Naruto's afternoon shift at Ichiraku Ramen had been nothing but endless orders of miso, pork, and the occasional special request that he knew he'd screw up. His apron was stained with broth, and the smell of soy sauce clung to him like a second skin.

"One pork ramen, extra garlic!" Naruto called out, tapping the order on the counter and shooting a thumbs-up to the cook in the back. The old man, Teuchi, barely looked up, too focused on keeping the orders flowing. His daughter, Ayame, was at the register, chatting up a couple of regulars.

Naruto turned to the next customer, not really in the mood but faking his best grin. "Hey there! Welcome to Ichiraku! What can I get you?"

Before the guy could respond, a snippet of conversation from the corner table caught Naruto's ear.

"I heard it's gonna be huge," one man said, leaning over his bowl of noodles, talking low to his friend. "A lot of people from the five nations are signing up for this tournament."

His friend slurped up some ramen before replying, "Yeah, I heard about it too. But what I wanna know is who's gonna be the favorite? Someone from Iwa, maybe? Those guys are crazy."

Naruto zoned out of his own customer interaction, eyes flicking toward the two men.

"Uh, hello?" The customer in front of him waved a hand. "You gonna write this down?"

Naruto blinked, snapping back to attention. "Right, sorry! What was it again?"

"Chicken ramen, extra green onions. You good, man?"

"Yeah, yeah, sorry about that," Naruto muttered, scribbling the order down, but his ears were still tuned in to the conversation at the corner table.

The first guy chuckled between bites. "No way, Iwa's got some good drivers, but Kumo? Highest traffic incidents in the country. It's gonna be wild."

Naruto paused mid-order. Drivers? He almost dropped his notepad when the next sentence came out of one of the men's mouths.

"And don't forget the tracks. This isn't some amateur backstreet shit. This is the real deal, man."

Naruto's eyes went wide. His heart raced with the news. Racing? His brain could barely process the thought. Racing wasn't just a hobby for him—it was his passion. Since he was a kid, he'd been obsessed with cars, always sneaking over to Sasuke's house to play racing games and binge-read whatever motor magazines he could scrounge up. He'd even built a mini-racing track out of scrap wood once, much to Kushina's horror. She'd called it a "death trap," but Naruto called it engineering genius.

His customer raised an eyebrow, clearly not impressed by Naruto zoning out again. "Yo, man. You okay? You seem like you're—"

"Yeah, fine! Totally fine!" Naruto forced a smile, jotting down the final detail of the order. "One chicken ramen, extra green onions, coming right up!"

The customer gave him a suspicious look but said nothing as Naruto darted back to the kitchen, where he could overhear more of the racing talk.

"So when is it happening?" the second man asked.

"Next week. You'd have to be a moron to miss it. Hell, I'm not even into racing, but I'll be there for the chaos."

Naruto stood behind the counter, pretending to wipe down a few bowls. A racing tournament, huh? If it was as big as these guys were making it sound, there was no way he could miss it.

Naruto's thoughts swirled as the two men continued, but one line cut through his daydreaming like a sharp blade.

"Yeah, and the winner takes home, what—50 million ryo?"

Naruto's notepad hit the floor with a soft thud.

Fifty million ryo?

That was enough to make anyone's head spin. For Naruto, it felt like the universe was slapping him in the face, practically begging him to pay attention.

He watched as the two men stood up to leave, still chatting about the event. Without thinking, Naruto leaped over the counter, his apron flapping behind him like some ramen-scented superhero cape. He slid in front of the men just as they reached the door.

"Hey! Uh, sorry to bother you guys, but did you say something about a racing tournament?"

The two men looked at him, slightly bewildered.

"Yeah?" one of them said, eyebrow raised. "Why? You into racing or something, kid?"

Naruto scratched the back of his head, grinning nervously. "Yeah, kinda. I mean, I really like cars and racing. Could you maybe...tell me more about this tournament?"

The men exchanged glances, chuckling to each other like Naruto was some wide-eyed kid asking for directions to a candy store.

"Sure, kid," the taller one said, fishing something out of his jacket pocket. He handed Naruto a crumpled-up poster. "They've been handing these out on the street. Figured we'd check it out. Looks like a good time."

Naruto grabbed the poster, eyes darting over it. The image of sleek, roaring cars racing under bright stadium lights made his heart pound. This is it.

The shorter guy patted Naruto on the shoulder as he opened the door. "Yeah, kid, it'll definitely be a blast to watch."

"Watch?" Naruto repeated, his voice almost a whisper. His eyes gleamed as he clutched the poster tighter. "Yeah...sure."

But watching wasn't what he had in mind. Not at all.

The men gave him a wave and headed off to the parking lot. Naruto barely noticed as they climbed into their cars, his mind buzzing with the sound of screeching tires and roaring engines.

He glanced down at the poster in his hands. His lips moved as he muttered to himself, the world around him fading into background noise.

"Fifty million ryo…"

Pedestrians walked by. Cars honked. Life in the bustling streets of Konoha moved on as usual.

But Naruto Uzumaki? His life was about to change.

And he wasn't just going to watch.

It was another typical Friday at Sasuke's uncle's garage, the smell of oil thick in the air as Sasuke worked on some guy's beat-up sedan. Shisui leaned against a toolbox, flipping through a magazine about houses, occasionally muttering something about apartments they'd never be able to afford.

Naruto barged in, hands stuffed deep in the pockets of his Ichiraku Ramen apron, his mop of blond hair still messy from a long shift. "Yo! Sasuke! You won't believe what I heard at work today."

Sasuke didn't look up from under the hood. "Can't believe anything you say, so why start now?"

Naruto ignored the jab, bouncing on his toes with excitement. "There's this huge-ass racing tournament. Like, continental. And guess what? Winner gets fifty million freakin' ryo."

That caught Shisui's attention. "Fifty million?" He whistled, standing up straight. "Shit, that's not chump change."

Sasuke slammed the hood shut, wiping his hands on a rag as he finally looked at Naruto. "And you think you're gonna enter this thing?"

"I'm gonna enter it, bastard!" Naruto grinned, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "All I need is a car."

Shisui snorted. "Uh-huh, and a brain, maybe."

"Shut up, Shisui! I've got this, alright? The only problem is...well, I don't exactly have a car."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "And what, you thought I'd just hand over mine? What, you gonna strap an engine to your bike?"

Naruto scratched the back of his head, eyes darting toward the far end of the garage where some customers cars were parked. "Actually...I was thinking maybe… you could let me borrow something like that."

Both Sasuke and Shisui followed his gaze. There, gleaming under the dim workshop lights, was a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS—sleek, vintage, and absolutely not something a broke nineteen-year-old should be asking to borrow. Especially since it belonged to Hiashi Hyuuga, one of the richest—and most terrifying—men in Konoha.

Shisui doubled over laughing. "Oh man, that's rich. Borrow Hiashi Hyuuga's car? You've officially lost it."

Sasuke's voice dropped. "You must be out of your goddamn mind, Naruto."

Naruto's grin widened, unbothered by the cold stares he was getting. "C'mon, Sasuke! You guys are gonna test-drive it, right? Atleast let me take it for a spin. Just around the block. He won't even know."

Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose, groaning. "This is the dumbest idea you've ever had. And that's saying something."

