Ryun lightly tapped his temple. Why were there so many complications in this simulation?
Was it because he had exposed his strength, was no longer classified as an ordinary person, and had naturally been drawn into the struggles of shinobi?
As for Ryun killing Baki, being a contributor yet being punished instead, Ryun was not particularly surprised by this.
This was commonplace even in Konoha.
Furthermore, now that the Third Hokage was dead, while Danzo could not yet dictate everything single-handedly, there was almost no one who could stop him from doing whatever he wanted.
Ryun even vaguely suspected whether Danzo was acting against him because of Ryun's connection to the Third Hokage?
The following simulation proved Ryun's speculation.
[Shimura Danzo charged you with espionage, citing you as an accomplice of Orochimaru and claiming you wanted to continue inciting war between Sunagakure and Konoha. No one was allowed to plead for you.]
[Simultaneously, all the books you wrote were confiscated and banned. An order was also issued, stating that the deeds of the Hokage could only be recorded by the Hokage's office.]
Seeing this, Ryun laughed. He was genuinely a bit angry now.
It seemed Danzo regarded Ryun as a supporter of Sarutobi Hiruzen and wanted to take this opportunity to eliminate Ryun, an unsettled piece that could potentially hinder his path to becoming Hokage.
Having reached this point, Ryun knew his outcome was almost inevitable.
In this simulation, Ryun and Tenten and the others remained just friends.
As for Uzuki Yūgao, although she had accepted Ryun's confession, she couldn't even avenge Gekkō Hayate. Ryun didn't expect her to do anything for him either.
Forget it. It was just one simulation attempt anyway.
Although no talent was gained, Ryun now understood one thing. Before he possessed sufficient strength, even being in Konoha would not be safe.
Ryun began to wait for the simulation to end.
[Konoha began large-scale reconstruction. Jiraiya took Uzumaki Naruto to search for Tsunade. Your matter gradually faded from people's memories, as you were just a civilian after all.]
[One week before Tsunade's return to Konoha, you and the Suna captives were escorted by an ANBU squad towards the Land of Wind, via the direction of the Land of Rivers.]
[On the night before the handover, you, held in solitary confinement, were rescued. You recognized the rescuer as Uzuki Yūgao.]
[You asked her in shock why she did this. Crushing the mask in her hand, Uzuki Yūgao replied to you, "I promised you I would be your girlfriend."]
The real Ryun was also staring at all this in astonishment, as if he could feel Uzuki Yūgao revealing a perfect smile before him, uttering these heart-stirring words.
But was this realistic... Did Uzuki Yūgao betray Konoha for him?
This doubt in Ryun's heart could not be answered, as the simulation always hurriedly glossed over things with cold text.
He decided if this simulation succeeded, he would definitely ask her for the answer to this question in person.
Then Ryun steadied his mind. Since Uzuki Yūgao had made such a great sacrifice, he definitely had to find a way for both of them to survive.
But how incredibly difficult that was!
[The fact that Uzuki Yūgao defected with you was discovered by Konoha ANBU ninja that very night. You were jointly pursued by both Konoha and Sunagakure. With your strength, survival was almost impossible.]
Ryun decisively chose to exchange one simulation attempt for one guidance attempt. It was his turn to operate now.
Just as the simulation said, even though Konoha and Sunagakure had just inflicted heavy losses on each other, that was still not something Ryun and Uzuki Yūgao, two Tokubetsu Jōnin, could oppose.
No matter where they fled, only death awaited them.
Then, thinking conversely, what if they did not flee?
They certainly could not stay in Konoha. That old fellow Danzo would live for many more years, and even Tsunade could not suppress him.
However, on Sunagakure's side, the situation was far less dangerous.
It was true he killed Baki. But so what? In war, where were there no deaths?
The reason Sunagakure specifically demanded him was most likely to use his life to stabilize military morale.
And the person who wanted him, Ryun could guess, was Suna's Kazekage advisor Chiyo and her brother Ebizō!
Now the Fourth Kazekage was dead, and Baki, comparable to a regent minister or the crown prince's tutor, was dead. Thus, power in Sunagakure now fell into the hands of Chiyo and Ebizō.
Coincidentally, Ryun possessed the information Chiyo most desired.
Ryun quickly entered the guidance, and the simulation proceeded again.
[You stopped Uzuki Yūgao, who wanted to take you to flee to the Land of Rain, and told her your plan. Uzuki Yūgao agreed to your plan and expressed her willingness to face death together with you.]
Ryun's breathing grew slightly hurried, because he was also gambling, not knowing if they would survive later.
[Under your deliberate guidance, you were captured by Sunagakure ninja. The Suna ninja originally intended to hand you back to Konoha, but you told the squad leader that you knew information about Akasuna no Sasori.]
[The name Akasuna no Sasori shocked everyone. The Suna ninja ultimately decided to hide you and secretly hand you over to Chiyo for handling.]
[Several days later, you met Chiyo and Ebizō as you wished. You straightforwardly stated your demand: you wanted to exchange information about Akasuna no Sasori for your and Uzuki Yūgao's lives. Otherwise, you would die along with the sealing jutsu in your head.]
[Chiyo examined your body and found you had indeed cast a sealing jutsu on yourself. Chiyo could only agree to your demand, but she also required that from then on you could not leave Sunagakure. You readily agreed.]
[Afterwards, you told Chiyo the intelligence about Akasuna no Sasori. Then you were placed under house arrest by Chiyo. After being confined, you did not give up on yourself. Instead, you drew the ninja tool design blueprints originally meant for Tenten. Ebizō was astonished by your talent.]
[Half a year later, news of Chiyo's death in battle reached Sunagakure. Ebizō became Sunagakure's highest leader. Sunagakure's strength also fell into an unprecedented state of weakness.]
[He decided to release you and have you design ninja tools for Sunagakure ninja and puppets. Drawing inspiration from Boruto's era, you designed a basic version of Scientific Ninja Tool Scrolls, capable of sealing ninjutsu into scrolls and then releasing them.]
[Combined with your additions to puppets, like fragmentation kunai, assassination tools, high-power cannons, and so on, Suna's combat strength did not decrease but instead rose compared to the time of the Chūnin Exams.]
[Because of these achievements, you officially became a member of Sunagakure, your status second only to Ebizō.]
[Konoha Year 67, Gaara succeeded as the Fifth Kazekage. Ebizō retired. You became Sunagakure's sole advisory elder, your authority second only to the Fifth Kazekage.]
[In the following years, while helping the Fifth Kazekage handle political affairs and accumulating administrative experience, you also amassed a vast amount of ninjutsu knowledge. Your personal strength also reached the level of a Jōnin.]
[You attempted more research and development in puppet ninjutsu. But regrettably, your personal ability was limited. You could not single-handedly advance Sunagakure's development.]
[Konoha Year 72, Uzuki Yūgao, who had been in a long-term relationship with you, gave birth to a son for you. You named him Nojuro Raku.]