Chapter-36

Starting to run at a brisk pace, he quickly overtook all the students, jumping and catching the unsuspecting Mineta. "Hey! What are you doing?!" Mineta screamed in panic as he felt the grip on the back of his neck. The dark smile on the shinobi's face didn't bode well for him.

"I'm eliminating the competition, kid," Naruto replied. He turned in the air, holding Mineta firmly, and hurled him into the midst of other students. This triggered a chain reaction of exploding mines that further hindered the students. As a result, the shinobi found himself among the frontrunners, just in front of Momo.

"Thank you..." Momo knew that Mineta would have landed on top of her if Naruto hadn't intervened, sparing her from that unpleasant encounter.

Shrugging his shoulders, the blonde Uzumaki continued running amidst the exploding mines, with Bakugo and Todoroki not far behind, battling for the top positions. Naruto raised an eyebrow when a cable snaked around his left arm.

"I've got you!" At the start of the minefield, a pink-haired girl with various peculiar devices strapped to her approached. She wielded a weapon that emitted the cable now attached to Naruto. "Here I come!" She pressed a button on her belt, causing the cable to retract rapidly.

"Ah?" Naruto planted his feet firmly, watching as the determined girl soared over the mines and other students to reach him. Simultaneously, a loud explosion erupted at the beginning of the obstacle course, launching a piece of steel plate into the air with Midoriya on it. Midoriya sailed over the entire competition, landing on the backs of the two frontrunners and using them as a launchpad. This propelled him into a sprint towards the finish line.

Returning his attention to the pink-haired girl, Naruto felt her land on his back and cling to him tightly. "Giddy up, big guy! Giddy up! Just a few meters left to victory!" she exclaimed with an excited smile, pointing ahead. With a throbbing vein on his forehead, Naruto had no choice but to keep running, ignoring the exuberant woman on his back.

As he raced at full speed, he passed between Shiori and Katsuki, who barely reacted to the streak of yellow and pink rushing past them. "We're about to find out who the winners will be! Uzumaki went from last place to second, with Midoriya unexpectedly taking the lead! This is madness!" Present Mic's frantic commentary added to the excitement of the viewers, who were eagerly anticipating the outcome.

"No!" Bakugo's eyes blazed with rage as he intensified the explosions in his hands, giving himself an extra burst of speed. Not only had Deku overtaken him, but now Uzumaki was also within reach, closely followed by the determined Todoroki girl.

"Izuku..." His legs trembled, and his lungs burned from labored breathing. Running with all his might, he noticed Naruto just a few steps away, running alongside him. "Let's push a little further! You can do it!" Izuku shouted loudly, pushing himself to reach the finish line.

Naruto, on the other hand, ran at a calm pace. This speed was nothing compared to what he was accustomed to. Suddenly, just before reaching the finish line, he came to a stop, allowing Izuku to cross the finish line first. "I won," he declared. He looked back at Bakugo and Shiori, sporting a mocking smile, and took a step back to reach the goal.

"Midoriya Izuku takes first place, followed by Hatsume Mei in second place?" The girl who had been on Naruto's back jumped down and cheerfully greeted the spectators. "Third place goes to Uzumaki Naruto! Fourth and fifth place are Bakugo and Todoroki, respectively. The other participants follow suit! This has been one of the most exciting races I've seen, and I'm sure you all agree!"

In the middle of the stadium, as students caught their breath after the race, Naruto approached Mei, who was checking and adjusting her equipment. Without a word, he calmly reached the girl, who beamed when she saw him.

"What a great teamwork, don't you think? We won!" Mei celebrated, her enthusiasm undeterred.

"Teamwork? You just hopped on my back and clung to me like a tick," Naruto remarked, but Mei shrugged it off casually.

"I saw an opportunity and took it. Isn't that what heroes do?" she replied with a wink, earning a sigh from the blonde. She checked her equipment, then pulled out a card. "But anyway, thanks to you, I came in second place and demonstrated the usefulness of my inventions. So, as a token of appreciation, I offer my services for anything you might need. Whether it's a suit or gadgets like my inventions. What do you say?" With a bright smile, she extended her card to him. However, Naruto simply stepped away from her.

"I'm not interested in hero costumes or gadgets you can create. I don't like relying on unnecessary tools," he calmly explained, taking a step to the side and leaving Mei in disbelief at his rejection.

"How rude! Well, that's fine, but if you change your mind, don't hesitate to reach out. I have plenty of ideas for equipment that could suit you..." Mei ran after the shinobi, slipping her card into one of his many pockets. Without further ado, she continued on her way, leaving Naruto standing there, watching as the platform in the middle of the stadium began to rise once more.