The air moved and the grass parted as Arthur returned to the Fire Country. He had a mission to fulfill, one revolving around the elusive and dangerous Orochimaru.
Of course, Arthur wasn't stupid. He had already performed the Transformation technique, disguised as an unknown passerby.
Navigating through sprawling trees and meadows, he headed toward a certain location reported by the Anbu. They had spotted a group of Sound Ninjas, and pinpointing their whereabouts was essential to revealing Orochimaru's hideout.
Anyone who understood how things were progressing would have also known that venturing to the Sound Village personally would be risky. Orochimaru was not a fool; he had built a sanctuary of darkness, nestled with traps and complex layers of defense.
Sensing the general vicinity of a hideout was one thing, but navigating the dangers that lived within its walls required a much more cautious approach. Arthur had spent significant time learning and honing new techniques to ensure he wouldn't fall prey to the deceptive charms of the snake-like villain.
He eventually reached a grove where the Anbu had reported the last sighting of the Sound Ninjas. No one was here, so he activated his Tamashii. The surrounding trees stood still, and he sensed the pulse of nature all around him.
Still, there were no signs of a battle—or anyone for that matter.
Sitting down in a lotus position, he began to gather natural energy. The world around him began to shift, colours sharpening, and the cacophony of the forest transformed.
His sensing range expanded exponentially as the Sage Chakra poured in, allowing him to sweep the area for chakra signatures, both innocuous and malignant.
Time seemed to pass by as he scanned the forest, filtering through its many layers. There were countless signatures: squirrels, birds, other creatures flitting through the trees—an entire ecosystem. Yet he couldn't find who he was looking for.
What if he was too late? What if these Sound Ninjas returned to their village and Orochimaru changed his plans? That would be a grave factor to consider.
After a moment, he finally pinpointed something. Four distinct signatures lay several dozen meters away—larger than the ordinary presence of animals and insects. Their chakra felt tainted, wrapped in malicious intent, and it felt uncomfortable and intense.
Arthur recognized them immediately: the Sound Ninja Four—Tayuya, Jirōbō, Sakon, and Kidōmaru!
The Sound Ninja Four, also known as the Sound Four, constituted a group of antagonists. They also serve as elite bodyguards for Orochimaru.
Comprising four main members—Jirōbō, Kidōmaru, Tayuya, and the duo of Sakon and Ukon—the Sound Four's structure can be somewhat misleading as they collectively operate as a group of five individuals due to the shared positions of Sakon and Ukon.
They are defined not only by their combat abilities but also their loyalty to Orochimaru, having been moulded by the heavy hands of that snake.
Their origins are rather grim, for they were originally prisoners forced to fight one another in a battle royals orchestrated by Orochimaru. Their ability to survive and defeat their foes showcased their strength and ruthlessness, making them candidates for the snake's bodyguard unit.
The Sound Four's loyalty is also rooted in the traumatic experiences endured during their captivity, which ultimately led to a shared bond forged through violence and survival.
To Arthur, they were nothing more than expendable warriors, biproducts since they were being manipulated under Orochimaru's watchful gaze.
They were actually present during the invasion, having been the ones to both form and maintain the barrier while Margaret, William, Hiruzen, Orochimaru, and the reincarnated Hokages fought.
If Arthur recalled, the Sound Four, particularly under Orochimaru's orders, began their quest to recruit Sasuke Uchiha as a new host body. They were the ones to help contribute to Sasuke's subsequent descent into darkness.
Arthur believed that this is where he currently was in the narrative.
And in that narrative is where the Sound Four's faction crumbled after encountering resistance from Shikamaru's "Sasuke Recovery Team." Most of the Sound ninjas were ultimately outmatched by the resolve and teamwork of their adversaries since Gaara and his team intervened.
One by one, they are defeated—Jirōbō by Chōji, Kidōmaru by Neji, Tayuya by Temari, and Sakon and Ukon by Kankuro. Years later, during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Kabuto resurrected them. However, their reincarnation came with a tragic irony—their vengeance foiled by the very individuals who from their previous struggles.
