Yuta drew a slow, steadying breath.
Twelve years. He had spent twelve full years in this World, clawing his way to the rank of Jonin even before legends like Orochimaru, all thanks to his cheat.
Yet, it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough.
This strength wouldn't guarantee his survival through the coming meat grinders of the Second and Third Great Shinobi Wars, let alone allow him to stand before the apocalyptic power of the Ten-Tails.
'So... for this next simulation, give me something good!'
His last few attempts had yielded mediocre rewards. The law of the gacha dictated a guaranteed drop was due. Right?
With that hope, Yuta closed his eyes and willed the simulation to begin.
[Initiating new life simulation...]
[New identity loading...]
[Loading complete.]
[This life simulation's character: Aikawa Satoru.]
'Another civilian ninja?' Yuta sighed inwardly as the fragmented memories flashed through his mind.
His past experiences told him this starting point rarely led to anything extraordinary.
Still, he hoped for a surprise.
[You were born into a happy, loving family. Your father, a respected Jonin of Konoha, and your ordinary yet gentle mother, provided a comfortable and warm home.]
[From the age of three, your mother instilled in you the nuances of high etiquette. By five, the shinobi talent inherited from your father began to blossom.]
[You enrolled in the Ninja Academy at six. Blessed with your parents' refined features and the poise your mother cultivated, you quickly attracted a swarm of admiring fangirls.]
[Their attention meant nothing to you. Your focus was singular: mastering ninjutsu, striving to become an excellent shinobi worthy of your father's legacy.]
[Your single-minded dedication, however, bred resentment among your male peers, who saw it not as dedication, but as arrogance and a ploy for attention.]
[The tension peaked when Asuma Sarutobi, bitter that Kurenai Yuhi had joined your circle of admirers, confronted you after school with threats. You showed no hesitation and soundly put him in his place.]
[When the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, learned of the incident, he did not punish you. Instead, he began to observe you quietly from the shadows.]
[You remained completely unaware of his scrutiny.]
'The Third Hokage... personally observing a six-year-old?' A deep sense of unease prickled at Yuta's instincts.
Knowing the Hokage's character, he should have, at most, sighed over his son's rebellious phase. Such direct, personal interest in the other party involved was highly uncharacteristic.
Yet, from his view, Yuta could see Hiruzen Sarutobi watching the boy's every move through his Telescope Jutsu during his spare moments.
'Something is wrong here... very, very wrong.'
For now, the reason remained elusive, forcing Yuta to continue observing the simulation unfold.
[When news spread through the Academy that your peer, Kakashi Hatake, had become a Chunin at six years old, a competitive fire ignited within you. You no longer wished to waste time on childish games; you desired to graduate early.]
[You brought your idea to your father, hoping for his support.]
[To your disappointment, he refused, insisting that childhood was for building friendships. As a consolation, however, he began your formal shinobi training in earnest.]
[You were elated. Your father was your hero, your role model. To be taught by him was an honor.]
[Under his expert guidance, your skills advanced by leaps and bounds, swiftly leaving all your peers in the dust.]
[Perhaps heeding your father's advice, you finally began to socialize, forming a close-knit group of friends with Uchiha Obito, Rin Nohara, Kurenai Yuhi, Might Guy, and a now-respectful Asuma Sarutobi.]
[In time, you graduated from the Academy as planned.]
[You, Kurenai Yuhi, and Asuma Sarutobi were assigned to a genin team. Your Jonin-sensei, appointed by the Hokage himself, was your father.]
Yuta's analytical mind latched onto a critical detail.
While the original story never specified Asuma's team leader, it stood to reason that only a shinobi with loyalty to the Hokage would be entrusted with his son's training and well-being.
This meant Aikawa Isshi (his father) was no mere civilian-born ninja; he was a staunch Hokage loyalist, deeply trusted by Hiruzen Sarutobi himself. A confidant.
'Was this father in the life simulation really just a civilian ninja?'
Connecting this to the Hokage's inexplicable attention, a bold and startling hypothesis began to form in Yuta's mind.
[The Third Great Ninja War escalated into a brutal, all-consuming conflict. Desperate for manpower, Konoha was forced to dispatch even recent Academy graduates to the front lines.]
[Shielded by your father's vigilant protection, you faced countless dangers but always emerged alive. You matured rapidly in that crucible of blood and fire. Asuma's temperament grew steady, Kurenai's prowess flourished, and your own power skyrocketed.]
[Leveraging the Water and Earth Release ninjutsu your father had taught you, you executed a high-difficulty mission with stunning success. For this feat, you were promoted to Jonin—a year later than the prodigy Kakashi.]
[Through the collective sacrifice and unyielding will of Konoha's shinobi, the war finally ground to a halt.]
[But in the final, climactic battle against Kumogakure, tragedy struck. To save you from a fatal blow, your father threw himself in the path of the Fourth Raikage, A. The Raikage's savage thrust pierced clean through his body.]
[Not even Minato Namikaze, hailed as the fastest shinobi alive, could intercept the blow in time.]
[The Raikage's reckless assault cost his village dearly, forcing a desperate A to negotiate for peace with Minato.]
[The war was won, but you had no heart for victory.]
[Your father clung to life by a thread. The finest medical-nin at Konoha Hospital could only stabilize his condition, their skills insufficient to heal him.]
[They told you one name, a single, fading hope: if anyone in the world could save him, it was Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin.]
[Without a moment's hesitation, you made your decision. You would find Tsunade and bring her back, no matter the cost.]
The vivid memory of the Raikage's attack replayed in Yuta's mind, sending a jolt of shock through him.
A's blow had cleanly pierced Aikawa Isshi's chest. By all accounts, it should have been an instant death. Yet, the man had stubbornly refused to die, holding on long enough to be brought back to Konoha.
It was a well-known fact that most shinobi possessed high offensive power but notoriously low defense. A direct hit from the Fourth Raikage should have vaporized an ordinary ninja.
But he survived.
'So... just who are you, Aikawa Isshi?'
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