Chapter 77: Brainwashing

Tension was in the air as the results were made public. A sea of young ninja hopefuls stood holding their breath, their futures hanging in the balance. The proctor stepped forward, a scroll clutched in his hands as he looked at the students who had passed the first two tests and were waiting for the results of the third test for selection to Leaf Ninja Academy for this year's session.

Ryu Hamura stood among them, his face a mask of calm determination. Internally, however, his mind raced with possibilities. 'This is it,' he thought. 'The moment that sets everything in motion.'

"Attention, everyone!" The proctor's voice boomed, silencing the murmurs. "I will now announce the top performers of this year's entrance exam to the Leaf Ninja Academy."

A hush fell over the crowd, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. Ryu could feel his heart pounding in his chest, a rhythm that seemed to echo the collective anticipation of the group.

"In first place," the proctor paused for effect, his eyes scanning the crowd, "Hikari Hyuga."

"As expected of the Hyuga clan," somebody from the crowd said, her voice cool and composed. "We accept nothing less than excellence."

"Second place: Akira Uchiha."

"Third place: Takeshi Senju."

A boy with a confident stride took his place among the top performers, his chest puffed out with pride.

"Fourth place: Hiroshi Hyuga."

"Fifth place: Kenji Uchiha."

Ryu's eyes narrowed slightly as he recognised the bully who had confronted him earlier. Kenji swaggered forward, shooting a smug look at the rest of the crowd.

"Fifth?" Kenji scoffed. "Clearly, they made a mistake. I should be in the top three."

"And in sixth place: Hiro Sarutobi."

A boy with spiky hair and a friendly face joined the top performers, looking both pleased and slightly overwhelmed.

As the top six were announced, Ryu couldn't help but notice the predominance of prestigious clan names. He felt a twinge of sympathy for the civilian-born children, whose faces fell with each announcement. The divide between clan and civilian seemed more pronounced than ever.

"Seventh place: Saya Uchiha."

Saya's eyes widened in disbelief before a radiant smile broke across her face. "Yay! I made it into the top ten!" she exclaimed, jumping with joy.

"Way to go, Saya!" Ryu found himself calling out, surprising even himself with his enthusiasm. Saya turned to him, her smile growing even brighter as she gave him a thumbs-up.

As the names were called out, a pattern quickly emerged. The top spots were dominated by children from prominent clans – Hyuga, Uchiha, Senju. With each announcement, Ryu noticed the faces of civilian-born children falling.

The proctor continued down the list, each name eliciting cheers, sighs of relief, or quiet disappointment from the crowd. Ryu waited, his outward calm belying the anticipation building within him.

"Fifteenth place: Ryu Hamura."

As Ryu stepped forward, he allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. He had achieved exactly what he had aimed for—a respectable showing without drawing undue attention. As he took his place among the successful candidates, he caught Saya's eye. She gave him a warm smile, which he returned with a nod.

"Hamura?" Ryu heard someone whisper. "I've never heard of that clan before."

"Maybe it's a minor clan," another voice replied. "Or perhaps he's a civilian?"

Ryu kept his face neutral, inwardly pleased at the confusion his presence was causing. 'Let them wonder,' he thought. 'It's better to be underestimated.'

The announcements continued, but Ryu's attention was drawn to the reactions of those around him. He noticed the crestfallen faces of those who hadn't made the cut, the quiet sobs of disappointment, and the comforting hands of friends on shoulders.

"Thirtyth place: Takeshi Yamamoto"

"I did it," Takashi said, his voice thick with emotion. "I actually did it. Without a clan, without special training... I made it on my own."

Ryu recognised the civilian boy who had been berated by the Hyuga girl earlier. Takashi's face showed a mixture of relief at passing and pride in his achievement.

Ryu felt a surge of respect for the civilian boy. 'His achievements are truly his own,' he thought. 'There's something admirable in that.'

