[Day 1, light suddenly floods your vision.]
[You are picked up by a slender, pale arm and handed to Kakuzu.]
[You are worn by Kakuzu.]
'Wha...???'
The simulation had barely started, and Takumi was already struggling to comprehend.
'Why Kakuzu?!'
'I'd thought it would be Konan!'
Takumi rolled his eyes. He had a feeling this round would be purely for observation.
[Day 2, you are worn by Kakuzu, soaked by the rain of the Land of Rain. You figure Kakuzu is on a mission. But you are just a cloak. You have no way to refuse or change your situation. Your mind fills with resentment. Why couldn't you have been worn by Konan?]
"…"
'Good self-awareness!'
'It seemed even reborn as a piece of clothing, my mind was still sharp.'
[From the Land of Rain, to the Land of Earth, to the Land of Wind.]
[On the journey, you witness Kakuzu kill countless people. You are often splattered with hot blood, from men, women, the old, the young. Sometimes, intestines and other organs fly your way.]
[But you have no choice. You are just a cloak. You imagine how great it would be if you could move like a person.]
[You are torn and ragged, but every time Kakuzu washes you, he carefully mends you with needle and thread under a lamp.]
[Even when Konan suggests he get a new one, he refuses. Kakuzu says you can still be worn after mending.]
'Ah, this...'
By this point, Takumi was almost speechless.
'Classic Kakuzu!'
'The Shinobi World's number one miser!'
'Earns so much money, yet won't even replace a single cloak!'
'Is he that frugal?'
[Year 2, you meet Hidan. To recruit him, Kakuzu fights him.]
[This is the most damaged you have ever been. Because Kakuzu used his Earth Grudge Fear's hearts, your entire back was ripped open.]
[Back at the base, Konan brings a new cloak. Kakuzu still refuses. He says you can still be worn after mending.]
"…"
[And so, you accompany Kakuzu on hundreds of missions, big and small.]
[The Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, the Land of Water... You see many places across the Shinobi World.]
[Finally, you meet Asuma.]
[Unsurprisingly, Asuma is killed. But right after, the revenge team of Ino-Shika-Cho and Kakashi arrives.]
[You are pierced by Kakashi's Lightning Cutter. After Kakuzu gets back up, he forgets about you.]
[In that moment, you know that without your protection, Kakuzu is doomed!]
[But you don't see Kakuzu's death. Because after he releases his two heart monsters, you are set on fire by Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work and turn into a pile of ash.]
[Your life ends here.]
[Simulation over.]
"Hmm..."
After watching this simulation, Takumi had to admit it felt quite unique.
Even though he was completely passive the whole time, at least he got to travel to many places in the Shinobi World with Kakuzu!
Kakuzu was the workhorse of the Akatsuki, either on a mission or on the way to one.
He did the missions, collected the bounties, brought the money back... So the distance he traveled was definitely huge!
'Whatever, let's call it a warm-up. System, wrap it up.'
[Ding! Simulation over!]
[Calculating results...]
[Please wait...]
[Ding! This simulation's rating is: C!]
Hearing the system, Takumi wasn't too surprised.
After all, he was just a spectator the whole time. A high rating was impossible.
'System, let me ask you something. For these 'non-human' life simulations, is it impossible to equip other talents?'
If he remembered right, the last time he was a cloud, he was just a cloud. There were no ways to change his fate at all.
If that was really the case, then wouldn't it mean that whenever he drew this talent later, he'd be stuck just watching, unable to do anything?
[No. 'Non-Human Entity' simulations can also equip other talents. It just depends on if the host can draw them.]
'Okay then...'
With that answer, Takumi felt a bit better.
'Then let's not waste time. Start the next simulation!'
[Ding! Drawing a talent for you!]
The system's roulette wheel spun.
Three seconds later.
The pointer stopped.
[Ding! Draw successful!]
[You have drawn the talents: Demolition Maniac (Black), You Have A Father (Purple)]
Seeing these two talents, Takumi's eyes widened.
Then…
He immediately got excited!
'It's here! It's here! A combat skill!'
If Takumi wasn't mistaken, the talent he drew this time was a combat skill!
Demolition Maniac… wasn't it obvious? This was definitely a skill for blowing things up!
The system quickly gave a description:
[Demolition Maniac: You possess an ability similar to Explosion Release. The blood in your whole body craves the thrill of explosions. Black indicates an extremely high rank.]
'Explosion Release?'
'Not bad, not bad! Finally, a proper Ninjutsu!'
Takumi nodded happily.
What he really needed right now was Ninjutsu, especially long-range Ninjutsu!
This Explosion Release...
Even though there weren't specific details yet, he guessed he should be able to simulate a remote explosion ability.
'But...'
After calming down a little, Takumi's attention went to the second talent.
''You Have A Father'?? What the heck is this?'
If he didn't look carefully, he might not have noticed, but this new talent seemed totally ridiculous!
What did 'You Have A Father' mean?
How would he exist without a father?
Could this even be called a talent?
As if sensing Takumi's question, the system immediately explained in his mind:
[You Have A Father: This is a talent that can change your birth. When equipped, you will randomly become the son of someone in the Shinobi World. The higher the color rank, the stronger your father will be.]
[For example, drawing a White rank means your father is generic cannon fodder.]
[Blue rank means your father is a Chunin-level Shinobi, or from a middle-class family.]
[Red rank means your father is an Elite Jonin.]
[Purple rank means your father is someone beyond the Jonin-level...]
Good grief.
Even though he had simulated so many times and seen all kinds of weird talents, this new 'You Have A Father' talent really left Takumi stunned!
'Damn, just... damn!'
'This simulation system could be played like this?'
'Just pick anyone to be my dad?'
'And the higher the color, the stronger my dad?'
'Did that mean if he was lucky, I could even become the secret son of the Shodaime Hokage or Uchiha Madara?'
Takumi was completely speechless.
But…
After only about thirty seconds of being baffled, he accepted it.
Because, he kind of understood how this talent could be used.
That's right. At first glance, this talent might seem crazy, but actually, it could be very useful!
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Bonus Chapter For 50 Powerstones