All 40 children stand beside each other awaiting the announcement that is about to be announced.
Everyone expressing their joy with their friends, however one stands alone downcast. That however does not bother him.
His mind is trapped remembering the conversation he had with Lia. Questioning weather he should go and apologize to her or do as she said.
Immediately all the Police Force present kneel to one knee. The Rank 1's follow along in unison.
Reiji does the same knowing that the only one person who can make everyone act like this is none other than the Shogun.
Who walks up to the stage - standing in the middle raising his hand upwards and everyone stands up.
"Congrats to you all for passing the Promotion Exam and officially becoming ninjas." His eyes scanning the training grounds. "I see that this year you are quite a lot. And knowing Ai, I know there must be a good reason."
The Shogun let's out a laughter.
"Anyways, now that you are officially ninjas you should understand that the world you are stepping in is a harsh one. Once I have announced today's news I want each one of you to go home and ask yourself why you decided to become ninjas."
Ai walks over to him giving him a broucher.
"Whatever the reason might be always keep this as your priority. Save and protect those in need of your help as much as you can, because that is what a real ninja is."
The Shogun opens the broucher.
"Now it does not mean that you becoming a ninja means going to do missions alone. That can only happen if you are a Special Force."
"I as the Shogun will now be reading out the names of people who have been enlisted in teams. But before that, I know that some of you're curious how many teams there are."
A smile forms across his face.
"For this year's group number there will be 14 teams of three. I will be calling out the names of each team. I advise you to listen carefully. The first team will consist of…"
The Shogun list every team member in each group until he gets to team 11.
"For the eleventh team the names are…" His eyes searching for his first pick. "Koruto Higuma, Reiji Kōshin and Kazuki Emori."
Hearing his name, Reiji jolts awake, he looks up to the Shogun and yells at him. The Shogun directs his attention to him.
"Is something wrong? If you have a question please don't yell next time."
"Um… am sorry Shogun." Reiji bows his head.
Ai quickly whispers something to the Shogun.
"Oh I see. His grown since the last time." Mummering to himself.
"Reiji Kōshin, what do you want to ask?"
Everyone notice his eyes are no more gloomy like before. They wonder what his about to say.
Reiji lifts his head.
"Shogun, could you please repeat what you said just now."
The silence is broken. Each individual mutter to each other weather his mad to ask the Shogun to repeat himself.
"Quiet." Everyone hold their say. "Well Reiji Kōshin, I said team 11 will consist of Koruto Higuma, Kazuki Emori and you."
Reiji bows down and the Shogun continues to what he was to say. His heart begins to sprout with joy and fear.
Like he always wanted, his in the same team as Kazuki, but he wonders how he is going to face him. After not visiting him in the infamary.
Meanwhile in the Town District. Inside a beef establishment Kaito chews his meat in elation.
"Finally *chews* I can rest for a month before I have to return to that *chews* academy. Sir this delicious."
The men behind the counter with an apron smiles and bows his head. A few minutes pass and the men once again bowing his head as a new customer enters.
Kaito turns to the door and it is the largest fifteen years old his ever seen, Koruto.
Koruto walks up to the counter and sitting next to him.
"Can I please have a cup of water."
The men goes around leaving Koruto and Kaito at the counter and two other guys sitting at the corner of the counter.
"Water?" Kaito adds, "Are you serious? You do realize this is a beef restaurant and you want water?"
"If I could eat like you then I would've ordered it."
"Well, I will go speak to your father to fix that for you."
"Very funny." Says sarcastically.
"Anyways, shouldn't you be at the training grounds?"
Koruto shifts his gaze to him.
"Have you not heard that I'm somewhat of a special person to the Shogun." With a smirk on his face.
"Well you've changed. What is this role you've been given? Are you a Special Force to now?"
The men returns, giving Koruto his cup of water and takes Kaito's plate.
"I can't tell you now, but I did not come here to brag about my new role."
"Well say it."
Koruto takes a sip of his water.
"Kaito-sensei, I ask you to please tell me everything you know about my father."
"About your father?" Glances at Koruto." How would I know anything about your father?"
"I'm not stupid. From the day we met you have been mentioning him all the time like you know him on a personal level. What's even more intriguing is the way you speak of him."
Kaito gets up from his seat thanking the men and him and Koruto both leave the restaurant.
They stroll down the street.
"Wow, you are his son and yet you don't even know anything about him. Not like it's important, but what I want know is what do you plan to do by knowing anything about your father."
"…"
"If you won't tell me then no news about your father."
Koruto's eyes move away from Kaito's stare.
"…Since I'm now a ninja, I can avenge my brother and put an end to the Higuma Clan."
Kaito's eyes open wide like his been striked by lightning. He looks around checking weather anyone heard what Koruto just said.
"Well, that was not what I was expecting." He sighs, "If you wanna know then follow me to my place."
**
Inside the academy's infamary. Kazuki slowly opens his eyes. After a while he adjust to the light.
He sits upright holding on to his head like his been hit hard by a brick .
"You're awake!" A familiar voice calls.
Kazuki swiftly turns to the voice and it's his sister Hinata.
Hinata springs from her chair giving her brother a tight hug.
"You're finally awake brother!" A fountain of tears flow down her eyes.
"I thought…I thought. I still have you!"
Two women in white rush inside the room separating the two seeing the state Kazuki is in.
**
"Am sorry brother."
Kazuki holding on to his ribs, he accept Hinata's apologize. The women in white leave the room, but they informs Hinata to not get any closer to Kazuki like she did.
"His my brother so I will do anything I want to him." Pouting.
She turns to Kazuki who is lying his head on his bed with a smile.
"Why are you smiling brother? You should be getting of the bed and beating them for what they said to me." Hinata say.
"I don't know why, but I feel relieved seeing you cry."
Silence encapsulate the room. The two of them picture a house set ablaze.
"You suck."
"Huh? What do you mean?!"
"First it's you getting hurt then Reiji is all sad and Lia can't walk anymore. Was that exam that hard."
"What?" With a bewildered expression.
"Brother." Hinata looks to the ground. "Please stop being a ninja. I don't want anyone to die and leave me to try and be a ninja."
Kazuki clenches his fist, though starring at Hinata's gloomy eyes he calms down. He place his hand on her head, with a genuine smile he say.
"Hina, I promise you that I will not leave you like our dad. Just like before, once I become a ninja I will find that men and ask him why he killed our dad and once am done I will come back to you and we will live our lives like we wanted!"
Hinata raises her head from his lap and the river from her eyes returns. She holds her brother's hand and lays on it.
"Brother, please don't leave me alone again okay."
"I will not. I will always be by your side."
For one is to find the truth about why his father died. The other is to settle the score with his father and one wishes to be a ninja who can protect everyone.
Who among these three will archive their goals and who will fall short of their goals. Come join as the story of an Angel and a Devil begin.
TBC.
NEXT CHAPTER: A NEW BEGINNING .