The group nodded in unison with everyone smiling. It felt like a new bond was being forged.
"That is a promise I will surely keep," Lee reaffirmed.
"Ya got that right," Naruto added.
As the moment of intimacy passed, Rin felt the weight of her past pressing against her. She took a step back from the cheerful gathering and slowly shifted toward the dōjō's entrance.
"We'll see you again, right?" Alice asked.
Rin turned back to answer, "You will. I believe it."
Before she could continue her exit, Naruto approached her and offered a fist bump. Rin had never seen this act, so she followed suit and did what she thought was right.
The two bumped fists as Naruto said, "Don't keep us waiting too long, okay?"
"I won't," Rin obliged with an earnest smile.
Seeking solitude, she finally departed to a secluded area outside of the village and away from Alice's sensing range.
The transition from victory to introspection settled heavily within her heart. Holding her chest, she thought about the 'what-ifs,' the memories that came rushing back with nostalgia.
"Minato-sensei… You would have been proud of him. And thank you, Kakashi…"
It was then that she was taken by surprise as she felt a sudden shift in the wind. In the blink of an eye, she found herself back at Sun Stream Plaza.
"Rin," Arthur greeted, already transformed as Kaito. His eyes focused intently on her as she reoriented herself. "How did it go?"
"I won," she said, her voice steady yet with a little uncertainty. "But… I learned more than I expected."
"And what did you learn?" he pressed, keen to extract the insights she had gathered while measuring her loyalty.
She first relaxed, sorting through her tangled emotions.
"Even though it was painful to experience, being there reminded me of what I've lost." She paused to collect her thoughts. "It also reminded me to keep my promise and help change the world with you."
Arthur examined her expression and her psyche.
"That level of maturity is commendable," he said, content with the results. "Accepting both your past and the things to come is a sign of growth."
Feeling a sense of relief, her smile returned—this time more genuine.
"Thank you, lord Arthur. Doing that at the dōjō… it was important. It brought me closer to understanding who I am now despite everything that's happened."
Why Arthur sent her on this mission was to ensure that not only she measure her strength but also her mind—all while confronting her past without his physical presence.
At any time, she could have run away, sought help, and told someone of his existence. But she stayed loyal, wishing to serve under him.
Despite how cold he often treated her, she felt his approval and that discomfort from earlier lighten by a lot.
"So I passed, then?" she finally asked.
"Yes," he confirmed.
As their conversation continued, Rin unpacked the duality of her victory—how it had opened old wounds while simultaneously offering her healing. Arthur asked pointed questions but allowed her the space she needed to convey her own thoughts, and as she spoke, she had also gained clarity.
She knew that a part of her had changed, but she willingly acknowledged it, knowing it was a necessity for the days to come. After all, the world she had once longed to shape was still out there, only with a twist of fate added.
As long as Arthur was by her side, she felt determined to fight for that world, one small step at a time.
After a moment of contemplation, she anchored her focus to Tayuya. In her heart, she thought her new sensei would have been here to greet her.
Arthur, knowing her thoughts, said, "Tayuya is on a mission; she'll be back shortly."
"Oh!" Rin said. "I see… So then, what have you been working on while I was gone?"
Arthur turned and gestured for her to follow until they eventually reached the laboratory. Inside, he said, "Preparations are an essential step in my own development…"
"What kind of preparations, if I may ask, my lord?"
He looked toward a massive cylindrical vat situated toward the back of the lab. It shone with a bioluminescent glow.
"I'm going to submerge myself inside… It's part of a body modification process."
Rin clearly wasn't aware of what that entailed. Arthur walked closer to the vat to explain.
"The modifications will focus on enhancing my bodily capabilities—strengthening my immune system to resist poisons, improving my chakra accumulation rate, and other enhancements necessary for survival in this world." He turned his gaze back to Rin. "These things are a necessity."
He was more than right. With all that's happened so far, he needed to exceed or at least stay on par with all the potential dangers constantly lurking about.
To even fathom how body modification worked, one must first understand that it's a very painful procedure. The level of discomfort varies greatly depending on the type and extent of the modification. And since Arthur knew that he would have to the extreme, the level of pain he'd experience would be great.
This specific procedure also carried an inherent risk since chakra was involved.
He could garner an infection not known to man, or even have an allergic reaction to the chemicals inside the vat. In some cases, more serious complications like nerve damage, scarring, or even bloodborne diseases can arise.
Did Arthur care? Not even close! If his body couldn't withstand these pressures, then he had no right to be in this world.
"My lord, what if something goes wrong?" Rin asked with genuine concern. "It all sounds so dangerous!"
"I understand your worry," he said to her. "Rest assured, I have no thoughts of dying."
Arthur, whose mind was an enigma, had personally developed this process. He'd conducted extensive research into the components being used.
