Chapter 3: Yataro

Chapter 3: Yataro

Yesterday's hunt had only yielded an imperfect rabbit pelt, and the rabbit meat had already been eaten for dinner. Today, Kazama decided to try again—this time, he was determined to get a flawless rabbit pelt.

Autumn was here, and winter wasn't far behind. Kazama wanted to make a rabbit-fur hat for Kosuke Maruboshi as proof of his growing skills. If he could demonstrate his ability, he might be able to ask his grandfather for something in return—perhaps some ninja techniques or swordsmanship training.

Whether he liked it or not, the Naruto world was one where strength reigned supreme. To survive—no, to live well—power was a necessity.

This was Kazama's first year at the Academy, where the curriculum mainly focused on ninja knowledge and basic theory. The legendary Chakra Refinement Technique, which supposedly every student received, had yet to be taught.

Kazama strongly suspected that the beastly prodigies in his class had already been secretly taught chakra by their clans. Otherwise, there was no way to explain how six-year-olds could fight like that.

He couldn't afford to fall behind—not now, not ever. If he did, the gap would only widen over time.

Kazama had already decided—he would ask his grandfather for private lessons. Otherwise, keeping up next year would be even harder.

With that thought in mind, he stepped forward, eyes fixed ahead.

But then, his ears caught something—a faint sound.

It had come from the tree beside him.

A cold sweat broke out instantly.

Something had been there the whole time, hidden in the tree, waiting for him to get close before revealing itself.

It was hunting him.

Kazama was only six, and while he was small compared to adults, he was still big compared to the animals in the forest.

Among wild creatures, size often determined the predator-prey relationship. Larger creatures had stronger combat abilities and better hunting skills—only they could sustain their size without starving.

For something to consider him prey…

That left only a few possibilities: bears, wild boars, tigers, leopards, or pythons.

And of those, only leopards and pythons could climb trees.

The fact that it had gotten so close without him noticing?

That meant it was almost certainly a python.

Kazama began trembling uncontrollably.

Of all the animals in the world, snakes terrified him the most.

Cold-blooded, slithering creatures with unblinking eyes—just thinking about them made his skin crawl. He had woken up from nightmares more than once because of them.

He couldn't move. He didn't dare.

But staying still wasn't an option either.

He had only one chance—one move that would decide if he lived or died.

If he dodged too slowly, he would die instantly.

If he moved too soon, the snake would have time to react—and there was no guarantee he could escape a second strike.

Taking a slow, deep breath, Kazama forced himself to stay calm. He needed to gather every ounce of concentration to survive this.

"One… two… three."

As soon as he finished counting, Kazama kicked the tree beside him with full force. The impact sent his body flying backward, using the recoil to propel himself away.

The moment he hit the ground, he tucked his body and rolled forward, dissipating the impact before landing in a half-crouch.

Then, without hesitation—he ran for his life.

Kazama had never run so fast before.

The only thing he could hear was the wind howling past his ears.

He didn't dare look back.

Only when his legs gave out—his lungs burning, his body exhausted, his spirit drained—did he finally stop.

At this point, if someone threw him straight into the snake's mouth, he wouldn't even have the energy to resist.

But now that he had escaped, he wanted to see it.

What kind of python was bold enough to hunt a human?

The only reference he had in mind was Orochimaru's summoned snakes.

With difficulty, he turned around.

But instead of a terrifying scene of a monstrous python devouring prey—he saw nothing.

"...What?"

Kazama blinked in confusion.

There was nothing there.

No giant snake.

No traces of movement.

No sign that a large creature had slithered through the area.

A snake big enough to hunt humans should have left obvious tracks. There should have been flattened grass, broken branches—something.

But there was nothing.

Only two possibilities remained.

One: The python had simply given up the hunt and retreated without leaving a trace.

Two: The snake had been summoned and was recalled by its master.

The first option wasn't too alarming.

But the second?

Kazama immediately thought of Orochimaru.

His relief at escaping was now completely overshadowed by dread.

If it was the second possibility…

Then his time in the Naruto world was already over.

If Orochimaru had targeted him, then there was no way he was making it to the end of the story. Only Kabuto had ever survived under Orochimaru's watchful eye.

"You're still out here? What are you doing?"

A familiar, gentle voice rang out.

Kazama turned, and his heart filled with relief.

"Grandpa! You're back!"

With Kosuke Maruboshi here, he wasn't afraid anymore. No matter how big the snake was, his grandfather could take it down.

"I'm back. But what's going on? You look exhausted—have you been training?"

Kosuke's experienced eyes immediately noticed Kazama's completely drained state.

"No—I was being chased by a python…"

Kazama quickly explained what had happened.

Kosuke's brows furrowed.

This forest, located near Konoha, was usually safe. The trees weren't as dense, and the wildlife consisted mainly of small animals. There were almost no large predators, let alone creatures that could threaten humans.

That was why Kosuke had chosen this area to settle down—so Kazama could live safely.

"Could it have wandered here from elsewhere?"

Kosuke didn't doubt Kazama's words.

The boy had a strange kind of honesty—he never lied, not even to cover up embarrassing situations. If Kazama said something happened, it happened.

Looking at the boy's exhausted state, Kosuke was convinced. Something had chased him.

If a large predator really had appeared in this forest, then it was no longer safe to stay here.

"You're sure it was a python?"

"What else could attack from the trees?" Kazama countered.

"Hmm… that's true. A python does seem the most likely."

"Stay here. I'll go check."

"I want to go too."

"Can you even stand?"

"Then take me with you, Grandpa."

"…Fine."

Kosuke smiled warmly and crouched down, letting Kazama climb onto his back.

"Which way?"

"This way."

---

"You're sure it attacked you here?" Kosuke asked again.

With his years of experience, he could instinctively tell whether a large predator had passed through an area. And right now?

There was nothing.

Not a single sign that a python—or any large animal—had been here.

But Kazama wasn't lying. That much was clear.

"It's real, Grandpa. I didn't see the snake itself, but I heard it right here. And I could smell it—the distinct, musky stench of a python."

Just as he finished speaking, Kazama's eyes caught something dangling from the treetop.

Something long.

Thin.

Swaying gently in the wind.

"SNAKE!" Kazama's voice shot up several octaves.

Kosuke instantly moved, pulling Kazama behind him as he scanned the branches.

But instead of a snake…

Kosuke saw something else.

With a swift leap, he grabbed the dangling object and pulled it down.

It wasn't a snake.

It was… a ribbon?