"Sealing Technique: Storage Seal" was a sealing jutsu used to store kunai and other ninja tools within scrolls.
Given Yako's current combat ability, carrying triple the tools wouldn't help much, so he ruled out this jutsu.
Kunai thrusts? Also unnecessary. It seemed that the Uzumaki ninja who had killed him had been skilled with kunai.
Plenty of ninja were skilled with kunai—there would be many chances to earn that reward in the future.
Chūnin-level Chakra Reserves (stackable)—this was exactly what Yako needed right now.
Ever since mastering the Shadow Clone Technique, his chakra consumption had skyrocketed.
After selecting this reward, Yako's chakra doubled, reaching 2x Chūnin-level reserves.
If he could reach 5x Chūnin-level, it would match that of an elite Chūnin.
'The talent of this body really is terrible—such pitiful chakra reserves,' he thought.
Captain Antelope returned after receiving orders from Captain Brown Bear and took Fox away.
"Captain, what's our next mission?"
"Don't ask what you shouldn't."
Alright then, Captain Antelope… never thought you'd waste your second chance too.
Antelope had to die—otherwise, there'd be no way to explain how he knew the Shadow Clone Technique. Dead men tell no tales.
As for the new Blue Wolf squad—they had to die too, or there was no chance he'd be promoted to squad captain.
Yako followed behind Captain Antelope, constantly plotting how to achieve his goal.
They regrouped with Yuka Uzumaki's team and set up an ambush together by the lake.
Once again, Antelope insisted that Yako stay close to Yuka, ready to strike at any moment.
Lying hidden in the bushes beside Yuka, Yako mulled it over—this woman couldn't die. She was key to eliminating the Blue Wolf squad.
Just like in the previous timeline, Longspear Egret flew in from afar. After the explosive tags triggered an iron wire trap, Yuka charged out first.
At the crucial moment of the sealing process, two squads of Cloud-nin appeared.
Yako stabbed Yuka first, then poisoned and killed Captain Antelope.
But this time, when Yako returned to find Yuka, there was no killing intent in his eyes.
"Fox! You're back!"
Hearing Yuka's joyous voice, Yako carefully tended to the wound on her abdomen.
He cut away the skin-tight uniform around the wound, revealing her toned midsection and well-defined abs.
'Shame if such a beautiful stomach ends up scarred,' he thought.
After treating her injuries, Yako helped Yuka sit up.
"Thank you, Fox."
Hearing her sincere gratitude, Yako quickly pressed his advantage.
"Yuka, you know I have a special status. I gather intel for a certain lord of the Senju clan.
Saving you this time came at great risk. If my captain hadn't died from his wounds, I wouldn't have had the chance to return and help you."
"You already held back earlier—not only did you apply hemostatic ointment to the kunai, but the wound was shallow. Which Senju lord are you working for?"
Yako thought to himself, 'How should I know?' Out loud, he said:
"My identity is classified, so don't make any guesses.
That lord suspects the ANBU has become corrupt. It's nothing like when Lord Tobirama was Hokage. That's why I was planted inside ANBU—to investigate secretly.
This mission to the Land of Waves confirmed his fears. ANBU is behaving oddly—trying to steal Uzumaki clan scrolls? Unthinkable in the old days.
Yuka, you must keep this secret. If I'm exposed, I'm dead."
"I understand. I'll take it to the grave."
"I only communicate with that lord through a single private channel. Even if you meet other Senju ninja, you can't mention me."
"I know. Infiltrating ANBU is extremely dangerous—I won't tell anyone. Not even our village."
Yako nodded rapidly. 'This woman is easier to fool than I thought.'
More importantly, he had skillfully used the Uzumaki Secret Technique, so Yuka had no reason to doubt him.
Just like if Yako had a Sharingan now, the Uchiha would probably believe he was a lost descendant.
After catching her breath, Yuka motioned for Yako to help her over to Longspear Egret.
Yako glanced at the fierce bird—despite its temperament, it had struggled so much that it broke its own bones, still unable to fly.
Yuka's face was pale as she gathered her remaining chakra, opened the sealing scroll, and used Contract Seal to bind Longspear Egret.
"Heal Longspear Egret slowly, tame its wildness, and build trust. Only then will it become a proper summoning beast."
Yako found it fascinating. Shame he didn't know any sealing techniques.
Yuka's gaze turned downward, as if recalling something unpleasant.
After a long silence, she said, "Fox, I know why the ANBU's attitude changed."
"Hmm? Why?"
"Because... the clan head rejected Danzo's demands," Yuka said.
"It's not a secret within the clan.
The clan head's granddaughter, Kushina Uzumaki, has an extraordinary gift for sealing jutsu—once in decades kind of talent.
Danzo Shimura came to negotiate, hoping Lady Kushina would become the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
But the clan head said Uzushio Village had tracked down the wild Three-Tails, and wanted Kushina to become its Jinchuriki instead.
The Uzumaki clan has long since mastered the ability to control a tailed beast with our sealing arts.
Ever since Lord Tobirama's death, our clan's situation has worsened. Konoha no longer supports us wholeheartedly, and we've been forced to find our own path.
Danzo didn't respond to that refusal. Instead, he made another demand.
He wanted the Uzumaki to share their advanced sealing techniques with Konoha.
But the clan head refused again.
These secret techniques are the foundation of the Uzumaki clan's identity. Even when the First Hokage, Lord Hashirama, married Lady Mito Uzumaki, he never demanded we surrender our arts.
Rejecting Danzo twice in a row… the clan head is deeply worried, but he can't abandon our path."
'Saving Yuka was definitely the right call,' Yako thought.
So Danzo had come to Uzushio to discuss the next Jinchuriki, and to demand sealing techniques.
Kushina's talent was so great that both villages wanted her.
Now there was a fundamental disagreement—both villages wanted Kushina Uzumaki as their Jinchuriki.
ANBU's mission to seize the Adamantine Sealing Chains scroll had been an attempt to uncover the secrets of Uzumaki sealing.
The resilience of a ninja's body truly was something. After five days, Yuka's injuries had mostly healed.
Her stomach was flat again, the scar no more than a faint pink patch.
One night, deep into the second half, Yuka found a natural spring in the wild.
"Let me help wash your clothes."
By the water, she helped Yako take off his ANBU flak vest, and while doing so, gently pulled off his mask.
"Wow… you've actually got pretty handsome eyes. Shame you always hide them—so cautious."
"You're only washing my vest?"
"Want me to wash your shorts too?"
The pile of clothes grew. The ones on their bodies shrank.
Before long, under the pale moonlight, their bare skin reflected the shimmering water. Yuka's fair figure was radiant under the glow—soft, unbound, and breathtaking. Yako couldn't look away.
The night lingered—skin brushed skin, breath mingled with breath.
The water soaked them, then dried… then soaked again.
They didn't speak for a long time after. Only the gentle sounds of the spring accompanied them as they rested, leaning against each other, taking turns watching the night.
The next morning, Yako said:
"Yuka, my next mission is to investigate a small town. I'll give you the location—there may be quite a few Uzumaki ninja there."
He thought, If I can plant an informant among the Uzumaki, maybe I'll actually survive this time.