Chapter 39: Seeing Ino Again
Akiyama Makoto's expression turned serious. This was a subject he was quite interested in.
Without a doubt, once a person possessed chakra, their life force would increase. For example, after Makoto gained chakra, his body's recovery speed had at least doubled. But life force was not the same as chakra, because most people did not gain longevity just by having chakra.
At the same time, chakra and life force could be converted into each other to a certain extent. Chiyo's use of the One's Own Life Reincarnation was the realization of this process. However, the conversion process was extremely inefficient, to the point that using the technique was almost certainly fatal.
Makoto wasn't studying this jutsu to one day sacrifice his life to save someone. He wanted to thoroughly research the conversion and utilization of life force, hoping that he might one day find a way to slowly use chakra to replenish his own life force. When that time came, his real-world self would truly not have to worry about most injuries.
But just as he expected, the process was so difficult that he was left almost completely clueless.
[After a full year of research, you realize that this ninjutsu is also a great test of a ninja's talent and has very high requirements for your aptitude in Yang Release chakra.]
[Konoha 67: You can find no way to improve your Yang Release chakra talent, but you come up with an idea. Perhaps you can use the Chikatsu Saisei no Jutsu to concentrate the Yang Release chakra of multiple people to supplement a specific target's chakra.]
[Konoha 68: Your concept is recognized by Tsunade. She allows you to conduct experiments, but only for the purpose of treating injuries. You succeed, naming the entire medical ninjutsu the Restorative Life Reincarnation Jutsu.]
Makoto stared at the simulation result in shock, not expecting that he would actually create something so significant. Although he couldn't accomplish it on his own due to the limits of his talent, his experience from the Sand Village simulation gave him ideas that were no longer confined to the Konoha ninjutsu system. It seemed he should visit other countries in the future; he might be able to gain more unique experiences. Even the Akatsuki... seemed like a place he could try to infiltrate.
The simulation continued.
[This medical ninjutsu of yours is rated S-rank by Tsunade, because even she cannot perform this jutsu by herself. At the same time, Tsunade orders you not to teach this jutsu to others without permission, which you readily agree to.]
[Konoha 68: Naruto returns from his training, and a series of events unfolds in Konoha. The ones you know of include the Kazekage Rescue Mission, the battle at the Tenchi Bridge, the death of Orochimaru, and the formation of Team Hebi.]
[However, you are most concerned with the battle between Team 10 and the Immortal Duo. When you learn that Team 10 has been dispatched and that Tsunade intends to send support, you volunteer to join the support team.]
[Tsunade agrees to your request. By the time your support team arrives, Asuma is on the brink of death. A tearful Ino is treating him, but her Mystical Palm Technique is useless against his internal organ damage.]
[You pull Ino aside and, to her astonishment, begin to take charge of the treatment. You draw a jutsu formation, having all the present ninja stand at different ends of the formation and channel their chakra into it.]
[You are responsible for controlling the formation, casting the Restorative Life Reincarnation Jutsu to convert all the chakra into life force to sustain Asuma's life. Besides you, each person sacrifices about half a year of their lifespan, while you bear the vast majority of the pressure, sacrificing at least ten years of your own.]
Seeing this, Makoto couldn't help but sigh. Perhaps only in a simulation could he sacrifice himself so completely. In reality, he would most likely choose to hide his strength. Otherwise, a power like his would probably bring him nothing but disaster. But at the same time, he secretly swore that he would not let himself or the people around him encounter such a dangerous situation. Since he could develop a jutsu like this, he would surely be able to develop even stronger medical ninjutsu with fewer side effects in the future, just like how Tsunade and Naruto had healed an entire village and even the whole Allied Shinobi Forces in the original story.
[You succeed in preserving Sarutobi Asuma's life, but you also collapse from excessive life force consumption.]
[When you wake up, you are back in the Konoha Hospital. You struggle to sit up and look in the mirror at your now white-haired, gaunt self, sighing that you are now truly 'all in white'.]
Reading this, Makoto's heart was in his throat. In his final guidance, he had set the goal of using this opportunity to resolve the conflict between him and Ino. If she still refused to see him under these circumstances, then there was nothing more he could do. To save the result, he would have to switch to simulating with Tenten. He just didn't know what the result of such an action would be.
But just then, the characters that appeared in the simulation made his spirits soar.
[Sarutobi Asuma has fully recovered after Tsunade's treatment. He brings the entire Team 10 to visit you. He expresses his gratitude and promises that from now on, you are a benefactor of the entire Sarutobi clan.]
[Because of your actions, the Sarutobi clan has preserved its strongest pillar. Your status in Konoha becomes second only to the Hokage and the advisors.]
[When Asuma says his goodbyes and leaves the room, under your deep and meaningful gaze, Ino stays behind.]
[Ino doesn't dare to look at you. She just sits by your bed, her head bowed as she peels an apple for you. The two friends, who once had endless things to talk about, now, after being reunited after several years, seem unable to find a common language.]
Makoto licked his lips. He really wanted to use a guidance right now, but he had no more opportunities. He could only hope that his understanding of Ino was enough for his simulated self to say the one thing he most wanted to say right now.
And this time, the simulation proceeded without any more surprises.
[From the flowers sent by the other ninja, you pluck a single stem and hand it to Ino, telling her with a smile that no matter what, you will still frequently send her bouquets in the future.]
[Ino finally looks up, her red, swollen eyes filled with a flowing longing. She throws the apple in her hand aside, hugs you, and begins to wail, as if she were the one who had been wronged.]
[You are confused by this, but you choose to hug her and comfort her. Just as you are thinking about what to say next, Ino suddenly asks you a strange question: "Is your body... recovered?"]
[Fortunately, you can now simply master Yang Release chakra, and your recovery speed is fast enough. This allows you to not miss this day of 'growth' with Ino.]
[Ding! You and Yamanaka Ino have become a couple.]
Seeing this, Makoto's jaw dropped. Ino was this proactive? But what was going on? What had happened to her?
He couldn't guess, but he knew he would probably see the answer soon.
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