The sun blazed overhead as Arthur pressed on.
Some time ago, the Sand made a public apology to the Leaf Village leaders that seemed quite sincere. It was due to the failed invasion that, while they relayed the matter to the Leaf, they never participated in.
They had believed it would have never happened, going as far as withdrawing from the Chūnin Exams to save face.
The Leaf, of course, deemed their apology sincere and didn't fault them on their decision. If anything, the Leaf could have turned the table and invaded them since they were without a Kage.
All those events that transpired were only tales of valor from those wishing to play hero—the players.
The hot wind continued to whip through the sand as Arthur walked. He surveyed the vast horizon, wondering if he would soon spot the cliffs that concealed the village from outsiders. His footfalls were steady, crunching in the shifting sands with each stride westward.
Although the landscape was monotonous, he understood his location. The craggy hills would signal he was close.
The sun beat down mercilessly against the parched earth. Sweat trickled down his temples, but he didn't wipe it away. His face remained impassive as he moved with a deliberate, almost mechanical gait.
When the winds weren't violently rushing across his cloak, all that could be heard was his footsteps echoing faintly in the oppressive silence.
The desert stretched like an endless sea of sand dunes. Not a single blade of grass dared to break the monotony of the beige expanse. The air, thick with heat, distorted the distant horizon, making it seem like he was moving.
Arthur continued his journey, his eyes fixed on the distance. Thirst gnawed at his throat, but he ignored it, pressing on. He knew an oasis lay ahead, so there was no need to think about water.
As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the sand, the air began to cool.
Arthur eventually found a small, sheltered alcove beneath a rock formation and settled down for the night.
The stars, brilliant and numerous, twinkled above him, offering a celestial counterpoint to the harshness of the day. It was times like these, when he wasn't in the city or thinking about his entrapment in this world, that he could find rest.
He recalled the words of the holy scriptures, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:2-3)
The promise of peace and restoration in the lord was all that he had and all that he needed.
The next morning, the sun rose again. The heat returned with a vengeance, but Arthur continued his journey without complaints.
It would have been smarter to move during the night, but moving during the day is generally safer due to increased visibility, making navigation easier and reducing the risk of unseen hazards.
Landmarks are also more easily spotted during daylight hours, aiding in maintaining course and avoiding getting lost. While daytime heat is a concern, the body could better regulate its temperature while the sun was out, allowing for shade-seeking and rest during the hottest periods.
Additionally, many desert animals are nocturnal, increasing the risk of encounters with potentially dangerous creatures during nighttime travel. Arthur's chakra would need to be conserved in case an enemy unexpectedly came.
He moved with the same pace, focused solely on the task at hand. Days turned into nights, and nights into days. He traversed the terrain, his body adapting to the harsh conditions more effectively than most.
His water reserves had long been diminished. But he didn't mind. He knew that reaching the Sand Village was paramount, and that if he were to continue surviving in this world, he would need to venture there.
On the fourth day, a mirage materialized on the horizon. As he drew closer, the mirage resolved itself—an oasis, an island in the sea of sand.
Palm trees swayed in the breeze. A crystal-clear pool, fed by a hidden spring, reflected the sky.
Arthur calmly reached the oasis. He knelt beside the pool, thanked God, cupped his hands, and drank deeply of the cool water.
Afterwards, several hours passed, and just as he was beginning to question his sense of direction, the earth began to rise into towering rock formations that framed an entrance to a narrow valley.
He had arrived.
The cliffs overlooked the entrance that led to the Sand Village. He paused, activating his Tamashii for any signs. But the desert was silent save for the mournful winds.
From a distance, the entrance looked like some mouth ready to swallow anything attempting to enter. It truly looked like what he remembered.
Many fans would gawk at this area. And many of them were right in how overly sandy this place was. Some would go as far as wishing to dwell here.
But Arthur had no desire of being detained; he was here for knowledge.
He continued to assess the area, looking for any potential threats. There, he spotted a pair of guards near the entrance, their uniforms blending into the sandy landscape.
Those were undoubtedly Sand shinobi based on their flak jackets, the standard brownish beige color many of them wore. They were alert but also bore the weariness of long hours in the sun.
Because the winds here were tolerable, Arthur would have no problem turning into smoke. Notwithstanding, there were a variety of ways he could infiltrate this village. The best way, however, was the subtle one.
He moved lightly, adjusting the folds of his cloak to mix in with the shadows cast by the cliffs. The guards shifted slightly, allowing him just the sliver of opportunity he needed. Sliding to the closed-off entrance, he quickly turned himself into smoke and slipped right through without being seen.
Next, he ventured into the narrow passageway of the valley. After a few paces, he was finally inside the famous Sand Village.
The scene before him was one to marvel at. The village opened up into a collection of clay buildings, adorned with various patterns that showcased their history.
It wasn't as colorful as the Leaf Village or as saturated as the Mist Village, but it held its merits of being more than inhabitable.
