"Damn it! Why am I teamed up with you two again?!" Takumi looked at the frail Shaye and timid Chino, voicing his complaint without restraint. "Especially you, Shaye. What use could that crappy Spider toy of yours possibly be? We're definitely going to lose again!"
Chino lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes between her fingers, too afraid to speak.
Shaye ignored Takumi's complaints. He merely calmly observed the opposing lineup and the surrounding terrain—jagged rocks and uneven pits, perfect locations for ambushes and traps.
"Listen," Shaye said. His voice was quiet, yet carried an unquestionable calmness. "If you want to win, do as I say. Takumi, you have good stamina. You'll feint from the front and draw their attention, but don't clash with them head-on. Use the rocks to maneuver around them. Chino, hide in this crevice and watch our flag. If anyone gets close, shout as loudly as you can."
"What about you?" Takumi asked irritably. "You can't fight anyway!"
"I'll handle reconnaissance and support." Shaye took the crude wooden "Spider" from his robes. His fingertip moved almost imperceptibly, and a strand of Chakra Thread connected with perfect precision.
The whistle signaling the start of the match blew!
As expected, Black Ant's team relied on their superior stamina and pressed forward directly in a fan-shaped formation, brimming with aggression.
"They're coming!" Takumi charged out despite himself. Following Shaye's instructions, he constantly used the rocks to evade them while shouting curses to draw their attention.
Meanwhile, Shaye swiftly ducked behind a huge boulder and closed his eyes. All his focus was concentrated on the invisible Chakra Thread at his fingertip and the faint sensations transmitted back by the "Spider."
Under his control, the "Spider" moved like a living creature, its eight legs nimbly scuttling through gaps in the rubble without making a sound. It was small and dull in color, making it extremely difficult to spot amid the complex terrain.
Before long, the "Spider's" field of vision—the perception Shaye shared through the Chakra Thread—caught the movements of the opposing team.
"Black Ant is chasing Takumi from the front. He's fast."
"Another one is circling around the left flank. He wants to outflank us."
"The third one... he's lying in ambush in that pit on the right, waiting for Takumi to be driven over there."
Though Shaye's eyes remained shut, it was as though he could see everything himself as he calmly reported each opponent's exact position.
Hidden in the rock crevice, Chino's eyes widened in surprise as she listened to Shaye's accurate callouts. Takumi heard them from the front as well, and his heart jolted. He immediately changed direction, narrowly avoiding the pit where the ambusher lay in wait.
"Takumi, run toward that red boulder to your front left, then jump right immediately!" Shaye suddenly ordered.
Takumi obeyed instinctively. The moment he leaped away, the spot where he had been standing was struck by a rock Black Ant had thrown!
"How is that possible?!" Black Ant froze. It was as though the other side could predict his movements.
Shaye did not pause. The "Spider" had already used the chaos to crawl near the ambusher and lightly nudged several loose pebbles with its slender forelegs.
The sound of the pebbles rolling immediately caught the ambusher's attention. He instinctively poked his head out to look, exposing his position.
"Right-flank ambusher. His head is one-third exposed beyond the rock," Shaye immediately called out.
Takumi, who had been fleeing in a miserable state, suddenly understood. He grabbed a small stone from the ground and hurled it toward that direction with all his strength without even looking!
"Ow!" With a cry of pain, the ambusher was struck in the shoulder by the stone. It did not hurt much, but it threw off his rhythm.
The situation turned around in an instant! Relying on Shaye's precise reconnaissance, his side had actually held their ground against stronger opponents.
However, Black Ant was ultimately more skilled in taijutsu. He quickly recovered, roaring as he launched an even fiercer assault. Takumi was about to be unable to hold on.
"Chino, pull up the vine beneath your feet and stretch it across behind the third rock in front of you!" Shaye suddenly shouted toward the rear.
Though Chino was terrified, she still trembled as she did as he said.
At the same time, the "Spider" had silently crawled onto Black Ant's charging path. It anchored itself behind a rock, several of its legs digging deep into the sand as its body curved slightly, like a tiny tripwire.
Black Ant noticed nothing unusual beneath his feet and charged forward in great strides!
Just as his foot was about to step on the "Spider," it sprang upward! Its force was negligible and could not possibly hurt him, but it tripped Black Ant at exactly the right moment!
Black Ant staggered and lost his balance, stumbling right behind the rock where Chino had stretched the vine!
With a thud, Black Ant tripped over the vine and crashed face-first into the ground!
"Now! Take the flag!" Shaye snapped, suddenly opening his eyes.
Takumi seized the chance and sprinted out like a leopard, heading straight for the opposing team's unguarded flag!
The two remaining opponents had no time to react. They could only watch helplessly as Takumi pulled out their flag!
"We won! We won!" Takumi held the flag aloft and shouted excitedly, hardly able to believe it.
The match was over.
Shaye slowly walked out, his face even paler from the continued expenditure of chakra, though his eyes remained calm. He approached Black Ant, who was still lying on the ground groaning, and guided the "Spider" back into his hand.
Black Ant raised his head and looked at the inconspicuous little wooden lump in Shaye's hand, recalling that strange trip from earlier. His face shifted between green and white. "J-just now... was that thing of yours behind it?"
Shaye nodded and carefully checked whether the "Spider" had been damaged.
At that moment, Chino ran over as well. She had been so nervous while pulling the vine that its rough surface had cut a small gash in her palm, with beads of blood seeping out.
Shaye glanced at it, then extended a finger and drew upon the last trace of chakra within him. An extremely faint green light, almost too subtle to notice, glowed at his fingertip. He carefully held his finger over Chino's wound.
The basic Healing Technique took effect slowly and was weak, but the faintly cool sensation and the wound gradually ceasing to bleed still made Chino's eyes widen in shock. "Shaye... y-you know Medical Ninjutsu too?"
Takumi, along with Black Ant and the others who had just climbed to their feet, stared at the sight in utter disbelief.
This perpetual dead last, this boy with the worst physical abilities... not only had he made a puppet capable of practical reconnaissance, but he had also used it to lead them to victory. He even... knew Medical Ninjutsu?
At that moment, everyone's gaze upon Shaye changed completely. The disdain and mockery from before vanished, replaced by surprise, disbelief, and a faint trace of respect.
Shaye withdrew his hand and said lightly, "It's only the most basic Healing Technique. It can only handle minor injuries like this."
He put away the "Spider," said nothing more, and turned to walk toward the edge of the field.
Sunlight fell upon his thin, small back, yet it seemed to cloak him in a different kind of radiance. He was still frail, and his chakra was still weak, but through his actions, he had proven to everyone that in the world of ninja, wisdom and creativity could sometimes matter more than simple strength.
(End of Chapter)
Before you continue