Chapter 147: Makoto-kun, Does it Still Hurt? I'll Rub it for You
Ino and Sakura stared at Akiyama Makoto in shock. What was going on?
Weren't they supposed to be grilling the scum man right now? Why had it turned into him not believing their feelings?
"This is a little confusing. Let me sort it out!" Ino pressed her fingers to her forehead. Sakura also frowned in thought.
Only Hinata, her face flushed red, swaying as if drunk but quietly watching the three of them, seemed to be the one who understood the most.
"It's because Ino and Sakura can't bear to lose Makoto-kun. If he only liked Tenten, we'd be sad."
Ino and Sakura shot a fierce glare at Hinata, but seeing her drunken state, they couldn't help but laugh helplessly. They couldn't really get angry at her.
But now the situation had become delicate. Should they continue to be angry at him? That would probably mean having a falling out with him for good. The two best friends looked at each other and saw the reluctance in the other's eyes.
"How about this," Makoto said, seizing the opportunity. "Ino, your Yamanaka clan can read minds, right? You can use that to check if I truly like you."
"After I've proven it, it'll be your turn."
Ino blinked. Was this really about proving they liked each other now?
"Yeah, Ino, we can do that!" Sakura said excitedly, clearly very interested in the topic of how much he liked her.
"But... it's not really right to use mind-reading on people you're close to. And I'm not very skilled at this jutsu—"
"It's alright. I'll cooperate with you."
Ino looked at Sakura's eager gaze, and in her heart, she was actually very curious about this question herself.
She sighed. "I'll use the Mind Reading Jutsu. You can't resist in any way."
"Okay."
Makoto relaxed, closed his eyes, and a confident smile appeared on his lips. The Yamanaka clan's secret techniques were certainly powerful, but for him, who had an Advanced Yin Release talent, a Genjutsu stat of 10, and was also proficient in the Mind-Mirror Image, Ino's little jutsu was nothing.
He quickly hid most of his memories that didn't fit his current persona in his Illusion-Breaking Seal, leaving behind only a version of himself that purely liked the four girls in front of him. To ensure his emotions were sincere enough, he even drew upon the passion and pure mindset from his simulations when he had had children with them.
Ninja Art: Mind Reading Jutsu!
Ino placed her hand with its special seal on his forehead, and his memories flowed into her mind.
There were not only memories of Tenten, but also memories related to her and Sakura.
It turned out that from the first time she had come to his house, he had been stunned by her cute appearance, and had subsequently accumulated his feelings for her by sending flowers.
When he was attacked by Yamanaka Fū and then rescued by Kurenai, his first thought was that he couldn't let it ruin his relationship with the Yamanaka clan, so he had endured the pain and not gone to the hospital.
In private, he had even woken up many times from the pain of his past, and it was the bouquets she had chosen for him that had warmed his heart.
Seeing this, Ino's defenses slowly melted. No wonder he likes me so much. But then what about Sakura?
When it came to Sakura, Ino was a hundred times unconvinced. She knew he liked Tenten the most and had the deepest history with her, so even now, she had never thought of directly stealing him away from her, but instead planned to slowly accumulate memories that belonged to just the two of them.
But Sakura had come after her and had had the least contact with him. Why would he like her?
Then, Ino boldly read that part of the memory as well and quickly understood.
It turned out that his parents were commoners, and Sakura's parents were also commoners. Sakura's parents had once warmly hosted him, and the cheerful family atmosphere had fascinated him, which was why he had come to like Sakura's ordinary and strong nature.
Seeing this, Ino couldn't help but feel a little resentful towards her father. Hadn't her own father targeted him at the beginning? Although his attitude had changed now, if he had been warm and welcoming to him from the start, maybe he would already be his son-in-law by now.
That damn old man, sabotaging his own daughter!
The-innocently-implicated Inoichi would never understand why his precious daughter would give him the cold shoulder for the next half a month.
Seeing this, Ino felt much better. At least in terms of personal charm, Sakura was indeed inferior to her. The impression she had made on him was even better than Tenten's. This made her a little smug.
