Sasuke woke early, the soft glow of dawn barely filtering through his curtains. His mind was already active, considering the nature of his powers in this world. While his Sharingan worked as usual, his Rinnegan remained blocked, This world was strange, filled with technology and weapons far beyond what he was accustomed to in the ninja world. But humans, no matter where they were, still shared the same basic vulnerabilities—weaknesses Sasuke was trained to exploit.
He pushed those thoughts aside for now, finishing his morning routine with meditation and light physical training. Afterward, Sasuke decided to head to the library. He had learned a lot about this world in the past few days, but there was still much more to uncover. The medical advancements, in particular, piqued his curiosity. If there were drugs or techniques that could enhance his body, strengthen his healing, or accelerate his recovery, he needed to learn about them. The sooner, the better.
The library was almost empty when he arrived, just as he preferred. The silence was a welcome contrast to the noise of the classroom, and the aisles of books promised knowledge. Sasuke scanned the shelves, looking for anything on medical technology, surgery, or biological enhancements. He wasn't expecting to run into anyone—most students weren't interested in these subjects.
However, as he moved through the aisles, his attention was drawn to a girl standing a few shelves away. She had silvery-blue hair, and her expression was calm but tinged with a sense of quiet curiosity. Sasuke could sense no malice from her, just an innocent curiosity that seemed out of place in this world of constant competition. The girl noticed him as well and hesitated, as though deciding whether or not to speak.
After a moment, she approached him. "Are you looking for something specific?" she asked, her voice soft and polite.
Sasuke studied her for a moment, his expression neutral but guarded. He could tell she was curious, but she wasn't prying too much. "Books on medical technology and biology," he answered, keeping his tone even. "Surgery, brain functions, and anything about eyesight."
The girl blinked, clearly surprised by the specificity of his search, but she didn't question it. Instead, she offered a small smile. "I've seen a few books like that here. I can show you where to find them if you'd like. I spend a lot of time in this section."
Sasuke nodded, still cautious but seeing no harm in letting her help. "Sasuke," he introduced himself briefly.
The girl hesitated again, and this time there was a flicker of something more vulnerable in her eyes before she spoke. "I'm Shina Hiyori," she said. "I... don't really have many friends here. Most people my age aren't really interested in books, so I tend to spend a lot of time alone."
Sasuke remained silent, acknowledging her words but not commenting on them. He didn't need friends, and he didn't care whether others liked books or not. What mattered was knowledge—something that could be used to his advantage. As they walked through the shelves, Hiyori glanced at him with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"I'm a little surprised," she admitted after a moment. "You don't seem like the type of person who'd be interested in medical technology. May I ask why you're reading these specific types of books?"
Sasuke's gaze flicked to her briefly, considering her question. She wasn't prying, but there was an underlying curiosity that made him cautious. "I'm looking for knowledge that can help me," he replied simply, giving her just enough of an answer without revealing his true motives.
Hiyori didn't push further, sensing that he wasn't the type to explain himself unnecessarily. Instead, she changed the subject. "Do you read often? What kind of books do you usually enjoy?"
"As long as it increases my knowledge," Sasuke said, his tone as detached as ever.
Hiyori blinked in surprise. "That's... different from most people our age," she said with a soft laugh. "Most students read for entertainment or to escape reality, but you seem more focused on practical knowledge."
Sasuke didn't respond. He wasn't interested in making conversation, and Hiyori seemed to sense that. Still, there was a small spark of excitement in her eyes, as if she had found someone who shared her love for books, even if their reasons for reading were vastly different.
They reached the section with the books Sasuke had been searching for. Hiyori gestured to a row of titles. "These should have what you're looking for."
Sasuke quickly scanned the titles and picked out a few books on medical advancements, brain functions, and biological enhancements. He glanced at her briefly. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," she replied with a smile. Then, after a brief pause, she hesitated once more before asking, "Would you like to read together sometime? I know it's a bit forward, but I don't have many people to talk to about books. If you have time, of course."
Sasuke considered her request for a moment. Normally, he would have declined, but Hiyori seemed knowledgeable about the library and its resources. She might prove useful in the future, and keeping a distance from others wouldn't always be beneficial. "Maybe," he said, noncommittal but not dismissive.
Hiyori's face lit up slightly, as though she hadn't expected him to agree. "That would be nice. Well, I'll leave you to your reading, then. I hope you find what you're looking for."
She gave a small wave and walked away, her silvery-blue hair catching the light as she disappeared between the shelves. Sasuke watched her go for a moment before turning his attention back to the books he had selected.
Back in his dorm, Sasuke wasted no time diving into the material. His eyes flicked rapidly across the pages, absorbing the information with ease. His photographic memory allowed him to retain everything, and within hours, he had read through several books on medical technology, brain functions, and biological enhancements.
As he read, Sasuke's mind began to process the possibilities. The medical technology in this world was far beyond anything he had encountered in the ninja world. Drugs that could enhance physical strength, surgeries that could improve brain function, and experimental treatments to boost healing rates. There were countless possibilities, but each came with its own risks.
'So... they've created ways to enhance the body artificially'. He thought as he flipped through another page. It's not too different from some of the forbidden jutsu back home, though the methods are more refined here.
He paused, staring at a section on experimental drugs designed to enhance physical performance. The side effects were severe—heart strain, organ failure, and cognitive decline—but the potential for strength was undeniable. 'If I could endure the side effects... would it make me stronger?'
The thought lingered in his mind, and Sasuke found himself comparing this world's advancements with the power he once wielded.'The nukes they used... could I survive that with my Susanoo? My Rinnegan?'He wasn't sure. A nuke's power was terrifyingly destructive, but it wasn't so different from some of the techniques he had seen in his world.
Still, there was one thing this world had that his didn't—science. Cold, methodical experimentation. If he could harness the knowledge here and combine it with his own abilities, there was no telling how powerful he could become.
He leaned back, closing the book in his hands and staring at the ceiling. 'I need to find someone who specializes in these enhancements. A doctor, a researcher... someone who can help me use this knowledge to my advantage'
The path to regaining his power was becoming clearer, but Sasuke knew there were still obstacles ahead. For now, he would continue gathering knowledge, but soon he would have to take action.
'I'll get stronger... no matter what it takes'