It is now Konoha Year 63. Next year will be the graduation year for the nine rookies, and also the year of the Chunin Exams and the Konoha Crush Plan.
According to the original story's development, Sarutobi Hiruzen will die at Orochimaru's hands at that time.
Konoha will then enter its weakest moment. Nojuro Ryun, as a nominal employee, will most likely be laid off due to financial constraints.
Therefore, Ryun must not only go find Tenten, but also build a good relationship with Tenten's family. That place is Ryun's future.
What Ryun did not know was that as he walked towards Tenten's home, Sarutobi Hiruzen was observing him all the way using the Telescope Technique.
Seeing Ryun walk unhurriedly, with no intention of using chakra, Hiruzen thoughtfully looked at the Anbu member before him and said, "Are you sure he has chakra in his body?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama. I am one hundred percent certain."
Although the Anbu member wore a mask, it did not affect his sensing ability.
Someone who originally wasn't even qualified to attend the Ninja Academy suddenly had chakra, and after gaining chakra, specifically came to see the Hokage. This made Ryun a key surveillance target for the Anbu personnel.
"It seems I guessed correctly. The reason for such a big change in him is precisely because he now has chakra himself."
Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe, thinking about how to deal with Nojuro Ryun.
Although the change in Ryun was rare, the amount of chakra in his body was too meager, posing no threat whatsoever to Hiruzen.
Looking again at Ryun's simple, even sparse family history, his bit of talent likely held little research value.
Therefore, compared to the chakra on Ryun, Sarutobi Hiruzen still valued Ryun's writing skill more.
Especially since Konoha was still in a period of weakness, what was most needed was the power to reassure people.
However, the concerns of his subordinates did hold merit. After careful consideration, Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Who is currently on leave? Send someone to tail him for a period of time, also to prevent him from being targeted by the Root."
The Anbu member immediately listed several names. Upon hearing one name, Hiruzen's eyes lit up.
"Let her go. Allow her to make contact with Nojuro Ryun using an ordinary civilian identity when necessary."
"As you command."
Meanwhile, Ryun soon arrived outside the main gate of Tenten's family home.
After gaining chakra, his stamina and mobility had greatly increased.
Ryun did not deliberately hide this point, because he knew that his having chakra could not be concealed from the sensor ninjas in the village.
However, Ryun's background was clean. For three generations, his ancestors had been Konoha people. He was not afraid of any investigation at all.
Compared to awkwardly trying to hide the changes, it was better to openly display them. This more aligned with the mentality of a young person from a commoner background achieving a reversal.
Ryun knocked on the gate. After a short while, the old butler of Tenten's family opened the door.
Seeing Ryun dressed in a white robe, the old butler proactively bowed and politely inquired about Ryun's purpose for visiting.
Ryun took out the letter in his hand along with a gift box he bought at the corner pastry shop, explaining the course of events.
The old butler accepted the gift and the letter, and told Ryun that Tenten was currently on a mission. He would convey Ryun's message after Tenten returned.
All of this was within Ryun's expectations. Based on the time calculation from the simulations, Tenten would probably return in about three days.
Given Tenten's personality, upon seeing Ryun's design drawings, she would eagerly seek out Ryun herself. This would turn their relationship into one of mutual back-and-forth friendship.
This was precisely what Ryun hoped for.
In the simulations, Ryun could stay at Tenten's home for a lifetime, but that was not possible in the real world.
Because Ryun needed to obtain more simulation opportunities and come into contact with more simulation targets.
Otherwise, if he only focused on Tenten, he would ultimately just turn himself into another male version of Tenten. Such strength could not put Ryun's mind at ease.
Afterward, Ryun returned home, ending today's itinerary.
While continuing his writing, he also set aside some time to exercise his body and refine chakra.
What Ryun brought out from the simulations was only talent, so aspects like physical fitness still needed Ryun himself to gradually improve.
If he did not want to wait, then he could only obtain new bloodline talents, which required Ryun to acquire more simulation opportunities.
As for how to obtain simulation opportunities, Ryun already had some ideas.
Early the next morning, Ryun went to the Hokage Building to collect the Uchiha clan materials and his work identification.
Ryun's position was merely that of a records manager, but Ryun also asked the supervisor to write a document for him, certifying that he was writing the "Biography of Uchiha Madara" under the Hokage's leadership.
For this, the supervisor even sought instructions from Sarutobi Hiruzen. Finally, with Hiruzen's tacit approval, the supervisor wrote this certification document.
With this, Ryun had completed his core equipment setup.
In the afternoon, Ryun spent time both organizing and recording these Uchiha clan document materials and continuing his own creative writing.
Since Ryun was essentially writing out content from his memory, this work was quite easy for him.
As evening approached, Ryun picked up his certification document, his manuscript, and various candies bought in advance, left his home, and went to the children's playground at the end of the street.
There were many playful children here. Not far away, sitting on benches, were the elderly responsible for watching the children.
Most of them were civilians, but a small portion were civilian ninjas. These ninjas were precisely Ryun's target.
"Good day, grandfathers and grandmothers."
Ryun politely greeted the elderly. Many of them knew Ryun. Seeing Ryun initiate conversation, they immediately opened up, asking all sorts of questions about the changes in Ryun.
In the past, Ryun would politely respond a few times and then find an excuse to leave. But now, he pulled over a wooden stool, sat down, and began enthusiastically chatting with the elderly.
Upon learning that Ryun had become a staff member of the Hokage's office and was going to write a biography of Uchiha Madara, all the elderly were so surprised they couldn't close their mouths.
And when they heard Ryun wanted to learn about stories of the Uchiha clan from the time of Konoha's founding, and also wanted to understand the local customs and practices of Konoha back then, the elderly became even more energized, as if injected with adrenaline. Each person seemed to have endless things to say.
Ryun welcomed all comers. While listening attentively, he did not forget to guide the emotions of the elderly.
Soon, some of the elderly, moved by deep feeling, began to cry. Ryun also gently held their hands, offering comfort to each one individually.
At this moment, before Ryun's eyes, the system prompt that had been silent for days lit up again.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of the elderly did not meet the system's recognition criteria. Fortunately, Ryun ultimately succeeded in finding suitable candidates.
For example, this elderly lady in a kimono currently holding Ryun's hand was telling him the story of her Uchiha teammate.