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The sun rays slipped through the cracks in the thin wooden shutters, slowly waking him up from his sleep. His stomach growled, a reminder of his no food situation. He rolled over, groaning as the reality of his predicament settled in once again. No food. No money. No plan.
Being broke was far from enjoyable, and while he technically had a job, payday was still a week away. And he knew he wouldn't survive another week without food, if he waited another week for his paycheck.
Sitting up slowly, he glanced around the tiny room. He had searched every corner last night for something—anything—to eat, but there was nothing. Not even a crumb. He'd gone to bed hungry, hoping the morning might give him some clarity or a solution, but nothing had changed.
"Guess I'll have to find food the old-fashioned way," he muttered, rubbing his face before standing up. The creaky floorboards groaned under his weight as he moved to the corner where a small bag hung on a peg. Inside was a rusted kunai, the only weapon he had. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
He planned to hunt for food in the nearby forest, hoping to catch a rabbit or two. They were a great source of protein, and Kaito had no qualms about eating them, as cute as they were.
Pulling on his sandals, he stepped outside and left his apartment heading towards the training grounds. After a few minutes of walking, Kaito finally arrived at the training grounds.
Although it wasn't technically a forest, the training grounds were bordered by a forest nearby. "Do not enter…" he muttered, reading the bold red words painted on a sign attached to the chain-link fence in front of him. A mischievous grin spread across his face. "So, I can enter… sweet." Without hesitation, he leapt onto the fence, climbed over, and landed on the other side.
Kaito continued walking through the forest, scanning his surroundings for anything edible.
He wandered through the lush forest, his eyes darting from tree to ground, taking in every detail. With his hands shoved into his pockets, he searched desperately for food—anything that could ease the gnawing hunger in his stomach. At this point, he wasn't picky; even worms were starting to seem like a viable option.
Then, his eyes caught sight of something familiar, and a spark of hope drove him to pick up his pace. He came to a stop beneath a tree filled with round, red fruits. Apples.
Without hesitation, Kaito channeled chakra into his feet and stuck to the bark. Effortlessly, he climbed the tree, plucked a ripe apple from its stem, and sank his teeth into it without even waiting. The burst of sweetness was a relief, satisfying his immediate hunger.
It was savoring... crunchy and sweet.
It felt like heaven in Kaito's mouth. He hadn't eaten in what felt like days, and the apple was the first thing to bring him back to life. He devoured it in moments and quickly moved on to the rest, eating every apple on the tree until he was completely full.
He slumped against the tree, letting its shade provide some comfort from the sun. "Finally..." he whispered, a single tear tracing a line down his cheek. He gazed around the area, taking it in for a while. "Alright, this is where I'll set up camp for a while..." he made up his mind.
It was perfect; there was enough space to build a fire, and if he couldn't find food elsewhere, the nearby apple tree was enough. After allowing the meal to settle in his stomach, he pushed himself off the tree, stretching his stiff muscles before venturing into the forest to gather dry sticks for a fire.
He collected an ample supply of sticks, making sure there would be enough to keep the fire going even if it burned out. With both arms full of the gathered wood, he made his way back to the campsite.
He arrived back and dropped the sticks onto the ground, clapping his hands together to rid them of dust. Removing his backpack, he propped it against the tree before settling down himself. With a deep exhale, he crossed his legs and sank into a meditative position under the tree's shade.
Reaching for a piece of dried bark from the pile of sticks, he set it down carefully in front of him. Then, grabbing a sturdy stick, he positioned it between his palms and began twisting it back and forth trying to ignite a spark to start the fire.
He struggled for hours, trying desperately to produce even a wisp of smoke, but no matter how hard he worked, the fire refused to ignite. His arms felt like they were on fire themselves, every muscle burning and trembling.
"Shit..." he muttered, using the back of his hand to wipe away the sweat trickling down his forehead. Despite his exhaustion, he refused to give up. Gritting his teeth, he adjusted the stick and resumed rubbing it against the bark. For a moment, it seemed futile, but then—a hint of smoke began to curl up from the base of the stick.
"YESS... C'mon, baby..." he whispered, a spark of hope lighting in his chest. Licking the corner of his lips, he increased his pace, the sticks grinding together. Until finally, a tiny ember flickered to life, catching on the dry bark. Leaning closer, he blew gently on the ember, coaxing it to grow as it slowly began to glow brighter.
He carefully carried the fire bark and placed it under the pile of sticks, gently blowing on the ember until it grew into a roaring flame. The fire crackled to life, its warming the surrounding area as it burned the dry wood.
"Fuck yeah," he muttered triumphantly, standing tall with his hands on his hips. A heavy sigh of satisfaction escaped him as he gazed at the fire, a proud grin spreading across his face.
"Now I just need some fresh water..." he said to himself.
