Chapter 17: The Death of Gekkō Hayate
[In front of the Yamanaka Flower Shop in Konoha, you buy every flower they have available and request that Yamanaka Ino, her mother, and her grandmother create a giant, heart-shaped flowerbed for you at the shop's entrance.]
[Ino is very excited by this. Though she pretends to be uninterested in you, her attitude changes dramatically after witnessing your romantic methods. It's just a pity these flowers are not for her.]
Akiyama Makoto hadn't expected this surprising bonus. Had he just managed to probe Ino's personal preferences? Considering that Ino would be coming to his house soon to teach him chakra control, it shouldn't be too difficult to acquire her pheromones in the process. It seemed Ino would be his third simulation target!
[A large crowd gathers around the Yamanaka Flower Shop. Uzuki Yūgao, who arrives on foot in civilian clothes, doesn't immediately see what you are doing. By the time she squeezes through the crowd, it's too late for her to realize something is amiss.]
[When not on duty, Anbu ninja also live in Konoha under their real names. As a well-known beauty in the village, Uzuki Yūgao is immediately recognized. Many people realize you are trying to pursue her and begin to cheer you on.]
[Even more people mock you, a 14-year-old brat, for not knowing your own limits, telling you to come back in a few years when you're older.]
[You completely ignore the chatter from the crowd. You walk forward boldly, take Yūgao's hand, and lead her before the heart of flowers to confess your feelings.]
[Due to the Third Hokage's orders, Uzuki Yūgao cannot turn and leave. After your confession, she rejects you on the grounds that your ages are not suitable.]
Makoto looked at the cold text, yet he could feel how awkward his simulated self must have been at that moment. Thankfully, it was only a simulation, and the one actually doing it was the simulated Makoto. He just needed to guide and observe calmly. Besides, the rejection was part of his plan. If he had succeeded, he would have started to suspect that Yūgao was on another mission from the Third Hokage.
[You act very dejected, but you swear you will not give up. The surrounding crowd disperses. Uzuki Yūgao plucks a single tulip from the heart-shaped flowerbed and says she is willing to be friends with you.]
[Yūgao leaves, leaving you alone to face the massive flower arrangement. Seeing that you are a major customer, Yamanaka Ino expresses her condolences. You, in turn, gift all the flowers to Ino, causing her to blush to the roots of her ears.]
[You realize that Ino truly loves flowers, and loves it even more when people give them to her. Unfortunately, you have no mind to pay attention to Ino. After this, you begin to work tirelessly, putting all your energy into improving your strength when you are not writing.]
Makoto's spirits lifted. He knew the most critical six months were coming up. He was eager to know just how fast his strength could improve now that he had a reason and motivation.
[You possess over ten years of experience in chakra refining and physical training, and you don't need to spend time figuring out how to use ninjutsu. As a result, your basic physical fitness improves rapidly.]
[By the time of the Chūnin Exams, your physical stats have completely surpassed the Chūnin standard, and your overall strength has reached the level of a Special Jōnin.]
Makoto stared at the text in the simulator in astonishment. He could reach the strength of a Special Jōnin already? A Special Jōnin could be understood as a ninja whose abilities in a specific field reached the Jōnin standard, but whose overall qualities were still at the level of an elite Chūnin. Thinking about it carefully, the assessment was reasonable. Makoto's weakness was that he had had too little time to develop. Otherwise, give him another year, and becoming a full Jōnin wouldn't be a problem.
Makoto was quite satisfied with this result. His talent would continue to improve, so at this rate, he was fully capable of striving for Jōnin-level strength before the Konoha Crush plot unfolded.
Most importantly, Karin would be coming for the Chūnin Exams. By obtaining her talent, Makoto believed his physical attributes would be greatly supplemented.
[During these six months, you do not forget about Uzuki Yūgao. You visit her every week as a friend, calling her your older sister.]
[In the process, you meet Gekkō Hayate. Hayate suffers from a severe bloodline disease and is physically weak, but this doesn't stop him from having a terrible attitude towards you.]
[Naturally, you are not afraid of a sickly man. You even challenge him once a month. The result, of course, is defeat after defeat, but the speed of your growth shocks him.]
[The Chūnin Exams arrive. Konoha has already sensed the existence of the Konoha Crush plot. Due to his special Transparent Escape Technique, Gekkō Hayate is assigned the mission to monitor Baki.]
The moment he saw this line of text, Makoto, with quick eyes and nimble hands, chose to use his final guidance. The simulation continued.
[Before Gekkō Hayate carries out his mission, you challenge him again.]
Makoto took a deep breath. The crucial moment had arrived.
In his plan, he did not intend to save Hayate in the simulation; or rather, he didn't have the ability to do so right now. Since he couldn't make Yūgao fall in love with him in just half a year, he would simply use Hayate's death to forge an inseparable bond between himself and Yūgao. After that, he would have plenty of time to soothe her pain. Conveniently, in the simulation, time was the one thing Makoto cared about the least. The later he had an heir, the longer he could act, and the stronger he would become.
As for whether he could win Yūgao's love in this simulation, Makoto didn't actually care that much. It was just a simulation, after all. If he wanted a taste of love, wasn't Tenten still waiting for him?
[Before you begin, in front of both Hayate and Yūgao, you directly point out that something is wrong with the Sand Village.]
[Hayate is very alert and asks how you got this information. You reply that it's just a feeling and that you hope he and Yūgao don't get involved.]
[Hayate is surprised by your concern and his opinion of you changes. He is well aware of the crisis Konoha is facing this time, but as one of the Hokage's favored shinobi, he has no choice but to prioritize completing the mission.]
[You pretend to be very angry and tell Hayate that if he dies, no one will be there to avenge him. For the first time, Hayate doesn't mock you. Instead, he says seriously that if he dies, he doesn't need you to avenge him. You just need to take good care of Yūgao.]
[In this duel, you use your full strength. To your surprise, you fight Hayate to a draw.]
[You can tell that Hayate held back. Hayate, in turn, says that you have grown and that he had underestimated you in the past.]
[That night, Gekkō Hayate is killed by Baki.]