A Dead End No Matter Which Way You Turn (Newcomer's new book, seeking support)

The dense water mist obscured their vision.

Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique. This is a great jutsu. I'll have to learn it if I get the chance. Once I do, I can just lie low.

Yagami secretly rejoiced. With the mist hiding him from everyone, didn't that mean he could slack off?

Charge ahead?

Only an idiot would charge so fast in front of over a hundred Mist Ninja.

After forming Hand Seals, Yagami created a Shadow Clone while his real body sank into a reef.

He sent an order to the Shadow Clone: dodge only, do not counterattack, and simply avoid being destroyed.

The Shadow Clone held on for several minutes before being overwhelmed by wide-area Water Release.

While the Shadow Clone drew the Mist Ninja's attention, Yagami emerged from the reef and cut down two Mist Ninja.

After deciding he had met his quota, Yagami created another Shadow Clone and hid his real body back inside the reef.

Water Release battered the reef, and as he remained hidden within it, he encountered another problem.

Earth-Corpse Transmigration continuously consumed Chakra. Sooner or later, he would no longer be able to stay hidden.

Yagami watched the center of the battlefield.

Above the sea, the Yellow Dog Squad Leader was fighting five Kirigakure jonin.

The Yellow Dog Squad Leader was very strong, but the Mist Ninja held the home-field advantage. Their Water Release consumed very little Chakra.

At last, Yagami received some good news.

After seeing the Uzumaki Ninja flee into the distance, the Yellow Dog Squad Leader feared that the Uzumaki Princess might encounter other ambushing enemies, so he ordered everyone to fight as they retreated.

The Konoha Anbu threw Smoke Bombs, and mixed with the water mist, they made it impossible to see anything at all.

Yagami found the right direction and hurriedly leaped toward the rear.

He did not need to run faster than the Mist Ninja. He only needed to run faster than the last Anbu ninja.

Once they had left the shore, the pressure from the Mist Ninja lessened considerably.

Using Water Release on land consumed much more Chakra.

Not far away, another Anbu squad also began to withdraw, avoiding being pinned down by the Cloud Ninja.

Corpses littered the shore—Anbu, Uzumaki Ninja, Cloud Ninja, and Mist Ninja alike.

Orders came one after another from the Yellow Dog Squad Leader.

The four companies would take turns covering the retreat.

The Black Bull Company was the first to stay behind.

The Anbu ninja of the Black Bull Company stopped without hesitation.

They raised Kunai or formed Hand Seals as they faced the approaching Mist Ninja.

Or rather, as they faced death.

Yagami had not been corrupted by the Will of Fire. He could not possibly be as resolute as they were.

Half a minute later, the sound of Water Release battering the ground came from behind them.

Unless something unexpected had happened, the Black Bull Company had already been wiped out.

"Brown Bear! Your company will cover the retreat!"

It was now the Brown Bear Company's turn—the company Yagami belonged to.

Led by Brown Bear, everyone came to a stop.

Carried by momentum, Yagami kept his legs still as his feet dragged across the ground for some distance, leaving him at the rear.

Damn it.

The calamity of the Uzumaki clan's destruction was drawing ever closer, and the battles were becoming increasingly frequent.

It was only the twenty-second day of the latter half of the month. If he died here, he would have to endure more than twenty long days before the next full moon.

Yagami drew his ninja blade and stared seriously behind him, unsure of what to do.

This time, death was inevitable. Since he was going to die anyway, he had to draw a better ability.

Mist Ninja abilities were powerful, but they did not suit Yagami as he was now. If he drew a bunch of Water-style Chakra, it would be a waste.

His gaze swept over to the Brown Bear Squad Commander's back.

Since I'm going to die anyway, how about...

The water mist advanced before them like a towering wall.

The Mist Ninja pursued from behind, while the Cloud Ninja circled around to block them ahead.

The Brown Bear Squad Commander showed no intention of retreating. He was ready to sacrifice himself for Konoha at any moment.

The water mist enveloped everyone in the company.

