"Summoning Technique!"
After a puff of white smoke, the Uzumaki Guardian Ninja Captain summoned... three donkeys?
These donkeys were over three meters tall with massive builds. All the Uzumaki shinobi mounted them.
Half an hour later, Yōkō really wanted to slap himself. Why had he looked down on the Giant Donkeys?
These Giant Donkeys could really run.
Their hooves flew across the Gobi Desert, running freely.
More importantly, the donkeys showed no sign of slowing down, possessing astonishing stamina.
The Giant Donkeys seemed tireless. Their large bodies stored enough fat, like camels, allowing them to go for long periods without food or water.
The Kiri-nin chased after the donkeys, and the Konoha forces chased after the Kiri-nin.
Yōkō was responsible for leaving markers for the squad, so the two following Anbu battalions could find them.
As they ran, Yōkō suddenly saw a marker he had left earlier.
Wait, had they circled back?
So, these Giant Donkeys were leading the Kiri-nin and Konoha Anbu in circles.
The Gobi Desert was vast and seemingly boundless; who could outrun these Giant Donkeys?
Even if the Kiri-nin pushed hard to catch up, the donkeys could still speed up.
Even if the Kiri-nin briefly overtook the donkeys, one Uzumaki shinobi would stay behind, sacrificing their life to trade one-for-one with a Kiri-nin squad leader.
This chase went on for several days. During this time, Yōkō saw several markers he had made.
These markers pointed in different directions, becoming increasingly chaotic. He himself had to think carefully to make the markers consistent.
The Giant Donkeys could keep running, but the Kiri-nin and Konoha shinobi had to rest after two or three hours, stopping to replenish water and Military Ration Pills.
The Uzumaki Guardian Ninja knew the Gobi well, specifically choosing routes with no water, food, or plants.
The Kiri-nin managed to kill two Uzumaki shinobi who stayed behind, but after that, they couldn't catch up anymore.
It seemed those Giant Donkeys could run for days and nights on end.
Three more days passed, and Yōkō felt sure he would be reprimanded by the Battalion Commander.
He had been laying markers while following the donkeys, but they just kept circling, making the markers more and more confused.
Forget the two battalions coming later; Yōkō himself couldn't find his way out of the Gobi using those markers.
--
The full moon was like a silver plate, its light resembling white frost.
Unknowingly, the night of the full moon had arrived again.
From the darkness in the distance came the faint sound of a donkey's bray. It was long and full of vigor.
Yōkō now understood: the Uzumaki Guardian Ninja were buying time for the other Uzumaki clansmen.
Uzumaki Yuka had listened to his advice; the Uzumaki remnants should have long since left the Land of Waves.
A few days later, Konoha's two battalions finally caught up.
To Yōkō's relief, Battalion Commander Yellow Dog didn't scold him for the confusing markers.
Yōkō observed that both Konoha Anbu battalions were at full strength, indicating that Battalion Commander Yellow Dog hadn't split his forces to pursue Uzumaki Yuka. Perhaps she had already left before the Anbu reached the Land of Waves.
Now both the Kiri-nin and Konoha had two battalions each.
Konoha was fighting Kumogakure in the Land of Hot Water.
Kirigakure was fighting Sunagakure and couldn't spare too much force.
The Land of Wind had a small stretch of coastline in its southeast corner. Kirigakure and Sunagakure had suffered countless casualties fighting over the ownership of the only port there.
Seeing the Konoha Anbu, the Uzumaki Guardian Ninja Captain's eyes darkened.
He said to the few remaining Uzumaki shinobi around him, "Well, are you resolved?"
One replied, "We've been resolved for a long time. Our Uzumaki clan will be hunted by all shinobi villages, but as long as someone survives, there is hope."
The Guardian Ninja Captain nodded: "Time. We need more time."
With four battalions surrounding and blocking them, the Giant Donkeys' escape routes narrowed.
