Uzumaki Yuka was gravely injured, while the Cloud-nin squad leader was trapped by her sealing technique.
Yet, despite that, Purple Cat still clung stubbornly to the ANBU's mission — the first priority was to prevent the sealing techniques from leaking out.
Killing Uzumaki Yuka would indeed fulfill that mission.
But once the mission was complete, wouldn't that mean his own death too?
Sometimes, Yagami really couldn't understand the mindset of these Hidden Leaf shinobi.
Every day in the ANBU, apart from training, was filled with endless lectures from squad captains drilling the same idea into their heads — that shinobi were mere tools to carry out missions.
Mission above all. That doctrine was followed in the ANBU without the slightest deviation.
Just like how, in the original story, Kisame Hoshigaki completed his intel escort mission and slaughtered the entire intel team before Konoha's ninja could arrive.
Keeping tight on Purple Cat's heels, Yagami used the man's back as cover to form his hand seals, hiding his movements from the others.
When Purple Cat's kunai was only ten centimeters from Yuka's throat, it suddenly stopped.
He froze in place, joints locked by the same kind of curse marks as the Cloud-nin captain.
Purple Cat's eyes widened in shock. Uzumaki Yuka had been slashed twice — how could she still fight?
But Yuka herself was stunned too, because she hadn't cast that sealing jutsu!
Her gaze shifted toward the masked fox behind Purple Cat, and realization struck.
No wonder he'd been taking care of her all this time — the fox must be from the Senju Clan!
A secret technique of the Uzumaki Clan would never be taught to outsiders except trusted allies or disciples.
For him to use the Uzumaki's Self-Curse Seal of Binding, he had to be one of their own.
That realization shocked her even more — the fox was on their side!
Instead of killing her when she was vulnerable, he'd restrained Purple Cat first.
Without hesitation, Yagami dashed toward the Cloud-nin captain.
His kunai drove straight for the man's heart.
The Cloud-nin captain was strong — a mid-level jōnin at least — and managed to break free of Uzumaki Yuka's weakened seal just in time.
He swung his sword upward, slashing toward Yagami's wrist.
Facing such an elite opponent, Yagami felt death breathing down his neck.
His monthly resurrection had already been used. If he died now, it'd be for real.
He feigned a stumble — legs suddenly going weak — and dropped his stance just enough to dodge the upward slash.
The kunai missed the heart but pierced the captain's abdomen instead.
A successful hit was enough. Yagami rolled away, scrambling backward as fast as he could.
The rest of this battle was out of his league. He'd done everything he could.
His chakra reserves were average, and Purple Cat's seal had already faded.
Now forced into close quarters with the Cloud-nin captain, Purple Cat had no choice but to fight head-on.
The captain leapt back instantly, wary of being sealed again, and Purple Cat chased after him.
Yagami, meanwhile, crawled to Uzumaki Yuka's side, quickly applying pressure to her wounds and sprinkling healing medicine over them.
After some emergency treatment, Yuka's condition improved significantly.
Her trembling hands caught Yagami's and, with surprising strength, guided them toward her thigh.
Yagami blinked in confusion. "Uh… this really isn't the time for that, is it?"
But beneath her skirt, his hand brushed against something — a scroll strapped to her leg.
"Throw it!" Yuka gasped weakly. "Throw it toward the Cloud-nin! That's what they came for… it's also our secret weapon!"
Yagami's heart leapt. So saving the Uzumaki ninja hadn't been in vain after all — there was even a bonus reward!
He snatched the scroll and hurled it toward the Cloud-nin captain.
Only then did he realize — Purple Cat was dead. The Cloud-nin captain had cut him down moments ago.
The scroll unfurled midair, glowing with brilliant golden light.
A chorus of metallic clanks followed as countless chains with bladed tips burst out like a massive net.
Yagami immediately hit the ground, flattening himself.
Everyone standing nearby was either pierced or ensnared by the chains.
Adamantine Sealing Chains?!
The Uzumaki Clan had turned their most powerful sealing technique — the Adamantine Sealing Chains — into a single-use ninja tool, similar to an explosive tag?
Those chains were once a jutsu only the most gifted members of the clan could wield. Now even ordinary clansmen could use them through these scrolls.
Yagami sprang up, throwing several kunai in quick succession.
The immobilized Cloud-nin captain didn't even have time to react before one struck true, ending him.
Yagami exhaled slowly. The danger was finally over.
"Fox! Keep moving!"
The shout from Captain Antelope jolted Yagami back to his senses. He turned to see the captain also bound by the chains, unable to move.
What an incredible sealing technique.
Kunai after kunai flew, each one finding a Cloud-nin's throat with surgical precision.
The battle was finished.
Eight Cloud-nin dead. Two Uzumaki men dead. Purple Cat dead.
Yagami stood over Purple Cat's body, feeling a twinge of regret.
They had just started to work well together… and now he was gone.
Purple Cat had been a civilian-born shinobi, just like Yagami — expendable cannon fodder.
Captain Antelope walked over, sighing in disappointment. "Purple Cat died first? That's… unexpected."
Yagami and Kakunuma both looked up at him.
Wait, what?
Captain, what do you mean 'unexpected'? What kind of order were you expecting? Who was supposed to die first?!
Captain Antelope didn't answer. Instead, he turned toward Uzumaki Yuka.
"Captain Antelope, please… have Fox carry me. We need to get back to Uzushio as soon as possible."
Lying on the ground, Yuka pleaded weakly.
Yagami noticed the captain's body tense — hesitation flickering in his movements.
Wasn't Uzushio an ally of the Hidden Leaf? What orders had the captain actually received?
The mission directive had been clear: make sure the Uzumaki ninja didn't fall into enemy hands. That part made sense. But why the hesitation now that all Cloud-nin were dead?
Only the captain knew the full mission. Yagami, as a subordinate, was just there to follow orders.
The golden chain scroll was strapped to the captain's back — clearly, he had no intention of returning it to Yuka.
After a brief pause, he finally said, "Fine. We'll head to Uzushio immediately."
Yagami lifted Yuka onto his back and began walking toward the Hidden Eddy Village.
During a brief rest on the way, he set her down carefully and examined her wounds again.
They were healing well.
Her thighs, too, were no longer hiding the scroll.
Last time he'd checked, he'd been too distracted by the elegant lines of her muscles to notice she'd hidden a second scroll on her other leg.
When Captain Antelope walked away, Yuka leaned weakly against Yagami and whispered,
"I know you won't admit it, but you must be from the Senju Clan — someone who learned the Uzumaki's secret sealing jutsu, the Self-Curse Seal of Binding.
So I'll treat you as one of us.
Please… help me. Help me get back to the village safely."
Her voice trembled, but there was conviction in it.
"Recently, there've been rumors spreading through the village — that ever since the Second Hokage, Tobirama-sama, was killed, the Hidden Leaf no longer intends to honor the alliance between the Senju and Uzumaki Clans.
The current Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, isn't of the Senju bloodline.
The people of the Leaf treat us colder with each passing day. Only the Senju's remaining kin still uphold the contract."
Yagami nodded slightly, pretending to agree.
But in truth, if the captain ordered him to kill Yuka, he wouldn't hesitate.
He couldn't fight Captain Antelope — so he'd obey him.
When they finally reached the outskirts of the Hidden Eddy Village, Yagami froze in shock, staring at the sight before him.
Uzushio… is this place really that strong?