Chapter 59.1- Gamer of the Desert

I soared in the air, using my sand as a platform as Mebuki and Dragon remained behind me as silent sentinels. We’d had a very cute moment that was very shonen-esque with the whole village showing up to see me off as I journeyed to the Land of Iron for a summit with the potential to determine all their fates and that of their descendants- or even if they’d ever get to have any. Even the ‘Daimyo’ had come all the way to the village to see me off. He’d also made the decision to enter into a special sealed chamber that would isolate him from the rest of the world. Obviously, the plan there was to genjutsu the attendants and then dispel the clone immediately. Spontaneously having the Daimyo disappear whenever I needed the extra chakra was harder than it had any right to be, and was definitely something that would get caught on eventually, so this was a useful workaround.

Even better, it fit in with the personality of a paranoid spoilt noble. Have the skilled head of the shinobi village you allow exist in your lands spend his time building you a place with complete safety to keep you isolated from the dangers that could show up suddenly instead of getting read for the mission itself. It was a masterstroke. We’d even managed to get rid of the guards. All I had to do was sell them some bullshit about the seal not being able to function in the face of chakra signatures stronger than a certain level. No one with any sense wanted to mess with fuinjutsu beyond their ken, and the Daimyo was obstinate enough that the Guardian Ninja had no choice but to allow it, howbeit begrudgingly.

But that was only one thing I’d spent my time on. The rest of it was spent trying to get my left eye to the required level to be a game changer. I’d fought myself regarding implanting the sharingan but so many things told me that it would be a terrible idea to do it right before a summit like this one. First of all, Kabuto could see it as a threat. If he decided to take me out right there and then, then there was still little I could do. I’d fight like all hell, but I’d lose. It galled me to admit it. After all my efforts, there was still someone out there too dangerous for me to face. And the most annoying part was that it was not even his power.

Edo Tensei. Leaning on the strength of those who ought to enjoy their rest as a crutch to survive ones own mediocrity was just so pitiful to me. Too pitiful for me to even consider with any measure of seriousness. The fact that Kabuto had done nothing to deserve his power beyond some grave robbing was annoying as all hell. But he would not find me easy pray, I vowed. I’d take him with me if I could, and if I couldn’t, I’d find a way to make the rest of his life a pain.