NARUTO: In the Era of Sannin

The sun was high in the sky when Team Kagami arrived at the rendezvous point, the warmth radiating from the open farmland stretching as far as the eye could see. 

Surrounding the vast expanse of crops were dense forests, their borders almost a natural fortress that separated the farmland from the wilderness. 

The air was filled with the scent of ripening grain and the occasional rustling of leaves, but it was eerily quiet otherwise.

Standing there already was another team, a group of shinobi from Uzushiogakure. 

Their attire bore the unmistakable red spiral emblem on their sleeves, marking them as shinobi from the Hidden Whirlpool Village. Like Kagami's team, they consisted of three genin and one jonin instructor.

Kagami stepped forward first, his usual calm demeanor intact as he extended a hand to the Uzushiogakure jonin. The man, slightly shorter than Kagami but exuding a quiet strength, grasped it firmly.

"Kagami Uchiha, from Konoha," Kagami introduced himself. "You must be Masaru from Uzushiogakure."

"Correct," the man replied with a slight smile. "Masaru Kaname. I've heard about you, Kagami Uchiha. It's an honor to work alongside you."

"Likewise," Kagami said with a polite nod. He turned toward Masaru's students and introduced his own team. "These are my students Yuichi, Sakumo, and Mio. This is their first C-rank mission."

Masaru smiled kindly at the three. "Well, let's make sure it's a productive one. These are my students: Chiyori, the loud one; Kaede, our strategist; and Ren, the quiet one."

Chiyori, a girl with fiery red hair and a confident smile, gave a high five. "Nice to meet you! Let's do our best out there!"

Kaede, a sharp-eyed girl with her dark hair tied into a high ponytail, gave a curt nod but said nothing. Her calculating gaze lingered on Yuichi for a moment before moving on.

Ren, the smallest of the three, simply offered a polite bow. His presence was understated, but Yuichi sensed a quiet intensity about him.

"Now that introductions are out of the way," Kagami said, his tone shifting to business, "let's go over the situation."

The teams gathered near the edge of the farmland, where the worker, a worried looking middle-aged farmer, was waiting. His face was weathered, his hands calloused from years of hard work, but there was an air of desperation about him.

"The wild boars have been attacking the crops in waves," the farmer explained. "They've always been a problem, but this year it's worse than ever. Entire fields are being destroyed overnight. We're losing everything!"

Masaru nodded thoughtfully. "The mission details mentioned investigating the cause of the boars' increased activity. Have you noticed anything unusual in the forest? New predators, changes in the environment?"

The farmer hesitated before nodding. "There's been talk of something strange in the woods. Some of the older folks say they've heard unfamiliar noises at night like growling, but not from any animal they recognize. And the boars... they seem more aggressive, almost like they're being driven by something."

Kagami and Masaru exchanged a look, their expressions tightening. "That's useful information," Kagami said. "We'll investigate the forest, but first, we'll let our genin take the lead on dealing with the immediate problem."

Masaru nodded. "Agreed. This will be a good opportunity for them to learn."

As the jonin stepped back to observe, the two teams of genin moved to the edge of the farmland, where the first signs of damage were visible. Trampled crops, deep gouges in the soil, and torn vegetation painted a clear picture of the destruction.

"We'll need a plan," Mio said, crossing her arms. "We can't just rush in blindly."

"Let's split up," Kaede suggested. "One team scouts the forest to track the boars' movements while the other sets traps to herd them into a contained area."

Sakumo nodded enthusiastically. "I'm good at setting traps! Yuichi, Mio, and I can handle that."

"That works," Chiyori chimed in. "We'll handle the scouting. Ren's good at tracking, and Kaede's got a sharp eye for details. I'll cover them if anything goes wrong."

Yuichi gave a small nod of approval. "Sounds reasonable. Let's not waste time."

Team Kagami's genin worked quickly, using the materials at hand to construct sturdy traps. Yuichi, utilizing his precision and chakra control, carved deep grooves into the soil to create natural barriers. Mio improvised snares using ninja wire, carefully camouflaging them with grass and debris.

"Keep the lines taut," Mio instructed, her voice steady but focused. "If the boars charge through, we want the traps to hold."

Sakumo, meanwhile, worked with a surprising level of expertise, creating tripwires and pitfalls with a speed that impressed even Mio. "I've helped my dad hunt before," he explained when Yuichi raised an eyebrow. "This is nothing new."

The three worked efficiently, their individual skills complementing each other. By the time they finished, the traps formed a well-coordinated perimeter designed to funnel the boars into a central clearing.

Meanwhile, the Uzushiogakure genin delved into the forest, their movements swift and purposeful. Ren led the way, his sharp senses picking up faint trails of disturbed undergrowth. Chiyori and Kaede followed closely, their eyes scanning for any signs of danger.

"This way," Ren said quietly, pointing to a patch of overturned soil. "The boars came through here recently. But look at this..." He crouched down, his fingers brushing against a series of deep claw marks in a nearby tree.

"Those aren't from boars," Kaede said, frowning. "Something else is in these woods."

Chiyori's grin faltered. "You think it's what the farmer mentioned? That... thing driving the boars?"

"Possibly," Kaede replied. "But we don't have enough information yet. Let's keep moving."

By late afternoon, both teams regrouped in the clearing, sharing their findings. The Uzushiogakure team confirmed that something unusual was indeed stirring in the forest, something large and aggressive. However, they hadn't seen it directly.

"We'll stick to the plan," Kagami said. "capture the boars into the traps first, then investigate the forest further."

The plan unfolded like clockwork. Using sound and movement, the genin drove the boars from the forest, forcing them toward the traps. 

The animals were larger and more feral than expected, their eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. But the traps held, and soon the clearing was filled with thrashing, captured boars.

"That was... easier than I expected," Mio admitted, though her tone was cautious.

"Don't get comfortable," Masaru said, stepping forward. His sharp gaze was fixed on the forest's edge. "Something's still out there."

A low growl echoed from the trees, sending a chill through the air. The genin froze as a massive shadow emerged from the forest, a hulking beast with matted fur and glowing red eyes. It wasn't a boar but something far more menacing, its presence radiating an unnatural aura.

"Stay back," Kagami ordered, stepping in front of his students. Masaru joined him, drawing a kunai.

"This isn't a normal animal," Masaru muttered. "It's been corrupted by chakra."

The creature snarled and created a large voice calling out its remaining minions. With his prey surrounded he dug his claws into the soil and prepared to charge. The genin watched in stunned silence, their earlier triumph overshadowed by the new threat.

"Genin, fall back and deal with the lower one," Kagami commanded. "Masaru and I will handle this."

As the jonin prepared to face the beast, Yuichi clenched his fists, his mind racing. This isn't over yet.