That's right.
Even in a world built on chakra and bloodlines like the ninja world, "bonds" were everything.
In Konohagakure, relationships intertwined so tightly that if you randomly grabbed three people, chances were at least two of them were connected in some way—teacher and student, comrades, rivals, or something more complicated.
So when the system introduced a Bond Illustration mechanic, it didn't feel strange at all.
What did feel strange… was the requirement.
"Ten conquest targets…?"
Ren blinked, only now realizing the number.
"Wait… do I actually have ten already?"
He paused, mentally counting.
Three Basic Jutsu…
Great Fireball Technique…
Phoenix Sage Fire…
Water Release: Chaos Wave…
Eight Gates…
Healing Technique…
Hatake Sword Style…
…and the newly acquired Water Wall.
"…That's ten."
A strange expression appeared on his face.
Even by game standards, managing ten "targets" at once was… impressive.
"…So I've unknowingly stepped on ten boats?"
Ren scratched his head, both amused and slightly speechless.
He had to admit—it was a bit ridiculous.
The Problem with Too Many "Targets"
But reality quickly humbled him.
More wasn't always better.
Ninjutsu needed time to master.
Combat required focus.
And… even this strange system of "relationships" demanded effort.
Out of the ten techniques—or "targets"—he had only truly developed five or six to a meaningful level.
The rest?
Barely even started.
Some hadn't even unlocked their first-stage traits.
And one in particular—
A certain red-haired, dark-skinned, energetic "sports-type" ninjutsu personality—had been completely ignored for nearly a week.
Ren winced slightly.
"When I'm on missions, I can't exactly wake up and run ten kilometers every morning…"
Back in the village, he had the luxury of routine.
Out here?
Survival came first.
Still, he wasn't worried.
His strategy had always been simple:
> Unlock early → let them accumulate → slowly develop later.
Efficient. Practical.
But not something to obsess over.
Because in the end—
> Power mattered more than numbers.
Everything he learned had to be refined into real combat strength.
---
The Bond Awakens
Taking a deep breath, Ren shifted his attention back to the system.
A glowing panel appeared before his eyes.
---
[Bond Illustration]
A special illustration unlocked when multiple designated targets reach maximum favorability.
Each bond grants powerful additional effects.
---
[Activated Bond 1: Trinity · Phantom Play]
[Trinity · Phantom Play]
(Transformation Technique, Clone Technique, Substitution Jutsu)
Your Three Basic Jutsu have reached their peak.
Activation speed is greatly increased—almost no hand seals required.
By consuming additional chakra, you can construct an "8-meter by 80-meter Phantom Stage."
Within this stage, the Three Basic Jutsu can be used:
Without hand seals
Without cooldown
Seamlessly connected
(Note: Can only be used once per day.)
---
"…Whoa."
Ren's eyes lit up.
This wasn't just useful.
This was insane.
---
The Birth of an Idea
"An 8-meter range… unlimited chaining…"
His thoughts raced instantly.
Then—
A name surfaced in his mind.
> "Instant Hell Shadow Kill Formation."
The very concept he had been toying with.
Originally, it was just an idea.
Now?
It suddenly felt possible.
---
He imagined it:
A battlefield wrapped in illusion and substitution
Shadows flickering endlessly
Clones appearing and disappearing without pattern
Enemies unable to distinguish real from fake
Attacks coming from every direction
A perfect fusion of deception and lethality.
"Isn't this… tailor-made for that technique?"
Ren couldn't help but grin.
For a brief moment, he even wondered—
> "Does this system… read my mind?"
---
The Chakra Cost Question
But excitement quickly gave way to caution.
"There's still one problem…"
The chakra consumption.
If the cost was too high, the technique would be impractical in real combat.
But if it was manageable—
Then this wouldn't just be a trick.
It would be a signature killing move.
A trump card.
---
Future Possibilities
Ren's gaze flickered again.
"If the Three Basic Jutsu have a bond…"
"Then what about others?"
Great Fireball + Phoenix Sage Fire
Water Chaos Wave + Water Wall
Could those form bonds too?
His mind buzzed with possibilities.
As for the Eight Gates…
He paused.
"…What could that even pair with?"
The Strength of a Hundred Seal?
…No.
The infamous "One Thousand Years of Death"?
"…Absolutely not."
He shook his head, dismissing the absurd thought.
---
A Worthwhile Journey
Regardless—
This mission had already paid off.
More than expected.
Ren exhaled slowly, grounding himself.
He was still outside the village.
And developing a technique like the Instant Hell Shadow Kill Formation wasn't something that could be rushed.