He let out another deep breath before walking over to his bag, which rested against the tree. From it, he pulled out a small pot to collect the water and tucked his kunai into his back pocket for safety. With his tools in hand, he set off into the forest, scanning the area for any sign of a river or a fresh water source nearby.
After a few minutes of walking, Kaito sniffed the air sharply. The scent of moisture hung thick around him, a clear sign that water was nearby. His eyes lit up with excitement as he stopped to focus, trying to catch the faintest sound.
'Found it...' he thought as his ears caught the distant trickle ahead. Without hesitation, he dashed toward the sound, weaving through a dense stretch of trees. There in front of him was a tranquil river flowing over a slope of rocks, the water flowing downward into the distance.
"Perfect..." Kaito licked his lips. Running water was far better than still water; they had bacteria and diseases just sitting there. With flowing water, he could almost drink it straight—almost. But there is nothing wrong with being too cautious. He wasn't taking any chances, he'll have to boil the water.
He knelt by the riverbank, dipping his pot into the cool, clear stream and letting the water flow in until it was full.
Crack.
Then he heard it... the distinct crunch of leaves being crunched. His heart pounded as he crouched low, gripping the kunai tightly from his back pocket.
Then his eyes quickly wandered to the right of him. Directly across the river was a boar.
The animal was massive, its coarse fur blending with the shadows of the forest. It hadn't noticed him yet, busy rooting through the dirt for food. Kaito's stomach growled louder this time, even though he'd eaten some apples earlier. It seemed the apples weren't enough to fill him.
He then focused his chakra into the soles of his feet. The energy coursed through him as he took a deep breath, steadying his balance. He then leaped onto the water, his chakra creating a thin barrier that kept him from sinking. With another hop he landed smoothly on the other side.
He stepped carefully, trying to get closer without alerting the creature. But as he shifted his weight, a dry twig snapped beneath his sandal. The boar's head shot up, its beady eyes locking onto him. For a moment, they both froze, neither willing to make the first move.
Then, with a sudden burst of energy, the boar bolted, crashing through the underbrush. He cursed under his breath and took off after it, his feet pounding against the forest floor. The chase was on, with the boar zigzagging through trees and leaping over logs with surprising agility. He struggled to keep up, dodging low-hanging branches and jumping over roots.
Finally, seeing an opening, he raised the kunai. His arm tensed as he aimed and hurled it with all his strength. The blade spun through the air, its edge glinting in the dappled sunlight.
He completely missed...
The kunai missed its mark, embedding itself into a nearby tree with a dull thunk. He skidded to a halt, panting, as the boar ran further into the forest. Frustration bubbled up inside him, but before he could dwell on it, his attention was drawn to a sound—the rustling of leaves just ahead.
There, near the riverbank, the boar had stopped to drink, its large frame partially hidden by the leaves. It hadn't run far, and this might be his second chance.
Quietly, he crept closer, careful to avoid stepping on anything that might make noise. He reached for his kunai, only to realize he left it behind. His heart sank as he stared at the lone weapon stuck in the tree behind him. He had one shot left—to improvise.
His gaze flickered around the area, searching for something he could use. A sturdy branch lay nearby, its length and weight enough to serve as a makeshift weapon. Grabbing it, he steadied his breathing and inched closer to the boar, his grip tightening on the branch.
This time, he wouldn't miss.
With his improvised weapon in hand, he waited for the right moment. The boar was drinking, unaware of his presence. He inched closer, his steps slow and deliberate. The tension in his muscles built with every move, his heart pounding loudly in his chest.
When he was close enough, he lunged. The branch came down with all the force he could muster, aiming for the boar's head. But the boar was quick. It turned at the last second, the branch grazing its side instead of landing a decisive blow. The animal let out a sharp squeal and bolted again, tearing through the underbrush.
"Damn it!" he hissed, frustration bubbling over as he gave chase once more. The boar led him deeper into the forest, the terrain growing more uneven with every step.
As they approached a clearing, the boar made a critical mistake. It hesitated for just a moment, its path blocked by a fallen tree. Grabbing the opportunity, he lunged forward, swinging the branch with all his might. The makeshift weapon connected with the boar's hind leg, causing it to stumble and collapse with a pained grunt.
Panting heavily, he stood over the animal, his hands trembling from the effort. The boar thrashed weakly, trying to get up but failing to do so. He knew he had to act quickly before it regained its strength or attracted predators. His eyes flicked back to the tree where his kunai was lodged.
"Stay down," he muttered, as much to himself as to the boar, before sprinting back to retrieve his weapon. The blade came free with a sharp tug, and he went back to the boar.
The boar let out one last defiant squeal as he approached, but this time, he didn't hesitate. With a swift motion, he swung it down into its head.
Killing it...
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