The air here was also manageable. And despite the harshness of their environment outside, this village had a clear cultivated beauty to it.
To think something like this could exist within the desolate sands he had just traversed.
Arthur continued to move quietly, taking in the sights as he made his way deeper into the village. He weaved through the citizens, going unnoticed and unfazed by their bustling ways.
Then he heard the distant clang of metal on metal. Clearly, that was their student from their academy.
He remained methodical, absorbing every detail as he moved deeper. Although he was entirely focused on his own objectives, he couldn't help but try to understand the difference between the harsh desert landscape and this calm scene.
As he scanned the surroundings with his Tamashii, he recognized many familiar faces—Baki and other Sand elders were present; they were currently in a meeting about leadership.
There was a sense of rejuvenation among the citizens, something that was likely dread once they heard the news that their Kage had died. It almost felt like they all shared a sense of relief that emerged after the turmoil of the failed invasion.
Still, there was no sign of the Sand Siblings. Perhaps they were outside the village, training, or in a different location altogether.
Just as these thoughts filled his mind, he came to a sudden halt, sensing something—a familiar presence. It was Shira.
Interested, Arthur recalled their last encounter during the tournament. Shira had fought well, but in the end, he had been defeated by Neji. It was quite the impressive performance considering that neither party used any enhancement or chakra-based techniques.
Observing the faint tremors in the air, Arthur noticed Shira exerting his might not too far from the outskirts of the village.
There was something interesting about Arthur that most couldn't yet fully comprehend: his strength level. Throughout the many battles and training sessions he'd undergone, not all of them were able to accurately determine what his overall rank was.
He surely wasn't any s-ranked ninja, yet he possessed many techniques to classify him in that category. And while he had a special Sage Mode, that did not mean his base form matched that prowess.
Characters like Itachi could match the speed of Naruto in his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. Then there was Madara, who could easily trump Naruto's Sage-Enhanced Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
The day had just begun, meaning Arthur had more than enough time to spare and test his skills.
He slipped out of the crowd and made his way toward the sound of stone being pulverized beneath Shira's fists. He arrived to find the young fighter engaged in an intense training regimen, unleashing punches against massive boulders, causing the debris to fly in all directions.
If Arthur were to guess, Shira's skill level was better than a Chūnin's. While it wouldn't be enough to bring out the best in Arthur, like how Lars did, the still-Genin could help Arthur compare his strength against those at Shira's level.
"Alright, warm-up's over," Shira declared to himself, his brow glistening with sweat.
Arthur glanced around to ensure they were alone; he had little desire for an unexpected audience. Deeming the coast clear, he performed the transformation technique.
Just as he took a step closer to engage Shira, the sound of dust crunching beneath his foot caught Shira's attention.
Turning around, Shira's eyes widened upon recognizing the figure.
"Wait, I know you!" he exclaimed, visibly caught off guard. "You're Hoshikaze from the tournament!"
Arthur slightly inclined his head in acknowledgment.
He had become somewhat of a name in the ninja world after winning the tournament, and that recognition was growing in these regions as well.
"I see you've been training hard, Shira," he remarked. All traces of arrogance slipped from Shira's demeanor as he nodded, but Arthur continued, "Still, you are lacking. You rely too heavily on your brute strength."
Shira's brows furrowed as he lowered his head, understanding the weight of Arthur's words. The boy clearly had questions to ask, but the duty of desiring to be a shinobi exceeded his resolve.
"I know," he quietly replied, accepting the criticism. "That's why I've been working tirelessly on perfecting my taijutsu. I won't let my abilities hold me back."
This was to be expected after he had lost against Neji, vowing to continue getting stronger. He would have honestly already gotten stronger and might have contributed greatly if his character was expanded on.
But at the end of the day, he was still just a filler character.
Arthur observed him closely, noting the newfound confidence in his physique.
"I can see that your muscle density has improved since we last met," he offered.
It was true; Shira's efforts in honing his physical combat were commendable, especially in a world where so much focus was placed on flashy jutsu and other ninja techniques.
Shira smiled at the validation.
"Thanks! It means a lot coming from you." He paused, then curiously asked, "What brings you to the Sand Village?"
"Merely traveling," Arthur said in a calm tone. "I happened to sense a strong presence nearby and followed it."
The compliment made Shira blush slightly, a reaction Arthur found amusing. It was clear that Shira revered him as a worthy fighter.
"I'm flattered," the boy said with an awkward grin. "I'd like to think I'm alright and only good at taijutsu."
"Is that so?" Arthur pondered. "Then would you like to test your taijutsu on me?"
"Wait!" Shira responded, unable to contain his enthusiasm. "Are you serious? I mean, I wouldn't mind if that's okay."
What he truly wanted to do was bow himself and express how amazing it would be. The invitation of training with someone as great as "Hoshikaze" was not something most would pass up.