Chapter 98:  Best of the best

The playground fell silent, every student holding their breath in anticipation.

Akira and Ryu remained motionless, their gazes fixed on one another, each waiting for the smallest movement that would reveal the other's plan to let their opponent initiate this battle.

Tanaka-sensei kept a close eye on everything, not missing anything. Knowing that this match would give him important information about Ryu's skills, he planned to share that information with the Hokage.

As he observed the two students standing prepared for combat, their hands clasped in the Seal of Confrontation, Tanaka-sensei squinted and smiled slightly.

"Show me what you're capable of, Ryu Hamura," he thought "Let us see if you deserve the attention of Lord Third."

Ryu thought, "I will definitely win if she is as impulsive as Kenji and her fighting style is similar to his."

In that moment of suspended animation, Ryu felt a strange sense of clarity wash over him. 

Tanaka-sensei's hand hung in the air, poised to signal the start of the match. And then, with a swift downward motion of his hand, the instructor's voice rang out: "Begin!"

As the word reverberated through the still air and across the training ground, Ryu's surroundings appeared to fade and blur. The sounds of his classmates and the rustling leaves vanished, to be replaced by clear recollections of a different time and a different life.

Now that he was Ken William instead of Ryu Hamura, he was reliving the events that had moulded him in a past life.

##Flashback Start##

The first memory hit him like a physical blow. He saw his brother Robert, face contorted with worry and anger.

"No means no, Ken." Robert's voice was stern and uncompromising: "You just had an attempt on your life, for God's sake! You will receive firearms training and self-defence lessons from a specialist, and there will be a bodyguard following you at all times. I didn't believe you didn't take that offer and just relaesed that formula at such a cheap price to that non-profit NGO."

A life attempt was made on Ken's life by Pharma Mafia for releasing a life-saving drug at an affordable price that resulted in huge losses to big pharma players.

Ken's mind flashed back to the moment he had announced the breakthrough drug. He remembered the pride he felt, knowing that his work would save countless lives. But with that pride came a heavy burden—the knowledge that he had made powerful enemies who were out to kill him.

"I couldn't just sit back and watch people suffer when I had the means to help them, so I sold my research to that NGO. All the profits will now go to the betterment of society." Ken said, his resolve strengthening even in the face of danger. "Science should serve humanity, not corporate greed."

The memory of the assassination attempt sent a chill down his spine. The screech of tyres, the sharp crack of gunfire, the shattering of glass—it all came rushing back. But along with the fear came a steely determination. He wouldn't be intimidated. He wouldn't back down from his principles.

Ken felt the frustration bubbling up inside him. "Rob, I understand your concern, but I can't live my life in a bubble. I need some semblance of normalcy. You know how much I long for that."

Robert's expression softened slightly. "I know, Ken. But this isn't just about you. Think about the people that care about you."

Ken said, "The rest of the family would be happy if I had an accident, but you are the only one who is worried."

"You're wrong," Robert insisted, his voice filled with emotion.

Ken sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But if I'm going to do this, I want the best."

Robert smiled and said, "Don't worry. I will find you the best of the best."

The scene shifted, and suddenly Ryu found himself standing in a state-of-the-art shooting range. The weight of a pistol felt foreign in his hands, yet somehow right. Jack McLane, his gruff but patient shooting instructor, stood beside him. He was a retired military instructor.

"Squeeze the trigger and keep your hands steady," Jack's voice instructed. "That's it, kid. You're a natural."

Ken felt a surge of pride as he hit the bullseye once again. "How am I doing compared to your other students?" he asked, trying to keep the eagerness out of his voice.

Jack chuckled, a rare sound from the usually stoic man. "Kid, I've trained Special Forces operatives who couldn't shoot like you even after weeks of practice. You've got a gift."

Ryu, even in this memory, lived as Ken could almost smell the acrid scent of gunpowder as he recalled the satisfaction of hitting the bullseye time and time again.

"You might be right," said Ken, "but I would rather specialise in saving lives than taking them..."

The memory morphed again, and now he was face-to-face with Jonny Wick, an old retired assasin who had become his hand-to-hand combat instructor at very high cost.

"The significance of understanding how to defend oneself without a weapon cannot be emphasised enough," Jonny's words replayed in his head.

Jonny continued, "We'll start with the basics and work our way up. Your physical conditioning starts today." 

Ken nodded and said, "I'm ready. Push me as hard as you can, Mr. Wick. I need to be prepared for anything. I cannot let those greedy bastards stop me now."

Jonny said with a smile, "You have any idea how many offers I got to end my retirement for a job named Ken? I am glad I didn't take those offers."

In response, Ken smiled and said, "I am glaid too. Now bring it on."

Jonny's eyes gleamed with approval. "That's the spirit, kid. But remember, this isn't just about physical strength. It's about mental toughness too. You ready for that?"

Ryu could almost feel the ache in his muscles as he recalled the gruelling training sessions. Jonny's serious face appeared before him. "What I'm about to teach you isn't just martial arts, Ken. This is the type of survival training that we provide to CIA agents and special forces personnel. James Bond stuff."

The old words from his memory rang in Ryu's ears, bringing with them a flood of techniques and strategies. "Remember, everything around you can be a weapon. The sand at your feet can blind an opponent. A simple tie can become a garrote. A metallic watch, a blunt weapon. Hell, I once killed a man with nothing but a pencil."

Ken's eyes widened. "A pencil? How is that even possible?"

Jonny's face grew grim. "In the right hands, anything can be deadly. That's why we're not just training your body, but your mind. You need to be able to assess threats and improvise solutions in a split second."

#fast forward#

"You're a fast learner, kid," Jonny had said, impressed. And Ken had replied, "It's my memory. I've always been quick with learning."

That impressed Jonny so much that he'd called in his martial arts buddies to teach Ken various forms. Boxing, Wing Chun, Kickboxing, Taekwondo, Capoeira, Savate, Karate, Kung Fu, Muay Thai, Hapkido, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the list went on and on.

"You're like a sponge, Ken," Jonny had said one day, watching him seamlessly transition between different martial arts styles. "I've never seen anyone pick up so many different techniques so quickly."

Ken had just shrugged, a mix of pride and humility in his voice. "I guess I just have a knack for it. But it's all thanks to your teaching, Mr. Wick."

Jonny replied with a smile on his face, "No, kid. This is all you. You've got something special. Don't ever forget that. and keep on saving lives. You are the best mission I ever got. Do not forget to give me a call if you ever find yourself in trouble."

As the memories flowed, Ryu felt a strange sense of integration.His abilities and knowledge from his previous life as Ken Williams were not merely fading memories; rather, they were assimilating into his present self as a shinobi-in-training.

As quickly as it had come, the flood of memories began to recede. All of this happened in a split second. Ryu found himself once again standing in the academy playground, facing Akira Uchiha. But something had changed. His stance shifted subtly, and his eyes sharpened with a focus that hadn't been there before. The lessons from his past life, dormant until now, surged to the forefront of his mind.

Akira, oblivious to Ryu's internal journey, was already moving, her hands forming seals for a jutsu. But Ryu stood ready, a lifetime of training from two worlds now at his disposal. As he prepared to meet Akira's attack, a small smile played at the corners of his mouth.

"Thank you, Mr. Wick, Jack," he thought, feeling the weight of their teachings settle into his bones. "I won't let your lessons go to waste."

##PoWeR StOnEs##

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