Sasuke's POV
I never imagined I would resort to such means.
A few months ago, the thought of using poison in battle would have earned nothing but my contempt.
To rely on such tools felt beneath the pride of an Uchiha.
But now?
I will use anything, anything that gives me an edge.
Ever since my first Template Assimilation deepened, my control over its skills has sharpened. Among them was a craft I once considered dishonourable: poison-making. I roamed through the clan compound under the guise of tending to my parents' remains, gathering plants and flowers I found growing freely in the Land of Fire. Most were ordinary, easily overlooked by the untrained eye, yet some whispered danger to those who knew how to listen.
I did not know if this method was common among shinobi. Frankly, I did not care. What mattered was whether it worked.
Not every herb proved useful, but I collected them regardless, cataloguing their properties.
In time, my efforts bore fruit, a mixture that could disrupt the stomach and weaken the body from within. I tested it on myself, enduring the cramps and nausea to confirm its potency.
At first, I hesitated.
The arrogance of my blood told me to crush my enemies head-on, to prove my superiority through pure skill and power.
But arrogance is a luxury for those not bound by vengeance.
The more I delved into my inherited memories, the more I understood. Pride alone will not keep me alive. Blind faith in my eventual strength is nothing more than a child's dream.
What if I do not become strong enough?
What if I fail?
Does that mean I let go of my revenge?
No. There is no world, no lifetime, where I would forgive them.
So I made my choice. If the way of a shinobi is to strike from the shadows, then I will follow that path without hesitation. Tricks, traps, poisons, if they bring me closer to my goal, I will master them all. Even if I never use them, the knowledge itself will only make me stronger.
The one that influenced me the most was a person from those memories. While there were many characters there, I was part of those moments too, and since I am real, they must be as well. Anyway, where was I? Yes, Batman. There are many things about him I do not fully understand, some of which seem to be what people call "plot armour." But what I do admire is his philosophy, having plans for every possible scenario, being almost obsessively paranoid. It is a useful trait, far better than walking into a situation unprepared.
If the Uchiha had even one person with even a fraction of that mindset, they would never have been destroyed. They never expected that the hand to erase them would come from within.
Sigh.
That is why I have decided to prepare for the unexpected as well. This world is nothing if not full of surprises.
As for being discovered, I know there is only one person monitoring me right now, and he is too arrogant to think I could ever be a threat.
Anti-qi is a form of yin energy. Since chakra is composed of yin (spiritual) and yang (physical) elements, using chakra suppression techniques makes it difficult for me to sense shinobi, especially the skilled ones who specialise in yin release. But he does not know this. He is using chakra constantly, broadcasting his position for all to feel. Right now, he is even channelling wind release to sharpen his kunai.
That is why I can lead him around, letting him see only what I want him to see. I am not underestimating him, there is no fruit without risk, but this is still within my control.
When I first began refining anti-qi, I wondered if someone would notice and try to drag me in for questioning. But it seems I overestimated them.
They have spent their entire lives dealing with chakra. It would never occur to them that another form of energy might exist. Even natural energy is a secret to the majority of this world, let alone anti-qi, whose very existence is questionable even among qi users.
I wonder how the Byakugan would perceive it. Most would probably mistake it for simple yin release when paired with chakra. But if I combined it with chakra suppression techniques, to most sensory shinobi I would be nothing more than a ghost.
It is a promising start. Used properly, it could give me an edge against almost anyone and perhaps even allow me to hide my identity entirely.
Still, there is a long road ahead.
Hmmm… the shadow clone's memories from the academy just came back.
Apparently, he had been attacked by a group of students from the Shimura clan and beat them up without much trouble.
The teacher had not stepped in. Not that it was surprising. The academy is not just a place to learn jutsu; it is a testing ground. They watch how students behave under pressure, how they think, their strengths, weaknesses… everything gets quietly noted and passed along to the right people.
Still, I cannot help but wonder if this was just a coincidence or if Danzō had a hand in it. There is no real gain in something this petty, unless he is trying to chip away at my reputation while it is still small.
Hmph. Whatever. I do not have the time to waste on him right now.
When the time comes, I will meet him face-to-face and collect every last debt. Until then, he is not worth my attention.
For now I am focusing on Neji Hyuga.
*******
Some underrated world's