Chapter 309. Off Track
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Under everyone's watchful eyes—
That red and blue car, marked with the Four-Tails Company emblem, dashed ahead like it didn't care about its life.
The smoke billowing from the car made everything clear to the onlookers.
You have to understand—
Even though this was the final stretch, this part of the track wasn't fancy or gimmicky like the earlier ones. It was a traditional course, but still long, still packed with turns!
Charging forward this recklessly… wasn't he worried the car might just catch fire?!
At that moment—
Everyone held their breath, watching the car tear forward.
One car!
Two cars!
Three cars!
…
He passed one after another, closing the gap to first place—yet he didn't slow down. Not even a little. In fact, he kept going faster.
[Is this guy trying to die?!]
That was the thought in everyone's mind.
But—
A ninja is someone who pushes forward in the face of danger, completing the mission no matter what.
A ninja… cannot be judged by common sense!
As the speed increased, Biwa Juzo instead felt his heart calming. Even his once-wild eyes now quietly focused on the road ahead.
Covered by the chakra left behind by Roshi (the Four-Tails), he was reminded of when he had just gotten out of prison…
It was a rainy day.
He wandered the streets in confusion, seeing a world that had become completely unfamiliar.
Everything around him clashed with what he remembered before he went in. He had no idea what to do next—
Then a horn sounded.
And in this now unfamiliar ninja world… someone reached out and helped him reconnect with it.
"I said it!" Juzo gripped the steering wheel tightly, speaking flatly. "I said I'd be first! First place! Not second, not third!"
His right foot slammed down.
Faster!
Faster!
Even faster!
However—
At this point… how could the car go any faster?
It was already at its limit!
And ahead—
There were still plenty of rivals!
Meanwhile—
Even the other racers took notice.
"The Four-Tails' scent?"
"Is that the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki?" Kushina frowned slightly and asked the Nine-Tails inside her, who suddenly spoke up.
"That guy has a death wish? That car's about to go up in flames."
"Not the Jinchuriki. Just some unconscious chakra," the Nine-Tails lazily replied. "It looks like someone borrowed the Four-Tails' chakra. Foolish humans…"
"What about you? Come on! Lend me some more too!" Kushina said excitedly.
Right after—
The Nine-Tails shivered and shrank back. It had thought it was wild enough already, being the Nine-Tails. But this woman behind the wheel? Even crazier!
That's right—
At first, it wanted to go wild on the track… but then… it started to back out!
"Idiot! Watch out! There's a turn up ahead!"
"I see it! Hurry! Let's pass them!"
"You see it?! Then why are you accelerating?! Drift, dammit! Drift!! If it weren't for me, after this race, they'd have to find a new Jinchuriki!"
Already annoyed with being stuck with this Jinchuriki, now it had to deal with that annoying Wood Release again not long ago…
Mood is completely ruined!
The Nine-Tails sighed and muttered, "If I'd known, I would've just stayed a quiet spectator!"
Can't this ninja world treat Tailed Beasts with a little kindness?
Meanwhile—
Kakashi also noticed the car that had suddenly picked up speed. Even though, by the current speed and remaining distance, the car behind him probably couldn't catch up—
Still—
Seeing that smoking vehicle, he remembered the moment on Hokage Rock when he was forced to stop by the Konoha Police Force.
"That chakra…"
"It's the Four-Tails!" Even the lazy Three-Tails inside him stirred. "It looks like it's not the real Four-Tails in the race. Someone's just using its chakra."
"Is that so?" Kakashi thought for a moment. In this internet age, of course he knew who the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki was.
The Four-Tails Company was pretty well known in the ninja world, too.
He remembered now—the driver of that car… must've gotten power from the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki.
Glancing again at the car trailing thick smoke, he frowned slightly—then let out a self-mocking laugh. "Why do I feel like I'm about to lose?"
Just like back then.
Maybe that guy had the same unshakable determination as the Uchiha Clan Leader.
But for now—
His main focus had to be the racer from Kumogakure.
That guy's wild racing style was on a whole different level!
From the deafening music blasting from his car...
You could tell—
This guy was a terrifying racer.
Ever since the race began, he had been playing wild freestyle rap nonstop.
The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki—Killer Bee!
Back in the Third Ninja World War, he had crossed paths with Minato-sensei.
That guy's strength was no joke!
Kakashi quickly shifted gears. The speed of his car increased slightly, and the blue flames from the exhaust roared louder. His eyes sharpened as a fire lit up in his heart.
"The final race… has arrived!"
"Yo yo~ thrilling race, final place, blue flames burn with charming grace! Oh yeah~ Eight-Tails! Go go go!" Killer Bee swayed to the rhythm while gripping the steering wheel, laughing. "The championship is ours! Belongs to Kumogakure!"
While other racers looked tense, this car seemed totally relaxed, like they were out for a joyride.
But—
The speed hadn't dropped a bit.
"Hey! Watch the road!" Eight-Tails said helplessly. "You're already going fast enough! Any faster, and with this rap-and-drive style, we're headed for a crash~"
"A crash? No way! This is speed and passion, baby! I feel the inspiration flowing, the wind howling! What a good day—it's poetry in motion~ THANK U, more gas, let's gooo!"
"…"
Forget it!
Do whatever you want!
Eight-Tails sighed helplessly and lazily flopped down in the sealed space again.
As for the car desperately trying to catch up behind them...
From his guess—at this point, there's no way it could ever pass them!
…
"Is it really impossible to pass them?" Biwa Juzo stared at the car ahead and muttered, "Impossible?"
His car was already smoking.
Sure, he had overtaken the Two-Tails' car, the suddenly-out-of-control Nine-Tails' car, the rich lady from the Land of Rain, and the Hyuga driver…
But—
That silver car up front, and the other one like a massive charging bull—no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't catch up!
Right now, Biwa Juzo could feel it—
His car was getting hotter and hotter, even the steering wheel was starting to shake.
But—
It just couldn't go any faster!
Still—
His heart was calm. He glanced at the Four-Tails plush in the backseat, then at the final bend and the straightaway ahead.
Once he passed this point…
The finish line was right there!
He figured—
Right about now…
That bastard Roshi was probably getting impatient already. Biwa Juzo's lips curled into a slight smile. As if remembering something, he looked at the jagged rock wall to the side and muttered calmly, "A ninja... cannot be judged by common sense!"
And this—
Is the Ninja Racing Grand Prix!
"It looks like it's time to really risk my life!"
His tone made it sound like he had made a final decision!
…
At this moment—
The spectators also seemed to notice something, staring with a shiver at that smoking car.
"That guy… what is he doing?!"
On the big screen—
One car—
Veered sharply off course, charging straight into jagged rock and forest, completely leaving the track.
"He's going that way? That route's way more complex! At that speed, there's no way he can make it through!"
At that speed… he's just going to crash!
Has he lost his mind?!
Everyone stared in shock, eyes locked on that…
Red-and-blue, smoke-belching car!
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