For two days, no one came to find Squadron Leader Brown Bear, not even Uzumaki ninja came to the coast.
While bored, Yōkō took the opportunity to ask some questions in his mind. As long as they didn't involve Konoha's secrets, Squadron Leader Brown Bear was willing to answer.
"Squadron Leader, isn't the Uzumaki clan skilled in sealing techniques? Why don't they seal their supplies, put them in scrolls and carry them away?"
Brown Bear thought about the poor teaching at the Ninja Academy and knew Fox understood nothing, so he said:
"You're talking about the Sealing Technique: Sealing Object Formula, the sealing technique that stores items.
The Sealing Object Formula requires infusing chakra into the item being sealed.
Once the chakra sealed within the item naturally dissipates, the seal will also vanish and be destroyed.
In other words, sealing supplies requires a large number of personnel to prepare and maintain the sealing scrolls.
Unless necessary, no ninja maintains the Sealing Object Formula for long periods.
The Uzumaki ninja we encounter could be killed any day; they don't have the energy to maintain the Sealing Object Formula, so their supplies are piled up in warehouses."
Yōkō nodded repeatedly. So that's how it is.
The Sealing Object Formula required continuous chakra infusion, needing sealing ninja to constantly maintain it.
This explains the events of the Kannabi Bridge battle in the original story.
Namikaze Minato's squad destroyed the Kannabi Bridge, the Iwa-nin couldn't transport large quantities of supplies to the front lines, and had to retreat.
If the Sealing Object Formula had no cost, then all supplies could be sealed into one scroll, and what would be the point of supply lines then.
In the blink of an eye, over ten days passed, and a new month arrived.
Yōkō looked at Squadron Leader Brown Bear's back, feeling restless.
Maybe he should die at the hands of Squadron Leader Brown Bear this month. The Squadron Leader was at least an Elite Chūnin; he could probably draw something good.
Other squads periodically reported to Squadron Leader Brown Bear.
These squads also suffered heavy casualties.
By now, in the squadron's four squads: Fox replaced Captain Antelope's position; the Blue Wolf Squad was wiped out, effectively reducing one squad; the remaining two squads had two members and three members respectively.
In the three-member squad, the squad leader absolutely refused to assign a member to Fox.
One less person meant less combat strength.
These squads, really... Yōkō got them Military Ration Pills, and they didn't even say thank you.
"Fox! A mission for you."
After hearing reports from two squad leaders consecutively, the Squadron Leader gave Yōkō an order:
"Capture a live one, a Kumo-nin squad leader. I need to interrogate him for intelligence.
Finding Kiri-nin nearby is normal; Kirigakure has always coveted the Land of Waves' mission share.
But there are too many Kumo-nin; I don't know what they are planning."
"Capture a live one? And a Kumo-nin squad leader?" Yōkō swallowed hard and said, "Alright, understood."
The good news: his performance in the last mission was excellent, and the Squadron Leader trusted him.
The bad news: his performance in the last mission was too good, and the Squadron Leader trusted him too much.
After leaving the coast, Yōkō felt bitter.
Capturing alive was much harder than killing.
Especially ninja; each one was a battle maniac, fearless, how could they be captured alive?
Yōkō touched the short sword strapped to his back. Kumo-nin were all very skilled in swordsmanship; he didn't know swordsmanship, only used the short sword like a long kunai.
After getting intelligence on the Kumo-nin from other squad leaders, Yōkō set off alone.
Arriving in the area where Kumo-nin were active, Yōkō chose a road leading into a town, laid an Explosive Tag trap, and hid.
Like Konoha ninja, the Kumo-nin came from afar. After finishing their Military Ration Pills, they also had to go to towns or fishing villages to replenish food.
Guarding outside a town made it easy to encounter enemies.
He lay patiently in the bushes.
Military Ration Pills were small in volume; you ate little, excreted little. As long as you endured the empty hunger in your stomach, you could stay motionless for a day or two.
Until one early dawn, just as the Morning Star rose.
Three figures moved rapidly, speeding towards the town.
In an instant, an explosion occurred beneath their feet.
Boom!
The three dark figures were blasted in three different directions.
Yōkō jumped up, throwing kunai in three directions.
Two kunai hit the enemies, proving they were injured or killed by the Explosive Tag.
One enemy dodged the kunai and charged at Yōkō.
Yōkō saw his headband – a Kumo-nin headband.
Good luck, encountered a Kumo-nin squad. Judging by this Kumo-nin's strength, he should be the squad leader.
Yōkō held his kunai reversed, ready for close combat, planning to find an opportunity to use the Sealing Technique: Self-Cursing Body Binding Seal.
The Kumo-nin captain's swordsmanship was extremely refined. A single sidestep made Yōkō lose his target.
During his sidestep, combined with a horizontal slash of his ninja sword, he almost cleaved open Yōkō's side.
They fought back and forth, kunai and ninja sword clashing.
Yōkō struggled. The Kumo-nin's footwork, coordinated with his swordsmanship, made it impossible for Yōkō to get a hold on him.
At one moment, the Kumo-nin captain suddenly crouched, dodging Yōkō's kunai.
By the time Yōkō wanted to dodge, it was too late.
The ninja sword had already pierced Yōkō's abdomen.
The wound felt numb at first, then became hot, followed by intense pain.
The Kumo-nin squad leader was about to pull out his sword when he suddenly saw an Explosive Tag!
Boom!
After the explosion, Yōkō and the squad leader were both killed.
The Kumo-nin squad leader's last thought: Is this guy crazy? Sick? Using an Explosive Tag to die together just like that?
Could it be an enemy from the village found me here, just because I gave him the green hat?
—
His vision went black, then shifted.
Yōkō appeared back at the previous full moon, before meeting Squadron Leader Brown Bear.
[Mochizuki's Arc Activated!
The host has one resurrection opportunity per month. Upon death, will resurrect on the previous full moon night.
Reward: One draw opportunity:
1- Lightning Nature Chakra;
2- Muscle Healing Technique;
3- Swordsmanship (Beginner).]
Lightning Nature Chakra, not really needed.
Muscle Healing Technique, I didn't expect the Kumo-nin squad leader also knew a medical ninjutsu.
Medical ninjutsu... forget it. Compared to healing oneself, killing the enemy as soon as possible is more crucial.
Yōkō focused his attention on the third option: Swordsmanship.
To dodge the enemy's ninja sword, one needs to be more skilled in swordsmanship than the enemy.
Yōkō didn't understand the angles, speed, or power of the ninja sword, causing him to be at a disadvantage in taijutsu battles.
Without hesitation, Yōkō chose the third option: Swordsmanship (Beginner).
Beginner-level Swordsmanship included two main parts.
First, basic moves: chop, slash, thrust, upward slice, sweep, block, lift, hook, wipe, parry.
Second, basic footwork, used to coordinate with various sword techniques, finding the most efficient way to exert force.
It wasn't just knowledge; Yōkō instantly gained many muscle memories, allowing him to naturally use these sword techniques.
Drawing his ninja sword, Yōkō practiced the sword techniques over and over until each move could be executed smoothly.
Mastering swordsmanship meant he would no longer be passive when facing Kumo-nin.
No wonder the Kumo-nin squad leader's swordsmanship was so strong. Proper swordsmanship made the sword faster and the angles more tricky.
As for the source of the swordsmanship, it was easy to explain.
He slowly imitated and figured out swordsmanship during battles with Kumo-nin.
Having strong comprehension skills can't be wrong, right?
(End of Chapter)