Naruto: The Scientific Ninja

Chapter 33: The Art of the Hidden Mist

Without connections or status on the front lines, it wasn't easy to get his hands on experimental equipment and instruments. His only option was the underground black market, a place teeming with cutthroats where the risk was extremely high. It was no place to go without the strength of a jōnin.

"Thank you for your magnanimity, my lord," Ku Enzo said, bowing deeply before rushing into the warehouse and returning with a bowl-sized sealing scroll. He explained that it contained a complete set of experimental equipment from a small team that had studied summoning beasts. The equipment was second-hand but well-equipped and could meet most of his needs. If not for the ninja war bankrupting many such ventures, a coveted set like this would never have appeared on the market.

Sasuke inspected the equipment; it was in good condition, and the price was fair. Enzo had even thrown in a large amount of cultivation fluid as a bonus. He sealed the deal, trading his Water Bat No. 7 and the puppet trophies.

"My lord," Enzo said after a quick calculation on his abacus, "after deducting the cost of the equipment, there's still a surplus of 160,000 ryō. Would you like to purchase any secret medicines or blades?"

There's still that much left? Sasuke thought, a little surprised. He hadn't realized how valuable his haul had been.

"Let me see the supplies list. Bring the ninjutsu list as well," he said, then quickly added, "One of my subordinates has a birthday in a few days. I plan to give him a Water Style ninjutsu as a gift." He knew that for a "Sarutobi jōnin" to be buying low-level ninjutsu would be suspicious.

"Yes, my lord." Ku Enzo quickly brought out the lists.

Sasuke scanned them and feigned annoyance. "Why are there only E and D-rank ninjutsu? Aren't there any higher-level ones?"

"My lord, there really aren't any!" Enzo panicked, nearly dropping to his knees. "How would we dare to violate Konoha's regulations and privately sell mid- and high-level ninjutsu?"

"Fine, fine, forget it then," Sasuke said, waving his hand, though he was complaining internally. It seemed the black market was the only place to get anything decent. The ninja clans of Konoha had a stranglehold on the ninjutsu monopoly. If not for the pressure from the true underground market, these military merchants probably wouldn't even sell D-rank jutsus.

He looked over the list again, and then his eyes widened. He had found two very special techniques.

Water Style: Hidden Mist Technique (D-rank): 80,000 ryō. Note: A basic Hidden Mist Village jutsu. Strong tactical concealment, but requires continuous chakra to maintain.

Water Style: Mist Body Flicker (D-rank): 120,000 ryō. Note: A basic Hidden Mist Village jutsu. A combination of Hidden Mist and Body Flicker, but requires a certain physical foundation.

These two were not high-level, but they were extremely practical. Weren't they a perfect fit for his tactical needs? Combined with his sonar radar, which was like a budget Byakugan, could he not replicate Momochi Zabuza's Silent Killing?

"I want these two," he declared. He had planned on reluctantly using his own savings to cover the 40,000 ryō shortfall, but Ku Enzo, ever the sensible businessman, knew how to curry favor.

"My lord, the Hidden Mist and the Mist Body Flicker are 20% off today," he said with a fawning expression. "That comes out to exactly 160,000 ryō."

Sasuke nodded arrogantly. "Ku Enzo, you're a good man. If you have any trouble in the future, you can contact me. I still have some connections in Konoha."

"I understand, I understand," Enzo said, overjoyed. He had finally made a connection with an important figure. He then thoughtfully placed the two ninjutsu scrolls in a large gift box so his benefactor could present them to his subordinate. Before Sasuke left, Enzo even threw in three more exploding tags.

With the harvest from his trip, Sasuke didn't linger. The journey back was perilous; a lone ninja with such a large sealing scroll was a tempting target. He carefully used his sonar to detect and avoid other Konoha ninja, knowing that even allies could be predators.

He finally made it back to his underground cave lab, breathing a sigh of relief.

I have to solve this chakra deficiency problem as soon as possible, he thought, a grim determination setting in. This ninja world is too dangerous. Without the strength of a jōnin, there is no safety.

Chakra was the foundation of everything. He already had a plan. If developing a second chakra nature didn't work, he would follow Orochimaru's path and focus on science and mutation.

Fuentes