So instead—
He practiced his swordsmanship.
---
Training and Rest
Steel flashed under the morning light.
Ren moved fluidly, refining each strike, each step, each breath.
The rhythm of combat calmed his mind.
After a while, he stopped.
Sweat clung to his forehead, but his expression was relaxed.
Then—
He did something… unexpected.
---
He opened the system again.
And started chatting.
---
Conversations with Ninjutsu
Yes.
Chatting.
Even though the favorability of many techniques—especially the Three Basic Jutsu—had already reached maximum…
They still had distinct personalities.
And talking to them?
Was surprisingly fun.
It felt like—
> Chatting with strangers online in his previous life.
Casual. Random. Stress-relieving.
Sometimes ridiculous.
Sometimes insightful.
---
Ren leaned back, smiling faintly.
"If Kenji had something like this…"
He paused.
"…he probably wouldn't have gone down that path."
But then again—
Kenji might have taken a completely different route.
> Creating a world where 2D characters truly existed.
Different methods.
Same obsession.
Ren chuckled quietly.
---
The Third Morning
Time passed quickly.
By the morning of the third day—
A flash of golden light appeared in the camp.
Out of it stepped a familiar figure.
---
Minato Namikaze.
---
Calm. Steady. Radiating presence.
In his hand—
A medical box.
---
"Jaci," Minato said, handing it over, "this is the antidote Lady Tsunade's team prepared."
He continued:
"If administered within eight hours, it neutralizes ninety percent of the toxin."
"It's late now, so the effectiveness is around sixty to seventy percent."
"But combined with standard treatment… it should be enough."
---
Relief washed over the camp.
"As expected of Lady Tsunade!"
Jaci immediately mobilized the medical team.
---
Recovery
Injections were administered one after another.
Time passed.
Then—
A visible change.
The previously darkened blood from the wounded began turning bright red again.
Life returned.
Breaths stabilized.
Tension dissolved.
---
For the first time in days—
The camp relaxed.
---
Mission Status: Overcomplete
At this point—
The mission wasn't just completed.
It was overcompleted.
---
Ren and the others stayed in Wildfire City for two more days, assisting with recovery efforts.
During this time—
They also learned something important.
---
The Calm Before War
The situation at the border… wasn't normal.
In Ren's memory—
There was one key event.
> The disappearance of the Third Kazekage.
---
Third Kazekage
Sasori
---
Sunagakure had searched for years.
No answers.
Only much later did the truth emerge—
The culprit was Sasori of the Red Sand.
---
And now—
Sunagakure was acting strangely.
Searching.
Restless.
---
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
"If that event has already happened…"
"Then the war…"
"…isn't far away."
---
The Limits of Knowledge
But there was a problem.
He was just a Genin.
He couldn't walk up and say—
> "Hey, I know the future."
That would only bring suspicion.
Or worse.
---
So instead—
He chose a subtler approach.
During conversations with Minato and others—
He dropped small hints.
Observations.
Concerns.
---
Nothing too obvious.
Nothing out of place.
---
Whether it would help or not—
That wasn't up to him.
---
A Familiar Conversation
Meanwhile—
Something else caught his attention.
---
Inuzuka Tsume had been visiting frequently.
Talking with Minato.
Laughing.
Reminiscing.
---
Turns out—
They were from the same academy generation.
---
"So," Tsume grinned, "looks like you'll soon become the Uzumaki family's son-in-law."
---
Uzumaki Kushina
---
Minato, rare as it was—
Looked embarrassed.
"It's still early."
"The ninja world is unstable… I'll think about that after things settle."
---
Tsume laughed.
"Still the same cautious guy."
Then she tilted her head.
"What about you? Been at the border for years. Not going back to the village?"
---
"We'll see."
She shrugged.
"The village feels suffocating."
"Out here is better."
---
Then—
She turned toward Ren and the others.
A playful smile appeared.
---
"By the way… your students are impressive."
"It's making me want to become a Jonin instructor too."
---
She paused.
Then added—
---
"Hey, do any of you like dogs?"
"When our clan's ninja dogs have a litter…"
"You can come pick one."
---
A Small Moment
The offer landed softly—
But warmly.
---
Hatake Kakashi glanced up first.
His eyes flickered.
He didn't speak.
But the interest was obvious.
A true dog lover.
Still—
The Hatake clan had their own contracted hounds.
Different.
Incompatible.
And then—
Another voice spoke.
Bright. curious.
Rin Nohara smiled.
"Really?"
--------------------------------
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