"Hey, dumb ideas are my specialty, remember?" Naruto gave a thumbs-up, as if that was something to be proud of. "I just need to see how it handles, y'know? I don't even have to borrow it, I just want to drive it a bit cause it's a cool car. Come on, Sasuke. What's the worst that could happen?"

Sasuke and Shisui exchanged glances.

"The worst?" Sasuke's voice was flat. "I dunno, maybe Hiashi finds out, murders us in our sleep, and we disappear from existence? Sound about right, Shisui?"

"Pretty much," Shisui added, trying—and failing—to hide his grin. "Naruto, you don't even know how to drive a car like that."

Naruto scoffed. "What? I've driven before!"

"You've driven your mom's Nissan," Sasuke shot back. "This is a Chevelle, not some grocery getter."

Naruto puffed his chest out. "A car's a car! How different can it be?"

Sasuke looked ready to strangle him. "Very different, you idiot!"

Shisui leaned against the workbench, watching the back-and-forth like it was the most entertaining thing in the world. "Honestly, Sasuke, maybe you should let him do it. I mean, if Naruto dies in a fiery crash, at least we won't have to listen to him bitch about this tournament anymore."

Naruto flipped him off, but kept his eyes on Sasuke. "Come on, man. You know you want to see how I'd handle it."

Sasuke glared at Naruto for a solid minute, his jaw clenched, before letting out a long, exasperated sigh. "If you crash this thing, I'm leaving your ass on the side of the road."

"Deal!" Naruto exclaimed, punching the air in victory.

"Hold on a second!" Shisui cut in. "We're actually letting him drive it? This is insane. You realize that, right?"

Sasuke muttered a curse under his breath. "I know. I'm fully aware. This whole thing is fucking insane." He shot Naruto a deadly look. "But if anything happens to this car, you're dead. Got it?"

Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "Got it! Not a scratch, I swear!"

With a look of pure regret, Sasuke reached into his pocket and tossed Naruto the keys. "One lap around the neighborhood. One. And if I see so much as a fingerprint on this car that wasn't there before—"

"I know, I know, you'll kill me."

Naruto practically skipped over to the car, flinging open the door with way too much excitement. Sasuke's eye twitched.

"For fuck's sake, be gentle," Sasuke hissed, watching Naruto settle into the driver's seat.

Naruto's fingers danced over the steering wheel, eyes wide like a kid on Christmas. "Oh man, this is so cool. I could get used to this."

"Don't get too comfortable," Sasuke warned, crossing his arms and watching him like a hawk. "You're not keeping it."

Naruto grinned at him through the open window. "Yet."

Shisui shook his head, arms still crossed. "This is going to end so badly."

Naruto fired up the engine, the deep growl of the V8 sending a thrill through him. "Listen to that purr, man! Oh, this is gonna be awesome."

"Just go already," Sasuke growled, rolling his eyes.

Naruto gave a playful salute and slammed the gas. The car lurched forward, tires squealing as he zoomed out of the garage.

"Fucking hell," Sasuke muttered, watching him tear down the street.

Shisui laughed. "Well, if he crashes, at least we'll know where to find the body."

"Assuming there's a body left." Sasuke rubbed his temple, regretting everything about this decision.

Minutes ticked by, and the sound of the Chevelle's engine faded into the distance. Sasuke paced by the entrance, glaring at the empty road, tension building in his shoulders. Shisui had gone back to flipping through his magazine, completely unconcerned.

Finally, the unmistakable roar of the car returned, and the Chevelle pulled back into the garage, smooth and undamaged. Naruto hopped out, grinning like an idiot.

"See? No scratches, no crashes. I told you I could handle it."

Sasuke let out a sigh of relief, though his scowl stayed firmly in place. "You're still an idiot."

Naruto tossed him the keys. "An idiot who can drive."

Shisui looked up from his magazine. "Yeah, well, let's see how much of that confidence you've got when you've gotta explain to Hiashi that you joyrode his vintage moneypit."

Naruto waved him off. "Pfft, like he'd ever find out." He stretched, looking way too relaxed for someone who just narrowly avoided death. "No harm, no foul, right?"

Sasuke glared at him, keys clenched in his hand. "Just get out of here before I change my mind about killing you."

Naruto laughed, backing toward the door. "Alright, alright. I'll see you guys later."

As Naruto disappeared, Sasuke turned to Shisui, shaking his head. "We're so fucked."

"Yep," Shisui agreed, flipping another page. "But hey, at least we'll die in style."

Sasuke groaned, already dreading whatever insanity Naruto was bound to get into next.

Little did they know, the real trouble was just getting started.

Naruto walked home that night, his hands jammed into his pockets, the crumpled poster from the tournament stuffed inside his jacket. His thoughts weren't on the usual stuff—how his feet hurt from standing all day at Ichiraku, or how he had ramen broth splashed all over his sneakers. No, this time, his mind was locked on one thing and one thing only:

Fifty million ryo.

"Fifty...million..." he muttered to himself, eyes glazed as he wandered down the dimly lit streets of Konoha. "That's enough to buy a freakin' island... Or like...a hundred cars...or a house with a goddamn pool... I could finally move outta Mom's place..."

He kicked a pebble down the road, barely noticing a cat darting out of his way. His mind continued racing.

"Fifty million...," Naruto repeated like a mantra. "I wouldn't even need to work at Ichiraku anymore. I could own Ichiraku. No—screw that—I could own every damn ramen joint in the city."

As he got closer to his house, he could already see the lights on inside. He sighed. Home sweet home—if your definition of sweet included an overworked mom who constantly nagged him about 'getting his act together.'

"Great. Here we go," Naruto muttered, bracing himself as he swung open the door.

"I'm home!" he called out, kicking off his shoes and tossing his jacket on the nearest chair.

"In the kitchen," Kushina's voice echoed back, followed by the clink of a wine bottle hitting the table. Naruto strolled in and found her exactly where he expected—at the dining table, bottle of wine in one hand, TV remote in the other. The news flickered on the screen, but Kushina didn't seem to care much, eyes half-lidded from a long day at the hospital.

"How was work, kiddo?" she asked lazily, swirling the glass before taking a sip.

Naruto shrugged, avoiding the details. "Eh, y'know. Same old, same old. Ramen. Noodles. More noodles. What's for dinner?"

Kushina, without even looking up from the TV, lazily waved a hand toward the fridge. "Figure it out. There's leftovers... or something."

Naruto rolled his eyes, opening the fridge to find... well, not much. A sad-looking container of rice, a couple of vegetables that were probably older than him, and some takeout sauce packets that had been there since he could remember.

Looks like it's gonna be one of those days, he thought, slamming the fridge door shut and heading straight to his room. "I'll just make a cup of ramen or something," he muttered under his breath.

After changing out of his work uniform, he grabbed his phone and flopped down on his bed, staring at the ceiling for a moment before typing out a message to Sakura Haruno.

Naruto:
Yo! What's up?

No response.

He waited for a few seconds, tapping his foot impatiently.

Naruto:
Sakuraaa. Hey! What are you up to?
You there?

Still nothing.

Naruto:
Come on, don't ignore me! You're probably just watching that dumb movie for the hundredth time anyway!

A minute passed, then two, and finally, the screen lit up with a reply.

Sakura:
Naruto, I swear to GOD, if you interrupted me for some dumbass reason, I'm going to KILL you. I'm in the middle of my series!

Naruto grinned, fingers flying over the keys.

