Naruto: Power in Play

Chapter 12

"Good morning children." The homeroom teacher, Soda, greeted. "I hope everyone has taken the time to read up on your history book like I instructed. We'll be having a little test that will count towards your first semester scores today."

The classroom responded with a collective groan. Ando himself was frowning. One of the few subjects that he quickly grew to hate was history. He found it… pointless. a collection of skewed facts that he was certain he'd never need. He doubted the authenticity of the information in their textbooks, suspecting it was heavily redacted to fit certain narratives.

Despite his apparent drive and mature look, Ando was actually quite lazy. When he did not like something, he would seldom find the motivation do it. Which was why he actually sucked at history.

Shaking off his reservations, Ando accepted the exam paper and began working through the questions. However, his frustration grew as he found himself drawing blanks on most of them. He glanced around, trying to find the opportunity to glean answers from a classmate. But the fact that he was a loner showed its downsides—there was no one within reach. Resigned, Ando scribbled down whatever came to mind, managing to answer only a handful of questions.

"Those who finish early, bring your papers up and claim your monthly AP credits," Soda announced, his tone almost sounded cheerful.

At the mention of AP credits, Ando's interest piqued. Dropping his pencil, he locked eyes with Soda, noticing a twinkle of amusement in the teacher's eyes.

Without hesitation, he strode to the front and handed in his paper. "Done, sir."

Soda looked at the half blank paper and looked at Ando with a critical eye. "You know those papers are going to count towards your final grade, right?"

"History isn't the only subject that matters, sir."

Soda actually chuckled upon hearing his answer. The teacher took Ando's student card and gave him the promised 100 AP. "Don't go around spending them all at once kid."

Ando looked at the teacher, nodded, and then turned towards the classroom.

"Any of you weaklings who feel like they can take me on, I'll be waiting for you at the sparing field. I'm willing to bet 50AP against all the 100AP I have here!"

With that challenge thrown, Ando resolutely walked out of the classroom. Soda's eyes were glued to his back as he left, with an inscrutable glint flashing in them. He then turned towards the stunned room and smirked.

"Well, are you going to let him talk to you all like that?"

Outside, seated on a bench, Ando reflected on his time at the academy. Time was moving pretty fast when one had fallen into a routine. Between training, fighting, and learning, Ando had little time to watch the time pass by. And in the blink of an eye, a month has passed. It has exactly been one month since he left the orphanage. A month since he had his head bashed in by a random Inuzuka clan kid.

Ando did not forget that day. He used that memory as fuel to push himself forwards in his daily training. For the average student, one month might not mean much, but Ando was no average student.

Level: 8
Age: 8
HP: 290/290 [14/30mn]
CP: 312/312 [15.4/30mn]
Vitality: 14
Stamina: 17
Agility: 13
Spirit: 21
Intellect: 12
[Available status points: 11]

He had been training diligently. Never missing a day since he got here, pushing himself to the limit every day. He had been methodical in his approach, focusing on strength, speed, and technique. Today, he intended to showcase the results of his hard work. He has been holding himself back from challenging anyone for a week just for this moment.

Just so he could maximize his profits.

Time ticked by as Ando immersed himself in meditation while he waited for his challengers to come.

Without any surprise, the first one to take him up on his offer was Hamada. But he did not come alone. He brought his whole clique with him.

"I was wondering if you had finally learned your place, orphan." Hamada sneered, spouting the word 'orphan' as if it was an insult. "It seems like I need to teach you, once again, how much of a loser you are."

"How many of you think you can take me?" Ando retorted, standing to face the group. His bravado was met with derision, but he remained unfazed.

"What are you even saying? Do you actually believe you can beat me?" Hamada retorted with a voice full of arrogance.

"I believe I can beat every single one of you." Ando declared, locking eyes with each of them before focusing on Hamada.

Laughter erupted from the group.

It was contagious and soon the whole audience started mocking.

