Konoha’s White Fang Shines

Chapter 39: First Encounter with Onba

"Sensei, do we really have to control our weight?"

Raido, ever the straightforward one, asked immediately, nearly making Yuji spit out his food.

"Don't listen to that nonsense. Controlling weight is for adults. You kids should eat as much as you can!"

"Oh!"

Relieved, Raido brightened up instantly. Grinning ear to ear, he piled his bowl high with food, eating happily while sneaking glances at the group next to them.

The cheerful atmosphere of the outdoor picnic came to an end as everyone began setting up their tents.

As the sun set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, their bustling activity resembled a survival training exercise.

Despite having eight people, they only set up two tents. After a brief discussion, they divided up the night watch duties and settled in for the night.

---

The night passed uneventfully, and the teams woke up early the next morning. After breakfast, everyone gathered together.

"So, Noma, since you've been here longer, have you already tracked down any Onba?" Yuji asked, flashing his signature grin.

Noma, glaring at Yuji's shameless demeanor, replied coldly, "You really have no shame, do you? Even in cooperation, you should have some decency."

Despite Noma's scathing remark, it didn't faze Yuji or his team in the slightest. After all, shamelessness was practically a team philosophy. Even Kurenai, the exception to their antics, rarely had to intervene.

"Come on, it's just a natural part of the process. If you don't ask, someone else will. Besides, if we hurry, we might finish the mission sooner!" Yuji retorted, still grinning.

Though Noma was irritated, he couldn't deny the logic. Sighing, he finally relented. "We did find tracks two days ago, but they disappeared by the riverbank. That's why we stopped to regroup here."

"So… you lost the trail," Yuji said, his expression neutral but his tone filled with faint disappointment.

Noma's temper flared. "Lost the trail? We found tracks once and can find them again! Don't act like we're incompetent!"

"Fair enough," Yuji replied casually. "Then how about sharing your experience so we can work together more effectively?"

Yuji's sudden shift to a relaxed, approachable demeanor only irritated Noma further. He clenched his teeth but knew he had no valid reason to refuse.

Thinking back to how he'd missed out on two meals the previous day due to his pride, Noma's eyes gleamed with an idea. "Fine, but on one condition—your team handles all the cooking from now on."

"Cooking, huh?" Yuji repeated, glancing at his team. Seeing no objections, he nodded. "Sure, but we won't be responsible for gathering food. Your team will have to provide your own ingredients."

Damn it! I should have thought about the ingredients!

Noma seethed internally but quickly recovered. "Fine, we'll each handle our own ingredients. Now, let's get started."

Relieved to have reached an agreement, Yuji smiled. "Great. So, who will show us how to track the Onba?"

"Ebisu, you're in charge of guiding them. Make sure to explain everything thoroughly," Noma instructed.

Ebisu, usually laid-back and chewing lazily on a piece of grass, straightened up immediately. "Yes, sir!"

With Ebisu leading the way, Yuji's team followed to learn about tracking the elusive Onba.

---

Ebisu proved himself to be impressively knowledgeable. He explained how to estimate the time of an Onba's departure based on soil firmness and even described how to identify their diet through the smell of their droppings.

While Genma could only discern the ingredients of cooked food, Ebisu's ability to identify digested materials left everyone awestruck.

From Ebisu's guidance, the group learned that the tracks they found were three days old. Onbas, who enjoyed eating fish, had likely swum across the river, making tracking them more difficult.

To maximize their chances of success, the two teams split up, each following one of the possible paths along the riverbank. They agreed on a signal for regrouping and set off promptly.

Genma's binoculars proved invaluable, and after a day of diligent searching, one team finally found fresh Onba tracks. They quickly signaled the other team to regroup.

Reunited, the two teams began a coordinated chase using a relay running strategy to conserve energy while maintaining speed.

By evening, they had located a full-grown Onba.

---

The adult Onba was massive, with a sturdy, snow-white body and a black face. It lumbered through the forest, exuding a primal strength. Despite its fearsome reputation, the Onba was currently locked in a standoff with a colossal wild boar.

The boar wasn't an ordinary one. Its tusks were thick and curved, and its massive frame radiated raw power.

The Onba, sensing the boar's threat, rose onto its hind legs and roared.

"Onba!"

Its roar echoed through the forest, a guttural sound that sent shivers down their spines, as if ancient beasts had come to life.

The boar responded with a loud snort, scraping the ground with its forehooves while tensing its hind legs, ready to charge.

The two beasts seemed evenly matched, and the teams decided not to interfere.

Yuji and Noma understood that engaging would be a waste of time and effort, especially when their real target was likely nearby.

Leaving the two animals to their standoff, the teams began scouring the surrounding area.

It wasn't long before they found a large nest perched in a tree.

The structure resembled a bird's nest but was too large for most avian species. Convinced it was an Onba den, the teams approached cautiously, staying on high alert for any lurking dangers.

While the adult Onba wasn't far away, there was no guarantee the nest was unguarded.

Staying vigilant, the two teams coordinated their movements. Using binoculars, they scouted the area while advancing carefully.

As they neared the tree, a pair of crimson eyes gleamed from the foliage.

"Onba!"

A slightly smaller Onba leapt from the tree, crouched low, and charged toward them with incredible speed.

Its movements were so fast that it became a blur.

Reacting instantly, Genma and Ebisu shouted in unison, "Scatter!"

Their teams split apart, dodging the charging Onba.

Genma quickly created three shadow clones, transforming them to resemble his teammates.

The Onba, however, didn't immediately attack. Despite its brutish appearance, it seemed intelligent, retreating slowly back toward the nest.

As the teams regrouped, Ebisu turned to Genma, a gleam of admiration in his eyes.

"Think your shadow clones can lure it away?"

Genma shook his head. "I'm not sure, but it's worth a try. We'll need something to provoke it further."

---

The teams began brainstorming, determined to outwit the cunning beast.

End of Chapter 39