Naruto:
Chill, chill! You've been watching that braindead movie for like, six years now. Meet up for pizza?

He could practically feel Sakura's sigh through the phone. It took her a minute to reply again, the little typing dots teasing him on the screen.

Sakura:
...fine. Okay. But you better not be wasting my time.

Naruto chuckled, sitting up. "She'll never admit it, but she loves hanging out with me."

Later that night, Naruto and Sakura were seated in a corner booth at one of their favorite fast food spots. Naruto was halfway through his second slice of pizza, while Sakura was poking her fork through a sad-looking bowl of salad.

Sakura leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, looking at Naruto like he'd just announced he was going to fight a bear with his bare hands.

"So let me get this straight," Sakura said, narrowing her eyes at him. "You want to participate in this... this race? The one this weekend?"

Naruto nodded, a huge grin on his face. "Yeah! I'm totally gonna do it."

Sakura rubbed her temples. "And… just to clarify, because I feel like I might be missing something here— you do realize that in order to drive in a car race, you need this thing called a car, right?"

Naruto's grin faltered slightly, his confidence draining as fast as the grease on the pizza. "Well... yeah... That's kinda the problem."

Sakura threw her hands up, groaning. "Naruto, you moron! How the hell do you plan on entering a race without a car?!"

"Look, I haven't figured that part out yet, okay? I was just... I dunno, gonna cross that bridge when I get to it."

"Do you even have a license?" Sakura leaned forward, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"Pfft, details, details. I'm working on it," Naruto said, waving her off with a nervous chuckle.

Sakura's fork clattered against her plate as she sighed dramatically. "Naruto. No one else knows about this insane idea of yours, right?"

"Nope," Naruto replied, shaking his head. "Not even Mom."

Sakura stared at him. "Not even Kushina?"

"She'd just say no, you know? Tell me it's 'too dangerous' or whatever. She's always on my case about that stuff."

"That's because it is dangerous, you dumbass!" Sakura retorted, tossing a piece of crust at him. "You've never driven in a real race in your life! You barely even drive—period!"

Naruto dodged it and crossed his arms. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. But think about it, Sakura. If I win, I get fifty million ryo. Fifty million! Do you know what I could do with that kind of cash?"

Sakura leaned back in her seat, giving him a tired look. "Let me guess—buy a sports car, blow it all on video games, and still manage to be broke in two months?"

Naruto sighed dreamily, ignoring her. "I could travel the world... I could buy us a mansion! I'd finally pay you back for all the times you covered me!"

"Or you could just be realistic for once in your life," Sakura shot back. "Racing isn't like those stupid video games you and Sasuke play. You have zero experience. You'd get yourself killed."

Naruto scoffed, leaning back and crossing his arms. "Man, everybody's always underestimating me. I could totally win."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "There's a reason people underestimate you, Naruto. This is real life, and you're not even close to qualified for this kind of thing. You're… well, you're you."

Naruto opened his mouth to argue but paused, realizing she had a point. He stared at the greasy pizza in front of him, sulking.

Sakura sighed, reaching for another slice. "Look, just let it go. Maybe if you're desperate for money, you could ask your boss at Ichiraku to let you open a stall at the venue. You'd probably make a killing. Less chance of you crashing and dying too."

Naruto blinked. He opened his mouth to snap back but paused. "Wait… that's… actually not the worst idea you've ever had."

"Of course it's not a bad idea," Sakura muttered, rolling her eyes. "I always have the good ideas."

Naruto leaned forward, smug. "But I can't do that."

Sakura frowned. "Why not?"

He grinned. "Because I've got a reputation to keep up."

Sakura stared at him for a long moment before rolling her eyes so hard, Naruto was afraid they might pop out of her skull. "Naruto, it's a little late for worrying about your reputation."

As the waiter came by with the check, Sakura reached for her wallet, pulling out a few bills to cover her meal. Just as she was about to hand the money over, Naruto leaned across the table and whispered, "Uh... hey, Sakura? Can you cover my bill too? I didn't bring any cash."

Sakura froze. Slowly, she turned to look at him, eyes narrowing into slits.

"You. Didn't. Bring. Cash?" she hissed, voice deadly quiet.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, y'know... I'm not exactly rolling in it right now..."

Sakura closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as if trying to center herself. "Naruto, I swear to god..."

"Appreciate it, Sakura!" Naruto grinned as she shoved a few more bills toward the waiter, muttering curses under her breath.

"You owe me so much money," Sakura growled, standing up and grabbing her jacket. "You owe me enough to cover my rent for a damn year."

Naruto beamed as if she'd just handed him a gift. "Thanks, Sakura! You're the best, you know that?"

Sakura glared at him, shaking her head. "No, I'm just an idiot for still being friends with you after all these years."

"Yeah, yeah, don't be so grumpy about it," Naruto said, standing up and throwing his arm around her shoulders. "It's just pizza! I will pay you back, you'll see! Once I win that prize money—"

"You're never gonna win," Sakura interrupted, her voice filled with exasperation.

Naruto just grinned, tapping his nose. "You'll see."

As they walked out of the fast food joint, Sakura shook her head, already regretting whatever stupid venture Naruto was cooking up now that he'd eventually find a way to get her involved in.

The next day, Naruto skipped work without a second thought and made his way over to Sasuke's workshop. He knew he was about to do something incredibly reckless, but his brain had already shut off the reasonable part. It was all about getting a car, getting to the race, and qualifying.

As he walked into the workshop, he spotted Sasuke and his cousin, Shisui, leaning over the hood of some other customer's car, both of them deep in conversation about spark plugs and fuel injectors.

Naruto plastered on his best casual grin and sauntered over. "Hey, guys! What's up?"

Sasuke glanced up, wiping his hands on a rag. "Naruto. You skipping work again? What do you want?"

Naruto quickly spun a lie, his mind racing. "Oh, uh, yeah… so, I kinda forgot my wallet in Hiashi's car yesterday when I was, uh… driving it." He mentally cursed himself for not thinking of something better.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, already suspicious. "You forgot your wallet?"

"Yeah! Totally. I didn't realize till I had to pay for my dinner last night. You know how it is."

Shisui gave him a skeptical look, but shrugged, handing him the keys. "Well, be quick, Naruto. We've got work to do."

Naruto nervously grabbed the keys and made his way over to Hiashi's pristine Chevelle, parked in the corner of the workshop. His heart was pounding in his chest, but he told himself it was fine. It was just one race. One race, and he'd return the car. No harm done.

As he slid into the driver's seat, he muttered to himself, trying to psych himself up. "Okay, Naruto, you've got this. Just a quick drive, win the race, bring the car back. Easy peasy."

From outside, Sasuke called out, "What's taking so long, dumbass? Find your wallet yet?"

"Uh… no, it's, uh, lodged somewhere," Naruto shouted back, trying to buy more time. He felt the pressure building.

Sasuke grumbled, and Shisui raised an eyebrow. "How did it get lodged? What's it made of?"

Naruto swallowed hard, his hand hovering over the ignition. He took a deep breath, locked the doors, and turned on the engine.

Shisui blinked in confusion. "Naruto? What the hell are you doing?"

Naruto rolled down the window and stuck his head out. "Uh, look… I just need to borrow the car for a few hours, okay? I'll bring it back! Promise!"

