Two days before the tournament.
The two boys attended the annual ninja obstacle. This event happens each year in the Shinwa state where participants take part in different obstacles to prove who is the fastest Rank 1 ninja of the year and the winner gets a price of 1000 NIN coins.
This event is only for ninjas who are certified as Rank 1 and there is no age restrictions meaning anyone can enter as long as they have a document that to prove they are Rank 1, even a baby.
In the Kōshin region such an event is a must for someone to attend. Lucky for him it is also a thing in the capital city. Usually he goes with his brother, but today he wanted to watch it with his friend.
"Thanks for inviting me Reiji!" Kazuki says with a smile on his face.
"Anytime Kazuki. Fun fact my brother is the reigning fastest ninja in my region. So I wanna see if anyone here can beat my brothers time."
The participants stand ready at the start of the race. Their eyes are locked at the end of the obstacle.
The bell rings, all nine participants launch off the platform. The first obstacle is the Quintuple Steps, five pedestal that is coated with oil.
A man with a sturdy build shoves one of the participants into the water.
"Move fool! This race is only for the strong!"
Sorry for him a boy with bandage's leap over him using him as a spring. The men wobbles on the second step only for him to fall because of the boy.
7 participants remain.
The boy with the bandage's runs past the next obstacle: The Log Runner. Six spinning logs that are a meter away from each other.
One of the remaining 7 participants tries to use the same method as the boy, unfortunately he slips on the fourth log. By some luck he is able to grab it and place his legs on the third log. This luck however comes with a cost. The other 5 participants use him as a bridge to go past the fourth log and he falls into the cold water.
"Damn…glub… you all."
The boy pause starring at two narrow walls which are called the Wall Climb. He place one hand to one wall and another to the other wall, he does the same with his feet. Ascending the walls slowly to the other end. The 5 participants follow along.
The boy reaches the top jumping down to the floor.
"I can do this!" Mummers to himself.
The next stage is 10 swinging large balls called the Big Red. He inhales, dashing and dodging each ball. A young men in his twenties tries to do the same by timing the balls exactly as the boy. However, a man with a bloated belly pushes him breaking his timing. One of the balls throw him into the water.
"Damn you old man!"
The boy with bandage's finally reach the last obstacles. He sprints, heading to the last obstacles: The Warped Wall. The wall is straight at the bottom before carving to the top.
He leaps at the knickpoint of the wall, as he uses his fingers to hold him so he does not fall.
The boy lifts himself up like his doing a muscle up. He resist to look down at the other participants and rushes pressing the red button.
"We have a winner people!" The commentator shouts with the bell souring alongside the crowd.
A man with a shirt that has a black horizontal strip shakes the boy handing him the money.
"Age really makes a difference huh?" He lets go of the boy's hand. "You just set the record for being the fastest ninja in the whole history of the ninja obstacle."
The boy looks away with red cheeks and leaving the course as quick as he can.
"That guy was so fast!" Kazuki joyfully clapping his hands.
"Let's go speak to him." Reiji says.
The two boys leave the crowded area and head the same direction the boy is went. After some time they catch up with the boy.
And to their surprise the two boys find the boy feeding cats in front of a giant gate and behind that gate is a mansion with a white paint and gold lining on the walls.
"There he is Kazuki." Reiji pointing at the boy.
The two boys run to his direction. Shadows begin to block out the light- he looks up and the boy sees the Kazuki and Reiji looking down at him like he owns them money.
"D-did I do something wrong?" The boy staring down.
"No." Reiji smiling at him.
"T-then what do you want?"
"What do you want? Huh. That's a good question."
"Reiji was shocked by how fast you won!"
Reiji stomps his feet on the ground. "Not just shocked, but am impressed! If my brother was here am sure he would say "If he trained more I bet he would surpass me in the future." Mimicking his brothers deep voice.
The boy giggles, slowly raising his head upwards.
Kazuki clenches his sword and looks behind him.
"Reiji, I'll be back." He walks away.
The boy stands up from the ground, cleaning himself, as he do so the cats he was feeding all run away.
"T-thank you."
"Could you teach me to be as fast as you"
"Um…what?" Moving his eyes away from him.
"I know it sounds weird. Since we barely kn…"
A bolt of realization hits him.
"So sorry about that." Bowing his head slightly. "My name is Reiji Kōshin,nice to meet you.
The boy moves one foot back.
"P-P-P-Pretro."
"P-P-P-Pretro, could you please teach me to be as fast as you." Stands upright.
"E-its not P-P-P-Pretro, just Pretro."
"Oh my bad. Pretro,can you please train me to be as fast as you."
Pretro turns his eyes to Reiji. Reiji notice the confidence emitting from Pretro's eyes, making him feel excited that Pretro might accept what he just asked.
"Um…s-sorry I can't do that."
Reiji gasp in shock. "Why?"
"…"
"Hm. I won't force you to tell me nor train me. But, I wanna know something."
"W-what?" Pretro's eyes go back to evading eye contact with Reiji.
"When you run, do you use…"
Before he can finish his sentence, Reiji hears heavy breathing behind his back. He leaps next to Pretro changing direction in mid air.
The heavy breathing comes from a man scorched with bruises all over his face and body. The man is glaring at the two boys using his elbow to lean against a wall.
"Damn that brat." The man speaks exasperating. "How is it possible that a fucken scabbard would be so painful?"
"What happened?" Reiji ask him.
"What happened?" The man diverts his full attention to Reiji.
Telling from his eyes, Reiji judges that this bruised man might be dangerous and is currently after them. But why?
"What kind of question is that? Can't your bratty eyes tell how much pain am in."
"Who are you?"
"I…" Pretro whispers, however he is unable to finish his sentence due to the men intruptting him.
"Why should I give my name to a brat?" He slowly walks towards them using the wall as assistant.
"If so how about you leave us brats?"
"Us?" The men slightly tilting his head. "Am not even here for you."
"Then who?"
"H-his here for me."
Reiji turns to Pretro.
'Why?' Reiji ask himself.
As he is about to ask himself more questions he sees a gap in the gate that's behind Pretro.
However, he begins to understand the reason why this man is after Pretro.
"So your those type of ninjas huh?"
Pretro sightly sighs believing Reiji understand why this man is after him.
"Pfft…hahahahaha! So you think by figuring out what I want I will somehow let you go. Hahahahahaha."
"Cause not." Reiji scratches his head. "Ninjas like you make me sick. Ninjas are suppose to protect and help people not harm them. And I never wanted you to let me go. I just want you to keep getting closer so I can make you feel sorry for choosing such a life."
The man finally stands close to Reiji, no more using the wall as leverage. Pretro look on to Reiji's eyes. For someone shy like him he can not help but be moved by the fury driving Reiji to stand up to this man.
"H-how about we make him feel sorry together."Pretro says.
Though it would seem like Reiji and the men did not hear what he said.
TBC.
NEXT CHAPTER: PRELUDE 21