Chapter 199: What a Big Bird
Kawakita Town lay at the foot of a small mountain, exactly as Mugetsu had imagined remote and impoverished. Most of the houses looked decades older than those in Konoha's Main District, as though they belonged to another era altogether.
"The scenery's actually pretty nice," Obito said as he climbed onto a rooftop, shading his eyes with one hand as he admired the view.
"Ninja sirs, Big Black usually stays near the mountain's peak. If possible, please don't kill it just drive it away," Mr. Hamaji pleaded earnestly.
His words instantly soured Obito's mood. The thought of helping that despicable Mayor made his stomach churn.
"I understand," Mugetsu replied with a calm nod. "But since it's a flying creature, we'll need some time to plan. We'll inform you once it's done."
With that, he turned and led his students toward the mountains.
"Mugetsu-sensei, we're not really going to help that Mayor, are we?" Obito asked anxiously as they walked.
"What else would you do?" Kakashi answered first, his tone indifferent. "A Ninja is nothing if he doesn't complete his mission."
Though he disliked the Mayor as well, Kakashi's sense of duty prevailed. To him, the mission came first—personal feelings second.
"Let's investigate thoroughly before acting," Mugetsu said, shaking his head. "Never take someone's words at face value. If the eagle truly is attacking people, and the Mayor isn't lying, we'd only make things worse by acting rashly."
Obito felt a spark of relief hearing that. "Hah, I didn't even ask you, Kakashi, you narcissist!" he said, smirking.
Guided by the Byakugan's far-reaching vision, Mugetsu soon located the giant eagle mentioned in the mission report.
Because of its massive size, it didn't nest in trees or cliffs like an ordinary bird. Instead, it occupied a wide cave carved into the mountain face.
By rough estimation, the creature's body stretched nearly four meters long, with a wingspan exceeding ten. Seeing it up close, Mugetsu was certain—it was a Nin-Beast. No ordinary eagle could grow this large.
"Big Black! Big Black!" Obito shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth.
He and the others hadn't spotted the eagle yet; they lacked Mugetsu's enhanced vision.
Of course, Mugetsu couldn't reveal the Byakugan's existence, so he silently guided his team closer, taking a roundabout path toward the cave.
Suddenly, a piercing shriek echoed through the valley.
A huge black shadow flashed overhead, and a massive eagle emerged from the cave, its razor-sharp eyes locked onto them.
"What a big bird!" Obito exclaimed, eyes wide.
Reading about a giant eagle in the mission report was one thing—but seeing a towering, living creature several meters tall was something else entirely.
Kakashi's expression tightened. His hand slipped into his ninja pouch, gripping two kunai.
Unlike Obito, his first thought was pure calculation—those talons could crush a human skull in one strike.
"It really is enormous," Might Guy murmured, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "What if it just flies off mid-battle? How would we even reach it?"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The eagle spread its vast wings and flapped them with terrifying force, sending waves of air rippling across the mountainside. Leaves, dust, and gravel whipped through the air like a storm.
Thinking the creature was about to attack, Kakashi immediately raised his kunai to throw—
—but Mugetsu's hand shot out, stopping him.
"Don't act yet," Mugetsu said, his tone even. "Look there."
He pointed toward the eagle's right wing.
Following his gaze, Kakashi noticed for the first time a scorched wound along the feathers—barely visible against its dark plumage.
"This wound…" Kakashi frowned. "That's from Lightning Release."
"Could there be other Ninja in the area?" he muttered, still watching the eagle cautiously.
Having trained in Lightning Release himself, Kakashi recognized the burn pattern immediately.
"Maybe the Mayor already hired other Ninja to get revenge on Big Black," Obito said, his tone uncertain.
By now, Mugetsu had a rough idea of the giant eagle's temperament. Even while injured, it showed no true hostility—only cautious warnings to strangers.
With a gentle smile, Mugetsu stepped forward. The giant eagle flinched at his movement, flapping its wings in alarm.
"Don't be afraid," Mugetsu said softly. "I won't hurt you. I just want to help you heal."
He continued walking fearlessly toward it, his calm voice echoing through the mountain breeze. If it was truly a Nin-Beast, it might understand his words.