Sasuke's eyes widened, and in a flash, he was running toward the car. "Borrow the car? Are you fucking insane? Get out of the car, Naruto!"

"I'm really sorry, man!" Naruto yelled, gripping the steering wheel as Sasuke banged on the door, trying to pry it open.

"Open the damn door!" Sasuke shouted, clawing at the locked handle, his eyes burning with fury. "You're not seriously doing this!"

Naruto flinched, feeling the panic rise in his chest, but he forced himself to focus. "I'll be back, okay?! Don't worry!"

"Naruto!" Sasuke was practically growling at this point, banging on the window. "If you drive off in Hiashi's car, you're fucking dead, man! DEAD!"

Shisui stood back, arms crossed, looking more amused than angry. "You know, Naruto, stealing a car isn't exactly the best way to solve your problems."

"I'm not stealing it!" Naruto insisted, though even he wasn't sure how much he believed that. "I'm just borrowing it for a few hours!"

With that, Naruto pressed down on the gas, and the car roared to life. Sasuke's eyes widened as Naruto peeled out of the garage, leaving tire marks and an incredibly pissed-off Sasuke in his wake.

"Narutoooo!" Sasuke screamed after the car, but it was too late. Naruto was gone, speeding down the street toward the destination on the race poster tucked in his pocket.

For a moment, Sasuke stood there in stunned silence, watching the cloud of dust settle in the street. Shisui walked up next to him, shaking his head.

"So, uh… you want me to call the cops, or…?"

Sasuke clenched his jaw, fists balled at his sides. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "No, don't bother."

Shisui raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Hiashi's not exactly gonna be thrilled when he finds out his car's missing."

Sasuke sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Let it go. We'll deal with that idiot when he comes back." He shot a look at the direction Naruto had gone. "And when he does… he's fucking dead."

Shisui chuckled, leaning against the workbench. "I mean, points for creativity. Didn't think he had the balls to pull something this dumb."

Sasuke just shook his head, muttering under his breath. "He's gonna need more than balls when I'm done with him."

Naruto pulled up to the venue, eyes wide as he took in the size of the crowd. Cars of all shapes and sizes filled the lot, people bustling around with energy, and the roar of engines from the track made his stomach do nervous flips. He parked Hiashi's Chevelle and turned off the engine, staring straight ahead as he tried to calm his racing heart.

"Okay… okay… you got this," Naruto muttered to himself, gripping the steering wheel. "Just one race, win the prize money, and life changes forever. You're Naruto freaking Uzumaki. You can do anything."

He forced himself to repeat every motivational phrase he'd ever heard, even the cheesy ones from self-help books. "No pain, no gain. Winners never quit. Uh… if you can dream it, you can do it."

He climbed out of the car, glancing around again. The size of the crowd wasn't enormous, but it was definitely enough to make his palms sweat. "No big deal," he whispered. "It's not like everyone's staring at you."

Naruto made his way to the registration tent, trying to act casual as he passed by groups of people. As he got in line, he started to size up the other potential racers. Most of them looked about his age—either really skilled or, more likely, just as desperate and reckless as him.

"Yeah, they're probably all just idiots too," he muttered under his breath, hoping that was true.

When it was his turn at the desk, Naruto fumbled through the registration process. He handed over the papers, signed forms, and pretended he understood what the hell he was doing. His hands were a bit shaky as he glanced over at the other racers registering, most of them looking way more prepared than he felt. He smiled nervously at the woman behind the desk as she handed him his entry number and pointed him toward the workshop.

Naruto made his way over, where some engineers took Hiashi's car and ran it on the dyno. He stood awkwardly off to the side, watching as they tinkered with the car and checked its specifications. The loud hum of the machine made him wince a little, but he kept trying to play it cool, even though his heart was still doing cartwheels in his chest.

When the process was done, they handed him a booklet and told him he'd be in "Group 2, Class B."

"Cool, cool," Naruto mumbled, shoving the booklet into his pocket without even glancing at it. "Sounds great."

As he walked back toward the crowd, the roar of engines from the track caught his attention, and he found himself drawn toward the grandstands. He sat down to watch the first qualifying race, his eyes glued to the track. Eight cars lined up, split into two groups—four in front, four behind. The first group took off, and Naruto leaned forward in his seat, watching them zip around the corners.

His focus locked onto a sleek, white Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. The car handled the turns with ease, weaving through the competition like the driver was on a Sunday drive. It was clear this guy was on another level.

"Damn," Naruto muttered, eyes wide. "Hope I don't have to deal with anyone like that in my race…"

When the race ended, the announcer declared the driver of the white Lancer—something something 'Nara'—as the winner. Naruto watched as the driver got out—a young guy, probably around Naruto's age, sporting medicated glasses with straight black hair tied up in a high ponytail. He looked cocky as hell, strutting around like he owned the place.

"Damn," Naruto mumbled. "Hope I don't race against any try-hards like that…"

As the next race was announced, Naruto's heart jumped into his throat. It was time. Group 2 was up next, and he was part of Class B. Whatever that meant.

He took a deep breath and climbed back into the Chevelle, driving it toward the starting line. An instructor was waiting there to explain the details again, and Naruto half-listened, nodding and pretending to understand.

"... placed in Group B due to your car's specs. You'll be racing with others who are similarly competitive," the instructor said, reading off a clipboard.

"Right, right," Naruto replied, not really paying attention. His eyes were on the group of cars forming in front of him for Group A.

The first two cars alone were enough to make Naruto nearly choke—a pair of Porsches, sleek and menacing.

"Thank god," he whispered. "No chance in hell I'd survive that."

As he looked at the cars lining up in Group B alongside him, he felt a little more confident. There was a purple, sad-looking Toyota, a black Audi, and an old fox-body Mustang. None of them screamed "champion racer," at least not at first glance.

"Alright, not bad," Naruto muttered, eyeing the Audi warily. He didn't know much about the make, but it looked like the most serious competition here. The rest? Well, he felt lucky. His biggest threat seemed to be that guy with the Dad vibes in the Audi next to him, and Naruto was pretty sure he had that one covered.

Just then, the engines of Group A roared to life, and the cars peeled off, taking to the track with the ferocity of lions. Naruto watched them disappear down the straightaway, and for a moment, doubt crept back in.

"What the hell am I doing here?" he whispered, gripping the wheel.

But then he remembered the cash prize. The life-changing money. The idea of never having to mooch off Sakura again. He straightened up in his seat, determination flooding back in.

Ten seconds later, it was his turn. The engines of Group B started revving around him, and Naruto could feel the Chevelle's V8 rumble beneath him, like a beast waking up. He couldn't help exhale. Yeah, I got this.

He glanced at the guy across from him—Dad vibes guy—who looked cool as a cucumber, and Naruto smiled a bit. "Yeah, I'm feeling...sort of good about this."

The timer ticked down, and adrenaline surged through his veins. His hands tightened on the wheel. His foot hovered over the gas pedal, ready to gun it.

3… 2… 1…

The roar of engines filled the air as he launched the Chevrolet off the starting line, lurching back into his seat.

Naruto's heart raced as fast as the car, knowing this was his shot. He just had to win.

Naruto gripped the steering wheel tightly as he sped toward the first turn. His knuckles were white, the deep rumble of the Chevelle's engine vibrating through his bones. He could feel the beast of a car struggling to slow down in time, the weight of the Chevelle making it difficult to navigate the sharp corner. As he turned, the tires groaned in protest, and the Chevelle understeered, sliding out wide.

