Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Speed Racer or Naruto, as they belong to their respective owners. This fanfiction is only written for non-profit entertainment purposes under the Fair Use Act.
Naruto the Fox Racer Redux
By AlxkendBlader
Chapter 2: Rise of the Raging Fox
It had been several years since Naruto left the Elemental Nations and moved to Japan, away from the persecution and BS of Konoha. However, he still misses the friends he made during his days as a genin, as well as Tsunade and Jiraiya. He had grown into a fine ninja, especially in the eyes of the Minamoto clan. When he turned 16 years old, he was able to take a driving exam and he passed it, gaining his driver's license. This also allowed him to land a job at Karasugoi Motors as a racing driver in training, and he had shown quite a bit of promise, which would only be putting it lightly. He took in the racing instructor's lessons like a sponge. In his first professional race, he had managed to gain a 3rd place finish. To make himself stand out more among his competitors, he began to wear an ANBU-style fox mask in subsequent races, causing him to become known as the "Fox Racer". He soon became feared and admired for his considerable skill and the persona that he displays using the mask, somewhere on the tier of another well-known mask-wearing racing driver, the enigmatic Racer X (who is also an Interpol agent), who is the world champion.
The two had met during a collaborative mission between the Minamoto clan and Interpol, to investigate a rather infamous Yakuza gang in Japan, which had apparently been involved in an illegal sports betting and race-fixing scheme with a corrupt racing official. At the height of the investigation, a confrontation between the Fox Racer, the Yakuza and the crooked official had ensued. They had no intention of letting Naruto leave with any evidence that he had gathered against them. However, he wasn't about to let the bad guys get away with what they've been doing. They thought that they had an advantage with their guns, but Naruto's experience as a ninja allowed him to outsmart them and apprehend them.
He and Racer X had also learned of each other's pasts. Naruto learned that Racer X is a persona created by a man named Rex Racer, who had crashed a racing car that his father, a temperamental automotive expert (and former wrestling champion) named Lionel Racer (nicknamed "Pops" by family and friends), had spent years building. Pops was relieved that Rex survived the crash unscathed, but out of wounded pride, the latter claimed that he deserved to win because his racing skills were the best. Angered at Rex's arrogance, which lead to the race car, named the Mach 1, being destroyed, Pops harshly chastised his first-born son, telling him that his skills were awful and that he lacked experience, and that he would never become a great racing driver at that. A terrible argument between father and son ensued, resulting in Rex running away from home, determined to become a world champion racer on his own.
He was soon taken in as an apprentice by Kabala, the prince of the nation of Kapetapek. Kabala had a sinister reputation of seeing rivaling drivers die in the much-dreaded and extremely dangerous Fire Race, in a bid to keep Kapetapek's borders closed to any unsavory outsiders, particularly of the greedy, treasure-hunting variety. Thanks to the mountain racing lessons taught by the prince, Rex's driving skills had improved significantly. He was then challenged by Kabala to a Fire Race as a final test, and for that occasion, he was given his signature #9 racing car, the Shooting Star. Rex, taking on the persona of Racer X for the very first time, had managed to defeat Kabala, who also died in a landslide. Thus, Racer X disguises himself as Kabala whenever the Fire Race is held, in order to keep Kapetapek isolated from the rest of the world. Since then, he had became known as a world-class driver with notoriety on the track to match.
Naruto's vehicle of choice on the track is the Karasugoi Motors KMR-6 (1), a race car with a motorsports-tuned Inline-6 engine and a finely-styled coupe body. This car, however, has a few modifications to it that fits his personal racing style. Redistributed weight for stability, four-wheel drive, a reinforced double wishbone suspension system, a supercharged V6 engine, a Formula 1 style transmission system and oddly enough, a bulletproof titanium gas tank and a 9 ball shifter knob. In Naruto's words concerning the gas tank, "You never know if you end up having someone out to get you trying to shoot your car where the gas tank is."
However, Karasugoi Motors had been preparing something for their star driver, something they are certain would be worthy of his level of skill...
One day, Naruto had arrived at the Karasugoi Motors factory and is met by Kurao Karasugoi, the CEO of the company.
"Mr. Karasugoi," the blonde greets the CEO with courtesy, "You said to meet me at the factory here today, saying that you have a 'special surprise' for me."
