"Summoning Technique!"
A swirl of white smoke appeared, and the Uzumaki guardian ninja captain summoned… three donkeys?
These donkeys were over three meters tall, massive in size, and all the Uzumaki ninja mounted them.
Half an hour later, Yoru wanted to slap himself. Why had he underestimated giant donkeys? These beasts were incredibly fast.
Their hooves kicked up the barren ground as they ran freely across the desert.
Even more astonishingly, the donkeys' speed did not falter at all, and their stamina was incredible.
Unfazed by fatigue, their massive bodies stored enough fat to last like camels—able to go long stretches without food or water.
The Mist ninja chased after the donkeys, and Konoha's forces pursued the Mist ninja.
Yoru was responsible for leaving markers for the following Anbu squads to track them.
As they ran, Yoru suddenly spotted one of his own previous markers.
Wait… how had they circled back?
In other words, these giant donkeys were leading the Mist ninja and Konoha Anbu in circles.
The desert stretched endlessly, with no boundaries in sight. Who could outrun these donkeys? Even if the Mist ninja pressed hard, the donkeys could accelerate.
Even if a Mist ninja temporarily overtook one, a rear-guard Uzumaki ninja would sacrifice themselves in a one-on-one fight with the pursuing Mist ninja.
This running and chasing continued for days. Yoru saw multiple markers he had left, pointing in different directions, becoming increasingly confusing. He had to carefully think just to maintain the chain of markers.
The giant donkeys could run endlessly, whereas the Mist ninja and Konoha's shinobi could only run a few hours before needing water and rations.
The Uzumaki guardians were very familiar with the desert, deliberately choosing paths devoid of water, food, or plants.
The Mist ninja killed two rear-guard Uzumaki, but after that, they could not catch up.
It seemed the giant donkeys could run for days and nights.
Three days later, Yoru worried he would be scolded by the squad captain.
He had been busy placing markers while running in circles, making them increasingly chaotic. Even Yoru himself would not have been able to navigate the desert using them.
——
The full moon hung like a silver plate; its light resembled white frost.
Unnoticed, another full moon night arrived.
In the distance, the faint braying of donkeys could be heard, strong and resonant.
Yoru realized—the Uzumaki guardians were buying time for the remaining clan members.
Uzumaki Yuka, having heeded his advice, and the remaining Uzumaki must have long left the Land of Waves.
Days later, two Konoha Anbu squads finally caught up.
Fortunately for Yoru, Captain Yellow Dog did not scold him for the chaotic markers.
Yoru observed that both Anbu squads were full-strength, indicating Yellow Dog had not split his forces to pursue Uzumaki Yuka. Perhaps she had already escaped before the Anbu arrived.
Now, both the Mist ninja and Konoha had two squads each.
Konoha and the Hidden Cloud were fighting in the Land of Hot Springs.
The Hidden Mist was fighting the Hidden Sand and could not spare many forces.
In the southeast corner of the Land of Wind, a small stretch of coastline became a deadly battleground as Mist and Sand fought over control of the docks, causing countless casualties.
Seeing the Konoha Anbu, the Uzumaki guardian captain's expression darkened.
He said to the few surrounding Uzumaki ninja, "Are you ready?"
One replied, "We were ready long ago. Our clan will be hunted by all the ninja villages, but as long as someone survives, there is hope."
The captain nodded, "Time… we need more time."
Four squads surrounded them, closing the escape space for the giant donkeys.
One by one, until the last summoned donkey fell to the combined forces of the Anbu.
The Mist and Konoha forces flanked the Uzumaki on both sides, coordinating seamlessly.
Whenever one side approached the Uzumaki, the other would quickly follow.
For the Uzumaki, only despair remained.
Every time a Uzumaki fell, their body was scrambled for by both sides.
The Uzumaki numbers dwindled until only one remained.
The guardian captain watched the final comrade's body bagged. They had reached their limit.
He opened his ninja tool pouch, revealing the last kunai and the sealing scroll.
After presenting the kunai, the captain slowly approached the Konoha Anbu.
The Mist ninja on the other side immediately tensed and rushed forward.
Captain Yellow Dog did not issue orders immediately.
The real trouble was the Mist ninja, not the Uzumaki captain.
The captain understood exactly what Konoha Anbu feared. He slowed his pace, deliberately waiting for the Mist ninja.
The three sides drew closer.
At the last moment, the captain crouched, gathering all his chakra into his legs.
He leapt into the air, soaring over ten meters high, landing right in the middle of Konoha Anbu.
Captain Yellow Dog looked up, seeing the guardian ninja leap over his head and land behind.
The Mist ninja, seeing him so deep in enemy lines, panicked—they could not allow the scroll to fall into Konoha's hands.
The Mist ninja surged forward.
Yoru, at the rear of the squad, suddenly realized another person had appeared— the guardian captain!
Without thinking, he raised his sword to block.
Fortune smiled—he deflected the kunai; it missed his heart and struck his shoulder instead.
Surrounded by Anbu, there was no room for hesitation.
Yoru grabbed the kunai, trying to lock one of the captain's hands, posing bravely.
The captain, unwilling to waste time, kicked Yoru, sending the fox-masked Anbu flying.
His stomach churned violently, but thanks to his rations, it was empty—otherwise he would have vomited into the mask.
Flying backward, Yoru relaxed.
Good—being kicked meant no fight.
He tried to get up, but suddenly a steel wire appeared before his eyes.
Turning along it, he saw the wielder of the long-needle sword—Kushimaru Kuriarare!
When had he appeared? The Mist ninja had already flanked them?
Kuriarare tugged the steel wire.
A needle-like sword flew from behind Yoru, piercing his chest before he could react.
This was the long-needle sword's signature attack.
Yoru and two other Anbu were pierced in a row, like roasted grasshoppers.
Dead. Kushimaru Kuriarare's attack was just too fast.
——
Blackness. Vision shifted.
Yoru was back on the full moon night five days ago.
Damn it! So soon after the last full moon, he was dead.
Still in the desert, running in circles with the giant donkeys.
[Arc of the Full Moon Activated!
The host has one resurrection chance per month, reviving on the previous full moon night.
Reward: One lottery chance:
1 – Reflexive Response (one breakthrough);
2 – Chunin-level chakra (stackable);
3 – Steel Wire Shuriken Technique (beginner).]
After the initial frustration, Yoru's eyes lit up.
It was here—the lottery chance had arrived.