The black eagle either didn't comprehend or didn't believe him. When Mugetsu kept advancing, ignoring its warning cries, the creature suddenly swung its massive left wing in a defensive sweep.
Whoosh!
But Mugetsu vanished from sight.
Before the eagle could even react, a heavy force struck its head. The world spun before its eyes, and the next instant—it collapsed onto the ground with a loud thud.
"So that's what it looks like when Sensei goes easy on me," Obito muttered, rubbing the spot on his forehead that often bore Mugetsu's flicks. Watching his teacher knock down a beast that large with two fingers made him realize just how "gentle" those hits really were.
Once the creature was subdued, Mugetsu knelt beside it and placed his palm over the burned wound. A soothing green light spread across the eagle's body as he used the Mystical Palm Technique.
The scorching injury mended rapidly, feathers trembling as new tissue regenerated.
"Gu—gu~" The eagle let out a low, contented cry. The pain faded completely, replaced by an unfamiliar sense of relief.
It didn't understand what the little human had done, but one thing was clear—this strange person was powerful and meant no harm.
The giant eagle folded its wings and lowered its head, brushing gently against Mugetsu in gratitude.
Obito's eyes lit up at the sight of its soft feathers. "It looks so fluffy…" he murmured, approaching with the eagerness of a child wanting to pet a dog.
The moment he reached out, however, the eagle stepped back, glaring at him warily.
"Don't worry," Mugetsu reassured the creature. "They're all my students. They won't hurt you."
With that, Mugetsu and his disciples set up their tents nearby. Though there were homes down in the village, Mugetsu decided to remain on the mountain—partly to protect the area, and partly to strengthen the growing bond with the Nin-Beast.
By midday, the group had settled in. Then, perhaps as a token of gratitude, the eagle swooped away and returned carrying an injured wild boar, dropping it neatly in front of Mugetsu's tent.
"Well then," Mugetsu said, smiling faintly. He dispatched the boar quickly and roasted it over a fire.
Afterward, the eagle returned to its cave—but it didn't stay there long. Drawn by the intoxicating aroma of roasting meat, it soon emerged again, circling down to land beside the camp.
It stared longingly at the golden-brown boar, nostrils flaring. It clearly wanted to eat but held itself back, aware that the small human who had healed it was not one to offend.
"No way… Do eagles like roasted meat too?" Obito asked incredulously.
Mugetsu chuckled inwardly. As expected, the chef's skill is divine. Even a Nin-Beast couldn't resist good food.
The eagle hesitated for a few moments, then suddenly flew off. When it returned, it carried several wild animals in its talons—deer, rabbits, and pheasants—which it piled respectfully before Mugetsu.
"Gu~" it cried softly, pointing at the prey, then at the roasted boar, as if proposing a trade.
Mugetsu laughed, cutting away two-thirds of the boar with a kunai. "I can't give you everything," he said kindly. "My students need to eat too."
The eagle chirped excitedly and immediately began devouring its share. It ignored Obito, who took advantage of the distraction to finally pat its head, grinning from ear to ear.
One bite was all it took—the eagle's eyes widened with sheer delight. The flavor was beyond anything it had ever experienced.
"Wow! Mugetsu-sensei, Big Black really loves your roasted meat!" Obito exclaimed, still running his hands over the creature's thick feathers.
Mugetsu smiled quietly. A few more meals like this, he thought, and this proud sky king will follow me willingly.
After dinner, his tone turned serious. "We'll investigate Kawakita Town after this. Be alert—there might be enemy Ninja nearby."
Given the Lightning-inflicted wound on the eagle's wing, the attackers were most likely from Kumogakure. The Land of Rivers bordered the Land of Wind, and with the ongoing conflict between Cloud and Sand, it wasn't unusual for stray Cloud Ninja to be active here.
Still, Mugetsu reasoned that the enemies couldn't be too strong. If they were, the giant eagle wouldn't have survived the encounter.
Kakashi sighed, a shadow of disbelief on his face. "Obito's jinx came true again," he muttered. "Another C-Rank mission, another unexpected Ninja encounter."
Before joining Mugetsu's team, he'd completed countless missions without ever meeting enemy Shinobi. But with this teacher… every "routine" mission turned into an adventure.
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