"You've lost it," someone jeered.

"We'll see," Ando replied coolly. "Me against the six of you."

And suddenly, the mockery faded, replaced by hostile stares. Ando's lips slowly stretched into a confident smile. "Who's first?"

"I'll do it." A short black-haired kid from the group stepped up.

Yoichi Okabe [LVL 10]
Age 8

Ando looked over at the challenger and was glad that it was not actually Hamada that decided to go first. He acknowledged Yoichi's challenge and got inside the ring. A ninja suddenly appeared in between them. To Ando's surprise, it was a familiar face, Isamu, the laid-back ninja who often watched him train with Chika.

"Well, if it isn't little Ando." He greeted, "Here for a match? How much AP are you kids betting?"

"One hundred academy points," Ando replied without hesitation. Following his example, Yoichi also bet 100AP, much to Ando's delight.

"Going big today, huh? You know the rules: no weapons allowed, and whoever gets knocked out, steps outside the ring, or gives up loses. No crippling blows, and whenever I tell you to stop, you have to stop."

After saying his piece, Isamu quietly flashed to the side with a shout of "Fight!"

"I'm gonna enjoy this!" Yoichi declared confidently.

He wasted no time, charging at Ando with his fists clenched and eyes locked on his target. Ando stood his ground, his eyes keenly following Yoichi's movements. Feeling himself grow more confident upon seeing his opponent's speed. The kid was fast, but compared to Chika, he was nothing.

As Yoichi threw a punch aimed at his face, Ando sidestepped swiftly, his reflexes sharp from relentless training.

Yoichi stumbled slightly, surprised by his opponent's speed. Ando capitalized on the moment, delivering a quick jab to Yoichi's ribs. Yoichi grunted in pain, but recovered quickly, swinging a kick toward Ando's midsection. Ando blocked the kick with his forearm, feeling the impact reverberated through his bones.

"You've improved," Yoichi admitted, a smirk tugging at his lips. "But not enough."

Yoichi started launching a barrage of punches at Ando, aiming the overwhelm the latter with brute force, displaying an aggressive style which aimed to pressure the opponent. Alas, pressure was the last thing that Ando feared. His movements were fluid and, while appearing chaotic, were actually effective. He was dodging and parrying his opponent's strikes with a focused intensity. He felt the adrenaline coursing through his veins, his mind solely on the fight.

Ducking under an overhead swing, he found an opening, and delivered a powerful uppercut to his opponent's jaw. Yoichi staggered back, dazed. Seizing the opportunity, Ando moved in with a series of rapid punches, targeting Yoichi's torso and head.

Yoichi managed to block some of the strikes, but Ando's heavy hits left him reeling. With a final, forceful kick to Yoichi's chest, Ando sent him sprawling out of the ring.

"Winner: Ando!" Isamu declared, stepping forward to end the match.

[250XP]

Ando stood inside the ring, feeling dazzled. He won. He actually won a fight! Breathing heavily, he glanced at Yoichi, who was struggling to stand. And a belated smile graced his face.

"Take that! You sucker!" He cheered, failing to contain his joy.

"Anyone else want to try?" Ando called out, his voice brimming with excitement despite his effort to cover it. He hoped to bait another challenger in before Hamada decided to step forward.

Sure enough, another kid stepped into the ring, confident he could exploit Ando's supposed weakness.

Takeuchi Ai [Level 10]

"I'll take you on!" the kid announced boldly. And was about to rush at Ando. But before he could start, Ando interrupted him.

"We need to settle on the betting AP first." Ando started, sending a devious look at his opponent. "I just got another 100AP, so how about upping the ante a little? Let's bet all the points we have. Whoever wins takes all!"

Takeuchi looked at him, then looked at Yoichi who was glaring hatefully at the ring.

"What? Is an esteemed clan born like you afraid of an orphan?"

