While rumours continued to spread, Arthur remained invisible in the background.
He had secured his headquarters, but a base was meaningless without authority.
Thus, he focused on honing his newfound Kekkei Genkai: ice style.
Ice style was considered a special bloodline trait. It allowed users to combine the power of water and wind to manipulate ice. This Kekkei Genkai was feared, particularly by the Land of Mist, where the Yuki clan wielded this power.
Ice ninjutsu can take many forms. Haku, the most notable user, could create intricate ice structures and even teleport between them. Other users can create ice weapons, freeze opponents with a touch, or even manipulate their own body temperature.
A common feature of it is its ability to drastically lower the surrounding temperature.
Now that Arthur had three million ryō, it was time to meet his needs.
With a traveler's hood pulled low over his transformed face, he slipped into the town's most utilitarian hotel, blending seamlessly.
A week's stay cost him a small pittance—a hundred ryō for a room and basic amenities. Comfort mattered little to him; his true solace lay in honing his abilities.
Arthur was no stranger to a life on the move. He thrived in the quiet solitude of the wilderness.
Venturing out at night, he found a remote valley, surrounded by the towering pines that encircled it. A small, frozen lake lay at the heart of the valley.
It was a perfect training ground—isolated, serene, and conducive to manipulating water.
The essence of ice style was the fusion of two elements: wind and water. Arthur's main affinity was for water. So even after acquiring the wind element, he still needed to train it because of its foreign nature.
Naruto, with the help of all the Tailed Beasts, was able to utilize a multitude of elements during his epic fight with Kaguya. Arthur, however, didn't have a Tailed Beast. He was his own person, constantly growing at his own pace.
The initial hurdle was steep. It took him a grueling twelve hours of focused training, pushing his chakra reserves to the limit, before he managed to execute his first successful ice technique.
The technique was a defensive one: "Ice style: glacial dome."
He channeled his chakra into the very air around him. Moisture coalesced, rapidly freezing as a transparent igloo-like dome materialized.
This shell of ice, strong enough to withstand the onslaught of multiple explosive tags, offered a temporary shield against almost any assault.
While the Crystal Ice Mirrors technique, a more advanced ice technique, was tempting, its byzantine network of interlocking mirrors was too demanding of his chakra.
Arthur wasn't one for flashy techniques; practicality was his priority.
Instead, he turned his attention to two other techniques: "A Thousand Needles of Death" and "Shattering Ice Spears."
The former transformed water into a volley of razor-sharp ice needles that could be launched at the enemy with blinding speed. It was great for silent lethality, ideal for taking down unsuspecting opponents or creating a diversion.
The latter summoned a brutal arsenal—massive ice spikes erupting from the ground, impaling their targets with ruthless efficiency.
This technique, swift and merciless, was a guaranteed kill for the unsuspecting opponent.
Hours turned into days as Arthur practiced relentlessly, his perfection over ice style solidifying with each iteration.
He spent time manipulating the surrounding moisture with water chakra and sculpting intricate ice formations with wind chakra, only to shatter them until they were perfect.
His movements grew more fluid, and his control over the Kekkei Genkai became more precise. He was far from an elitist, but the foundation was laid.
The potential, he knew, was becoming limitless.
Some time later.
The icy winds of the valley carried the faint echo of shattered ice from Arthur's training. With a satisfied sigh, he deactivated his Glacial Dome, allowing the sunlight to bathe the clearing in warmth.
Good progress. But power, he knew, was relative.
Returning to the town's hilltop, he stood in the stillness as his gaze drifted across the landscape.
The Sun Stream Plaza project was undoubtedly developing. Yet he felt uneasy.
Arthur needed options.
His mind turned once again to the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist. Two already lay with his scrolls: the Executioner's Blade and the Boltswords. But his ambition craved the complete set.
A collection like that, in the right hands, could be an unparalleled force.
Kisame Hoshigaki wouldn't relinquish Samehada without a fight. He was, honestly, the perfect host.
Acquiring Samehada meant a clash with a powerful opponent, a potential complication Arthur wasn't eager to face right now.
The other blade, Hiramekarei, wielded by the current Mist Village leader's successor, Chōjūrō, presented a different challenge.
Arthur knew Chōjūrō's strength didn't compare to Kisame's, but the problem was location. He still lacked the information he needed to navigate to the hidden Mist Village.
Dismissing those two swords for the moment, he focused on the remaining three: the Blunt Blade, the Long Blade, and the Explosive Blade.
All the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist wielded a collection of fearsome blades, each with its own unique and deadly abilities.
The Blunt Blade, or Kabutowari, isn't a single weapon but rather a combination of two. It consists of an axe and a hammer, linked together by a flat leather rope.
This two-handed weapon's true power lies in its ability to be used in tandem. The wielder can first strike with the axe to breach defenses and then follow up with a devastating blow by slamming the hammer down on the blunt backside of the axe.
This forceful maneuver creates a powerful wedge that can smash through even the most formidable obstacles. It can even generate shockwaves when the hammer is slammed into the ground.
Next was the Long Blade, also known as Nuibari, meaning "sewing needle." This slender sword resembles a large needle with a long, thin wire attached to its base—perfectly embodying its name.
