Obito's shout and the wild boar's roar exploded simultaneously. Shizune was yanked by Rin and rolled toward a tree trunk on the right. Tōtō Akimichi's bag of potato chips traced a parabola in the air as he threw it at the charging boar. The boar's hind hooves kicked up large clumps of dirt, its crimson eyes locked onto Obito, who was waving a kunai.
"Fire Style: Flame Bullet!" Asuma formed seals and spat out a fireball, but it grazed the boar's back and flew past. The smell of singed hair only agitated the beast further. Obito seized the chance to leap onto a tree branch, but his trembling arm caused his thrown kunai to stick harmlessly into the mud caked on the boar's flank. "You stupid pig, look over here!" Gai suddenly charged from the flank, landing a fierce whip kick right at the base of its tusk. The boar's head was knocked askew by the immense force, its tusk scraping sparks against Gai's shin guard.
"The belly!" Nara's reminder was mixed with the crash of falling trees. The boar snapped a birch tree as thick as a bowl and turned around. Just as Nara's Shadow Paralysis Jutsu formed, the boar ran out of the shadow's range. In the nick of time, Asuma charged recklessly, kicking the boar in the head. The boar stumbled, but the powerful recoil sent Asuma tumbling to the ground.
"Partial Expansion Jutsu!" At the critical moment, Tōtō landed an enlarged punch, forcing the boar to its knees. Rin seized the opportunity to throw a rope dart, tangling its hind legs. The boar thrashed furiously, dragging Rin off her feet. "Let go!" Just as Shizune drew a kunai to cut the rope, Obito leaped down from the five-meter-high tree canopy, driving his kunai precisely into the boar's right eye.
A mournful howl shook leaves from the trees. The frenzied beast charged toward a rock face with Obito still on its back. Seeing this, Taiichi waited no longer. He pushed off a tree trunk and pounced from mid-air, his Chakra-wrapped fist smashing heavily into the boar's nose bridge. The sound of cracking bone was audible. The boar stumbled and crashed into a moss-covered boulder. Obito rolled away just in time, the back of his shirt torn to shreds.
"Earth Style: Bedrock Coffin!" Asuma slammed his palms onto the ground, and rising stone spikes trapped the boar's hind legs. Kakashi struck directly, his blade sinking three inches into the boar's throat. At the same moment, Gai's sweep kick hit the boar's head. Under the impact, Kakashi's short sword drove in another inch. Under the combined assault, the boar crashed to the ground. Its tusks dug deep into the mud as it struggled for a moment before finally going still.
In the silence, only heavy panting remained. Obito slumped against a tree root, checking the scrapes on his elbows. Rin's braid had come half undone. Taiichi was using Mystical Palm Jutsu to treat a bruise on Gai's calf. The boar's blood slowly bloomed like dark red flowers in the pile of dead leaves.
"Extra food tonight." Taiichi kicked the boar's thick hind leg. Obito immediately jumped up, clamoring to roast the ribs. The girls frowned at the hideous beast, but Tōtō Akimichi had already pulled out a spice jar, eager to try.
As dusk fell, smoke rose once again from the clearing by the stream outside the Forest of Death. Taiichi sliced the boar's hind leg meat into even, thin strips. The marbled texture glistened in the firelight. Obito finally caught the big fish he had missed during the day and was excitedly grilling it himself. Kakashi silently turned the ribs skewered on a kunai, the dripping fat crackling in the fire.
"This burnt piece is for the Dead Last." Kakashi suddenly tossed a blackened chunk of meat to Obito. "You did that on purpose! White-haired freak!" The two started bickering again, clearly in good spirits.
When moonlight climbed to the treetops, everyone lay sprawled around the still-warm campfire. Tōtō Akimichi's belly was bloated like a frog, yet he was still stuffing the last half-skewer of mushrooms into his mouth. Obito and Kakashi's bickering gradually turned into incoherent mumbling as everyone lay on the ground, enjoying the rare peace.
The sky full of stars signaled that it was getting late. Everyone headed home. Watching the others leave, Taiichi said goodbye to Kakashi, who remained until the end: "See you after the next mission. Stay safe."
"Stay safe."
...
Nearing home, Taiichi saw a figure standing in the shadows by his door from a distance. He instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of the sword on his back. Clearly, Danzo's sudden ambush earlier had left a significant psychological shadow on him.
As Taiichi got closer, he realized it was Captain Yamaguchi. Breathing a sigh of relief, Taiichi complained, "Captain, scaring people can kill them. You hiding silently in the shadows like that... I almost attacked."
Stepping out of the shadows, Masasuke Yamaguchi was puzzled. Taiichi's reaction was a bit intense. Theoretically, a kid his age shouldn't have such high vigilance within the village, unless he was an ANBU ninja with maxed-out alertness.
But Captain Yamaguchi didn't dwell on it. Who didn't have a few secrets?
"Taiichi, you're back quite late. Were you out training?" A smile tugged at the corner of Captain Yamaguchi's mouth, ignoring Taiichi's complaint.
"I had a class reunion today, so I'm back a bit late." Taiichi opened the door and invited Captain Yamaguchi in. "You must have been waiting a while, Captain. Come in and sit!"
"No need. I came today to bring you the mission money and to deliver the village's gag order: You are not permitted to reveal anything about the intelligence ninja we saved on our way back." Captain Yamaguchi said sternly, putting away his smile.
He took out a stack of bills from his vest and handed them to Taiichi. "Remember, once a gag order is issued, it must not be violated. Otherwise, the consequences aren't something you want to bear."
Taiichi nodded solemnly, not daring to be careless. He also had his guesses about the news brought back by the intelligence ninja.
Taking the bills from Captain Yamaguchi, Taiichi glanced at them and was surprised. "Captain, did you give me your share too? Why is there so much?" Taiichi joked.
"This is the amount for two A-rank missions. The escort mission was upgraded to A-rank, and the rescue of the intelligence ninja was also designated as an A-rank mission by the village," Captain Yamaguchi explained. "Alright, money delivered, gag order issued. I'm heading back. Remember the assembly time, don't forget."
"Okay, take care, Captain." Taiichi watched Yamaguchi's figure disappear around the street corner before closing the door and going inside.
Back in his room, Taiichi went to his study. Reflecting on the events of the reunion today, especially Rin's bewildered look about the future, he made up his mind.
If you are prosperous, help the world; if you are poor, improve yourself.
Since he came to the ninja world, he couldn't just look after his own little patch of land. Within his capabilities, he naturally wanted to eliminate the tragedies from the original story that hadn't happened yet.
Let's start by changing Rin! Thinking this, Taiichi picked up a scroll and wrote down the title of the medical notes he promised Rin and Shizune today: Detailed Explanation of Basic Medical Ninjutsu.
Writing prolifically, Taiichi recorded his entire learning process from when he first started studying medical ninjutsu to mastering the Mystical Palm Jutsu. He detailed every problem he encountered, every book he read, every question he had, and every insight he gained, leaving nothing out.
Finally, he appended the training methods for Healing Jutsu and Mystical Palm Jutsu, along with their key points and precautions.
Unknowingly, it was already around 12:00 AM. Taiichi stretched, looking with satisfaction at the masterpiece of his night's work. He believed this scroll would be of immense help to Rin and Shizune in their medical ninjutsu studies.
Taiichi carefully put the scroll away to prevent smudging the wet ink. Then he went to wash up and prepare for bed. As for the second copy, he would have to find time tomorrow to transcribe it.