Fire Province.
Imperial Palace, conference hall.
A month later.
Chiba once again convened the imperial council.
Dozens of the empire's core backbone members sat on both sides of the conference table.
The giant screens on the walls flickered incessantly.
The latest communication devices developed by Orochimaru projected the images of the four provincial governors in mid-air in real time.
The images were exceptionally clear.
Even the fine wrinkles at the corners of Rasa's eyes could be seen with absolute clarity.
"Your Majesty."
"This subordinate will first report the situation in Fire Province."
Shikaku Nara was the first to stand up.
He held a thick stack of documents in his hands, a trace of solemnity showing on his face.
The next moment.
Shikaku transmitted a video file to the big screen.
On the screen.
A giant wild boar, its size comparable to a small hill, opened its bloody maw wide.
A monstrous torrent of flames spewed forth, and dozens of ancient trees in the vicinity instantly turned to ashes.
"This is an ordinary wild boar that originally lived in the northern forests."
"After the surge of natural energy."
"This type of beast underwent terrifying mutations."
"They greedily devoured the energy in the air, their size and destructive power increasing at a geometric rate."
"The strongest one discovered so far has a combat power approaching that of a Kage Level powerhouse."
As Shikaku's voice trailed off.
The entire conference hall fell into dead silence.
An ordinary wild beast comparable to the Kage Level?
A few years ago, this kind of thing would have been sheer fantasy.
"What is the response plan?"
Chiba leaned back in his wide chair, his fingers tapping gently on the tabletop.
"The Anbu have already deployed in full force."
"Through screening..."
"The mutated beasts with docile temperaments have