The wind was sharper the next morning.
Cold air cut through the mountain passes behind Kumogakure, carrying the faint scent of rain.
Mist clung to the cliffs.
The ridges stretched endlessly into the distance— narrow paths carved through stone and sky.
Raizen had arrived before sunrise.
The ridge beneath his feet shifted with every step.
Loose gravel.
Unstable footing.
Unforgiving terrain.
He didn't run.
He moved.
Step.
Adjust.
Balance.
Inside his mind, Astra monitored.
"Stride efficiency improving."
Raizen exhaled slowly.
The mountain didn't reward speed.
It rewarded control.
Over the past few days, Astra had begun refining his routine down to exact intervals.
Morning ridge work.
Midday strength cycles.
Afternoon chakra control.
Night recovery optimization.
Nothing wasted.
"Stamina recovery rate improving," Astra reported.
Raizen nodded slightly.
Good.
Footsteps approached behind him.
Akari stepped onto the ridge, bow resting across her back.
"You started early."
Raizen didn't look back.
"The race will."
She walked beside him briefly, eyes scanning the terrain.
"The northern ridge will be the worst section."
"Wind exposure."
Raizen nodded.
Akari smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
A voice echoed from below.
"WAIT—FOR—ME—"
Daigo climbed up moments later, far less controlled.
He reached the ridge— then dropped to one knee.
"…Mountains are stupid."
Akari ignored him completely.
More footsteps followed.
Two figures stepped onto the ridge.
Kenji Sato.
Rei Kisaragi.
Kenji stretched his shoulders, scanning the terrain.
"Training early?"
Rei leaned casually against a rock.
"Of course he is."
His eyes shifted toward Raizen.
"You'll need more than that to win."
Silence settled briefly.
Then—
Kenji pointed toward the distant ridge.
"Race."
Akari raised an eyebrow.
"Across that?"
The ridge extended for kilometers.
Cliffs.
Fallen trees.
Broken stone paths.
Wind gaps.
Kenji smiled.
"First to the far marker."
Daigo stared at the ridge.
"…I hate all of you."
They moved at the same time.
No signal.
No countdown.
Instinct.
Kenji exploded forward.
Raw speed.
Aggressive acceleration.
Rei moved differently.
Light.
Controlled.
Almost silent.
Raizen followed.
Steady.
Measured.
Not chasing.
Not falling behind.
Inside his mind—
Astra activated.
"Opponent movement patterns detected."
Kenji = burst speed.
Rei = efficiency + stealth.
Raizen = control.
"Energy conservation optimal."
The ridge narrowed suddenly.
Wind slammed into them from the side.
Several runners slowed.
Rei didn't.
He shifted sideways— running along the edge instead of against the wind.
Akari adapted quickly behind him.
Daigo nearly slipped— twice.
"THIS IS NOT SAFE—"
Raizen felt it again.
Subtle.
The air changed.
Not visible— but present.
Inside his mind—
Astra confirmed.
"Heaven Pulse response increasing."
Heaven Pulse
Raizen adjusted his footing before the ground shifted.
A loose section collapsed behind him.
He didn't slow.
He adapted.
Automatically.
The final stretch opened into a forest clearing.
Kenji arrived first.
Breathing heavier—but smiling.
Rei stepped in seconds later.
Barely winded.
Raizen followed.
Controlled.
Stable.
Akari landed shortly after.
Daigo stumbled in last— and collapsed flat on his back.
"…I survived."
Kenji wiped his forehead.
"Fast course."
Rei stretched.
"You two weren't far behind."
Akari looked at Raizen.
"You held back."
Raizen shrugged slightly.
"Training run."
She smirked.
"Of course."
Inside his mind, Astra summarized.
"Movement efficiency increased: twelve percent."
Raizen nodded internally.
Small gains mattered.
Because small gains— decided races.
They stood together for a moment.
Five competitors.
Not just classmates anymore.
Rivals.
Far beyond the mountains, storm clouds gathered.
Lightning flickered across the horizon.
The Storm Run Championship was coming.
And the mountain— was already testing them.