One, two, until the last summoned donkey died at the hands of the Anbu from both sides.
The Kiri-nin and Konoha forces maneuvered with tacit understanding on the east and west sides of the Uzumaki shinobi.
Whenever one side closed in on the Uzumaki, the other side quickly followed suit.
All that was left for the Uzumaki shinobi was despair.
Every time an Uzumaki shinobi was killed, their body was frantically fought over by the Anbu from both sides.
The number of Uzumaki shinobi dwindled until only one remained.
The Guardian Ninja Captain watched as his last comrade's body was placed into a body bag.
They had done their utmost.
The Guardian Ninja Captain opened his tool pouch. Inside was his last kunai and the sealing scroll.
Taking out the kunai, the Guardian Ninja Captain slowly walked towards the Konoha Anbu.
The Kiri-nin on the other side instantly grew tense and quickly moved to pursue.
Battalion Commander Yellow Dog hesitated for a moment before giving an order.
The Uzumaki Guardian Ninja wasn't the main concern; the Kiri-nin behind him were the headache.
The Guardian Ninja Captain fully understood what the Konoha Anbu feared. He slowed his pace, intentionally waiting for the Kiri-nin.
The distance between the three parties closed.
At the last moment, the Guardian Ninja Captain crouched completely, gathering all his chakra in his feet.
He leaped up suddenly, jumping over ten meters high, straight into the very center of the Konoha Anbu formation.
Battalion Commander Yellow Dog looked up as the Guardian Ninja Captain leaped over his head, landing in the rear.
Seeing the Guardian Ninja Captain penetrate so deeply, the Kiri-nin opposite panicked. The scroll couldn't fall into Konoha's hands.
The Kiri-nin charged forward rapidly.
Yōkō was in the middle-rear of the formation when he suddenly found someone had appeared right in front of him!
It was the Guardian Ninja Captain!
Without thinking, he quickly raised his sword to block.
Luck was on his side; the horizontal block deflected the kunai. Instead of striking his heart, the kunai only stabbed his shoulder.
Surrounded by Anbu, there was no way to play dead now.
Yōkō quickly grabbed for the kunai, trying to lock one of the Guardian Ninja Captain's arms, pretending to be heroic.
The Guardian Ninja Captain didn't want to waste time here. He kicked the Anbu wearing the fox mask, sending him flying.
Yōkō felt like his insides were churning. Fortunately, he had been living on Military Ration Pills and his stomach was empty, otherwise he would have vomited into his mask, trapped by its confines.
After being sent flying, Yōkō actually felt relieved.
Getting kicked away is good; no need to fight if I'm out of the action.
He tried to get up, but as he was halfway to his feet, a wire suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Turning his head to follow the wire, Yōkō saw the wielder of the Longsword Nuibari, Kuriarare Kushimaru!
When did he get here?
Had the Kiri-nin already flanked them?
Kuriarare Kushimaru gave the wire a slight tug.
A long, needle-like sword flew from behind Yōkō and, without him noticing, pierced through his chest.
This was the unique attack method of the Longsword Nuibari.
Yōkō and two other Anbu were skewered together by the Longsword Nuibari, like dead grasshoppers on a stick.
Dead. Kuriarare Kushimaru's attack was too fast.
--
His vision went black, then shifted.
Yōkō had returned to the full moon night five days prior.
Damn it, he had died so soon after the last full moon.
He was still in the Gobi, being led in circles by the Giant Donkeys.
[Mochizuki's Arc activated!
The host has only one resurrection opportunity per month. Upon death, they will resurrect on the night of the previous full moon.
Reward: One lottery draw opportunity:
1- Stress Reflex (One Breakthrough);
2- Chūnin-level Chakra Reserve (Stackable);
3- Wire-Guided Shuriken Technique (Beginner).]
After the initial frustration, Yōkō's eyes lit up.
It's here. The lottery chance is here.
...
Read 50 advance at patreon.com/CNBLUE
(End of Chapter)