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Kaito strolled through the streets of Konoha, dressed in a plain black tee, worn brown shorts, and his old, scuffed-up shoes. As he walked, his eyes landed on a small, secluded building with a weathered sign hanging from the side that read "Library."
He stopped and stared at it for a moment. Honestly, it wasn't what he had imagined. He'd expected something a bit larger, maybe more impressive. But then again, this was the shinobi world, where ninjutsu was everything. Books that didn't teach you how to mold chakra or master a new jutsu probably didn't hold much value here.
It made sense, he figured. With so many of the village's resources already stretched thin from rebuilding after the nine tails, why waste time and money on a big library that barely anyone would use? Most people here cared about power, not pages. Aside from a handful of regulars, this place probably stayed empty most of the time.
Kaito stepped into the building and was instantly greeted by an almost overwhelming silence. It wasn't eerie—just a stillness that made the world outside feel miles away. "Well, at least it's quiet," he muttered to himself, a small smirk playing on his lips. Quiet was exactly what he needed. He preferred working alone, and the silence was like a blank canvas for his thoughts.
As his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, he took in the layout of the room. Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, crammed with books of all shapes and sizes. Above each row, small wooden signs dangled, neatly labeling the genres. Toward the far corner at the back, there was a cluster of tables. A few people were seated there, their heads bent over books, lost in their own little worlds.
Kaito took a deep breath. This was the perfect place to get to work.
Kaito wouldn't call it his favorite spot, but being alone gave him a clarity he rarely found elsewhere. It wasn't that he was introverted or disliked people—it was more about the peace of not having his thoughts interrupted by the constant noise of others. Quiet let him focus, and focus was what he needed.
He wandered through the aisles of the small library, his fingers brushing against the spines of old, worn books. He pulled out a few that caught his eye— a couple on human anatomy, another about poisons, and one detailing the uses and powers of different herbs. Yet, as he searched, he couldn't find a single book on the tenketsu points.
It was frustrating... A sigh escaped him as he stared at the piles of books in his hands. But he shrugged it off. "I'll figure it out later," he muttered to himself. It wasn't like he needed it urgently—not yet, anyway.
Kaito walked out of the aisle and headed toward the checkout counter, where an older woman was seated. She leaned back in her chair, a thick book resting in her hands. Her long black hair was streaked with gray, and faint wrinkles lined her face. She wore a simple blouse with a floral pattern, and a pair of glasses perched neatly on her nose.
"Ahem..." Kaito cleared his throat, breaking the silence. The woman glanced up from her book, her expression momentarily surprised. However, she quickly recovered and replaced the surprise with a warm, professional smile as her eyes focused on him.
"Hello, how may I help you today, sweetie?" the woman asked with a calm voice. Her gaze shifted to the books in Kaito's hands, and her smile grew a little as she added, "Oh, are you looking to check these out?"
Kaito gave a quick nod. "Yes," he replied, placing the books gently onto the counter.
The woman smiled again, but as her eyes dropped to the titles on the books, her expression shifted slightly. It wasn't dramatic—just a small twitch of her face, almost unnoticeable beneath the faint wrinkles that lined her features. She looked back up at Kaito, her expression curious now.
"You know what these books are about, right?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of seriousness.
Kaito wanted to say, 'Yeah, that's why I picked them up,' but instead, he smiled politely and replied, "Yeah, I hope to become a medical ninja one day."
The woman gave him an impressed look and nodded firmly. Reaching below the counter, she pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. The paper was a form with various fields for personal information, which she placed in front of him.
"Please fill this out before you check out," she said, her tone warm but businesslike.
Kaito scanned the form briefly, then began writing down his personal information. Once finished, he handed it back to the woman, who accepted it with a subtle smile.
"I'll be back in a second," she said, disappearing through a door behind the counter that led to a back room.
After a few moments, she returned, holding a small piece of paper—most likely a receipt—and handed it to Kaito. He accepted it with a curious look, raising an eyebrow. "What's this for?" he asked.
"Oh, I was just about to explain," she replied. "That paper is proof of the transaction and also serves as a reminder. These books need to be returned by the due date, which is listed there. I've given you about a month, considering the number of books you're borrowing." She gestured lightly to the receipt, her voice calm but clear.
Kaito glanced down at the receipt, nodding slightly as he processed her explanation. "Got it. Thanks," he said, tucking the paper carefully into his pocket before picking up the books and heading to the door.
"Oh, by the way..." her voice called out from behind, stopping Kaito in his tracks. He turned around to look at the woman, curiosity flickering across his face.
"If you don't return the books by the due date," she added, leaning back in her chair and picking up her book again, "you'll have to pay a fee."
Kaito gave her a small smile and nodded. "Got it," he said before turning back around and heading out the door. With the books tucked under his arm, he walked home.
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Sitting on the floor of his small apartment, Kaito had books spread out in front of him on the table. His eyes darted over the pages, absorbing every detail he could. They were sunken and heavy, barely staying open as he wavered between being awake and drifting into sleep—or whatever you might call the state he was in.
He had spent the past few days buried in these books, all while juggling two jobs. Trying to squeeze in reading after exhausting shifts was far from enjoyable. With only three hours to study and five hours to sleep, he was running on fumes.
