Konoha’s White Fang Shines

Chapter 38: C-Rank Beast-Capturing Mission

"Capture a wild beast, an Onba."

In the mission briefing room, hearing the mission details caused Genma, Kurenai, and Raido to exclaim in unison.

What was an Onba? This ferocious creature was a staple in wilderness survival guidebooks.

Adult Onbas were entirely snow-white, with a striking black head that made them look as though they wore a black mask.

In the wild, Onbas were notoriously savage, with blood-red eyes often described as unnervingly piercing. They resided deep within Konoha's forests. One of the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, once described the Onba as "unmatched by any living being."

Genma wasn't sure whether this was an exaggeration.

However, being familiar with the original storyline, Genma did know of the Onba. He recalled how Naruto once brought back an Onba pup while training, only to struggle with its rapid growth, leading to frequent village missions to manage it.

Eventually, the Onba pup encountered its mother, resulting in an emotional separation. But what puzzled Genma was how, upon Naruto's return to the village, Onba pups began appearing everywhere. It was as though every shinobi in Konoha was carrying one!

Despite their elusive nature, Onbas seemed to multiply rapidly under certain conditions.

As the trio marveled at the mission, Yuji smiled warmly and explained, "We're only tasked with stealing some Onba pups. Supposedly, the village intends to train them as summoning beasts. This mission was posted by a Konoha shinobi."

"Summoning beasts? And what does 'some pups' mean, exactly?" Genma's sharp mind picked up on the ambiguity.

Yuji seemed pleased with the question and replied, "Good observation. Adult Onbas are challenging to handle; even Chūnin struggle. That's why this mission is designed to be repeatable."

"Repeatable? So we're going to steal a lot of pups?" Kurenai appeared conflicted. Taking Onba pups meant separating them from their parents—a thought that weighed on her heart.

"Hey, Sensei! Can I raise one as my summoning beast? I've heard Onbas are super strong; it'd be perfect for me!" Raido asked, excitement lighting up his face as he began fantasizing.

"Raising one as your own? That might be tricky. Onba pups do imprint on the first person they see, but their wild instincts remain strong. The shinobi posting these missions likely have a plan to tame them as summoning beasts. You, on the other hand, probably shouldn't get your hopes up," Yuji said with a chuckle.

Noticing Kurenai's worried expression, Yuji knelt down to reassure her. "Summoning beasts are treated well. Separating Onbas from their families is standard practice in their training, and it's a common approach for all summoning animals."

Kurenai wasn't an overly sentimental girl, so Yuji's words eased some of her concerns, though she still looked slightly uneasy.

With the trio's questions answered, Yuji turned his attention back to the mission clerk.

The clerk, a rare female mission giver, was strikingly beautiful. Her long black hair cascaded to her waist, her fair skin radiated elegance, and her gentle smile was captivating.

Genma avoided looking too much, but Yuji and Raido unabashedly stole glances at her repeatedly.

With the pretext of inquiring about the mission, Yuji leaned forward against the desk, his posture confident. "Excuse me, Miss Zhi. Are there any other teams undertaking this mission? If so, can you tell us which ones?"

The mission clerk smiled sweetly and replied, "Of course. Joint missions are fairly common. Let me see… Ah, it's your peer team—Team Five, led by Jōnin Shirakumo Noma."

"Team Five, huh? So it's Noma's squad," Yuji murmured, then smiled graciously, exuding gentlemanly charm. "Thank you, Miss Zhi. Perhaps we could share a meal sometime?"

"Ah, I'm sorry, but I already have a boyfriend." Zhi's innocent and radiant smile delivered a crushing blow to Yuji's spirits.

"Goodbye, Miss Zhi," Yuji muttered, utterly dejected, as he walked away with the trio following closely behind.

Witnessing Yuji's premature heartbreak, Genma and Kurenai couldn't help but feel sympathetic. Raido, however, seemed even more disheartened, walking as though he'd lost his soul.

"Sensei, how are we supposed to find Team Five?" Genma asked, trying to shift the gloomy mood.

"Once we reach the mission site, we'll likely run into them. No need to rush," Yuji replied, his tone heavy with melancholy as he stared into the distance.

Though Genma was dissatisfied with this vague answer, Yuji's downcast demeanor made it clear there wasn't a better plan in place.

The oppressive atmosphere lingered as the group left the village and entered Konoha's vast forest.

Surrounded by greenery, the tension gradually eased. Spotting vibrant flowers along the way, Yuji's mood visibly brightened.

"The weather's great today. Let's focus on finding Team Five," Yuji said, taking a deep breath and quickening his pace.

With Genma's binoculars improving their efficiency, the team soon found traces of another shinobi squad. By evening, they finally encountered Team Five.

Team Five consisted of Might Guy, Ebisu, and Tokara Iwashi—familiar faces.

Their leader, Shirakumo Noma, appeared stern, his long hair tied back and a vertical scar running down his cheek lending him a severe demeanor.

"It's you, Yuji. You've also taken the Onba capture mission?"

"Yep. Took us a while to track you down," Yuji replied, glancing at Team Five's members.

Guy was diligently training, Ebisu lay lazily on the grass chewing on a piece of foxtail grass, and Iwashi stared intently at a pot of food.

"You've got quite the colorful team," Yuji remarked.

"And yours seems quite promising—two kenjutsu users and a hardworking girl," Noma noted, eyeing Genma, Raido, and Kurenai. "I heard you recently completed an A-rank mission."

"Well… that was thanks to Minato. We mostly just followed along," Yuji admitted, scratching his head sheepishly.

"Minato, huh? He truly was the top genius of our generation," Noma mused, his tone tinged with admiration.

"Exactly. Without him, I wouldn't be standing here now. By the way, any chance you'll treat us to dinner? It took us ages to find you," Yuji joked.

Noma shot him a sharp glare. "If you want to eat, cook your own meal. Do you have any idea how much my team eats?"

Defeated, Yuji reluctantly set up a cooking station nearby.

Genma's team worked seamlessly to gather firewood, forage for vegetables and mushrooms, and Raido impressively used his blade to fish with precision.

Their pot of stew soon filled the air with a tantalizing aroma, far outshining Team Five's modest cooking.

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As the evening progressed, the two teams exchanged pleasantries and prepared for the challenging mission ahead.

End of Chapter 38