Mr. Karasugoi, a clean-shaven middle-aged man in a snappy business suit and a pin shaped like the Karasugoi Motors logo on it, replied, "Why yes. We know you've been doing quite well in your modified KMR-6, but we believed that you deserve something greater, something we think to be worthy of your driving style. Something with some 'extra kick', to use North American vernacular. Allow me to lead you to the test track, and you'll see what we have in store for you."
The two then made their way to the test track, where Naruto notes the presence of an object under a large sheet.
"Do it," Mr. Karasugoi said to two workers, who nodded before taking off the sheet, revealing something that caused Naruto's eyes to widen in awe at the sight before him.
It is a racing car with a undoubtedly mid-engined design, similar to cars like the Ford GT40 from the United States, with a smooth and streamlined body design no doubt for aerodynamics. It is black in color, and painted on the front of the car itself is a depiction of a roaring, nine-tailed fox with sharp teeth and angry red eyes. Along with that, it also features pop-up headlights, similarly to cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. It also has a pair of four-into-one side exhaust pipes with heat shields resembling those on a semi-trailer truck.
"Naruto-san," started Mr. Karasugoi, "May we present to you, the Raging Fox, your new car. It has quite a few features that can help you maintain an edge over your competitors in a race. Look under the hood and you'll see our newest racing engine, which we named the "Hotblock" (2). It is a 14-cylinder boxer-type engine developed with an aluminum block and a fuel injection system. However, in the case of the Raging Fox, the engine also features an innovative new supercharger design that we had developed in collaboration with Écran Etablissement from France. They are also using this supercharger in their new racing car, named the Brume. The Raging Fox also features a new composite-material chassis, along with a reinforced double wishbone suspension system with adjustable coil-over shock dampers from Ellief (3), two-rotor vented disk brakes, four-wheel drive and a new semi-automatic transmission system."
"It is a beauty, Mr. Karasugoi," smiled Naruto, before asking, "But if I may ask, what exactly does this new supercharger do?"
With a tone filled with mirth and a rather confident smirk, Mr. Karasugoi replied, "Why not drive this thing around the test track and see for yourself, Naruto-san? Also, watch the fuel gauge while you're driving it."
"Very well," nodded the Fox Racer, as he then gets into the driver's seat of his new car, before turning the ignition key, starting up the 'Fox for the first time.
With that, the engine roared to life with a mighty growl. Liking the sound, Naruto revs it up again, before releasing the parking brake and flooring it. The Raging Fox zoomed away from the start line of the test track. Feeling the immense acceleration and top speed of his new car, Naruto grinned enthusiastically, as he then approached the first turn. Slowing the car down a little, he steers the car and found that its handling is quite good, a step-up above his modified KMR-6. He also checked the fuel gauge, and noticed that it's lowering as he drove, but it went down at a slower rate than with his previous car. Right as he completed his test drive of the new car, Naruto gets out of it and goes up to Mr. Karasugoi.
He asks the CEO, "I checked the fuel gauge as you asked while I was driving such a marvelously performing car as this, and I noticed that it goes down at a much slower rate than with my other car."
Mr. Karasugoi smiled, "Ah, that's the ticket behind the new negative displacement undercharger (4); It can turn everyday oxygen into liquid fire, not only providing a significant boost to the horsepower like with any run-of-the-mill supercharger, but also enhancing the Raging Fox's fuel economy. You can use the air intake vents on your car, or attach an oxygen tank to the undercharger. Either way works, Naruto. It can also depend on the situation of the race. In the car's glove compartment is a user's manual for the undercharger. Of course, since it's a relatively new invention, don't be surprised at any revised versions of the manual that we might come up with as time goes on. We also have telemetry equipment put into the car."
That day, Naruto knew that from here on in with his new car, the Raging Fox, things are going to get interesting...
[One week later...]
It is a bright sunny day at the racing circuit, and it is there that the Raging Fox would be used in a racing competition for the very first time, with the enigmatic Fox Racer at the steering wheel. As the race has not yet started, we see the masked racing driver himself at the pit stop, watching as the Karasugoi motorsports mechanics make last-minute adjustments to the Raging Fox to ensure that it is in tip-top shape.
He also knew that he would be up against some considerable competition, with other talented drivers also participating in today's race, such as Racer X, who drives the Shooting Star (#9), Snake Oiler of the Car Acrobatic Team, a world-famous group of daredevil drivers, and Speed Racer, Rex's younger brother who drives the fabulous Mach 5 race car, which was built by Pops Racer.
