Deep into the night of the fourth day, a single carriage rolled quietly out from the Senju compound.
Its windows and doors were tightly shut.
Inside sat only two figures, aged, frail Uzumaki Mito, and the young crimson-haired princess of the Uzumaki, Kushina.
Following silently in the darkness were Senju Rinmu, Tsunade, and every jōnin of the Senju clan. Behind them, the masked shadows of Konoha's ANBU trailed in formation.
So it begins, Yoru thought, watching from the shadows.
The transfer of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki…
To prevent the Nine-Tails from rampaging within the village, the decision had been made: the sealing would be carried out far from Konoha, atop Mount Ushika, ten kilometers to the northwest.
Yoru's gaze lingered on the carriage at the center of the procession.
If I were to die at Uzumaki Mito's hands… would I draw some broken, god-tier ability? The Uzumaki Sage's Body? Their sealing arts? Or even a fragment of the Nine-Tails' own power?
The thought alone was enough to make his pulse quicken.
But today was only the fourth day of the lunar month, eleven nights until the full moon. If he threw away his life now, the revival would force him to survive eleven long days before the next cycle.
With ANBU patrols this tense, eleven days was far too risky. One unlucky mission could end him before his timer reset.
No. Survival is the true path. Better not gamble.
As he debated inwardly, the Black Ape Squad Captain returned from the front and gave silent hand signs to the three ANBU squads following.
One by one, squads broke off from the main body. The Black Ape unit accelerated north.
Yoru frowned, casting one last look at Mito's carriage. What's our squad up to?
Not only Black Ape's team, but two other squads scattered into different directions, vanishing into the woods.
A few kilometers later, the Black Ape Captain gathered his sub-leaders.
"You three squads have all transmitted the same report: the Senju clan will hold Uzumaki Mito's funeral tomorrow." His voice was low, steady. "Our mission is to confirm. Border intel states a formidable force has already breached the Land of Fire's defenses and entered deep into our territory.
We move to intercept, identify, and determine if their target is Mito."
He turned toward the man in the white-ram mask. "White Ram, your Byakugan squad will lead reconnaissance. The other two, battle support."
White Ram nodded once. A Hyūga, prized for his vision, recruited with difficulty into the ANBU.
The Black Ape unit reached Mount Ushika first, spreading out to scout.
An hour later, White Ram stiffened, flashing hand signals.
Nine o'clock. Four suspects approaching. Large chakra signatures. Fast.
Black Ape's team surged forward to confirm.
They fanned out, White Ram squad at the rear, Fox and Leaf-Monkey squads on the flanks, Captain in the center.
"They've spotted us! Closing in!" White Ram hissed.
Black Ape's voice cut cold through the night:
"This is the Land of Fire's heart. No delays. All units, engage at full strength. Crush them!
Purple Cat, prepare. Extract intel from the bodies!"
The kunoichi in the violet mask stiffened. Her first real combat in ANBU, against enemies strong enough to punch through the borders.
"Coming!" a shout rang out,
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
The ground convulsed. A colossal dragon of stone tore forward, splintering trees like twigs.
The sheer pressure left throats dry. An enemy jōnin, no doubt.
Above chūnin, few remained hidden in ANBU. Most true jōnin sought renown in open light, not anonymity in masks. To face one here, in the shadows…
Black Ape's chest tightened.
But retreat was not an option.
"Scatter!"
Ninja leapt aside, the dragon tearing between, splitting the unit in half.
On the north side, Black Ape and the Leaf-Monkey squad. South side, Fox and White Ram.
Three enemy shinobi burst from the other side of the stone dragon, converging on the captain.
"Not good!"
Half a squad against a jōnin's strike team was dangerous. Deadly.
Yoru vaulted forward with White Ram, leaping over the dragon's back, only to be flung skyward as the earthen beast arched upward, tossing Fox and White Ram squads into the air.
Yoru twisted midair, landing clean. The weaker ANBU hit the ground hard, scattering.
White Ram's eyes blazed, fixed on the relaxed figure of the Iwagakure jōnin standing ahead. "Fox. You're our close-range. We'll carve you one chance. Take it."
"…Got it."
Kunai clashed on the northern front, Black Ape's side was locked with three Stone ninja.
Purple Cat and another ANBU threw kunai, covering. White Ram dashed in.
"Earth Release: Earth Spears!"
Spikes burst from the ground.
"Rotation!"
White Ram spun, a dome of chakra shredding the stone spears.
The Hidden Stone jōnin's interest sharpened. "A Hyūga. Rare prey."
His seals blurred. Spears erupted again, carpeting the ground like a field of jagged pikes.
White Ram charged, spinning again. Cracks formed. Sweat ran.
A third time, blood on his lips, one spear piercing through the dome, skewering his stomach.
"Keep going!" he roared.
An ANBU vaulted from his shoulder, flinging himself toward the enemy. A spear impaled him midair, body falling limp.
But Yoru was already there, sprinting over his comrade's back, blade raised.
Steel sang.
The Stone jōnin met the strike with a braced guard, metal gauntlets screeching under the force.
"Cloud-Style Swordplay!"
At the last instant, Yoru twisted, vertical slash transforming into a diagonal cut for the throat.
That was Cloud-Style's essence, change too late for the eye to predict.
The jōnin's eyes widened. The blade struck flesh.
Hope flared. We did it.
Then Yoru froze.
…The feedback's wrong.
Instead of flesh and bone, his sword met sludge.
The enemy dissolved into mud.
"Earth Substitution."
From behind, the real Stone jōnin's killing intent surged.
Yoru bent low, kunai grazing the air above his spine. Reflexes beyond normal saved him once.
But not twice.
A spear tore up from the earth, straight through his chest.
[Death confirmed. Activating Arc of the Full Moon…]
Yoru's last thought before darkness:
Dying on reconnaissance… what happens when the real battlefield begins?