The Correct Way to Use the System

Name: Uzumaki Masahiko Age: 48

Nin: 68 Body: 89 Jutsu: 1000

Three Body Jutsu: LV10 (100000) (Max Level)

Shuriken Throwing Technique: LV10 (100000) (Max Level)

Earth Release: LV2 (16920/20000)

Wind Release: LV3 (85462/100000)

Fire Release: LV2 (14490/20000)

Special Talent: Perception Ability

Comprehensive Evaluation: Standard Jonin

Looking at his Attribute Panel, Uzumaki Masahiko sighed softly. His original name was Zheng Yan, and he had been an ordinary unemployed college graduate. In the blink of an eye, he had spent forty-eight years transmigrated into the Warring States era of the Naruto World. Tomorrow would be a new year, and he was about to reach the "advanced age" of forty-nine. When he had first extracted Chakra at around five years old, he had discovered the system that came with him. It took less than a year for his initial wild joy to turn into disappointment. He had realized that his system was not nearly as powerful as he had imagined. There was no system spirit, no lottery module—it merely allowed him to view his attributes more directly.

Just now, his Chakra had finally broken through to four digits. Based on years of observation, Masahiko had found that a Genin's Nin, Body, and Jutsu were generally around 1 to 10 points, a Chunin's around 10 to 100, while a Jonin needed more than 100 points. Before this, his evaluation had only been Special Jonin. Now, he had finally become a glorious Standard Jonin. In the Warring States, that could also be called high-class cannon fodder...

Logically speaking, the Uzumaki Clan was a major clan even during the Warring States era. Masahiko's background was excellent as well. He was the second son of the Uzumaki Clan's Clan Head from two generations ago, possessed exceptional talent, and never lacked ninja instruction. So why had he only reached the level of a Standard Jonin at the "advanced age" of forty-eight in the Warring States era?

"Damn Naruto, you ruined my life!" Masahiko often cursed that descendant from who knew how many generations later in his heart.

As a Naruto fan, Masahiko had gotten carried away and developed the protagonist Naruto's exclusive ninjutsu—** Jutsu. When he first entered the battlefield, he had been so nervous that he actually used it. From then on, he became the laughingstock of the Uzumaki Clan, and tales of him spread throughout the Land of Fire. Because of that, he had been single for twenty-four years in his previous life, and somehow remained single for forty-eight years in this one... During the golden years from twelve to thirty, he had lived under everyone's pointing fingers and mocking remarks, growing dispirited as his strength nearly stagnated. The only reason he had survived to this age in the chaotic Warring States era was that he had been born into the Uzumaki Clan and awakened a Perception Ability similar to Karin's in later generations. But by the time he had learned to let those taunts go, time could no longer turn back.

"Ah, I regret it so much. If only I could do it all over again..."

As he dwelled on those useless thoughts, light footsteps came from outside the door. Then a girl's voice called out,

"Second Grandfather, the Senju Clan's Wedding Procession will arrive tomorrow. Don't forget to prepare."

"Got it, Mito."

The girl outside was Masahiko's elder brother's granddaughter, and also the first "acquaintance" Masahiko had in this Naruto World: the first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the wife of Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi, and the princess of the Uzumaki Clan—Uzumaki Mito. It was also because of her birth fifteen years ago that Masahiko had determined the exact era he was in. Tomorrow, the Senju Clan's Wedding Procession would arrive. As an elder of the bride, Masahiko would accompany Mito to the Senju Clan. After all, Masahiko's elder brother had passed away last year, while Mito's father, the current Clan Head of the Uzumaki Clan, could not personally go. Masahiko, on the other hand, was currently idle. His seniority and age were both high enough, so he was the perfect person to accompany the procession.

After hurriedly packing a few clothes and his portable ninja tools, Masahiko sat there blankly again.

"They're sending me to the Senju Clan because they don't think much of me. Otherwise, why not send Mito's Second Uncle or Third Uncle?"

As the Second Uncle of the current Clan Head of the Uzumaki Clan, Masahiko was among those with the highest seniority. Other ninjas of his generation, such as cousins of all kinds, had more or less become elders. As for him, he could only rely on his seniority to make the younger generation address him as "sir." After all, strength was king in the Naruto World. Before today, he had not even counted as a Standard Jonin, and he had made a huge fool of himself in his youth. Naturally, no one truly respected him. The one consolation was that Mito still treated him respectfully. As expected of the woman who could keep the God of Shinobi in line.

As his thoughts wandered, he thought of Mito's granddaughter Tsunade, the "novelist" Pervy Sage, the scientist Orochimaru, the hot-blooded protagonist Naruto, and the pretentious Uchiha Sasuke...

"Why did I transmigrate to such an era? Even if I lived like the Third Hokage and reached seventy or eighty, at most I'd only see the Sannin being born. By then, I'd be a decrepit old man..."

Forget it. Better wash up and sleep. He still had to welcome the Wedding Procession tomorrow. He wondered who would come. As the groom, Hashirama probably would not come personally. He would be waiting at the Senju Clan Compound. Then Tobirama Senju should be coming, right? He would get to see the future Second Hokage, Forbidden Jutsu Inventor, and instigator of the Uchiha Clan's downfall with his own eyes.

It was nearly midnight. Masahiko looked at his Attribute Panel again. The age field would soon become forty-nine. Before twelve was considered a ninja's foundational period; thirteen to twenty-four was the period of rapid growth in a ninja's strength; twenty-five to thirty-six was the period of slow growth; and from thirty-seven to forty-eight, one's strength basically stabilized. So what came after forty-nine? A period of declining strength? Could it be that he had only reached the level of a Standard Jonin today, only to fall back down again in a few days?

"Heavens! If you give me another chance, I definitely won't care about other people's cold looks and mockery. Only strength matters! I want to become younger!" Masahiko cried out in his heart.

At that moment, midnight quietly passed. Masahiko's Attribute Panel blurred for an instant. When it became clear again, the age field had indeed changed. But the number was not forty-nine. It was forty-seven!

Masahiko rubbed his eyes again and again, but all he saw was forty-seven years old. Gradually, tears blurred his vision.

"I really still have a chance. So this is the correct way to use the system. Age can actually be adjusted. If I want to become younger, my age won't go up by one—it'll go down by one."

"Just wait for me: the founding of Konoha, the First Shinobi War, the Second Shinobi War, the Third Shinobi War, the Fourth Shinobi War, Kakashi, Might Guy, the Konoha 12... I'll definitely keep living and see all those scenes and people I knew so well from my previous life with my own eyes!"

At that moment, the weary heart of an old man came alive once more. Just thinking about how he could see Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi, and his younger brother Tobirama Senju tomorrow—and witness the full might of the Senju Clan, one of the two great clans of the Warring States era alongside the seemingly cheat-like Uchiha Clan—kept Masahiko awake all night...