The forest path was long. Sunlight cut through the foliage, giving them a clear view of the greenery.
Koko swung from branch to branch with surprising agility as Arthur walked. She let out delighted squeals when she managed to snag a particularly fat beetle or chase a flitting butterfly.
Arthur kept his senses up as he fixed his gaze on the path ahead.
Escaping the village was just the first step. Now, he had to get to the Fire Temple and access their special chakra to complete his technique. It was the best place to venture to lay low while still in the country.
If he remembered correctly, he would be dubbed a rogue ninja, and his information would be added to a list with other wanted ninjas.
Arthur would personally ensure not to let his face be seen in public. And what better way to hide his identity than with the transformation technique?
This universe had a plethora of characters for him to change his physical appearance to. Whether they were dead or not, he could always alter the minute details to ensure no one recognized him.
As he considered who he would transform into, suddenly, Koko stopped mid-swing, her tiny face crumpling in a frown. She scrambled back down to Arthur's shoulder, her grip tighter than usual.
"Daddy," she whimpered in a strained voice.
"What is it…?"
"My body," she mumbled, clutching her belly. "Feels funny. Like someone's pulling on me."
Arthur immediately understood. Her sensation—the sudden discomfort—was a telltale sign of a forced summoning. Hiruzen must be trying to call upon Koko's aid.
"It's because of him," Arthur said. "The third Hokage, Hiruzen."
Koko tilted her head, asking, "Hiruzen? Who's that?"
"Someone who should be dead by now," Arthur answered, looking elsewhere.
It was reasonable to believe that the players had managed to interfere and keep Hiruzen alive to this point. Arthur wasn't certain who would win the fight: Orochimaru or Hiruzen, aided by otherworldly help.
"But why would he pull on me?" Koko asked in confusion.
Arthur spent little time explaining to Koko why she was summoned to his side first. He ordered her to ignore Hiruzen, and she obeyed.
"Okay, daddy!" she chirped. "I'll only answer your call."
Arthur and her pressed forward.
"To the Temple!"
The path ahead remained clear. And thanks to his mental note on the map, he chose the right trail to walk on.
Thorny bushes made perfect cover from passersby, and the air here warded off any real predators. Only once had a pack of wild boars charged out of the undergrowth to meet them.
It was an opportunity for Koko to show her skills, but Arthur hadn't wanted to waste time. He easily scared them off by simply displaying a kunai.
"You show 'em, daddy!"
As night came, they arrived at a fork in the path. One path, according to what he remembered on the map, would lead deeper into the forest—towards the country's borders. The other, less traveled, wound upwards towards the mountains.
"We're close," he announced, looking toward the mountainous path.
After hours of arduous trekking, the dense forest gave way to rocky terrain.
Finally, at the base of a mountain, Arthur spotted what he'd been searching for—a stairwell carved directly into the rock face. It was barely visible at night, but it was the same stairwell that two Akatsuki members climbed to reach the Temple.
"Koko," he said in a low voice, "this is a place not everyone can enter."
Her ears drooped as she gave a small frown, saying, "So I can't go with you?"
Arthur placed a hand on her tiny head and said, "It wouldn't be safe for you. You need to go back home."
"But I want to stay with you," she said, her lower lip quivering. "We just got to play together again!"
"We'll meet again soon…"
He explained to her the concept of summoning, how he could call on her whenever needed. Then he reminded her of their promise: for her to train hard and hone her skills.
Koko, understanding the seriousness of the situation, managed a small sniffle.
"Okay, daddy," she said in a soft tone. "I'll wait for your call. And I'll be ready!"
At those words, a puff of smoke appeared, and she was transported back to her home.
Arthur had no problems worrying about Koko's safety. In time, she would grow into the reliable summon that he needed.
He turned his gaze back towards the stairwell. The climb would be easy.
His ascent began as he kept his senses on high alert, walking up the winding staircase.
The mountain air was thin and cold, biting at his exposed skin. The only sound was the scrape of his boots against the rough stone and the occasional screech of a bird soaring high above.
The stairwell seemed to be endlessly going upwards, disappearing into the darkness that shrouded the mountain peaks.
But Arthur persevered, finally reaching the temple's gates.
The massive structure was quite imposing. Heavy metal doors, intricately carved with swirling designs, barred his way.
But brute force wasn't Arthur's style, especially not when a far more discreet approach presented itself.
'Smoke jutsu.'
In the blink of an eye, his physical form dissolved into a swirling cloud of smoke. The smoke billowed upwards, slipping past the "impenetrable" gate. He then extended outwards, examining the temple grounds.
Inside the walls, there was a serene atmosphere.
Bald figures clad in white robes—monks, Arthur presumed—dotted the landscape. Most were fast asleep in their chambers, while a few sat outside with their eyes closed, meditating in a cross-legged position.
It was quite a peaceful scene.
He weaved through the sleeping quarters. Inside, his focus shifted to a building set slightly apart from the others. It seemed almost too easily accessible.
Unlike the gates, there were no heavy doors, no intricate locks, and simply an open doorway almost everywhere.
Intrigued, Arthur navigated to that specific building.
The room was filled with the scent of aged parchment and incense. Shelves were carved directly into the walls, holding countless scrolls.
He skimmed the titles, his eyes searching for anything related to the Gift of the Hermit Group's chakra. And there it was, nestled amongst scrolls detailing meditation techniques—a scroll titled "A Hermit's Gift."