"Damn it!" Naruto cursed as he corrected the car's trajectory. He had fallen into third place behind the Audi and the Mustang. The Toyota was right behind him, edging closer, ready to pounce. He could almost hear the driver of that sad-looking purple machine cackling in his rearview mirror.

Naruto floored it, hoping to create some distance before the next corner.

"Come on, you piece of shit," he muttered to the Chevelle as it lumbered through the first corner, struggling to stay ahead.

But as he barreled into it, the Toyota was right there, diving on the inside, trying to squeeze past.

"Oh no, you don't!" Naruto growled, jerking the wheel to cut off the Toyota's path, forcing it to back off. But he knew it was only a temporary solution.
The Chevelle was terrible at handling tight corners, and every bend in the track felt like a war with physics. He glanced down at the crumpled map sitting on his lap. One more turn, then the straightaway. That's where he could make his move.

The next corner came, and Naruto had to practically stand on the brakes, the Chevelle screeching in complaint as it slowed down dramatically. The Toyota, lighter and more agile, easily slipped past him.

"Great. Freaking wonderful," Naruto muttered as he fell into last place. But then he saw it—the straight. His heart pounded as his foot slammed down on the gas pedal. The Chevelle roared to life like a beast unleashed, the V8 growling like a thunderstorm. He shot forward, overtaking the Toyota in a matter of moments.

As he zoomed past, he caught a glimpse of the Toyota driver's face—eyes wide, mouth set in a furious scowl. Naruto couldn't help but grin. "Sorry, pal, but this isn't your race."

His next target was the Fox body Mustang. Ahead of him was the Fox body Mustang, its boxy frame bouncing along the track.

Another muscle car—at least in theory—Naruto thought, rolling his eyes at the pitiful imitation. This guy wasn't a concern. The Mustang's sloppy cornering and mediocre speed gave Naruto plenty of time to strategize.

The engines roared as they passed the spectators, the crowd roaring even louder in response. Naruto could hear the announcer giving play-by-plays, but he wasn't focused on the noise. He was locked onto the Mustang in front of him, inching closer with each second.

Up ahead was another turn. Naruto inhaled sharply, an idea forming in his mind. He was going to try something risky. Really risky.

Naruto angled the nose of his car at the Mustang's quarter panel, pretending like he was about to dive inside. The driver of the Mustang panicked, seeing Naruto's aggressive move, and braked hard, veering away from what he thought was a potential collision.

Naruto smirked. "Sucker."

But he didn't stop there. He nudged the Chevelle even closer, body-checking the Mustang through the turn. The metal frames of both cars almost kissed as they rounded the bend, Naruto forcing his way ahead.

As soon as they pulled out of the turn, Naruto floored the gas, the Chevelle's V8 bellowing as it surged ahead. He grinned, watching in the rearview as the Mustang fell behind.

"And stay back," he muttered triumphantly, eyes flicking to his rearview mirror.

The announcer's voice grew more excited, calling attention to the battle raging in Group B. Naruto could feel the crowd's energy from the stands. They were actually cheering for him now, and it sent a rush of determination through his veins.

Now, it was just him and the Audi. The final opponent.

The driver, a middle-aged man with a face that screamed, I'm late for soccer practice, was calm behind the wheel. The Audi, sleek and fast, moved like a shadow across the track. It was obvious the guy knew how to handle it.

Naruto narrowed his eyes, foot still glued to the gas pedal. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as the Chevelle sped down the straight, the Audi ahead maintaining a frustrating gap. But Naruto was determined. "I'm coming for you," he muttered, teeth clenched in concentration.

They blasted past the start/finish line, completing the first lap. Naruto was now in second place, with the Toyota somehow managing to slip into third. He could hear the roar of Group A's leaders coming up behind them, with a bright purple Porsche looming behind the Toyota in his rearview. "Yeah, not my problem," he muttered. His focus was on the Audi.

Naruto checked his dashboard: 150 kilometers per hour and climbing. Up ahead, the Audi looked like it was going way too fast into the next corner. "Brake too hard, old man. I dare you." Naruto's heart pounded, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

His prayers were answered as he saw the Audi brake lights shine bright as it approached the next turn. He was close enough to see the back of the car now, but it was still too far to make a clean pass. He knew if he slowed down like the Audi was, he'd lose any chance to catch up.

The speedometer on the Chevelle's dashboard read 150 km/h and climbing. Naruto swallowed hard. This was it—the moment he could either make his move or fail and prove everyone right.

Then a crazy idea hit him. So he decided to do what any reasonable, sane driver would do.

He didn't slow down.

His foot stayed planted on the gas. Either he was about to make the ballsiest move of the race, or he'd end up in a fireball on the side of the track. "Come on, baby, hold together," he whispered to the Chevelle, praying the old beast wouldn't betray him at this critical moment.

The Audi braked hard, taking the corner like a disciplined machine. Naruto, though, was gambling. "If I pull this off…" he muttered under his breath, heart hammering in his chest.

His hands tightened on the wheel as the turn approached—seconds away from what could be total disaster. "Let's go!" he shouted, adrenaline pushing him beyond the fear.

Naruto whipped the wheel hard to the left, swerving his car to the outside of the Audi. The crowd erupted in a mix of awe and horror, their voices barely audible over the deafening howl of his tires as they protested the abuse he was putting them through. The turn was coming fast, and every instinct told Naruto to ease up. But he didn't.

Not today, bastard.

His eyes darted to the barrier looming dangerously close. He threw the wheel in the opposite direction, trying to pull the Chevelle back in line. But the car wasn't happy about it. The rear tires lost traction, sending the heavy muscle car into a savage oversteer.

The back end of the car slid out, screaming against the track. Naruto cursed under his breath, his knuckles white as he fought the wheel.

For a moment, Naruto was sure hell itself had just opened up in the car's interior. It was as if hell itself had opened up and a horde of banshees were screaming next to him. The wails from the Chevelle's tires ricocheted inside the car, a horrific cacophony that rattled his very bones. It wasn't the polished sound you'd hear in the movies, no. This was raw, primal. A sound only a 1.7-ton monster of a car struggling against physics at 100km/h could make.

The Chevelle teetered on the edge of chaos. For a moment, Naruto thought he was about to become nothing more than a charred smear plastered against the track barrier. The crowd gasped in collective terror. Even the announcer, ever energetic, seemed to falter as he prepared for the inevitable disaster.

But then, somehow—somehow—the Chevelle held on. It hugged the curve, defying gravity and common sense.

Naruto gritted his teeth, his arms aching from the sheer force of keeping the wheel steady. The car fishtailed violently, its rear tires struggling to find grip. His foot tapped the gas in perfect intervals, trying to balance between regaining control and keeping his speed up. The Chevelle was still alive, and so was he.

And in that moment, he realized something incredible. He had passed the Audi.

"HA!" he barked out a laugh, more from relief than anything else. He pulled the Chevelle back in front of the sleek black sedan, cutting it off from making any sort of comeback. He didn't care if it was a dirty move. This was his race now, and he wasn't going to let some middle-aged dude in a fancy sedan take it from him.

The crowd's reaction was a roaring wave of noise, and Naruto soaked it in. They were with him. His hands gripped the wheel tighter as the Chevelle thundered down the track. The engine bellowed its defiance, pushing the speedometer higher.

