Hoshi's suggestion won everyone's unanimous approval. The group moved through the forest, searching for prey that could serve as dinner.
They had not gone far when Robb, hanging from Hoshi's shoulder, began howling. Hearing Robb's cries, Hoshi and the others instinctively slowed their pace.
Hoshi scratched Robb beneath the chin and asked, "Did you smell something?"
Robb nodded and howled as if trying to describe something, but Hoshi could only barely make out a few fragments. He could not understand the specifics.
He did not need to. Orochimaru lay prone on the ground and listened for a moment before speaking.
"Something is approaching quickly. It should be quite large."
Hoshi and Sakumo exchanged a glance and drew their blades in unison, readying themselves. Jiraiya and the others either pulled out Kunai or stood in place, forming Hand Seals.
The footsteps grew heavier and heavier. The next second, a massive figure burst from the woods. Beneath the setting sun, a wild boar as large as a person charged straight at Hoshi and the others.
Its two sharp, upward-curving tusks gleamed with a chilling light in the sunset.
"Scatter!"
At Hoshi's shout, the six of them scattered in different directions, dodging the wild boar's savage charge.
Once they had avoided the charge, Sakumo and Hoshi rushed forward first. White Fang and Mikazuki Munechika slashed mercilessly at the wild boar's hind legs.
Two sprays of blood burst from the wild boar's hind legs. The sudden heavy blow made it howl in agony, and it crashed to the ground after losing its balance.
Tsunade and Jiraiya seized the opportunity to rush up and stab at the wild boar's exposed belly. Just as it tried to kick the two humans away, they nimbly leaped aside.
Seeing them retreat, the wild boar ignored the wounds on