The doors of the laboratory whooshed open, allowing Tayuya to enter. Her eyes landed on Brie, who was still organizing the samples from Kimimaro.
"Where's Rin?" Brie casually asked upon noticing her.
Tayuya gave her usual defiant expression while rolling her eyes. "She's bathing in the hot springs after she took a serious injury during our last training session."
"Let me guess," Brie replied with a smile. "You were the cause?"
Tayuya ignored her playful attitude, opting to look at Arthur to say, "She wanted to thank our lord for having survived that experiment he did on himself."
Arthur continued his tasks, seemingly unperturbed by their conversation. Tayuya acknowledged the silence with a slight smirk.
"What are you planning next, lord Arthur?" she pressed.
His gaze remained steady, avoiding hers entirely. He was never one to divulge much about his goals, though Tayuya had displayed a knack for perceiving the nuances. So he simply answered, "You already know…"
"A little," she confessed, looking down. "Since you revived Rin, I take it that means you're looking to revive more ninjas."
Brie adjusted her glasses and teased, "You're smarter than you look, Tayuya."
Tayuya's expression hardened at the subtle jab. "I'll have you know I was once one of Orochimaru's elite guards, so don't underestimate me."
Brie lightly chuckled, feeling more relaxed than anything.
"I'm just saying," she said. "Besides, the last elite guard lord Arthur disposed of was recently killed, and the body's now resting in the freezing unit."
Tayuya's eyes narrowed as she wondered, "What? Someone was killed? Who?"
Brie smiled mischievously, knowing Tayuya would be interested. "You remember Kimimaro, right? The one who was supposed to be Orochimaru's vessel?"
Memories of Tayuya's former leader came rushing back to her. She had been part of the Sound Four, and during the time they attempted to bring Sasuke Uchiha into Orochimaru's fold, their group was dismantled. Kimimaro was their leader before he became terminally ill, so she recalled.
"Wait—are you saying lord Arthur killed Kimimaro?" she asked in disbelief.
Brie nodded in humor.
"Yeah, that's the one," she smiled. "He sure did look strong, but lord Arthur took him down with ease."
Tayuya took a slight step back as she processed the implications of those words.
"But I thought Kimimaro was sick, so it can't be him, can it?" she asked, furrowing in confusion.
Since Arthur's name was used and he wasn't denying those claims, it had to be true.
Arthur finished what he was doing and walked up towards Tayuya.
"How would you feel if I revived your former allies?" he suddenly asked her.
Tayuya's hesitation was clear as day, but she quickly regained her composure and replied, "I wouldn't mind, lord Arthur… As long as they agree to serve you."
"Very well," he said. "Then I'll revive them, and they shall serve me… Go… Tell Ryūzetsu to be ready, so I can do just that."
Tayuya immediately lowered herself, feeling anxious at what she was about to say.
"I would love to accompany you on this task," she said as if desperate. "I feel as if I haven't been useful enough lately."
Arthur's expression remained the same—calm and collected.
"Oh… But you have been useful. Has Rin not excelled faster than I'd expected? Has she not proven to be a valuable asset to me after succeeding in her last mission?"
Tayuya's face lit up having forgotten these things. "You're right, my lord. I do apologize, and I'm also grateful since this is coming from you."
When he didn't say anything, it sent a shiver down her spine. This made her still until he spoke.
"The Leaf Village has finished an autopsy on your former comrades and is transporting their corpses," he revealed. "I've been waiting for this transportation to commence so that I could go, ambush them, and take their corpses to revive later."
Tayuya's eyes widened in alarm, and she begged to accompany him on the mission.
"Please, let me come with you!" she pleaded. "I would love nothing more!"
But Arthur firmly shook his head. This caused her face to fall with disappointment. Brie couldn't help but smile at her misery.
"If I may ask, my lord, and I do apologize if I am stepping out of line, but why can I not accompany you? I've done all that you've asked."
"That you have," he coolly regarded her. "Yet you don't know the specifics of the Leaf Village's plans… There's a certain person taking charge of that transportation mission, and her name is Alice."
…
Sunlight phased through Tsunade's office. Alice stood at attention with a straight posture.
Tsunade was seen leaning forward in her chair, her fingers steeped in a steeple as she thoughtfully regarded Alice.
"I want to thank you for your invaluable assistance with the science division in analyzing the bodies of Orochimaru's deceased henchmen," she sincerely said.
"It was no problem at all," Alice replied with a smile, though Tsunade's gaze suggested that she didn't quite believe her.
"No 'problem' would downplay the many contributions you've made to this village," Tsunade countered. "You've been an asset even before I became the Hokage."
This was true on many accounts. Because of foreknowledge and her diligent training, Alice truly was a gem among crystals. So many groups wanted her to join them.
"Are you absolutely sure you don't want to be a part of the Anbu division?" Tsunade asked. "You'd be a perfect fit and would be one of my elite guards."
Alice, with a faint smile, slowly shook her head and quirked, "I appreciate the offer, but I just like the simple things."
Tsunade arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "Simple things? I'm surprised to hear that from someone with your skills. Is there a reason for it?"
Inwardly, Alice remembered how dark the Anbu Black Ops were. She understood the weight of their purpose—often bleak with too many secrets and moral ambiguity. Their existence was a necessary evil for protecting the village, but it was a path she didn't want to take.
She and the other players had made a pact to advance to the Jōnin level, to assist Naruto and protect the village without stepping too far into the darkness.
