The Suna-nin had encircled their prey, inwardly scoffing.
'Where did this idiot come from? That was almost too easy.'
A storm of kunai and three Explosive Tags—certain death, without question.
But from within the thick haze of smoke stirred by the tags, a voice rang out:
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
A high-pressure stream of water surged forth, slicing clean through the circle of Sand shinobi.
The Water Severing Wave cut several Suna-nin in half at the waist and dispersed the smoke in an instant.
As the wind carried away the last of the fumes, Yako still stood in place—unfallen.
Leaf Monkey's eyes widened. His squad captain's uniform was tattered, looking somewhat ragged, but not a drop of blood could be seen.
"What are you gawking at?! Throw the poison gourds, now!"
The barked command was full of vigor. Snapped out of his daze, Leaf Monkey quickly tossed the poison gourds into the lake, adding a Wind Release: Great Breakthrough to disperse the toxins.
With the Sand shinobi no longer guarding the lake, the poison gourds detonated on contact, spreading venomous mist over the waters.
Leaf Monkey ran ahead while Yako stayed behind to cover the retreat.
Up in the sky, Blossom Deer, riding his paraglider, caught a glimpse of the squad captain's raw might.
A puppet's poisoned blade had failed to pierce his skin?
The toxin-laced tip had shattered and flown off!
As they soared higher, Blossom Deer couldn't hold back her curiosity.
"Captain, what was that ability?"
Yako waved it off casually.
"Just a new jutsu I've been developing. Looks like it works pretty well."
His power had grown enough that he could now develop his own techniques—jutsu the shinobi world had never seen. The ANBU wouldn't police that.
He summoned water-natured chakra in his palm. But refining it—the Chakra Crystallization Technique—had failed.
There was a clear difference between a ninja's primary and secondary chakra affinities.
Refining speed, control—it all varied.
He had crystallized Earth-natured chakra in an instant thanks to the system, but doing the same with water nature… that might take ages.
Still, if he could master two refined chakra types—one for attack, one for defense—the potential was frightening.
The first two oasis lakes had been small and easy to poison.
The third, however, was massive—guarded by three full Sand shinobi battalions.
Yako stuck with his paraglider dive strategy, sending a Shadow Clone plummeting down with a gourd of poison strapped to its back.
This time, there were no theatrics—no Sharingan, no evasive Wind Release tricks like in his past life.
The clone relied solely on Absolute Defense: Bronze Light.
Explosive Tags, puppets, every Suna-nin attack… none of it broke through.
The clone's durability had jumped several levels.
The sheer defense shocked the enemy.
One battalion captain squinted and muttered, "Is that… Earth Release: Earth Spear?"
The breakthrough took only a second. The clone slammed into the lake, delivering the poison payload.
Up in the sky, Yako felt euphoric.
Absolute defense felt incredible.
Sure, his clothes were shredded, but it was a small price to pay.
Lightning Release counters Earth Release.
As long as he avoided Lightning-natured opponents, he'd survive most encounters.
And if he were to die—it would be like his battle with Hatake Sakumo: drawing out the enemy's trump cards and collecting unique powers.
After the mission ended, Yako followed his past-life strategy and encountered the girl Pakura near the Crescent Moon Lake.
"This water's undrinkable—clearly poisoned. If you want to stay alive, find a different oasis."
The girl looked at Yako's cracked lips and said, "Thanks for the warning. But it's okay—I've got a way. I can make water."
The same words. The same moment. And yet Yako felt a pang of dissonance.
To her, this was a first meeting.
But to him—it was a reunion.
He had memories of Pakura.
She saw only a stranger.
Her detachment stirred something unpleasant in his heart.
If he walked away now… would they ever cross paths again?
No matter how much he remembered her, in this life… he had to approach her as a stranger. Step by step.
He built her a steam-collection device, then later, during a massive sandstorm that night, rescued a naked Pakura and brought her back.
After reinforcing the kids' tent with Earth Release, Pakura's impression of him had clearly improved.
Yako taught her how to distill drinkable water efficiently, and how to refine chakra.
Days later, as he admired her smooth, bare back, he said:
"Pakura, I'm not worried about your speed learning ninjutsu.
What I do worry about… is your mindset."
"My… mindset?" she blinked up at him, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Yako's voice turned low and serious:
"You want to change the Land of Wind. I respect that dream.
But when you learn ninjutsu… you'll start mingling with other shinobi.
And you must never forget:
Ninjas are killing machines.
We train daily to kill.
We are sent on missions to kill.
Always assume the worst. Always be wary.
The moment you let your guard down… a ninja could kill you.
Pakura… if you ever meet a shinobi named Rasa, be very careful."
Pakura grew more and more confused, but quietly memorized the name—Rasa.
—
Days later, Yako spotted Leaf Monkey's signal flare.
He embraced Pakura briefly and said goodbye.
Across from Crescent Moon Lake, Rasa landed with a squad—one jōnin, one squad captain, and a full platoon.
Yako didn't engage. He vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
Pakura was stunned.
One of the shinobi introduced himself: "I'm Rasa."
Rasa!
The name Miqū had warned her about just days ago.
A disciple of the Third Kazekage, the Suna prodigy with Magnet Release: Gold Dust.
Pakura suddenly felt afraid.
Maybe… joining Sunagakure wasn't such a good thing.
As Miqū vanished into the storm, Pakura shed her carefree shell.
She seemed like a different person.
Miqū's words echoed in her mind:
Ninjas are killing machines—trained to kill every day.
She was no longer a drifting girl of the desert.
Soon, she would be a shinobi of Sunagakure.
Rasa turned to her.
"Pakura, we're taking you back to the village. The Third Kazekage himself will assign you a jōnin instructor—someone to help you master your abilities."
Pakura asked, "While I was traveling, I saved three kids. Can they come with me?"
Rasa eyed the timid children in the distance.
He figured they could be used to control her.
"Sure," he said.
—
After regrouping with Blossom Deer and Field Duck in the desert, Yako returned to the Konoha frontline camp in the Land of Rivers.
The command staff brightened at the sight of Fox.
Just like in his previous life, the poison had worked.
The Sand battalions had relocated—and Konoha struck hard during the transition.
Yako presented the paraglider, then took Hatake Sakumo up for a flight.
Sakumo experienced dives, climbs, and spirals—and was ecstatic upon landing.
This time around, Yako was kinder.
He didn't fight Sakumo.
He spared him.
Didn't even throw him off the paraglider.
That night, Sakumo's assistant entered Yellow Dog's tent.
He relayed Sakumo's request—he still had questions about the paraglider and wanted to speak with Fox again.
Yellow Dog raised a brow but said,
"Understood. I'll send him over."
After the assistant left, Yellow Dog summoned Fox.
"Hatake Sakumo, the deputy commander, wants to see you," he said casually. Then added with feigned nonchalance:
"Fox… before you joined the ANBU, did you and Sakumo have any prior connection?"
Yako blinked.
"No, absolutely not. This is only the third time I've ever met Lord Sakumo."