Chapter 85: Unexpected encounter

Ryu Hamura took a deep breath, shaking off the remnants of his earlier confrontation with Kenji Uchiha as he approached the reception counter of the ninja academy. 

He clutched his admission letter tightly, feeling the edges of the paper crinkle in his grip as he approached the counter. With each step, his heart raced, pounding with anticipation and the weight of expectation.

Approaching the reception counter, Ryu took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. The receptionist, a seasoned ninja with piercing eyes, looked up at him expectantly.

"Name?" he asked, his voice gruff yet efficient.

"Ryu Hamura," Ryu replied, handing over his crumpled admission letter.

The receptionist scanned through the documents containing the names of the fresh batch of the young ninjas-in-training. "Ryu hamura? found it."

"Yup, that's me," Ryu replied, trying to mask the nervousness for being late that bubbled beneath the surface. The ninja's eyes scanned the document and matched the identity before handing him a small card.

"You're in class S, on the ground floor to your left," he instructed.

"Thank you," Ryu said, relief flooding through him. Ryu nodded gratefully, clutching the card like a lifeline as he navigated the bustling corridors. The excitement of his new beginning mingled with a gnawing anxiety about what lay ahead.

As he approached room S, Ryu's hand hesitated for a moment on the door handle. Taking a deep breath, he pushed it open and stepped inside with what he hoped was a confident smile.

"Excuse me, may I come in?" he asked, his voice bright and hopeful. But his cheerfulness faltered as he was met with the intense gazes of thirty pairs of eyes. The room fell silent, the atmosphere thick with scrutiny and unspoken judgements.

The room fell silent, the atmosphere thick with scrutiny and unspoken judgements. So much for a warm welcome, he thought, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach.

"Ryu Hamura and Saya Uchiha, you are late!" The instructor's voice boomed, slicing through the silence. Ryu recognised Saya Uchiha, the girl he had met at the exam, standing behind him.

"I apologise," Ryu stammered, embarrassment flooding through him. "An unexpected encounter at the entrance held me up." His eyes flickered briefly to Kenji Uchiha, recalling their earlier confrontation.

Saya, standing beside him, added defensively, "I had to help an old lady with her heavy bags!" Her hands were on her hips, and though her voice was strong, Ryu could see the embarrassment flicker across her features.

The instructor's gaze softened for just a moment before hardening again. "Discipline is crucial for any ninja," he stated firmly. "You must learn to value your time and the time of others. I didn't expect this from S-Class students."

Ryu thought to himself as he glanced at Kenji, "He was late too, but unlike me, he did not get into trouble. I guess its the Uchiha privileges, but at least I am not alone; Saya is with me; she will not be able to enjoy the same privilege because she entred alongside of me." 

The instructor's gaze softened for just a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Stand outside and wait for your name to be called," the instructor commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Ryu sighed and complied, raising his arms as they stepped out into the corridor. The air felt cooler here, as if it carried the weight of their punishment. He could hear the chatter from inside, where the introductions had begun. One by one, students introduced themselves, their voices filled with confidence and pride.

Ryu listened intently, noting the names of kids from famous clans and the legacy of their families hanging over them like a banner of honour. He felt a twinge of envy. How do I fit into all this? he wondered, feeling like an outsider in this world of privilege.

As the introductions continued in the class, Ryu leaned against the wall, thoughts swirling in his mind. 

"Why does it have to be like this on my first day?" he mentally chastised himself.

"Why is this happening on my first day at the academy?" Saya muttered beside him, her frustration evident in the way she crossed her arms, her expression a mix of annoyance and disappointment.

Ryu shrugged, a teasing grin creeping onto his face despite the situation. "Maybe you should have woken up early; then you wouldn't be in this situation," he shot back, a hint of laughter in his voice, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Shut it," she snapped, but her lips curled into a slight smile, the tension easing between them.

As they stood there, the corridor filled with passing students. Ryu felt a need for distraction. "Hey Saya, do you know anything fun to pass the time while we stand here?" He asked, trying to engage her in a light conversation, desperate to shift the focus away from their punishment.

"I said shut it," she repeated, crossing her arms, though the amusement in her eyes remained.

"So," Saya broke the silence, her curiosity getting the better of her, "what really held you up at the entrance?"

Ryu hesitated, weighing his words carefully. "I had a... disagreement with Kenji Uchiha," he admitted, his voice low. "It got a bit intense."

Saya's eyes widened with interest. "Kenji? He's my cousin. What happened?"

Ryu said, "We had a small fight. "

Just when he was about to respond, an unexpected voice called out, "Ryu, is that you?"

Ryu turned sharply, his heart sinking as recognition washed over him. That was the orphanage bully, Kaito.

"I almost didn't recognise you."Kaito said.

"What's with those red hairs? You survived?" Kaito asked, a combination of relief and surprise mixed with a hint of something else in his voice: guilt?

Ryu kept his expression neutral, masking the unease that bubbled beneath the surface. "Oh, Kaito, I'm surprised to see you. You're a student here?" he asked, his voice steady, though a hint of sarcasm crept in.

Saya furrowed her brow, glancing between the two boys. "Who is he? And what does he mean by survived?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Ryu took a deep breath, recalling the memories that haunted him. "He's Kaito; he used to bully me in the orphanage where I lived," he said, his voice reflecting the mix of emotions he felt.

"I hope you're not bullying people now." Ryu asked, his voice steady, though a hint of sarcasm crept in.

Kaito's expression shifted, a mix of shame and vulnerability flickering across his features. "Why does this have to come up now?" he thought, feeling exposed.

Upon hearing that Ryu was an orphan, something clicked in Saya's mind. The weight of her upbringing pressed down on her as she reflected. Being an orphan in a civilian household was one thing; being an orphan from a prestigious clan like the Uchihas was entirely different. She had never had to worry about where her next meal would come from or whether she would have a roof over her head. The clan had always taken care of her, even though she was also an orphan.

"You didn't tell me you were an orphan." Saya spoke softly, her voice tinged with empathy. Her heart ached for Ryu, realising the struggles he must have faced.

"Didn't he say that he had a grandfather?" she thought.

"It's not something one advertises to people they just meet," Ryu replied, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I live with my adoptive grandfather now, who's also a distant relative from my mother's side. But before that, I was in the orphanage where Kaito and I... well, we had our differences."

Kaito, instead of refuting the claim, looked down, a tremor in his eye. He stepped forward, surprising Ryu once again, and embraced him tightly. "I'm really glad you're okay," he said, his voice steady but filled with an unusual sincerity. 

"What is happening? " Ryu thought, feeling the warmth of the unexpected hug, a stark contrast to their previous encounters.

Ryu stiffened for a moment, taken aback by the sudden display of affection. The memories of their encounters flashed through his mind—Kaito's taunts, the fights, and the isolation he felt in the orphanage. But now, standing here, he sensed an odd shift in the dynamic.

"Um, thanks?" Ryu replied, his unease giving way to a cautious acceptance. "I guess it's good to see you too." He reflected, acknowledging the complexity of emotions swirling within him. "I never thought I'd say that."

Saya watched the exchange with a mix of confusion and intrigue. She felt a newfound respect for Ryu growing within her as he navigated this complex relationship with a sense of grace. "Maybe we all have scars that we carry," she thought, realising that everyone had their battles to face.

As they stood there, the inside of the classroom could be heard, and the instructor's voice echoed through the corridor. "I think the two outside don't need introductions now, and everyone knows them."

##PoWeR StOnEs##

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