The beast in the center of the clearing lay like it slept. It would be easy prey. The tiger moved slowly through the leaves toward's its intended victim. It's big paws made no sound as it slunk over the grass. The creature stirred as it moved closer.
The prey's eyes slammed open and it charged the tiger that had been stalking it. It's sharp claws sliced open the jugular of the animal that had been stalking it.
As the tiger fell to the ground the creature once known as Naruto bared it's fangs and started to rip into it's side.
The creature looked up and stared straight at them as it began to charge and it's claws swiped down.
Scrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrtttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
XXXHokage's OfficeXXX
"As you can see, this thing, whatever it is, is very dangerous. That footage was from a camera-man who was accosted in the forest outside the village. We don't know much about it other than it killed a full grown tiger in less than four seconds."
Sandaime looked from his desk to the footage. "Yes, I see that. What I also saw is that the man wasn't harmed."
The man dressed in furs looked at him. "But Lord Hokage, this could prove a danger to the children in care of Konoha, this is why you need a team of hunters to find this beast and kill it."
The Hokage rose. "Do you presume to tell me what I need? IF I deem this a problem, then I will decide how it will be handled, and we'll handle it ourselves. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Good Day."
The hunter walked out of the room grumbling.
Sarutobi looked to his side. "Kakashi, what would you make of this?"
The Copy ninja rose from the shadows. "Whatever it is now, I'd say it used to be human from the shape of it. And because of the radical changes in the way it acts, It's been out there long enough that it's feral. Also I'd say, he or she has had training in how to use chakra since that looked like a very extensive transformation jutsu."
Sandaime nodded. "I agree. The question is, what do we do about it. It hasn't harmed anyone in the village, even the camera-man was just scared."
"If I may be so bold, I'd suggest sending Gai out there to catch it. Out of all of us, he's the greatest Taijutsu expert, we wouldn't want to kill it." Kakashi felt a shift in his pocket and pushed his book back down into it.
"Hmm, perhaps. Get Gai and Kurenai in here. I want someone who can confuse it just in case."
Kakashi nodded. I'll go tell them." He opened a window and launched himself out of it.
Chakra training, huh? It barely looks human anymore. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
XXXForestXXX
"So do you think we can find this thing Gai?" Kurenai looked at her partner for this mission.
"Probably, from the briefing it thinks and acts like an animal. Basic tracking should be plenty"
Gai looked around the clearing where the initial pictures had been taken. "Look for anything out of place."
The two split up around the clearing searching for anything of an unusual nature.
"Yo Gai! Over here."
Gai Maito looked over to where the voice had come from and noticed a rustling in the bushes and a hand raising above it. After several minutes of maneuvering through thorn bushes he caught up with Kurenai. "So what'd you find?"
She pointed at the large hole that had been carved into the earth. It was easily big enough for a human. "I'd say that looks an awful lot like an animal den, wouldn't you?"
Gai nodded and got down to crawl inside of it.
That was when he first noticed the eyes.
He reared back in pain as his face was split open.
Gai landed on the ground outside the burrow holding his face though there was no injury.
"Gai! GAI! What's wrong?" Kurenai shouted at her partner trying to get his attention but he continued to roll around holding his cheek."
The low growling voice caused her to look back at the small cave-like entrance.
"Hooookaaaaageeeeee."
It charged out of the burrow knocking into her legs and forcing it's way through bushes as Gai sat up slightly. His cheek still throbbed and Kurenai saw that while there was no injury, the area he'd been holding held three distinctively pale marks that looked as if a beast had clawed him there many years before.
She stared at it. "Dear God, it used an illusion so powerful, it left a mark."
She looked at Gai who still looked a bit dazed. "Come on Gai, we need to get you back to the village. We're going to need help."
