The Mutated Wild Boar

The giant wild boar was less than a few meters away from Kurenai.

She stood rooted to the spot, clearly smelling the animal's strong, rank stench.

At that crucial moment, the boar suddenly stumbled. Its forelegs lifted high into the air, but it couldn't take another step.

Still shaken, Kurenai looked up to see Kushina standing behind the boar. She had appeared there without anyone noticing.

She was holding its thick tail with one hand, a relaxed smile on her face.

"Sensei..." Kurenai murmured. Her legs gave way, and she nearly collapsed to the ground.

Amada seized the opportunity and swiftly formed Hand Seals.

"Illusion Technique: Fox in the Mirror!"

An invisible wave of chakra spread out. The boar's bloodshot eyes suddenly lost focus.

Its massive body swayed a few times before crashing to the ground, sending up a cloud of dust.

Only then did Kurenai come to her senses. She stared at Amada in disbelief.

"Your... your Illusion Technique can actually affect such a huge beast?"

Amada gave her a gentle smile.

"It's only natural for an Uchiha to know a little Illusion Technique, isn't it?"

"Hmph!"

Asuma clutched his injured arm and turned his head away, looking unconvinced.

"If I hadn't worn it out..."

"All right, all right."

Kushina walked over and ruffled Asuma's spiky hair.

"Let this be a lesson. Don't be so reckless next time."

She turned to Kurenai.

"Take care of Asuma's wound first."

Kurenai hurriedly took medical supplies from her ninja tool pouch and carefully cleaned Asuma's wound.

Her fingers trembled slightly. She clearly hadn't recovered from the shock.

"Ah—go easy!"

Asuma grimaced and cried out.

"S-sorry..."

Kurenai quickly apologized, her eyes reddening.

Amada noticed Kushina studying him with a meaningful look. It reminded him of the elders in his clan, who wore the same expression whenever they spoke of the Uchiha Clan's glory.

"Amada,"

Kushina said suddenly.

"Your Illusion Technique was very precise, and your timing was excellent."

She paused and smiled.

"But next time, when you show off in front of your teammates, remember to leave them a little dignity."

Amada was taken aback, then smiled knowingly.

"Yes, Sensei."

Asuma's face flushed bright red when he heard that.

"Sensei! I don't need him to go easy on me!"

Kushina burst out laughing and patted Asuma on the shoulder.

"All right, the mission's complete. We should head back. I'll treat you to Ichiraku Ramen tonight to celebrate your first successful C-rank mission."

When the villagers heard that the giant wild boar had been subdued, they flocked to the entrance of the village.

An elderly man with snow-white hair leaned on his cane and tottered forward.

"Thank you so much!"

He said excitedly,

"This monster has plagued our village for a whole month. It destroyed countless crops and injured several villagers."

He gestured behind him, and a few villagers immediately brought over a basket of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Kushina hurriedly waved her hands.

"It was our duty. You don't need to give us these gifts..."

"Please, you must accept them!" the old man insisted.

"It's a small token of appreciation from everyone in our village."

Amada noticed Kushina's ears turning slightly red under the villagers' grateful gazes.

She accepted their thanks awkwardly, entirely unlike the imposing figure who had just subdued the boar.

Just then, Amada's gaze swept over the woods in the distance.

In the glow of the setting sun, the woods seemed especially quiet.

For some reason, though, he couldn't shake the feeling that something unusual was hidden there.

"Sensei,"

He walked over to Kushina and lowered his voice.

"These woods aren't very large. They shouldn't be able to support a wild boar this huge. Either it migrated here from somewhere else, or..."

He paused, his expression growing grave.

"There may be something in these woods that caused it to mutate."

Kushina was talking to a woman holding a baby. She froze when she heard him.

"Huh? What mutation?"

Amada gave her a helpless look.

"Sensei, don't tell me you never considered that possibility?"

Kushina's face turned bright red.

"H-how could I not have?"

She straightened her back and tried to put on a stern expression.

"I'd already thought of it! I'm a Jonin, after all! How could something so minor slip past me?"

Amada struggled to hold back a laugh.

"Then do you think we should report this to the village and have someone investigate?"

"Of... of course!"

Kushina hurriedly fixed her hair.

"That's exactly what I was about to say!"

She turned and called to Asuma and Kurenai, who were still chatting with the villagers.

"You two, stop stuffing yourselves with fruit. We're heading back!"

On the way back to the village, Kushina walked at the front, much faster than usual.

Kurenai whispered to Amada,

"What's wrong with Sensei? She seems to be in a hurry."

Amada looked at Kushina's back, a trace of amusement in his eyes.

"Maybe she's eager to get back and write the mission report."

Asuma, bringing up the rear, curled his lip.

"Yeah, right. I think she forgot about investigating the woods and is hurrying back to catch up on her homework."

"Asuma!"

Kushina spun around and put her hands on her hips.

"Are you badmouthing me again?"

"N-no!"

Asuma hurriedly denied it, but his sudden movement pulled at his wound. He grimaced in pain.

Kurenai couldn't help laughing.

When Amada looked back at the woods again, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye.

In a dim underground laboratory, eerie green light cast strange shadows across the specimen jars.

Orochimaru was focused on the cell samples beneath his microscope, his pale fingers gently turning the adjustment knob.

Suddenly, a masked ninja appeared silently at the laboratory entrance.

"Lord Orochimaru, the wild boar test subject that escaped a month ago was captured by several Konoha Ninja."

Orochimaru didn't even look up. He continued adjusting the microscope.

"Oh? Which squad?"

"It was a rookie squad led by Kushina. Its members were Uchiha Amada, Sarutobi Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi."

"Should we send someone to take care of it?"

"No need," Orochimaru said with a sinister smile.

"That test subject has already served its purpose. We have all the data we need."

Meanwhile, in Konoha Village's research department,

"So this is the mutated wild boar you captured?"

A researcher wearing round glasses carefully examined the bound giant boar.

"Its size is certainly abnormal, and its hide is much tougher than that of an ordinary wild boar..."

"All right, the mission has been handed over."

Kushina clapped her hands.

"You can all go. Remember, eight tomorrow morning, same place."

When they left the research department, the sunset had already stained half the sky red.

A smile crept onto Amada's lips.

He'd get to do another green ten-pull tonight. He could draw five times.