Chapter 237: The Akiyama Clan's Status, Tsunade's Feelings Become Real
Akiyama Makoto sighed. His simulated self was getting closer and closer to that "stubborn" personality. Was this really appropriate?
If it were the real him, he would definitely have such doubts. But the simulated him was clearly more direct, probably because he didn't have to consider as many consequences as his real self.
This was a good thing. Only by having such a style in the simulation could he better explore the path of the future.
So, after such a drastically changed Chūnin Exam, what would happen to Konoha?
[You return to your home, where many people are already waiting for you. Seeing that you are safe and sound, everyone breathes a sigh of relief. You, seeing that everyone is healthy, also reveal a gratified smile.]
[Because the Third Hokage and many other ninja and civilians have died, no one is in the mood to celebrate. However, you hold a meeting tonight and summon many people.]
[Hiashi Hyūga, Yamanaka Inoichi, Kurenai Yūhi, Anko Mitarashi, Uzuki Yūgao, and Might Guy are all on your invitation list. Tenten and the others are also qualified to sit in, but they do not have the right to speak. Everyone you invited has come. They are curious about your plan.]
[You tell them that you have no intention of being Hokage right now. Konoha is in a precarious moment of power transition, and it needs someone like Tsunade to stabilize the morale and get through this period. However, you will no longer pretend to be just a civilian. You will use the Akiyama Clan as your core to display your economic, political, and military influence.]
[Your words calm the uneasy hearts of everyone present. Although they had the idea of recommending you as Hokage, your qualifications are, after all, insufficient, and you are too young. Doing so would be a huge risk.]
[But if you don't do it, and you miss this opportunity, no one has any idea how Konoha should move forward or face the challenges from the outside world. With this great uncertainty about the future, it is difficult for the ninja of Konoha to unite.]
[Inoichi proposes that you can operate under the name of the Akiyama Clan, but you still lack a legitimate political status in Konoha. Therefore, he can, on behalf of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, recommend you as the new Hokage's advisor, to prepare you for a further step in the future.]
[You do not refuse this proposal, because you understand that this is necessary to appease the people. However, you have no real interest in becoming the Hokage's advisor, let alone replacing Danzō's political niche. You only need to increase your strength and expand your influence, and many problems will be solved.]
Makoto looked at his simulated self. He really has a lot of face.
The Hyūga clan was 100% behind him. The Ino-Shika-Chō trio was in an inseparable marriage alliance with him. As for Guy's side, although it was only friendship, as long as he didn't do anything that violated morality, Guy would still support him.
Of course, he knew that the most important people to invite were Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi. It was just a pity that they were still too young and not suitable to participate in this kind of thing. As for Kakashi, he wasn't that familiar with him yet. Even if he knew he was the likely Hokage after Tsunade, he didn't have time to win him over right now. What's more, Kakashi wouldn't become Hokage until after the Great Ninja War, by which time everything would be settled.
[After this private meeting, Konoha continues to clean up the post-war mess and holds a collective funeral for Hiruzen and the other ninja and civilians who died. The funeral is grand, but the process is simple. As for Danzō, he is hastily buried by Koharu and Homura, not even qualified to be mourned by the people of Konoha.]
[After a brief period of peace, the Hokage's Office convenes an all-Jōnin meeting to discuss the issue of the successor. You do not attend, but you are well aware of the details. Koharu and Homura try to make Jiraiya the Hokage, but he refuses.]
[Some ninja propose to consider you, as you are the new "Konoha Flash," but this sparks a heated debate. In the end, it is Jiraiya who says that you yourself have no intention of becoming Hokage for the time being, which silences the controversy. Finally, Jiraiya volunteers to go find Tsunade, and the meeting is concluded.]
[From the results, the development of the situation seems no different from the past. But from the current state of affairs, you, who did not even attend the meeting, have already become half of its main topic. Even Koharu, who desperately tried to exclude you from the agenda, could not do so.]
[Afterward, Jiraiya invites you to go with him to find Tsunade. You can also take this opportunity to accumulate some achievements and mission counts, to make it easier to get a better position from her in the future.]
[It is clear that Jiraiya feels that even if you really have the idea of traveling the ninja world, your roots are in Konoha, and you will sooner or later be integrated into the ninja system. You do not refuse this. What he doesn't know is that while he and Naruto are preparing, your main body has already arrived in Tanzaku Town.]
Seeing this, he couldn't help but sigh. It had actually worked out.
As expected, strength was the most fundamental factor in changing one's status.
Of course, strength alone was not enough. Otherwise, like Madara Uchiha, with no one following him, he could only walk the path of playing with dolls and adopting children.
Fortunately, in areas other than strength, he had also done very well. The fact that he had silently won over so many people was the best proof.
And next... was to find a way to win over Tsunade.
He wondered what method his simulated self would use this time. He had already tried many methods before, but with the "white moonlight" (Dan Katō) in her heart and their age gap, she had always refused to go any further.
