"It still isn't working… the difficulty is simply too high."
As he walked along the dimly lit street, Yuji reflected silently on his recent progress. What others called his "talent" was, in truth, largely the result of the System's support. Without it, his natural aptitude as a shinobi was only decent.
He was satisfied with it, but he knew very well that it could not compare to the true prodigies of this world, the kind of monsters who stood at the peak of the ninja world through sheer innate ability.
Two months had passed since the assassination attempt. That night, after completing his daily training, Yuji left his home and walked toward the village's commercial street under the cover of darkness. His gaze was unfocused, not paying attention to his surroundings as he remained lost in thought.
His goal during these past two months had been clear. He wanted to follow the same path as Tsunade and use medical ninjutsu to strengthen his body at the cellular level. If successful, he would gain overwhelming physical strength along with powerful regenerative abilities, just like her.
However, despite pushing his body to its limits and experimenting on himself repeatedly, he had failed to achieve a true breakthrough. His physical strength had improved significantly compared to before, but there was still an enormous gap between his current level and Tsunade's combat power.
Still, Yuji did not feel discouraged.
There was no need to rush. Tsunade was one of Konoha's legendary Sannin, a figure who stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world. Expecting to reach her level at his current age would be unrealistic. He had time. As long as he continued in the right direction, success would come eventually. Perhaps when he obtained Tsunade's techniques directly through the System, he would finally understand the key he was missing.
He also considered another possibility. Tsunade's strength might not come solely from training. As a member of the Senju Clan, she possessed an exceptional body and inherited advantages that ordinary shinobi could never replicate.
At the same time, this period of training had revealed one of Yuji's greatest weaknesses.
Although his combat style had already begun to take shape and the System provided him with powerful tools, his theoretical knowledge of ninjutsu remained insufficient.
It wasn't that he lacked awareness of different techniques. As someone who carried memories from another world, he already knew about countless ninjutsu.
What he lacked was deeper understanding.
He needed to study how ninjutsu truly worked, the relationship between chakra flow and hand seals, the principles behind their activation, and the structural foundation that supported every technique.
Only by mastering those fundamentals could he fully comprehend ninjutsu or even create techniques of his own.
Yuji gradually formed a plan.
He needed access to ninjutsu scrolls.
By studying them, he could build the knowledge necessary to improve his strength and refine his combat abilities.
He decided that tomorrow, he would ask the Kazekage, or Arai, for permission to read the village's ninjutsu archives.
Even if he could not learn every technique immediately, gaining knowledge alone would make him far more prepared for future battles.
As he thought about his progress, Yuji clenched his fist slightly and smiled.
At the very least, in terms of physical strength alone, he was confident he could compete with an ordinary Chunin.
His benchmark came from personal experience.
He still remembered the battle against the Root assassins clearly. Their strength far exceeded the shinobi of Amegakure he had previously encountered. They represented the true standard of the great ninja villages.
As Yuji approached a ramen shop, he suddenly noticed a team of Sunagakure shinobi returning through the village gates.
None of them appeared seriously injured, but their expressions were heavy and filled with frustration.
Yuji immediately understood what it meant.
This was not an isolated incident.
Recently, more and more shinobi had been returning to the village.
The reason was simple.
The battlefield was shrinking.
This was a clear sign that Sunagakure was gradually losing ground against Konoha.
Some of these returning shinobi were here to regroup, while others awaited reassignment.
But regardless of the details, the underlying reality remained the same.
Sunagakure was being pushed back.
Yuji let out a slow breath.
The village's medical department had improved thanks to his efforts, but it was not enough to change the outcome of the war.
Even if he shared everything he knew, the village lacked the foundation to fully implement those improvements. The limitations of resources, infrastructure, and personnel could not be overcome overnight.
The truth was simple.
There wasn't enough time.
Even with his abilities, he could not reverse the tide of the war on his own.
Yuji had already considered this possibility long ago.
Sasori's gradual descent down his current path was not something that could be easily stopped. Given everything that had happened, it was almost inevitable. The war had changed too many people, and Sasori was no exception.
It wasn't just the shinobi who could feel it.
Even the civilians of Sunagakure had begun to sense it unconsciously.
The village's wartime morale was fading.
In its place, a heavy and oppressive atmosphere had settled over everything.
"Yuji, what are you having today?"
"Seafood ramen."
Hearing the shop owner's familiar voice, Yuji pulled himself out of his thoughts and stepped inside the small ramen shop. The owner greeted him warmly, forcing a cheerful expression despite the exhaustion visible in his eyes.
Yuji sat down in his usual seat, raised his hand, and smiled in response.
It didn't take long before a steaming bowl of ramen was placed in front of him.
Although it was called seafood ramen, the ingredients were modest. A few small pieces of dried seafood floated in the broth, their portions noticeably sparse.
Even so, Yuji ate with genuine appetite.
Moments like this made the effects of war impossible to ignore.
The shortages, declining economy, and quiet strain everyone carried.
This war might have begun under the banner of Amegakure, but in truth, it had always been driven by the ambitions of the Five Great Ninja Villages. Under the pretext of maintaining peace and economic stability, they fought to redistribute power and resources across the ninja world.
Hanzō had merely been caught in the middle.
Last year, when Yuji had participated in his mission, the war had already been approaching its end. Amegakure had ceased large-scale hostilities, and Konoha's Legendary Sannin had withdrawn from the main battlefield.
It was during that time that Tsunade developed her hemophobia.
Now, Yuji knew another major event was approaching.
Kumogakure would soon attempt to kidnap Kushina Uzumaki in order to study the control of Tailed Beasts and create a perfect jinchūriki. Even if Sunagakure and Konoha agreed to a ceasefire, Konoha would still be drawn into conflict with Kumogakure and other forces.
However, as far as the current war was concerned, its outcome had already been decided.
What remained were only the aftereffects.
This war had lasted for years, and the majority of the casualties had been Genin and Chunin.
For any village, those ranks formed the backbone of their future.
Sunagakure had lost too many of them.
Yuji exhaled slowly.
The village leadership had likely already begun considering a ceasefire.
When Sasori returned from his current mission, he would probably learn the truth.
It would not be news he welcomed.
Although Sasori had entered the battlefield before Yuji, he had rarely participated in large-scale battles. Chiyo had protected him carefully, ensuring he was not exposed to unnecessary danger.
He was her only remaining family.
But Sasori had never been satisfied with safety.
He had deliberately chosen dangerous missions in order to challenge himself.
The war was shaping him in ways no one could stop.
Yuji sighed quietly.
"Is something wrong with the food?"
The shop owner looked at him with concern.
Yuji blinked, then laughed lightly.
"No, nothing like that. I just felt a bit tired."
He lowered his head and continued eating.
Soon, he finished the entire bowl, even drinking the remaining broth.
Afterward, he placed the payment on the counter.
"Thank you for the meal."
He waved to the owner and stepped outside.
...
Stones?