A thick fog filled the air, shrouding everything from sight.
The Hidden Mist Technique, huh? Yorimitsu smirked inwardly. Now this is a good jutsu. If I get the chance, I'll have to learn it—perfect for hiding and surviving.
No one could see anyone in this mist. The perfect excuse to slack off.
Charge in? Only an idiot would rush forward against a hundred Mist-nin.
After forming hand seals, Yorimitsu created a shadow clone while his real body sank into a coral rock.
He passed a command to his clone: Evade only. Don't fight back. Just don't get blown up.
The clone held out for several minutes before being washed away by a massive Water Release attack.
Using that distraction, Yorimitsu emerged from the rocks, slit two Mist-nin's throats, and felt quite pleased with himself.
Satisfied with "meeting his quota," he created another clone and hid again inside the coral.
But the Hiding Like a Mole Technique steadily drained chakra—he wouldn't be able to hide forever.
From within the rock, he watched the center of the battlefield.
Over the ocean, Captain Yellow Dog was locked in a fierce battle against five Mist jōnin.
He was powerful, but the Mist-nin had the home-field advantage—their Water Release consumed almost no chakra.
At last, Yorimitsu saw a chance.
Once Yellow Dog confirmed the Uzumaki had escaped far enough, fearing an ambush, he ordered everyone to fall back while fighting.
Konoha's ANBU threw down smoke bombs, mixing them with the natural fog. Visibility dropped to zero.
Yorimitsu sprang up and leapt backward.
He didn't need to outrun the Mist-nin—just the last ANBU.
Once they were away from the shore, the pressure eased.
Mist-nin had to burn through far more chakra to cast Water Release on land.
Up ahead, another ANBU division was also retreating, avoiding being pinned down by the Cloud-nin.
The beach behind them was littered with corpses—ANBU, Uzumaki, Mist, and Cloud alike.
Orders barked out from Captain Yellow Dog.
Four squads would each take turns holding the rear.
The Black Bull Squad went first.
Without hesitation, every member stopped, brandished kunai, or began forming seals, ready to meet the Mist-nin head-on.
Or rather, ready to meet death.
Yorimitsu, untainted by the Will of Fire, couldn't bring himself to be that selfless.
Thirty seconds later, the roar of Water Release echoed from behind.
Without surprise—Black Bull Squad had been wiped out.
"Brown Bear! Your squad holds next!"
Now it was Yorimitsu's turn.
As Captain Brown Bear led everyone to a halt, Yorimitsu used the momentum to slide his feet across the dirt, ending up a few steps behind.
Damn it.
The Uzumaki Clan's destruction was drawing near, and the fights were getting deadlier.
It was only the 22nd day of the lunar month. If he died now, he'd have to wait over twenty days to revive.
Drawing his short blade, Yorimitsu stared toward the mist, unsure what to do.
This was a guaranteed death mission. Since he was going to die anyway, he had to make it count—had to draw a better reward.
But Mist-nin abilities weren't ideal for him right now. If he got water-nature chakra, it'd be wasted.
His gaze drifted toward Brown Bear's back.
If I'm dying anyway… maybe—
The dense mist rolled forward like a living wall.
Mist-nin were pressing from behind, Cloud-nin circling ahead to cut them off.
Yet Brown Bear showed no hesitation—ready to die for Konoha.
The squad was swallowed by the mist.
Visibility dropped to nothing. Yorimitsu crept closer to his captain.
Suddenly, the man's silhouette vanished—startling Yorimitsu.
He rolled to the side just as a powerful water jet smashed into where he'd stood, splintering a nearby palm tree.
When he looked up, a dark shape descended from above—it was Captain Brown Bear, leaping down with blinding speed.
His Body Flicker Technique was incredibly strong.
"For Konoha! Don't back down!" Brown Bear shouted, unleashing a Fire Release at three Mist-nin.
The flames surged forward, evaporating the fog around them.
The three Mist-nin quickly joined forces, forming a Water Formation Wall, blocking the flames and generating even more mist.
A faint whistle sliced the air behind Yorimitsu—he ducked instantly.
A kunai flew over his head.
A Mist-nin had appeared silently behind him. Yorimitsu planted his hands on the ground, kicked upward, and sent the man flying.
But there were too many. For every one he repelled, three more appeared.
At the same time, Captain Brown Bear was suddenly blasted back, hit by a Water Release attack.
Yorimitsu hurried over and caught him.
Brown Bear coughed blood and turned to see Yorimitsu, sighing in relief—only for his eyes to widen in horror.
A blade pierced through his back, right through his organs.
"A spy…?"
He couldn't believe it—even in death—that his subordinate had killed him.
"You're… from which village—"
Before he could finish, a massive sword cleaved down.
Yorimitsu looked up—and saw one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Jūzō Biwa, wielder of the Executioner's Blade!
Each of the Seven Swordsmen was an elite jōnin-level monster.
So they're the ones chasing the Uzumaki Princess…
Every single one of them was a trusted enforcer of the Third Mizukage—seven elite jōnin in total.
It seemed the Whirlpool Village's attempt to seal the Tailed Beast at sea had enraged the Mist beyond reconciliation.
The enormous blade came down.
In one swing, both Yorimitsu's and Brown Bear's heads were severed cleanly.
They say a decapitated head retains consciousness for a few seconds.
As the world spun, Yorimitsu's head fell to the ground—meeting Brown Bear's furious gaze one last time before both pairs of pupils dilated into emptiness.
When vision returned, Yorimitsu had resurrected.
He was back on the night after capturing the Cloud-nin squad leader.
That ninja, already crippled, was lying on the ground, groaning in pain.
He looked up at the "Fox" mask only to find the ANBU standing there blankly, eyes hollow.
Yorimitsu's heart sank. The ANBU's next assignment was to hold the line. That meant certain death.
If he didn't die to the Mist-nin, he'd run into the Cloud-nin patrols circling outside.
Even if he somehow escaped both, the ANBU would hunt him down as a deserter.
No matter which way he went—it was death either way.
A road blocked at both ends…
What could he do?
If things played out like last time, he'd die for sure.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen—just Jūzō alone could instantly kill both him and Brown Bear. No chance of survival.
What now? Where's the way out?
Then the system's voice rang in his head.
Forget it. Might as well draw my reward first. Power up a bit.
[Arc of the Moon activated!
The host gains one resurrection per lunar cycle, reviving on the previous full moon.
You've earned a random reward:
Fire-nature Chakra
Chūnin-level Chakra Capacity (stackable)
Taijutsu: Body Flicker Technique (Beginner)]
Not bad. Not bad at all. Yorimitsu was quite satisfied with this round's rewards.