Chapter 75: The Race Begins

Whispers and murmurs sounded among the assembled spectators, creating an electrifying atmosphere. Watching the annual academy race, a tradition that often revealed promising young talent, had brought parents, siblings, and interested villagers together.

With a grim face, Kazuo Nakamura, the proctor, raised his arm. The chattering crowd fell silent, the tension palpable.

"On your mark… …. ... … Get Set" he called out, his voice carrying across the field.

Kenji Uchiha abruptly forced his way through the students and came to a stop beside Ryu. He sneered, his dark eyes narrowing, "Oye, Hamura! Ready to eat dust?"

Ryu turned to face him, his expression calm and collected. He just grinned without saying anything, which seemed to enrage the Uchiha even more.

"What's the matter, Hamura? Cat got your tongue?" Kenji taunted, trying to provoke a reaction.

Ryu's smile widened slightly. In his mind, Ryu thought, "The best way to deal with brats like this is to ignore them. We will see who ends up eating dust."

"GO!" the proctor yelled as the young ninja-in-training stiffened, their bodies propelling them forward.

The silence was broken by the shout, and the pitch suddenly came alive with activity. Dozens of feet pounded the ground, kicking up dust as the sound of deep breathing and the occasional grunt of effort filled the air.

With the rest, Ryu rushed forward. His gaze swiftly scanned the pitch, noting the positions of his targets, who were all connected to the Uchiha brat. The Hyuga girl, whom Ryu argued with, took an early lead, clearly showing the superiority of her clan at Taijutsu. In a matter of seconds, she grabbed the first rank position, and immediately behind her, a group of Senju and Uchiha clan members fought for the runner-up positions, their faces fixed on resolve.

"Go, Hikari!" a Hyuga clan member shouted, his white eyes gleaming with pride as the girl in the lead pushed forward.

The crowd cheered as the racers took off, with various clans shouting encouragement to their young representatives. As their prodigy led the way, the Hyuga clan members nodded in approval, and the supporters of Senju and Uchiha yelled encouragement and guidance to their runners.

Grinning, Ryu picked up his speed and moved to stand right behind the bully, who had just said he was going to leave Ryu in the dust. The bully was taken by surprise when he saw Ryu running casually right behind him with a smile that says, 'I have come to F U Up'.

"What the-" Kenji gasped, gritting his teeth. He exerted more effort and widened the distance between them.

It did not stop Ryu, though. He kept his distance, breathing steadily and under control, always only a few steps behind. Kenji turned around once more, his expression full of bewilderment and annoyance. But every time Uchiha Brat widens the gap, Ryu closes it in a second. Kenji Uchiha pushed even harder, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"I... won't... Let you... pass... me?" Kenji panted between breaths.

Ryu's strategy was beginning to take its toll on the other runners as well. They were forced to keep up a difficult pace due to the constant pressure of his presence, and signs of exhaustion were beginning to appear. Their faces were slick with sweat, and every second that went by made their breathing harder.

Just then Hokage arrived in the academy to watch the young prospects for the village, accompanied by a few Jonins who are interested in the entrance test and hoping to find young talent to take under their wings later on when they become Genins.

From his vantage point on the academy balcony, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, watched the race unfold. His old eyes, still keen from the years, looked around the pitch, taking in the sight of the clan kids at the front of the pack. But something caught his attention, a flash of red hair in the midst of the frontrunners.

"Kakashi, that boy with the red and white hair, is that Ryu?" The Hokage questioned the Jonin who was standing next to him in the academy's VIP viewing area on the second floor.

"Yes," Kakashi said, nodding in a tone that suggested surprise, "Hokage-sama. His hair appears to have been dyed recently. Quite the bold choice."

When the Hokage and Kakashi brought up Ryu, other nearby Jonins belonging to Hiruzen's close circle also noticed him.

The Hokage's eyes narrowed as he observed Ryu's running style. "Interesting. He's keeping a steady pace with the clan children, but he doesn't seem to be exerting himself as much as they are. What do you make of it?"

