Chapter 078

Great Racers Cast Long Shadows (最強軍団の影, Saikyō Gundan no Kage, "Shadow of the strongest army") is the seventy-eighth chapter of Initial D.

Plot
Itsuki doesn't know what Kenji and Iketani are talking about. They explain Takumi got passed by an Evo IV, but Itsuki says he didn't see anything.

At the Takahashi Mansion, Tsugumi is sent by Ryosuke to wake Keisuke up. Keisuke is confused as to why Ryosuke needs him, but then remembers the camcorder in Kenta's car. Ryosuke and Keisuke watch the footage of the Eight-Six, and Ryosuke is impressed by Takumi's skill in the rain. Tsugumi makes fun of Keisuke's hair, before offering to get coffee for the pair. Ryosuke tells Keisuke that he'd be happy to have Takumi on his team. Keisuke asks to rewind the tape, but Ryosuke tells him that there's more to see. An Evo IV can be seen passing Kenta, which annoys Keisuke as he had interrupted the race. Ryosuke tells him that he knows who they are, and that they aren't from Gunma.

On Akina, Itsuki asks Takumi about the Evo IV, and he tells him that it passed him because the driver was better than he was. Takumi compliments Itsuki's driving, noting an improvement. Itsuki tells him that he intends to get a bolt-on turbo, and that he'll be able to keep up with Kenji and Iketani.

Further down the mountain, the Evo IV approaches.

Japan

 * March 10th 1997 (Weekly Young Magazine, 1997 Volume 12)
 * September 5th 1997 (Tankōbon, Volume 08)

Chinese

 * August 1st 1998 (Tankōbon, Volume 08, Sharp Point Press)

English

 * October 7th 2003 (Tankōbon, Volume 08, Tokyopop)
 * April 17th 2019 (Digital re-release, Volume 07, Kodansha USA)

French

 * April 22nd 2010 (Tankōbon, Volume 08, Kazé)

Italian

 * August 29th 2023 (Tankōbon 2-in-1, Volume 04, J-Pop)

Characters (in order of appearance)

 * Itsuki Takeuchi
 * Koichiro Iketani
 * Kenji
 * Tsugumi
 * Keisuke Takahashi
 * Ryosuke Takahashi
 * Takumi Fujiwara

Cars (in order of appearance)

 * Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV RS (CN9A)
 * Toyota Corolla Levin SR (AE85)