This time, could he break the impasse?
[You easily find Tsunade, who is being a "fat sheep" in Tanzaku Town. You also easily join the game and win a large sum of money from her. Due to your outstanding appearance and extraordinary temperament, you attract her attention, but she has no intention of getting to know you on a deeper level.]
[You arrive at the room you are renting long-term in the town. Tsunade discovers that you are next door, but still has no intention of contacting you. You are not in a hurry, but choose to wait patiently. Finally, one night, she is drinking on the roof.]
[You also climb up, wanting to have a drink with her. When she sees you, a young and handsome man, acting so freely but with a hint of shyness, she immediately realizes you are trying to pursue her. She doesn't feel angry, but rather feels it is a testament to her own charm and is very happy.]
[Fueled by the alcohol, the two of you talk about everything. She tells you about her travels in the ninja world, and you talk about your insights on writing. The two of you seem to be from different worlds, but you chat very congenially.]
[After this icebreaker, your relationship becomes closer. You take her out shopping, eating, and drinking every day, and even send her flowers. At first, she just thinks it's interesting, but soon, she doesn't know how to refuse or how to define your relationship.]
[Shizune sees all of this. Not only is she not angry at your actions, but she even actively pushes the two of you together. As the person who knows Tsunade best, she is well aware that although she appears carefree, in reality, her heart is dead, and she has never walked out of the shadows of her past.]
[She doesn't think you and Tsunade can end up together, but even if you can just give her a thread of lingering affection, something to make her live with passion again, then you will have already played an immeasurably huge role.]
His eyes lit up. This time, it seems different!
In his previous simulations, although he had been very close to her once or twice, it had always stopped at the level of "master and disciple" or "subordinate," and he couldn't go any further.
In the final analysis, it was because he couldn't walk into her heart. The gulf between them was simply too great, almost impossible to bridge by ordinary means.
But now, a possibility had appeared.
And that was to pretend that there was no gulf between them, and to act out a story of a young boy falling in love with an older woman.
When this story had walked into her heart, then even if she revealed the "truth" afterward, how could the feelings that had already taken root be so easily forgotten?
At this thought, you choose to use a guidance.
[You find Shizune and ask about Tsunade's likes and hobbies, preparing to pursue her further. Shizune cooperates enthusiastically. Even when Tsunade asks if playing like this is going a bit too far, Shizune does not stop her, but instead says lightly, "Just think of it as giving the young man a lesson." ]
[With Shizune's ""encouragement,"" Tsunade also finds it interesting and decides to play along for now. She begins to consciously restrain her own bad habits, pretending to be young and witty. She also accepts your flowers and poems. For a time, she is immersed in the joy of "playing house," as if she has found her youth again.]
[But both of you know that this is just a game. She gives herself a one-month deadline. After one month, she will tell you the truth. But before the month is up, Orochimaru finds you.]
[You are very strange. Orochimaru's arms weren't injured this time, so why has he still come to find her? You quickly realize he is here for you. He tells you bluntly that he wants Sasuke's body, to obtain his 'miraculous eyes.' You realize this is an opportunity and tell him you can make a deal.]
[The content of the deal is that you will not stop Sasuke from going to him to train, but he must give Sasuke three years to grow, and then have a fair duel with him. During these three years, you will give him a more interesting research topic: life force, spiritual energy, and pupil power.]
[Orochimaru expresses his confusion. He feels you should be pursuing strength and eternal life, not an 'old woman.' You tell him it's because you are still young. When you reach his age, you two will have more in common.]
[This time, he expresses his understanding, and tells you he will be back in a week to carry out his mission. And during this week, you begin to send flowers to Tsunade. After some hesitation, she accepts them, and decides to part ways with you in one week.]
Seeing this, he perked up with interest. Orochimaru has become a supporting actor. Will this performance succeed?
But even if it failed, it didn't matter. At least he had opened up a successful path. This was enough to make him happy. As for whether he could have a child with her... he didn't even have her pheromones yet. The result wasn't that important.
[You and Tsunade become more and more intimate. She even begins to take the initiative to hold your arm. She keeps telling herself that this is just a game, that it will be over soon, and that this is all just an act. But when you suddenly kiss her under the sunset, and she subconsciously doesn't dodge, she finally realizes that her feelings have become real.]
[She roughly pushes you away, making you stumble and fall. She then releases her Yin Seal, tells you that she is a ninja, that she has been playing with you all along, and that you actually took it seriously. She then throws down a bag of money—your expenses for the month—and storms off.]
[She appears to be carefree, but when she is alone, she crouches in the shade of a tree, grieving. She had never thought that at her age, she could fall for someone again. Even if it was just a moment of real emotion in a fake relationship, for her, it was a disgrace.]
[Just as she decides to leave and not return to Tanzaku Town for a year, Orochimaru makes his grand entrance, dragging a 'you' (a subordinate in disguise) with him.]
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