Uzushiogakure was nestled deep among mountains, split in half by a great river running north to south.
What shocked Yorimitsu the most wasn't the village itself — but the mountain moving behind it.
Looking closer, he realized it wasn't a mountain at all — it was a giant turtle, massive as a hill.
Still lying weakly on Yorimitsu's back, Uzumaki Yuka leaned close to his ear and explained softly:
"That's our village's guardian summoning beast — Lord Spirit Turtle.
The Uzumaki Clan are masters of sealing arts. Back in the Warring States era, we sealed away monsters for nobles and daimyō, and over time, we accumulated many contracted summons.
Even the river running through the village houses several aquatic summoning beasts.
Our team's mission this time was to travel to the Land of Waves to seal a rampaging large ninja beast. We were ambushed by Cloud ninja and failed."
A shrill cry echoed overhead — a piercing bird's call.
Yorimitsu looked up to see a massive three-legged bird — the Yatagarasu he'd once seen in the original story as Nagato's summoning beast.
So that's how sealing arts were truly meant to be used.
To seal and command powerful summoning beasts — using them as allies in battle.
But still… why didn't the Uzumaki just make their own Jinchūriki by sealing a tailed beast into one of their own?
With their sealing skills and a tailed beast's power, they could have created the perfect vessel.
At the village gate, several Uzumaki ninja came to take Uzumaki Yuka to the hospital.
As she was carried away, she glanced back at the "fox" with a look of deep longing.
What a pity, she thought. I only remember his voice… I don't even know his name.
When I return, I'll have to find out who the Senju spy in the ANBU is.
If this were back when Lord Tobirama was still alive, things would have been much simpler.
It was said that after Sarutobi Hiruzen took over as Hokage, he conducted a brutal purge of the ANBU —
filling the ranks with new members and clearing out many of Tobirama's old loyalists.
Captain Antelope's squad proceeded deeper into Uzushiogakure and arrived at the village leader's building.
A huge red Uzumaki clan crest was emblazoned on its front — identical to the symbol on the back of Konoha's flak jackets.
After a long wait, a group finally appeared in the distance.
At its head — Danzo Shimura.
He was in his prime — both eyes intact, both arms untouched.
The cross-shaped scar on his chin and his narrow pupils set within whites-only eyes gave him a chilling, sinister look.
That cold, pale gaze swept across them — enough to make anyone's heart skip.
Danzo ascended the steps to the leader's building. The division commander and advisors followed him inside, while the squad captains — including Captain Antelope — waited below.
Ordinary ANBU like Yorimitsu and Kakugyū slipped into the forest behind the building, standing guard from the shadows.
Perched in the trees, the two kept silent watch, scanning for any potential threats to Danzo.
Danzo held both the titles of Konoha Advisor and ANBU Commander — his authority was immense.
There was no conversation between Yorimitsu and Kakugyū — there never was among ANBU. Everyone operated like emotionless machines.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Danzo finally exited the building, his assistant trailing behind as he headed out of the village.
Whatever he had discussed with the Uzumaki leader clearly hadn't gone well — his face was grim, his eyes unfocused, lost in thought.
Orders trickled down the hierarchy — from division commander to squad captain to team leader.
Captain Antelope soon approached Yorimitsu and Kakugyū, leading them northward.
Their destination: the Land of Waves.
Yorimitsu didn't know what the mission entailed. Maybe it was to investigate Cloud ninja activity there?
But the main battlefield between Konoha and Kumogakure was supposed to be up north near the Land of Hot Water's border. The Land of Waves shouldn't even have Cloud ninja.
It was the middle of the Second Great Ninja War — no village had spare forces to send wandering around. If Cloud had, it must mean something big.
At the coast, Captain Antelope procured a small fishing boat. The three disguised themselves as fishermen with Transformation Jutsu and rowed toward the north.
Yorimitsu transformed into a dark-skinned young man.
Leaning over the side of the boat, he tried to see his reflection in the sea's rippling surface — curious if he resembled his past-life self.
But the water's glare showed nothing but waves and foam.
Rowing was exhausting work. While gathering information from passing fishing boats, their squad searched for any suspicious vessels.
For Yorimitsu, the slow pace was almost relaxing. Days blurred by, and before he knew it, more than ten had passed.
By the time they reached the coast of the Land of Waves, another full moon hung above them — and with it came his next resurrection opportunity.
He was sick of rations.
Captain Antelope forbade them from grilling fish, and Yorimitsu didn't know which sea fish were safe to eat raw — so they stuck to soldier pills.
They kept you alive, sure — but they left your stomach empty, twisting painfully from hunger.
Once they landed, the team reverted to their ANBU gear and slipped into the coastal coconut groves.
From their movements, Yorimitsu guessed the ANBU were conducting a grid search — their squad patrolled one sector in circles for days.
After seven days, Captain Antelope found signs of battle.
No bodies — but the ground was dark red with dried blood. From the soil's state, the fight had taken place within the past two days.
Scattered kunai and swords lay in the grass — standard Cloud-nin long blades.
Captain Antelope said, "Each of you, take a Cloud sword. Easier to disguise ourselves as Cloud ninja."
Yorimitsu wiped the blood from a blade carefully.
Disguising themselves as Cloud shinobi to commit acts of sabotage — a perfect way to shift the blame.
From that battleground as the center, they began tracking any remaining enemies.
As they searched, Yorimitsu couldn't help but sigh. No wonder Kakashi made so little progress during his ANBU years.
The missions took up all their time — there was no room to actually train or improve.
Most operations were travel, scouting, and surveillance — endless, time-consuming drudgery.
Just like in his previous life, those in command always had that same dull insensitivity toward the lives beneath them.
He once dreamed that through sheer effort and insight, he'd carve out his own legend in this ninja world.
But the system simply didn't allow for it.
Thanks to Captain Antelope's experience, they uncovered many clues and eventually tracked their target to a small fishing village.
At night, the village glowed with lamplight in almost every house.
Captain Antelope pointed to one dark, unlit hut and motioned with his hand.
Yorimitsu and Kakugyū split up and approached from opposite sides.
Because seaside houses were built raised off the ground to prevent moisture, it was easy to crawl beneath them.
On the far side, Kakugyū suddenly wiped at his face.
Yorimitsu, recalling some architectural knowledge from his past life, had chosen the side with the larger window — the opposite side of what he suspected was the toilet area.
Poor Kakugyū… let's hope whatever hit your face was just water.
And if it's something… freer… just bear with it. We're on a mission, after all.
Lying flat beneath the floorboards, Yorimitsu pressed an ear to the wood, listening closely.
Suddenly — a blade thrust down through the floor!
Fortunately, Yorimitsu's reflexes were sharp. He twisted aside just in time — the sword's edge grazed his scalp, slicing off a lock of hair.
It was a long, razor-sharp ninja blade — unmistakably Cloud-made.
Battle erupted instantly!
Heavy footsteps thudded above.
Enraged, Kakugyū slapped an explosive tag onto the underside of the floorboards.
"Damn it!" Yorimitsu cursed silently. The crawl space was so tight — getting out in time would be hard.
In such a confined area, the explosion's shockwave would hit even harder.
Had Kakugyū actually been "baptized" from above and lost his mind?!
The explosion roared. Yorimitsu tumbled and crawled his way out through the dirt.
The hut blew apart from within — several Cloud ninja burst out, blades flashing under the moonlight.
In an instant, the shoreline was filled with the gleam of cold steel.