He directed his smoky form towards it. The scroll unfurled, revealing a detailed explanation of this unknown energy.
He readily absorbed the information. Unlike Sage Chakra, which required the user to harness the natural energy of the world around them, the Gift of the Hermit Group chakra seemed to be a unique property of this temple itself.
It resided within the very air, infused with the mountain's natural energy and the accumulated spiritual force of countless monks meditating for centuries.
Harnessing it was deceptively simple. The scroll wrote of a prolonged period of meditation, focusing on attuning one's chakra network to the temple's unique energy flow.
The process wasn't dissimilar to gathering natural energy for Sage Mode, but with one crucial difference: this specific chakra was only found within the confines of the Fire Temple.
Meditation took time, something he felt was precious. The Leaf Village would start rebuilding once the invasion ended, so he had to use that time wisely.
This special chakra was the only thing he needed to use the Thousand Hand Strike technique. He had no other choice but to stay here.
'Transformation jutsu.'
Arthur's features shifted and moulded. Gone was his jawline, replaced by the rounded face of a middle-aged monk.
Hair, once dark, vanished, leaving behind a smooth, bald head. A short, grey goatee sprouted beneath his chin, completing the disguise.
Emerging from the library, he now looked every bit the part of a devotee.
He strolled casually towards a koi pond. The tranquil setting mirrored the instructions from the scroll—a serene environment to facilitate the absorption of the Hermit's Gift.
He settled down in a lotus position, with his back straight and his palms resting on his knees. Closing his eyes, he cleared his mind, focusing solely on his breathing.
As he drew in the mountain air, a distinct sensation fell over him. It wasn't oxygen, but a subtle energy weaving its way into his lungs.
It was almost cleansing.
His breath deepened, becoming slow and steady, matching the flow of the water in the pond.
This wasn't entirely unfamiliar territory. Arthur had spent time perfecting Simian Sage Mode. Harnessing the temple's unique chakra felt strangely instinctive.
The principles—the flow of energy—shared a certain kinship. It was almost as if this special chakra resonated with the knowledge he'd already gleaned.
Suddenly, the sound of crunching grass lifted him from his focused state. He slowly cracked open one eye to find a figure looming over him—a young monk regarding him with a gentle smile.
There was no doubt about it. This was the strongest monk in the Fire Temple, Chiriku!
"Greetings, brother," Chiriku said in a warm tone. "I see you've chosen a most peaceful spot for meditation. Would you mind a companion on this quiet evening?"
Arthur faked a smile. This unexpected intrusion could be a potential complication, but it could also be a valuable opportunity.
He adopted a humble demeanour, tilting his head slightly in deference, and said, "The company of a brother is always welcome, brother Chiriku."
"Ah," Chiriku said in surprise. "Forgive me. I haven't memorized everyone's name in the Temple yet."
"You may call me brother Ryugetsu."
With a graceful movement, Chiriku lowered himself onto the ground beside Arthur.
"You'll have to excuse my intrusion," he continued. "I couldn't help but notice your calmness, your deep connection to the Temple's energy. It's a rare sight, brother."
Arthur, playing his role perfectly, offered a knowing nod.
"When one seeks peace, they forget about the turbulent world filled with turmoil outside."
"Indeed," Chiriku said, feeling curious.
A quietude settled between them as the Arthur resumed his meditation.
He also felt a tad curious. The scroll had mentioned that the monks who perfected the Hermit's Gift also possessed a vast pool of chakra. Now he had a chance to observe it firsthand.
Activating his Tamashii, he sensed Chiriku's chakra.
Immediately, he was surprised. It wasn't just the sheer volume of it inside the monk; Chiriku had a wellspring of power dwarfing even the other player's reserves!
There was a calmness to it—a sign of perfect control. It was quite different from the volatile chakras Arthur usually encountered—the bursts of power from enraged ninjas.
Chiriku was like a powerhouse, wielding such exquisite control. To think he would fall to the Akatsuki three years from now.
This single encounter highlighted the true strength of the organization Arthur was up against.
It was daunting, but the thought of surrendering wasn't an option. He knew what he was getting himself into.
Arthur pushed the thought aside. He needed to focus on the task at hand: meditating.
Often times, when he did these spiritual activities, he would think of Jesus. And that's just what he did.
A couple hours later.
As the moon furthered in the sky, he decided to end his meditation. He rose to his feet, a respectful bow aimed towards the monk besides him.
"Brother Chiriku," he said in a calm voice, "your presence has been a delightful one this evening. I thank you for your company."
Chiriku opened his eyes, offering a gentle smile as he said, "Brother Ryugetsu, please sleep well."
With a final nod, Arthur turned away.
It came as no surprise that he had managed to blend perfectly as a monk. This area had no need for things like official registration or headcount. They were a peaceful group, monotonously carrying out subtle tasks during the day and praying at night.
Now it was time to find a place to dwell.
Arthur made his way towards the sleeping quarters, the open space housing rows upon rows of simple mats.
Unlike the more structured villages, here there were no assigned beds and no rooms separating the monks. Everything was communal, further simplifying their commitment to shared living.
He scanned the room, his eyes adjusting to the light filtering through the windows.
Most of the monks were still fast asleep, so he chose a secluded corner, unfurling a spare mat he found tucked away in a nearby alcove.
Laying down, he closed his eyes, the exhaustion of the day—escaping the Leaf Village—finally catching up to him.
The journey ahead, although challenging, was not going to stop him from achieving his goals.