Konohagakure.
A man wearing a fox mask crouched in the shadows of a grove at the corner of the street, eyes fixed on a distant izakaya.
What rotten luck—he'd transmigrated into the body of a Chūnin-ranked ANBU, a civilian-born shinobi named Yako.
According to intel, there might be an Iwa spy in that izakaya.
It was well into the second half of the night when the ANBU squad captain flickered into place behind Yako with a Shunshin no Jutsu.
"Fox. Fewer people in the izakaya now. Remove your mask and flak jacket. Go in undercover. Gather intelligence."
The captain referred to him by the codename tied to the fox mask Yako had chosen.
Yako took off the mask, shrugged off the flak jacket, and unfastened his ninja tool pouch, hiding only a single kunai on his person.
If he got the intel—good.
If he died in there—even better.
His death was intel.
Yako held out his hand toward the squad captain.
The captain raised a brow. "Hmm? What is it?"
"I've got no money for drinks. You're covering that, right? I need to order the most expensive sake to catch the spy's eye, don't I?"
Reluctantly, the captain pulled a wallet from his ninja pouch and handed over a wad of cash.
Yako took it, then extended his hand again.
With a grunt, the captain handed over another bundle. "Don't push it. It's not even a suicide mission."
Not a suicide mission? So there's still a decent chance I die.
Yako stepped into the izakaya, each footfall heavy, met by a pungent wave of strong liquor, cheap perfume, and stale sweat.
He followed the trail of perfume, avoided the liquor-soaked air, and sat at a corner table.
"Give me your most expensive sake!"
The proprietress—a voluptuous, sultry-eyed woman—perked up the moment she heard someone order top-shelf liquor.
She approached, eyes brimming with allure, sake bottle balanced in her hand.
As she leaned over, her cleavage practically poured out, and she set the sake down before him.
Soft, but not jiggly—there was muscle under that plushness. Traces of training.
Yako's nerves were taut. Everything screamed danger.
Her voice was syrupy and sweet:
"Ninja-sama, have you returned victorious from the frontlines? May I offer you a few... diversions, to ease the weariness of battle?"
Yako chugged the entire bottle in one go.
The sake in this world was low-proof, like erguotou mixed with boiled water. He feigned drunkenness and arousal.
"Diversions? You think you can unwind what I saw on the frontlines with that?"
"Private room," the woman offered eagerly. "We've got rooms upstairs."
"Private room? This place is old—are those creaky wooden floors even shockproof? If we're shaking things up on the second floor, you want everyone downstairs eating dust?"
"Hehehe~" She giggled behind her hand. "Then shall we go to the rear garden? We've got private rooms back there too. No shaking worries."
"Rear garden sounds great. I love the rear. These old wooden buildings—no way they can handle me upstairs."
She took his hand and placed it around her waist, her chest pressing flush against his ribs as she led him to the back.
As they passed the curtain into the rear courtyard, the light dimmed sharply.
She pressed in tighter.
That pillowy softness wrapping around him—so good.
If only he weren't ANBU... If this were a real civilian life, with money from missions, he'd come spend it here every damn time.
Once inside the side room in the garden, the woman slammed the door shut.
"Ninja-sama, do you prefer Yin Release... or Yang Release?"
"I didn't learn anything real at the Academy. What's the difference?"
"My Yin and Yang Release... depends on who's on top. Get it?"
"Top? Who's on top? Yeah, I get it."
Aside from the standard five elemental natures, certain bloodline clans mastered Yin and Yang Release. Beyond that, there was even Six Paths–level Yin-Yang Release.
Hers clearly wasn't the ordinary kind.
Yako nearly drooled. But deep in his eyes—cold vigilance.
But vigilance was useless.
With weak strength, constant alertness found nothing.
Thud! A kunai drove into his lower back!
In the dark, an enemy slipped behind him using methods Yako couldn't even perceive—and struck.
He opened his mouth to cry out, but her lips sealed his shut.
Just like that, the transmigrator was dead…
The world sank into black.
Yako's pupils dilated.
And in an instant—he awoke again.
The system had arrived.
[Arc of the Moonwatcher activated!]
[Host receives one resurrection per month, returning to the night of the last full moon after death.]
[You have earned a reward spin. Options:]
Earth Release: Earth Style - Fish in the Earth (Beginner Level)
Chūnin-level Chakra Capacity (Stackable)
Kunai Thrust (Mastery Level)
[Warning: If you are killed twice by the same person, you will die permanently!]
He was back. Five days earlier. The 15th.
In the ANBU's half-subterranean base, Yako looked out the small high window at the full moon.
Arc of the Moonwatcher—his golden finger.
One resurrection per month, sending him back to the last full moon.
Three lottery draws. Prizes tied to the nature of his death.
He weighed the options.
Kunai Thrust (Mastery)—his killer had mastered close-range stabbing, with subtle techniques that made it faster, deadlier.
Useful—but not crucial.
Chūnin-level chakra—stackable, sure, but not his most urgent need right now.
He chose Earth Release: Fish in the Earth (Beginner).
He already had Earth-nature chakra. Earth ninjutsu was his path.
The name alone screamed infiltration, evasion, assassination, plunder.
Joining ANBU was like drowning in the deep sea. If you didn't act, you died.
Escape wasn't possible. ANBU didn't play nice—they'd hunt him down as a rogue-nin.
In a flash, Yako learned the jutsu.
After forming three hand seals, he pressed his palm against the wall. His hand slowly phased into the surface.
The wall rippled like water, chakra distorting its form.
He withdrew. The wall returned to normal.
He could now move through earth unseen, silent.
Not bad. His first real ninjutsu.
[Host Status]
Chakra Capacity: Chūnin-level
Chakra Nature: Earth
Ninjutsu: Basic Three Techniques, Earth Release: Fish in the Earth
Taijutsu: Basic Taijutsu (Chūnin-level), Basic Kunai Throwing (Chūnin-level)
Other: None
A real cannon fodder type—burnt ash-black.
Taijutsu didn't demand as much chakra. He lacked chakra, so he'd focused on grinding the basics.
Root hadn't been founded yet. Danzō, still Hiruzen Sarutobi's most trusted aide, was managing the ANBU directly.
A month ago, Danzō had led a mission in the Land of Hot Water against the Third Raikage. The result was catastrophic—most of ANBU was wiped out. Danzō barely escaped back to Konoha alive.
Emergency recruitment followed. And that's how Yako ended up here.
Suddenly, a knock at the door.
The squad captain stepped inside.
"Fox. With me. We're staking out an izakaya."
He had no idea Yako was hearing those exact words for the second time.
Without a word, Yako began packing his ninja tools.
He'd used up this month's death already.
One more, and not even the system could save him.