Shikamaru then reluctantly told Ino about the "cushy job".
"In short, we have to find a way to become friends with him, teach him chakra control techniques, and not let him realize it's the Hokage's order."
Ino's eyes immediately lit up.
She wasn't really interested in the handsome guy Shikamaru mentioned.
Even if Nojuro Ryun was handsome, there were different types of handsome.
A handsome guy without strength was, at best, like a movie protagonist, good for a glance and that's enough.
Moreover, Ino grew up in Konoha, and she didn't believe there were any hidden gems left here.
What she was really interested in was the book Nojuro Ryun was writing, or rather, the materials Ryun was collecting.
The Uchiha clan had been wiped out, and everything about them was a subject even her parents avoided discussing deeply.
This made Ino feel that her lack of knowledge about Sasuke was an obstacle to becoming friends with him.
Now, an opportunity to change this seemed to have arrived.
"Hmph, this job is mine now. You actually dared to hide it from me secretly. You two won't get a single ryō of the mission reward!"
Shikamaru and Choji hung their heads and walked away dejectedly.
After they turned the street corner, the two immediately covered their mouths and laughed happily, then put their arms around each other's shoulders, ready to find a place to celebrate for a while.
Only Ino remained, hiding dozens of meters away from Ryun's house, secretly observing everything about his home.
She wasn't in a hurry to meet Ryun now, as Ryun wasn't going to run away anyway.
Since it was a task arranged by the Hokage-sama, she had to find a way to complete it perfectly.
The scene shifts to Ryun's side. His "Story Tea Hall" was beginning to take shape.
Of course, there was no signboard yet, as he didn't have a lot of money to spend right now.
However, Ryun believed that once he finished writing "The Biography of Uchiha Madara" this month, he would receive a considerable income.
While busy building the Story Tea Hall, Ryun also didn't forget to review the gains from the last simulation and plan his next strategy.
The current Ryun had basically inherited and understood over a decade's worth of accumulated chakra cultivation and control experience from his simulated self.
He also remembered practical methods for things like the Tenten family's weapon manipulation techniques, space-time scroll sealing techniques, and many low-difficulty ninjutsu.
Although using them would involve somewhat clumsy hand seals, performing them successfully shouldn't be a problem.
In other words, Ryun now possessed strength surpassing that of a Genin.
After some more time, with the improvement of his physical fitness, reaching Chuunin-level strength before Konoha year 64 shouldn't be a problem.
This finally gave Ryun a slight sense of security.
At least for now, Konoha had no imminent village destruction crisis. He could fully strive to reach Jōnin-level strength before next year's Chuunin Exams for the Konoha 12.
By then, even facing Sunagakure's Konoha Crushing Plan, he could ensure his own safety.
"Grandma, thank you for your story."
Looking at the prompt for the plus one simulation count, Ryun showed a sincere smile.
"How about staying for dinner tonight? I'm planning to make grilled fish."
Hearing Ryun's words and seeing his gesture of taking out milk candies, the old lady immediately understood Ryun was hinting at the end of the visit.
She declined with a chuckle, then took her granddaughter's hand, received the candy, and left chatting and laughing with the other elders.
Ryun provided them with a free place to drink tea and rest, and was willing to listen to their Stories, so these elders also didn't want to trouble Ryun.
After everyone left, Ryun had a hearty meal, returned to his bedroom, sat cross-legged, and pretended to refine chakra.
In reality, he was considering whether to simulate Uzuki Yūgao.
After two days of preparation, he had obtained another simulation count, and simulation counts could be exchanged for guidance counts.
For the current Ryun, simulating Tenten again offered little improvement.
Although offspring could achieve breakthroughs based on parental talent, Ryun felt the probability was low and it was limited by Tenten's talent ceiling.
He could only simulate Tenten again in the future after he had improved Tenten's talent ceiling.
The remaining simulation targets were now only Uzuki Yūgao.
Of course, there were many other talented female ninjas in Konoha at this time.
Leaving aside those not mentioned by name in the plot, the named ones included the Hyūga sisters Hinata and Hanabi, the best friends Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino, and the older generation figures Yūhi Kurenai and Mitarashi Anko.
But it wouldn't be easy for Ryun to make contact with them, let alone have a chakra exchange.
Even the simulation opportunity for Uzuki Yūgao was obtained by chance. Ryun didn't think he would have such good luck again later.
According to his plan, next year's Chuunin Exams were a good opportunity to get in touch with these people.
Whether it was helping them dispel genjutsu, or learning medical ninjutsu to heal their injuries, both were simple and convenient excuses.
So, in the end, he really had to simulate Uzuki Yūgao... because Uzuki Yūgao knows medical ninjutsu.
Having made up his mind, Ryun thought about how to have offspring with Uzuki Yūgao in the simulation.
The first unavoidable hurdle was Gekkō Hayate.
Although Gekkō Hayate would die next year, sometimes the dead carry more weight than the living. Ryun needed to seriously consider whether to help Gekkō Hayate survive.
The second was how to reasonably approach Uzuki Yūgao. The current Uzuki Yūgao was a member of the Hokage's direct Anbu, tasked with monitoring Ryun.
It was already difficult for Ryun to make contact with Yūgao, and now there was the added restriction of secrecy.
Finally, and most crucially, if Ryun could never become lovers with Uzuki Yūgao, could he skip that stage and still leave offspring?
After all... Miss Yūgao, you wouldn't want to helplessly watch Gekkō Hayate's killer, Baki, leave Konoha while you can do nothing, would you?
This matter was somewhat unethical, but it was only a simulation after all.
Of course, if Ryun became powerful enough, there were even more unethical methods.
But that level was far from necessary at the moment.
After finishing all the contingency plans in his mind, Ryun began the third simulation.
The familiar characters appeared again, only this time the simulation target had changed.
[Simulation Start]
[Remaining Simulation Count: 1]
[Simulation Target: Uzuki Yūgao]
[Initial Relationship: A healer's compassion. She is concerned about your physical condition.]
[Ding, the simulation is about to begin. You currently have three free opportunities to guide the simulation's direction.]
[Would you like to guide the simulation direction now?]
Seeing the initial relationship between the two, Ryun was slightly taken aback.
As a member of the assassination corps, Uzuki Yūgao's impression of him was actually concern?
Right, this fits Uzuki Yūgao's personality.
Both strong and gentle. In comparison, the Anbu position truly didn't suit her.
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