Chapter 18: Entering the Mountains Again

Chapter 18: Entering the Mountains Again

Kazama was very satisfied with his last shot. Whether it was accuracy, timing, or execution, everything had been perfect. That giant bear was strong enough to trouble some Chunin, and a Genin would have no chance against it in a direct fight. Yet, he had killed it in one shot. His decision to make archery his main form of attack had been the right one—bows were elegant and deadly.

Kosuke had watched the entire battle without interfering. Originally, he had planned to test Kazama's progress and was ready to step in if necessary. However, seeing how effortlessly Kazama killed the giant bear with one well-placed arrow, he was genuinely surprised.

A simple combination of archery and Wind Release chakra had resulted in a shockingly lethal attack. Based on pure power, that shot was equivalent to a C-rank jutsu. In certain scenarios, thanks to its speed and long range, it could even be more useful than a B-rank jutsu.

Kazama's natural ninja talent wasn't anything extraordinary. Despite having two elemental affinities from birth and successfully developing Wind Release on his own, he wasn't on the same level as the true geniuses Kosuke had seen over the years. Compared to those legendary figures—some of whom fizzled out while others vanished in obscurity—Kazama's growth wasn't exceptional.

But there was one major difference.

Kazama was different from normal shinobi. His mindset and tactics were completely unique.

While most ninjas focused on hand seals and chakra manipulation, Kazama had redefined long-range combat by integrating Wind Release with archery. His development of chakra-enhanced arrows wasn't something Kosuke had seen before. In a way, Kazama was forging his own ninja path—a style that could be just as formidable as traditional ninjutsu.

Kosuke suddenly realized that, without even noticing it, Kazama had grown into someone truly remarkable.

---

Time passed since the bear hunt, and aside from Naruto occasionally complaining about not being invited to help, the event went unnoticed by the village. The forests surrounding Konoha were vast, with constant battles among wildlife. Unless a creature directly threatened civilians, the village didn't pay attention.

Kazama, however, felt a lingering regret. That giant bear would have been the perfect battle companion. His search for a main combat summon had yet to succeed.

While he had Clawtarou, the small red panda was more suited for support roles rather than front-line combat. Kazama glanced at his two pets, lazily napping in the treehouse shade, and sighed. If he wanted something done, he had to do it himself.

Kosuke had already dismissed himself from further involvement. After watching Kazama take down a Chunin-level beast, he felt there was no reason to intervene anymore.

"You can handle yourself in the forest," he had said. "Go play. Just don't bother me. I'm old and need my rest."

Kazama watched Kosuke sip his tea peacefully, enjoying the snacks made from Yataro's hoarded nuts.

Instead of disturbing his grandfather, Kazama made up his mind—he needed to go back into the mountains and find a proper battle summon.

"Grandpa, I'm heading into the mountains again to look for a summoning beast. Take care of yourself." Kazama packed his gear and made his declaration.

Kosuke thought for a moment but ultimately decided not to stop him.

"Don't eat unknown food. Don't drink unfiltered water. Bring extra medicine. This is your first solo expedition—don't take unnecessary risks. Familiarize yourself with the environment before trying anything reckless. You know the dangers of the forest—I've taught you well. Just be careful."

Like a nagging old mother, Kosuke rambled on, making sure Kazama understood every precaution before finally watching him leave.

---

This time, Kazama called One-Eye, his wolf companion, to assist him. His new plan was to find the giant bear's den.

Even though bears were solitary, their territory indicated ideal survival conditions. If one giant bear had thrived there, it was possible that others existed nearby.

More importantly, the old bear's death had likely left its territory vacant, which meant that new challengers might have moved in. If another strong beast had claimed the area, it could be a viable candidate for summoning.

The more Kazama thought about it, the more he regretted his decision.

Why hadn't he held back? Why had he gone for an instant kill?

That giant bear would have been perfect. A little training, and it would have been a powerhouse in battle.

Instead, all he had now was its fur and meat.

With the right companion, Kazama believed he could fight evenly against a Chunin.

---

The forest's air was always humid, carrying the scent of decay. Some odors were even toxic. Kazama was long accustomed to these conditions.

With One-Eye's tracking abilities, it took him two days to locate the bear's territory.

A bear's range was massive, spanning multiple mountains, but eventually, Kazama found its den—a large, half-buried pit beneath an ancient tree. The thick roots had stabilized the ground, forming a natural shelter.

Unfortunately, there were no signs of another bear taking over.

The den reeked of animal musk, but aside from rotting scents, there was nothing useful inside.

Kazama had encountered plenty of wildlife, and one thing was certain—this world's animals were different from Earth's.

For example:

Buffalo, which normally thrived in grasslands, were somehow surviving in the forest.

Pangolins, which were usually small, grew to the size of sheep.

Color variations in animal fur were far more extreme than normal.

One particularly strange encounter stood out—he had picked some fruit, only to be chased by an entire troop of monkeys.

They were shockingly aggressive.

Kazama had considered shooting them, but ultimately decided against it. Fighting monkeys felt beneath him.

Still, he had to admit—they were dangerous.

The fist-sized stones they hurled at him produced sharp whistling noises, not unlike shuriken flying through the air.

Some even rivaled his own throwing techniques.

More disturbingly, the deeper he ventured, the more he noticed that animals were incredibly territorial.

Their boundaries often overlapped, meaning Kazama would inadvertently trigger multiple conflicts at once.

What was peaceful coexistence for them turned into a full-scale assault when he entered the area.

---

After only three days in the forest, Kazama was mentally and physically drained.

Biting insects were everywhere.

Wild animals were hyper-aggressive.

Even food was a problem.

Kazama didn't know if it was something he ate or an insect bite, but he had developed stomach issues.

His combat abilities remained unaffected, but his stamina had taken a hit.

Without Sealing Jutsu, his supplies were limited—he had to hunt and forage for food.

But here's the problem:

Even identical-looking plants could have wildly different properties—some were harmless, others were lethal.

He had already suffered from food poisoning once, leaving him with a full day of diarrhea.

His energy was depleting, and his body was weakening.

It was time to go back.

If he stayed any longer, it wouldn't be wild animals that killed him—it would be disease and exhaustion.