After some time, the Ninjas calmly accepted the new changes to the game.
During this period, Yuto also figured out the significance of this system.
[Initial funding preparation complete. Entering final directive.]
[Final Directive: Defeat the invading Otsutsuki]
[Phase Directive 1: Awakening of White Zetsu in Alternate Dimensions.]
[Phase Directive 2: Invasion from Parallel Worlds.]
[Introduction: After these days of exploration, you must have realized that this is not a simple system tool. As a guest invited from afar, I apologize for troubling you so much.
So far, the timeline of this world remains normal. But soon, anomalies will sweep across the Ninja World.
The anomalies could be spatial tunnels, a fragment of distorted time, the future, or the past.
Or perhaps invasions from parallel Ninja Worlds. To defeat the Otsutsuki Clan from the depths of the universe, it is necessary... to plunder resources from parallel Ninja Worlds as a viable method. You may also choose to implement this once your strength is sufficient.
Alternatively, you could ally with parallel Ninja Worlds to fight against the Otsutsuki...
But before that, a large number of White Zetsu or White Zetsu variants will sweep across the Ninja World. Please be prepared.]
[Note: The system shop is now fully unlocked. You may decide the direction of the Ninja World's advancement based on your own ideas... Mechanical Ascension? Or perhaps cultivation to immortality?
The [Command—Comprehension] is this Ninja World's only world-level command (each Ninja World has one world-level command). Please use it wisely.
-- Bandai Naruto.]
---
Yuto couldn't quite remember how he reacted when he first read this message.
To be precise, his brain short-circuited for a while.
The shock of this information was no less than when he had first transmigrated here.
For two or three days, he felt strange. After all, it wasn't even the Shippuden era yet, and now White Zetsu invasions were happening.
And it seemed like it was the mutated White Zetsu from the Boruto era.
Not to mention the parallel shinobi worlds, which completely overturned Yuto's understanding of Naruto.
At least when he first transmigrated, Yuto knew where he was and had a general understanding of this world.
He even knew more about its future development than the people of this world.
But now, Yuto wasn't sure how to handle the situation.
However, seeing the Ninjas, each armed with their own Wood Release, diligently helping him repair the shop, Yuto had no reason to ignore the events that might unfold.
Whether it was the appearance of White Zetsu or the invasion of parallel Ninja Worlds, Yuto couldn't pinpoint exactly when they would happen.
But after observing for these past few days, Yuto had gained some understanding of this world's rules.
The [Command—Comprehension] allowed Ninjas to ignore Kekkei Genkai and Chakra Natures to directly learn the skills of the game characters, but there were differences in proficiency.
For example, the most common Wood Release nowadays...
As one of the most famous top-tier Jutsu in the Ninja World, Wood Release had always been the dream of many Ninjas.
But since the death of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, aside from Tenzo, who was created through scientific means, there had been no news of Wood Release.
But even Tenzo himself, compared to Hashirama's Wood Release, could only be said to possess Grass Release.
Players could choose three game characters as their active Ninjas and use their abilities. Most players would naturally choose Hashirama.
But for the majority, Wood Release only served a supportive role, and the boost to their strength wasn't as significant as choosing someone like 'Copy Ninja' Kakashi.
Only Tenzo is different, as his strength has been greatly improved!
Even Kakashi, who used to be evenly matched with him, could now only fight him to a draw.
Even Hashirama's signature Ninjutsu, Wood Human Technique, was used quite effectively by Tenzo.
At first, Yuto thought this was due to compatibility.
But after further speculation and the Ninjas' own exploration of this new power, Yuto came to a startling conclusion...
That is, in addition to compatibility, the depth of understanding of the game character could also enhance proficiency.
This proficiency was not only related to the player's skill with the game character but also their understanding of the Ninja in reality.
This possibility was confirmed after Yuto witnessed a certain ninja.
Maruboshi Kosuke.
As someone of the same age as the Third Hokage and Danzo, Maruboshi Kosuke had lived through the era of the First Hokage's rule and had been instilled with the most orthodox Will of Fire.
