The world shifted.
Yako gasped awake, breathing hard in bed. Beside him, the landlady Qiao Yi was still fast asleep.
Her back—smooth and alluring.
Being alive… felt damn good.
[Arc of the Moonwatcher Activated!]
[Host receives one resurrection per month. Upon death, return to the previous full moon.]
[You've earned a reward spin:]
A-Rank Sealing Technique: Self-Paralysis Curse Mark (Beginner)
Chūnin-level Chakra (Stackable)
Kenjutsu: Blade Techniques (Beginner)
While caressing Qiao Yi's slim waist and flawless back, basking in the warmth of resurrection, Yako weighed his choices.
Beginner-level Kenjutsu had its merits.
He was about to escort Uzumaki Yuka's squad again—and Kumo-nin favored blade combat. If he mastered swordsmanship, he could anticipate their movements, hold his own in close quarters, and not get sliced apart like last time.
Stackable chakra was also tempting.
Right now, his chakra reserves were chūnin-level. Without a bloodline limit, he couldn't grow his reserves as quickly as geniuses.
If we measured chakra in terms of original-series Kakashi units, Yako probably had a pitiful 0.1 "Kaka."
But in the end, Yako picked the first reward.
Who could say no to an A-rank sealing jutsu?
A jutsu's rank didn't indicate power, only the difficulty to learn.
The Uzumaki clan's Self-Paralysis Curse Mark—incredibly effective.
Even severely wounded, Yuka had used it to completely immobilize two Kumo-nin.
After studying it, Yako understood the mechanics.
It could be triggered by physical contact, or pre-inscribed into the ground. Anyone within two meters would be caught in the trap.
The cursed seal locked every joint in the enemy's body, freezing them completely.
His system-granted version was entry-level, but the trap was subtle, hard to detect, and had strong control potential.
Not bad. He finally had a second ninjutsu.
Yako approached the window, glanced one last time at Qiao Yi's bare back and legs, then leapt into the Konoha dawn.
At the squad dressing room, Captain Antelope frowned slightly.
For some reason, Fox gave him a longer look than usual.
Yako seethed inside. In the last timeline, when he died, Captain Antelope hadn't tried to save anyone—he'd just turned tail and vanished.
If not for resurrection, he'd have ended up as nothing but wild grass in a wheat field—dead and meaningless.
This time, Yako was going to save the three Uzumaki shinobi. If they lived and fought, they could help take down the two Kumo squads.
Everything played out like déjà vu. Their squad met up with Uzumaki Yuka's team in the Land of Waves.
This time, Yako came prepared with stronger salves and bandaged Yuka more carefully.
She was deeply touched.
Uzushiogakure was lucky to have Konoha and the Senju as allies.
This ANBU wore a mask, but she could feel his sincerity.
To treat her thigh wound properly, the bandage had to be wrapped high up.
Yuka had to spread her legs wider, blushing slightly.
Long legs, straight and fair. Yako had impure thoughts, but only briefly.
Those three Uzumaki had to survive. If they died, he was doomed too.
He finished her thigh, then dressed the wound on her hand.
Through the eyeholes of his mask, she saw kind, clear eyes. She whispered, "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"I heard your captain call you Fox. What's your real name?"
"Classified."
She looked disappointed. This ANBU was so gentle and attentive, and yet… didn't trust her with his name.
If she ever visited Konoha, how would she even find him?
Once they entered the Land of Whirlpools, Yako was tenser than everyone else.
Especially when they walked the narrow paths through the wheat fields.
He retraced every detail from the last timeline, found the landmarks—and found the explosive tag trap.
The Kumo-nin had hidden with such perfection, they might've laid this trap days ago.
He pulled three shuriken from his pouch and threw them into the wheat at long range.
Everyone turned to stare—what was he doing?
BOOM! Explosive tags detonated instantly.
Yako had found the trap.
Captain Antelope gave him a sharp glance. Not bad, he thought. Even he hadn't spotted that one.
"AMBUSH!"
Eight Kumo-nin rose from the wheat. Shuriken and kunai filled the air.
Yako stuck close to Yuka as they charged into the field.
One Kumo-nin raised his sword, aiming to cleave Yuka in half.
She'd already formed three seals and raised her kunai to block.
Clang! Blade met blade—then suddenly, the Kumo-nin froze in place.
From ankle to torso, sealing marks crawled up his body—the Self-Paralysis Curse Mark!
Yako was mesmerized. So that's how powerful it is in combat.
The immobilized Kumo-nin was promptly finished off by Yuka's kunai.
Another enemy lunged at Yako.
He parried the sword while subtly luring the Kumo-nin toward Yuka.
She lent a hand, and together they took him down.
Yako's strategy was working. Saving Yuka had significantly boosted their survival chances.
Then one of the Kumo squad leaders set his sights on Yuka.
Yako saw the gleam in the man's eye and quickly pretended to assist Purple Cat—retreating from the scene.
He wanted no part of a battle between captains.
He'd already killed one Kumo-nin. His kill quota was met. Time to coast.
If he could slack, he would. If he couldn't, he'd fake it.
He darted around Purple Cat's fight, shouting and posturing. Looked busy—did little.
Even so, the distraction helped. Purple Cat began to gain the upper hand in taijutsu.
When she wounded her opponent, Yako rushed in to flank.
They struck from both sides, stabbing the Kumo-nin through his ribs.
Their eyes met. For the first time, a flicker of camaraderie.
But then a scream rang out behind them.
Yuka was kicked flying by the Kumo squad leader, her body carving through wheat, two deep sword gashes across her torso.
Yako cursed silently. Damn it, woman, I helped you so much and you still go down? How am I supposed to mooch off you now?
The Kumo captain wasn't unscathed—his abdomen bled from a kunai wound. But he surged forward, blade raised, ready to finish Yuka off.
Yuka desperately formed seals with both hands—Self-Paralysis Curse Mark at full power!
The enemy's blade was just 30 centimeters from her wrists when the curse mark surged up his arms—paralyzing him in mid-swing.
He trembled, forcing every ounce of strength into one final effort—to chop her hands off, sever her ability to fight.
Purple Cat saw the condition of Yuka's wounds and judged she was no longer worth saving.
She darted in, kunai aimed straight for Yuka's throat—a clean execution.
Yako's mind screamed No!
Yuka was still useful. If she died, he'd be next.
He and Purple Cat together couldn't handle that Kumo captain alone.