He instinctively wanted to initiate the second guidance, but reason made him calm down.
Since Tenten had always stayed single, it meant Sora still had plenty of chances.
Even if he waited until after the Fourth Great Ninja War ended and Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was sealed, it still wouldn't be too late to pursue Tenten.
What Sora needed to do now... was to start living like an actual human being.
[Half a month later, you're discharged from the hospital, but you don't even have money for a single meal.]
[After deep reflection, you decide to work part-time while turning the literary works from your past life into novels. But the BBQ shop owner refuses to hire you again — you're nearly starving to death.]
Sora hurriedly selected the second guidance option.
He had set his persona as a quietly proud but fragile literary youth, yet right now, he looked more like someone about to die from hunger.
Sora had no idea where to find another outstanding kunoichi willing to maintain one hour of contact with him. So, this first simulation had to succeed!
But what should he do...
Sora thought deeply. In the simulation, it was almost impossible for him to find work.
He was already physically weak — and his stubborn pride made him seem, in the eyes of employers, like a walking hazard or ticking time bomb.
But if he gave up his dignity... even then, could mere shamelessness really help him survive? Would Tenten even like a man with no bottom line?
"Sigh… being alive is so damn hard."
Sora let out a gloomy sigh. Where was the breakthrough?
He touched his own face again… and vaguely recalled many stories from his past.
If you dont have money but have face what to do?
Answer: Find a rich lady to sponsor him!
Like Rousseau and Madame de Warens… Balzac and Madame Hanska… Tchaikovsky and Nadezhda von Meck… Liszt and Princess Carolyne!
Sora suddenly understood.
He wasn't looking for a sugar mommy — he was seeking a patron to help him finish his artistic work and contribute to the cultural development of the ninja world!
So then… who were the rich ladies of Konoha?
Sora started counting on his fingers, but frustratingly realized — there weren't many.
And if he dared approach one of those powerful women, he'd probably be killed by a kunai before he could even say hello. How would he ever complete his writing then?
Sora looked again at the sleeping Tenten. Gritting his teeth, he decided to try his chances with her.
He swore to himself — if Tenten helped him, then even if she never knew about the simulation, he'd become her most loyal friend.
After setting his intentions, the simulation resumed.
[You used your last coin to buy a sheet of paper. Borrowing a pen from the stationery shop owner, you wrote a story — a magical plagiarized twist — and planned to give it to Tenten.]
[After some digging, you located Tenten's house. As a ninja who threw tools around like they were free, Tenten's family actually had considerable assets.]
[The housekeeper informed you Tenten was out on a mission but accepted your manuscript, assuming you were one of her old classmates from the Ninja Academy.]
[You returned home, starving and thirsty. You tried mimicking Naruto's method of foraging for wild herbs outside the village… but fainted before even making it past the door.]
Sora closed his eyes. He felt like this simulation was about to fail.
Worse, it made him question his real-life future. Would he really not be able to find a job?
If he truly hit rock bottom, he could always go to Naruto and start spoiling future events like a madman.
Sure, he'd probably die somehow… but at least he'd get one full meal before that.
Just as Sora was considering whether to use his final guidance to help his simulated self cling to survival — a glimmer of hope bloomed on his face.
[Tenten, having returned from her mission, came to find you after receiving the manuscript — and discovered you unconscious from hunger.
She took you home and fed you meat porridge herself. You recovered quickly.]
[Tenten told you she really liked the story you adapted — the tale of the "Tool Princess" based on Snow White. She asked curiously who the main character was meant to be.]
[You looked at the blushing rich girl and answered without hesitation: it was Tenten herself. She was delighted. You felt your relationship with her shift in that moment.]
[Ding! Tenten now considers you a friend.]
Sora let out a long breath — he really pulled it off.
He'd been worried whether the story, which he'd rushed to adapt, would even appeal to Tenten.
Turns out… the artistic standards of the ninja world weren't that high. And when the storyteller was a handsome boy writing just for her, Tenten had no real resistance.
[Tenten decides to support your dream — though she can only offer you food, paper, and writing tools. She can't give you money, since her parents wouldn't approve of her doing this.]
[Knowing your situation is still unstable, you think carefully — and decide to adapt another literary work.]
[Using the style of The House of Toyotomi, you begin writing The House of Uchiha. Just the opening chapter — the Tale of Uchiha Madara — stirs up all of Konoha.]
[The Third Hokage himself visits Tenten's home to meet you. No longer thin and ragged, you're now sharp-browed, bright-eyed, dressed in snow-white robes. He invites you to join the Hokage's office.]
[You glance at Tenten — overjoyed for you, but clearly a little flustered — and make a major life decision.]
Even without a system prompt, Sora knew the crucial moment had come.
He immediately used his third guidance to shape the rest of the simulation.
Soon, the simulation continued.
[You politely decline the Third Hokage's job offer, but agree to write biographies for several past Hokage. He's pleased and appoints you as an honorary instructor at the Ninja Academy — ensuring your livelihood.]
[With Konoha's support, your books become wildly popular across the Land of Fire. Even the Daimyō seeks your autograph. Young students everywhere are required to study your Tales of the Hokage series to cultivate patriotism.]
[Now famous and successful, you could've moved out of Tenten's home — but never brought it up. Instead, you develop a new hobby: designing ninja tools for Tenten.]
[Year 65 of the Konoha calendar: you successfully create the Fragmentation Kunai. Year 66: you invent a sniper weapon capable of killing at 1,000 meters. Year 67: you invent the Gear Tool: "Heartless Cannon." Year 68: you create the Ultimate Cloudburst Scroll — a massive success in the Fourth Great Ninja War.]
[After the war ends, you're hailed as the "Father of Modern Ninja Tools" and awarded the Land of Fire's First-Class Honor Medal. Still, you refuse to move out of Tenten's house.]
[Konoha Year 70: Finally fed up, a drunken Tenten tries to kick you out — but you tell her you still need her help to finish a special ninja tool that requires two people to complete. Tenten gladly agrees.]