An unknown amount later.
Inside, the ambience remained relatively quiet—if quiet was the right word to use. Rin, Brie, Tayuya, Ryūzetsu, and even Koko were all intermingling.
"I told you to stop running around the lab!" Tayuya demanded, stomping her feet. Koko obliged, calling her 'mom number two.' A second later, she continued her playful zooms. "I'm not your mom!"
Brie and Ryūzetsu were working on chemicals, to which the latter found fascinating. Meanwhile, Rin was busy fiddling with fingers.
Within the depths of the vat, something stirred that no one noticed. Arthur's eyelids slowly lifted, revealing glowing red orbs that pierced through the liquid darkness.
He felt a weightlessness surrounding him, completely opposite of the pain he'd undergone since he'd first entered. He reached for the oxygen mask covering his face and slowly peeled it away. He then formed a hand sign before his eyes flared open.
Before the alarms could go off, the vat began to crack and crumble under the pressure of his burgeoning chakra. Then boom!
The impact was like thunder. With an explosive force, the vat shattered, spilling chemicals and hot spring water across the laboratory floor. A green mist erupted in plumes, enveloping everything in a thick mist.
Rin and the others recoiled, but it was too late. The mist swathed them whole.
No one needed to say it; they all felt it—the unmistakable presence of Arthur.
Koko tuned in first, screaming how "daddy" was finally awake.
The sight that awaited them left them speechless. Arthur stood amidst the remnants of the broken vat—solemn and majestic, though stark nude. The thick haze helped preserve his dignity.
Through it, Rin squinted, straining her eyes to glimpse the figure. She couldn't make out his outline. He looked smaller, but she knew that it was him.
There was something almost ethereal about his figure as he began to move his hands, opening and closing by his face.
"Is that you, my lord?" Rin's asked.
In that moment, the air shifted. Whatever he was releasing, it was enough for everyone to feel an invisible weight pressing down on them. Then they heard his echoing voice from every corner.
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Mathew 5:48)."
It was a verse from the King James Version of the Bible.
Rin found herself momentarily disarmed as she registered the words. It sounded like a child's, but it unmistakably belonged to Arthur.
In that moment, they all shared the same thought: the experiment had succeeded.
Arthur's chakra—not just his physical form—had transformed, transcended something beyond their expectations. They each felt joyous at the results.
But there was a seeming issue.
"Don't breathe in the fumes!" she warned the others.
A dangerous mixture like that was enough to sap their strength with every moment they stood there. But to her surprise, though, she didn't feel the burning sting that was supposed to accompany the toxic gases.
The air remained thick, but they all found themselves able to breathe in the fumes without side effects. Was it Arthur's doing? They couldn't tell.
They each watched as his silhouette disappeared entirely. The room fell silent as the remaining green mist faded into the emergency vents.
"What just—?" Ryūzetsu began till her voice trailed off at the stunning experience.
Arthur's chakra felt as if it had pulled them all deeper into the moment. It was beautiful, a display of rawness that seemed to defy explanation.
"Hey, mom number one," Koko said with a smile, referring to Brie. "How long had daddy been in the vap?"
"It's 'vat,'" Brie corrected. She shook her head, still trying to absorb the recent occurrence. "and
Brie shook her head, still absorbing the weight of the occurrence. Then she finally confirmed, "Four days… He was in there for four days."
Far from the confines of the lab, Arthur found himself at the top of a high mountain, naked under the open sky.
The air carried the chill of the altitude over the snow-capped peaks. Oddly enough, he felt no discomfort from the freezing temperatures. Instead, he was warm thanks to his newly transformed physique.
He stood tall as he ran his fingers through his damp hair, clearing away the last remnants of the liquid. When he finished, he stared out over the landscape. It was beautiful, but his eyes remained dark.
Beyond this realm's colourful mountains, he could feel something pulsing within him.
He knew he had changed, not just in bodily appearance but in all things related to chakra. His body felt twice as durable, almost as if he could walk on ice and not feel cold. He even felt as if the most potent poison or sharpest blade wouldn't be able to pierce him.
Every fiber of his being had been rejuvenated. His chakra levels, too, had multiplied. They flooded his senses like an immense current flowing through him.
Although it may not have reached the staggering heights of a Tailed Beast, it was nothing to scoff at.
Even more exhilarating was the potent spiritual energy intertwined within his chakra. It was far higher than he thought it would reach.
The spiritual energy component of chakra was essential in this world.
Chakra itself was formed through the combination of physical energy, derived from the body's cells, and spiritual energy, which was sourced from the mind's consciousness. This synergy was critical, as the strength and potency of chakra were influenced directly by the quality and quantity of spiritual energy produced by a ninja.
If a ninja had an abundance of spiritual energy within their chakra, their level of knowledge in control and potency in their techniques would be far greater than others.
This was why Alice bested Arthur in their last encounter—his spiritual energy wasn't as high as her innate Yamanaka skills were.
As everyone knew, spiritual energy could be amplified through reading, meditation, and personal experiences just like on earth. That meant that a ninja's knowledge and emotional maturity played a significant role in enhancing their chakra.
By practicing techniques repeatedly, a ninja increased their spiritual energy, allowing for greater potency in their techniques.
While Arthur was in that vat, he wasn't just practicing; he was surpassing his limits in a prison filled with needles prodding at every one of his cells.
