Morning wind howled through the mountains behind Kumogakure.
Jagged cliffs cut into the sky like broken blades.
Dense forests swallowed the valleys below.
Narrow ridges twisted along the slopes— like paths carved by lightning itself.
This was not normal training ground terrain.
This was the Upper Storm Grounds.
And now—
the elite had been allowed inside.
A small group climbed the mountain trail just after sunrise.
Loose stone shifted beneath their feet.
Cold air burned their lungs.
At the front—
Raizen.
Behind him—
Akari Mizuta
Daigo Mizuta
And the rest of the academy's top students.
Even the climb felt like a trial.
"…This race is going to kill people," Daigo muttered, wiping sweat from his face.
Akari didn't slow.
"That's the point."
The mountain didn't care about skill.
Only control.
Only discipline.
After nearly an hour—
they reached the plateau.
The view opened instantly.
Kumogakure stretched far below.
Clouds drifted beneath them.
Lightning flickered in the distance.
The training zone itself was marked with seals—
barrier arrays.
stability anchors.
emergency recall points.
Even this place—
was only barely controlled.
At the center stood Takeshi Aran.
"You made good time."
His gaze shifted toward the northern ridge.
"That—"
"…is where the Storm Run begins."
All eyes followed.
The path twisted through cliffs, tunnels, forest breaks—
barely visible in places.
Dangerous everywhere.
"This isn't a race for speed," Aran continued.
"It's a test of control."
"Balance."
"Awareness."
He paused.
"One mistake up here—"
"…ends your run."
Silence.
Then—
"Training begins."
No countdown.
No warning.
Students moved instantly.
The ridge was narrow.
In some places—
barely wide enough for two steps.
Wind slammed into them sideways.
Loose gravel shifted unpredictably.
Some students slowed.
Others rushed.
Raizen did neither.
Fast—
but measured.
Inside his mind, Astra activated.
"Terrain difficulty: high."
"Energy depletion projected."
Raizen adjusted his breathing.
"Optimize."
"Recommendation: controlled pacing."
He followed it immediately.
This wasn't about bursts.
It was about survival over time.
Ahead—
Akari moved differently.
She didn't run continuously.
Short bursts.
Stop.
Stabilize.
Move again.
Perfect terrain efficiency.
Behind them—
Daigo was fighting for his life.
"WHY ARE THERE SO MANY ROCKS?!"
A slip—
A stumble—
barely recovered.
"…I meant to do that."
No one responded.
Halfway across the ridge— the path ended.
A vertical wall.
Twenty meters high.
At the top—
Kaito Ren stood calmly.
"Climb."
No ropes.
No help.
Only control.
Students began ascending.
Some smooth.
Some shaky.
Raizen stepped onto the wall.
Chakra spread beneath his feet.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Then— something shifted.
Not visibly.
But he felt it.
Wind.
Pressure.
Movement.
Inside his mind—
Astra reacted.
"Environmental fluctuation detected."
Raizen adjusted instantly—
A rock broke loose exactly where his foot had been.
Below—
another student slipped.
Akari looked up.
"…Nice reflex."
Raizen didn't respond.
Because he understood.
That wasn't reflex.
That was—
Heaven Pulse.
Still faint.
Still incomplete.
But real.
At the top—
the terrain got worse.
Dense forest.
Hidden drops.
Unstable ground.
No clear paths.
Just movement.
For hours— they trained.
Jump.
Climb.
Balance.
Recover.
Adapt.
Every mistake punished instantly.
Every hesitation exposed weakness.
From above—
the instructors watched.
"They're adapting fast."
Ren's eyes followed Raizen.
"…especially him."
Raizen wasn't the fastest.
But he was changing.
Each movement—
more efficient.
Less wasted motion.
More control.
As the sun dipped—
they finally descended.
Exhausted.
But sharper.
Halfway down—
Raizen stopped.
The wind shifted again.
Thunder rolled across the mountains.
Inside his mind—
Astra spoke.
"Storm Run preparation progress: optimal."
Raizen looked toward the distant ridge.
Dangerous.
Unforgiving.
Perfect.
Because storms weren't meant to be avoided.
They were meant—
to be mastered.