Chapter 4: Simulation Successful, Reward Issued
[On this night, both you and Tenten grew up.]
[Ding! You and Tenten have become lovers.]
Akiyama Makoto didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
In the simulation, he had freeloaded at Tenten's house for eight years and even created so many new-era ninja tools for her. He had probably expressed his feelings for her countless times during that period. Yet, in the end, Tenten only entered a relationship with him after getting drunk... All Makoto could do was wonder: was Tenten really that dense when it came to romance?
The simulation continued, and the subsequent events left Makoto even more dumbfounded.
[You experience a four-month honeymoon period, during which you forget about writing and designing ninja tools, and Tenten forgets about managing her tool shop.]
[Your relationship is only discovered by Tenten's family when her mother notices her pregnancy is starting to show.]
[Arranged by Tenten's parents, you are married within a week in a lightning-fast wedding, successfully preserving the family's honor.]
[Ding! You and Tenten have become husband and wife.]
[Konoha 71: The perfect ninja tool, forged from your shared effort and love, Akiyama Ayame, is born.]
[Congratulations, the simulation was a success!]
[Calculating Akiyama Ayame's bloodline talent. Please wait a moment.]
Seeing the name "Akiyama Ayame," a thousand thoughts flooded Makoto's mind. The name seemed to have a magical quality, making him unable to resist imagining what she would look like. But before he could merge his own and Tenten's features in his mind, a new line of text appeared.
[Congratulations on a great success! Akiyama Ayame has completely inherited Tenten's talent and possesses the aptitude of a Jōnin.]
[For the Host's convenience, her talents are displayed according to the rules of this world. Her detailed stats are as follows.]
[Ninjutsu: 6, Taijutsu: 7, Genjutsu: 3, Intelligence: 7, Strength: 3, Speed: 7, Stamina: 4, Hand Seals: 4.]
[Store this simulation result and receive the bloodline talent template as a reward?]
[Please note: You can currently only store 1 simulation result. The storage capacity is directly related to your Mental Energy.]
Makoto chose "Yes" without hesitation. Although there seemed to be more to the system's rules, right now, all he wanted was the talent to become a ninja.
[Ding! Issuing the bloodline talent... Estimated duration: ten minutes.]
A strange, numbing tingle overflowed from his mind, spreading through his body and causing him to tense up as if electrocuted. He subconsciously wanted to cry out, but his rational mind made him bite down on the blanket, forcing himself not to make a sound. Makoto had no intention of revealing the strange phenomenon happening to him. If he did, he would likely be dragged to the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Force the moment he left the hospital.
Finally, ten minutes passed.
Akiyama Makoto slowly opened his mouth, feeling completely drained.
And yet, he smiled.
As he began to circulate the introductory chakra refining method he had learned at the Ninja Academy years ago, a faint wisp of energy began to flow through his pathways. Though weak, it made Makoto feel as if his strength had at least doubled.
This was the power of chakra!
From this day forward, he was no longer an ordinary person!
Perhaps Makoto still had a long road of hard work ahead to become a true ninja—after all, he had received talent, not a ninja's full strength—but a life with hope was a hundred times better than a life of despair.
With that, Akiyama Makoto relaxed his mind and drifted off to sleep with a smile, completely missing the new line of text that had appeared.
When he woke up again, a pair of bright, lively eyes were observing him with curiosity.
"Waah!"
Seeing Makoto wake up, Tenten yelped in surprise and jumped back, her lower back hitting the corner of a table.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
Tenten's face paled as she clutched her back, rubbing it while stealing glances at Makoto. The awkwardness of the situation brought tears to her eyes.
Makoto looked at the towel in Tenten's hand, took it, and placed it over his face. The towel was warm, clearly intended for wiping his face. As for Tenten taking the opportunity to get a closer look at him... that was a young girl's unspoken secret.
By the time Makoto removed the towel, she had transformed back into a proud Genin, chin up and hands on her hips.
"Since you're okay, I'll be leaving soon."
Just as Makoto was about to speak, Tenten held up a single finger and wagged it gently. The gesture had a hint of Might Guy's flair.
"You don't need to ask for my name, and you don't need to worry about what happens next."
"I've paid your medical bills, and the two men who hurt you will be thrown in jail."
"All you need to do is rest up, and live a good life after you leave the hospital. Got it?"
Makoto was silent for a moment, then, to Tenten's surprise, he shook his head.
"Huh? Was I not clear enough, or is there something else you need my help with?"
Makoto said calmly, "Repaying kindness is my life's principle. So please, tell me your name. I will pay a formal visit to thank you."
Now Tenten got a little flustered, waving her hands dismissively. "You don't have to go to such trouble! It was really nothing..."
"Even if you don't tell me, I'll just ask the doctors and nurses. They must know who you are, right?"
Tenten opened her mouth, realizing she couldn't hide it. She had no choice but to give Makoto her name. Afterward, she enthusiastically told him about the other members of Team 3. After all, saving him was a team effort, and Tenten didn't want to take all the credit.
Finally, Tenten left, using the excuse that she needed to rest.
Makoto watched her retreating back as she stretched, a slight smile playing on his lips. He knew they would meet again soon; their conversation just now was preparation for that reunion.
Although in reality, Makoto wouldn't freeload at Tenten's house, having the successful life experience from the simulation made relying on her family to establish a foothold in Konoha a very viable option. Besides, he still had to figure out how to get more simulation attempts, didn't he?
He had a few ideas, but he would have to wait until he was discharged to see if they were feasible.
Next, Makoto was about to continue refining his chakra when he noticed the line of text at the bottom of his vision that he had missed last night.
[Ding! Bloodline talent has been issued. The simulation result has been stored.]
[Until this result is replaced, the Host can view the simulation details at any time.]
Makoto's mind went blank... Did that line of text mean what he thought it meant?
If so... he might have to scrap his entire previous plan.
With a thought, a picture-frame-like icon next to the text opened up. Organized by year, countless photos and text entries appeared before Akiyama Makoto's eyes.