Tokyo, Japan
The journey began with a sword.
Not a weapon of modern warfare, but something much older. One of the best and most leathl cold weapon according to me.
After everything I'd copied—technology, firearms, I knew there were still entire disciplines I hadn't touched. I needed to refine my mastery of close-quarters combat beyond the battlefield and into something Mystic. Deadlier. And there was no better place to start than Japan.
I didn't just come for the culture. I came for the legacy of warriors—the samurai, the shinobi, and anyone who might still hold knowledge that defied time. The skills they passed down weren't found in books. I would have to dig them out myself.
And I had just the tool to do it.
Using my telepathic powers I slipped into Tokyo under the radar. The city still bore the scars of war, but wealth still moved beneath the surface—especially in private auctions where relics changed hands behind thick curtains and thicker lies.
That was where I found it.
A daishō pair—katana and wakizashi—once wielded by a samurai whose bloodline had long vanished. I paid a small fortune for it, an easy price thanks to the money I'd gained as a shareholder of Stark and Frost Industries.
But I didn't buy the sword to hang it on a wall.
I activated a skill I had copied from Adrienne Frost, Emma's older sister.
[Psychometry – Active]
[The user of psychometry obtains historical memories or sensations concerning objects they observe. With objects, they gain knowledge including the makers, users, and even those who have on passing used the object, and what has been done with it.]
My fingers brushed the hilt. Images flooded in.
Flesh. Steel. Rainfall over a bamboo field. A duel. Rage. Pride. Shame. A flicker of blood dancing along the blade.
Adrienne could glimpse the past in fragments.
But I wasn't her.
My Peak Human Mind allowed me to reconstruct the memories with clarity beyond even Adrienne's potential. I saw the path of every swing. The form of every battle stance. Even the breathing techniques the wielder had used to calm his spirit before a kill.
One of the images was what I was looking for it was a small house near the Iga mountains—rural, secluded, and untouched by time.
Three days later
I crouched behind a wooden fence outside that very home, dressed in plain clothes, my presence hidden by maxed-out Stealth skills. Inside, an old man practiced alone in his garden, blade flashing under morning light.
It was pure use of Muscle Memory. All the moves and fighting stances and techniques were engraved in his muscles.
This man had been a killer once. Not a Mercenary who used guns and grenades. But one of the most brutal, deadliest and yet hidden profession. Ninja.
[Copy – Active]
[Skill Acquired: Kenjutsu (sword techniques)– Lv. 6]
[Skill Acquired: Taijutsu (unarmed combat)– Lv. 5]
[Skill Acquired: Breath Control – Lv. 4]
.
.
Etc
I didn't stay long.
The next phase required speed.
Before leaving I used Telepathy, I scanned his mind subtly—searching for others like him. Warriors hiding in quiet towns, temples, and shrines, carrying knowledge and skills that I wanted.
Over the next month, I became a person who never stayed in one place long enough. I travelled all over the map. Finding and copying skills from all those who I found of intrest.
Some I watched from a distance. Others I approached under false names, blending in with tourists or businessmen.
[Skill Acquired: Hensōjutsu (disguise and impersonation) – Lv. 5]
[Skill Acquired: Shurikenjutsu (throwing weapons techniques) – Lv. 55]
[Skill Acquired: Intonjutsu (escaping and concealment)– Lv. 6]
[Skill Acquired: Shinobi-iri (stealth and entering methods) – Lv. 7]
[Skill Acquired: Tenmon (meteorology) – Lv. 6]
[Skill Acquired: Chōhō (espionage) – Lv. 7]
Each new skill filled a gap. Each day, I edged closer to my goal.
Until finally—
***
[Multiple overlapping skills detected.]
[Would you like to merge these skills?]
'Yes'
[New Skill obtained: Ninjutsu]
[Ninjutsu – Lv. 10(Max)]
User are masters of Ninjutsu, the historic style of martial arts, tactics, strategy, and espionage of unconventional and guerrilla warfare. Contrary to popular culture, real-life ninja were mainly spies, saboteurs, and assassins that rarely appeared on the battlefield. Depending on the school and source ninjutsu focuses on different disciplines.
***
I felt the change instantly. My movements shifted. It was as if I was Muted. I made no sound. My breathing, walking and even running did not produce a sound to even a trained Solider.
Even if a top level agent was standing in front of me he would not be able to know I am here unless an until they use there Eyes. Let alone for a normal person. For whom I just vanished from there senses.
And if we add my previous Stealth Skills which were also on Max level. Then I can confidently say that no one is better at going unnoticed than me.
But the story wasn't over yet.
Kyoto – June 1946
It was in Kyoto where I found one of them—a man cloaked in black, bearing a sigil I had only seen once before in my past life.
The Hand.
I followed him for two days through alleys and rooftops. When he slept, I moved close enough—then activated [Copy].
[Skill Acquired: The Hand's Teachings– Lv. 7]
[Skill Acquired: Hand's Meditation Methods – Lv. 5]
He never saw me. Never even knew someone had peeled his secrets like skin.
Soon after, I followed his route to a compound buried beneath an old pagoda.
That was when I knew.
The Hand was here. Dozens of them.
Ninjas trained in silent to even face death without a shred of emotion.
I copied what I could.
Names. Locations. Techniques.
[Skill Acquired: Silent Killing – Lv. 6]
[Skill Acquired: Naginata Mastery – Lv. 4]
[Skill Acquired: Chi Suppression – Lv. 1]
[Skill Acquired: Chi Breathing– Lv. 1]
I continued with this to all locations I could safely copy from these Hand Ninjas.
But I kept my distance from the Five Fingers.
Even with my current strength, going up against them would be suicide.
And my telepathy? Not completely useless but not much useful either against them.
They had defenses—chi barriers and mutant suppressors, no doubt forged by centuries of experience dealing with mutants The Hand didn't just survive centuries by accident. They cracked Immortality albeit a watered down version. And they could not do it without being cautious.
They were centuries old organizations and over this long period they had fought their fare share of Mutants and hence they had developed abilities to counter one of the most dangerous Mutants. That were Telepaths and Mind Controllers like me and Emma.
For now, I needed to be undetected.
I sat in stillness.
The system buzzed.
[Multiple overlapping skills detected.]
[Would you like to merge these skills?]
"Yes."
[Merging…]
[New Skill Gained: Chi Manipulation– Lv. 1]
[Chi Manipulation– Lv. 1]
***
The most common of which was the twenty disciplines of the Bujinkan:
Seishinteki kyōyō (spiritual refinement)
Taijutsu (unarmed combat)
Kenjutsu (sword techniques)
Bōjutsu (stick and staff techniques)
Sōjutsu (spear techniques)
Naginatajutsu (naginata techniques)
Kusarigamajutsu (kusarigama techniques)
Shurikenjutsu (throwing weapons techniques)
Kayakujutsu (pyrotechnics)
Hensōjutsu (disguise and impersonation)
Shinobi-iri (stealth and entering methods)
Bajutsu (horsemanship)
Sui-ren (water training)
Bōryaku (tactics)
Chōhō (espionage)
Intonjutsu (escaping and concealment)
Tenmon (meteorology)
Chi-mon (geography)
Kuji-Kiri (Esoteric Hand-Seal Practice)
Hojojutsu (Rope techniques)
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