Satoru, having already weighed the value of what he was about to do, started the negotiation with his first demand. "I want 50 million ryo," he said flatly, leaning forward confidently. He knew the Uchiha poison industry made billions annually; this was pocket change for them.
Elder Shingen's eyes narrowed as he studied Satoru. "Fifty million is outrageous," he replied, his tone cool but unyielding.
There was a brief standoff between them, each one calculating the other's motives. The elder was no fool, but he didn't want to overpay. The negotiation dragged on for a while, and eventually, they reached an agreement.
Satoru had brought his demand down to 10 million ryo, a fifth of his original ask.
Elder Shingen, satisfied with the reduced price, leaned back, convinced he had won. Satoru, on the other hand, acted frustrated, masking his amusement. He had expected the elder to haggle, and 10 million ryo was more than enough for his purposes.
"Fine," Satoru muttered. "But that's not all."
He then shifted to the next item on his list. As he glanced at the scroll again, his attention was drawn to the Yotsuki clan's expertise in medical ninjutsu and poisons.
"In addition to the ryo, I want copies of their medical ninjutsu techniques, poison formulas, and... one of their clan's secret techniques. I'll choose which one."
Elder Shingen's brows furrowed. "That's quite a demand for someone who hasn't proven himself yet."
Satoru didn't respond. Instead, he vanished into dust. Before the elder could react, the real Satoru appeared behind him, dropping the texture surprise technique he had been using the entire time.
The elder froze, realizing that the Satoru he had been negotiating with wasn't even real. Shingen wasn't a combatant, but even so, to be completely fooled by a child unnerved him. He turned slowly, still trying to make sense of what had just happened.
"How...?" the elder stammered, his voice wavering slightly.
Satoru's tone was flat and unapologetic. "Most of the Yotsuki clan are non-combatants, right? You don't need to worry about whether I can handle them or not." His eyes bore into the elder's, showing no signs of weakness.
The elder, now truly convinced of Satoru's abilities, hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Very well, you'll get what you've asked for," he conceded, his pride slightly bruised but his belief in Satoru solidified.
As Satoru exited the room, he spotted Hajime waiting outside. Hajime gave him a knowing look. "How did it go?" he asked.
Satoru smirked slightly. "It went well enough," he replied, but then his tone shifted as he asked, "How did you know about my past?"
Hajime met his gaze. "You don't need to worry about that. Your secret's safe. It wasn't leaked—I just figured it out myself." There was no malice in his voice, only a matter-of-fact statement that left Satoru slightly at ease.
With a nod, Satoru walked off, his mind already moving to the next step. He needed to find the right target, someone who fit the criteria to unwittingly give him what he needed.
---
For the next five months, Satoru meticulously researched the higher-ups in the Yotsuki clan's company. He was looking for a very specific kind of person—a non-shinobi, family man, talkative, simple-minded, and prone to drinking. Someone who would let crucial details slip in the presence of a seemingly harmless child.
After months of searching, he narrowed his list down to three people who came close to the description. One of them was a rich clan member with a massive house, a perfect candidate.
The man, named Daichi Yotsuki, was known to be talkative and sociable, especially when he'd had a few drinks. Satoru needed to get close to him, so he approached Daichi's home, looking for a way to get employed.
He introduced himself as someone willing to do housework—cleaning, mowing the lawn, even babysitting if needed. Daichi, somewhat skeptical, looked him over and asked, "Why should I hire you? You'll need to prove yourself first."
Satoru nodded without hesitation. He got to work immediately, transforming the lawn into a near masterpiece, trimming the bushes into complex and beautiful shapes.
The grass was perfectly even, and the entire garden looked like it had been professionally landscaped. Then he moved to the inside, scrubbing the wooden floors until they gleamed so brightly that Daichi could see his own reflection.
When Daichi saw the results, he was impressed, even a bit surprised. "Not bad, kid," he muttered, admiring the work. "You've got the job. Just keep it up."
---
A few more months had passed, and Satoru found himself growing increasingly impatient. He had been serving drinks for Daichi Yotsuki, expecting to hear something valuable, something that could help the Uchiha regain their footing. But all Daichi ever seemed to talk about was the food Satoru cooked or how well the house was maintained.
'This is getting old,' Satoru thought, irritation brewing inside him as he poured another drink for the oblivious Daichi. He was good at hiding his frustration, but deep down, he knew he needed a new approach. This passive strategy wasn't going to cut it.
As Daichi rambled on, Satoru quietly excused himself to go babysit Daichi's children, but his mind was already formulating another plan—one that would yield results, even if it meant taking more drastic measures.
Meanwhile, back at the Uchiha compound, tensions were running high. The elder and the clan head had called Hajime in for questioning. The elder's voice was filled with doubt. "Is this kid even worth the effort, Hajime? Or is he just wasting our time?"
The clan head, his voice colder, added, "Our companies are bleeding losses every day, and this Satoru boy has done nothing of value. If this continues, we'll lose more than just profit."
Hajime, though outwardly composed, felt a flicker of doubt in Satoru. It had been months with no substantial progress, and even he was starting to wonder if Satoru could pull off what he promised.
"Trust me," Hajime replied smoothly. "Let me handle this. Satoru will deliver."
After the meeting, Hajime sought Satoru out in the Uchiha compound. He found him leaning against a tree, deep in thought. "Any progress?" Hajime asked, his voice steady but probing for answers.
Satoru, without looking up, responded, "I'll need to change the plan."
