Yagami's vision suddenly shifted, and he appeared back in the Anbu base from the previous full moon.
He was alone in the locker room of the Fox Squad.
Sitting on the wooden bench in the center, he looked up at the bright moon outside the high window.
This was the first time since his transmigration that he had survived until the next full moon—choosing, of his own will, how he would die.
His luck wasn't bad. He had met Senju Kaba, an insider, who brought him deep into the Senju territory, where he encountered Senju Rinki.
Senju Rinki's power was overwhelming—he was killed almost instantly.
Thankfully, Rinki had ended him quickly. If he had lingered half-dead until the next full moon, it would have been disastrous.
An Anbu member attacking the Senju Clan Head—everything had already become an established fact. Other than becoming a rogue ninja, he had no other path left.
And if his luck had been any worse, he wouldn't have even had the chance to become one.
...
[Arc of the Full Moon activated!
The host has one resurrection opportunity per month. Upon death, resurrection will occur on the night of the previous full moon.
Reward: one lottery draw
1 - A-Rank: Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique (Beginner)
2 - Senju Secret Art: Monster Strength
3 - Senju Bloodline (Ordinary, can be refined).]
---
"Too much," Yagami muttered. All three rewards were highly valuable—yet he could only choose one.
Each of these abilities could serve as a core strength to push him to the level of a jōnin.
The first—Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique—was the improved version created by Senju Tobirama. It only required three hand seals to activate.
Among Water Release techniques, the Water Dragon Bullet was a top-tier offensive jutsu. Both the Second Hokage Tobirama and the Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi used it.
Even against Uchiha Madara, this jutsu could hold its ground.
Its attack range was massive, and its destructive power was high. With this jutsu, Fire Release users would no longer threaten him.
The second reward—the Monster Strength Technique—was Tsunade's signature ability.
It allowed one to channel chakra through the entire body to its utmost potential.
In terms of physical attack power, it ranked just below the Eight Inner Gates.
Mastered to its peak, it could even tear through Susanoo with bare hands.
Both were incredibly tempting… especially Monster Strength, which had greater potential.
But Yagami's attention focused on the third option.
Senju Bloodline (Ordinary, can be refined)?
The Senju Clan's kekkei genkai—innate vitality, immense chakra reserves—and it could even be refined further.
If refined to a high enough purity, it could potentially awaken Wood Release.
His chakra attributes were Earth and Water—just the right combination for it. Perfect.
He wasn't sure about Senju Rinki's bloodline purity, but his current body probably couldn't handle anything beyond an ordinary Senju Bloodline.
The system's rewards were tied both to the strength of the one who killed him and to his own body's ability to bear the result.
A Senju Bloodline… this was too valuable.
If he kept picking fights with the Senju Clan, maybe after dying a few more times, he could draw another Senju Bloodline.
Once refined, the power of that bloodline would only grow stronger.
After long hesitation, Yagami finally chose the reward with the highest ceiling.
The Senju Bloodline—the potential foundation for the body of a Sage of Six Paths.
The moment he made his choice, his entire body burned with heat. Steam rose from his scalp and collar.
His skin felt like it was on fire, every brush of fabric stinging painfully.
He quickly stripped off his clothes.
Every cell in his body screamed as his physical form underwent a fundamental transformation.
Each cell became more active, his muscles denser, his tendons tougher.
He could hear his heartbeat, even sense his internal organs strengthening.
His chakra surged, visibly growing stronger.
The Senju Clan truly possessed monstrous chakra reserves.
After half an hour, his body finally stabilized, and Yagami quickly checked his system panel.
...
[Host Status]
Chakra Level: 1.5× Elite Chūnin
Chakra Attributes: Earth, Water, Yang
Bloodline: Senju Bloodline (Ordinary)
Ninjutsu: Water Release: Water Formation Wall, Earth Release: Earth Substitution, etc.
Taijutsu: Beginner-level Body Flicker, Beginner-level Cloud Flow Swordsmanship, etc.
Sealing Techniques: Curse Mark of Self-Restraint, etc.
Special Abilities: Reflex Enhancement (Second Breakthrough), Chakra Natural Growth.]
...
Before this, his chakra level was 3.9× Chūnin.
An Elite Chūnin's chakra was roughly 5× a standard Chūnin's.
Now, with an ordinary Senju Bloodline, his chakra had increased massively—1.5× that of an Elite Chūnin.
This growth came from the sheer boost to his physical energy.
His muscles were tighter, his taijutsu more powerful.
This sensation—of power coursing through every limb—felt incredible.
Even better were the new changes: an additional chakra attribute and a new special ability.
He had gained Yang Release.
Yang Release didn't mean much early on, but at higher stages, it could influence abilities near the Sage of Six Paths level.
And—Chakra Natural Growth!
That meant his chakra would continue to grow naturally until reaching his bloodline's limit.
He had seen similar chakra-enhancing options before—and now he was glad he hadn't picked them.
Even three chakra boost rewards wouldn't compare to this fundamental body evolution.
The Senju truly were born blessed—their very bloodline carried power beyond measure.
...
The locker room door suddenly opened.
Purple Cat stepped in, surprised to find the Fox Captain nearly naked.
"Oh? Waiting for me already? You're that eager?" she teased, her tone dripping with mischief.
As she walked over, her Anbu gear fell piece by piece to the floor, bare feet gliding silently across the cold tiles.
"Hmm… your body looks even better than before…"
...
Half an hour later, she was begging for mercy.
"Your body's better—but why's your stamina improved too?!"
An hour later—
Her legs slid weakly from around his waist, barely able to stand.
If Yagami hadn't held her by the waist, she might have collapsed entirely.
"Captain, the new recruits will arrive soon. We can't keep doing this."
"It's fine. With Anbu's mortality rate, they won't last long."
Purple Cat sighed inwardly—her captain really was ruthless.
Then again, she might be the one to die on some mission someday.
Seeing the gloom in her eyes, Yagami said softly, "Don't worry. I'm stronger now. I'll have enough strength to protect you."
He hadn't been able to before—but now, as his strength grew, so did what he could protect.
"…Thank you, Captain."
...
Yagami had returned to a month before—when many things had yet to happen.
His unit hadn't been rebuilt.
Senju Kaba and the others were still alive.
Putting his clothes back on, Yagami donned his mask and walked quietly through the Anbu base.
He entered the mission archive room and began reviewing Black Ape Squad's records.
They had completed many missions since joining the Anbu—but there was no mention of Hashirama Cells.
Those cells were in Danzo's hands. Who knew when he'd have a chance to obtain them?
With the ordinary Senju Bloodline, if he could acquire Hashirama Cells, he might awaken Wood Release.
Hashirama Cells and the Senju Bloodline together… the baseline would be another Yamato.
But the upper limit—was anyone's guess.
Yagami suddenly thought of Orochimaru.
After Nawaki's death, Orochimaru had become obsessed with experimentation—seeking the secret of immortality.
Perhaps only by then would Danzo bring out the Hashirama Cells.