The essence within the vat contains a mixture of chakra-enhanced fluids and specially formulated compounds designed to amplify his physical attributes without compromising his core. It was all designed to meet his body's already-enhanced physique.
He even went as far as calculating the risks should any complication occur.
Rin's expression softened. She was embarrassed to reveal how truly anxious she was for his well-being. Considering his explanation, she also felt a sense of admiration for how far he was willing to go.
In a softer tone, she pleaded, "Promise me that you'll take every precaution."
"Of course," Arthur replied, never once wavering. "I won't undertake this lightly, I assure you."
Her mind settled a little, yet the sense of foreboding was still present. Everything he did was always daunting.
"When are you going to start, my lord?"
"Now…" he stated matter-of-factly, jumping to the edge of the vat.
Rin nodded, but when it finally registered that he actually said "now," she became shocked.
"Wait, my lord! Let me at least help!"
"Oh," he said, opening the vat.
A plume of vaporized mist filled the air, which smelled of minerals and earthiness.
"I want to contribute in any way I can… I mean, to make sure things go in the right direction."
Without regarding her, he placed an oxygen mask over his face, ensuring he could breathe without inhaling any of the caustic vapors that would rise from the mixture.
Brie honestly would have been more suitable for this task as opposed to Rin, considering the former could understand the highly technical part of this act should something actually go wrong.
Not wishing to hear no for an answer, Rin added, "I want to be part of this, my lord! You've helped me confront my past and helped guide me. It's only right that I stand beside you now."
"Very well…" his muffled voice responded, looking once in her direction.
"Ah! Thank you, my—"
Before she could finish, he ripped off his garments until he was half naked. Rin's face became all the more red as he hopped right into the vat without another thought.
The moment he did, she ran forward to ensure his safety. His eyes were closed as bubbles rapidly overtook the vat and liquid began to seep out.
Without a second thought, she climbed to the top and closed the lid, believing that's what he would have desired her to do. Once it was tight and locked, she felt a burning sensation on her hands.
"Owe!" she said, shaking them. When she looked, she noticed it was the chemical substance within the vat. Then it dawned on him how serious of a matter he was in. "Please be okay, my lord."
The bubbling liquid enveloping Arthur swept over him like a shockwave. He felt every nerve in his body awaken, every cell screaming at him to exit. It was an immediate, primal instinct wired into his very being—a desperate call for survival.
Yet he remained motionless, focusing inward, his mind steeling against the onslaught of sensations.
Outside the vat, Rin watched nervously as she intently watched his body disappearing beneath the thick layer of liquid.
"You're not just experimenting with your strength," she whispered, "you're risking everything…"
She couldn't shake the fear that this was the moment he would choose to embrace peril and that she might lose him forever.
The door to the laboratory whooshed open, snapping Rin from her anxiety. Brie stepped inside, her expression shifting from curiosity to shock as she took in the sight before her.
"My lord, you've already begun?!" she exclaimed, rushing forward.
Rin spun to face her and explained that she was going to ensure his survival. Brie was honestly shocked, knowing that such a procedure should never be done alone.
The fact that Rin was here only meant that it had to be true—Arthur was okay with her watching. Smiling, Brie raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "Ah, I see… Looks like someone loves lord Arthur that much, huh?"
Rin blushed at the teasing, but her heart propelled her resolve.
"It's not about that!" she retorted, shaking her head vehemently. "I owe him after he saved me when I needed it the most, so I won't sit by and let him throw things away!"
Brie's demeanor softened; she could appreciate the sincerity in Rin's voice. Before she could tease any further, she noticed Rin's hands were red.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Oh," Rin said, looking at her palms. "I got some of that… whatever that is on my hands trying to close the top. It's okay, though! It'll heal in a moment. I just don't know why it's taking so long…"
It's then that Brie understood the levels of toxins added into the vat's mixture were to slow down the healing process and fight off against antibiotics. For it to affect things like the first Hokage's healing cells was a major deal.
"I like that you care for him that much," Brie stated, "but you know how dangerous this is, right?"
"I know," Rin quietly said, glancing back at the vat where undulating ripples disrupted the otherwise serene surface. "But I can't just stand here and watch without doing something."
Brie considered her for a moment. Not out of care but out of mischief, like looking at a potential lab rat. She leaned slightly closer to Rin and said, "Well, if you're that determined to stay, I suppose I can allow you a front-row seat—although Tayuya will be furious with me later."
"Please," Rin urged, almost desperate. "I have to help him. I can't let him do this without support."
"Fine, but you have to promise me you'll do me a huge favour later!"
"Ugh, okay?" Rin agreed, unsure of why she was looking at her that way.
As they positioned themselves beside the vat, Brie decided that she would explain things in case something went wrong. Rin listened while focusing on the green liquid bubbling like a cauldron.
"Please be okay, my lord," she whispered.
"Pay attention!" Brie demanded.
"Right, sorry…"