Hajime frowned. His confidence in Satoru was beginning to wane. "Change the plan?" His tone was sharper than usual. "We don't have time for delays. Is this going anywhere?"
Satoru finally turned to face Hajime, his expression grim. "Let me ask you something. Is the Yotsuki clan really guilty of anything? Or are they just... in the Uchiha's way?"
Hajime's eyes narrowed, sensing where Satoru's thoughts were headed. "They're in our way. That's all that matters. Their rise is a threat to our position, and we can't afford to let them gain more influence."
Satoru's face darkened, his jaw tightening as he contemplated his next move. His new plan wasn't going to be pleasant, and it certainly wasn't going to be subtle.
But if the Yotsuki clan was just an obstacle, then he knew what needed to be done—violence was now on the table.
Satoru met Hajime and the Uchiha elder, and with a chilling calmness, asked, "Do you have any poisons that cause hysteria, loss of motor control, confusion, extreme panic, or uncontrolled aggression?"
Hajime's usually calm demeanor faltered for a moment as genuine concern crossed his face. 'What is he planning?' he thought. Satoru's request wasn't for subtle poison or something that would simply incapacitate—it was designed for chaos. "We do have such poisons," Hajime admitted cautiously, sensing the gravity of what Satoru might be planning.
Satoru's expression didn't change, but his eyes gleamed with a dangerous intent. "I'll need quite a lot of it," he said, before walking off, already formulating how he'd use the poisons in his new plan.
Hajime watched him go, his unease growing. 'I hope this isn't going to spiral out of control.
---
Satoru headed to the training ground, determined to perfect the second jutsu he had created—something he called 'Boogie-Woogie.' It was still rough, unpredictable, but the potential was there.
He began by connecting a thick chakra string to a log nearby. With a firm pull, he swapped places with the log. The sudden shift in position left him dizzy, and he stumbled, falling flat onto the ground.
'Still too disorienting,' he thought, brushing off the dirt as he got back up. The drawback of the technique was the confusion it caused the user immediately after the swap. But Satoru was determined to overcome it.
Next, he connected the log to a large boulder, using the same thick chakra string. This time, he added a thin string to the midpoint, creating a more complex connection.
With a tug, both the log and the boulder swapped places instantly. the weight of the objects made the swap feel heavier, more taxing on his chakra.
Finally, he tested it on a smaller scale. He threw a small stone into the air, attaching a chakra string to it as it moved. Just before the stone hit the ground, he pulled the string, altering its trajectory. The stone fell somewhere completely unexpected.
A small, satisfied smile crept onto Satoru's face. 'This will do nicely.'
He now had the versions of Boogie-Woogie that he would use in his plan— With the chaos-inducing poisons at his disposal, his plan was beginning to take shape. All that was left was execution.(no pun intended)
Satoru moved through Daichi's house with a calculated purpose. Today wasn't about his usual tasks—no babysitting, no cleaning. He was memorizing every corner of the place, from the layout of rooms to the position of furniture.
His eyes tracked the doors, windows, and hallways, noting where people would likely gather for the upcoming celebration of the Yotsuki clan head's birthday.
This event, paid for and hosted by Daichi, was Satoru's opportunity to set his plan in motion.
Approaching Daichi, who was busy planning decorations for the party, Satoru casually mentioned, "You should consider having a separate gathering for the children. Games, caretakers—it would give the adults some peace to enjoy themselves."
Daichi paused, the idea sinking in. He glanced at his own child, who was running around the room with boundless energy. As much as he loved him, the idea of an evening without worrying about his son was incredibly tempting.
He turned back to Satoru, a broad smile spreading across his face as he patted the boy on the back. "You're mature beyond your years, Satoru. That's a brilliant idea."
Satoru simply smiled in response.
---
Weeks passed, and the day of the clan head's birthday finally arrived. Daichi's mansion was bustling with preparations. Servants moved quickly, decorating the halls, arranging tables, and setting up the games Satoru had suggested for the children's gathering. The house was filled with excitement, and everything appeared to be going according to plan.
Satoru, blending in as usual, observed everything from a distance, silently watching as his careful preparations fell into place.
He had calculated the positions, ensured the layout would benefit his plan, and now, with the children separated, the adults would be easier to target when the time came.
Now, all that remained was to introduce chaos into the night.
Satoru navigated the bustling kitchen with ease, slipping through the chaos unnoticed. The chefs were focused on their tasks. He approached the chef in charge of the children's cake, offering a polite smile.
The chef, looking pleased with himself, returned the smile. "What brings you here, Satoru-kun?"
Satoru replied smoothly, "I'm here on Daichi-san's orders. He wanted to know how the cake was coming along."
The chef beamed. "The prototype was taste-tested, and it's perfect! We'll have the real cake ready in no time. It's going to be the best I've ever made."
Satoru smiled in return, hiding his true thoughts behind the innocent expression. As the chef proudly spoke of his work, Satoru subtly connected a chakra string to a food vessel held by another chef passing by. With a gentle tug, the vessel tipped over, causing a loud clatter as it hit the ground.
The chef Satoru was talking to whipped around, scolding the unfortunate man who had dropped the dish. In the ensuing confusion, Satoru swiftly poured the poison into the cake batter, ensuring it mixed thoroughly by infusing his chakra into it. He then coated one of the tasting spoons with the antidote, ensuring the taste testers wouldn't notice anything off.
When the chef returned, he was still flustered from the spill. "I'm so sorry for that. Please, don't tell Daichi-san, or I'll be in trouble."
Satoru nodded with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I won't say a word."
With the poison securely in place, Satoru left the kitchen.