Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII or Ninja Warrior; I just want to compete on it someday along with Bjanik (you promised).
A/N Recently I've become obsessed with Sasuke, no not Uchiha (I'm more of an Itachi fangirl) but the show. It's known as Ninja Warrior in most other places, the show about the world's toughest obstacle course. All the main characters of FFVII, with some obvious exceptions, would pass with flying colors. But the Shin-Ra staff is required to compete on a physical fitness course. I'll leave the rest to you.
Zack watched as one of his favorite cadets, a kid named Cloud, bound up to the buzzer and smack it looking embarrassed at the attention he was getting. "Way to go Cloudy-boy!" Zack called at the cadet.
It was the annual Shin-Ra physical fitness exams for the Scientific and Defensive branches. It was a series of obstacles designed to test speed, strength, and agility, you only needed to get to the end of the first set of obstacles to clear the Physical Exam but if you did you had the option of going on to further stages. Only two people had ever cleared the complete four-stage course, Sephiroth, of course, being the first one to do it every tournament, with Angeal Hewley being the only other person able to clear.
Zack and Sephiroth had already made their runs on the course making it look easy. Now they were watching the rest of the employees take on the course, up after Cloud was Reno. Zack nearly had a hernia when Reno timed out on the course, he'd come out in nothing but shorts and he was showing off. Eventually he made it to the Warped Wall and only had five seconds on the clock and timed out.
Rude and Tseng made their runs after that, both clearing calmly despite the cheering of the crowd. Some more recruits took on the course after that ended up in the water laughing, after that was a pair of scientists, Aaron and Jenkins. Aaron got to the Warped Wall but couldn't get over it, Jenkins on the other hand managed to clear with a fraction of a second to spare.
"Up next is Professor Hojo after our lunch break!" President Shin-Ra called as everyone dispersed for lunch.
Zack and Sephiroth made their way down to go get some lunch; they ended up sharing a table with Cloud, Aaron and Jenkins, "nice job guys!" Zack called clapping Cloud on the back. "Aaron was it? Work on the Warped Wall it's a pain in the ass."
Aaron nodded, "yes but did you hear whose next after lunch?"
Sephiroth nodded silently, "yes, Hojo…"
"We can't let him clear!" Jenkins announced sipping at his Crocodileade disgruntled.
Zack smiled, "vengeful much? Well I don't think he'll get very far trust me."
They enjoyed the rest of their meal talking about SOLDIER and other interesting things until the Exam was called back to order. The five made their way back into the seats eagerly anticipating the next contestant to go.
Hojo stepped onto the starting line dressed in his lab coat and a pair of boxers with little alien heads printed on them. The starting bell sounded and Hojo took off, somehow managing to clear the Pyramid Jump and the Rolling Log. He had to face the Crooked Wall next, he ran up and his foot caught on the railing of the Wall as he reached out for the rope. Flipping in the air he landed on the ground headfirst before his limp body slid into the water.
"See what'd I tell ya?" Zack grinned.
Aaron and Jenkins both sighed pulling out their wallets and handing Cloud fifty gil apiece. "You were right…"
Cloud smiled, "I made a bet before you came."
Zack blinked before laughing, "atta Cloud!" He ruffled Cloud's hair.
