Chapter 2: The Family Simulator
Tenten naturally noticed Akiyama Makoto's movement, but she assumed it was because her hold wasn't gentle enough.
"Sorry, did I hurt you?"
"Please hang in there, we'll be at Konoha Hospital soon."
Tenten turned her head and gave Makoto a sincere smile, which seemed to glow like moonlight in the dark night.
Looking at Tenten's face, so familiar yet so strange, Makoto was overcome with a mix of emotions. He had a million things he wanted to say to his old friend, but facing a Tenten who was still a stranger, he could only manage to squeeze out a "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Just close your eyes and get some rest. I'll stay with you until morning."
Seeing the shifting emotions on Makoto's face, Tenten thought he was still frightened and promised to see things through to the end. Besides, she had at least a week of vacation coming up, so spending a little extra time with him today was no problem.
As for why she was taking this so seriously, aside from her sense of responsibility and justice... Tenten had to admit that the boy in her arms was rather handsome.
For a girl her age, having a thing for good looks was perfectly normal!
Soon, Tenten arrived at Konoha Hospital with Makoto.
Even when placed on the hospital bed, the unconscious Makoto didn't let go of Tenten's hand. Not having the heart to pry his fingers away, she could only explain the situation to the doctors with an apologetic smile, watching up close as they treated his injuries.
Given Makoto's status and the severity of his wounds, he didn't qualify for a medical ninja to use the Mystical Palm Technique on him. In the end, the doctors simply applied some ointment and fitted him with a neck brace.
When it was all over, Tenten noticed that Makoto had fallen into a deep sleep.
Tenten glanced at the clock; it was already two in the morning. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. She stretched, kicked off her shoes, and decided to rest for a few hours on the visitor's chair in the room.
Not long after, Tenten's breathing became even and steady. At that moment, Akiyama Makoto slowly opened his eyes.
He looked in Tenten's direction as lines of text flickered before his eyes.
[Ding! Contact with a female ninja of superior bloodline has exceeded one hour. Sufficient information has been collected. The Family Simulation System is now bound.]
[This system will help the Host simulate future life paths and guide the Host to have children with female ninjas.]
[Upon the successful birth of an heir, the heir's bloodline talents will be copied and transferred back to the Host.]
[The Host may also gift duplicate bloodline templates—or those with a potential lower than the Host's current level—to the simulated female ninja. However, this requires her active acceptance. The higher the mutual affection, the more effective the bloodline talent will be.]
[Current Simulation Attempts: 1. Number of Simulatable Targets: 1.]
[Condition to gain more simulation attempts: Further deepen your contact with the female ninja Tenten, or maintain contact with a new, exceptional female ninja for over an hour.]
[Begin simulation now?]
Akiyama Makoto chose to begin without the slightest hesitation.
Even if this was just a hallucination, or a genjutsu some ninja was using on him, he couldn't afford to care. Right now, all Makoto wanted was the power to change his fate. Otherwise, the next time something happened, he might just die silently in some forgotten corner, his name unknown to anyone.
[Simulation starting...]
[Remaining Simulation Attempts: 0]
[Simulation Target: Tenten]
[Initial Relationship: She is a fan of your looks.]
Makoto subconsciously touched his face. Tenten was interested in his looks?
In this life, Makoto's face was gaunt, and he had a sickly pale complexion from malnutrition. He had never thought his appearance had anything to do with the word "handsome."
Was this really the style Tenten was into?
Makoto suddenly remembered something. When he was thirteen and looking for work, he had been rejected by all sorts of shopkeepers because he was too skinny and didn't look capable of manual labor. It was only recently that he had managed to get a job as a waiter at that barbecue restaurant. Could it be that the owner had hired him because of his face, too?
Makoto had mixed feelings about this, and his desire to become stronger intensified. While living off his looks was certainly one way to get by, he didn't know the Yin Seal to maintain his youthful appearance forever. Gaining real power was far more reliable.
[Ding! The simulation is about to begin. You have three free opportunities to guide the simulation's direction.]
[To obtain more opportunities, you must exchange simulation attempts.]
[Guide the simulation's direction now?]
Guide the simulation's direction? What's that?
As if sensing Makoto's confusion, the system presented three options.
[1. You are moved to tears by Tenten's kindness. From now on, you will treat her as your savior and use this as a reason to get closer to her.]
[2. Maintain a cold and aloof persona. Adopt the cool style of Uchiha Sasuke to attract Tenten's attention.]
[3. Manually set a different style.]
Now Makoto understood. Simply put, these were methods to win Tenten over. Having played all sorts of games before his transmigration, he quickly grasped how the simulation would progress.
The only question was, what should he do?
Makoto began to recall everything he knew about Tenten, only to come to a frustrating conclusion. The cheerful, lively, and approachable Tenten was actually an incredibly difficult person to pursue. In the Boruto era, she was still single, with her only interest being the research of ninja tools. She even opened her own ninja tool shop, featuring the Sage of Six Paths' Treasured Tools as her main attraction, and designed a hot-springs-exclusive kunai that became a big hit among dignitaries and noblewomen of various countries.
To put it another way: not only did Tenten own an arms dealership in Konoha, but her custom designs were also wildly popular among civilians. She was, without a doubt, a wealthy woman.
How could the current Akiyama Makoto ever hope to win over a girl like that?
After thinking for a long time, Makoto finally touched his face... Well, since it's a way of life, who's to say which is better?
If Tenten liked his style, then shouldn't he just stick with it?
However, the details needed to be carefully set...
After much thought, Makoto entered his chosen persona, and the simulation resumed.
[Ding! You have set your persona to: a dignified but melancholic and frail artistic youth. The simulation will now continue. You have two remaining opportunities to guide the simulation.]
Seeing the text flash before his eyes, Makoto felt his face grow hot. Thankfully, the simulation was a private affair.
[You open your eyes on the hospital bed. Tenten has already woken up before you. You have your first conversation.]
[Tenten listens as you recount what happened. While feeling indignant on your behalf, she is also surprised by your elegant manner of speaking. You explain that although you didn't attend the Ninja Academy, you are a diligent self-learner and have plans to become an author.]
[Tenten encourages you. She then uses the compensation money from Miyoshi Kazuya to pay for your medical bills before leaving quietly, without even leaving a way to contact her. Your carefully designed persona doesn't seem to be very effective.]
Reading this, Makoto's heart sank.