100km/h...110...120...

The needle climbed steadily, and Naruto felt the thrill of the race pulsing through his veins.

The announcer mentioned something about group A completing their race, but Naruto didn't care, he was laser focused on maintaining his lead.

Behind him, the Audi was still lurking, trying to reclaim its spot. Naruto could see it in his rearview mirror, the headlights gleaming ominously. But he didn't let that rattle him. He had fought too hard to be taken down now.

The finish line was up ahead, growing larger by the second. Naruto's breath quickened as he neared it, his hands glued to the steering wheel. His eyes flicked between the track and the rearview mirror. The Audi was still there, pushing hard. But Naruto wasn't going to let it win.

No way in hell.

The checkered line came closer, and in that moment, the entire world seemed to slow down. The roar of the crowd, the blaring of the announcer, the rumble of engines—everything faded. It was just him and the finish line.

Naruto's foot pressed the gas pedal to the floor, urging every last ounce of power from the Chevelle's roaring V8 engine. And then, with a final burst of speed, he crossed the line. The finish lights blinked as Naruto sped past, signaling the end of Group B's race.

The roar of the crowd was thunderous.

Naruto slowly eased up on the accelerator, his hands trembling slightly as the car coasted to a stop. His heart was still pounding, adrenaline surging through his body. His breath came out in short, ragged bursts as he tried to wrap his head around what had just happened.

He won.

A long, relieved sigh escaped his lips as he rested his head back against the seat, a wide grin spreading across his face. He'd qualified for the tournament. Hiashi's precious Chevelle was still in one piece, and he wasn't hobbling back home in bandages.

Naruto glanced up at the crowd, watching them cheer and holler as the announcer's voice boomed through the speakers. He chuckled to himself, still riding the high of victory.

"Hell yeah…" he muttered, feeling the weight of the moment settle in.

He was going to the tournament.

Naruto pulled the Chevelle into Sasuke's workshop with a heavy sigh, the high of victory starting to fade as he considered what was about to happen. He parked the car and stared at the dashboard for a second, trying to prepare himself for the storm that was sure to come. Sasuke was not going to be thrilled about this little joyride, not to mention Shisui was probably waiting with his usual smirk, ready to watch the fireworks.

As soon as he stepped out of the car, he didn't have to wait long for the chaos to begin.

"What the hell, Naruto?!" Sasuke's voice came thundering from across the garage. He stormed toward Naruto, eyes wide, looking like he was about to spontaneously combust from sheer rage. Behind him, Shisui followed at a slower pace, arms crossed and shaking his head in disbelief.

Naruto scratched the back of his head, already feeling the heat. "Uh, yeah, so… about that. I might have, uh, borrowed the Chevelle for, um, a little race."

"A little race?!" Sasuke nearly shrieked. "You stole the car, you moron! That's Hiashi's car! What the hell were you thinking?"

"I didn't damage it!" Naruto blurted out quickly, raising his hands in defense. "Look, it's still in one piece, isn't it? I didn't crash or anything!"

Shisui snorted, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "You didn't crash, but you sure as hell didn't take care of it."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer to the Chevelle, inspecting it like it was a wounded animal. His gaze traveled over the body, his fingers tracing the outline of the tires. And then, his face twisted in pure horror. "Oh my god. You wore out the tires!"

Naruto blinked. "Uh… what?"

"The tires, Naruto!" Sasuke yelled, gesturing wildly. "Do you have any idea how much these cost? These aren't just regular tires! You wore them down in one race!"

Naruto winced, realizing this was a detail he might have overlooked. "Okay, okay! I didn't think about the tires! I'm sorry! I'll pay you back… for the gas. I didn't think the tires would be that big of a deal…"

Sasuke looked like he was going to explode, his hands trembling as he struggled to keep it together. "That big of a deal?! I'm going to kill you, Naruto. You're dead. You don't even know how deep a grave you're digging right now."

Shisui stepped in, chuckling. "You're so screwed. Hiashi's going to flip when he finds out. You know he's got eyes everywhere, right?"

"Nah, nah, he won't find out," Naruto said quickly, waving him off. "The race wasn't even televised! As long as we clean the car, we're good. Right? Right?"

Sasuke shot him a deadly glare, pointing at the tires like they were the most grievous sin ever committed. "The tires, Naruto! What about the freaking tires?"

Naruto gulped, taking a step back, his hands up in surrender. "Okay, yeah, I'll… figure something out. I'll get new tires. I promise, just… just don't kill me."

Sasuke clenched his fists, his jaw twitching. "I should seriously murder you. Right here. Right now."

Naruto edged away, putting some distance between them. "But it wasn't for nothing! I won the race. First place. Qualified for the next round! So, y'know… there's that!"

Sasuke's eye twitched. "And what car are you planning to use next? Because it's definitely not going to be this one, unless you've got a death wish."

Naruto scratched his head, trying not to look as nervous as he felt. "Well… I was kinda hoping you guys could, y'know, help me out?"

Shisui laughed, patting Sasuke on the back. "I think you've made things worse buddy, read the room."

Sasuke turned to Naruto, his expression flat, almost dead inside. "Get out. Get. The. Hell. Out."

Naruto didn't need to be told twice. "Right, okay! I'm leaving! We'll sort this out later!" He gave a hasty wave and quickly bolted out of the garage before Sasuke could change his mind and actually follow through on his threats.

As he walked down the street, his mind raced. He needed a car, and fast. Sasuke was clearly out of the question, and he had no idea how he was going to afford new tires, let alone an entire vehicle. Desperate, he pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he landed on Sakura's name.

With a sigh, he shot her a text: Hey, are you there?

Surprisingly, Sakura didn't take too long to reply.

Sakura: "What's up?"

Naruto wasted no time beating around the bush.

Naruto: I need a car. Fast.

Her response came almost immediately, but it wasn't quite what he was expecting.

Sakura: "To get a car, you have several options depending on your budget, preferences, and financial situation. Here's a general guide:

1. Buy a New Car:
- Research Models: Consider what type of car fits your needs (sedan, SUV, truck, etc.). You can use websites like…"

Naruto stared at the wall of text on his screen, blinking in disbelief. Was she seriously doing this right now?

He typed furiously: Sakura is this fucking Chat-GPT?

Sakura: What did you expect me to say, dumbass? You think I can just *poof* a car into existence for you?

Naruto groaned. I'm serious, Sakura. Help me out here. I already won the qualification race! I just need a car to get to the next stage.

There was a long pause. He imagined Sakura sitting there, pinching the bridge of her nose like she always did when he came to her with one of his ridiculous problems.

Sakura: You actually won?

Naruto grinned at his phone. Yeah, yeah. I'm still alive. Just needed to secure a spot before it was too late.

Finally, a voice note popped up. He hesitated before playing it, holding the phone to his ear.

"Okay, so... I'm kinda impressed you actually won and didn't, like, die or something. But seriously, you didn't think any of this through, did you? You just—what, signed yourself up and hoped for the best?"

Naruto grinned sheepishly, even though she couldn't see him. I had to act fast. You know how these things are. If I didn't jump in, someone else would've taken the spot.

Another pause. This one longer.

His phone buzzed again with a new message.

Sakura: You're going to owe me your firstborn child if I help you out with this.

Naruto nearly jumped for joy, his fingers flying across the screen. Deal! I'll name it after you!

