It was Monday morning and everyone was doing the "Dojo Clean Up". Every group has already been assigned a job to do by Master Kaito (The Sensei in charge of Class 4 students and the person in charge of the Dojo's cleanliness). Master Kaito divided the students into four groups. "Group 1 will trim the flowers in the large garden to make it more beautiful, group 2 will sweep the Dojo's compound and surroundings, group 3 will cut the overgrown weeds and chop down overgrown bamboos (this group is male dominant), group 4 will clean/wash the rooms of the Dojo including the Shihan's office (this group usually consists of women and the ones who wash the Shihan's office are usually in the highest class in the Dojo)" said Master Kaito.
Group 3 members which include Akira, Diago, Jin, John, Hatake and other students. "Aaaah! I'm tired already, how can the Senseis be so heartless that they gave us this kind of hard work. Hey Diago, come and weed this place, will you? I've been weeding since morning" Akira shouted. "Stupid trash, you have been weeding since morning? I started like about 5 minutes before you. I've been weeding all through and the worst part of it is that these Senseis are just relaxing while we do all the hard work. We should protest" Diago shouted back. "Will you people keep quiet and do your work. I started 34 seconds before all of you. Yet you all are shouting" John said. "Shut up your dirty mouth and work, you started before me yet I've done more work than you all" Akira shouted. The other students were just looking at them, enjoying the show. "Will you shut up and do your work. If I hear any other word from any of you, I'll make sure you miss your breakfast" Master Kaito. "It's 11:40 am and we're already done with the job. If anyone says anything again, we'll have no other choice but to hope on our lunch. I better keep quiet and finish the job" Akiro thought.
After 10 minutes of hard work, Mr. Haruki rang the bell. "YAY! IT'S BREAKFAST TIME" Jin shouted and ran to the dining hall. He was then followed by other students. Immediately they entered the dining hall, they saw that bowls of fresh and good-looking Ramen was served. Everyone was so happy because Ramen of that class is usually served only on special days. Days such as the Shihan's birthday, class anniversaries, the Dojo's birthday, etc. Everyone shouted in excitement, took a seat and started devouring the food. They were so hungry that each person ate at least 4 bowls. "BEST BREAKFAST EVER!" Akira and Jin said in excitement. After the meal, the Shihan entered. Everyone knelt down except the Chaithos and Senseis who gave a profound bow. He walked three steps and said "Well, all of you have done well with the clean up which is usually conducted once every month because as our founder, Grandmaster Haru Rin used to say: A clean Dojo is a worthy Dojo and a worthy Dojo produces excellent ninjas" "If only that Grandmaster Haru is still alive, I would eat him alive" Diago whispered to Hatake. Diago immediately received a knock on the head, he looked up and saw Master Showa looking at him "Don't ever talk whenever the Shihan is talking" said Master Showa. Diago looked away in anger. "Well, I can't say anything yet for we must go outside because what I want to say isn't something I can say in the dining hall. It has to be in the square" Grandmaster Shin said. "What is it that cannot be possibly said in the dining hall" this was the thought that was going through Hana's mind. Immediately, everyone went outside. As they move to the square, they saw the Shihan from the Village of water on the platform, this is where the Shihan usually gives his speeches, announcements and messages.
Everyone was in their own group in the square and every group has a Sensei with them. Master Ryoko was with Akira's group. "Students from the Village of Water? What are they doing here" Hana said when she noticed the Water Students on the platform with their Shihan. "How sure are you they're water ninjas?" Akira asked. "Baaka (Japanese for idiot), can't you see the arm band" Diago shouted. "Oh yeah, it's blue" said Akira.
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A Ninja's village is usually identified with their armbands. These armbands are given to them immediately they become Muathos and ninjas become Muathos 8 months after they choose their weapons. They indulge in serious weapons training. The armbands differ in colours depending on villages and differs in design depending on ninja rank. Well depending on villages,
RED: This colour are for Fire Village Ninjas. The colour represents passion
BLUE: This colour is for Water Village Ninjas. It represents peace
YELLOW: This colour is for Rock Village Ninjas. It represents strength, for some obvious reasons
WHITE: This colour is for Air Village Ninjas. It represents Tolerance and calmness and this is the motto of the Ninja.
