Searching for Xiaojin

"Xiaojin, where did you run off to? Don't tell me someone really caught you and cooked you?"

Hyuga Gen couldn't help frowning at the thought.

He and Natsu had searched nearly all of Konoha, even the Uchiha Clan Compound. He had also asked Hyuga Natsu to look there.

They still hadn't found Xiaojin. As for why Hyuga Gen had sent Hyuga Natsu to the Uchiha Clan Compound instead of going himself, it was simply because he was afraid he'd be turned away.

The Hyuga and Uchiha clans had never gotten along, but surely they wouldn't make things difficult for a little girl. Besides, who could possibly turn down adorable Natsu?

"Brother Gen, do you think Xiaojin might have run out of Konoha?"

"It probably hasn't left Konoha."

He had taken Xiaojin on a tour before and told it not to leave Konoha under any circumstances.

He had even threatened to pluck all its feathers if he caught it outside the village, giving it quite a scare.

"It probably hasn't. I'll look over there. That's the only place left."

As he spoke, Hyuga Gen looked west. It was the only place they hadn't searched.

The Trial Grounds was one of Konoha's forbidden areas. It had been preserved as a primeval forest, filled with large beasts and traps. Its name made its purpose clear: it was a place for training. People weren't normally allowed inside.

It was usually opened for exams, especially the Chunin Ninja Exams. Without the strength of a Chunin, crossing the Trial Grounds was extremely difficult, and even ordinary Chunin wouldn't venture in lightly.

In Shippuden, Uchiha Itachi had crossed the Trial Grounds alone during the Chunin Ninja Exams, astonishing countless people and raising his reputation as a genius to new heights. That showed just how dangerous the Trial Grounds was.

Hyuga Gen had already guessed that Xiaojin might have run into trouble. Otherwise, it wouldn't have stayed away from home for so long. Before, whenever it went out to play, it would show its face again after about three days.

Though Hyuga Gen was always calling it a stupid bird, he knew it wasn't stupid at all. In fact, it was the smartest "pet" he'd ever seen. But perhaps that was common in this world. After all, most summoning beasts could speak.

Although they hadn't signed a Summoning Contract yet, Hyuga Gen had long since considered Xiaojin his summoning beast. He had hatched the little thing himself, and treated it like his own son.

Of course, he could only get away with that because Xiaojin couldn't talk yet. If it could, it would surely complain: "Who treats his own son like that? Yeah, right. You little brat are nothing but trouble."

Before signing a Summoning Contract, it seemed that a creature couldn't be called a summoning beast. Without being summoned, it was difficult for it to communicate with humans because of the language barrier. After signing a contract, it could usually learn human speech and communicate.

"Should we ask the adults to help us look? It's too dangerous in there."

Hyuga Natsu knew what kind of place it was. Almost everyone in Konoha did, especially children, who were often warned about it.

"Let's go check around the outskirts first. If we really can't find it, we'll have to ask Grandpa and the others for help."

Hyuga Gen didn't like troubling other people. If he could handle something himself, he would, and he didn't want to ask others unless necessary. So he wanted to check the area first.

Hyuga Kamen had left early that morning. He was busy too. Border skirmishes were constant at this time, and ever since the Third Hokage had died the previous year, the various factions had grown increasingly restless. Most of the ninja were away on missions.

Before long, Hyuga Gen reached the outskirts of the Trial Grounds. He and Natsu searched the area, but came up empty-handed.

"Natsu, I'm going to climb up and see if I can spot Xiaojin. Wait here. Don't worry, I won't go inside."

"Brother Gen, be careful, okay? Make sure you don't climb over," Hyuga Natsu reminded him again.

With that, Hyuga Gen began climbing. Before long, he had reached a high spot and started looking around.

Since he was already here, he might as well take a look. He was curious about what was inside. Maybe he'd get lucky and spot Xiaojin.

As soon as he got up there, he was stunned. As far as he could see, there were only trees. The rest of the landscape was obscured by them; he couldn't see a thing.

A treeless strip about ten meters wide ran along the fence. Clearly, the trees near the fence had been cleared away.

Beyond that ten-meter strip, the forest was dense and lush, with plenty of trees as wide as millstones. But that wasn't what Hyuga Gen wanted to see.

Looks like I'll have to ask Grandpa and the others to help. Putting out a mission might be a good idea too, Hyuga Gen thought.

He just didn't know whether they'd be in time. If something had happened to Xiaojin, the longer they waited, the more dangerous it would be. He'd threatened it not to leave Konoha, but maybe it had done something stupid on a whim.

"Hmm? Is something moving over there?"

Just then, Hyuga Gen thought he heard the cry of a beast. A thought occurred to him, and he wanted to see what was happening.

Forget it. I'll take a look first. Since I've climbed up here, I might as well have a good look around. Maybe I'll find a clue.

As he thought this, Hyuga Gen freed one hand, pressed his index and middle fingers together in front of his chest, and slowly closed his eyes.

"Byakugan, activate!"

When Hyuga Gen opened his eyes again, his Byakugan was active. He looked in the direction the sound had come from.

Two hundred meters, four hundred, eight hundred. At last, Hyuga Gen saw them: two beasts facing off. One seemed to be a wild boar, the other a giant snake.

Hyuga Gen was relieved. At least they were less than a kilometer away. His Byakugan could currently see about a kilometer at most; any farther and he couldn't make them out.

"Hmm? Could that be Xiaojin?"

Hyuga Gen peered closely. The creature caught in a net and dangling from a tree branch—who else could it be but Xiaojin? It seemed to be injured, and it wasn't moving.

Just then, the snake and the boar started fighting. Were they fighting over Xiaojin? Hyuga Gen wondered.

There was no time to think about that. Xiaojin seemed to be in trouble. Hyuga Gen made up his mind: he would sneak over and rescue it.

"Natsu, I found Xiaojin. It looks injured. I'm going to get it out. Stay here, and don't come inside no matter what. I'll bring Xiaojin back out soon."

Without another word, Hyuga Gen jumped down.

Hyuga Natsu was dumbfounded. He'd promised not to climb over, and now he was doing this?

"Brother Gen, come back! It's dangerous in there!"

Watching Hyuga Gen's figure disappear through the gap, Hyuga Natsu shouted anxiously.

Hyuga Gen seemed not to hear her. He plunged straight into the forest.

It wasn't very far. If he picked the right moment and secretly rescued Xiaojin, he'd have a good chance of getting away unnoticed. Even if he was spotted, the distance was less than a kilometer, so escaping shouldn't be too hard.

The beasts were already fighting, their attention elsewhere. He had a good chance of sneaking Xiaojin away. If they both ended up badly injured, even better.

Most importantly, Hyuga Gen could see that Xiaojin was barely alive. He felt he couldn't wait any longer.

He knew Xiaojin too well. If it wasn't flying, moving, or hopping around, was it really Xiaojin? It was strong-willed and loved to play; it could never sit still.

But Hyuga Gen had just seen Xiaojin lying completely motionless. He knew it was in grave danger. It might even be dead already.

Hyuga Gen didn't want to think about that. He just wanted to get there as quickly as possible.