A thick mist smothered visibility.
Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu—now this was a technique worth learning. If Yako ever got the chance, he'd pick it up for sure. Perfect for hiding and surviving.
He grinned silently. In this fog, no one could see a thing. That meant he could slack off undetected.
Charge into a hundred Mist-nin? Only an idiot would do that.
He formed hand seals and created a shadow clone, sinking his real body into the rocks.
He passed on a simple order to the clone: dodge only, never counterattack, and last as long as possible.
The shadow clone endured for several minutes before being overwhelmed by a wide-range Water Release.
While attention was diverted, Yako emerged from the rocks and killed two Mist-nin in a swift ambush.
Satisfied with his "quota," he made another clone and dove back into the reef.
But constant use of Earth Release: Subterranean Swimming Jutsu drained chakra fast. Eventually, he'd run out.
He turned his eyes to the center of the battlefield.
On the surface of the sea, Captain Yellow Dog was locked in fierce combat with five Mist Jōnin.
He was strong—but Mist-nin had home-field advantage. Their Water Release drained very little chakra here.
Finally, good news came.
Seeing that the Uzumaki were retreating, and fearing the princess might walk into another ambush, Yellow Dog ordered a fighting retreat.
Konoha's ANBU threw smoke bombs into the mist, making visibility even worse.
Yako took advantage of the chaos, leaping back toward the rear.
No need to outrun the Mist-nin—just outrun the last guy in ANBU.
Once away from the shore, the pressure dropped. Water Release cost a lot more chakra on land.
Nearby, the other ANBU battalion began retreating as well, avoiding entanglement with the Cloud-nin.
The beach was now a graveyard—ANBU, Uzumaki, Cloud, and Mist, all had left corpses behind.
A stream of orders flowed from Captain Yellow Dog.
Four squads would each take turns covering the retreat.
Black Bull Squad went first.
Not a single Black Bull hesitated. They raised kunai or wove hand seals, standing firm against the charging Mist-nin.
Or perhaps… welcoming death.
Yako wasn't poisoned by the "Will of Fire." He wasn't going to throw his life away like that.
Half a minute passed. Behind them came the roar of Water Release.
Unless something unexpected happened, Black Bull Squad was already wiped out.
"Brown Bear! Your squad covers next!"
It was Yako's turn.
With Brown Bear in the lead, the squad stopped moving.
Yako, using inertia, dragged his feet just enough to "end up" in the rear.
Damn it.
The extermination of the Uzumaki clan loomed closer. Battles were coming faster and harder.
It was only the 22nd of the lunar month. If he died here, he'd have to wait twenty agonizing days for the next full moon.
He drew his ninja blade, eyes fixed on the rear.
This was a death mission.
And if he had to die, he'd better die in a way that earned him something good.
Mist techniques were powerful—but poorly suited for him. Getting stuck with Water Release chakra would be a waste.
His eyes drifted toward Captain Brown Bear's back.
If he had to die… maybe…
The fog advanced like a wall, pressing closer.
Mist-nin chased from behind, while Cloud-nin flanked ahead.
Brown Bear showed no sign of retreat. He was ready to die for Konoha.
The mist swallowed the entire squad.
Visibility dropped. Yako crept closer to the captain.
Then the captain vanished.
Yako jumped in surprise and rolled sideways.
A water jet blasted through where he'd just been, pulverizing the palm trees behind him.
While rolling, he spotted a shadow dropping from midair.
It was Captain Brown Bear, just finishing a high-speed Body Flicker.
"For Konoha! Don't fall back!"
Brown Bear charged, unleashing Fire Release at three Mist-nin.
Flame burst forth, evaporating the surrounding mist.
The Mist-nin countered with Water Formation Wall, blocking the flames and producing more steam.
Behind Yako came the faint hiss of a kunai through the air. He ducked.
It sliced past overhead.
A Mist-nin had silently appeared behind him. Yako pushed off the ground and kicked upward, knocking the enemy away.
Too many Mist-nin. Knock one away, three more filled the frame.
From the side, Brown Bear suddenly flew backward, struck by Water Release.
Yako sidestepped to catch him.
Brown Bear coughed blood, looked up, and relaxed when he saw it was Yako.
Then his eyes went wide with terror.
The blade had already pierced his back and run through his organs.
"A spy?"
Even in death, Brown Bear couldn't believe an ANBU subordinate would betray him.
"Which village sent yo—"
He never finished.
A massive blade came swinging down.
Yako saw one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!
It was Kuriarare Kushimaru, wielding the Executioner's Blade.
Each of the Seven Swordsmen was elite Jōnin level.
So it was them who had been dispatched to pursue the Uzumaki Princess.
These seven were the personal strike force of the Third Mizukage—seven elite Jōnin with terrifying strength.
Clearly, Uzushio's attempt to seal a Tailed Beast at sea had enraged Kirigakure beyond reason.
There would be no mercy now.
The Executioner's Blade was long and heavy. In one swing, it took both Yako and Brown Bear's heads.
They say your mind stays active a few seconds after beheading.
As his world spun, Yako's head landed face-to-face with Brown Bear's, both pairs of pupils dilating in tandem.
His vision blurred. Then came rebirth.
Yako revived—back to the night after capturing the Cloud-nin captain.
The Cloud-nin, crippled and moaning, lay sprawled on the ground.
He looked up at Yako, only to find the ANBU standing there blankly, eyes vacant.
Yako's heart sank.
ANBU had assigned them to rear guard. A death sentence.
Mist-nin would kill them on contact.
Even if he somehow escaped, he'd run into patrolling Cloud-nin. Same result.
And even in the best scenario—if he dodged all their blades—ANBU would mark him a deserter and hunt him down.
No matter which road he took, it led to death.
A blocked tunnel with two dead ends.
What now?
Following the path of his last life meant certain death.
The Seven Swordsmen alone—just Kushimaru—was enough to instantly kill him and Brown Bear. No chance of survival.
What could he do? How could he break this loop?
Then the system chimed in.
Well—first things first. Pick the reward. Get stronger.
[Lunar Arc Activated!]
The host has one monthly resurrection. Upon death, the host is revived at the night of the previous full moon.
Reward: One lottery draw.
1 - Fire Release Chakra
2 - Chūnin-level Chakra Capacity (stackable)
3 - Taijutsu Body Flicker (Beginner)
Not bad. Not bad at all.
He was… quite pleased with this draw.