Every second he was inside, he was communicating with his own spirit, connecting his chakra on a deeper level many couldn't bear to comprehend.
Just from breathing, he could feel the bridge between the physical and spiritual side of his chakra. Where he lacked in the latter, now they were in tandem, even surpassing his physical traits.
His emotions felt in check; his abilities yearned to be released. It was as if he had transcended into a realm that only a select few shinobi had ever crossed.
Many would have believed Arthur to be cruel and evil, but his chakra was yellow, signifying his inner bliss and positive emotions that have impacted his performance as a ninja.
He wasn't insane or confused in his beliefs; he was who he was!
With a gentle flex of his hands, he marveled at the minute changes coursing through his cells. Each one felt like a dynamo, charged and waiting, poised to release an arsenal of techniques at his command.
He felt like he didn't even need to perform a hand sign.
There was an exhilarating absence of any viruses within his body and no signs of discomfort that all too often disrupted one's concentration. In this moment, he was whole—a body fortified and united with purpose.
Yet, he remained humble, knowing something others wouldn't believe: this body was not invincible.
It could still be cut, could still be harmed. It was essential that he wielded this power wisely, ensuring he remained faithful to Christ. For without his belief in Jesus as his Lord, he would have never made it this far.
Memories passed through his mind, reminding him of the moments that had led him here—the trials of faith, the spiritual battles he had endured, each reaffirming his purpose in this world.
Arthur breathed softly, feeling the oxygen flow through his lungs seamlessly. He could breathe better. He had not become this because of his faith in Jesus Christ, who had transformed him.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," he recited from John 3:16.
In that tranquil space, he took a moment to thank the Lord—the kind of sincere gratitude that stemmed from genuineness and of the utmost honour.
Without any conviction in his heart, he coalesced the chakras in his body. They became tangible, misting out from his pores as he felt them sway at his command. In the next breath, he teleported away, leaving behind a white summit.
…
The sun was high up in the sky over the Leaf Village as Naruto Uzumaki and his former sensei, Iruka, stepped into Ichiraku Ramen.
"We're back!" Naruto shouted with his usual exuberance, ignoring the polite courtesies when it came to his beloved ramen.
"Welcome back, Naruto! Iruka!" Teuchi greeted with a wide smile. No fan was surprised how much the shop owner loved Naruto's presence. "What can I get for you two today?"
"I'll take the largest bowl of miso ramen you've got!" Naruto exclaimed, rubbing his hands together eagerly. "Extra chashu!"
"Make that two bowls, please," Iruka added with a smile.
As the two sat in their usual seats at the counter, they reminisced on old times. Within moments, steaming bowls of ramen were placed before them, and Naruto dug in without a second thought.
"Hey, Iruka-sensei!" he said after slurping half the bowl. "Can you believe how much things have changed?"
"What do you mean?" his former sensei asked.
"I mean, with all the missions I've been swamped with, I would have never thought I'd have time to be eating ramen with you again!"
"These moments are rare now, huh?" Iruka replied in a warm voice. "I would have thought Will was coming after you invited me."
"Oh, cuz?" Naruto answered, mouth full. "I think he went to get something for me from the Uzumaki Temple."
Although Naruto beamed at the prospect of what was to be gathered, Iruka was more surprised that William still knew so much about their clan.
That didn't stop the connection they all shared—Iruka had always believed in Naruto, much like the main character's catchphrase insinuated.
As the two continued, Naruto felt something odd inside himself. He set down his chopsticks and closed his eyes to concentrate. Within moments, he pulled into his subconscious.
The darkness gave way to the familiar setting of his inner world. Before him stood the large, cage that imprisoned the Nine-Tails, whose name was also Kurama, the devil fox. It was lounging lazily inside.
"Hey, Kurama!" Naruto called out. "You okay? Is something wrong?
The beast snorted, not quite used to Naruto treating it casually. "It's nothing. I had a bad dream, is all."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, feeling a tad amused. "You had a dream? I didn't know you could dream!"
The beast gave a rare blush but hid it well beneath its fur. "There are a lot of things you don't know about Tailed Beasts, kid. It's not exactly the best existence."
Naruto chuckled at the almost man-like undertone in Nine-Tails' voice. "What was it about?"
"It's not worth discussing," the beast replied in a gruff voice.
Naruto crossed his arms over his head and said with a smile, "Well, hope you start having good dreams soon."
At that, his form disappeared from his subconscious. The Nine-Tails dismissively sniffed his departure, but there was a subtle shift in its demeanor.
Once he opened his eyes and returned to Ichiraku, things continued normally as if he had never left. He looked over at Iruka, who finished the last drop of broth in his bowl.
"Hey, Iruka-sensei," he said. "Can you promise me something?"
"What's that?"
"Well, Will told me that friends always stick together no matter what. I don't wanna lose any more friends, so promise me that you'll stick with me until the end!"
Iruka could tell that his former student was referring to Sasuke. He was more intrigued at how insightful it was that William was to bring up such a powerful statement regarding relationships.
"Alright," he said without a second thought. "I promise!"
The declaration made Naruto's face shine even brighter than when he entered the shop. Truly, the main character valued friendship more than many would have believed. That's simply who he was—one who treasured his bonds above even himself.
Back in the cage, the Nine-Tails lay alone, contemplating how deep-rooted the world's suffering must be for him to have such a nightmare.
"Stay strong, Naruto. There's still a lot you don't know."