As visibility fell, Yagami slowly approached the Brown Bear Squad Commander.

The squad commander vanished in an instant, startling Yagami.

He hurriedly rolled to the side.

A column of water surged toward him from the opposite side, powerful enough to shatter the coconut trees behind him.

As Yagami rolled across the ground, he saw a dark figure plummeting rapidly from midair—it was the Brown Bear Squad Commander, who had just leaped up.

The squad commander's Body Flicker Technique was formidable.

"For Konoha! Do not retreat!"

The Brown Bear Squad Commander charged forward and unleashed Fire Style against the three Mist Ninja.

Flame Bullets shot forth, evaporating the Water Mist nearby.

The three Mist Ninja joined forces to cast Water Wall Jutsu. The water barrier blocked the Flame Bullets, creating even more Water Mist.

A faint whistling sound came from behind him, and Yagami hurriedly crouched.

A Kunai skimmed over his head.

A Mist Ninja silently appeared behind him. Yagami braced himself with one hand and kicked upward at an angle, sending the Mist Ninja flying.

There were simply too many Mist Ninja around him. The moment he kicked one away, three more entered his field of vision.

To the side, the Brown Bear Squad Commander suddenly flew backward. He had been hit by a Water Style attack.

Yagami quickly shifted two steps sideways and caught the Brown Bear Squad Commander.

Brown Bear coughed up blood. When he turned and saw Yagami, he let out a sigh of relief.

Then his eyes filled with terror as he stared at Yagami in shock.

A ninja blade pierced through his back and impaled his internal organs.

"A spy?"

Even in death, the Brown Bear Squad Commander had never imagined that he would be killed by an ANBU subordinate.

"Which village are you fr—"

Before he could finish, a massive blade came crashing down.

Yagami saw the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!

Juzo Biwa, wielder of the Kubikiribocho!

Every one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was at least an Elite Jonin.

The ones pursuing the Uzumaki Princess were actually the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were the Third Mizukage's trusted elite, the equivalent of seven Elite Jonin.

It seemed that Uzu Hidden Village's sealing of the Tailed Beast at sea had thoroughly enraged Kirigakure. The two sides were now locked in a fight to the death.

The great blade was long and hard. With a single swing, it cleanly severed both Yagami's and the Brown Bear Squad Commander's heads.

It was said that after one's head was severed, consciousness lingered for several seconds.

The scenery around him spun and shifted rapidly. Yagami's head hit the ground, and in the end, his eyes met the Brown Bear Squad Commander's furious gaze. Then both their pupils dilated.

Yagami's vision blurred, and he was reborn.

He had returned to the night after capturing the Cloud Ninja Squad Leader.

The Cloud Ninja Squad Leader had already had his arms and legs broken. Now he was roughly thrown to the ground, letting out a pained groan.

He looked up at Fox, only to find Fox standing there blankly, his eyes devoid of focus.

Yagami felt uneasy. Being sent by the ANBU to hold the rear meant certain death.

He had been killed by the Mist Ninja in a single exchange.

Even if he escaped the battlefield, he would encounter Cloud Ninja patrolling the perimeter and still die.

Even in the best-case scenario, if he somehow escaped the Cloud Ninja's blades, the ANBU would still hunt him down as a Rogue Ninja.

Either way, it was a dead end.

He was trapped with no way forward or back.

What was he supposed to do?

Following the course of events from his previous life, he would definitely die.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen—Juzo Biwa alone could instantly kill both him and the Brown Bear Squad Commander. There was no possibility of survival.

What should he do? Where was the way to break this deadlock?

The system sounded.

Forget it. He would choose the reward first and strengthen himself.

Arc of the Crescent Moon activated!

The host has one chance to revive each month. After death, the host will revive on the previous night of the full moon.

One lottery draw opportunity awarded:

1—Fire Release Chakra;

2—Chunin-level Chakra (stackable);

3—Body Flicker Technique (Beginner).

Not bad, not bad. He was very satisfied with these rewards.