The world went black for a moment before Yagami's vision cleared. He was back in the narrow office of the orphanage, the familiar scent of old paper and medicine in the air.
'The Bone-Shrinking Technique is truly a marvel,' he mused, looking at his hands. 'To truly master disguise, one must be able to alter their skeletal frame. I need to keep practicing that.'
Half an hour later, as Yakushi Nono'u lay catching her breath in his arms, Yagami focused on the system interface to examine his new prize.
[ Arc of Moon Initiated!]
'The host has one resurrection per month, returning to the previous full moon.'
Rewards Available:
1. Secret Technique: Spore Technique
2. Elite Jonin-level Chakra Reserves (Stackable)
3. Secret Technique: Mayfly
Option one, the Spore Technique, was tempting. It allowed one to plant undetectable parasites that drain chakra and transfer it to others. However, Yagami felt his current chakra levels were sufficient for now. Option two was a flat stat boost—useful, but boring.
He looked at option three. 'My luck is holding.'
Mayfly. The ultimate infiltration skill. It allowed the user to merge their physical body with the earth and flora, becoming nearly impossible to detect. By utilizing the organic network of roots and groundwater, the user could travel at high speeds while completely erasing their presence.
'This is the perfect tool for "administering justice" in the ninja world,' Yagami thought. He was dying to test it, but not in front of Nono. He kept his cards close to his chest; even with his newest "favorite," he wouldn't reveal his ultimate trump cards.
After leaving the orphanage through conventional means, Yagami found a secluded spot in the woods. He created a Shadow Clone, then pressed his palm against a massive cedar tree.
Mayfly.
His body glided into the trunk, merging perfectly with the wood fibers. The Shadow Clone activated its Byakugan, but it saw only a tree. Yagami was invisible to the Hyuga's legendary sight.
Next, he tested underground movement. He could sense the entire organic grid—roots, insect eggs, microbes, and decaying leaves. He moved through the earth at a staggering speed, covering over a hundred meters per second.
He followed the foundations of a wooden building and emerged silently on a second-floor balcony. Inside, a couple was arguing over a missing 20,000 ryo, completely oblivious to the intruder just feet away.
Yagami glanced toward the Hokage Building. 'Should I try for a big score? Like Naruto, maybe I could "borrow" the Scroll of Seals?'
He hesitated, then shook his head. 'I've already used my death for the month. No need to be reckless. Next month, though... the Scroll of Seals is definitely on the menu.'
...
Events played out as they had before. Yagami reached the Rain border, replaced Orochimaru, and used Yuka's intel to find Nagato. Once again, two Root ninja and three of Lynx's squad were obliterated by Madara's opening move.
Facing the legendary Uchiha again, Yagami unleashed a massive forest of Earth Spikes to stall the Wood Dragon.
"K! Take Nagato and go! Retreat! I'll hold the rear!" Yagami roared.
K was genuinely moved. He hadn't expected the Fox to be so selfless. He immediately signaled the remaining two Root ninja to lunge for Nagato.
Suddenly, invisible spores began to drift through the air. They latched onto every ANBU and Root member on the field. Within seconds, K and his men collapsed, their bodies turning white as the spores bloomed and drained their chakra.
Ahead stood Uchiha Madara, looking down with icy disdain. Behind them, White Zetsu clones were wreaking havoc. The pressure from Madara was suffocating.
Yagami realized he couldn't stall forever. "Mission failed! Scatter! Run!" he shouted to Flower Deer and the others.
The Flower Deer squad didn't hesitate; they vanished into the rain. Seeing the white "monsters" protecting Nagato, Jiraiya finally accepted that the boy had some connection to the old man. Believing Nagato would at least be safe from the ANBU, Jiraiya grabbed the other two children and fled.
K also made a hard choice. "Abandon the remnant! Retreat!"
As they pulled away, the Zetsu clones ignored the three surviving Root members, allowing K to escape, though his legs were weak from chakra exhaustion.
Just as the group had cleared a few dozen meters, a roar split the air. The Wood Dragon lunged at Yagami. Facing the beast and the scythe-wielding Madara, Yagami wove a single sign.
"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Madara's withered face, followed by excitement, and finally, pure disgust. 'This is Senju Tobirama's jutsu.'
The high-pressure blade of water sliced through the branches of the Deep Forest Emergence and bit deep into the Wood Dragon's neck. Everyone watched, breathless.
However, the water lacked the continuous power to sever the beast entirely. The dragon paused only for a second before the wood knitted back together and it slammed into Yagami.
Shrouded in a Copper-Red Light, Yagami was driven deep into the earth, skidding back dozens of meters through the mud and debris.
In the distance, the Leaf ninja could no longer see him. Flower Deer's heart sank, but he knew returning would only make him a liability. Even Jiraiya, watching the massive crater formed by the dragon's head, felt a twinge of respect. This ANBU might have ordered a hit on his students, but he had sacrificed himself to let his subordinates live.
Madara manipulated the dragon to lift its head, surprised to see a copper-colored figure still standing at the bottom of the pit.
"Not dead?"
A direct hit from the Wood Dragon hadn't crushed him. The Leaf ninja was as stubborn as a stone in the dirt.
Yagami looked down. His Copper Light chakra was heavily drained, and several ribs were snapped. 'As expected of Wood Style; that chakra absorption is a nightmare.'
He glanced in the direction K had fled. 'You can't leave yet, K. If you leave now, my hard work is for nothing.'
Right in front of Uchiha Madara, Yagami began weaving signs with methodical precision.
"Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole!"
His figure vanished into the earth. Madara's expression shifted. 'Hiding Like a Mole? Since when was it that fast?'