Chapter 16: Why is Ino Here?
As was his custom, he started by using one guidance opportunity.
After Akiyama Makoto input his initial settings, the simulation resumed.
[Konoha 63: You achieve some success in your writing career. The Biography of Uchiha Madara is successfully published, bringing you a handsome income.]
[The ninja tools you designed also attract the attention of Tenten's family. You and Tenten become good friends, but you have no intention of taking it further. Your relationship stops at a business partnership for ninja tools.]
[In your spare time, you do not forget to train your body and refine your chakra. You know that only through constant tempering can you reach greater heights.]
Looking at the simulation prompt, Makoto nodded slightly. This was his strategy for this run. He couldn't abandon the main profession that had become second nature to him; having that status and strength would make everything else more convenient. All that remained was to make contact with Uzuki Yūgao.
[Unfortunately, you are constantly troubled by a mysterious illness. Uzuki Yūgao has to treat you once every three days.]
[Just as you are expecting Yūgao to report your condition, giving you a reason to approach her, Yamanaka Ino shows up at your door with her grandmother, wanting to tell you stories about the Uchiha clan.]
Wait... who?
Akiyama Makoto was stunned. Why had Ino shown up? Was it a coincidence, or was it inevitable?
For a moment, Makoto hesitated on whether he should use a guidance, because the protagonist of this simulation was supposed to be Uzuki Yūgao. Or was it possible that, even though this was Yūgao's simulation, he could actually interact with Ino? Makoto really wanted to try. Theoretically, it shouldn't be possible, as he didn't have Ino's pheromones.
But this gave him a new idea. Could he pursue Tenten at the same time as Yūgao? After all, the system already had Tenten's information. If he had children with both Tenten and Yūgao at the same time, would he be able to inherit a double portion of bloodline talent?
The thought made Makoto incredibly excited. But in the end, he decided not to try it right now, because simulation attempts were still quite precious to him. I'll wait. This simulation is primarily about acquiring Yūgao's medical ninjutsu talent. I can consider the rest later.
As for Yamanaka Ino... since the system mentioned her, he would probably meet her later. To get her pheromones, it was even more imperative that he awaken a talent for medical ninjutsu. That would give him the perfect excuse.
Makoto chose to wait and see. The simulation then revealed Ino's subsequent actions.
[Yamanaka Ino becomes a regular visitor. It turns out she is very interested in the story of the Uchiha clan. She occasionally chats with you, and you become friends.]
[Later, Ino discovers you have chakra. You no longer hide this fact, but you tell her that you know nothing about chakra control.]
[As a matter of course, Yamanaka Ino teaches you chakra control methods, but does not teach you any ninjutsu.]
[Having learned enough about the Uchiha clan, Yamanaka Ino's visits gradually become less frequent.]
Seeing this, Makoto frowned slightly, sensing something strange. It seemed Ino had come with a purpose, but why would she do this? He had never even met her before... Ah, was this the Hokage's doing?
Ino was a Yamanaka. The Yamanaka clan was a direct subordinate of the Hokage's faction. Aside from a direct order from the Hokage, the three families of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio rarely got involved in Konoha's affairs.
It seemed that after Yūgao reported his feigned illness, the Hokage had provided a solution, but it wasn't for Yūgao to handle it herself.
This made Makoto's brow furrow deeply. A bad premonition surfaced.
[After this, you try to feign an attack of your illness, but no one comes to treat your injuries anymore. You can only slowly heal on your own.]
[You know that the Hokage's surveillance on you has ended. You have now gained true freedom.]
Makoto immediately chose to use a guidance, because the situation had developed beyond his expectations. It was thoughtful of the Hokage to help him solve his problem, but by reassigning Yūgao, he had completely lost his chance to make contact with her. She was a member of the Hokage's Anbu, after all...
Makoto pondered this at the guidance input screen. If he made another wrong decision, this simulation would likely fail completely.
It seemed... he had no choice but to bring out the heavy hitters.
Soon, the simulation began anew.
[Konoha 63: You decide to directly meet with the Hokage and bring up the matter of Uzuki Yūgao.]
[Sarutobi Hiruzen agrees to meet with you. When you tell him that a goddess has been healing you in your dreams and that you want to see her again, the Hokage chokes on his pipe and coughs until tears stream down his face.]
[Hiruzen initially wants to refuse. He doesn't want to expose Yūgao's identity, nor does he want to disturb her life.]
[But you present him with an offer he can't refuse: the Hokage Chronicles series. His eyes light up, especially when he sees the draft you've written for the Biography of Sarutobi Hiruzen.]
A faint smile curved Makoto's lips.
Compared to the first two Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen was a figure of mixed praise and criticism. The fundamental reason was his inability to suppress the conflicts within the village through personal strength, which led him to rely on Shimura Danzō while also allowing the various clans in his own faction to grow powerful. This directly caused the escalation of conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha, the high degree of autonomy of the Hyūga clan, and subsequently, a series of powerful Konoha ninja becoming disaffected with the village.
Of course, to blame all of this on Hiruzen was to be too harsh on him. At the time, Konoha had no better options. Who was to blame for Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama not leaving behind a group of powerful heirs? Hiruzen had already done everything he could, but the foundation of Konoha was built by the God of Shinobi. It was perfectly normal that Hiruzen couldn't maintain it.
For the chapters describing these events, Makoto had given them a grand title: The Limitations of History.
As for his final evaluation of Hiruzen, Makoto had summarized it in a single sentence.
"He was the custodian of Konoha's old era, and the founder of its golden age."
Makoto could even imagine the scene of Hiruzen reading this book with tears in his eyes. By writing this, Makoto felt he was repaying the kindness Hiruzen had shown him.
[Sarutobi Hiruzen praises your book and says that matters of the youth should be resolved by the youth themselves.]
[He has you sign a confidentiality agreement, forbidding you from leaking Uzuki Yūgao's identity, and then requests that Yūgao meet with you one time.]
[Uzuki Yūgao is briefed on the simple version of events. Believing you wish to express your gratitude for her help, she readily goes to the appointed location.]