The sun blazed high above the grand arena.
Hundreds of students stood shoulder to shoulder, their eyes locked on the towering figure at the center. Silence rippled across the air like an incoming storm. This was the moment. The moment that would decide everything.
Ryju's heart pounded in his chest.
This is it… the final decision.
At the head of the arena, the Spiritual King raised his hand. His cloak fluttered in the wind, glowing faintly with divine energy.
"Everyone," his voice boomed, deep and resonant. "I hope you are ready. Everything you did in the second challenge—your courage, your strategy, your spirit—will be judged today. Our strongest warriors reviewed every battle."
The tension was thick. Some students stood proud. Others trembled.
Team 1
Ryju clenched his fists.
"We're gonna make it," he said with quiet confidence.
Kenshiro nodded. "We have to. No matter what."
"For Kuroyami," Rei whispered, her voice resolute.
Shun smirked. "Hope you're all ready for the next step."
Team 8
Uzuki grinned. "We made it. I know we did."
Hana chuckled. "Of course we did. You carried the flag like a war god."
Jake crossed his arms. "What she said."
"I just wanna fight that green-haired guy already!" Daigo shouted.
Tetsuya rolled his eyes. "Give it up. You're not fighting him."
"Yeah, Daigo," Naomi added, flicking his forehead. "Let it go already."
Team 17
"We're gonna be ninjas," Misa said with a soft smile. "I just know it."
Azar pumped a fist. "I'm all fired up!"
"I'm all... sandy up!" Zanden declared proudly.
Taro blinked. "Bro. That sounds terrible."
"It does?" Zanden blinked. "Really?"
"Yeah, man." Jett sighed.
Kaien just shook his head in silence.
Zanden hung his head. "Man, it sounded way cooler in my head…"
Team 50
Kenji cracked his knuckles. "Ready."
"You damn right I'm ready!" Appolo shouted.
"Yeah," Helia added calmly.
"I just wanna blast off!" Akari shouted, pulling out her guitar.
"I'm gonna beat that girl… just wait," Mika muttered darkly.
Takeshi folded his arms. "Hmph."
Around the arena, other teams murmured nervously. Some were silent, others whispered prayers under their breath.
The Spiritual King raised both arms.
"Now… I will announce the seven teams that passed."
The silence was suffocating. Students gripped each other's hands. Breaths were held. Sweat trickled down faces.
The First Team
"Team 8!" the Spiritual King called. "For Uzuki's outstanding leadership and their unwavering defense of the flag—even when no one dared approach it."
Uzuki raised a fist. "Looks like we're ninjas."
Daigo nodded. "Yup."
"We all expected that," Hana said with a grin.
Ryju glanced toward Team 8, clenching his jaw.
We'll become ninjas too, he vowed.
The Second Team
"Team 4. For their unique skills and the highest number of eliminations."
Team 4 stood in stoic silence, heads held high.
The Third Team
"Team 50. For showing true strength and determination in battle."
Kenji smirked. "Told you."
Appolo raised both arms. "Time to show my art to the world!"
Akari pulled out her guitar and strummed it hard. "Woohoo!!"
Everyone nearby winced, covering their ears.
Helia walked over and smacked her on the head.
"Cut it out!"
"Sorry…"
Takeshi sighed. "Why do I lose more hope every day?"
The Fourth Team
"Team 21. For the best defense and overwhelming every challenger near their flag."
Team 21 erupted into cheers.
"I knew it!"
"This is awesome!"
"We're gonna be strong ninjas!"
"Absolutely!"
The Fifth Team
"Team 42. For their perfect stealth tactics and stealing multiple flags."
A burst of joyful screams echoed.
"We passed?!"
"No way!"
"We're ninjas!"
"Let's celebrate!"
"For real!"
The Sixth Team
"Team 17. For excellent teamwork and synergy during battle."
Azar shouted, "We did it!!"
Zanden raised his arms. "We're actually ninjas!"
Kaien nodded firmly. "Yes. We are."
Taro stared at him. "You talk?!"
Jett scoffed. "Always did."
Misa's eyes welled with tears. "I'm so proud of all of us…"
The Final Team
"Now…" the Spiritual King said. "The last and final team to pass…"
The crowd went still. The arena was dead silent.
Hands shook. Eyes widened. Some students were already trembling, their futures teetering on this final announcement.
"…Team 1."
Ryju burst out. "LET'S GO!!"
Rei squealed. "We did it!"
"I knew it," Kenshiro said, relieved.
"Finally…" Shun muttered, smiling.
Goro looked up to the sky. "Brother… I kept my promise."
Tears flowed. Some students dropped to their knees, sobbing. Others stood frozen, silent, in disbelief.
"To the rest of you," the Spiritual King declared, "you must try again… NextYear!."
Those who had failed slowly walked away—some silently, others weeping.
"To the teams who passed… follow me."
The Secret of Time
The selected teams followed the Spiritual King through a hidden stone gate, where a wide platform awaited them.
"There is one final thing," he said. "To become official ninjas, you must be fourteen. Yet I see many of you are younger."
He turned. "If you are under fourteen, come forward."
Uzuki stepped up, followed by Ryju, Kenshiro, Shun, Kenji, Akari, Misa, Azar, Zanden, Taro, and others.
The Spiritual King raised his hand and closed his eyes. A divine glow surrounded him.
"Now… I will use my ability."
He inhaled deeply—and then it happened.
Their bodies shimmered. Energy surged through them. They felt it in their bones… in their minds… in their very souls.
They were aging.
When it ended, Ryju looked down.
"…What the heck?! My shoes ripped! My feet got bigger!"
"No way!" Kenshiro gasped.
"I'm taller!" Kenji shouted.
"So cool!" Akari grinned.
"I'm really fourteen…" Azar whispered.
"This is insane," Misa said, stunned.
"How did you do that?" Taro asked.
The Spiritual King smiled. "My ability is control over time itself. I can accelerate time, reverse it, freeze it. And now… you are all officially fourteen."
Murmurs of awe spread through the group.
"So cool…"
"Incredible…"
The Spiritual King's expression turned solemn.
"Now that you are fourteen… you are ninja. You have two weeks to prepare for your official duties. Rest well. Train hard. Because starting soon… you will become the defenders of this world."
The wind blew gently.
The Great Village Ninjas had officially begun their journey.