Chapter 99: Continuous Affection Boost
Akiyama Makoto opened his eyes at the perfect moment and sat up. A weak smile played on his lips. Just as he was about to say something, a figure threw herself into his arms.
Who else could it be but Ino?
[Ding! Deeper contact with the ninja Ino achieved. Simulation Attempts +3.]
Makoto had initially been a bit reserved about her embrace, especially with so many other girls watching. But the moment he heard the system prompt, he forgot everything else, hugged her back deeply, and greedily inhaled the fragrance from her hair.
As if sensing his emotion, Ino's eyes grew redder. She bit her lip hard to keep from crying, channeling all of her feelings into the hug.
After he ended the embrace and let her go, she meticulously checked his entire body. Only after confirming that there were no visible wounds did she breathe a sigh of relief.
Before she could speak, Sakura and Hinata also came over.
Sakura seemed to want to hug him too, but hesitated because Ino was there. But to everyone's surprise, he opened his arms to her as well.
How could Sakura possibly care about Ino's strange looks now? She quickly gave him a tight hug, though she didn't dare to show her emotions too obviously. Compared to his hug with Ino, this one was a little more restrained.
But to his surprise, the system prompt sounded again.
[Ding! Deeper contact with the ninja Sakura achieved. Simulation Attempts +3.]
This works too? he thought. He and Sakura had both been relatively reserved. Could it be that the system's judgment was based not just on physical actions, but also on mutual feelings?
He quickly let go of Sakura and gave her a polite smile, as if their hug was just something between ordinary friends. But as their eyes met, they both seemed to see an emotion that only the other could understand.
Then, he looked at Hinata.
With a poof, steam erupted from the top of her head. She quickly waved her hands. "I-I don't think I need one—"
"Got to share the love equally, Hinata," he teased in a playful tone.
Ino and Sakura also started to cheer her on, as if doing so would make their own hugs with him seem less intimate.
"Alright—"
Hinata shuffled to his bedside step by step, opened her arms, closed her eyes, and lifted her head, her red lips pursed nervously, looking as if she were ready to be plucked.
Beside them, even Kurenai couldn't help but laugh. With a pose like that, was Hinata asking for a hug or a kiss?
Fortunately, he wouldn't do anything inappropriate at a time like this. He just gave her a hug.
From beginning to end, Hinata didn't respond at all, standing as still as a red-hot iron pillar.
[Ding! Deeper contact with the ninja Hinata achieved. Simulation Attempts +3.]
The corner of his mouth twitched. This works too?! Theirs couldn't even be called a hug; at most, they had just pressed against each other. And when had her affection level for him gotten so high—was it because he had taught her the chakra thread technique?
In fact, that was exactly it.
Hinata might not have shown sufficient talent in other areas, but as someone who could learn the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, her talent in chakra shape transformation was at least at the Advanced level. She had easily mastered the chakra thread and, after a night of arduous practice, had successfully used it to pierce a teacup from three meters away.
No one understood what this meant better than her. From now on, unless a Hyūga clan member, who lacked long-range attacks, could crush her with sheer strength, none of them would be her match anymore.
In the past, she had trained with him largely to get closer to Naruto and didn't have that much trust in him. But now, she realized that following him was the best decision she had ever made. Perhaps in the future, she and her sister, Hanabi, really could challenge the thousand-year-old Caged Bird system of the Hyūga clan and win true freedom for themselves.
With this hope, her focus on Naruto had naturally and unknowingly faded.
Beside them, Kurenai saw his spirits rise and revealed a gratified smile. If he could recover quickly, she could also be freed from yesterday's incident and return to her normal life.
But at that moment, she saw him turn towards her.
At first, she didn't understand. It was only when he opened his arms that she said, with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "I get one too?"
"Got to share the love equally, Big Sister Kurenai."
That casual "Big Sister Kurenai" made the three girls stare at her, dumbfounded.
Kurenai froze. A moment ago, she had been thinking of returning to her normal life. Now it seemed that was impossible for the time being.
She didn't move, so he took it as a tacit agreement.
He hugged her by the waist and rested his head on her chest. "Thank you for saving me, Big Sister Kurenai," he said gratefully.
Meeting the puzzled gazes of the three girls, Kurenai hesitated for a moment, but finally chose to gently embrace him back. "It was nothing, Makoto-kun."
She then gently pushed him away, turned him to face the three girls, and said, "Now, why don't you have a good chat with your three girl... friends."
The doubt in the three girls' hearts was immediately dispelled by her teasing tone. They each pretended to be demure and looked in different directions, though the corners of their eyes were still fixed on him, as if hoping for an answer.
He, of course, was not going to step on that landmine. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Why don't we go get some yakiniku? My treat."
"Alright!" Kurenai's eyes lit up. "Let's go to that barbecue restaurant you opened. I hear it's very popular now. It's all thanks to you, the behind-the-scenes boss, for managing it so well."
Kurenai wanted to use this as a way to encourage him to face life again. Because he was outstanding in his writing, in business, and even in his relationships with girls.
And so, after a brief rest, the group of them strode into his barbecue restaurant and ate their fill. The only problem was that the gender ratio of their group was a bit strange, which drew many puzzled looks. When Kurenai took the initiative to pay the bill, refusing his treat, those looks finally disappeared. Ah, so it's a teacher treating her students to a team-building activity. Not big news.
As the moon rose high, the group walked out of the restaurant. It was time to part ways.
The three girls looked at him in unison. In the past, he was always the one to walk them home. At first, they felt embarrassed, but they had slowly grown accustomed to the feeling of strolling through the streets with him.
But today, the three girls exchanged a look, and Ino spoke up. "Makoto-kun, let us walk you back to the Kazematsuri Bathhouse."
"That's right. Moegi really misses you," added Sakura.
Hinata followed up. "If you're really worried, the three of us can take turns standing guard for you at night."
Makoto smiled, as if to express his thanks, but his face gradually turned pale.
Behind him, Kurenai let out a soft sigh and took the initiative to place her hand on his shoulder. "That won't be necessary. I've already accepted the mission to protect him for a week."
"Because the attacker is not weak, it's still a bit much to ask the three of you to protect him. Just leave him to me."
"If you're worried, you can come to my house every day to see him."
Hearing her say this, looks of gratitude appeared on the three girls' faces. With her protecting him, he would surely be safe, right?
The three girls said their goodbyes to him and Kurenai, and then Kurenai took his wrist and led him back to her own home. Before entering, she shot a glare into the darkness. Anko, who had been waiting there, turned and left helplessly. It seemed it would be a long time before she had another chance to speak with him.
"Come in. Take a bath and rest early. I've already bought you a men's kimono. It should fit."
Like a big sister, Kurenai stroked his head. He appreciated the kindness, but it still wasn't enough.
He lowered his head. "Big Sister Kurenai, I want to ask you a question."
"Hm? Go ahead."
"Do you think... I'm still worthy of their affection?"
Under normal circumstances, Kurenai would have definitely teased him: You want to like all three of them at once?
But now, she just smiled and said, "I guarantee you are worthy of their affection."
At this moment, Makoto looked up. His next words struck deep into her heart.
"Really? I don't believe you."
"Because you don't like me, Big Sister Kurenai, do you?"
Ino, Sakura, and Hinata had all given him simulation attempts. Kurenai had not. Therefore, his question was backed by logic and evidence.
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