I mean it, idiot. Sakura sent back, but there was a hint of humor in her reply. I'll call you soon. We need to meet up. Don't do anything stupid until then.

Naruto grinned, feeling a wave of relief. You're the best! Love you!

Don't push it.

As he kept walking toward home, Naruto felt a renewed sense of hope. This could still work out for him. He just had to see what Sakura could pull off.

With a final glance at his phone, he shoved it in his pocket and smiled to himself. Maybe things were starting to look up.

The next day, Sasuke and Shisui drove up to Hiashi's mansion with the Chevelle, both of them far more nervous than they wanted to admit. Sasuke kept his eyes glued to the road, while Shisui chewed on his thumbnail, glancing at the side mirror every five seconds.

"You think he knows?" Shisui muttered, breaking the tense silence.

"He better not," Sasuke grumbled. "We cleaned it. It's fine. We're fine."

But as soon as they pulled into the driveway and saw Hiashi waiting for them, arms crossed and an unreadable look on his face, Sasuke wasn't feeling so sure anymore.

"Here we go," Shisui muttered, slouching deeper into his seat.

Sasuke threw him a glare. "Sit up, man. We have to look like we know what we're doing."

They both got out of the car and walked up to Hiashi, who was already looking the Chevelle up and down like a hawk inspecting prey.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Hyuuga," Sasuke greeted, trying to sound casual. Shisui gave a nervous wave beside him.

Hiashi nodded slowly, his sharp eyes still focused on the car. "Afternoon. I appreciate you delivering the car on time. I trust everything went smoothly?"

Sasuke felt his palms sweat. "Yeah. No problems at all."

Hiashi hummed, his gaze still lingering on the vehicle. Then, without missing a beat, he turned to Sasuke, his expression carefully neutral. "So, no joyrides?"

Sasuke nearly choked on his own spit but kept his face straight. "Of course not. Just took care of it like we promised."

Hiashi smiled, but it wasn't a comforting smile. It was the kind of smile that said I know something you don't want me to know. "Interesting. Because I happened to be at the qualification race yesterday..."

Both Sasuke and Shisui froze. Their brains went into full panic mode. He was there?!

Hiashi pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen, bringing up a video. "...and I believe I saw this vehicle on the track."

Sasuke's mouth went dry as Hiashi hit play. There it was, clear as day, the Chevelle roaring down the street in all its glory during the race. Hiashi's eyebrow twitched upwards as he glanced at them. "Care to explain?"

Shisui stuttered. "W-We—uh—well, you see—"

Hiashi tilted his head slightly, his voice calm but firm. "Who was driving my car?"

The silence between Sasuke and Shisui was deafening. They exchanged a quick, panicked glance. Shisui was looking at him like, Well? Say something!

Sasuke exhaled sharply, knowing there was no way out. He had to take one for the team. "It was me. I drove it."

Shisui's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Sasuke ignored him.

Hiashi narrowed his eyes, scanning Sasuke up and down. He took a moment to consider this before speaking again, his tone surprisingly... intrigued? "You drove it?"

Sasuke nodded, preparing for the worst. "Yeah. I, uh... I'm sorry for not asking for permission. I just—"

"To be honest," Hiashi interrupted, his gaze sharpening, "I was impressed. The driver's skill caught my attention."

Sasuke blinked. "...Huh?"

Hiashi took a step forward, his expression softening just a little. "Yes, the performance was remarkable. In fact, I've been following this tournament since it's inception. Motorsports are a... personal interest of mine."

Shisui was trying hard not to laugh at the sudden 180 in the conversation, and Sasuke was too stunned to speak.

"So," Hiashi continued, his tone shifting into something almost businesslike, "I was wondering how you would feel about continuing the tournament... in my name."

Sasuke blinked again. "I'm sorry, what?"

Hiashi's smile grew. "I'd like to sponsor you for the next stages. You would represent my company. What do you say?"

Sasuke stared at him, completely floored. Was this real? Was Hiashi Hyuuga asking him to race for him?

Shisui, finally recovering from his shock, piped up, "Wait, are you serious? You want Sasuke to be your driver?"

Hiashi nodded. "Yes. I'd like to move forward with this. What do you think, Uchiha Sasuke?"

Sasuke, still stunned, managed to force out a reply. "Uh... yeah. Sure. I mean—yes, absolutely."

"Excellent." Hiashi nodded. "We'll discuss the details later. In the meantime, keep the car in good condition." He turned back to his house, leaving Sasuke and Shisui standing there like two statues.

As soon as Hiashi disappeared inside, Shisui turned to Sasuke, eyes wide with disbelief. "Did that just happen?"

Sasuke exhaled, still processing everything. "Yeah... yeah, it did."

Shisui whistled low. "Man, you just got the golden ticket. He's sponsoring you. You're set."

Sasuke ran a hand through his hair, the weight of the situation finally hitting him. "Yeah, but... now I gotta tell Naruto."

Shisui snorted. "Good luck with that. He's gonna lose his mind when he finds out."

Sasuke groaned. "I don't have a choice. He's the one who won the race. It wouldn't be right if I just took the credit."

Shisui clapped a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, grinning. "Look at you, trying to be a decent human being for once."

Sasuke scowled. "Shut up. I'm gonna tell him later. He deserves to know."

Shisui chuckled as they got into the car. "Well, at least now Naruto's crazy plan doesn't seem so far off, huh?"

Sasuke sighed, staring at the road ahead. "Yeah... maybe this is actually gonna work."

Later that day, Naruto sat on his couch, drumming his fingers on the armrest, staring at his phone. He was sure Sasuke was going to call any second with bad news. There was no way that entire mess with Hiashi had gone smoothly.

This is it, Naruto thought grimly. I'm about to be banned from racing before I even get started.

His phone buzzed, and he nearly jumped out of his skin. The screen flashed Sasuke's name. Here we go.

He swiped the call open. "Sasuke?"

"Hey... you're not gonna believe this," Sasuke's voice came through, oddly upbeat.

"Please tell me you didn't get us both killed."

"Actually, Hiashi wants to sponsor you for the tournament."

Naruto blinked. "...What?"

"Yeah, long story short, he was impressed with the car during the qualifying race. Now he wants me—you technically—to represent his company."

Naruto sat there, stunned into silence for a solid five seconds. Then, his face lit up. "Holy shit, Sasuke! We did it! We freaking did it!"

Sasuke's voice sounded like he was grinning on the other end. "Yeah. I'm as surprised as you are."

"I gotta tell someone! Dude, this is insane!"

"Go celebrate. I'll fill you in later."

Naruto hung up, a huge grin on his face. He practically jumped off the couch, ready to run laps around his house, but instead, he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door. He had to tell someone, and who better than Sakura?

Later that afternoon, Naruto met Sakura at their usual fast food joint. They sat at a table by the window, Sakura sipping on a soda while Naruto tried not to vibrate out of his seat.

"So, I've been talking to a friend about that car situation," Sakura began, scrolling through her phone. "I think I found someone who could help. My friend said—"

Naruto cut her off, unable to hold it in any longer. "Forget that! Hiashi's sponsoring me for the tournament!"

Sakura blinked, her cup halfway to her mouth. "Wait, what?"

"Yeah!" Naruto grinned, bouncing in his seat. "Hiashi Hyuuga, dude! Sasuke told me just now. He wants me to keep racing in his name!"

