Chapter 67: Kurenai Yūhi's Reward
Did he have the right to refuse?
Akiyama Makoto felt that he probably did, but refusing would most likely lead to him being imprisoned again, with even worse treatment. When the Chūnin Exams and the Konoha Crush plot began, without his chakra, his chances of survival would be slim.
Forget it. I'll just accept.
[You hang the Konoha forehead protector on your arm, officially becoming a Konoha ninja. Sarutobi Hiruzen tells you that you can choose to join any of the new Jōnin-led teams formed this year.]
Limited to this year's new teams... so that means he couldn't join Guy's squad?
Although he felt a little regretful, he didn't push the issue. After all, he could see Tenten whenever he wanted; there was no need to specifically join her team. As for the remaining squads, there were Team 7, Team 8, and Team 10.
He first ruled out Asuma's Team 10, the Ino-Shika-Chō trio. While he certainly wouldn't be ostracized if he joined, it would be nearly impossible for him to coordinate with the other three.
Then he ruled out the protagonist's Team 7. The reason was also simple: his goal in this simulation was to have an heir with Tenten. He didn't want to mess around and create another world-destroying timeline.
This left him with only one choice: Kurenai Yūhi's Team 8.
From what he could remember, Team 8 was also the one with the least presence. There was Kurenai, a genjutsu master without a Sharingan; Inuzuka Kiba, who could only cooperate with his ninja hound and had no contact with summons or tailed beasts; Aburame Shino, who had a passive skill of zero presence; and finally, Hyūga Hinata, who was theoretically a genius but had never shown it.
By joining Team 8, he could also gain more experience fighting against genjutsu users. The current him had no talent for genjutsu, and how to deal with the "Madly Laughing" Uchiha prodigies in the future was still a problem. Besides, he could also take this opportunity to continue his experiments with Hinata and see if they yielded any results.
With this in mind, Makoto used his last guidance opportunity. With seven simulation attempts in hand, he had become much more liberal with his guidances.
[You choose to join Kurenai's team. The Hokage approves your choice and quickly informs her. Kurenai, who knows of your existence, tells you upon meeting that she has prepared an entrance exam for you outside the village.]
[Only by passing her and Team 8's test will you be qualified to join. Otherwise, she will return you to the Hokage. As a Jōnin, she has this right. You readily agree and arrive at the appointed time.]
[However, when you arrive at the test site, you find it empty. Your keen senses immediately tell you it's a trap, and you activate your sensory mode. You discover insects on the ground converging on you, and a restless Inuzuka Kiba in a distant tree.]
[Hinata has silently moved behind you, her Byakugan activated, waiting for an opportunity to attack. As for Kurenai, she stands even further away, seeming to intend for this to be a test for her students only.]
A smile curved Makoto's lips. Was this his first time fighting against his peers? Alright, let's see how my simulated self handles this.
[Aburame Shino's insects launch their attack. After being bitten, you scream, fall to the ground, and pass out. An unsatisfied Kiba jumps down from the tree, saying you have no fighting ability at all. But at this moment, Hinata is forced to step forward, shouting for Kiba to get out of the way.]
[Simultaneously, a hand reaches out from underground, drags Kiba into the earth, and knocks him out directly. It is you, having used Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu. As for your original body, it dissolves into a puddle of water—Water Style: Water Clone Jutsu.]
[Akamaru leaps from the tree to attack you, but you grab him by the scruff of his neck and knock him out against the ground. Hinata charges from behind, assuming a stance and using the Gentle Fist. Shino, no longer hiding, unleashes his Parasitic Destruction Insects to attack you with full force.]
[Faced with their attacks, you casually toss Akamaru at Shino's insects, forcing him to maneuver them out of the way. You then quickly form hand seals and cast Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld, trapping the ground-based Hinata.]
[Seeing this, Shino knows he can't hold back. He uses his Spindle Technique, turning his insects into a whirlwind that rushes towards you. You have no intention of destroying his insects, so you once again use Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu.]
[Shino immediately leaps onto a tree trunk, thinking he can dodge the attack. But the entire tree is shattered from below by your Chakra Enhanced Strength. You then rush forward and hit him with your fist. Shino urgently uses an Insect Clone, and the insects swarm you, biting at your body.]
[But your body also turns to mud. You had used an Earth Style: Earth Clone. The real you returns to the surface, pulling the just-landed Shino into the ground and knocking him out. With that, you have easily defeated Team 8, forcing the watching Kurenai to reveal herself.]
[She says she can be your next opponent, but you raise your hands and immediately surrender, feigning chakra exhaustion. Kurenai is speechless. She knows very well that you haven't even released your Yin Seal and have not used even half of your strength.]
[However, Kurenai is very satisfied with your performance. You not only demonstrated strength and battle intelligence but also showed respect for her as the team's Jōnin leader. This was the true bottom line for her to accept you into the team.]
[Kurenai then announces that you have passed the test. You take the initiative to rescue your three controlled teammates and even use the Summoning Technique to take out the spare clothes you had prepared for Hinata and the others. Hinata, not having forgotten her training with you a few months ago, thanks you with a red face.]
[When the three of them look at you and Hinata with puzzled expressions, wondering why you had a set of clothes that fit her perfectly, Hinata is too embarrassed to explain and flees with a blush.]
Seeing this, Makoto shook his head, feeling a little unsatisfied. He had easily defeated Team 8 using only Earth and Water Style without even trying to cause serious injury. This showed that his strength was definitely above that of an ordinary Chūnin. And this was the result of him being imprisoned for three months without being able to train. If he had trained seriously for those three months, the three of them wouldn't have lasted a single exchange against him.
This also meant that as long as the real him trained normally from now on, by the time of the Chūnin Exams, he would basically have Jōnin-level strength even without using the Yin Seal. At that point, there would be very few people in Konoha who could harm him. Even if Danzō made a move, the only things he would have to worry about would be his Sharingan and Kotoamatsukami.
Makoto stretched. It was as if the smooth atmosphere from the simulation had extended into reality, allowing him to taste the joy of growth.
And under his watch, the simulation entered its next phase.
[With a wave of your hand, you announce that you are treating everyone to yakiniku. Amidst the fragrant aroma of grilled meat, Kiba and Shino also express their acceptance of you. You have now become a member of Team 8. You begin your life of doing missions, but the D-rank and C-rank missions quickly wear down your enthusiasm.]
[Seeing this, Kurenai decides to give you some kind of reward to stir your passion. You answer directly that you want to learn genjutsu and how to break it from her.]
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