Upon hearing some sounds, the boar raised its head, went on guard, and rattled its two formidable tusks. A metallic clang echoed through the air, surprisingly only three of the four kunai that had been launched at it were embedded in its tough hide.
"Thup! Thup! Thup!"
This time, the kunai's release was well-coordinated, with the three projectiles nearly hitting simultaneously, yet the outcome was less than satisfactory.
One kunai grazed its forehead, another struck its back, and the third landed on its forelimb. Unfortunately, they were unable to penetrate more than a centimeter of the boar's skin due to the mud, thick mane, and pine resin coating it.
"Hmph!" The wild boar shook its body, easily dislodging the kunai embedded in its flesh. It looked at the odd group of creatures looking at it. The boar looked somewhat bewildered and slowly turning to annoyed.
Despite its sluggish response, the recent attack had merely been an annoyance, causing little pain. As it resumed its focus on the anticipated feast, it was rudely interrupted once more.
"Use shuriken! Aim for its eyes!" Toshiro shouted, gripping four shuriken in each hand to initiate another wave of assault. Recognizing that the kunai thrown by their youthful adversaries posed minimal threat to the boar, Toshiro swiftly adjusted his strategy.
The sound of the shuriken slicing through the air roused the boar from its scavenging, prompting it to instinctively lower its head and utilize its tough skull and thick armor to fend off the sudden assault.
Unlike the heavier kunai, Toshiro could launch multiple lightweight shuriken at once.
The boar emitted a grating shriek as its left eye was lacerated.
It was unclear who had thrown the shuriken, spinning at high velocity to trace a delicate arc. Passing perilously close to its eyes, the protruding spikes pierced its delicate eyelids, causing injury.
Reacting to the sudden pain, the boar emitted its distinctive roar and vigorously shook its head in an attempt to alleviate the pain. Simultaneously, its right eye reddened, plunging it into a state of fury.
Ding! Ding! Ding, Ding!
As the boar's eyes reddened from agony, it trampled over the fallen kunai and shuriken littering the ground, charging toward Toshiro.
"Stick to the plan!"
In a heartbeat, the four remaining kids dispersed, with one leading from the front and another drawing the boar's attention. The remaining two positioned themselves on either side of the boar, preventing its escape from their blind spot.
In an instant, the four remaining members dispersed, with one leading from the front and another drawing the boar's attention. The remaining two positioned themselves behind the boar's flank, ensuring it couldn't escape through its blind spot.
As they trailed the berserk boar, Yasuo, acting as a decoy for the first time, couldn't help but feel a bit anxious. However, the careful planning orchestrated by his companions seemed to bolster his confidence, and despite some imperfections, he successfully fulfilled his role as bait.
"It seems like he's a bit on edge, isn't he? not like it's his first hunt with us..." remarked our protagonist, trailing leisurely behind the boar. Observing Yasuo's somewhat awkward movements as he fled ahead, he commented casually.
Toshiro didn't rush to take on the boar single-handedly during the hunt. He believed in proper preparation before undertaking such tasks. Handling a mere wild boar was manageable for now, even if it resulted in minor injuries. He felt that it would be good practice to his friends for future battles, where injuries might be more severe.
Meanwhile, Yasuo, acting as bait, alternated between running and making provocative gestures toward the boar while slowing down. At times, he would draw his shuriken to launch another attack. However, his accuracy with the shuriken left much to be desired, with one shot even grazing Toshiro's shoulder and harmlessly sailing past.
"Watch out!!!"
"Yasuo seems like he's about to wet himself from fear."
"Be careful not to get hit by his shuriken!" cautioned the friend beside him, adding a complaint about Yasuo's awkward performance.
With the distance rapidly closing, Mamoru Uchiha, leading the group, abruptly turned back to join Yasuo, whispering something in his ear as they ran. Meanwhile, further ahead, Ryo and his companion, the newcomers to the hunt, had been waiting for some time.
Unlike Ryo's impatience, Yukito Uchiha, a year older and already a first-year student at the ninja school, remained composed. Observing Ryo's anxiety, Yukito reminded him to stay calm and find a safe hiding spot without disturbing the prey.
"It's finally happening!" exclaimed Ryo looking at the boar approaching from a distance, already brimming with excitement.
"Calm down! you idiot. Our priority is to find a safe hiding spot without startling the prey." advised Yukito, his calm demeanor contrasting with Ryo's eagerness. Reflecting on their differences, Yukito couldn't help but think, "Not everyone handles things as maturely as Toshiro."
It seemed the notion of calmness was a trait often associated with Toshiro.
