Yako's vision shifted abruptly—he reappeared in the ANBU base on the night of the last full moon.
In the changing room of the Kitsune Squad, he was alone.
He sat on the bench in the center, head tilted back, gazing at the moonlight trickling through the high window.
This was the first time since arriving in this world that he'd survived until the next full moon—and chosen how to die on his own terms.
Luck had favored him. With Senju Ka as an insider, he'd made it deep into the heart of the Senju compound. He'd come face-to-face with Senju Rinkoku.
Rinkoku was overwhelmingly strong—Yako had been one-shotted, nearly instantly.
But that was a blessing. If he'd survived, half-dead, to the next full moon, things would've turned dire.
He'd attacked the head of the Senju as an ANBU. That couldn't be undone. At this point, becoming a rogue ninja was his only path forward.
And if luck had been worse, he wouldn't even have gotten that far.
[Arc of the Moonlit Watch activated!
Each month, the host has a single chance at revival, returning to the last full moon.
Reward draw initiated:]
1 - A-rank Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu (Beginner)
2 - Senju Secret Technique: Monster Strength
3 - Kekkei Genkai: Forest Senju Bloodline (Common, Purifiable)
Overkill. All three rewards were top-tier. But he could only choose one—two would be lost forever.
Each of these could serve as a core foundation, strong enough to carry him to jōnin level.
First: Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu, Tobirama's refined version of a top-tier water technique. Only three hand seals were needed to cast it. This was one of the strongest water-style offensive jutsu, used by Tobirama himself, and by the Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi.
Even against Madara Uchiha, this technique had serious power.
Its wide area and strong force meant Fire-style specialists wouldn't pose a threat to him anymore.
Second: Monster Strength—the core ability of Tsunade.
This technique allowed one to channel the maximum amount of chakra into their body for pure physical destruction.
In terms of taijutsu lethality, it was second only to the Eight Gates.
Master it fully, and you could tear through a Susano'o barehanded.
Both options were tempting—especially Monster Strength, with its incredible ceiling.
But Yako's gaze fixated on the third.
Kekkei Genkai: Forest Senju Bloodline (Common, Purifiable)?
The Senju's bloodline limit. Born with powerful bodies and vast chakra reserves—and this one could be purified.
If purified far enough, there was a chance of awakening Wood Style.
His chakra affinities were Earth and Water already. Like a bald monk needing no shaving—perfect.
He didn't know how pure Rinkoku's bloodline had been, but this body could probably only withstand the "common" tier.
The rewards granted by the system were tied to both the strength of the person who killed him, and his own body's capacity.
This Forest Senju bloodline… was insanely useful.
If he kept dying to Senju over and over, maybe he could roll for another tier of the bloodline.
With purification, the power could grow further and further.
After weighing everything carefully, Yako chose the reward with the highest potential ceiling.
Forest Senju Bloodline. Perhaps one day it could evolve into the Six Paths-level Sage Body.
After choosing it, Yako was overcome with a scorching heat. Steam burst from his head, neck, and collar.
His skin burned, clothes clung painfully tight—each movement a flare of agony.
He quickly stripped them off.
Every cell in his body cried out in upheaval. His very constitution was changing.
Each muscle grew denser, each ligament tougher, every cell more alive.
He could hear his own heartbeat—his internal organs strengthened.
His chakra reserves were visibly increasing.
All Senju possessed vast chakra pools.
After half an hour, his body stabilized. Yako checked his status panel immediately:
[Host Status:
Chakra Reserves: 1.5x Elite Chūnin Level
Chakra Affinities: Earth, Water, Yang
Bloodline: Forest Senju (Common)
Ninjutsu: Water Style: Water Wall, Earth Style: Earth Substitution, etc.
Taijutsu: Basic Body Flicker, Basic Cloud-Style Kenjutsu, etc.
Fūinjutsu: Curse Mark of Retribution, etc.
Special Abilities: Reflex Overload (Tier 2), Natural Chakra Growth]
Previously, his chakra was 3.9x average chūnin.
Elite chūnin chakra was 5x chūnin.
Now, with the Forest Senju bloodline, it had risen to 1.5x elite chūnin, or 7.5x chūnin.
That increase came from raw body energy.
His muscles were tighter, his taijutsu stronger.
The sensation of surging power through every inch of him—it was addictive.
Even more thrilling: the change to his chakra affinities and a new special trait.
He'd gained the Yang affinity.
Yang didn't mean much at low levels—but in the endgame, it could influence Six Paths-level power.
And now he had a new special ability: Natural Chakra Growth.
His chakra would now grow passively over time, up to the limit of his bloodline.
He'd previously passed on several chakra-boosting options—and good thing too.
Three chakra-boosting rewards couldn't compare to one fundamental change in bloodline.
The Senju were truly born with golden spoons—just their average bloodline power alone gave such a massive boost.
Suddenly, the locker room door opened.
Purple Cat walked in—and stopped dead at the sight of Kitsune nearly naked.
With a mischievous smirk: "Oh? Were you waiting for me? Already stripped and ready?"
As she walked toward him, piece by piece, her ANBU gear fell to the floor—until she stood barefoot before him.
"Feels like your body's gotten even better…"
Thirty minutes later, Purple Cat was begging for mercy.
"You didn't just get stronger—why is your stamina off the charts now too?!"
An hour later, her legs slid off Kitsune's waist, trembling, unable to stand.
She would've collapsed if he hadn't caught her by the waist.
"Captain, the new recruits are arriving soon. We won't be able to act like this anymore…"
"No worries. With ANBU's casualty rate, they won't be around long."
Purple Cat silently cursed her team leader—cold-blooded to the core.
Then again, maybe she too would die on some mission soon.
Sensing her mood darken, Yako said, "Relax. I'm stronger now—I have enough power to protect you."
Once, his strength had been insufficient to look after those around him.
But now, as his power grew, so did the things he could do.
"Thanks… Captain."
Yako had gone back a full month. So much hadn't yet happened. The squad hadn't reformed. Ka was still alive.
Clothing himself again, mask back on, he walked through the ANBU base.
He headed to the mission archive to study Black Ape Squad's records.
Black Ape had done many missions after joining ANBU—but none mentioned Hashirama Cells.
They were in Danzō's possession. Who knew when Yako would get a shot at them.
With this bloodline, if he could obtain Hashirama Cells, he'd have a shot at awakening Wood Style.
Senju bloodline plus Hashirama Cells—the minimum outcome was another Yamato.
The maximum… who could say?
Suddenly, Yako thought of Orochimaru.
After Nawaki's death, Orochimaru had become obsessed with experiments and the secret of immortality.
Maybe only after that point would Danzō bring the Hashirama Cells into play.