"Here, Torikaze, see if this one will do."
Mamiko had specifically picked out a hen she had raised for several years. It had hatched several broods of chicks and was very experienced at incubating eggs.
Torikaze was not picky. After all, he did not understand this stuff either. As long as it could hatch the egg, that was enough.
After thanking Mamiko with the hen in hand, he went home.
Once he reached the clan grounds, Torikaze found an empty room, spread some straw on the floor, and placed the Crane Egg on top.
Then he tossed the chicken inside as well.
The old hen was suddenly in a new environment and was still somewhat uneasy, clucking nonstop around the room.
Torikaze simply ignored it and turned to leave.
The Crane Egg's shell was extremely tough. It would not break even if it fell from a table, so there was no need to worry about the hen pecking it open and eating it.
After being busy for so long, the lunch Torikaze had bought on the way had already gone cold. Too lazy to go out and buy another, he could only make do with it.
A week later, it was time to set out on the mission.
Before leaving, Torikaze checked on the Crane Egg, but it was still unchanged from a week ago.
Perhaps there would be a surprise waiting for him when he returned from this mission.
Torikaze arrived at the Hokage Office just as Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others were coming out.
Hiruzen was still complaining about something to the middle-aged ninja beside him.
Torikaze guessed that this was Sarutobi Sasuke, the current head of the Sarutobi Clan and an exceptionally powerful ninja.
For this Tailed Beast capture operation, the Sarutobi Clan had dispatched a large