He gave Ryo a reassuring pat on the shoulder before gesturing toward the tall tree beside them. Squatting slightly, he pushed off the ground with force and sprinted, and within three swift steps, he ascended to a branch about five meters above the ground.
Not to be outdone, Ryo followed suit, leaping up to the tree. Behind the dense foliage, he concealed himself skillfully, quietly observing their surroundings.
These were the fruits of Toshiro's subtle guidance over the past two years. The game "Werewolf Kill" had proved to be an effective mental exercise, making it increasingly challenging for the adults in the Uchiha family to deceive their children.
Moreover, activities like hunting, novel to children of six or seven, had greatly heightened their enthusiasm for training. Basic skills, such as tree climbing, became the minimum requirement, motivating them to push themselves further. Additionally, training in shuriken and kunai throwing, trap setting, gesture codes, and simple teamwork honed their fundamental ninja abilities.
Toshiro had foreseen the importance of such training, especially considering the tumultuous events like the Third Ninja World War and the Nine-Tails attack.
By the time of those perilous events, his peers would have reached their early twenties—the prime age for a ninja to transition from youth to maturity.
I'm not sure if it's a blessing or a curse.
Through the leafy canopy, distant figures slowly came into view, gradually shifting from indistinct shapes to clear forms.
Meanwhile, Yasuo, leading the charge, was already panting heavily, drenched in sweat, his face drained of color from nerves.
Before him lay a narrow forest trail, seldom traversed. In the midst of the path lay a concealed patch covered with dead branches and leaves—his intended destination.
Wheeling around, he hurled the final shuriken from his ninja pouch at the charging boar, prompting another howl as it launched into a fresh onslaught.
Gathering his strength, he leaped high, clearing the trap intentionally set to alert him without excessive disguise. Despite his nervousness causing a stumble upon landing, his awkward gait proved inconsequential at that moment.
For a resounding "boom" echoed behind him—the unmistakable sound of the prey ensnared in the trap. Soon followed the boar's anguished cry—a rectangular pit strategically prepared by Yukito and Ryo.
The trap was rudimentary at best, a simple pit no deeper than sixty or seventy centimeters. At its base lay several kunai with blades pointed upwards, securely fastened to sturdy branches. These branches were then inserted into the pit's base until the kunai's rings touched the ground.
Fueled by rage, the prey, upon stepping into the trap, unleashed a true "animalistic cry"—a combination of its high-speed sprint, its weight, and the soft belly exposed to the kunai due to the trap. It seemed like today marked the end of its journey.
"At last, success!" Recalling his companion's reminder, he summoned the last vestiges of his strength and darted towards a tree adjacent to the one Ryo was in. Gasping for breath, his heart pounded in his chest.
With his stamina typically sufficient for a distance of eight or nine hundred meters, the first-time decoy's anxiety about being pursued by the beast had triggered a rapid adrenaline rush, depleting his physical reserves at an accelerated rate. Despite the relatively short sprint, he already felt a sense of exhaustion.
"Haha, it's my turn at last!" Ryo, unable to contain his excitement, leaped down from the tree.
"Oops!" x2
"Idiot!" x2
"fool!"
These were the cries of Ryo's companions, their voices echoing their frustration at his recklessness. Though their words varied, their sentiment remained the same...
The crude trap failed to ensnare the boar completely, and its fear of severe injury propelled it with greater force than usual, enabling it to leap out of the trap. Driven by both injury and fear, it charged headlong towards the unexpected presence, unleashing its final burst of life.
Ryo the idiot, having just descended from the tree and leisurely approached the trap, was startled by the sudden turn of events. He had thought the situation was under control, but as he watched the wild boar hurtle towards him with a desperate aura, his limbs went weak, rendering him unable to evade the impending collision.
In an instant, a figure materialized beside him, delivering a swift kick that sent him flying two or three meters.
"Saved!"x2
"I can finally breathe!"
Though jolted by the impact, Ryo felt a surge of relief, knowing he had been rescued. Meanwhile, Toshiro, who had executed the rescue, had little time to dwell on the situation.
Confronted with the approaching wild boar, he turned and sprinted. Channeling chakra into his feet, he ran up the same tree Ryo had just leaped from. With a powerful push, he executed a somersault, maneuvering swiftly above the boar.
The boar, disoriented and panicked after losing its target, surged forward uncontrollably, unable to halt its momentum, crashing into the nearby tree with a resounding thud!
In that moment, Toshiro drew the 2-foot sword he had carried since the start of the outing.
"Konoha style : …."
AN : You can read chapters published ahead on my p@treon account - p@treon.com/noviceauthor777