There was no doubt that Tsunade was going to make an appearance eventually.
She was written to be a central figure in the Naruto universe, renowned for her medical expertise and composite personality.
As the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, she carried a legacy of leadership and power. Her life was marked by tragedy, losing both her brother and lover, Dan, which led to her developing a fear of blood and a disillusionment with the world.
Despite her personal struggles, she was still a skilled and compassionate ninja. Her medical prowess, till this day, is unmatched, and she plays a pivotal role in the series.
Tsunade's appearance is striking, with long blonde hair and fair skin. But this is a front, as she often uses a transformation technique to appear younger. In truth, her face is very wrinkled, and her skin has lost a lot of colour.
Her reputation as a kunoichi still remains legendary, and her strength is evident in her actions. However, beneath the tough exterior is a woman deeply affected by loss and burdened by the weight of her past.
Arthur knew a great deal about her. And if Jiraiya was searching for that Sannin, then it meant that he was currently in the "Search for Tsunade" arc.
This particular arc set the stage for a lot of events, expanding more on key characters.
During this arc, Orochimaru sought Tsunade to heal his injured arms. Oddly enough, thanks to William, the snake would likely do the same thing again.
The storyline itself culminated in a dramatic confrontation between Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya, revealing the depth of their past and the stakes involved.
Naruto, who by default participated in this arc because he's the main character, played his role by highlighting his growth and potential for becoming a Hokage.
The arc concluded with Tsunade accepting the role of the fifth Hokage, marking a new chapter for the Leaf Village.
Originally, it was only Jiraiya and Naruto who went on this search mission. This time, however, it was William and Alex accompanying Jiraiya—no Naruto.
It was an unexpected alliance, which hardly made any sense.
William, with his strength and desire to be a part of this world, found favour in Jiraiya's eyes. But for Alex to join those two, Arthur was suspicious.
Yes, Alex, with his intelligence and strategic mind, would provide crucial support, yet that didn't explain why he would wish to find Tsunade.
Arthur wondered about the reasons behind Alex's involvement.
Was he simply looking for adventure, or was there something more to it? Perhaps he was seeking a way to prove himself and earn the respect of his peers. Or maybe he was driven by a desire to hunt down Arthur to make a difference in the world.
Whatever his reasons, Alex's presence on the mission added an extra layer of complexity to the situation. Arthur knew that he would have to be more cautious to anticipate every possible scenario.
As for Jasper and Alice, their mission to the Land of Waves was also written in the reports.
Jasper, after his promotion, was clearly seeking opportunities to expand his influence. Alice, on the other hand, didn't have any reasons for joining him.
It states that Jasper claimed to have heard treacherous news in different countries, and desired to spy on those allegations. The elders permitted his mission, going as far as to allow Alice to accompany him.
At least some things started piecing together. Most of the other players didn't like the idea of Arthur roaming freely in the ninja world, so they were taking necessary actions by going out themselves.
But why hadn't Jada been doing anything? As far as Arthur knew, she had been performing small missions within the village—helping farmers, collecting trash.
Everyone was playing their own game, their motives hidden beneath a mask of loyalty and friendship.
He continued his research, focusing on any details he might have overlooked.
Apart from Alice, all the females were still within the Hidden Leaf Village. Margaret was receiving advanced training on her medical abilities and helping the village's medical corps.
There didn't seem to be anything unusual going on with that player.
Suddenly, a report caught Arthur's interest, one that explained what Team 7 was doing. He felt a sort of inspiration rising as he read the details.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had embarked on a mission to the Land of Tea—no Kakashi.
This mission was peculiar, occurring far earlier than it should have in the original timeline.
Known as the "Land of Tea Escort Mission," it was a typical filler arc—a brief respite before the more significant challenges. But its premature appearance in this timeline suggested a deviation from the established narrative.
Arthur pondered the implications of this anomaly. Why would the players allow Team 7, a team filled with the main characters, to go venturing alone outside of the Leaf Village? Were they too distracted to see the real repercussions?
Regardless of the reason, he knew he had to take advantage. Team 7, despite their skills, would be vulnerable.
Arthur, therefore, set a new goal in mind: to follow them. It was a risky move, but he couldn't afford to ignore the benefits of interacting with the main characters again.
And he wasn't going to just talk to them; he was going to kill them!
Why wouldn't he desire to slay Team 7 this early in the game?
Because of these main characters, the other players always knew what would happen next.
But say the main characters were killed off early? That would cause the entire game to spiral into the unknown. The players would have to truly guess what was going to happen next. And without foreknowledge of the story, Arthur could keep working with the element of surprise.
After rereading all the notes and reports, he placed them in their respective drawers and disappeared from the Leaf Village with the flying raijin technique.
After making preparations in the Water Country, he stood at the bridge bordering the Land of Tea. The actual journey was uneventful, about a day's trek from the Uzumaki Temple.
This country was smaller compared to any of the other's he'd venture to. It was seemingly peaceful, located near the Land of Fire, and was known for its tea production.
From what he knew, it was also a popular tourist destination with a unique culture centered around tea ceremonies and traditions.
Being that it was only mentioned in a filler arc, the arc itself followed Team 7 as they were assigned to protect a character named "Idate Morino," Ibiki Morino's younger brother, during a crucial race.
