The Sealing Technique: Object Seal Formula was a fūinjutsu used to store tools like kunai and shuriken inside scrolls.
But with Yagami's current combat ability, even carrying three times the normal amount of ninja tools wouldn't make much difference, so he ruled that one out.
The Kunai Thrust technique wasn't worth taking either. It seemed the Uzumaki ninja who killed him before specialized in it.
There were plenty of ninjas skilled in kunai techniques — Yagami figured he'd get more chances to draw that reward later.
The Chūnin-level Chakra Capacity (stackable), on the other hand, was exactly what he needed right now.
Especially after learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu, his chakra consumption had skyrocketed.
After choosing that reward, Yagami's chakra doubled — now equivalent to twice the amount of an average chūnin.
If he managed to accumulate five times that, he'd reach the level of an elite chūnin.
What a pitiful original body… to have so little chakra to begin with.
Captain Antelope, after receiving orders from Captain Brown Bear, turned back to lead Yagami away.
"Captain, what's our next mission?"
"Don't ask what you shouldn't."
Got it. Captain Antelope… looks like you didn't seize your second chance.
He would have to die — otherwise Yagami wouldn't be able to explain why he could use Shadow Clones. Better to make it a clean kill.
The new Blue Wolf Squad would have to go too, or he'd never have the chance to become a captain himself.
Following behind Antelope, Yagami's mind kept spinning, plotting how best to reach his goal.
They soon met up with Uzumaki Yuka's team and prepared an ambush by the lakeside.
Captain Antelope again ordered Yagami to stay near Uzumaki Yuka, ready to strike at any moment.
Lying in the bushes beside her, Yagami thought things through again. Killing this woman would be a waste — she might be the key to eliminating Blue Wolf's squad.
Just like before, a long spear — White Heron — flew toward them, detonating a web of explosive tags. Uzumaki Yuka charged forward first.
At the crucial moment of the sealing process, two squads of Hidden Cloud ninja appeared.
Yagami stabbed Uzumaki Yuka to wound her, then used poison to finish off Captain Antelope.
When he later returned to find Uzumaki Yuka again, the killing intent in his eyes was gone.
"Fox! You came back!"
Hearing the genuine relief in her voice, Yagami carefully tended to the wound on her abdomen.
He cut open the tight fabric around it, revealing firm muscles and a faintly defined mermaid line.
Such a beautiful stomach… he wondered if it would scar.
Once her wound was treated, he helped her sit up.
"Thank you, Fox."
Hearing her sincere gratitude, Yagami quickly pressed his advantage.
"Yuka, you know my identity is… special. I work under a certain elder from the Senju Clan, gathering intelligence.
Saving you this time was a huge risk. Luckily, my captain was fatally injured, or I'd never have had the chance to come back."
Yuka tilted her head. "You held back, didn't you? You coated your kunai with hemostatic medicine, and the wound wasn't that deep. Which Senju elder do you serve?"
Hell if I know, Yagami thought. Out loud, he said:
"That's classified. Don't ask, and don't try to guess.
My superior suspects that the Anbu has become… compromised — nothing like what it was when Lord Tobirama was Hokage. That's why I was sent to infiltrate the organization and investigate secretly.
Coming here to the Land of Waves confirmed it. The Anbu are doing something unthinkable — stealing Uzumaki scrolls.
Yuka, you must keep this between us. If I'm exposed, I'm dead."
"I understand. I won't tell a soul."
"I only report directly to my superior. Even if you meet other Senju ninja, you mustn't mention me."
"I know. Infiltrating the Anbu is dangerous enough — I won't even tell anyone from our village."
Yagami nodded repeatedly. This woman was easier to fool than he'd expected.
It helped that he had skillfully used the Uzumaki Secret Technique: Curse Seal of Restriction; of course she wouldn't doubt his story.
Just like if Yagami somehow awakened the Sharingan right now — the Uchiha Clan would probably believe he was a long-lost descendant.
After catching her breath, Uzumaki Yuka asked him to help her over to White Heron.
The long spear's temperament was wild — it had struggled so hard it broke its own bones and still refused to flee.
Pale-faced, Yuka poured all her chakra into a sealing scroll, performing the Contract Seal to bind White Heron.
"To heal White Heron, you'll need patience. Slowly tame its wild nature — only then can it become a true summoning beast."
Yagami was fascinated. Too bad he didn't know any sealing techniques himself.
Yuka's expression dimmed slightly, as if she remembered something unpleasant.
After a while, she finally spoke. "Fox, I know why the Hidden Leaf's Anbu suddenly changed their attitude toward us."
"Oh? Why?"
"Because… our clan head refused Advisor Danzō's request," she said quietly.
"It's no secret within the family.
The clan head's granddaughter, Uzumaki Kushina, has shown extraordinary talent in sealing — a genius seen once in decades.
Shimura Danzō from the Leaf came to negotiate, hoping to have Kushina become the next Nine-Tails jinchūriki.
But the clan head said Uzushio had discovered the location of the wild Three-Tails. He wanted Kushina to become the Three-Tails' jinchūriki instead.
With the Uzumaki Clan's sealing arts, controlling a tailed beast is well within our ability.
After Lord Tobirama's death, our clan's standing worsened. The Leaf stopped offering full support, so we had to rely on ourselves.
Danzō didn't show his feelings but made another proposal — to have our clan share its advanced sealing techniques with the Leaf.
The clan head refused again.
Our sealing arts are the foundation of our clan. Even when the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, married Lady Uzumaki Mito, he never demanded we hand them over.
After rejecting Danzō twice, our clan head grew anxious but stayed firm on our path."
Yagami thought to himself that saving Uzumaki Yuka had definitely been the right move.
So, Danzō had come to Uzushio to discuss the next jinchūriki and to seize the Uzumaki sealing arts.
Uzumaki Kushina — just a little girl — already had both the Leaf and Uzushio fighting over her.
The Anbu's mission to steal the Adamantine Sealing Chains Scroll was just another attempt to uncover those secrets.
The resilience of shinobi really was incredible — within five days, Uzumaki Yuka had almost completely healed.
Her stomach was smooth again, the scar reduced to a faint pink mark.
One night, she found a spring in the wild.
"Let me wash your clothes for you."
By the water's edge, Yuka removed Yagami's Anbu flak jacket and slyly pulled off his mask.
"Wow… your eyes are actually pretty handsome. Too bad you hide behind that mask — so cautious."
"Are you just washing my vest?"
"Want me to wash your shorts too?"
The pile of clothes grew higher, while the amount they wore grew smaller.
Under the moonlight, Yuka's pale body gleamed like porcelain, and Yagami couldn't help but stare.
When she wore the tight mesh undergarment, her chest had seemed merely full — now unbound, it was soft, buoyant, and mesmerizing.
The Water Style made them wet and dry, wet again and dry again — until they were finally clean.
The two leaned against each other afterward, taking turns to rest and keep watch through the night.
The next morning, Yagami said,
"Yuka, my next mission is to investigate a certain town. I'll tell you where — there might be several Uzumaki ninja hiding there."
Planting a mole among the Uzumaki… surely that would keep him from dying again, right?
***
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