"Let's just say I'm not in it for the fame or the dark thrill," she finally replied.
Tsunade softly chuckled before saying, "Live a sheltered life while you can then. It's good to have a moral compass in these times. But I'll be damned if I lose a talent like you to anyone."
Alice nodded, understanding the weight of Tsunade's words. "I promise I'll stick around and help in any way I can, my lady."
With a serious expression, Tsunade folded her arms on the desk.
"That being said," she began, retrieving a set of files from a nearby drawer, "let's overview your next mission… As you know, the corpses we analyzed belonged to former Sound ninjas, and their secure transport is of the utmost importance. For that reason, you'll be in charge of the five-man cell accompanying you."
Alice's brow furrowed slightly. "Five people for corpse transport? That seems a little excessive, my lady. Can't we just get them to the destination without a smaller unit?"
"I'd love nothing more than to have more ninjas at the ready," she agreed. "But Orochimaru has been quiet as of late, which makes him unpredictable. It's best to assume he might want to take revenge or at least attempt to reclaim what was lost. We can't take any chances with his potential return."
"While I appreciate the need for caution, I don't remember Orochimaru caring very much about the Sound Four."
"Even so, this is pivotal," Tsunade pressed. "I won't risk your safety or the village's stability because we underestimated him. Trust me. I've dealt with enough threats to know when to play it safe."
Alice conceded, seeing there was no convincing the Hokage once she had made up her mind. As such, Tsunade slid the mission documents across the desk, and she picked them up, scanning through the details.
As she flipped through the pages, she noticed the names of the shinobi assigned to her cell: 'Iruka Umino, Inoichi Yamanaka, Hayate Gekko, and Aoba Yamashiro…'
Alice was well aware of each of these characters.
Everyone practically knew who Iruka was. After all, he was written to have embodied resilience and compassion shaped by personal tragedy. Orphaned at a young age due to the Nine-Tails attack, he experienced the pain of losing his parents.
In the aftermath, he struggled with feelings of loneliness and sought attention through mischief, trying to fill the void left by the absence of his family. Despite the hardships, he found solace in the kind words of the third Hokage, who later became his mentor and guide, helping him navigate his grief and channel his energies positively.
As he matured, Iruka transitioned from being a field shinobi to a dedicated teacher at the Academy, compelled by a desire to nurture the next generation. His experiences inspired him to impart the values of the "Will of Fire" to his students, particularly Naruto Uzumaki, whom he initially found challenging to connect with due to the main character's connection to the Nine-Tails.
Nonetheless, Iruka's innate kindness led him to approach teaching with a balance of strictness and care. He became a significant figure in Naruto's growth, guiding him towards being a strong ninja while preventing him from spiraling into darkness.
Alice quite liked Iruka. She speculated that if it wasn't Sasuke Uchiha, Iruka was likely to become Naruto's best man at his wedding.
Next was Inoichi Yamanaka. He was written to be a calm and perceptive figure within the shinobi community, particularly known for his skills in intelligence and interrogation.
He partnered with Shikaku and Chōza—Shikamaru's and Chōji's fathers—when he started as a Genin and was actively involved in crucial missions, including efforts to maintain peace during the Third Shinobi World War.
When the Nine-Tails attacked, he defended his village alongside his teammates, showcasing his strong commitment to the Leaf Village. His role as an interrogator helped extract vital information during critical moments, demonstrating his analytical and composed demeanor even under pressure.
As the head of the Yamanaka clan, he became quite dedicated to passing knowledge along to Alice upon recognizing her strength. It was honestly thanks to him that she could afford such a lavish apartment on the highest floor.
His pride in Alice makes him believe that she embodies the symbolic significance of the bush clover.
Although Alice had never seen it, the other players informed her that in his final moments during the Fourth Shinobi World War, three years from now, he exemplified his selflessness and dedication to his duties by sacrificing himself to relay critical information to the Allied Shinobi Forces.
They were going to make sure that an event like that wouldn't happen again.
Hayate was next on the list. In the original story, he was stated to be a dedicated and skilled shinobi who faced tragedy and responsibility with a calm demeanor.
When he was a Genin, he was placed in a team with ninjas Ibiki Morino and Tokara. Throughout Hayate's time as a shinobi, he demonstrated a fair commitment to his village, taking on dangerous missions, including spying on formidable opponents like Kabuto and Baki when they tried attacking the Leaf.
Despite suffering from a chronic cough and showing signs of fatigue, he earned respect from his fellow ninja and held a significant role during the Chūnin Exams as a proctor.
Almost everyone knew about his relationship with Yūgao Uzuki, whom he trained in kenjutsu. Their training not only strengthened their combat skills but also formed into a romantic bond.
It was thanks to Alice and the others that he managed to survive this long. His death was by the hands of Baki during the Leaf's invasion, which turned out differently since the Sand chose to retreat.
Finally on Alice's team was Aoba, who was written to represent levity and competence, characterized by his easygoing demeanor and supportive nature among his comrades.
He was in a lot of important events earlier in the series. His jovial personality often manifested in jokes, masking moments of anxiety with humor. However, beneath this lighthearted exterior was a strategic mind that shows when situations escalate.
As a Special Jōnin, he possesses impressive skills and a solid understanding of diverse ninja techniques. He was also known for his genius-level intuition, which allowed him to adapt to many combat scenarios.
Alice was told that he fought against Hidan and Kakuzu, two Akatsuki members, three years from now and survived. That's not to disregard that he was on a team with Asuma and Shikamaru.