Naruto: I Survived Two Wars Without You, System!

The genjutsu lasted for two hours, but during the first ten minutes… 

Whether it was Maito Gai, Kurenai Yuhi, or Genma Shiranami, all three were incredibly thrilled. 

Learning new jutsu under one-on-one guidance from their teacher, improving their weaknesses, rapidly growing stronger—what privilege could possibly rival this? How many genin had ever experienced such treatment? 

However, once an hour had passed within the illusion—equivalent to a full month inside the genjutsu world—Kurenai began to lose her energy, and even Genma Shiranami showed visible signs of exhaustion. 

Only Maito Gai barely managed to maintain his passion for training. 

A month and a half later, Kurenai looked utterly dispirited, Genma questioned the meaning of life itself, while Maito Gai wore a face full of exhaustion. 

Inside the illusion, there was no day or night. 

It was a space of pure white, devoid of any other color, inhabited only by them and their instructor. 

They didn't need to eat, drink, go to the bathroom, recover stamina, gather ninja tools, or restore chakra. 

Except for brief rest periods granted when their mental endurance collapsed… 

Every other moment was spent solely in training! 

Even then, because their teacher kept watching them the entire time, they didn't even have the chance to sneak off or lose focus! 

Even prisoners get time outside their cells for fresh air every day. 

But them… 

After two hours. 

When the Three Little Troublemakers finally broke free from the illusion… 

Kurenai's eyes were slightly red, and she nearly burst into tears right on the spot. 

Genma's gaze was empty, looking like a mere walking corpse. 

Even Maito Gai seemed listless, desperately trying to flash his signature grin—but it looked more pitiful than it did sad. 

So tragic! 

They really were that tragic! 

They thought it would be a quick instructional genjutsu session, but it ended up lasting so long that they almost fell into despair! 

That overwhelming emptiness and solitude felt worse than any physical torment. 

Had their teacher been transformed by a devil?! 

Clap. Clap. Clap. 

"Good, good. Once you internalize everything you've learned from the illusion, your strength should all take another leap forward. For the next Chunin Exams, I'll recommend all three of you." 

Kei Yamanaka grinned widely as he clapped for the trio. 

Seeing them appear so mentally drained and unable to feel any joy, he casually dangled another tempting goal in front of them. 

"Chunin! Can youthful spirit truly stop advancing due to mere hardships? This time, you must definitely catch up with Kakashi!" 

Maito Gai's eyes lit up instantly. Upon hearing he'd be recommended for the Chunin Exams, his excitement surged again. 

"Thank you, Sensei!" 

Upon hearing Kei's words, Kurenai and Genma Shiranami, at the very least, now had something to look forward to. They forced themselves to summon some energy and thanked their teacher. 

As noon approached… 

The Three Little Troublemakers politely declined Kushina's invitation for lunch, hurriedly bid farewell to Kei Yamanaka and Tsunade, then vanished without a trace. 

After being personally tormented for two whole months, all they wanted was to roam Konoha freely and enjoy themselves. 

Kei Yamanaka watched them disappear into the distance. 

Since becoming their teacher, the past few months had brought tremendous improvement and rapid growth in their abilities. 

Initially, Kurenai only had the Blue-Tier Skill [Mental Fortitude] and the Green-Tier Trait [Hallucination Induction].

Now, not only has the original Green-Rank skill [Hallucination] evolved into a Blue-Tier Skill [Genjutsu Witch], but he also gained a new Green-Rank skill [Mentor's Legacy] and a White-Rank skill [Eccentric Personality].

Genma Shiranami originally had only one Blue-Tier Skill [Virtuous Influence].

Now, he too possesses the same [Mentor's Legacy], along with an additional Green-Rank trait [Ninja Tool Proficiency].

As for Maito Gai, he is the most talented and hardest working of the three.

The two original Blue-Tier Skills [Burning Youth] and [Limitless Recovery] remained unchanged.