Then according to rank, we have:
THE MUATHO ARMBAND: This Armband usually have a fire symbol inscribed on it. It's for Muathos only and it's given to students on the day they officially become Muathos.
THE KALIATHO ARMBAND: This armband has a fire symbol surrounded with a ring. It's for Kaliathos and it's given to them two days before they officially become Kaliathos
THE CHIATHOS ARMBAND: This Armband is just like that of the Kaliatho but the only difference is that a star surrounds the image inscribed on the Kaliatho's Armband.
Every village has its own Armband image. For example
The Water Village has a water symbol instead of fire, the Rock Village has a rock symbol and so does the Air Village. If you ever get your weapon and your Armband, you're officially called Shinobi by the villagers.
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"Now you get it. You should observe well before making any statements or before taking any actions, that's what my father used to say" Master Ryoko said. "I know you must be wondering, who are these people but don't worry, I'll clear your doubts soon" said Grandmaster Shin. "As you all know, every three years, a meeting for all the Shihan of all 4 villages will be held for students exchange. Every village is to bring forth two students each for the exchange and these students must be Muatho and below. This is for the cooperation and the unity of the Shinobi world and I can't continue with the exchange without introducing the Shihan of the Water Village, Grandmaster Fuji Asahi" Grandmaster Shin continued. There was a nice round of applause from the Ninjas. The Shihan for the Water Village, Grandmaster Fuji came up to the Podium and said "Yes, my friend, Grandmaster Shin has said it all. I'm just here to introduce my students, hand them over and to know my new students. Trust me, it'll be all fun and hard work with them. Without further ado, let me introduce my students. I give you Asami Roku and Barou Musashi". There was a massive round of applause.
Asami is a girl who's about 14 years old. She's beautiful with long white hair, tall, blue eyes and she carries a bow and a quiver of arrows while Barou is a guy of average height. He's 14 years old too. He carries a Bo Staff, he has short dark hair and brown eyes.
"Wow, Asami is really good looking, I really look forward to working with her" Diago said. "What makes you think she'll even look at you talk more of working with you" Akira asked laughing at him. "No girl would say no to these lovely muscles" he said flexing and kissing his muscles. Grandmaster Shin came up to the Podium, adjusted his robe, cleared his throat and said "Now I shall call upon two of my brilliant students, Lin Ling and Ichigo Haku.
Lin is a 12 year old girl and the youngest of Akira's set. She's short, a little chubby, good with nunchakus. She has short brown hair and dark eyes. She was raised by her mother only and her mother is Japanese but her father was Chinese. Her father died when he was on a mission and that was before Lin's mother gave birth to her. When she got accepted to join the Ninja Academy, her mother rejected at first saying "Your father died because of a mission the Shihan gave to him and his friends. I won't let my daughter suffer the same fate". "But mum, I want to be a Ninja, I want to follow dad's footsteps. I promise I'll train hard and make you proud and I promise not to die on a mission" Lin would tell her mother. Then finally after much persuasion from Lin, her mother agreed to let her study in the academy. She has a pair of knives.
Ichigo is a guy of 15 years and 9 months, he's the oldest in his class because he repeated due to nonchalance in Ninja training. His parents are high ranked Ninjas who have gone for a lot of missions and brought glory for the Village of Fire. His family is well respected in the Shinobi world. He was proud and arrogant but now, he's calmer and he's among the best students in his class.
"Why was Hana and Diago not chosen to be exchanged. They're the best students in class. I think he just wants to keep them in the Dojo" Master Ryoko thought. The two students from each Village came towards each other, the males shook hands and the girls hugged, the Shihans shook hands and immediately, the drums, flutes and other musical instruments started getting played. The students sang as they bade Lin and Ichigo goodbye. "Lucky! They get to train with the beautiful water village ladies" John said. "Yeah! If you were better than them, maybe the Shihan would have chosen you instead of them." said Hana. "Whatever! We have training 4 minutes from now. We have to go" Diago said and they walked to their class.