Chapter 71: The Final Stretch

The young boy was determined to make the most of every moment, as there was only one week left before the Ninja Academy entrance exam.

When Ryu darted through the village streets, his parachute billowed behind him, making it hard for him to move. His endurance was pushed to its limit by the constant resistance provided by the improvised training apparatus, which was securely fastened to his back. His muscles had to work harder as he moved forward, trying to keep up with the wind with each step.

He thought to himself, "Resistance training is no joke," and gritted his teeth as he forced himself to push through another windstorm.

"But it is definitely paying off," he stated.

His mind drifted back to the difficult months he had spent preparing physically for the academic entrance exam. He had been pushing himself to the limit, running with a wooden log strapped to his back and the parachute trailing behind him and doing a tonne of pull-ups and push-ups in between. The first 'Solo Levelling' task that had seemed insurmountable to him was now a piece of cake. The memory of those challenging days made him appreciate the progress he'd made, even as he continued to push himself further.

Ryu's path took him to the base of an imposing staircase, its steps worn smooth by countless feet over the years. Breathing heavily but in control, he started to climb without losing his pace. As he climbed, his thoughts turned inward, reflecting on his progress.

"Although I can not walk on walls or on water just yet, my fighting abilities and stamina are probably better than any Ninja clan's kids at this point," he thought.

After ascending the stairs, Ryu's final challenge of the day was to climb the Hokage Monument mountain from the back, where the slope was less steep.

Ryu started climbing with well-practiced motions. His fingers searched for small crevices and nooks, and his toes searched for traction on the weathered rock. The village below grew smaller as he ascended higher.

After what seemed like hours of exhausting effort, Ryu was able to pull himself over the edge and stand atop the Hokage Monument. He felt a wave of accomplishment as he looked out over his house, a cool breeze tousling his hair.

His voice was full of quiet resolve as he said, "I am ready now," to the empty air.

As he stood there, breathing slowly returning to normal, Ryu felt a tingle at the back of his neck. He tensed instinctively as the feeling of being watched slipped over him. He looked around, but he did not see anyone. 

Ryu thought, "I am sure I feel like someone is watching me."

He thought, "Better not show off too much."

With one last look at the village below, Ryu began his descent, his movements deliberately less flashy than his climb up. In case anyone had been observing his climb, he took care to descend the mountain via stairs that would be less noticeable from the village.

Ryu reached his home, the parachute now neatly folded and tucked under his arm. As he stepped through the door, he was greeted by the familiar figure of his grandfather, Dan Hamura.

"You're early today," Dan observed, his eyebrows raised in mild surprise. His eyes fell on the folded parachute, and a knowing smile spread across his face.

Ryu nodded, a hint of pride in his voice as he replied, "I ran my usual route with the parachute and then climbed the Hokage Monument."

With a look of both admiration and concern, Dan said, "That's quite the workout, Ryu. I hope you're being careful up there."

"Always, Grandpa," Ryu assured him, his eyes bright with the lingering excitement of his accomplishment. "The view from the top... it's something else. To see the entire village spread out below, it really puts things into perspective."

Dan laughed while clapping a hand on Ryu's shoulder. "I'm sure it does. Now, why don't you go take a shower? You've certainly earned it. Lunch is ready, and we can talk more while we eat."

Ryu nodded, the mention of food reminding him of the hunger that had been building during his morning workout. He quickly cleaned up and joined his grandfather at the table, the aroma of a home-cooked meal filling the air.

As they ate, Dan fixed Ryu with a thoughtful look. "So, tell me," he began, his tone casual but his eyes keen, "do you feel ready for the entrance exam?"

Ryu met his grandfather's gaze, a quiet confidence in his voice as he replied, "I am, Grandpa. I've trained hard, and I feel prepared."

Dan nodded and said, "You have come a long way, Ryu," with a proud smile on his grizzled face. "You and I have been sparring for the past three months, and I can say with certainty that your Taijutsu is better than that of your peers. In terms of taijutsu, you are now at least as proficient as the Ninja clan kids, if not better."

As Dan spoke, Ryu's mind wandered. He thought, "I was able to learn ninja-style Taijutsu so quickly through constant sparring because my conscious and subconscious minds were in sync with the [Muscle Memory]."

"Even though I had some hand-to-hand training in my previous life, my young body needed to relive those movements in order for muscle memory to help it function better. I have to admit that Ninja Taijutsu differs from traditional martial arts and is more challenging," he thought.

Dan's voice brought him back to the present. "You know, if you do well, you could easily get the top rank in the entrance exam."

Ryu shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "No, Grandpa. I'll be ranked fifteenth."

Dan's eyebrows shot upward in surprise as realisation set in as he said, "Ah, I see," understanding Ryu's intent to hold back and avoid drawing attention.

"But how do you plan to target the 15th spot specifically? That seems like a tricky feat." Dan asked.

Ryu's smile widened into a grin. With a gleam of mischief in his eyes, he answered, "Grampa, it is not as difficult as you might think. I have been working on improving not only my performance but also my ability to precisely control it. It's all about balance—showing enough skill to pass comfortably, but not so much that I stand out."

Dan leaned back in his chair, studying his grandson with a mix of pride and curiosity. "That's quite a strategy, Ryu. But why the 15th spot specifically?"

Ryu's explained, "The S-class has 30 students, right? 15th rank will be a sweet spot in those ranks. It's right in the middle of the pack. Not too high to draw attention, not too low to be overlooked."

Dan laughed while shaking his head in amusement. "You've really thought this through, haven't you? Well, I trust your judgement, Ryu. Just remember, sometimes life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way. Be prepared for anything."

Ryu nodded solemnly, taking his grandfather's words to heart. As they continued their meal, he found his thoughts drifting to the upcoming exam.

"Grandpa," Ryu said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen over the table. "What would you do if you saw someone bullying others? I have heard that Ninja Clans are not particularly kind to civilian ninjas and they look down on civilian ninjas."

Dan's expression grew serious as he considered the question. "That's a complex situation, Ryu. In an ideal world, we'd all treat each other with respect, regardless of our backgrounds. But reality is often different." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Standing up for what's right is important, but so is choosing your battles wisely. Sometimes, the best response is to lead by example—show them a better way through your actions rather than your words."

Ryu nodded, mulling over his grandfather's advice. "So, it's about finding a balance between doing what's right and not making yourself a target?"

Dan smiled approvingly. "Exactly. As a ninja, you'll often find yourself in situations where the right path isn't always clear. It's about weighing the consequences of your actions and making the best choice you can with the information you have."

As he looked at his grandfather's proud face and thought of all the hard work he had put in, Ryu knew he was ready. With his training, his wit, and his family's unwavering support, he would take on any challenges the exam might present.

Only one week left, and then his journey as a ninja would truly begin.

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