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If Uchiha Kiyo wanted to acquire the specific ninjutsu he desired without alerting the black market, it would be a true test of his skill and methods.
But it wasn't impossible.
No matter how powerful the black market was, the strongest individual in a branch was unlikely to exceed the Kage level, and even if there was a Kage-level powerhouse, it would likely be only one at most.
Uchiha Kiyo had already proven his ability to hide from high-level sensors. Back when he was in Konoha, even Orochimaru hadn't been able to trace the source chakra of his shadow clones, which meant that his isolation barriers and breath-concealing techniques were effective even against Kage-level perception.
Stealing or directly robbing the black market wasn't an option. However, Uchiha Kiyo had a better idea—one that would allow him to take what he needed without causing a stir. Instead of taking the scrolls themselves, he would simply copy their contents. If done correctly, the black market might never even realize anything was missing.
"That should work."
"It's not my fault. The black market hoards the most ninjutsu, yet its security is weaker than a shinobi village's."
Activating the invisibility technique, Uchiha Kiyo concealed himself before slightly adjusting his chakra output, emitting the signature of a Chūnin-level ninja. He then utilized the Transformation Jutsu, modifying both his appearance and body shape to blend in.
"First, I need to determine where they store the ninjutsu scrolls."
The best way to gather intel was to make a legitimate exchange. This way, he could observe not only the location of the scrolls but also the defensive measures in place.
To avoid raising suspicion, he decided to trade for a single C-rank ninjutsu. This would ensure he wasn't given access to only the lowest-tier techniques while also minimizing attention.
"Well, technically, I'm still paying for it."
The most challenging part of the plan was copying the scrolls undetected. Everything else was relatively straightforward.
Uchiha Kiyo entered the black market and made his way to the heart of the ninjutsu trading area.
"There are quite a lot of people here."
The area was bustling. Some individuals were genuinely there to buy and sell ninjutsu, while others were merely observing or lurking.
This worked in his favor—his presence wouldn't seem out of place.
Stepping into an "official" trading shop, Uchiha Kiyo got straight to the point.
"I want to buy ninjutsu."
Hearing his request, the receptionist's eyes lit up. Their attitude became significantly more welcoming as they eagerly began listing the available techniques.
As Uchiha Kiyo listened to the introductions, he was genuinely shocked.
There were so many options.
Although there were no exclusive secret techniques from the major shinobi villages or clans, the vast majority of the commonly known elemental jutsu were available here.
In terms of sheer quantity, the black market might even surpass a typical village's ninjutsu archives.
Of course, very few shinobi from the villages actually purchased ninjutsu from the black market. The primary reason was simple—it was outrageously expensive.
A shinobi could earn enough to learn a new technique after completing ten missions of the same rank within their village, whereas purchasing a similar jutsu from the black market could cost as much as one hundred times that amount.
A tenfold price difference made the decision obvious.
Even if a village didn't have the exact ninjutsu a shinobi wanted, they could often learn alternative techniques that achieved a similar effect.
As for secret techniques belonging to specific clans or villages, Uchiha Kiyo was certain that the black market had them.
They simply didn't display them publicly.
After all, over the years, countless shinobi possessing exclusive techniques had been killed. It was impossible for the black market not to have access to such scrolls.
They were just kept hidden.
But Uchiha Kiyo wasn't interested in those.
His path was already clear. Learning unnecessary techniques was a waste of time. If a jutsu wasn't essential to his growth, he wasn't interested.
As he listened to the prices, he fell silent.
This was daylight robbery.
The black market had turned knowledge into a business, exploiting the fact that ninjas needed these techniques to survive.
Uchiha Kiyo now understood just how outrageous the prices were. Even with the wealth he had accumulated as an elite Jōnin, he could only afford two B-rank ninjutsu.
Of course, his funds had been earned during wartime, when opportunities for profit were far greater than in peacetime.
Additionally, he had looted many puppet users, significantly boosting his earnings.
Yet, even with all that, he could only afford two B-rank techniques.
"Ridiculous."
Even with his resources, the cost was painful.
So what about other shinobi?
For an average wandering ninja, buying a single B-rank ninjutsu would take decades of saving.
Unless they stumbled upon a treasure or managed to rob a wealthy target, the chances of acquiring new techniques were slim.
This explained why rogue ninjas and small villages struggled to compete with the Great Shinobi Villages.
It wasn't about talent. It was about resources.
Villages had access to jutsu archives, while independent shinobi had to pay a fortune for every new technique they learned.
Moreover, the villages controlled the most lucrative missions. Their reputation ensured they received the best contracts, leaving the scraps for everyone else.
The black market had its own reputation, but the number of available commissions was strictly controlled.
With so many rogue ninjas and independent shinobi fighting over limited jobs, the situation was brutal.
Even missing-nin, despite their strength, had to compete for work. The most skilled among them took the best missions, leaving even fewer opportunities for weaker wandering ninjas.
Though Uchiha Kiyo hadn't considered this before, the core issue was the same—resources were scarce.
The ninja world had a limited pool of resources, and the strongest shinobi required a disproportionate amount of them.
Over time, the number of ninjas exceeded the world's capacity to sustain them, leading to conflict.
The tension would continue to build until it inevitably erupted into war.
The Second Shinobi World War was the clearest example of this—an entire war fought over resources.
Sigh… True peace is impossible.
As long as the disparity in resources existed, war was inevitable.
Suddenly, a hand waved in front of Uchiha Kiyo's face.
"Have you made a decision?"
It was the receptionist.
Uchiha Kiyo nodded. He had already decided before coming here, but he had taken his time to gather additional information.
"I'll take the C-rank Ground Walk and the B-rank Lightning Fang."
Lightning Release: Ground Walk was one of the most practical C-rank techniques, capable of rivaling a B-rank jutsu when mastered. Naturally, it was also expensive.
Lightning Fang was a standard B-rank jutsu, neither exceptional nor weak, making it a balanced choice.
The receptionist trembled with excitement upon hearing the selection.
A big sale.
The commission alone was enough to match half a year's salary.
Uchiha Kiyo noticed the receptionist's expression and felt irritated.
Are you serious?
I just spent a fortune, and you're grinning like that?
Do you want me to punch you?
He took a deep breath and suppressed the urge. This was the black market—someone else's territory. He had to stay calm.
Following the receptionist, he entered the VIP area behind the shop.
At the same time, he discreetly activated his sensory abilities, keeping his chakra signature suppressed to avoid detection.
The clarity of his perception was reduced, but it was enough. He could still distinguish individuals by their movements.
As he waited, he focused entirely on his surroundings, tracking the movements of the staff as they retrieved the scrolls.
He was ready.
This plan had to succeed.
If he was going to be overcharged like this, he was going to make sure he got his money's worth.
Or better yet, make them pay for it.
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