Flying Swallow

Early the next morning, the group was awakened by a knock at the door. After Toru and the others got dressed, they opened it to find Nara Ensui outside.

Nara Ensui carried a slab of pork in one hand and said apologetically, "Sorry, this cabin used to be mine. I don't usually eat meat, so the refrigerator is full of local vegetables from Nara."

"I was too busy yesterday and overlooked it. I'm making up for it today."

Yuhi Kurenai thanked him repeatedly and accepted the pork. Nara Ensui continued, "The six deer outside were caught by you, right? I'm here to collect their antlers. This is your payment for today."

Toru accepted the payment. Although he and Asuma had only helped catch the deer, the reward was still quite generous.

Deer antlers were extremely valuable, which naturally raised their compensation considerably as well.

Toru asked about hunting again, and Nara Ensui said, "Do you still have that map?"

Asuma went back into the cabin and dug out the map.

Nara Ensui said, "On the back of the map is a chart of the forest's farmed resources. Some of the animals listed there belong to the Nara Clan, so you can't hunt them. In other words, anything not listed is fair game."

Toru was delighted to hear that. Aside from the deer raised by the Nara Clan and other rare animals, there were plenty of wild animals in this forest.

After saying that, Nara Ensui hurried off. It seemed he still had work to do.

Kurenai put the meat in the refrigerator, then came out and said, "One of us needs to go into town today to buy a chopping board."

Asuma scratched his head and said apologetically, "Sorry, I was the one who broke it. I'll go buy one."

Toru had no objection, but added, "Buy a bow and arrows too. No, buy two sets."

Asuma understood Toru's intention and smiled. "No problem."

Asuma then went into town to buy the chopping board and bows. Meanwhile, Kurenai and Toru patrolled together. Kurenai asked, "You've been squeezing in with Asuma on the floor. Can you even sleep comfortably?"

Toru said, "It's kind of gross."

Kurenai smiled and teased, "Then why don't you just sleep in the bed with me?"

Toru answered seriously, "That could work."

Kurenai had been hoisted by her own petard. Her face turned as red as a ripe apple, and she hurriedly changed the subject. "By the way, when did you and Asuma start getting along? Weren't you two always at odds before?"

Toru explained, "There were some misunderstandings we never talked through before. Now that we have, it's fine."

Though Kurenai did not fully understand, she nodded in relief. "That's good. I was always worried that you two didn't get along."

After making several rounds, Toru and Kurenai returned to the cabin to rest for a while.

At that moment, Asuma returned with the supplies.

Asuma handed the chopping board to Kurenai, then gave Toru the two sets of bows and arrows he had been carrying.

Toru nocked an arrow and tested the bow. "They aren't particularly good bows, but they'll do."

Asuma said, "Couldn't be helped. There's only one shop in town that sells bows, so we'll have to make do."

Kurenai stayed behind in the cabin to rest, while Toru set out on patrol with Asuma again, carrying a bow and arrows and eager to try them out.

"I'll start with the basics. Hold the bow in your left hand and the arrow in your right. Set the arrow on the bow like this. Grip the end of the arrow with three fingers, with your index and middle fingers holding the shaft. Keep a firm hold on the bow with your left hand, then pull the arrow back to draw the bow."

As Toru explained, he nocked an arrow and assumed the proper stance. Asuma watched intently from the side.

Toru then took aim at a lively little rabbit in the distance.

With a sharp whoosh, the arrow flew out and struck the rabbit right in the head.

At that distance, hitting the rabbit alone would have been impressive enough, yet Toru had accurately struck its tiny head. It showed just how superb his skill was.

Asuma could not help applauding in admiration. Toru waved a hand. "It's nothing."

Asuma copied Toru's movements, drew the bow, and fired an arrow at a large tree ahead. However, he missed.

Asuma smiled awkwardly, but seeing that Toru was not mocking him, he redoubled his efforts and nocked another arrow.

This time, he took much longer to aim. Only after Asuma was sure he would not miss again did he release the arrow.

With a thud, the arrow struck the edge of the tree. It was not accurate, but it had hit the target.

Asuma lowered his bow and laughed happily.

"Not bad," Toru said. "That's pretty good accuracy for someone who just picked it up."

Asuma said, "I still need more practice. I'll try to reach your level someday."

Toru said, "Reaching my level won't be easy."

They both laughed.

Asuma put down his bow, took out his Chakra Blade, and handed it to Toru. "I promised to teach you how to use Wind-natured Chakra before. Since there's nothing much to do right now, I'll teach you."

"The defining trait of Wind-natured Chakra is that it's thin and sharp. So don't think about increasing its destructive power. You only need to refine the Chakra until it becomes as thin and sharp as possible."

"Like this." Asuma poured Chakra into it, and the Chakra Blade immediately brimmed with Chakra, resembling a glowing blade of wind.

Toru had to admit that Asuma truly had exceptional talent when it came to Wind Release.

Rather than directly copying him with the Six Eyes, Toru tried to imitate him himself based on the key points Asuma had given.

Toru poured Chakra into his own blade as well, and then the two of them threw their blades at a large tree together.

This time, Asuma's blade pierced straight through the tree as usual, while Toru's Chakra Blade only barely made it halfway through.

"It's still not thin enough," Asuma said.

Toru walked over, pulled out his Chakra Blade, and tried again. This time, he still did not use the Six Eyes.

Infusing the blade with Wind Release Chakra was not difficult, but maintaining the thinness and sharpness Asuma described was somewhat challenging.

Even without using the Six Eyes, Toru could not succeed on his first attempt. But he had gained experience, and this time, his Chakra Blade successfully pierced through the tree as well.

Asuma was already used to Toru's talent. Still, seeing Toru catch up to him so quickly in his own specialty, he could not help complaining, "Teach the student, and the master starves."

"Don't worry," Toru said. "The Rasengan will definitely make it up to you."

Toru pulled the Chakra Blade from the ground and asked, "Does this blade have a name?"

Asuma shook his head. "No."

Toru offered the name that had just come to him. "Flying Swallow. What do you think?"

Asuma recalled the way they had thrown the blades. The Chakra-wreathed short blades flying through the air really did resemble swallows in flight.

Asuma accepted the blade Toru handed over and said, "Good name. We'll go with that."

And so, their patrol mission in Nara Forest passed day by day, peaceful yet enjoyable.