Chapter 10: Clawtarou

Chapter 10: Clawtarou

As they ventured into the uninhabited depths of the forest, towering trees blocked out the sun, casting everything into a dim, shadowy gloom. The cries of unknown insects and the distant roars of wild beasts filled the air, making Kazama feel as if he was surrounded by unseen threats.

"From now on, stay close to me," Kosuke said, his usual calm demeanor shifting into something more serious. His squinted eyes opened slightly, signaling heightened vigilance. There was definitely a large predator nearby—he could feel it too. Though he wasn't worried about himself, the presence of such a beast meant Kazama was in danger.

"Understood, Grandpa," Kazama replied, immediately drawing his bow, ready for combat at any moment.

Every Jonin was a well-rounded warrior. While some had specific areas of expertise, none had glaring weaknesses—those who did had long since perished on the battlefield.

One such crucial skill was sensory perception. Almost every Jonin developed some level of sensory ability. Even if they weren't as naturally gifted as specialized sensory ninjas, they all had their own means of detecting threats. Being able to sense an enemy's movements in advance greatly increased survival rates, given the lethal nature of ninjutsu and assassination techniques.

Kosuke was no exception. Trained under both the Second and Third Hokage, he may not have been the most gifted in sensory abilities, but he was far from incapable.

He crouched down, falling into complete stillness as he placed his fingers against the earth. Using the sensory technique developed by the Second Hokage, he detected vibrations in the ground. Within just a few breaths, he opened his eyes.

"This way," he said, leading the way toward the detected presence.

"Grandpa, what was that just now?" Kazama's eyes sparkled with curiosity. He hoped to gain some guidance, and if he could learn the technique himself, all the better.

"That was the sensory technique created by the Second Hokage. It allows one to detect movement through vibrations in the ground."

"Can I learn it?"

"...You can," Kosuke said after a brief pause. Sensory techniques relied heavily on innate talent, but this particular method wasn't too demanding in terms of chakra. Teaching it wouldn't hurt.

"Yes!" Kazama silently cheered. Finally, he had managed to extract some useful knowledge from the old man.

"Shh, quiet down. We're almost there," Kosuke suddenly warned.

Kazama nodded, understanding that silence was crucial in this moment.

Slowing their pace, the two maneuvered between the large tree trunks and branches, positioning themselves at the best vantage point. Below them, two wild beasts were engaged in a fierce battle.

No, it was more of a one-sided slaughter.

One was a lizard about the size of a donkey, while the other was a small, furry bear. The lizard, using its superior strength and size, was ruthlessly toying with the already-wounded bear cub. Judging by the wounds covering the cub's body, the lizard's bite was likely venomous. It seemed to be waiting for the cub to weaken completely before devouring it as its meal.

"What do you think?" Kosuke suddenly asked.

"What do I think about what?" Kazama asked, confused by the vague question.

"How do these two creatures look as potential summoning beasts?" Kosuke elaborated, anticipating Kazama's disinterest. "Don't underestimate them. Both have awakened chakra. The lizard isn't eating the bear immediately because it's wary of a desperate counterattack. This species of lizard swallows prey whole, and if the bear isn't completely dead when swallowed, it could tear up the lizard from the inside, leading to mutual destruction.

"It has intelligence, chakra, and venom potent enough to trouble even a Chunin if bitten. Not a bad choice, is it?" Kosuke seemed particularly impressed with the lizard.

"And the bear?" Kazama asked, suppressing a shudder. Just looking at the lizard made his skin crawl. In his previous life, he had an intense fear of snakes and other cold-blooded creatures. That hadn't changed in this life—he still found them unsettling and creepy. Given a choice, he definitely didn't want a lizard as his companion.

"The bear is weaker. It's probably still in its adolescent stage. While it has awakened chakra, it lacks effective combat abilities. Its speed and agility are inferior to the lizard's, which is why it's being toyed with. It's already poisoned and won't last much longer before becoming the lizard's meal."

"I choose the bear," Kazama declared firmly.

Kosuke was momentarily taken aback. "You're picking... the bear?" He had been certain Kazama would choose the more obviously useful lizard. But after a brief hesitation, he respected the decision and didn't argue further.

Leaping from the tree, Kosuke instantly activated the Body Flicker Technique. His long blade gleamed as it was drawn, and with a lightning-fast upward slash, the lizard's head separated cleanly from its body.

So sharp and swift was the cut that by the time Kosuke had sheathed his sword, the lizard's head had only just hit the ground, and its body had begun spraying blood everywhere.

Kazama watched in awe. The lizard, which had been deemed strong enough to rival a Chunin, hadn't even had time to react before being killed in a single stroke. Even at his age, his grandfather was still terrifyingly fast.

The sole witness to the scene—the poisoned bear cub—lay paralyzed on the ground. It was too weak to flee, and with such a formidable intruder now present, its fate seemed sealed. Trembling, it gazed up at the two humans, its large, teary eyes filled with desperation and silent pleas for mercy.

"Heh, you're smarter than you look. You know how to beg for your life," Kazama chuckled. The expression on the cub's face was eerily similar to that of a stray cat he had adopted in his previous life—equal parts fear, hope, and helplessness.

"Relax. I'm here to save you, so don't bite me, alright?" Kazama said as he pulled out a vial of antidote. It was a general-purpose detoxifying agent commonly used by ninjas, effective against a wide range of poisons. Even if it couldn't completely neutralize the lizard's venom, it should at least buy enough time for them to reach Konoha's hospital.

The cub instinctively tried to retreat, but between its injuries and the poison, it could barely move. Kazama easily scooped it up and carefully administered the antidote. Whether it understood his words or simply lacked the strength to resist, the cub soon relaxed and drifted into unconsciousness.

As Kazama bandaged its wounds, he took a closer look. Upon further inspection, this wasn't actually a bear—it was a red panda. Its golden-yellow fur, bushy striped tail, and soft, round face were unmistakable. It looked just like the mascot from a certain snack brand in his previous life.

Back then, he had even argued with classmates about whether it was a raccoon or a red panda, going so far as to look it up online. The image was still fresh in his mind, and aside from slight differences in fur color, it was identical. The deciding factor? The long, fluffy tail—raccoons had short tails, while red pandas had long, ringed ones.

"Its condition is serious. It won't last long without proper treatment. We should take it to a vet," Kosuke advised.

"Aren't we taking it to the hospital?" Kazama asked in surprise. "Konoha has veterinarians?"

"Of course. The Inuzuka Clan has them, though they're not as well-known as Konoha's main hospital."

"Then let's hurry!" Kazama urged, feeling a sense of urgency. His grandfather was right—poisoned and wounded as it was, the red panda's future could be affected if it didn't get the right treatment.

And this was his first true summoning beast. He couldn't let anything happen to it.