Takeuchi's brown eyes locked into Ando's, and he could see the open fury in the other kid's face. "I'm gonna make you eat those words."

"Fight!" Isamu announced from the side.

The fight began. And once more, Ando's provocations worked. The kid charged forward, fists flying in a wild flurry. Ando fell back, narrowly avoiding the first salvo of hits. He rolled on the ground and started leading Takeuchi around the edge of the ring.

He tried to follow Takeuchi's rhythm, but he quickly realized that the Ai clan kid was actually more skilled than Yoichi. He somehow managed to keep Ando on the backfoot. At least that's how it seemed on the outside.

From the sideline, Isamu noticed that, despite taking several hits, Ando was actually resisting quite well. What's more, despite Takeuchi's skillful display, he was visibly growing more and more frustrated.

Isamu could understand his frustration. Ando was an abnormally resilient kid. And his next action all but proved it.

After a harsh barrage of punches and kicks which pushed Ando towards the very edge of the ring, Takeuchi tried take advantage of the situation, dropping down, feinting for a low kick, and then transitioning into high kick, catching Ando off guard.

Unfortunately for Takeuchi, despite having his strategy being flawlessly executed. He still could not win. Ando received Takeuchi's kick to the chest, and locked the other kid's leg in place. He then twisted his hips, demonstrating his muscle strength as he threw his opponent outside the ring.

"Winner: Ando!" Isamu declared with a chuckle.

[250XP]
[Consecutive Win Bonus: 20XP]
HP: 183/290 [14/30mn]

The crowd murmured in astonishment. Ando panted as he walked towards the center of the ring, his steps steady, eyes locked into Hamada.

His intent was clear, despite his injuries, he was not backing down yet.

Without a word, Hamada stepped into the ring, his expression livid. "Two hundred Academy Points" Hamada muttered. "Let's see what you're really made of."

"Don't be in such a hurry." Ando chuckled. "Let me count my AP first." Ando calmly walked up to Isamu and verified his gains, whistling joyfully as he did so. After a brief count, Ando made a bold declaration.

"370 AP, if you can wager that much in this match, then I will duel you. Otherwise, you can just scram."

Ando's words elicited an uproar from the audience. The majority of which started insulting him and calling him a coward. Most of the clan kids were fuming, but surprisingly enough, it was the civilians who were the angriest. A lowly orphan was actually challenging the dignity of the clan born—people that they could only curry favor with.

Some even tried to profit of the occasion to try and curry favor with Hamada. And soon enough, the sum of 370 AP was gathered and offered up to challenge Ando.

Ando watched the show unfold, and considered his options. Hamada was definitely stronger than his first two opponents. Following Ando's first two victories, he knew that the other was not going to make the mistake of underestimating him. Add to that the fact that Ando had already taken quite a few hits, one could clearly see that his chances of winning were slim.

That is, if nothing changed.

With a quick command, Ando brought both his Stamina and Vitality stat to 20, allocating 9 of his saved points to his physique. The effects were instant. The tightness in his muscles unwound, and the throbbing aches of his bruises alleviated. His breathing came easier, lighter, no longer strained by the fatigue.

HP: 258/365 [20/30mn]

Ando exhaled a breath of turbid air, his chest rising and falling heavily as he steadied himself. His gaze, sharp and unyielding, locked onto Hamada, eyes burning with a quiet intensity.

The air thickened with tension as the two squared off, the crowd's chatter hushing in anticipation. Hamada, larger and seemingly more experienced, moved first. His approach was aggressive, his fists aimed with precision. Right from the start, he landed a solid right hook to Ando's side, the impact echoing around the silent ring.

-20HP

Ando staggered slightly but quickly regained his composure, his face set in a grimace. He knew Hamada wasn't going to hold back. Ando circled, keeping his distance, his eyes never leaving Hamada's. Hamada threw a jab, the punch whistling past Ando's cheek as he dodged, feeling the air from the swing.

