Regenerative Recovery

Just like the last time he chose the Senju bloodline, Yako's entire body began to tremble on a cellular level.

He slowly sat down, leaning against a tree trunk behind him.

Purple Cat noticed his trembling arm and moved closer. "Captain, are you okay?"

"It's nothing. Just a cramp. Don't draw attention—it'll pass soon."

Purple Cat found it odd. With Fox Captain's strength, why would he cramp up?

Still, she didn't press further. She stood guard in front of Yako.

And then—Yako made a discovery.

Previously, the basic Forest Senju bloodline had granted him greater chakra reserves and a sturdier physique.

But this upgraded mid-high Forest Senju bloodline didn't just enhance his chakra and constitution—it came with a new ability:

Regenerative Healing (Slow).

Many Senju ninja excelled at medical ninjutsu—Senju Hashirama and Tsunade in particular had pushed regenerative combat to the point of despairing their enemies.

In a fight with Tsunade at her peak, unless she ran out of chakra, she simply wouldn't die.

As for Hashirama, he treated Tsunade's trump card—Creation Rebirth: Strength of a Hundred Technique—as his default state.

Now, with improved bloodline purity, Yako possessed a degree of regeneration himself.

Injuries would stop bleeding quickly, pain would diminish, and he could maintain combat effectiveness.

His cells even began slow autonomous healing, eliminating the need for medical ninja—his wounds would recover on their own.

His chakra reserves had now increased to 1.7 times Special Jōnin level.

[Host Status:

Chakra Reserves: 1.7× Special Jōnin Level

Chakra Natures: Earth, Water, Yang

Kekkei Genkai: Forest Senju Bloodline (Mid-High)

Ninjutsu: Water Release: Water Formation Wall, Earth Release: Earth Substitution, etc.

Taijutsu: Body Flicker Technique, Cloud-Style Kenjutsu, etc.

Fūinjutsu: Curse Mark of Self-Binding, etc.

Special Abilities: Reactive Reflexes (Level 2), Natural Chakra Growth, Regenerative Healing (Slow)]

Yako let out a long breath. The physical transformation was finally complete.

He swallowed three soldier pills in succession, then stood.

Clenching and relaxing his fists, he felt power radiating through every fiber.

His enhanced body now metabolized the pills faster. Warmth bloomed in his belly, driving away the chill from the sweat on his back.

Yako turned toward Yellow Dog's direction.

Now came the real problem—if he ran into Nawaki again, how was he supposed to survive?

According to Yellow Dog's orders, Yako was to die during the decoy mission, baiting Nawaki into the trap.

Nawaki's route had been arranged by Homura Mitokado, the trap laid by an ANBU captain, and both Hiruzen and Danzō had contingencies in place.

Yako wanted to protect Nawaki if possible—but above all, he wanted to keep himself alive.

According to how things had played out in his previous life...

He'd secretly tipped off Senju Haku, who had no realistic chance of meeting Nawaki. So, they'd coordinated with the surviving Uzumaki to leave signs—it was the only way.

Senju Haku had used the clan's unique Water Release distress signal to lure all Senju in the camp outside.

None of Yellow Dog's men noticed that the Uzumaki remnants had planted a scroll outside the camp days in advance.

Yellow Dog believed the mission complete and led his unit back to the village.

But this time—Yako had taken extra steps.

As they were leaving the Land of Grass, a Lance Egret suddenly darted overhead, fast as lightning, disappearing over the hills toward the Land of Rain.

Yako halted and immediately reported,

"Captain Yellow Dog! That was a Lance Egret—Uzumaki summoning beast!

I couldn't be mistaken. Back in the Land of Waves, Captain Black Chimp and I chased one of those for days."

Yellow Dog frowned. "The village has critical missions underway. But we can't ignore the possibility of surviving Uzumaki. Fox, take your squad and track them.

Be careful. The Uzumaki remnants have learned Senju sensory arts—they're not easy to catch."

Yako nodded earnestly. "Understood. I'll be cautious."

Now, reborn and with minor manipulation, he could escape the whirlpool of death.

His plan worked perfectly. He was free from Yellow Dog's leash.

This way, when Yellow Dog received ANBU intel and rushed back to trap Nawaki, he wouldn't have time to drag Yako along.

Yellow Dog's mention of a "critical time" likely referred to Mito Uzumaki's failing condition. The Nine-Tails' transfer could happen any day now.

Back during the battle at Mount Ushigakure, Mito had seemed fine, but that had been a ruse—putting on strength to deter enemies from disrupting the sealing process.

Now, Yellow Dog—a core ANBU figure—was desperate to return. Senju Haku had delayed him too long.

Once the rest of the team left, Yako led his unit to "track" the Lance Egret.

Of course, the tracking was a sham. Yako just pointed a direction. The others followed.

The bird was under his control anyway—popping up occasionally would fool his rookie teammates easily.

Back when he summoned it, Yako had already arranged a meeting with Uzumaki Yuka.

Fox Squad traveled far, eventually entering the Land of Rain.

The Land of Rain sat in a basin, cloaked in thick clouds, perpetually wet—sunlight a rare thing.

It was the origin of the Naka River in the Land of Fire's south, and the source of more than a dozen rivers flowing through the Land of Rivers.

Not long after they entered, a piercing screech tore through the sky.

A massive three-legged Yatagarasu dove through the clouds.

Its thick beak shot straight at Fox Squad.

With one swoop, it scattered the four of them.

Purple Cat and the others had never seen such a powerful summoning beast.

Kunai and shuriken couldn't even pierce the bird's iron-like feathers.

Worse, the Yatagarasu dropped explosive eggs—each one stronger than a standard explosive tag—instantly suppressing the squad.

Yako shouted, "This is a high-tier summoning beast under the Uzumaki Clan's sealing contract! We can't let this clue go!"

After a few skirmishes, Yako threw a shuriken attached to steel wire and wrapped it around the bird's talon.

The Yatagarasu lifted off—with Yako dangling behind.

"Captain! Captain!"

Purple Cat chased after, watching helplessly as her commander was carried into the clouds, vanishing over a distant mountain ridge.

Yako heard her sorrowful cries and thought, Sorry, Purple Cat—not this time. I haven't seen Yuka in a while… and more importantly, I need intel from her.

Strictly speaking, Qiao Yi was his lover.

Yuka, the mistress.

Purple Cat? A side girl.

There's a hierarchy, he thought. Gotta look after seniority.

The Yatagarasu landed by a lakeside, then vanished into a puff of white smoke.

Moments later, a large Lance Egret glided down.

From its back leapt a graceful figure—Uzumaki Yuka.

Just as before, her curves bounced with lively spring before settling heavily into place.

"Fox! Long time no see!"