Yako returned to the night of the last full moon.
He had just exited Captain Yellow Dog's tent, where he'd received his mission as an ANBU observer. Soon, he'd be joining the Sabaku Port raid under the identity of Fujikita.
[Arc of the Waning Moon Activated!]
The host may revive once per full moon cycle.
Upon death, revival occurs on the night of the previous full moon.
Reward: One draw.
1 – Secret Technique: Shadow Mechanism Technique
2 – Jōnin-level Chakra Reserves (stackable)
3 – Secret Technique: Shadow Imitation Technique (Beginner)
The first option—Shadow Mechanism Technique—was likely the trap Meika had hidden beneath her skirt.
'The smarter the woman, the deadlier the trap.'
It was a useless technique for someone who didn't wear skirts.
Option two—Jōnin-level Chakra Reserves.
Last month, his chakra reserves were 2.6 times the average jōnin's. After a month of natural growth, it had reached 2.9x.
His physical enhancements were still slowly boosting it.
He chose the third option: Shadow Imitation Technique (Beginner).
'Great. Another shady skill to commit shady acts. Another way to frame an entire clan. How wonderful.'
Innocent little me, so pure and kind… why do I feel more and more like a villain?
The moment he made his choice, he mastered the technique.
It was a Yin Release secret art—channeling Yin-nature chakra into one's shadow to grant it mystical properties.
It overlapped in function with his Self-Binding Curse Mark. Unless he wanted to frame the Nara Clan, it was probably best not to use it.
But the chakra manipulation style of Yin Release—that was worth studying.
As before, Yako was placed in Nara Mi's team.
His teammate: the petite but energetic Jenri.
"Hi! I'm Jenri. I just passed the Chūnin Exams!"
"Hi. I'm Fujikita. I dream of passing the Chūnin Exams."
"Haha! Then you better keep at it!"
Nara Mi shamelessly claimed the paraglider as yet another brilliant contribution from the Nara Clan to Konoha.
Jenri trained with the paraglider. Yako, meanwhile, quietly honed his Shattered Bone Bronze Light taijutsu.
Soon, the infiltration mission began.
Nara Mi's team was assigned to dive underwater and destroy the port bridge.
Yako kept a deliberate distance—close enough to assist, far enough to prevent Mi from using Shadow Imitation on him.
When Mi tried to control Jenri for the first time, Yako acted instantly.
He cast Shadow Imitation Technique, locking Mi's movements.
Panic filled Mi's eyes. 'Another Nara? Why is he here—and why can he control me?'
'Did the clan leader find out about my shadow puppet technique? Did they send someone to deal with me?'
Yako executed Mi quietly beneath the water's surface.
One life ended—and another was saved.
Jenri, now the senior ninja, automatically became team leader.
Yako didn't alter the flow of the battle. He created a clone to accompany Jenri and watched from beneath the ruined pier, recording everything in a scroll.
Nara Shikakaku and the other Ino-Shika-Chō leaders clashed with Rasa. Yako noted every detail of their performance and Rasa's abilities.
Eventually, the trio was defeated. Shikakaku ordered Yako's division to cover the retreat.
The unit split: the main force held off Rasa, while Yako's squad shielded the paraglider launch crew.
Bursting from the ocean, Yako tossed the observation scroll to Captain Hippo and donned his fox mask.
Jenri trembled as the Sand shinobi approached, but still raised her kunai.
"Fujikita… don't be scared. I'm your temporary team leader now—and I won't let you die before I do."
Just like in the last life… her tiny frame hid a heart of iron.
"Chūnin Jenri," Yako said. "Stand behind me.
I am Konoha ANBU Tokubetsu Jōnin Fox. I am now your commanding officer.
And what was it you just said?
'Don't be scared. As your leader, I won't let you die before me.'
Yeah. That."
This time, Yako didn't open with Earth Release: Earth Longspear.
He wanted to practice his Shattered Bone Bronze Light.
The first Sand shinobi charged—only to be stopped by a single punch to the chest.
His ribcage caved in as if hit by a cannonball. Shattered bone burst through his back.
A second enemy lunged with a kunai. Yako caught it barehanded.
The Sand ninja stared in horror—there was no blood.
It was as if his kunai had struck iron.
Yako's other hand became a knifehand and pierced his throat.
Trachea, windpipe, cervical spine—all crushed.
A puppet charged in next.
Yako's fist smashed through its carapace and bent its steel frame.
Blades flew from its limbs toward him—only to be stopped by his bronze-toned skin.
Fist after fist, surrounded on all sides, Yako remained unscathed.
Sand shinobi or puppet—it made no difference. To him, they were twigs and kindling.
With each exchange, his taijutsu became sharper, cleaner.
When enough enemies gathered, he finally formed seals:
Earth Release: Earth Longspear!
A forest of thorns erupted from the earth, impaling over twenty enemies.
A nearby squad leader screamed, "Careful! He's not just a taijutsu specialist—he's got powerful ninjutsu too!"
Yako met his eyes—then Body Flickered toward him.
His punch landed center mass.
"I hate cowardly squad leaders. What, you scared to fight me head-on like a man?"
As Captain Yellow Dog's unit delayed Rasa, Yako went wild in the rear, preventing any pursuers from reaching the retreating paraglider squad.
In his previous life, Rasa had arrived after Yako decimated half a unit.
This time, Yako was faster. Stronger. He'd already crushed an entire unit by the time Rasa got there.
Everyone else at the docks had died—except Jenri, who Yako had protected.
To avoid exposing his Water Body Flicker, he knocked her out and stood with her atop the sea.
He looked at the carnage—so many Sand corpses.
Perfect.
When Rasa attacked with a wave of Gold Dust, Yako blocked it with Water Formation Wall, then disappeared into the ocean's depths.
He swam to an old hideout.
Summoning Pakkun, he passed him the five Nara names he'd gotten from Meika.
Last time, Meika had used this information as bait, ready to die with her clan's sins.
Now that he had the names, Hatake Sakumo would handle the investigation himself.
Just like before, Yako later taught Jenri two Earth techniques: Hidden Fish in Earth Technique and Earth Longspear, helping her grow stronger.
When he returned to camp, he was met with a new title—Copper Fox—and a surprising assignment.
His delivery of the five names had changed the timeline.
Captain Yellow Dog greeted him with a scroll:
"Fox. This is a list. Your next mission—eliminate everyone on it."
Yako opened it. Four Nara names.
He'd given Pakkun five. Nara Mi was already dead.
"So it's Nara Clan, huh…" he muttered. "Captain, are these executions just for show? Is the clan pulling strings behind the scenes?"
"Don't overthink the mission, Fox. This time, it's real," Yellow Dog said firmly.
"Hatake Sakumo, vice commander, discovered anomalies in several missions. Each of these Nara was the sole survivor of their team.
Further investigation revealed they'd used their own comrades as human puppets.
Nara Shikakaku, supreme commander of the operation, is devastated. He personally ordered ANBU to treat them as rogue-nin and execute them."
Yako had changed history.
Whatever bond once existed between Shikakaku and Sakumo—it had likely shattered.
And he'd already died once this full moon cycle.
From now on, no matter how routine the mission—even assassinating a few chūnin or Tokubetsu Jōnin—he'd need to be very careful.