Oliver had always been more than just a warrior. Before he arrived in this world, his greatest weapons weren't just his bow or his fists—they were his mind and his ability to read people.
Now, after nearly a year of intense physical training, he realized something was missing. Strength alone wasn't enough to survive in a world of shinobi. He needed strategy, deception, and a deeper understanding of human nature.
He needed to sharpen his mind just as much as his body.
And so, he turned to the one skill set that had saved him countless times before—psychological manipulation, deduction, and misdirection.
Lessons from Another World
Growing up, Oliver had studied people. He could tell when someone was lying by the slight shift in their tone, the way their eyes flickered toward an exit, or how their fingers tensed when under pressure.
In another life, men like Patrick Jane had mastered the same craft—reading people like an open book, using simple misdirection to control a conversation, and predicting their next move before they even knew it themselves.
If Oliver was going to survive in the ninja world, he needed to integrate these skills into his arsenal.
Applying the Trickster's Mindset
1. Reading People
Oliver spent hours at Ichiraku Ramen, observing the people around him. He studied how they moved, spoke, and reacted to different situations.
• He noted the way merchants tightened their lips when they were about to overcharge a customer.
• He saw how villagers avoided eye contact with him—some out of fear, others out of resentment.
• He watched how shinobi carried themselves—the way a trained fighter always positioned their dominant foot slightly behind them, ready to strike at any moment.
He started using these observations in daily life.
When he sparred with Rock Lee, he didn't just dodge punches—he anticipated them based on the slightest shift in Lee's shoulders.
When he trained with Tetsuo, he noticed the subtle tension in the man's stance before an attack and adjusted his own movements accordingly.
Every detail mattered.
2. The Power of Misdirection
Ninjas relied on deception in battle, but Oliver took it a step further.
He practiced feints and fake-outs, baiting his opponents into attacking where he wanted them to.
During one sparring match with Lee, he intentionally left an opening in his defense—just enough for Lee to take the bait. When Lee lunged, Oliver sidestepped at the last second and countered with a precise strike using his tonfa.
With Tetsuo, he pretended to struggle against a heavier weapon, only to suddenly switch to a lighter one and overwhelm him with speed.
Even outside of combat, Oliver used deception to his advantage. Since some villagers refused to sell him supplies, he crafted new Transformation Jutsus—not just changing his appearance, but adjusting his body language, speech patterns, and habits to blend in perfectly.
It wasn't just a disguise anymore—it was an act.
3. Cold Reading & Manipulation
One evening, Oliver sat across from a skeptical Tenten, a smirk playing on his lips.
"You don't trust me, do you?" he said casually.
Tenten crossed her arms. "I never said that."
"You didn't have to." Oliver leaned forward. "The way you crossed your arms tells me you're closed off, but the fact that you're still sitting here means you're curious. You're tough, but you like precision. You care about details, which is why you don't rely on brute strength like Lee. And when you talk about your team, you always mention Neji first, even before your sensei—which means you admire him, but also want to prove something to him."
Tenten blinked, caught completely off guard. "How did you—"
Oliver just grinned. "It's all about observation."
From that moment on, Tenten looked at him differently—not just as a fighter, but as someone dangerous in a completely different way.
Mental Warfare & Strategy
Oliver knew that battles weren't just won with fists and weapons. The true battlefield was the mind.
1. He studied his opponents before fighting them. If they were impatient, he dragged the fight out. If they were arrogant, he baited them into mistakes.
2. He used words as weapons. A simple comment could throw an opponent off their game. Against someone like Neji, who prided himself on control, a well-placed taunt could create an opening.
3. He played the long game. He wasn't just thinking about his next fight—he was planning how to outmaneuver enemies before they even became threats.
A New Path: The Art of Seals
As his mind sharpened, Oliver realized something.
Psychological warfare was useful, but he needed a way to tip the odds even further in his favor.
That's when he turned to Fūinjutsu—the Art of Seals.
During his research in the library, he had come across mentions of sealing techniques—powerful tools that could store weapons, create traps, or even suppress chakra itself.
A shinobi who could read minds, deceive opponents, and manipulate the battlefield with seals?
That was a whole new level of power.
Oliver smirked.
It was time to begin his next phase of training.