Chapter 15: The Hunt.

800 meters away from where Uchiha Tōshirō set up the traps.

Uchiha Tōshirō and his companions were hiding behind a large tree, cautiously peering out and observing a beast in the forest.

After setting up the traps, Tōshirō and his group of six divided into three teams and began their search in the forest.

Not long ago, Uchiha En and Uchiha Mamoru discovered this wild boar. Realizing their strength was insufficient to handle it alone, they quickly found the other two groups, leading to the current situation.

Peering through the gaps in the foliage, Tōshirō silently calculated. The wild boar was quite large, estimated to weigh over 300 pounds, covered in thick bristles and a layer of mud. 

The faint amber glow visible on its surface indicated the presence of resin scraped from trees, forming a thick armor encasing its entire body.

The boar's two massive tusks looked very menacing. Throwing kunai or shuriken would hardly inflict significant damage. Its weak points were likely the belly, the eyes, and that one other place.

After making some mental calculations, Tōshirō made a hand signal to his companions. Once they responded, he waved his hand to signal the start of their action.

Hand signals and codes are usually learned slowly after attending the ninja academy. However, to better enjoy their games—particularly "Werewolf"—young clan members secretly obtained the academy's textbooks and studied them. During their games, those acting as werewolves used these to communicate secretly, preventing detection by their chakra-enhanced senses.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

The whooshing sound of kunai cutting through the air shattered the forest's tranquility.

At that moment, the wild boar, the prey, had its head down, rooting around a tree root with its snout. The slender tail waved cheerfully, indicating its delight at the prospect of soon uprooting some tasty treat, completely unaware of the impending danger.

Hearing the disturbance, the boar lifted its head, shaking its enormous tusks. The sound of metal clashing rang out, leaving only three of the four kunai still on course.

"Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!"

The kunai landed almost simultaneously, but their effect was minimal.

One kunai struck the boar's head, another hit its back, and the third grazed a forelimb. However, the mud, bristles, and resin coating the boar's skin prevented deep penetration, leaving the kunai embedded less than an inch.

"Snort! Snort!"

The boar shook its body, easily dislodging the kunai. It looked puzzled and somewhat irate at the strange creatures opposite it. Though the attack did little harm, it spoiled its good mood right before a feast.

"Use shuriken and aim for its eyes!" Tōshirō shouted, leading the charge with four shuriken in each hand.

The sound of shuriken spinning through the air startled the boar, which instinctively lowered its head to protect itself with its thick-skinned forehead and the armor-like covering.

Unlike the heavier kunai, the lightweight shuriken allowed even the younger kids at Tōshirō's age to throw multiple at once.

With a guttural roar, the boar screamed as its left eye was slashed open.

A shuriken, launched by someone, deftly arced through the air and skimmed past its eye, the protruding spikes tearing through its thin eyelid and injuring the eyeball.

The boar screamed its characteristic cry, shaking its head violently to rid itself of the sudden pain. Its right eye turned bloodshot with rage.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Enraged by the pain, the boar trampled over the fallen kunai and shuriken, charging towards Tōshirō and his team.

"Act according to the plan!"

Instantly, the four remaining there dispersed. One led the way, another drew the boar's attention from the front, and the remaining two positioned themselves at the boar's side and rear, ready to intercept it in its blind spots.

Being chased by a frenzied wild boar for the first time, En felt a bit apprehensive. Yet the well-devised plan gave him a measure of reassurance, enabling him to perform his role as bait more convincingly, if not perfectly.

"Is this guy too nervous? He's not new to hunting with us…" Tōshirō, unhurriedly trailing the boar, thought as he watched the somewhat awkward movements of the fleeing En ahead of him.

Tōshirō didn't claim any particular desire to serve as bait. He viewed it as a necessary exercise. Confronting merely a wild boar was within their capability; injuries wouldn't be severe. However, on a real battlefield, injuries could be the least of their concerns.

As time passed, the trailing boar occasionally slowed or glanced back.

At those moments, En had to either stop or slow down, constantly provoking the boar with taunts or another burst of shuriken.

En's aim was pitiably bad; one even brushed past Tōshirō's shoulder.

"Be careful! En's so scared he might wet himself. His limbs are shaky—don't get hit by his shuriken!" Tōshirō cautioned his companions while mocking En's poor performance.

The 800-meter distance was not far; the chase quickly bridged the gap. Ahead, leading the way, Mamoru joined En's side, whispering something in his ear as they ran.

Further ahead, Uchiha Ryūka and his companion, on their first hunt, were already waiting.

(End of Chapter)