[Arc of the Moon activating!]
Host has one revival opportunity per month. Upon death, revival will occur on the night of the previous full moon.
Reward: one lottery draw:
Fire-nature chakra
Chūnin-level chakra capacity (stackable)
Taijutsu: Shunshin (Basic)
The fire-nature chakra was rather unimpressive—useless filler, easily dismissed.
However, the second and third options made Yorimitsu hesitate.
If he chose Chūnin-level chakra capacity, it would instantly solve his chakra shortage. He could then use Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique to stay underground longer and move faster.
But the last option was just as tempting—Taijutsu: Shunshin.
That was the swift movement technique once used by Captain Brown Bear of his unit.
After comparing the two, Yorimitsu chose Taijutsu: Shunshin (Basic). The chakra problem could wait.
Solve the problem of "having or not having" first—worry about "good or bad" later.
In an instant, Yorimitsu learned the Body Flicker Technique.
By focusing chakra in his calves and ankles to stimulate the cells, he explosively boosted both muscle and chakra power, propelling himself forward with a strong kick off the ground.
The key was to keep chakra circulating in the leg meridians, stimulating specific muscles.
Bending down, Yorimitsu hoisted the unconscious Cloud ninja captain onto his shoulder and continued traveling.
This time, he practiced the Body Flicker Technique as he moved.
The Cloud ninja on his shoulder was astonished—why had the Konoha ninja suddenly gotten so fast?
When Captain Brown Bear saw Yorimitsu return after completing the mission, he was also greatly surprised.
Yorimitsu said, "Captain, I found several Uzumaki ninjas on the way back. They were carrying sealing scrolls. I request permission to go seize them."
He had to leave now. Once the interrogation revealed the alliance between the Cloud and Mist, he wouldn't be allowed to go anywhere.
Brown Bear replied, "Very well. Go and retrieve the sealing scrolls."
After leaving the unit's position at the beach, Yorimitsu used Shunshin to move quickly.
The feeling of the technique was exhilarating.
One step—chakra burst from his soles, sending his body soaring several meters into the air.
Wind rushed past his ears with a sharp whistling sound.
After checking several lakes, Yorimitsu finally found a juvenile Lance Heron.
It was fast, its beak long and sharp.
Following the bird to a lakeside, Yorimitsu spotted a massive adult Lance Heron.
The bird circled above the lake and, upon seeing him, its eyes sharpened—it suddenly dived straight toward him!
Its one-meter-long beak gleamed with a bronze metallic sheen, like a thrown spear.
"Stop! Don't attack!"
A familiar voice rang out—it was Uzumaki Yuuka.
The diving Lance Heron abruptly pulled up, circling again.
Standing with her hands on her hips, Yuuka smirked proudly. "Hey, Fox! What do you think of my new summoning beast?"
Yorimitsu still felt lingering fear as he looked at the bird's beak. Its speed was faster than a thrown kunai, and it even had the intelligence to dodge and change course.
"You've already tamed that summoning beast?"
How enviable.
"Not just this one," Yuuka said, waving her hand. "I've also contracted the whole Lance Heron flock."
From the woods behind her, five normal-sized herons took flight.
They darted through the air, their beaks like flying kunai.
With large ones for offense and smaller ones for distraction, this summoning family greatly boosted Yuuka's combat ability.
Suppressing his envy, Yorimitsu got straight to business.
"Yuuka, I gathered intel from the ANBU. Princess Kushina went to seal the wild Three-Tails, but was ambushed by Cloud and Mist shinobi. The sealing failed.
Konoha's ANBU will soon head to the coast to assist her, but two divisions won't be enough to save Princess Kushina."
Yuuka's face changed in shock. "Princess Kushina went to seal the Three-Tails? I didn't even know about this… The village must've kept it secret to prevent spies from leaking the information. Then I—"
"Good thing you've bonded with flying summons. Use them to call for reinforcements. Princess Kushina cannot be lost."
With that, Yorimitsu vanished using Shunshin.
Yuuka was stunned—Fox had grown much stronger. How did he do it? Did he grow through battle?
The shadow trail left by his Shunshin quickly faded into the mist—his aura, far more imposing than before.
An hour later, a special flare rose in the distance.
It was a crimson flare—ANBU's highest-level signal for emergency assembly.
Captain Yellow Dog had obtained intelligence from interrogating the Cloud captain.
Yorimitsu quickly returned to the main unit.
"Captain," he said to Brown Bear, "I was pursuing them when I saw the signal flare and came back immediately."
"It's fine. The intel from the captured Cloud ninja is more important than the sealing scrolls."
Yorimitsu grew uneasy—would Yuuka be able to bring enough reinforcements in time?
The Land of Waves was far from both Konoha and Uzushio; help might not make it in time.
Following the unit to the coast, they encountered Princess Kushina's group.
During the battle against the Mist-nin, Yorimitsu's newly learned Shunshin allowed him to move and dodge fluidly.
Once the princess's party retreated safely, Yorimitsu finally received the order to withdraw.
The Mist and Cloud forces were both powerful—the Mist pursued closely, while the Cloud moved to flank them.
The pressure mounted. Captain Yellow Dog ordered Black Bull's squad to cover the retreat.
They lasted less than thirty seconds before being wiped out.
Then he ordered Brown Bear's squad—Yorimitsu's unit—to take over the rear guard.
Brown Bear turned calmly, accepting both his own death and that of his subordinates.
But the subordinates didn't share his calm acceptance.
They were facing certain death.
Yorimitsu's eyes darted around rapidly as he focused chakra into his legs.
Exploiting the battlefield terrain, he found a less-crowded spot among the Mist-nin.
Using Shunshin, he leapt there—buying himself at least three more seconds of life.
The nearest Mist-nin would need that long to reach him.
Every second alive was a second earned.
Using his taijutsu body flicker, Yorimitsu held out the longest.
Meanwhile, Captain Brown Bear was surrounded, looking like a human pincushion—his body pierced by countless senbon needles.
Some had gone straight through his throat and heart.
In his final moments, the captain's conscience stirred—he wanted to check on his men.
Turning his head, he saw Fox was still alive.
In that instant, his eyes—visible through his mask—were filled with pity.
Yorimitsu froze.
Why… was he pitying him?
Instinctively, Yorimitsu threw himself forward!
Behind him, Biwa Jūzō's Executioner's Blade cleaved through the air toward his waist!
A man's waist—how could he let that be cut!?
Just as death loomed, he heard the thrilling sound of chains rattling!
That was the sound of the Uzumaki Clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains!
Two golden chains shot into the ground on either side of him, blocking the massive blade!
Rolling on the ground, Yorimitsu looked up to see the newcomer—
A ninja wearing the emblem of the Land of Waves Daimyō's Guardian Unit!
Behind him were numerous Uzumaki ninjas—all those stationed on missions in the Land of Waves had arrived.
Through the mist, a slender silhouette emerged—Uzumaki Yuuka had brought reinforcements!