However, the White-Rank trait [Thick-Browed Kappa] has already advanced to a Green-Rank Trait [Emerald-Skinned Feral Beast], bringing him one step closer to his future title, 'Azure Beast'.

In addition, he gained a total of three new Green-Rank traits: [Unbreakable Stamina], [Taijutsu Expertise], and [Mentor's Legacy].

The only slightly troubling part was that this kid had also gained a Gray-Rank trait [Shattered Convictions].

"Shattered Convictions... because of Might Lord?"

Kei Yamanaka shut the door, stroking his chin as he stood lost in thought.

In the original storyline, after witnessing his father looked down upon by other ninjas—humbly begging yet still unable to find work—Maito Gai indeed went through a period of confusion and doubt.

A father is irreplaceable in a child's heart.

Might Lord is Maito Gai's father, and more importantly, his enduring belief and guiding light on life's journey.

In the original story, he only completely overcame this confusion after seeing his father firmly uphold his own beliefs and activate the Eight Gates Formation.

After defeating the Seven Swords of the Bloody Mist—renowned and powerful ninja across the ninja world—like the Three Sacred Treasures, he finally stepped out of uncertainty, inheriting his father's will and conviction, moving forward all the way.

"I can't let the kid lose his dad..."

Kei scratched his head; he wasn't someone like Danzo who would go to any lengths to achieve his goals. He genuinely couldn't bring himself to do such a thing.

Still…

Finding another way to reestablish the father's heroic image in his child's eyes didn't seem difficult to him.

After all, Might Lord wasn't some hopeless loser who couldn't amount to anything.

As a World Traveler, Kei had long ago seen the inheritance scroll—the inheritance scroll—of the Eight Gates through both personal achievements and family connections.

But back then, his talent for Taijutsu was mediocre at best, and training was grueling to the point of exhaustion.

When the cost far outweighed the benefits, especially when better options existed, who would willingly endure such hardship?

Given how strictly the Eight Gates demanded its users,

Might Lord's ability to forcibly open the Eight Gates Formation meant his basic physical qualities already surpassed most Jonin from Konoha.

Even if he knew nothing but Taijutsu, becoming a Tokubetsu Jonin should be more than achievable.

Remaining a Genin all these years

Was probably due to his personality—he was prone to emotional outbursts and fixated solely on Taijutsu, making it hard to meet the versatile demands of ninja missions; he lacked dependable teammates who could compensate for his weaknesses, resulting in low mission success rates; his slow development meant others had already formed rigid opinions about him before he could fully mature; and his poor academic record kept him from passing the Chunin Exams.

"Maybe even someone willing to recommend him for the Chunin Exams is hard to find..."

Kei Yamanaka muttered under his breath.

Someone who can't even find a team—how could he possibly expect an elite Jonin to recommend him for the Chunin Exams?

Jonin weren't as common as cabbages growing on every street corner! If someone they recommended got eliminated even before passing the written test, it would be embarrassing!

Hmm. I should probably start by finding a chance to meet Might Lord and get a read on the guy.

If he's not too much of a lost cause, I can slot him into a suitable role where he can actually contribute to Konoha.

That way, I get another useful enforcer, and Maito Gai's psychological distress might work itself out naturally.

Hmm, perfect plan!

"Tch! Why did I end up giving your apprentices such a huge red envelope too?"

Tsunade huffed from the dining table.

She had just taken a pretty heavy financial hit, after all!

Kei Yamanaka and Kushina had each given the Three Little Troublemakers ten thousand ryo in red envelopes. As a senior, how could she just sit there and do nothing?

Thirty thousand ryo!

That was enough to keep her at the pachinko parlor all afternoon!

"Coming, coming."

Kei snapped out of his thoughts, walking toward the dinner table and pretending not to hear the last part of Tsunade's grumbling.

Hmph—trying to recoup her losses off of me, huh?

<><><><><><><><>

Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!

~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!

<><><><><><><><>

~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!

~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!

patreon.com/Tansnovel

<><><><><><><><>