"How do you think the strength of Akatsuki Itachi holds up?"
Yuto still remembered the day he first joined the company, when the superior asked him this question.
Faced with this sudden question, Yuto answered based on his own thoughts.
"Uh... he's a bit weak, mainly because he can't keep up with the current meta."
The planner, upon hearing Yuto's response, seemed intrigued. "Why do you think he can't keep up with the meta?"
Yuto glanced at the person. There was something he wasn't sure if he should say.
Half of Akatsuki Itachi's strength was built on his clone.
This was a skill that could be used both offensively and defensively, and it had always held a place in the duel arena.
Until... the planner in front of Yuto started creating high-recruitment Ninjas.
First, there was the [Gaara War Arc].
With his 'Crouching Dragon Emerges' move, screen-wide initiation, and true 'Absolute Defense,' along with a bit of infinite firepower, War Arc Gaara became a powerhouse.
His ultimate could also chain into skills, something Akatsuki Itachi lacked. When War Arc Gaara was first released... he completely overshadowed Akatsuki Itachi.
Not for any other reason, but because at the time, some players managed to pull off over 10,000 hits with War Arc Gaara's basic attacks without dropping the combo.
Then came the Edo Tensei Madara.
Achieving a double breakthrough, one skill set, two pressure tools.
And the infuriating automatic switching between close and long-range forms.
He continued the advantages of War Arc Gaara, but with even longer initiation range!
Not only could his ultimate still chain, but when Chakra was reworked at the time…
It was changed to 'Charged Chakra.'
While the once-dominant 'Youthful Guy' took a slight hit, Edo Tensei Madara received a massive buff!
Back then, bringing out Edo Tensei Madara meant you simply couldn't lose!
Finally, there was the most hastily made high-recruitment S-Rank, Edo Tensei Tobirama, who Yuto had already introduced to this world.
But why was he considered hastily made?
Let's just say the planner had ideas and concepts, but overlooked one thing.
At the time, Edo Tensei Tobirama could start the match by holding down Flying Thunder God Technique, and with one skill, he could pressure two lanes!
This was no weaker than later characters like Sage Mode Kabuto with his White Rage initiation.
And his other skill, with its screen-wide initiation, shared similarities with a certain 'ordinary person' who came later!
But the 'ordinary person' mainly relied on displacement for initiation.
This was inferior to the original Edo Tensei Tobirama.
Of course, the 'ordinary person's' invincibility frames were also a point of interest, but compared to Edo Tensei Tobirama, they were child's play!
When he was first released, simply picking Edo Tensei Tobirama gave you a 10% chance to be completely invincible for the entire match!
And this probability could be manipulated!
Back then, you could start the match with a Salamander summon to chip away at the opponent's health, then use Edo Tensei Tobirama's invincibility 'frames' to stay invincible for a full sixty seconds while waiting for the win.
And let's not forget the ultimate that caused frame drops and lag.
All of this proved that Edo Tensei Tobirama, even to this day, is considered the most hastily made high-recruitment S-rank.
Although later, a rising star planner released a few more high-recruitment S-Ranks that were... questionable, they still fell short compared to Edo Tensei Tobirama.
And the planner who had asked Yuto the question also released Sage Mode Kabuto during his tenure.
But even after buffs, Kabuto only became a meta pick for a short time, paling in comparison to the previous three.
---
"Why do you think he can't keep up with the meta?"
Faced with this question, after mentally listing all the planner's 'sins,' Yuto slowly replied, "Mechanically outdated... probably."
However, the planner smiled, "Not quite. In my opinion, Akatsuki Itachi is by no means a weak ninja. He just lacks the opportunity to return to his peak!"
Not long after, this planner was 'sanctioned' by his superior.
For a while, the backlash was intense. Although, sometime after his departure…
A certain 2,000 Ryo 'hero' arrived in the game with a one-button sweep of the duel arena.
Players then realized that among the many Ninjas... the ones who could somewhat stand up to this 'hero' were the Ninjas created by that very planner!
It was then that everyone understood the planner's foresight and good intentions.
---
Recalling the planner's words, Yuto now silently looked at Akatsuki Itachi's skills.
Clone Explosion, cooldown: 8 seconds.
Amaterasu, range: half the screen.
Tsukuyomi, effect: can chain into Amaterasu after use.
With these three skills, if a player from Yuto's previous life had also been transported to this Naruto World…
They would probably fall into deep thought upon seeing this Akatsuki Itachi, and wondered if they were playing some kind of god mode.
Yuto had originally planned to balance the duel arena by nerfing the overpowered Ninjas and buffing the weaker ones.
But then he thought again...
What if all the ninjas were at their peak? Wouldn't that lead to... a war of the gods?!
After the recent releases of Edo Tensei Hashirama and Tobirama, the results were exactly as Yuto had expected.
Both Ninjas were at their peak!
Of course, Edo Tensei Tobirama's invincibility 'frames' and crash-inducing ultimate had been optimized, but his skills were still at their peak.
However... no one dared to criticize these Ninjas or speak ill of the First and Second Hokages.
They had fought for the village their entire lives, so what's wrong with them being invincible in the game?
In comparison, Kisame, who was released alongside Itachi, seemed much less impressive.
Even though Yuto had buffed him, it didn't help much. Kisame appeared somewhat mediocre next to the dazzling Ninjas.
But fortunately, Kisame still had Samehada Fusion and Wild Shark to look forward to.
Of course, while everyone was amazed by Itachi's strength, no one doubted his capabilities.
Except for a certain Uchiha downstairs...
"Damn it! Why does he have an endless supply of skills?!"
Meanwhile, upstairs, Zabuza, who was busy boosting accounts, just wanted to say: 'This Ninja is so fun! It's like his skills are free.'
The arrival of Akatsuki Itachi didn't cause much of a stir in the Arena of this world.
Mainly because there were already peak-level ninjas like Orochimaru [Indestructible], Edo Tensei Hashirama, Edo Tensei Tobirama, and Tsunade [Byakugou], who had both excellent design and strength.
A stationary artillery Ninja like Itachi couldn't cause much of a wave.
In the eyes of Edo Tensei Hashirama and Edo Tensei Tobirama, Itachi was just someone to be dealt with.
But against close-combat ninjas like Orochimaru [Indestructible] and Tsunade [Byakugou]... Itachi had a slight advantage.