As Makoto spoke, he had his Shadow Clone demonstrate Chakra reserves at the jonin level.
One problem that had always troubled him was that his manifestations initially lacked sufficient power due to his limited Manifestation Points.
He could overcome this by manifesting something in front of more people or repeating the process several times. However, was there a way to skip some of those steps?
Unfortunately, just as expected, Making Fake Become Real failed again.
This time, the reason was that Yuuki Asuna had developed an incorrect understanding.
Makoto wasn't particularly surprised. By now, he had more or less figured out how his Talent worked.
He erased the relevant memories from Asuna's mind and attempted Making Fake Become Real again. This time, however, he had his Shadow Clone honestly demonstrate chunin-level Chakra reserves.
As for why Makoto hadn't simply claimed from the beginning that these ninja tools could grant jonin-level Chakra reserves, the reason was obvious.
The idea that a single kunai could provide such an enormous boost in strength simply wasn't very believable.
Sure enough, Making Fake Become Real succeeded this time.
[Ding, Making Fake Become Real triggered...]
[Yuuki Asuna's Fate Value: 60. Trust Level: 50%. Manifestation Points: 30.]
[The ninja equipment before you now grants the user a genin-level Chakra boost when equipped. Bonuses of the same type cannot stack when multiple pieces of equipment are worn.]
Makoto clicked his tongue when he saw the notification.
He had originally intended to assemble a complete set of ninja equipment for Asuna, giving her enough base attributes to avoid being instantly killed simply because her stats were too low.
Unfortunately, identical bonuses couldn't stack.
Although the restriction made sense, Makoto still couldn't help complaining inwardly about how stingy the Main God Space was.
Presumably, this was one of its fundamental design rules, intended to prevent Players from endlessly stacking attributes through equipment.
However, a restriction like that wasn't enough to stop Makoto.
He hadn't even used his Fusion Evolution Talent yet!
Makoto examined everything he had nearby, including Konoha's standard green flak jackets, kunai, shuriken, senbon, forehead protectors, arm guards, leg bindings, utility pouches, Explosive Tags, Military Ration Pills, and other supplies.
After examining them, he discovered that only wearable equipment and weapons that could be held in the hand provided attribute bonuses.
Those items had also become D-rank equipment.
Fortunately, Makoto possessed far more than one kunai, so there was nothing stopping him from combining them in large quantities.
Right in front of Asuna, Makoto began using his three-in-one fusion ability.
He eventually combined nine pieces of equipment with attributes into a single kunai.
Amid the ringing sounds of metal striking metal and flashes of fire, a new kunai emerged, sparkling with faint golden particles.
[B-rank Blessed Chakra Kunai: Grants the wielder jonin-level Chakra reserves simply by holding it. After use, its Chakra gradually recovers based on the wielder's own Chakra reserves.]
Makoto's eyes widened slightly when he read the item's attributes.
The bonus provided by this weapon wasn't particularly valuable to him.
However, if he eventually managed to create an S-rank or even higher-ranked kunai, wouldn't a single piece of equipment be enough to grant Tailed Beast-level Chakra reserves?
Then again, perhaps that wasn't so unreasonable.
Under normal circumstances, anyone capable of obtaining an S-rank item would probably already possess strength far beyond Kage-level, perhaps even exceeding the strongest Kage.
For people like that, such an item would merely be an additional benefit.
But for Asuna in her current condition, it was practically the equivalent of a baby who had only just learned to walk receiving an atomic bomb as their first toy.
Most importantly, Makoto could mass-produce these things!
Normally, even someone possessing a three-in-one fusion Talent would struggle to manufacture equipment with special attributes.
After all, a kunai was ultimately nothing more than a basic steel product. In a place like the Main God Space, exchanging for one might not even cost a single Mission Point.
But Makoto could use Making Fake Become Real to mass-produce attribute bonuses on these cheap, mass-manufactured items.
Then, by combining them through Three-in-One Evolution, mass-producing S-rank equipment and items wouldn't be an impossible dream!
There were only two problems.
First, Makoto could freely use these weapons and equipment himself, but selling them was practically out of the question.
Doing so would inevitably attract the attention of powerful individuals and organizations who coveted his abilities.
Second, the process of turning ordinary items into extraordinary equipment required him to enlist the help of popular characters he was meeting for the first time, like Asuna, or important characters from the Mission World.
Otherwise, once Asuna returned to the Main God Space even once, it would become much harder to use Making Fake Become Real through her again.
