Chapter 6: Witness Points
Name: Uzumaki Masahiko
Age: 47 Years (-)
Nin: 69 (+)
Tai: 89 (+)
Jutsu: 1003 (+)
Academy Basic Three: LV10 (100000) (Maxed)
Shuriken Jutsu: LV10 (100000) (Maxed)
Earth Release: LV2 (16998/20000) (+)
Wind Release: LV3 (85522/100000) (+)
Fire Release: LV2 (14493/20000) (+)
Special Talent: Sensory Perception
Overall Evaluation: Average Jonin
Witness Points: 20
Sure enough, it wasn't an illusion. Masahiko looked at his status window. There were 20 new "Witness Points," and a plus sign (+) had appeared next to every attribute except for "Age," just like leveling up in some third-rate video game.
"Witnessing and participating in major events in the Naruto world... Heh, the good news just keeps coming. First, my age is adjustable, and now I have a way to train by adding points."
"But, this damn system! Why didn't it come with an instruction manual! 48 years! 48 years!"
Still, it wasn't too late. Most of the truly major events in the Naruto world didn't happen in the Warring States Period. The founding of Konoha, the Battle at the Valley of the End, the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Great Shinobi Wars... He could see all of these with his own eyes. As for what he missed... I guess Hashirama's and Madara's births count as two events?
"I'll stop thinking about that for now. First, let's see how these Witness Points work. If it's what I think it is, I've struck gold." With this in mind, Masahiko tentatively 'clicked' the plus sign after 'Tai' in his mind.
Tai: 90 (+)
Masahiko felt his body grow slightly stronger. It worked! He could add points directly.
"What about Jutsu? It's not going to be just one point, is it?" He tentatively clicked on "Earth Release." The Earth Release bar changed to: LV3 (26998/100000) (+)
"It added 10,000 points?! I'm rich!"
Masahiko considered for a moment, then clicked twice on Wind Release and once on Fire Release, leveling each of them up by one.
At this, he noticed another change in his stats. His "Nin" attribute had increased by 28 points, changing to 97. "Just as I thought. Increasing my affinities also affects my other stats."
"In that case, I should be able to do this..." Masahiko directly clicked the minus sign (-) on his age 11 times. The "Age" column changed to 36 Years.
Just as he'd expected, his "Tai" stat increased, breaking 100 and becoming 102. At this age, his physical body was at its absolute peak. Sure enough, changing his age increased his taijutsu ability.
"But... does this mean if I reduce my age further, my Taijutsu will actually drop? I'll have to test that later."
He looked at his status window. He had 4 Witness Points left. After a moment's thought, he decisively put 3 points into "Nin" and saved the last one for an emergency. As he did, his Earth, Wind, and Fire affinities all increased slightly again...
Masahiko's status window now looked like this:
Name: Uzumaki Masahiko
Age: 36 Years (-)
Nin: 100 (+)
Tai: 102 (+)
Jutsu: 1003 (+)
Academy Basic Three: LV10 (100000) (Maxed)
Shuriken Jutsu: LV10 (100000) (Maxed)
Earth Release: LV3 (27286/100000) (+)
Wind Release: LV4 (105864/200000) (+)
Fire Release: LV3 (24692/100000) (+)
Water Release: LV1 (0/10000) (+)
Lightning Release: LV1 (0/10000) (+)
Special Talent: Sensory Perception
Overall Evaluation: Elite Jonin
Witness Points: 1
Looking at the two newly added attributes, Water Release and Lightning Release, Masahiko smiled with satisfaction.
"As I thought! Once 'Nin' reaches the Jonin standard, you unlock new affinities. I was already born with three, and now I have all five. As for Yin and Yang, I probably need to meet some special conditions for those... And my evaluation is finally 'Elite Jonin'!"
"Lightning and Water, huh?" Masahiko muttered. "I'll ignore those for now. My Wind Release is finally at LV4. I can finally attempt that trump card. This is a much better way to increase my strength."
That's right. As someone born with a natural wind affinity, how could Masahiko live in the Warring States Period for 48 years and not develop the protagonist Naruto's signature jutsu—the Rasengan?
However, the Rasengan hadn't been easy. The key problem was that in this era, it was impossible to find a balloon. He had only managed to forcibly develop it when his Wind Release was at LV3, relying entirely on his Jonin-level understanding of jutsu.
After developing it, he naturally wanted to create its advanced form, Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. Cutting a leaf and cutting a waterfall were no problem for him, but he was completely stuck on the final step and couldn't complete it.
After thinking it over, he concluded that the system, while giving him infinite potential, also restricted him. An ultimate jutsu like the Rasenshuriken probably required Wind Release to be at LV4. Even if he knew the principles and training methods, the system wouldn't let him develop it ahead of level.
For this reason, he wasn't overly excited about gaining Lightning chakra. He knew that jutsu like Chidori and Raikiri would probably require LV3 and LV4 respectively. Who knew how many years that would take?
"In any case, my next goal is to develop the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. And in the meantime, I'll participate in the Senju clan's affairs, big and small. Who knows which event will count as a 'major world event,' get me more Witness Points, and let me walk the path to the pinnacle of life..."
Thinking of all this, Masahiko could no longer fight off his exhaustion, and he collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.
The next morning, a knock from Tobirama at the door woke him.
"Great-Uncle, Father requests your presence in the main hall."
"Got it. You go on ahead. I'll get ready," Masahiko replied.
Masahiko washed his face, looking at a familiar yet slightly unfamiliar face in the water's reflection.
'Crap. I'm 36 now. How am I going to explain this to them? Tell them I've regained my youth?' he thought.
Just then, Masahiko noticed a container of blush next to the washbasin. A female guest must have stayed in this room before.
"This might work..." A moment later, Masahiko looked at the red, diamond-shaped mark on his forehead and smiled, satisfied.
When he arrived at the main hall, he found everyone else was already there: Senju Butsuma, and the newlywed couple, Hashirama and Mito.
"Masahiko, you're here. You..." Butsuma started to speak, but then he noticed Masahiko's new appearance. The words caught in his throat.
"Oh, this. Yesterday, I successfully mastered our Uzumaki clan's secret jutsu, the Chakra Yin Seal Jutsu. This jutsu can use chakra to alter one's appearance, making me look a bit younger," Masahiko quickly explained.
"Er... congratulations, then." Butsuma was truly at a loss for words. A jutsu that could maintain a youthful appearance... showing up on a man who, by seniority, could be his uncle... it was truly unsettling.
"Great-Uncle, please forgive our poor hospitality yesterday. And Father, thank you both for your hard work these past two days," Hashirama spoke up.
Masahiko looked at him. The "God of Shinobi" was finally back to normal today, no longer in that strange, shy state he'd been in.
"Alright. There's nothing important this morning. I just wanted Hashirama and Mito to come and pay their respects to everyone. If there's nothing else, you can all go about your business," Butsuma said.
'Waking me up this early just for that...' Masahiko thought. 'I'm going back to sleep...'
He walked back along the same path as Hashirama and Mito. Just as he was about to reach his room, Mito stopped him.
Mito signaled for Hashirama to go on ahead, saying she had a few words for her Great-Uncle.
"Great-Uncle," Mito began after Hashirama was gone, "I am also practicing the Chakra Yin Seal."
"Oh, nice! Well, you keep at it. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to sleep. I'm dead tired..." Masahiko yawned, smiling as he replied.
"But... as far as I know... that jutsu can only be learned by women..." Mito said softly.
Well, this is awkward... Masahiko's smile froze on his face.