He really needed to figure out a proper schedule. But After a few grueling days, he finally finished the book. But his work wasn't done. He knew he'd have to go over it again and again until every piece of information was burned into his memory.
To help himself retain the material, he decided to transfer all the information from the book into his notes. Writing it down, rather than just rereading it, would help him remember better. It was a method he'd read about before—how writing engages your brain in a way that improves memory.
He had a lot on his plate. After finishing one book, he'd have to move on to the next, repeating the process until every detail was committed to memory. This wasn't just casual reading—he was studying human anatomy, a subject he was already well-versed in as a biologist. It was essential for his dream of achieving "immortality."
The only problem? He didn't have some kind of photographic memory that let him recall every detail perfectly. Sometimes he forgot things, and that meant going back to review, again and again.
And that whole idea of photographic memory? It's a total myth. People like to imagine that someone can glance at a page and remember it forever, but that's not how it works.
People who are said to have "photographic memory" don't actually have some kind of superpower—they just have better memory than most people. This ability often comes from having more white matter in the brain and a larger hippocampus.
But even those didn't matter. What really matters is how well the brain's neurons communicate with each other, creating stronger connections that make recalling information easier.
Kaito ran his fingers through his hair, trying to smooth it back. For a brief moment, it stayed neat, but as soon as he let go, it sprang back into its usual messy state. He let out a small sigh, " Fuckk... " he mumbled, almost amused at how stubborn it was, much like himself.
But that made him think about ways to push his body and mind beyond their limits. One idea he kept coming back to was the possibility of enhancing his memory to the point where he could process and recall information perfectly, almost like a human version of an AI.
The idea of creating "photographic memory" wasn't just wishful thinking to him—it was a challenge. But he knew achieving something like that would take extensive research, and not just on himself.
If he could study someone exceptionally intelligent, like a member of the Nara clan, it might be possible. The Nara clan was known for their unmatched intelligence and strategic thinking. If he could get access to a Nara's brain, he could analyze their neural structure and maybe even figure out how to replicate their abilities for himself.
Since their Kekkei Genkai wasn't a dojutsu, he couldn't just take it by removing their eyes. But maybe, just maybe, all he needed was their DNA. If he could figure out how to replicate their ability through their genetic code, it would open up endless possibilities. And if it worked, what would stop him from trying to extract every Kekkei Genkai from everyone?
Imagine other modifications he could make to his body. What if he could survive without needing a heart? What if he could rebuild himself into something nearly indestructible?
The thought reminded him of Sasori, the rogue ninja who turned his own body into a puppet. Sasori's methods intrigued him as insane the guy was, he was a genius.
How did he manage to preserve his consciousness while replacing his flesh with wood and metal? It had to involve some kind of jutsu. Maybe, one day, he could track Sasori down—or someone who knew about him—and learned how he did it.
But he preferred not to become a human puppet. Instead, he wanted a body more like Muzan's—one that was practically immortal. Muzan had only two real weaknesses: the sun and the Nichirin blades. If Kaito could somehow replicate that kind of power but eliminate those critical flaws, he'd be basically immortal if it wasn't for those bitchy truth seeker orbs.
In his previous life, he might have been able to pull off something similar. But back then, his research was considered insane—dangerous, even. The authorities called it mad science and banned it outright.
Thirty consecutive life sentences' worth of illegal. Yet now, in this new world, everything was different. The boundaries of reality had shifted, without the same rules holding him back.
All his fantasy crazy ideas could come to reality. Even though he wasn't a fan of dying, it was better this way. But these were plans for later and he would have put them down in his notes.
He had three books currently and he needed more, but his plan was to have a book having all his future plans. Another one on body modifications, and one on Chakra. He planned on buying some new books on training techniques, chakra training, Taijustu, ninjustu, etc.
But, he hadn't got to that since he didn't know any ninjustu's and couldn't access them currently. He put a pause on the ninjustu section.
Of course if these information were to get leaked he was going to be big trouble. But of course, like the fan fics he read, he made it into a secret language that he himself could read.
He did this in his past life, he knew if people found out what he was researching he was big trouble. So he create a language, using all existing languages and converted them into one unique language.
Even if someone tried to figure out his secret language, they'd be at a dead end without some sort of clue—and he wasn't planning on handing one over anytime.
As Kaito turned the page, his tired eyes suddenly snapped wide open. His gaze landed on the final page, where the author had listed other books they had written. One title immediately caught his attention, a book dedicated entirely to the intricate system of the chakra network.
But he had never come across that book before, not even after searching for hours at the library. " Did someone check it out? Or is it locked away in the Shinobi Archives? " He mumbled to himself.
It kind of made sense—if it had to do with Chakra, it was most likely buried somewhere in the Shinobi Archives.
Kaito sighed and shrugged. The situation was frustrating, but he had around eight years before canon officially began. Eight years might seem like a long time, but he knew how easily it could slip away if he didn't use it wisely. Time didn't wait for anyone after all.
"Ahhh... I'm so tired. I'm calling it a day for tonight," he muttered, dragging himself toward his bed. Stretching overhead, he collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep.
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