By then, even if Makoto demonstrated his S-rank Three-in-One Evolution Talent, Asuna would naturally start considering its possible limitations.
Did using the Talent come at a cost? Was there a success rate? Would mass-producing equipment with attributes upset the balance of the Main God Space?
As questions like these accumulated, how much faith would she still place in Makoto's claims?
Although Makoto could use the Memory Fruit to erase Asuna's memories, the fruit couldn't alter memories related to the Main God Space itself.
Thinking about it this way, improving his three-in-one Talent again would probably require encountering another popular newcomer who knew almost nothing about the system.
Unfortunately, that wasn't something he could control.
While considering these problems, Makoto casually played with the newly created kunai.
Once Asuna recovered from the confusion caused by his memory manipulation, he pushed the kunai into her hands.
"It's yours."
Asuna accepted it instinctively.
Before she could even respond, a powerful surge of Chakra erupted from her body.
Thanks to Makoto's earlier guidance, she already possessed a basic understanding of Chakra.
After her initial confusion, she quickly grasped how to use it. Right before Makoto's eyes, the timid young lady transformed into a genuinely powerful fighter, her sword flashing rapidly through the air.
"I... I feel like I've become at least ten times stronger!"
After practicing for more than ten seconds, Asuna returned to Makoto.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her cheeks were slightly flushed. Her mind was filled with the joy of becoming stronger and an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward Makoto.
Makoto smiled faintly.
He was just about to remind her to conserve her Chakra. After all, with Asuna's current base attributes, replenishing the Chakra stored within the kunai wouldn't be easy.
However, before he could speak, Asuna held out the faintly golden kunai with both hands.
"Captain, this is far too valuable. I can't accept it!"
"You would benefit quite a lot from using it yourself, wouldn't you? Compared to making someone as weak as me stronger, equipping yourself properly would be far better for our team."
Asuna's reasoning wasn't necessarily wrong.
The kunai's value was one consideration, but more importantly, she feared that accepting such an extraordinary weapon would leave her indebted to Makoto for the rest of her life.
After all, she had absolutely no idea that Makoto had casually produced this kunai from supplies in his Storage Space after speaking only a couple of sentences.
Naturally, Makoto couldn't reveal its true value.
He could only find another way to ease Asuna's concerns.
He casually reached out and gently stroked her forehead.
By now, he had performed this gesture seven or eight times, so Asuna no longer felt the slightest discomfort when he touched her.
"This really is a valuable item, but Asuna, only by staying alive can you become the reliable teammate I hope you'll be in the future."
"Besides, I don't want to be overly calculating about personal gains and losses with someone I'm close to."
"Actually, rather than having you see me merely as a dependable captain, I'd prefer it if we could eventually become friends, or even family. Teammates might betray one another for personal gain, but family members are people you can always trust to watch your back."
After speaking, Makoto gently pushed the kunai back into Asuna's palm.
"Now, get yourself ready. We're about to return to the battlefield."
Makoto felt his little speech had been rather impressive.
It also suited Asuna's circumstances in the death game and her longing for her family. If he had to rate his performance, he would give himself at least ninety points.
However, he failed to realize that Asuna's understanding of the word family had taken a slightly different direction.
After all, they had only just experienced an extremely embarrassing incident involving accidental exposure.
Moreover, Makoto was around her age. Whether it was his appearance or his sense of responsibility, he had already proven himself almost perfectly suited to Asuna's preferences.
When faced with a boy like that, how could her understanding of becoming family possibly be limited to teammates who simply kept one another company?
"I... I understand."
Asuna hesitated before gathering her courage.
"Then, from now on... would it be all right if I called you Kitano-kun?"
"Of course."
Makoto didn't notice the pink tint spreading across Asuna's cheeks.
His attention had already shifted toward planning his next use of Making Fake Become Real.
Why would he refuse an opportunity to use his cheat while it was available?
If he waited until powerful enemies came knocking on his door, wouldn't it already be too late?
For the moment, he couldn't think of a suitable excuse to strengthen himself further.
However, while the atmosphere was still favorable, perhaps he could use this opportunity to strengthen Sakiko instead.
Although Sakiko had already become incredibly powerful, her abilities were actually quite unbalanced.
Her Emotional Mastery lacked sufficient destructive power, while her Cursed Eyes primarily provided exceptional endurance and sustainability in battle.
She was still a Jujutsu Sorcerer and had also mastered powerful Haki and swordsmanship. However, compared to the potential granted by her dragon eyes, she still lacked a sufficiently powerful ability to break through an enemy's defenses.