As the proctor finished reading the names, he rolled up the scroll and addressed the crowd once more. "The rest of the names of successful candidates will be on the notice board shortly. You can check them after I am done speaking. To all of you who have passed, congratulations. Your journey as ninja of Konoha begins now. You will be studying at the Leaf Ninja Academy for the next few years. And now, please welcome our esteemed Hokage, who would like to address you all in 15 minutes. All others check your results, and those who have failed clear the ground. Better luck next time."

Only the victorious candidates remained after fifteen minutes. As the Hokage stepped forward and his presence filled the audience with reverence and awe, the focus of the crowd changed. He spoke with a voice that carried both warmth and authority.

"Young shinobi of Konoha," the Hokage began, "today marks the beginning of your path as protectors of our village. Remember always the value of peace, the importance of our village, and above all, the 'Will of Fire' that burns within each of you."

As the Hokage spoke about the Will of Fire, Ryu noticed the leader's eyes flicker briefly in his direction. He kept his face neutral, even as his mind raced. 'The Will of Fire,' Ryu thought, 'a useful tool for inspiring loyalty... or for brainwashing children.'

The Hokage continued, "As ninja, you will face challenges and dangers. But know that your efforts protect not just Konoha but the peace we have fought so hard to achieve. Work hard, grow strong, and let the Will of Fire guide you always. Your new life will begin in two days."

After thanking the Hokage for his speech, the instructor directed the children to collect their admission certificates from the counter. As the crowd dispersed, Ryu found himself face-to-face with Saya once more.

Deciding to provoke a reaction, Ryu said with feigned surprise, "Oh, you passed too?"

Saya's eyes widened in momentary hurt before she caught the teasing glint in Ryu's eye. She punched his arm lightly, a smile breaking through her initial shock. "Very funny, Ryu. I'll have you know, I could out-ninja you any day of the week!"

"Is that a challenge, Miss Seventh Place?" Ryu retorted, raising an eyebrow.

Saya laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You bet it is, Mr. 'Funny Hairs'. I'll show you what I can do!"

"Hey, seventh place is no joke," Ryu said, his tone more serious now. "You should be proud."

Saya's smile softened. "Thanks. It means a lot."

Ryu laughed, genuinely this time. "Congratulations, Saya. See you in class!" He waved as he turned to leave, noticing the absence of his grandfather Dan. He did not notice him after the race. He must have left after the race.

Ryu's thoughts went back over the day's events as he made his way to his grandfather's location. He had achieved his goal, blending in while still performing well. However, he was left thinking a lot about the exchanges he had seen and participated in, including the conceit of some clan children and the tenacity of the civilians.

Arriving at the spectator area, Ryu found Dan waiting for him. "I passed the entrance exam," Ryu announced, trying to sound casual.

Dan's eyes sparkled with pride. "I knew you would. As you have previously stated, fifteenth place in both the individual and overall rankings is correct?

Ryu's surprise must have shown on his face because Dan laughed. "Now, let's go celebrate. We will eat outside today. Tomorrow we will party and invite Yuki, Isao, Hana and others who helped in your journey. "

They headed straight to Ichiraku Ramen, where the owner, Teuchi, greeted them warmly. "Hello Dan! And who's this young man? I remember him coming last week."

Dan explained Ryu's relation to him and his success in the exam. Teuchi beamed, declaring the meal on the house in honour of Ryu's achievement.

"Well now, a future ninja deserves the best ramen in Konoha!" Teuchi exclaimed, setting a steaming bowl in front of Ryu. "Eat up, young man. You'll need your strength for all the training ahead!"

As Ryu savoured his first taste of Ichiraku's famous ramen, he couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. Looking at Dan's smiling face, Ryu felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the steaming bowl before him. He had taken his first step on the path of a ninja, and while challenges lay ahead, he knew he wouldn't face them alone.

"You know, Ryu," Dan said softly, his eyes distant. "I'm proud of you. Not just for passing, but for the person you're becoming. Let's enjoy our ramen and celebrate your success."

As they ate, Ryu couldn't help but think about the future. He had successfully navigated the entrance exam, but the real challenges were yet to come.

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