Speed Training

Taro was waiting patiently for his father to get here. "He should have been here a half hour ago." he thought, kicking the dirt underneath his feet. "He promised that he would be here on time." he muttered. "I heard that!" a voice said. Taro whirled around, looking for the source of the sound. Taro saw nothing, until the voice said again, "Up here, son." Taro looked up, and saw his father crouching in a tree. "How long you been up there?" asked Taro, wondering when his father had gotten there. "A little bit before you came here." his father said, dropping to the ground with a slight crunch as he came down upon some twigs. "I wanted to see how long it would be before you noticed I was up there. You didn't notice at all...tsk, tsk, Taro." his father said, with a look of amusement on his face.

Taro looked at his father, waiting to get started, even though they could have started a half hour ago. "By the look on your face, your waiting for me now?" his father asked, which Taro just nodded to in response. "Alright then! Let's get started!" his father said, setting himself up next to Taro. Taro looked at his father one last time, and then set himself up for the big race.

This race was a no-holds-barred race. The only rules in this race were: no deaths, and no major injuries. (The last rule was set up by Taro's mother after a series of broken bones by both the son and father.) Taro and his father got into there starting positions, ready for a fast race. Due to a coin toss a few hours before, his father would start the countdown, and Taro would say go. Taro looked at his father, while his father looked straight ahead. "3...2...1..." his father said, finally looking at Taro. Taro then looked in front of him, and yelled, "Go!!!" They both shot off in front of themselves.

Taro attacked first off, trying to get the upper hand right off the bat. He threw a quick punch towards his father, who was able to deflect it easily. His father countered with a punch of his own. Taro put on a quick burst of speed to dodge, but Taro's father had planted himself quickly to do a clothesline kick. Taro was taken by surprise, getting himself knocked down in the process. Taro hit the ground, while his father started running again.

Taro quickly flipped onto his feet, and his feet hit the ground running so as to regain lost time. Taro ignored the pain in his chest, running quickly after his father, who was a good 10 meters in front of him. Taro knew that he would never catch up unless his father stopped, which was highly unlikely, or unless... Taro smiled, finally figuring out what to do. He put his hands together, forming the seals for the clone technique. In a puff of smoke, a clone appeared a few meters in front of him. Taro knew his father couldn't resist a good fight, so Taro told the clone to get Taro's father to notice the clone. The clone nodded, and Taro went off quickly to the dead trees that were scattered around the place. Taro started tree climbing using the Tree Climbing Technique.

As Taro did this, the clone yelled out, "Hey! Dad! You want some?!?" Taro's father looked back, smiling at the clone, oblivious to the fact that the clone was not his son. Taro meanwhile was jumping from tree to tree, so as not to be seen by his father. Taro looked down as he was jumping, watching the action. The clone put on a burst of speed, running for Taro's father. Taro's father just ran, a little slower than usual, and then, when the clone was about 1 meter away, Taro's father suddenly stopped, thrusting an elbow into the clone. Taro smiled, suddenly jumping into the lead. The clone looked at the father with a knowing expression, then dissipated in a puff of smoke. Taro's father was surprised, then turned around as Taro jumped to the ground running. "Got you!!!" Taro yelled, with a look of excitement.

Taro just ran and ran, knowing that he was going to win. He burst into an open field and saw the finish line! The old, gnarled tree next to the store! He put on one last burst of speed, and made it! He had one! Taro was ecstatic, but a little tired from the running. He decided to take a quick rest on the tree. He started to lean on the tree, but he fell over onto the ground! He got up quickly, and waved his hand through the tree! "An illusion?!?" Taro thought, then, a swift moving object rushed past him, moving about 20 meters away, and then stopping. Suddenly, Taro realized what happened, looking back at the tree that was no longer there! He whirled back to see his father at the tree, waiting for Taro. Taro yelled to his father, "You tricked me! You used your Light Release to make me think that I had won!" Taro's father just grinned at Taro, then said, "It's time to go back to work! Remember, loser has to do the dishes for three days!" His father turned around and went into the store. Taro fumed for a second, then, defeated, he headed for the store as well.
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Word Count= 905

Approved for 4 stats for speed and 9 JP