There was also the negative Buff that could cause her to lose her rationality.
As long as Makoto remained beside her, there was little reason to worry.
But what if circumstances eventually forced them to separate?
Perhaps he could give her another Talent focused on explosive offensive power.
Alternatively, he could grant her a Talent capable of preserving her rationality even when the Cursed Eyes interfered with her mind.
"Kitano-kun, I'm ready."
After taking several deep breaths, Asuna stood before him with her sword in one hand and the kunai in the other.
She had finally prepared herself for battle.
Makoto nodded in satisfaction before smoothly changing the subject.
"While we still have a little time, let me tell you about Sakiko's Talent."
"Her Talent is the SS-rank Masked Doll. It allows her to solidify her emotions, willpower, and mental state into masks. Wearing different masks grants her different specializations and abilities."
"Naturally, when enemies attack her, she can also solidify the damage she receives into a mask, delaying its effects. However, she'll eventually have to find some way to repay that accumulated damage."
Asuna paused in surprise.
Although she found it strange that Makoto had suddenly started explaining Sakiko's Talent, she still nodded.
[Ding, Making Fake Become Real triggered...]
[Yuuki Asuna's Fate Value: 60. Trust Level: 40%. Manifestation Points: 24.]
[You have manifested the S-rank Talent, Masked Doll, for Togawa Sakiko.]
[Effect: Allows the user to solidify their emotions, willpower, and mental state into masks. Wearing different masks grants different ability specializations.]
[These masks possess durability. If a mask is broken, the user will suffer the corresponding backlash.]
Reading the notification, Makoto sighed inwardly.
As expected, the timing wasn't quite right.
Although Asuna already trusted Makoto deeply, her trust toward Sakiko was considerably lower.
Makoto estimated that this Talent had only barely reached S-rank.
Not only had half the effects he described failed to manifest, but the Talent had even acquired an additional negative effect.
Nevertheless, it was still an S-rank Talent.
If Sakiko could use it to solidify the mental state associated with losing her rationality into a mask, she might be able to suppress the negative effects of her golden dragon eyes to some extent.
Afterward, Makoto decided not to continue attempting Making Fake Become Real.
He was worried that if he kept making increasingly outrageous claims, even Asuna's trust in him might begin to decline.
Instead, he opened the Spatial Barrier before them and showed Asuna the ongoing Summit War.
Because Makoto had spent quite some time strengthening Asuna, the situation on the battlefield had changed considerably since Luffy's arrival.
Since Luffy and Whitebeard both wanted to rescue Ace, they had temporarily aligned their objectives.
Ignoring the enormous difference in strength between himself and his enemies, Luffy recklessly charged toward the execution platform, sending every Marine who stood in his way flying.
Naturally, such an arrogant display eventually attracted the attention of the Admirals.
Kizaru proceeded to demonstrate his outstanding acting skills.
He spent a full ten seconds preparing a light-speed kick, only finally releasing the attack when Emporio Ivankov, the Okama King, arrived to rescue Luffy.
A dazzling orange-red shockwave spread across an enormous area.
The resulting storm sent ordinary Marines and pirates flying in every direction.
Afterward, Luffy staggered to his feet and continued charging forward.
With the pirates assisting him, he gradually drew closer to the execution platform.
At his current level of strength, Luffy would have struggled to face almost any organized group of Marines alone.
Yet somehow, he continued pushing forward like the tip of an arrow, opening a path through their defenses.
Naturally, his performance attracted even more attention.
An increasingly furious Sengoku eventually announced Luffy's identity to the entire world.
When audiences learned that Luffy, the son of Revolutionary Army Supreme Commander Dragon, had joined the Summit War and was sworn brothers with Ace, the son of Pirate King Roger, the entire conflict was pushed toward its climax.
However, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that no matter how much trouble Luffy caused, the person who would ultimately determine the outcome of the war was still Whitebeard, who remained locked in a distant confrontation with the Admirals.
Whitebeard surveyed the battlefield and quickly figured out what Sengoku was planning.
He ordered the pirates of his allied fleet to stop focusing entirely on breaking into Marine Headquarters and instead attack the Marine warships.
This immediately ruined Sengoku's plan to surround all the pirates.
Meanwhile, Luffy's advance was becoming increasingly difficult.
Facing Marine officers from all over the world, the pressure on his group seemed to double with every step they took toward the execution platform.
Finally, that pressure transformed into genuine despair.
The Pacifista Army, composed of cyborg weapons modeled after Bartholomew Kuma of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had officially entered the battlefield.
…