Naruto : I Got "Return by Death" Kind Of Cheat

The Longspear Egret!

A juvenile Longspear Egret—barely different from a common heron—still without much combat ability, had come to help Yuuka scout the area.

Konoha understood the Uzumaki clan too well; they held intelligence on the majority of its members.

The moment Black Ape spotted the Longspear Egret, he didn't need Yako to say a word. He immediately exclaimed, "It's Uzumaki Yuuka! Yuuka must be nearby!"

Rather than charging in recklessly, Black Ape dropped low and began carefully crawling toward the heron.

The Longspear Egret seemed completely unaware.

Just as Black Ape and Yako were about to seize the bird, it suddenly took off, soaring into the woods beyond.

The two of them leapt to their feet and gave chase.

The forest behind the park was vast, laced with a faint mist that obscured distant sight.

As they pursued, Yako heard two heron cries in the distance.

Why was another egret flying in?

"Not good! It's a trap—fall back!"

Black Ape shouted, abandoning stealth entirely and leaping backward.

Another Longspear Egret had lured Mist-nin to them.

Yuuka had learned to turn her enemies against each other—playing tiger against wolf.

Eight Mist shinobi closed in, surrounding Yako and Black Ape.

The battle erupted instantly.

Black Ape's fist expanded in the air—he was from the Akimichi Clan.

His fist, the size of a small cart, slammed into a Mist-nin, sending the poor man flying with a sickening crack of splintered bone.

Black Ape stepped forward—but his foot wouldn't move.

The ground had turned slick with some strange adhesive, binding his feet in place.

Yako didn't dare approach. Who knew what kind of bizarre Water Release technique this was?

Black Ape's weight was working against him. He tried to jump, but couldn't lift off.

Yako hurled steel wire, wrapping it around the captain's waist, but no matter how hard he pulled, he couldn't drag him free.

Kunai flew at them from all directions.

Yako had no choice but to draw his own, deflecting them with sharp clanging clashes. His taijutsu had improved significantly.

But Black Ape wasn't so lucky. Immobilized, he could only enlarge his hand to shield himself.

When the jutsu wore off and his hand shrunk back, the kunai clattered to the ground—his palm was drenched in blood.

"Fox! Go! Get this intel to Captain Hippo! I'll hold them off!"

Black Ape had made his choice.

Yako didn't even look back—he ran.

Even if Black Ape hadn't given the order, Yako would've done the same. The situation was clear: staying meant death.

A dozen steps later, Yako collided headfirst with another Mist-nin team.

He braced for combat—only to hear a terrible crash behind him.

A jet of water speared through the tree trunk at his back, surging toward his lower spine.

At the last second, he twisted and rolled sideways.

But as he hit the ground, something was wrong—sticky terrain again.

His arms and right leg were glued down. He couldn't generate force.

Yako formed hand signs rapidly, aiming to use Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique to escape underground.

But the adhesive slowed his descent.

His chakra reserves—too shallow.

Thud! Thud!

Two kunai struck—one piercing his head, the other his throat.

Darkness swallowed his vision, then shifted.

Moonlight returned, flooding Yako's eyes.

He blinked. He had returned to the previous full moon night.

He stood again on the Fire Country's shoreline, just as he was about to enter the Land of Waves with Captain Hippo.

The Land of Waves was too dangerous—both the Mist and Konoha were desperate for the Uzumaki elder's scroll.

[Moon Arc Activated!]

The host has one resurrection opportunity per full moon. Upon death, you will be returned to the last full moon night.

Reward: One spin

Water-nature chakra

Chūnin-level chakra reserves (stackable)

Kunai throwing mastery

Water-nature chakra was of little use for now. Easy choice.

Kunai mastery was tempting—precision at 30 meters could mean never needing to close the distance. That meant survival.

But chūnin-level chakra reserves were even more vital.

With enough chakra, he could brute-force through those Water Release adhesives and escape underground.

After careful thought, Yako selected Chūnin-level chakra reserves.

Stacked with the previous double chūnin reserves, his chakra issue was finally easing.

He exhaled deeply. Drawing chakra felt easier now—his whole body surged with energy.

Crossing the strait into the Land of Waves, he felt no exhaustion.

He skimmed across cresting waves with ease, his chakra anchoring him against the sea's fury.

Last year, the bar for the chūnin exams had been lowered, promoting 200 at once. Only now did Yako feel like a true chūnin.

Following the same path as before, they searched through the Land of Waves and eventually reached its capital.

After entering, Yako found Captain Black Ape again—his arm still severed, his power diminished.

Then came the lake. Then the Longspear Egret.

Drawn once more into the wooded park.

Inside, Yako whispered, "Captain… could this be a trap?"

Black Ape nodded quickly.

"Very possible. Let's not rush it. Don't chase the bird—pinpoint the area first, then alert Captain Hippo."

They slowed their pace.

Yako leapt into the treetops, observing the egret from afar, watching to see where it would go.

Black Ape rested below.

In his mind, Black Ape thought highly of Fox. Cautious, competent, always completing missions. Now that he had lost an arm, Fox had been especially considerate—letting him rest more.

Losing an arm wrecked one's balance. Standing on tree branches became a chore.

Fox stood tall and steady in the canopy, chakra precisely focused in his feet—his fundamentals were solid.

Yako dropped back down.

"Captain, I spotted another egret across the grove. There are two here. Should I send a shadow clone?"

"Do it," Black Ape replied. "Good thinking."

The clone vanished into the misty forest.

A few minutes passed. Then Yako's expression changed.

"Captain! The last thing the clone saw—Mist-nin! They're here too! We need to move!"

The two of them bolted from the woods, returning to the lake, where many civilians were still out enjoying the park.

"I'll stay here and watch. You go alert Captain Hippo."

"Good. Be careful."

Black Ape's respect for Fox only deepened.

Once his unit was rebuilt, he'd be sure to promote this subordinate.

Yako waited until Black Ape was gone.

Then he drew a tiny scroll from his sleeve.

The Longspear Egret was here—Yuuka had to be nearby, hiding somewhere in these trees.

He just hoped she would find him.

Minutes later, the bushes behind him rustled.

"Yuuka, is that you?"