyo especially seems more mature. Now that I know why people were avoiding me, I can try to fix it. Now, how do I stop my chakra from being scary?
Pakin spent the rest of the time until he was called up playing with the control he exerted over his chakra.
As Pakin took a seat on the floor of his new homeroom with the other members of his class, he looked over at the two familiar faces on his right. Kyo sat next to him, Suzume next to them, and the rest of the class formed a half circle in front of their teacher. She was seated facing them all, resting her back against the classroom’s lectern.
The teacher sitting in front of them all was small, with slightly chubbier features. She had medium-length, curly black hair and dark skin. She wore red eyeliner that brought out the color of her light blue eyes. She wore a long-sleeved qipao with black tights underneath, the dress patterned black and yellow like a honey bee. Her lips were painted black, highlighting a long scar running down the right side of her mouth.
Pakin’s new teacher smiled and said, “Alright, class, let’s start with the introductions! If you could just tell us your name, the village you came from, aaaaaaand…” She paused and tapped her chin in thought. She quickly came to a conclusion and said, “Tell us your favorite animal! I’ll go first! My name is Junko, I’m from a place called Yu on the western coast of Lightning, and my favorite animal is an iguana!”
Her favorite animal isn’t a bee? Pakin thought to himself as the rest of his classmates gave their introductions.
There were eighteen kids in his class, and they all shared their introductions. Pakin said his favorite animal was goats, Kyo said snow leopard, and Suzume said phoenix, which got a smattering of chuckles at her fantastical choice.
“It’s so lovely to meet all of you!” Junko said, “I can’t wait to start learning with you all. Speaking of, let’s go over your schedule for the next few months.” She stood from her spot and walked over to the blackboard behind the lectern where she was resting. The new classroom was much smaller than the lecture hall, with desks that fit two students each.
Junko drew a small list of different times, followed by various activities.
- 6:00 - 7:15 Morning Conditioning
- 7:15 - 10:00 General Studies
- 10:00 - 12:30 Shinobi Studies
- 12:30 - 1:00 Lunch
- 1:00 - 2:00 Self-Study
Junko turned around and addressed the class, “We’ll start each day with a little conditioning to get you all in shape. Fitness is an important part of being a shinobi, so I’ll be instructing you on how to train and maintain your bodies. We’ll learn proper form and how to put together a good training regimen. Then we’ll have your general studies, such as maths or language arts. Then, we’ll have shinobi studies, where you’ll learn various jutsu, battle tactics, and other things important to shinobi. Then we break for lunch, and finally, you’ll have self-study. This’ll be when you can come to me for advice about whatever you need help with.”
That still leaves a lot of time in the day. I suppose that means I can keep up my usual training routine after two. Pakin was glad that he already had a routine to fall back on. All that free time can’t be good for these kids. Do they really expect a bunch of twelve-year-olds to know what to do with all this spare time? It seemed like he wasn’t the only one who thought as much when another student raised their hand.
I believe his name was Fukasa, his favorite animal was a… bear, I think. He was a lanky kid with short white hair and dark skin. His eyes were hazel and looked confused as Junko said, “Yes, Fukasa?”
“What do we do when we’re not at school. Is there like, homework and stuff?”
Junko nodded and replied, “Yes, there will be homework. However, besides that, whatever you do outside the Academy is totally up to you.”
There’s no way they don’t expect us to train at home! I thought this was based on a boot camp. Everyone talked about how they were put through their paces at the Program. Were they all just trying to get me to take it seriously? Pakin wondered.
Junko waited another moment, but when no one else asked any questions, she clapped her hands and motioned for everyone to stand up.
“Okie dokie! I’m glad you all catch on so quick, let’s head on over to your new apartments! We might just beat the other classes!” She walked over to the door and ushered all the kids out.
As Pakin moved to exit, Junko tapped his shoulder and said, “Pakin, can you walk with me for a moment?”
Kyo and Suzume’s eyes went big as they left without him, and Pakin worried about what she could possibly want from him.
It hasn’t even been one hour yet!? How did I already get in trouble?