In the Forest of Death, towering ancient trees stood thicker than blades of grass. No matter where you looked, they stretched so densely that you couldn't see the end. Walking along the branch of a giant tree, Houka almost felt as if he had shrunk.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Figures darted rapidly through the area, running desperately toward the center of the Forest of Death.
Despite Orochimaru's strange rules, most of the Genin couldn't help wanting to reach the Central Tower as quickly as possible.
Houka carefully kept himself hidden, listening for nearby sounds as he slowly moved forward.
"Roar!"
A beast suddenly roared to his left, making the whole ground tremble. A huge wild boar charged over, its eyes bloodshot, heading straight for the giant tree Houka was on.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Houka formed Hand Seals and spat out a steady stream of fireballs. They traced graceful arcs through the air and landed on the wild boar.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
The wild boar's hide was thick, and this one was especially impressive. It hadn't bathed once in the decades since its birth, and layer upon layer of pitch-black grime had caked its body. The grime not only blocked the fireballs' explosions but also shielded it from the heat.
Boom!
The wild boar slammed its two tusks into the trunk, punching two huge holes through it. It twisted its head, and the towering tree toppled over.
Houka lightly leaped onto another giant tree. His eyes remained on the wild boar, but his attention was fixed on his surroundings.
I've barely come in, and I've already run into a wild boar. That's too much of a coincidence. Could someone be driving them around in secret?
With that thought in mind, Houka naturally took a steady, cautious approach. But after fighting