Idate was written to be a spoiled young man. Despite initial animosity between Naruto and him, they eventually formed a bond and overcame their obstacles together.
The story unfolded with a series of encounters with rival teams and a former Leaf shinobi turned rogue, named "Aoi Rokushō," culminating in a dramatic showdown and a triumphant victory for Idate and Team 7.
Why this was even a noteworthy filler arc to begin with was because Aoi owned a unique weapon called the "Blade of Thunder."
The Blade of Thunder is another powerful weapon with a history tied to the Land of Tea. Stolen from Aoi in the Leaf Village, it possesses the ability to manipulate lightning, extending and retracting like a lightsaber—a weapon from the Star Wars franchise.
Its electrical properties allow for a variety of offensive and defensive tactics, including paralysis, suspension, and powerful energy blasts. However, its true potential lies in its ability to cut through both physical and chakra-based defenses, making it a formidable weapon in the hands of a skilled user.
Arthur's gains, if he could manage, would be both the destruction of Team 7 and the Blade of Thunder!
He fixed his gaze on a bridge that spanned a river. It was a simple structure, made of wood and stone. Beyond it was undoubtedly where Team 7 was currently stationed.
After a few hours of walking, he made it near the capital.
There, he considered what the best course of action would be. He could attack the team now, take them by surprise. But that felt too easy.
What he first needed to do was observe them from a distance to make sure this wasn't a lure or trap. He could also study their strengths and weaknesses to see if they'd changed since their last encounter.
And then, when the time was right, he would make his move.
He found a secluded spot overlooking the village, a vantage point that offered a clear view of things. Activating his Sage Mode, he spent the next moment scanning the whole land.
Villagers were going about their daily tasks, their simple existence completely opposite to what ninjas go through. He even verified the two main families that participated in this arc: the Wasabi family and the Wagarashi family.
They were rivals for the race that Idate was to run in. But that had nothing to do with Arthur. Aoi was also in the capital, drinking alone with a whore.
Then Arthur saw them—Team 7.
Naruto still looked and acted like the boisterous and energetic sort. His orange jumpsuit was also still being worn. Sasuke was still the brooding loner, walking beside him with an indifferent expression. Lastly was Sakura.
Kakashi was not written to be on this mission due to other missions that needed to be taken care of. What piqued Arthur's interest was what Sakura was holding—a medical bag.
Sakura, who underwent training with Tsunade, became a medical ninja and acquired some of Tsunade's skills. However, Tsunade was not even remotely close to arriving back in the village right now. Meaning Sakura shouldn't be interested in anything medical.
So why did she have that bag?
Arthur watched as they disappeared into an inn.
He already had a plan in mind—to let Team 7 and Aoi fight. When the battle concluded, he would swarm in and defeat the winner.
That tactic was known as a proxy war.
Whether Team 7 defeats Aoi like it was written, or Aoi kills Team 7, the real winner would still be Arthur in the end.
As such, he transformed his appearance, adopting the guise of a middle-aged shinobi from the Hidden Leaf Village. With his identity concealed, he approached the capital and entered the inn where Team 7 was staying.
As he stepped through the door, the familiar faces of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura welcomed him.
"Hey there, you three," he said, waving an innocent hand.
Naruto was the first to greet him back. His signature grin was infectious, and his enthusiasm was undeniable. Sasuke, on the other hand, maintained his stoic demeanour, his eyes scanning Arthur with a hint of suspicion. Sakura offered a warm smile and a polite greeting.
Arthur introduced himself as a fellow shinobi from the Hidden Leaf Village, named Desmond, sent to oversee their mission. He explained that he had heard about their exploits and felt like ensuring their safety.
The trio exchanged glances, wondering why the Leaf Village would send a supervisor.
Naruto, always eager for attention, bombarded Arthur with questions, asking, "What's the big idea?! We're more than enough to handle things here!"
Sasuke, on the other hand, remained silent. Sakura, acting as the voice of reason, asked about the purpose of Arthur's visit.
He explained that he had been tasked with ensuring the smooth operation of the race.
"It's a crucial event for the nation's economy and morale," he said. "Don't let your talents as Genin oversee another nation's prosperity."
Not a single one of them had a counterargument.
As the conversation progressed, Arthur learned that Team 7 had already been informed of possible oppositions like Aoi Rokushō.
Aoi was hardly a formidable opponent, a threat that could easily be ignored. However, in the story, he did easily best Naruto and Sasuke. Mainly because of his experience and the Blade of Thunder.
The conversation turned to the upcoming race. Naruto, brimming with confidence, declared his intention to win. Sasuke, as usual, remained indifferent, his focus on the potential threats. Sakura encouraged her teammates, offering Arthur assurance that they didn't need another ninja on this mission.
"We really appreciate you coming," she said, "but you're gonna be bored by the time we finish taking care of things."
"Haha," Arthur laughed. "That just makes my job easier!"
While the conversation continued, he could sense a growing tension between Naruto and Sasuke. It wasn't hostile, but the rivalry between the two was evident.
Clearly, the words Arthur said to the Uchiha during their last encounter still lingered. He would gladly fuel the flames to corrupt their so-called "friendship."
Now was not the time.