At the knowledge of the younger Racer sibling participating in the race, the Fox Racer thinks, "To think that Rex's brother is going to compete. I'll show him something when we meet on the track!"
He then heard the footsteps of someone walking into the Karasugoi area of the pit stop, as he then heard a nasally voice say to him arrogantly, "So you're the Fox Racer, eh? I bet you're all bark and no bite, and everyone will know it, too, once I'm through with you on the track!"
"Oh, I wouldn't know, Snake Oiler," replied the Fox Racer calmly, having recognized the driver by his voice, "Underestimating me will be your biggest mistake on this day."
"We'll see who's making the biggest mistake when we race," retorts Snake with a sneer as he then attempted to punch the Fox Racer, only for the latter to catch his fist and judo flip the errant daredevil driver onto the floor.
Snake then gets up, and was about to retaliate when he hears another voice say to him, "Hold it right there, Snake Oiler! There'll be none of that here in the pit stop!"
Recognizing the voice as that of Racer X, Snake growled in indignation at having been caught in a compromising position. He then sighed and went off to his own section of the pit stop, not wanting to ruin his own chances of winning the race any further than he already had.
"It's a good thing you showed up to defuse this whole thing Racer X," said the Fox Racer thankfully, "I should consider myself lucky I was acting in self-defense."
Racer X nodded in agreement, as he replied, "Indeed you should. Anyways, the race is about to start in a few moments, and you may want to get to the starting line soon. I'm looking forward as to seeing what your new car can do on the track, Fox."
The Fox Racer gave a thumbs up as he then hears one of the Karasugoi mechanics, who is named Kenichi, call out to him, "Hey, F.R., the car is ready to go!"
"Thanks for letting me know, Kenichi," replied the Fox Racer, as he then approached the Raging Fox and gets into the driver's seat.
As the mechanics moved out of the way, he starts up the car and drives it to the starting line. After getting the Raging Fox into position at the starting line, he grips the steering wheel, waiting for the race to start for real. He looked around at his opponents, among which he noticed Snake Oiler, along with Racer X in the Shooting Star, and lastly, but certainly not least, the white, futuristic visage of the Mach 5, driven by Speed Racer.
When as the starting lights had turned from red to green, all of the race cars roared off of the starting line.
Speed Racer was determined to win this race, knowing that Racer X, along with the treacherous Snake Oiler, are also competing. He also learned that the mysterious Fox Racer from Japan is also racing, driving a brand new car built for him by Karasugoi Motors. Word on the street, is that the car, named the "Raging Fox", has an innovative supercharger co-developed by Karasugoi and another company from France.
As he skillfully weaved the Mach 5 through a multitude of opposing cars, Speed thought, "The Raging Fox...It's a fitting name for a car like that, especially with the Fox Racer behind the wheel of that thing! The engine has such an intimidating growl like an angry beast, and there's some kind of monstrous, nine-tailed fox painted on the front of it, too. This makes it even more fearsome! I must see what he can really do!"
He eventually found himself in third place, with the Fox Racer in second and Racer X in first. It has all come down to this, him against two famed masked racers! He managed to get past Racer X, but the Fox Racer is giving him a hard time, not allowing him any leeway to overtake him. The two rivals found themselves neck and neck as they approached the finish line, with neither of them willing to back down and determined to cross the finish line first, with Racer X following close behind.
Zooming past the finish line at high speeds were the Mach 5 and the Raging Fox in a photo finish. When the photograph had finished developing, it shows that the Raging Fox had reached the finish line first, indicating that the Fox Racer had won the race.
As to what had happened with Snake Oiler...Well, he ended up getting too cocky and his car slipped on a spot of oil that leaked from a damaged car that was headed to the side of the track. He lost control of his car and crashed it into a pole, causing him to bang his head on the steering wheel in frustration.
Oh well, Oiler, better luck next time!
Chapter End
1. It resembles a cross between a Bill Thomas Cheetah and a Ferrari 250 GT SWB
2. I named the engine after Fumeé's 26-cylinder Karasugoi hotblock
3. Ellief is the company that makes the Fumeé's joint system
4. The concept of the negative-displacement undercharger I borrowed from the 2008 movie.
With those out of the way, be sure to review and constructive criticism is always appreciated!