Hamada pressed forward with a series of rapid punches, his fists a blur as he aimed to corner Ando. Each punch was thrown with deadly intent, aiming to end the bout quickly. Ando weaved and bobbed; his movements not as refined but effective in their unpredictability. He absorbed a hit to his shoulder, another to his ribs, the pain sharp and immediate. Already, he was down by a sum of close to 50HP. But instead of retreating, Ando used the pain to fuel his resolve.

Gritting his teeth, Ando threw a counterpunch, his fist connecting with Hamada's jaw. The punch wasn't enough to stop Hamada, but it gave Ando a momentary advantage. He followed up with a quick succession of jabs, aiming to keep Hamada on the defensive.

Hamada grunted, his eyes narrowing as he adjusted his stance. He swung a powerful right hook, catching Ando on the side of the head. Ando's vision blurred for a second, but he shook it off, refusing to go down. He ducked under another punch and aimed a sharp kick at Hamada's knee. The blow landed, making Hamada stumble.

Seeing an opening, Ando lunged forward, his fists a flurry of relentless strikes. Each punch was driven by a mix of desperation and determination, his style raw and unrefined but undeniably effective. Hamada blocked and parried, his larger frame absorbing much of the impact.

Having regained his rhythm, Hamada countered with a brutal uppercut, lifting Ando off his feet.

-26HP

Ando landed hard but rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a follow-up stomp. He sprang to his feet, his breathing heavy, his body aching but his spirit unbroken.

The crowd watched in rapt silence as the two fighters circled each other, sweat dripping from their brows. Hamada launched another series of punches, each one aimed to incapacitate. Ando dodged and weaved, his movements erratic and difficult to predict. He felt a surge of adrenaline, his mind focused solely on the fight.

Feeling his exhaustion creeping in, Hamada had to make a difficult decision. End the fight decisively, or fall into Ando's rhythm. He launched a heavy left, aiming to end the bout. But Ando saw it coming and ducked low, the punch sailing over his head. With a grunt, Ando surged forward, his shoulder driving into Hamada's midsection. The impact was unexpected, unorthodox, and it knocked the wind out of Hamada, bending him forward over Ando's back.

In one fluid motion, Ando straightened up, flipping Hamada off him and onto the ground with a resounding thud. The crowd fell silent, watching as Hamada scrambled to his feet, his breathing heavy, eyes wide with shock.

Ando didn't give Hamada a moment to recover. He advanced with a wild ferocity, his fists pounding like drums against Hamada's defenses. He used punches, kicks, and even attempted some grappling moves. At this point, his strategy could be resumed in a few words: throw as much attacks as possible, and hope for the best.

Eventually, a left jab connected with Hamada's cheek, snapping his head to the side. Ando followed up with a right cross, the force of the blow making Hamada stagger.

Every move Ando made was raw and unpolished, a testament to his month of relentless, desperate training. His style was… chaotic, each punch thrown with a mix of instinct and determination. He stepped back, feinting with his left, then pivoted on his heel, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick. His foot connected squarely with Hamada's chest, the impact sending Hamada sprawling backward.

Hamada's arms flailed as he fell, his body crashing to the ground with a finality that echoed through the arena. The referee, Isamu, hurried over, his hand raised as he checked on Hamada.

HP: 108/365
[300 XP]
[Consecutive Win Bonus: 20XP]
[Level Up!]
[…]

"Winner: Ando!" Isamu announced, his voice echoing across the silent crowd.

The silence was palpable, thick with astonishment.

Suddenly, laughter cut through the tension. Everyone's eyes landed on the incoming student.

"What a pitiful display!" Shido Inuzuka mocked. He stepped forward as the crowd parted, his expression one of contempt. "Each of you more disappointing than the last," he sneered, his eyes scanning the stunned faces with disdain. Finally, his gaze settled on Ando. "You think you're tough? Let's see if you can handle a real fight. I challenge you, right here, right now!"