Even before Kuroto could speak, the baby boar went away with the cobra, seeing this Kuroto felt a little annoyed.

The leftover poison in the cobra's body is extremely deadly for beasts that can't use chakra, and Kuroto can be quite sure that the baby boar has no chakra flowing through him; so, eating the cobra is a death for the baby boar. ​​

But whether the cobra eats the boar or the boar eats the cobra, are all part of the food chain, moreover, Kuroto doesn't have enough time to deal with such trivial matters so he immediately started searching for more poisonous creatures and ignored the soon to be dead baby boar while cursing him annoyingly under his breath.

After a full morning of hard work, he was able to find more than ten types of lethal poisons.

Kuroto returned home while buying some guinea pigs along the way.

The concoction of poison is not simply mixing different types of toxins to obtain a more lethal type one.

Different toxins have different properties, most of the time random mixing will not only not increase the toxicity of the resulting compound, but in fact, neutralize the lethality of the poison.

Therefore, the art of making poison also requires a large amount of data and in vivo experiments.

Additionally, it also involves...

Modulation…

Testing…

Recording data…

This was why Kuroto was busy with this meticulous work for the whole afternoon, and still, all the results he got were unsatisfactory.

The toxicity of the poison in the Death Forest is weaker, as a result, they can't even kill a lab rat instantly, so they were definitely unsuitable against the ninjas that can use chakra.

However, it's not there was no achievement, at least he was able to find a moth toxin with a strong paralyzing effect and scorpion's poison that increases the rate of blood circulation.

Once combined properly, they would produce an instant paralyzing poison.

It's just that he has no idea on how to combine these, additionally how high should he keep the toxicity? Will it be effective on powerful shinobi? There are so many questions and only further experiments can possibly give him the answer.

While Kuroto was busy experimenting, Yue came in the evening, along with a hot pot.

Seeing all the mess and so many corpses of guinea pigs tossed around by Kuroto, she was shocked, "Kuroto-Kun what are you doing?"

Kuroto replied casually while he was busy recording the data of the latest test, as the cute rabbit in front of him took its last breath, "I'm compounding toxins."

Kuroto made sure not to hide his research on toxins. From going to the Death Forest in the morning to collecting the poison samples to buying lots of guinea pigs in the market at noon, the whole series of tasks were carried out in the open.

Yue squatted beside Kuroto and asked in a low voice, "Are some poisons really useful?"

Yue is also a Hyuga, and similar to most of the Hyuga clansmen she has a subconscious rejection of the use of poisons, but she is also a shinobi to have gone to the battle-field of third shinobi war several times and understands well enough that everything is reasonable in a war so long as you survive!

Kuroto smiled while he petted her head, "Of course it's useful, maybe these poisons I am concocting now will make sure that I returned alive to you the next time I go on a mission!"

Yue had a sudden blush across her cheeks as she heard Kuroto-Kun's blunt words and all the petting she was getting. She nodded shyly and silently went away as Kuroto grinned looking at the cute reaction he got from teasing her.

Anyway, after finishing recording the data, Kuroto tidied up and then ate the hotpot Yue brought.

In addition to bringing food for Kuroto, Yue also brought a piece of news, or rather she also informed him that Hizashi-sama wants to meet him.

Obviously, Kuroto can't deny this, Hizashi-sama has great influence within the Hyuga clan, and he is also the person responsible for the affairs between the village and clan, therefore Kuroto can't reject this.

So, he nodded to show his approval.

At night in an izakaya.

Hyuga Hizashi looked at Kuroto while smiling as he asked gently, "Why to agree to meet only here?"

Kuroto said casually, "Hizashi-sama must be aware that now I am appointed in the Anbu Ops directly under Hokage-sama, so it is better to keep some distance from the clan, this is good both for the clan as well as me."

However, the real reason is the fear of exposing the Tenseigan, after all, members of the Hyuga clan continuously pass by while he is on the clan grounds, and if someone opened the Byakugan even by mistake, then the Tenseigan would be exposed.

While here in the Izakaya, the two of them are just chatting privately, naturally no reason to worry, Hizashi-sama would also not use Byakugan for no reason, so the chances of his Tensegan being discovered will be greatly reduced.

Of course, this is just him being too paranoid and cautious.

In fact, because of the perception ability of the Byakugan, the Hyuga clansmen generally do not use Byakugan while in the village. After all, keeping the Byakugan activated is kind of snooping around on the ninjas of the same village, and no liked to be spied on.

But it never hurt to be careful! And as the saying goes, it's better safe than sorry!

Well even though Kuroto just gave the previous reply as an excuse but Hizashi-sama was deeply impressed by his thinking, and nodded seriously: "Well you are right to think as such! The higher-ups of the Hokage clan are very guarded against us noble clans."

This fact is very clear from the recent arrangements in the village, and Uchihas aren't the only ones Konoha authorities are keeping under monitoring.

The suppression of the Uchihas is also worrisome for the Hyugas.

Kuroto opted to stay silent as this topic is too sensitive to be discussed here, so to divert the direction of the conversation he decided to ask the main question, "So Hizashi-sama, may I ask what is the purpose for you to meet me?"

Hizashi-sama spoke seriously, "Next month, the village will initiate a vote of confidence for the promotion of Jonin."

Under normal circumstances when a Special Jonin is promoted to the rank of a Jonin, it is necessary to pass a small-scale vote of confidence, and this also the reason why Hyuga Hizashi met Kuroto.

Hizashi continued: "There is a senior member of the main family, currently at the rank of Special Jonin, participating in the promotion test, and since you are now in the Anbu Ops under Hokage-sama, so not only you have the right to vote but your vote is also of great value, so I hope you can help in this matter."

Listening to Hizashi-sama's request, Kuroto smiled and nodded happily, "Don't worry Hizashi-sama, it shall be done!"

Right now, as Hizashi-sama asked him for supporting the member of the main family, Kuroto really felt the change in his political status, back when he was only a wartime chunin, let alone participating, he wasn't even qualified to have information about such things.

And now, the higher-ups of the Hyuga clan are also asking him for such things!

Of course, the reason why he agreed so happily is also his selfishness.

Unlike the domineering Ucihhas, the Hyugas have always been the calm and low-key type, so their reputation in the village has always been much better than the Uchihas, and many ninjas are willing to team-up with the Hyugas, therefore, supporting the clan is not burdensome for him, in fact, it is rather advantageous to increase the influence of the Hyuga clan and have them as his backing.

After a few more light conversations, the two parties bid goodbye to each other and left the Izakaya.

Early the next morning, when Kuroto was going out to collect some samples of poisons in the Death Forest, a figure blocked his path.

Without waiting for Kuroto to respond, he asked coldly, "Hey, kid, you are Hyuga Kuroto right?"

Although Kuroto was curious why his identity was asked he still nodded.

While playing with a kunai in his hand, the other party stated, "I am Uchiha Shinichi, and I heard that you defeated Shisui not long ago. So, I came here to have a duel with you, I want you to understand that the Uchihas are not so easy to mess around with, the name of Uchiha cannot be trampled so casually by the likes of you!"

Kuroto's face was indifferent during the whole time Uchiha Shinichi continued with his monologue, and after he ended, Kuroto only said lightly, "I am sorry, I am busy right now so you should maybe come another time, or maybe it would be better if you don't come at all!"

Hearing Kuroto's light reply, Shinichi snorted arrogantly, "You don't have an option here!"

Title: The Uchiha's Challenge?

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Read up to Chapter - 123 on P.A.T.R.E.O.N. : p atreon.com/Milta_translations