Led by Uchiha Flame, a group of young Uchiha were actively preparing for a lunchtime picnic. Some went into the nearby woods to gather dry branches, collecting materials for the upcoming barbecue. Others spread out camping cloths, arranging the pre-prepared food from home neatly. Someone even organized wildflowers picked from the hillside, placing them in the center of the cloth to add a touch of wild charm.
Suddenly, a miserable howl echoed from the forest, startling the birds and shattering the tranquility.
"It seems like Toshiro and the others ran into a big one! Are they alright?" Uchiha Asahi anxiously glanced toward the forest and then asked Uchiha Flame beside her.
"Don't worry! It's fine, Asahi..." Uchiha Flame waved dismissively without even lifting his head, showing no sign of concern.
"Are you sure? It doesn't sound good..." seeing her friend's nonchalant attitude. Uchiha Asahi grew even more anxious, putting down the desserts she was arranging. She looked towards the distant forest and explained to her friend, "Don't worry, Asahi. There's a real ninja with them. They won't be in any danger."
"Huh! Is someone from the clan with them?" After a brief pause, Uchiha Asahi quickly understood.
"We're going camping with so many people; the clan will always send one or two adults to watch over us. Besides, while the forest around here isn't very dangerous, sometimes there are wild animals that roam in. The adults also worry about us getting lost or running into other dangers..."
Comforted by Uchiha Flame's explanation, Uchiha Asahi felt it made sense and returned to her tasks with a relieved heart.
At this moment, sunlight filtered through the leaves into the forest, illuminating Uchiha Toshiro. He shouted loudly, clutching a small short sword, lost in a strange excitement.
"The secret technique of Konoha Taijutsu— Millennium Kill!!!"
The forest fell into an awkward silence ⊙﹏⊙|||.
A shrill cry broke the tension, allowing everyone to exhale the breath they had been holding for so long.
Having completed the "absolute kill," Uchiha Toshiro felt a sense of relaxed satisfaction as if his soul had been elevated.
"Flame! You're so pathetic! Less than a kilometer, and you're exhausted, unable even to sit steadily. And Longhuo, did you actually scare yourself?"
"No way!"
Uchiha Longhuo, blushing, almost lost his cool in shock and barely managed to hold back. He felt something warm slip out, quickly jumping up and hiding behind a tree, causing Uchiha Toshiro to laugh heartily.
At this moment, everyone, whether on the trees or on the ground, gathered around Toshiro, staring wide-eyed at the fatal blow on the poor wild boar. The kids, only six or seven years old, didn't fully understand the deeper meaning.
But Toshiro's bold move nonetheless left a deep impression of the term "weakness," temporarily short-circuiting their limited minds, leaving them without words to describe the scene.
"Who's there?" Uchiha Toshiro looked toward the tree where Uchiha Yukito had been hiding.
No response. He shifted angles, carefully scanning the area.
Finding nothing, Toshiro thought it must've been his imagination.
"Almost exposed by those little brats..." in the treetop of another tree, a young man around twenty in Konoha Police uniform sighed in relief. He had nearly been discovered due to a brief slip in concealing his presence. This kid's senses were sharp!
Watching the scene below, the young man's mouth twitched. Hearing the excited shout, he had expected some secret technique and even activated his Sharingan, only to be somewhat disappointed.
This young man, overseeing their safety, was a member of the Konoha police. With such a large group heading to a slightly dangerous spot like Naka River near the village, the Uchiha clan always assigned someone for safety.
"Alright, stop staring! Start cleaning up. Yukito and Mamoru, go back and collect any lost shuriken or kunai. Longhuo, help me with this wild boar, bleed it, and then we'll check the traps for any catches before dismantling them."
After delegating tasks, Toshiro crouched and pulled his short sword from the dead wild boar, making a cut on its neck to bleed it.
Though large wild animals were rare near Konoha, it was best to leave quickly after spilling blood. The world of Naruto had many bizarre and giant creatures, and Toshiro wanted to avoid any accidents.
Before long, the kids regrouped, redistributing the collected shuriken and kunai. Seeing the two wild chickens and one rabbit they caught in traps, Toshiro felt a sense of wonder. Wildlife was indeed plentiful; it had only been about an hour, and they already had such a harvest.
(Chapter ends)