Before Kakashi could respond, Might Guy, standing nearby, let out a boisterous laugh. "Ah, the springtime of youth!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. "Look at him go! Who would have thought our little parachute boy had such fire in him? His youthful flames are blazing brightly!"

One of Kakashi's visible eyes wrinkled with laughter. "He's certainly employing an unusual strategy," he mused. "I wonder what he's planning. It's almost as if he's... toying with them."

Asuma Sarutobi, standing next to his father, chimed in, "It's an interesting tactic. He's not just running; he's playing a psychological game. Look at how he's affecting the other runners. They're all overexerting themselves, and his influence has reached even those not directly in front of him."

The Hokage nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed. It's not just about physical prowess. He's showing a keen understanding of strategy and manipulation. Quite advanced for his age."

As the race progressed, Ryu's tactics became clearer. He never pushed to pass the leading pack, but instead stayed just behind them, encouraging them to run harder and faster until they were exhausted.

The clan children, unused to being challenged by an outsider, began to show signs of strain. Their faces were flushed, breath coming in short gasps, while Ryu seemed to glide along effortlessly.

Hokage's lips curled into a small smile. "So this is how you want to do things," he thought. "Not bad. This is the last lap. He does not want to take the lead. He can clearly run faster if he wants to. I wonder if it is his humility or his cautiousness. "

His expression turned thoughtful. "But if it's the latter, it's a miscalculation. Anyone above Jonin rank can see through his attempt to hold back. And that hair... he's standing out more than he realises. I hope Yuki has warned him about the hidden dangers."

Kurenai Yuhi, another Jonin observing the race, added her perspective. "His control is impressive. To maintain that pace without showing fatigue requires excellent stamina. It's rare to see such skill in someone so young, especially from a civilian background."

As the end of the final lap approached, Ryu's strategy shifted. He allowed several runners to pass him, dropping back in the rankings. The frontrunners, pushed to their limits by their efforts to stay ahead of him, stumbled across the finish line, gasping for air.

Ryu jogged across the finish line in 15th place, his breathing only slightly elevated. He approached the exhausted clan children, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Tough race, huh? You guys look like you could use a break."

The Uchiha boy, who had finished eighth, shot him a glare. "What are you playing at, Hamura?" he panted, hands on his knees.

Ryu shrugged innocently. "Me? I'm just running my own race. Not my fault if you guys wore yourselves out."

Noboru Nara was observing the scene with keen interest. He thought, "He's barely breaking a sweat; my guess was correct."

Dan was smiling. "It's an impressive display of stamina and strategy," he thought, his voice a mix of pride and concern. "But I clearly told him to ignore the snoty brats from ninja clans. The stunt he pulled has been noticed."

Dan's eyes scanned the balcony where the Hokage and Jonin stood, noting their interested gazes. He sighed softly, knowing that Ryu's performance, while impressive, might have drawn more attention than was safe.

Saya was also at the finish line, her face flushed with exertion but beaming with pride. "I did it!" she exclaimed, pumping her fist in the air. "10th place! Take that, you brats!"

Ryu grinned at her, genuinely impressed. "Nice job, Saya! Though it looks like you're running on fumes. We might need to work on your stamina a bit."

Saya bent over, hands on her knees, as she caught her breath. "Shut... it..." she gasped, glaring at him. "Let me... breathe... You... demon..."

As the students began to disperse, the Hokage turned to the gathered Jonin. "It seems we have some interesting prospects this year."

The Jonin nodded in agreement, their minds already spinning with possibilities. Kakashi's eye remained fixed on Ryu, a mixture of curiosity and caution in his gaze.

The race was over, but for these young ninjas, the real journey was just beginning. And for Ryu, walking off the field with a satisfied smile, it was clear that this was just the first step in a much longer, more complex game.

##########

Latest chapter on Patreon: Chapter 100: Words like daggers

 You can also become a member on Patreon, where all free members get 5 more chapters for free! patreon. com/PageTurnerPJ

##PoWeR StOnEs##

Keep supporting the story. Review it and add it to your collections.