Sakura stared at him like he'd grown a second head. "You're kidding. Hiashi Hyuuga? That Hiashi?"

"Yeah, that Hiashi! He's apparently a huge motorsports fan or something. I don't know, but he liked how I drove his car at the qualifier."

Sakura set her cup down and rubbed her temples. "Are you serious? Naruto, I went through hell to get a car deal for you."

Naruto blinked, confused. "Wait, what do you mean?"

"I mean I practically sold my damn kidney to get this car from Hinata!"

Naruto froze. "Wait. What?"

Sakura sighed dramatically. "Yeah, I was going to borrow it for a 'weekend camping trip.' It took forever to convince her. And now you don't even need it."

Naruto put his head in his hands, groaning. "Why the hell would you talk to Hinata?!"

Sakura looked genuinely baffled. "She's literally the only person I knew who could just spare a car. And we're not even that close! It was awkward as hell."

"You went to Hinata Hyuuga?" Naruto repeated, eyes wide. "Daughter of Hiashi Hyuuga? The guy who until a few hours ago was going to make me disappear for stealing his car?!"

Sakura scowled. "How the hell was I supposed to know you took his car?! You didn't exactly fill me in on that part!"

Naruto threw his hands up in exasperation. "That's not even the biggest problem! Why would you go to Hinata in the first place?! You know how weird things are between us!"

Sakura groaned, leaning back in her seat. "Naruto, you went to the movies with her once. In middle school. Can you stop acting like she's your ex-wife or something?"

Naruto's face turned red. "That's not the point! I didn't want to... you know, rekindle any... old flames."

"God, you're unbelievable," Sakura said, exasperated. "She didn't even know it was you using the car. And honestly, Hinata's way out of your league. Don't gas yourself up because you fumbled her seven years ago."

Naruto waved her off, determined to steer the conversation back. "Whatever. The point is, Hiashi's sponsoring me now. I'm gonna race in the next stage of the tournament, and that's all that matters."

Sakura was silent for a moment, and then, to Naruto's surprise, she smiled softly. "Well... I'm actually really happy for you, Naruto. You've been working your ass off for this. Now we just have to figure out how to let Hinata know about the whole 'not needing her car' thing."

Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I'll try to sweet talk Hiashi into letting me use another car, just in case. But hold onto Hinata as a plan B. You never know."

Sakura grinned, leaning forward. "Oh, don't worry. I've still got her on standby. I did you a huge favor, you know."

Naruto chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, you did. You're a real lifesaver, Sakura."

"I know." She flashed him a playful smirk. "And I'm still coming for your firstborn child since I technically found you a car. A nice car, mind you. Hinata's rich y'know."

Naruto laughed, shaking his head. "Deal. Just let me win the damn tournament first."

They shared a lighthearted moment, both of them grinning across the table, basking in the ridiculousness of the situation. Despite the chaos, things were finally looking up.

3 days layer...

Naruto's phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, interrupting his morning ritual of scarfing down ramen. He checked the screen, nearly choking on his noodles when he saw the caller ID.

Hiashi Hyuuga.

"Shit," he muttered, scrambling to answer. He cleared his throat and tried to sound casual. "Uh, hey! Hiashi-san!"

"Good morning, Naruto," came Hiashi's calm but authoritative voice. "I have some news regarding your sponsorship."

Naruto quickly swallowed his ramen, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice. "Oh, yeah? What's the deal?"

Hiashi paused for a moment, as if collecting his thoughts. "After reviewing your performance and the... interesting circumstances under which this partnership began, I've decided to move forward with sponsoring you."

Naruto felt a grin spread across his face. "Seriously?! That's amazing! Thank you, Hiashi-san, I promise I won't let you down!"

"Hmm, we shall see," Hiashi replied, his tone measured. "I will also be assembling a team to support you during the tournament."

Naruto blinked, the grin still plastered on his face. "Wait, a team?"

"Yes, I've already started gathering individuals who are experienced in managing racers and vehicles. It's important that you're properly prepared for the challenges ahead."

Naruto scratched the back of his head, thinking. He appreciated the help, but he couldn't imagine working with a bunch of strangers. "Uh, that's great and all, but... I kinda have an idea."

There was a beat of silence on the other end. "Go on."

"Well, it's just... I think I'd work better with people I already know," Naruto explained. "Y'know, like a crew I'm comfortable with. People I trust."

Hiashi didn't respond immediately. Naruto could almost hear the gears turning in the man's head.

Naruto, sensing hesitation, jumped in before Hiashi could shut it down. "I mean, don't get me wrong! I know you've got your own team and they're probably amazing, but if I'm gonna win—and I will win—I need to be with people who get me. It's a... a chemistry thing!"

"Chemistry," Hiashi repeated, his tone unreadable.

"Yeah!" Naruto said, nodding even though Hiashi couldn't see him. "Like, when you've worked with someone long enough, you just click. That's what I need to be at my best."

Another pause. Naruto could feel his heart thumping in his chest as he waited for Hiashi's response.

Finally, Hiashi spoke. "You're certain that you can assemble a team capable of supporting you through the tournament?"

Naruto sat up straight, seizing his chance. "Absolutely! I know just the right people. Trust me, Hiashi-san, I wouldn't ask if I wasn't sure."

Hiashi sighed lightly, though it wasn't an annoyed sigh. It was more of a "this kid might actually have a point" kind of sigh.

"Very well," Hiashi said at last. "I will allow you to put together your own team. However, I expect results, Naruto. I am not investing in this venture lightly."

Naruto grinned ear to ear. "You won't regret it! I promise I'll deliver!"

"And about the car," Hiashi added. "I trust you'll be selecting something suitable for the next stage?"

Naruto hesitated. He knew what Hiashi meant. Fancy, sleek, new—cars that screamed 'money' and 'prestige'. But, well...

"Actually... I'd really like to stick with the Chevelle," Naruto said.

There was another long pause.

"The Chevelle," Hiashi repeated, this time with a distinct note of confusion.

"Yeah!" Naruto said, his enthusiasm unshaken. "I mean, I really like that car. It's got character, y'know?."

"You prefer that car?" Hiashi asked, sounding genuinely baffled.

"Yep!" Naruto said, nodding vigorously again. "It's got this... old-school charm. Plus, it kinda feels like it's already lucky for me, considering how I qualified."

"I see..." Hiashi's voice trailed off as if he were trying to process the absurdity of Naruto's preference. "Very well. The Chevelle it is."

Naruto pumped his fist in the air. "Yes! Thanks, Hiashi-san, you're the best! I'll make sure that car wins the next stage!"

"I look forward to seeing that," Hiashi said dryly. "I will contact you soon regarding any further preparations. Until then, focus on assembling your team."

"You got it! I'll get right on that!" Naruto said, his excitement overflowing.

"Goodbye, Naruto," Hiashi said, and the call ended with a click.

Naruto stared at his phone for a moment, still grinning like an idiot. He'd done it. He actually convinced Hiashi Hyuuga to sponsor him, let him drive the Chevelle, and even got permission to form his own team.

"This is gonna be awesome," Naruto muttered to himself, already thinking about who he'd recruit for his crew.

He stood up, his mind racing with possibilities. The tournament was fast approaching, but with Hiashi's backing and his own team, Naruto felt more confident than ever.

It was time to show everyone what he—and his car—could do.