"Ino, what did you see? Let me see too!"
"You can't have it all to yourself!"
"Wait, don't rush me! It's almost over!"
Ino endured the throbbing in her forehead and prepared to find out what had happened between him and Hinata.
He had nothing to hide in this part. He just needed to remove the parts about revitalizing the Senju clan and pretending to have a relationship with Tsunade.
Then, Ino understood why Hinata was so devoted to him. It was because he, Hinata, and Hanabi were facing such a difficult trial in life. They had formed a solid alliance. Even if he failed in his confession today, Hinata would still be his most loyal friend... Wait, why is Hinata's danger level even higher than Sakura's?
Ino slowly withdrew her spiritual power and then turned to look at Hinata. The "Yamato Nadeshiko" personality of the Hyūga clan's young lady was beginning to show, and then there was that terrifying size that far surpassed the three of them, plus the matter of fate...
"Ino, I want to see too!" Sakura was still saying cluelessly.
Ino could only pull her hand to sit on the edge of the bed, pressed her forehead against hers, and used another ninjutsu.
Ninja Art: Mind Transfer Jutsu!
In short, this jutsu was a telepathic conversation. The current Ino could only do it forehead-to-forehead, and for thirty seconds at most. She quickly transferred the emotional experience he had related to Sakura, and then briefly told her about Hinata's "danger."
When the thirty seconds were up, Ino's face was pale, and she swayed, about to fall.
But he caught her. Pure Yang chakra poured into her body, and at the same time, a trace of pure Yin chakra also merged into her spirit.
Ino immediately felt her body relax, and her spirit became lazy. She subconsciously grabbed his lapel, as if she were about to kiss him the next second.
[Ding! Confirmed intimate relationship with the ninja Yamanaka Ino. Simulation Attempts +5.]
Ino leveled up too!
It seemed that as the person who had read his mind, she was unable to refuse his ardent feelings. Yamanaka Fū was his lucky star. Although he had caused him trouble time and again in the simulations, in reality, he had sent his own clan's young lady right into his arms.
He reached out and twirled a strand of Ino's hair. The gentle gesture made Sakura's eyes turn red with envy.
She had just finished experiencing his feelings for her, and now she was seeing him cuddling with Ino. How could she stand this? As for what Ino had told her about Hinata being more "dangerous"—she couldn't care about that right now!
She forcefully squeezed into his embrace on the other side. At this time, Ino also opened her eyes due to the crowding.
"What are you looking at? Did I come at a bad time?" Sakura said in an aggrieved tone.
He let out a puff of laughter. "You've come at just the right time."
Ino pouted, wanting to say something, but the comfortable chakra from him left her with no energy. Having just forcefully used two high-difficulty ninjutsu, her spiritual energy was indeed depleted.
She simply said softly, "Be content, Forehead. Next time, I'll definitely have him all to myself."
"I won't give you the chance!"
Sakura glared at Ino. Seeing that she had actually fallen asleep, she also closed her eyes and enjoyed his embrace.
And at this time, the system's prompt also sounded in his ear.
[Ding! Confirmed intimate relationship with the ninja Haruno Sakura. Simulation Attempts +5.]
His eyes lit up slightly. As expected, this pair of rivals had to be pursued together. With this, his mission for today was basically complete.
And Hinata... he looked at her, and she was also looking at him.
Unfortunately, there was really no more room in his embrace. He could only shoot her an apologetic look.
Hinata quickly shook her head, indicating she was fine.
There was one thing she hadn't understood before: how on earth had he softened her father's harder-than-rock personality? Now she seemed to understand. The man they liked had a silver tongue capable of throwing anyone into confusion.
Then came the question: was a man with a girl on each arm still trustworthy?
Hinata gave her answer with her actions.
She placed her hand on his stomach. The skin there was very tender; it was right where he had been injured.
"Does it still hurt here, Makoto-kun? I'll rub it for you."
As she began to gently move her hand, a prompt also sounded in his ear.
[Ding! Confirmed intimate relationship with the ninja Hyūga Hinata. Simulation Attempts +5.]