Chapter 12: Space-Time Ninjutsu Talent
The simulation continued, progressing according to the path Akiyama Makoto had set.
[Konoha 72: Your life has become a three-point line of writing, physical training, and researching ninjutsu. Even your daily marital life with Tenten has dwindled.]
[Through your deliberate actions, Tenten has not become pregnant. However, you are both still young, and you claim not to be in a hurry.]
[Konoha 74: Life goes on. You still have no heir.]
[Konoha 76... Konoha 78...]
[Konoha 80: In this year, Naruto becomes the Seventh Hokage. Konoha's new generation of ninja will graduate next year, and a new story is about to begin. You still have no heir.]
[Tenten's mental state has visibly deteriorated. She has secretly gone to have her body checked by Tsunade, who confirmed there is nothing wrong with her.]
[Konoha 81: Tenten's mental condition gradually worsens. She can no longer bear it and wants to take you to see Tsunade for a check-up...]
Seeing this prompt, Makoto quickly used his final guidance opportunity.
According to his original logic, he had planned to drag things out until Konoha 85 before considering having children. He initially thought this wouldn't be difficult; after all, the original Tenten was still single at this age. But now it seemed he had underestimated the maternal instincts Tenten would develop after becoming a wife.
After some thought, Makoto decided to let Tenten conceive. It was impossible to hide the fact that he was perfectly healthy from Tsunade, and besides, he couldn't bear to see Tenten continue to waste away. Next time, I'll just tell her I want to wait until I'm 35 to have kids, Makoto thought. He felt Tenten would most likely agree.
With the guidance complete, the simulation continued.
[Konoha 81: At 34 years old, Tenten finally conceives your child. She weeps with joy and cherishes this child immensely.]
[Konoha 82: Your child is born. Overcome with guilt, you give the naming rights to Tenten, and she names your child Akiyama Ayame.]
[Congratulations, the simulation was a success!]
[Calculating Akiyama Ayame's bloodline talent. Please wait a moment.]
Staring at the final prompt, Makoto felt a little dazed. Why was the child named Akiyama Ayame again this time? Did Tenten also happen to really like that name? Or was it that any child he had with Tenten was destined to be a girl named Akiyama Ayame?
The thought made him feel that something wasn't quite right. He mentally asked the system what was going on. But this time, the system gave no response, still busy calculating the simulation results. Makoto hadn't really expected an answer anyway; his system wasn't the type capable of intelligent replies. At most, it would provide a few detailed explanations of its rules.
"Maybe it's just a coincidence..."
Makoto muttered to himself. Soon, the system provided the results.
[Congratulations, the simulation was a success! Akiyama Ayame has inherited and enhanced yours and Tenten's talents. She possesses a minor talent in Space-Time Ninjutsu and has the aptitude of a Jōnin.]
[Her detailed stats are as follows.]
[Ninjutsu: 6, Taijutsu: 7, Genjutsu: 4, Intelligence: 7, Strength: 4, Speed: 7, Stamina: 5, Hand Seals: 5. Special Talent: Intermediate Space-Time Ninjutsu Talent.]
[Store this simulation result and receive the bloodline talent template as a reward?]
Makoto stared blankly at the text, failing to react for a moment. He then completely forgot about the matter of his daughter being named Akiyama Ayame again.
What was he seeing?
His daughter had a talent for Space-Time Ninjutsu!
Not just Tenten's talent for skillfully using space-time scrolls, but a true talent for training in actual Space-Time Ninjutsu!
How could his daughter be so amazing!
At this thought, Makoto wished he could rush into the simulation details and give his newborn daughter a big kiss. Though he had lived two lives, he had never been a father. But in this moment, Makoto seemed to suddenly understand the profound emotions behind phrases like "hoping one's son becomes a dragon" and "hoping one's daughter becomes a phoenix."
Compared to the line item "Space-Time Ninjutsu Talent," the fact that Ayame's base stats were slightly higher than his and Tenten's seemed insignificant.
This was Space-Time Ninjutsu! One of the most broken ninjutsu categories in the entire ninja world. When it first appeared, it was practically invincible, and even in the final war against the Ōtsutsuki, it remained an essential support ability. Without it, even someone as powerful as Six Paths Naruto would be thrown into another dimension to starve to death.
Of course, Makoto knew his daughter's talent was likely far inferior to someone on Namikaze Minato's level, but the important thing was that he now saw a path forward! Tenten originally only possessed a talent for proficiently using space-time scroll sealing jutsu. While this talent was powerful and had high practical and tactical value, it wasn't a direct combat ability.
But when Makoto copied Tenten's talent and then combined with her again, that talent seemed to have evolved and manifested as a dominant trait, just like Mendel's peas. This meant that if he continued to repeat this process, he might be able to nurture this Space-Time Ninjutsu talent to its absolute limit! When that time came, he too could become a "Flash" of Konoha, or even the entire ninja world.
No... that's not right.
Makoto looked at Tenten's talent profile and suddenly realized he had overlooked something. Tenten's own talent also needed to keep up. Otherwise, upgrading this Space-Time Ninjutsu talent further would become difficult.
It seems I need to take things a step further with the real Tenten, too... Makoto wasn't opposed to the idea. If he had to choose one girl in the entire ninja world to be his wife, Tenten would undoubtedly be his first choice. The reason, naturally, was that he was familiar with her—so familiar that it put him at ease. It was just that if he committed to Tenten, would it be somewhat immoral to simulate with other girls...? Ah, whatever. It's just a simulation.
Makoto took a deep breath and chose to replace the simulation result. He didn't need to worry about the manuscript or tool designs from the previous result disappearing; he had already ensured their reappearance in the new simulation through its initial settings.
[Ding! Issuing the bloodline talent... Estimated duration: ten minutes.]
The familiar sensation washed over him again. This time, Makoto immediately sat cross-legged, trying to suppress the numbing tingle. But the feeling was exceptionally strong this time, even giving him the sensation that his body had disappeared and his consciousness was falling into a black hole.
To an outside observer, Makoto, who had just sat up, was now lying down again, his body trembling uncontrollably.
It was late at night, and normally, Makoto could do as he pleased in his own home. But tonight, a pair of eyes was watching his every move from the darkness. When she noticed something was wrong with Makoto's condition, she flickered and slipped in through the window.
A pair of pale, slender fingers gently pressed against Makoto's neck. At the same time, a new prompt appeared before his eyes.
[Continuous contact with the high-aptitude female ninja, Uzuki Yūgao, detected. 59 minutes remaining to complete information collection...]