Well now.
So these are the SHINOBI stages...!

I didn't realize they were this big.

It's definitely different than just seeing them on a screen. But we've worked so hard for this day. I know we'll be okay.

Yes, I agree!
Not only that...

Alright, teamwork on three!

We're gonna win today, no matter what!

SHINOBI is all that matters to us.
We will get the best time!

<More and more competitors are making their entrance! Which team is going to win today's Shinobi Battle?!>

The other teams seem just as motivated.
We can't let our guard down.

I heard that there'd be ten teams in total. A lot of them look like working adults and university students...

Yes, and as we expected, they all look like they're in top physical condition. This won't be an easy battle...

No, it won't be...
But luck may be on our side, since we're the second to last team to go.

Right. We'll be able to adjust our tactics based on how the other teams do.

Agreed. We'll need to stay focused and keep a close eye on everyone while we wait for our turn to come around!

Right!

(This is it...)

(Everyone wished me good luck when I did that quick stream to let everybody know that we were here.)

(All that's left is for us to go out there and get results...)

(I have to do my best to spread as much hope as I can to our fans.)

Aha! There you are!

Huh...?
That sounded like...

Haruka!

An?!

What are you doing here?

To cheer on my best friend, duh!

I just met with Minori and the others a second ago, and you won't believe how many comments you've been getting. A ton of people are wishing you good luck.

Oh...

Do your best, Haruka!
Everybody's rooting for you like crazy.

*Nod*

For the sake of everyone giving me their support, I promise to do my absolute best.

<To all spectators.
Shinobi Battle will begin momentarily.>

<Competitors, please start getting ready.>

Oh, gotta get back to my seat.
See you later.

Wait, An!

Huh?

Thanks for coming.
Please make sure to watch until the end.

Of course I will.
I'm expecting you to blow us all away, Haruka.

<Thank you all for your patience!
The time has finally arrived!>

<The first group of Shinobi Battle competitors will be starting now!>

Do your best!
Give us a good show!

Alright!
Let's do this!

(The first stage begins with the log bridge.
Your balance and control over your center of gravity need to be perfect in order to cross it.)

(This person's fast...
But their upper body's sort of all over the place. As a result, they're having trouble maintaining their balance. Still...)

A little rough, but they still managed to cross.

The log doesn't seem to roll or tilt as much as we were expecting. Even if something were to happen, you should be able to cross it fine as long as you're able to regain your balance.

Next are the spider walls...

<Oh no!
Our competitor from the first group has unfortunately fallen!>

It took all his energy just to cling to the walls. He couldn't manage to actually move forward.

*Nod*
Your arms and legs need to be very strong in order to support the rest of your body as you cross.

(The log bridge is one thing...
But the spider walls look so tricky.)

(Still, Tenma did all that running, and became strong enough to do those chin-ups while wearing weights. He should be able to conquer this stage!)

<There we are!
Our competitor from group two has conquered the spider walls!>

Next up is your stage, Akito.

(Shinonome's stage begins with the high vault. Unlike the obstacles over the water, you fail if you decide to give up or don't clear it within the time limit.)

(He should do fine given his jumping ability, which means the problem is the water spider...)

(Like the water spider and log bridge, it tests your core muscles. In addition, the pool surface itself adds an extra layer of uncertainty.)

(But Shinonome's balance is pretty solid. His core should be more than strong enough to take on this challenge after all the practice he's done this past week.)

(So, I'm sure he'll succeed!)

<Our eighth group has completed the final stage! That makes them the second to conquer the entire course!>

<And their time is... Two minutes on the dot! That puts them in the lead!>

Two minutes...
That's pretty fast.

It is. That means each of us only has about forty seconds to complete each stage.

Which isn't going to be easy...

But we just gotta do it.

Agreed. You and I have to get the baton to Kiritani.

So, just wait and maintain your faith in us!

Tenma, Shinonome...

Yes, I believe in both of you!

We need the ninth group on standby!

Coming!

<This is it. The first stage...
Ready... Start!>

You can do it, Tenma!

(The first stage is sort of a long way from where the third-stage competitors are supposed to wait. Thankfully, the monitors will show me what's happening...)

(How's Tenma doing...?)

*Roar*

Whoa, that guy's awesome!
He's going so fast!

Yes, and his balance is excellent...
He might finish this stage in record time!

(Okay, he's off to a good start.)

(But the spider walls are going to take up a lot of time no matter what. He needs to spend as little time as possible on this part.)

Yes! I'm almost... Huh?!

*Gasp*

(His foot slipped...!)

Tsukasa!

<Oh no! He was doing so well!
But he fell into the pool after his foot slipped!
Unfortunately, that means he's...>

No! I'm still here! I haven't fallen!!

...!
He's clinging to the bottom of the log...

<Oh, he hasn't fallen in! That means he's still allowed to continue!>

Yeah, he didn't fall in, but he's upside down... Can he even move?

This is nothing!!
I put myself through that monstrous training schedule to make sure that I could recover from this sort of situation!

*Roar*

Cool!
He's shimmying forward while hanging from the log!

His arms must be so strong!
He might just get to the end!

Yes!

Go, Tsukasa!

<Oh, he's really moving now!
And there we are! He's crossed the log bridge!>

He did it...!

Nice save!!

<Next, we have the spider walls!
It's a test of strength and explosiveness, but how will he fare here?!>

Stick to the walls using your hands and feet. Walk like a real-life spider...!

*Roar*
Just watch! I've battled against monkeys and survived everything that Mikazukigumi threw at me!

<W-Wait! His hands and feet are a complete blur! He's moving so fast!>

<He's trying to make up for the time he just lost!!>

Whoa...

(He won't quite make it under forty seconds, but that's a remarkable time considering he almost fell in!)

(We just might...)

Huff...! Huff...!
Go, Akito!

Let's do this!