Chapter 182: Simulating Tenten, Goal: Collect All Six Paths Ninja Tools!
Clang, clang, bang!
In Akiyama Makoto's spacious courtyard, Tenten was currently sparring with Ino and Sakura.
It was two against one. Tenten's expression was still relatively relaxed, but she was already feeling the immense pressure. She had seen with her own eyes how quickly Ino and Sakura had grown during this period. Right now, they were only competing in taijutsu. She knew that both of them had also learned some ninjutsu and genjutsu.
In other words, if they were to go all out, she would definitely not be their match in a two-on-one fight. Even one-on-one, she would feel the pressure.
"Alright, let's stop here."
He clapped his hands. If they continued, feelings might get hurt. Tenten's expression was clearly off.
Ino noticed this as well and took the initiative to speak. "You're amazing, Tenten! And you're only one year older than us."
"That's right! We're different now. Our talent is very, very good," Sakura chimed in.
Her words were a bit boastful, but she wasn't lying. She had a good reference point in Team 7: Sasuke. At school, he had been someone she could only look up to. She couldn't understand how someone the same age could be so strong. But now, she felt she was catching up. From chakra control to physical strength, and even her ninjutsu level, she felt she was no weaker than the current Sasuke.
All of this was thanks to the True Spirit Seal and the talent he had given her.
Although, deep down, she wanted to monopolize this special treatment, since even Ino had a True Spirit Seal, she felt he should share it with the others more quickly. That way, she would be the first one he had favored. As for Ino, she was just the unremarkable second.
"Once you have the same talent, Tenten, you'll definitely surpass us again."
Under their comfort, Tenten breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at him shyly. She had been to his house for a hot spring bath with Ino and Sakura more than once and had, of course, seen the True Spirit Seals on their stomachs. The thought that she would also have such a seal made her body feel weak.
But more than that, she was filled with anticipation. She desperately wanted more power so she could better protect him. (Ino had, of course, not told anyone about the incident where he had made the Yamanaka clan submit. The Yamanaka clan themselves never mentioned it. After all, the Ino-Shika-Chō trio had a habit of making their fortunes quietly. If more people started paying attention to him, their status as "investors" would be less secure.)
Seeing her expectant gaze, he smiled. "Tenten, are you ready?"
She immediately jumped up in excitement, and in front of the other girls, wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. "I can't wait!"
"Ah! You're jumping the gun!"
"Tenten, we didn't say you could do that!"
"That's right, that's right! Get down, let's continue our fight!"
Tenten stuck her tongue out at them and pulled him towards the living room.
Ino and Sakura exchanged a look. They didn't chase after them this time, but instead, both drew their kunai. With the True Spirit Seal, they could eat as much as they wanted, and the excess would be converted into life force. This gave them endless energy, which was perfect for a full day of training.
Tenten pulled him down to sit, poured him a cup of tea, and then said, her eyes shining, "Mako, when do we start?"
"About that... how about tomorrow?"
"Before that, there's something I want to talk to you about."
He hadn't simulated with her yet, so he naturally couldn't proceed immediately. And he also had a question to ask her, which was about her future development path.
As everyone knew, Tenten was obsessed with ninja tools, treating it as both a hobby and a career. This meant that her future development would hit a huge bottleneck. After all, the future wars would be battles between gods, and the role of ninja tools would be quite limited. Even if someone used something similar, it would be a variation of Yin-Yang Release or a tool left behind by the Sage of Six Paths.
If she remained obsessed with those conventional tools, she was destined to never make it to the final battlefield.
Because of this, he wanted to talk to her about her future. He wanted to ask her if she was willing to introduce other channels for improving her strength, or if she would remain fixated on her tools.
He then voiced his concerns.
Tenten was moved, and for the first time, she began to seriously consider this question.
The reason she used ninja tools was not just because of her family's arms business, but also because it was her only talent. Now that he could seemingly change that talent, allowing her to fight in other ways, should she change herself?
She hesitated for a long time. Even after Ino, Sakura, and Hinata had finished their bath and left, she was still pondering.
"Want to go to the hot spring and think about it slowly?"
He whispered in her ear.
"Okay!" she replied subconsciously.
Only after she spoke did she realize what she had said. She quickly shook her head, wanting to refuse, but he had already picked her up and was walking towards the bathhouse.
By the time she came to her senses, she was already wearing a yukata and sitting beside him, really bathing with him. Although he wasn't doing anything strange, she still felt her mind go blank. They were only one step away from crossing the line.
At this thought, she subconsciously looked down at him, only to be lightly poked in both eyes by his fingers.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
"If you keep teasing me like this, I'm going to have to attack you!"
"Bring it on! Who's afraid of who!"
She used her hands as kunai and jabbed at him. He parried her attacks, and as they fought, she naturally ended up sitting on his lap.
Feeling her supple skin and firm body, he couldn't help but wrap his arms around her waist, holding her in his embrace.
He liked her. A like without any conditions. This woman had brought him hope, and she was worthy of all his love.
She had wanted to struggle, but she felt his affection, and her body and mind slowly melted. She wrapped her arms around him in return. The two of them just nestled together in the warm water, reminiscing about their past.
A long while later, she spoke.
"Makoto-kun, I still want to use ninja tools. It might mean my strength can't keep up with you all, but... this is my nindō, my ninja way!"
Her ninja way... He savored her firm resolve and nodded. "I'll help you."
"Mm!"
After sending her off, he began to think seriously about how to improve her strength. He had actually considered having her switch to elemental jutsu, but since she had shown him her ninja way, he had to respect her ideals.
Now he had to consider how to increase the power of her tools.
First was their projectile power. Using Chakra Enhanced Strength to throw them was an obvious and immediate method.
Second, the tools themselves could have certain explosive and sharp properties. The former could be seen in the Fragmentation Kunai. For the latter, he could introduce chakra nature transformations, strengthening the tools with Wind and Lightning Release.
The awkward thing was, what he lacked right now were the talents for Wind and Lightning. He could get Lightning from Hinata, and Wind from Temari during the Chūnin Exams.
So, besides those two, there were only two other methods he could consider.
One was the Flying Thunder God Technique. The other was the Six Paths Ninja Tools.
He planned to pass on the Flying Thunder God to her. After all, she was the one who had given him the Space-Time Ninjutsu talent; it was only right to give it back to her. And with this jutsu, her use of ninja tools would become much more flexible. In the future, she could even add things like chakra cannons to her collection and use them as "ninja tools."
Who said a cannon couldn't be a ninja tool? He was going to forge her into a master of all weapons.
As for the Six Paths Ninja Tools, he naturally had to collect all of them for his beloved, tool-obsessed wife. In the original story, she had already obtained four of them. The last one, the Seven-Star Sword, had remained in Darui's hands. This time, he was going to make sure she obtained all of them. At that point, her strength would be at least at the Super-Kage level.
Having thought this through, he began this simulation.
[Simulation starting...]
[Remaining Simulation Attempts: 28]
[Simulation Target: Tenten]
[Initial Relationship: You like each other.]
[The Chūnin Exams are about to begin. On your advice, you and the girls around you begin a group training camp.]
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