The Long Blade's true strength lies in its ability to pierce through multiple targets with a single thrust. The attached wire then allows the user to sew the pierced targets together, effectively creating bundles of incapacitated enemies.
Skilled users can even throw the sword and catch it at the other end, creating a web of enemies entangled with the wire. What's most intriguing about it is that the wire can potentially bind chakra, stopping techniques in its tracks.
Finally was the Explosive Blade, or Shibuki. It takes a unique approach to combat by incorporating explosive tags into swordsmanship.
This double-sided blade features a sharp edge for cutting and a wide platform on the other side. The platform holds a scroll filled with explosive tags.
When an opponent comes into contact with the platform, the ingenious design triggers the tags to ignite and detach, creating a powerful explosion. This strategy offers the user a limited escape window from the blast radius while compensating for any recoil from the explosion.
The weapon also possesses a self-reloading mechanism, automatically loading another segment of explosive tags onto the platform after each detonation.
These three swords were likely lost after their original owners' deaths.
The name that sparked Arthur's interest most, however, was "Mangetsu Hōzuki."
That character was the only one capable of utilizing all seven swords at once!
If what Arthur read from the story was true, Mangetsu carried a scroll that housed some of the swords before his death. However, this information was subjective, as it was never revealed how or when the swords came into his possession.
Intrigued, Arthur decided to gather more information. He wasn't one for blind pursuits. A well-researched plan was key to his success.
Stepping off the hill, he made his way back to the town.
The sheriff's office drew him in since the town reportedly "breaths information."
The office was quiet, despite being late in the afternoon. The burly man from before sat behind his cluttered desk, a half-eaten doughnut abandoned on a plate.
Arthur assumed his role as a journalist, eager for information and ready to convey a great story to the public.
"Excuse me," he said.
The man looked up in surprise. Acknowledging Arthur, he said, "Yes, yes. What is it?"
Arthur settled into the chair opposite the man with a relaxed posture and said, "I have a name I'm hoping you can shed some light on: Mangetsu Hōzuki. Any information you might have would be appreciated."
The man frowned, scratching his beard thoughtfully.
"Mangetsu Hōzuki… the name sounds familiar. Let me see…" He rummaged through a drawer, pulling out a thick ledger and flipping through its pages. "Ah, here it is."
He pointed to the ledger, allowing Arthur to lean closer to scan it.
The report was brief but informative. Mangetsu Hōzuki, a former Mist ninja and a skilled swordsman, had been killed during an ambush on his way to a small town not too far from here.
The details were sketchy, but it appeared the attackers were rogue bandits operating in the area. To think a ninja so skilled that he could use all seven special swords was taken down in a surprise attack.
It just goes to show that being powerful is only part of the game.
But what of the sword(s) Mangetsu possessed? Did it fall into the hands of the bandits? Or was it lost, hidden somewhere near the town?
"Where exactly is this town?" Arthur asked. "And what can you tell me about it?"
"It's a small, remote settlement," the man explained. "Not much happens there. Why the sudden interest?"
Arthur could sense his curiosity, but it wasn't laced with suspicion.
"Just a story," he replied casually. "Heard a name, and it sparked an idea. You know how journalists are, always chasing inspiration."
The man grunted with amusement, softening his features. Writers were a peculiar breed, that much he knew. But he wasn't about to pry into the details of Arthur's fictional pursuits.
"The town," the man said, scratching his beard thoughtfully. "It's not a big place, just a few dozen families at most. Quiet folks; keep to themselves. Not much excitement there, never has been."
"Sounds peaceful," Arthur remarked, though his attention was already focused on heading there.
It was nestled amidst rolling hills far to the west. A journey of a few hours, perhaps.
"Just don't go tarnishin' Wizened Town's reputation in your stories," the man cautioned with a gruff chuckle. "Honest folks here deserve a bit of peace."
Arthur chuckled in return and said, "Wouldn't dream of it."
With a brief exchange of thanks, he exited the office. The sun was beginning its descent, prompting him to make haste.
The journey was uneventful. He traveled quickly, opting for speed over comfort. By the time night fell, he had finally arrived close to the town's vicinity.
The town itself was comprised of simple wood and clay buildings, nestled among rolling hills. A single oil lamp sputtered in the center square, casting a dim glow.
It was peaceful, almost unsettlingly so.
More so, it wasn't particularly large; a cursory glance revealed no obvious signs of recent battles or disturbances. But Arthur wasn't relying on sight alone.
He activated his Tamashii. The world sharpened around him. His visual senses expanded, allowing him to see in the dark with perfect clarity.
But that wasn't all. He focused, searching for traces of the faint chakra impulses that coursed through the dead, even those buried beneath the earth.
There was nothing outside. So he scanned the town systematically, his gaze passing over sleeping forms nestled inside homes.
His focus then shifted to the outskirts, towards small plots of land covered in overgrown weeds.
Arthur deactivated his Tamashii.
He hadn't found what he was looking for. No faint signatures emanating from beneath the earth, and no signs of dead bodies outside the town.
Disappointment threatened him, but he quickly pushed it down. The absence of a body didn't necessarily mean the absence of a grave.
He silently entered the town. Keeping to the shadows, he made his way towards the cemetery, a quiet repose.
A tombstone caught his attention. Squinting, he could just make out the inscription: "Mangetsu Hōzuki."
He had found it!