Despite having no Kekkei Genkai or secret techniques, and being at an age where his strength should have been declining, the Wood Release he used was no less powerful than Tenzo's!
If it weren't for the fact that Kosuke's own gaming ability was just above average, his deep understanding of Hashirama might have made him the top Wood Release user in Konoha!
But that wasn't all. His understanding of the Second Hokage was even deeper.
Although the game only featured the Edo Tensei Tobirama, Kosuke's Water Release had received a significant boost. More importantly, he had mastered Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Slash and Hard Vortex Technique, which were featured in the game!
It could be said that no one in the current era could surpass Kosuke in absorbing the strength of the two former Hokages.
As for Hiruzen and Danzo?
They performed well, but their improvements were limited.
In truth, compared to the two former Hokages, Hiruzen and Danzo had long since forged their own paths, whether in their adherence to the Will of Fire or their commonly used Jutsu.
Danzo didn't gain much in terms of strength, but Hiruzen, by absorbing the power of the S-Rank Ninja, [Sarutobi Hiruzen], saw a significant boost in his abilities.
---
The seemingly chaotic changes in this Ninja World had become a rule.
Yuto himself hadn't expected that the game he had developed would turn out like this.
'But then again, all the resources and materials had come from the system shop.'
'Thinking about it that way... it wasn't so strange after all.'
'But to prepare for the impending catastrophe, what path should I take?'
This was something Yuto had been pondering for days.
Just as the message from the [Bandai Naruto] on the system said, the things in the Mall are enough to change the basic power structure of a world.
Even distributing Devil Fruits across the Ninja World or allowing Ninjas to unleash Bankai, after balancing the power levels, was achievable.
What set this shinobi world apart from other parallel Ninja Worlds was the game Yuto had casually developed.
The rules of this world had caused the game to undergo such a transformation.
Thus, Yuto decided to continue developing the game.
At the very least, he needed to recreate all the famous Ninjas in the game.
After Hiruzen gained the boost from the S-Rank Ninja [Sarutobi Hiruzen], it was hard to say how much his strength had increased, as it depended on three factors.
Compatibility with the Jutsu, understanding of the character, and proficiency in the game.
Compatibility with the Jutsu and understanding of the character were a given, as they were essentially the same person.
But in terms of game proficiency...
Hiruzen, who was used to slacking off and having his subordinates play for him, was lacking.
Moreover, Yuto hadn't seen Hiruzen go all out during this period.
On the other hand, Kakashi, after equipping the game character [Hatake Kakashi], saw a massive boost in strength!
According to Kakashi himself, he also felt an inexplicable power... something indescribable.
But during the adjustment of the new strength, Yuto noticed something unusual.
From Tenzo and Zabuza to Naruto and Sasuke, Kakashi could use his skillful techniques to first wear down their Chakra until it was exhausted, and then use superb means to barely win the victory.
Among all the players who had equipped the game character [Hatake Kakashi], Kakashi was the only one with this anomaly.
No one was holding back during the matches. Sasuke was the first to fall, which was expected, but the one who lasted the longest... was actually Naruto!
It took Kakashi ten minutes to defeat Sasuke, a result that didn't surprise anyone present. But he fought Naruto for three days and three nights, only defeating him when Naruto was too hungry to gather Chakra.
Just as everyone was shocked by this outcome, Jiraiya, who happened to be passing by, immediately understood the reason.
Yuto remembered Jiraiya saying at the time, "Hatake Fifty-Fifty. According to the intel, Hatake Fifty-Fifty can achieve a fifty-fifty outcome against any opponent, draining their Chakra before barely securing a victory."
Then Jiraiya glanced at Naruto.
"Killing Intent Naruto. In battle, he never holds back, displaying strength far beyond his usual level... Tsk tsk, it's a shame he hasn't yet evolved into Talk-no-Jutsu Naruto, who can directly persuade his opponents to surrender. And his training is still shallow, only merging the strengths of Genin Naruto and Academy Naruto. His killer intent is far from enough to counter Hatake Fifty-Fifty."
Finally, Jiraiya muttered in surprise, "Wait... how do I know all these strange things?"