Arthur crafted a swift plan in his mind as he plotted their movements. They weren't traveling; they were lying in wait, undoubtedly planning to infiltrate the Leaf Village but had been thwarted.
There, he noticed why he couldn't sense them immediately: they had constructed a barrier. Quite an impressive one to hinder things like his Tamashii.
Arthur himself had no intention of stopping them from trying to breach the Leaf Village. Instead, he could use this opportunity to gather crucial intelligence with his newly acquired technique.
Without wasting a moment, he began heading toward the location where the Sound ninjas rested. In just a moment's time, he could already visualize them with his Tamashii. Upon arrival, he noticed they remained in their slumber.
His instincts kicked in as he observed his targets. Jirōbō was the focus of his plan. The towering, heavyset ninja lacked the cunning nature of his peers, was slow-witted, and was more prone to foolish blunders.
The others—Sakon, with his twin, Ukon, and the shrewd Kidōmaru, along with the sharp Tayuya—were not to be trifled with.
'Smoked jutsu…'
Arthur transformed into wisp-like smoke that flowed and silently seeped into Jirōbō's nostrils. 'Eye mind reading jutsu…' The coarse rasping of the ninja's breath engulfed Arthur as he entered the mind of the unsuspecting brute.
Inside, Jirōbō's consciousness was a dark and twisted realm. It was a storm of violent thoughts and gruesome memories of his time with Orochimaru.
To Arthur's shock, the mess of images and memories was quite disturbing. He ventured deeper, sifting through the muck like a fisherman casting his net into deeper waters.
Sights of cruel deeds filled the recesses of Jirōbō's mind: images of him gorging himself on stolen food, memories of brutality inflicted upon innocent passersby whose paths had crossed his. Arthur could literally feel the weight of Jirōbō's malevolence and filth.
As he sought specific information, he stumbled upon a gem of vital intelligence—the location of Orochimaru's main hideout!
But just as he began to probe deeper, seeking techniques and powers from Jirōbō's distortions for himself, he felt a sudden push against his presence. The darkness of Jirōbō's mind recoiled. Arthur understood what was happening: the ninja was awakening.
Because of that, the discomfort was rippling through him, threatening to break the fragile connection Arthur had forced.
Racing against the clock, he concentrated, preparing to exit the mind as the sensation deepened, growing more significant. He quickly left Jirōbō's consciousness with arcs of discomfort dissipating.
But just before vanishing, Arthur implanted a hidden flying raijin mark on Jirōbō's gluteus maximus—a clever strategy, allowing him to track these characters at will.
Watching the group as they remained still, Arthur knew he had to depart swiftly. There was no telling when Jirōbō would wake fully, and he didn't want to risk being discovered.
So he quickly faded into the nearby thicket, moving soundlessly through the shadows of the trees.
Silently, he retreated back into the far-off woods, savouring the thrill of discovery but remaining wholly aware that this was just a fragment of a larger puzzle. He had located Orochimaru's hideout and understood its layout perfectly.
But why was Arthur so bent on locating the Sound Village? Not for Sasuke's sake, but for his real target that loomed inside it—Kimimaro!
Since his encounter with the Sound Ninja Four emphasized the complexity of the situation, Arthur knew that Kimimaro was a weapon of considerable importance, the last of the Kaguya clan, capable of manipulating his bones, making him a formidable opponent.
If Arthur could acquire that Kekkei Genkai for himself, it would tip the scales once more in his favour.
Kimimaro Kaguya was a shinobi written to have been the sole survivor of the Kaguya clan. His unique Kekkei Genkai was known as "Shikotsumyaku," or "Macabre Bone Pulse." It allowed him to manipulate his skeletal structure, transforming his bones into deadly weapons at will. This ability, coupled with his immense strength and skill, made him a very underrated character.
Despite his power, Kimimaro was quite gentle, seeking purpose and connection in a world that often treated him with cruelty. His loyalty to Orochimaru was very unhealthy. So much so that he viewed that snake as his adopted father.
Even in the face of his own deteriorating health, he was still very loyal to Orochimaru. Kimimaro's tragic fate, marked by a terminal illness and the loss of his purpose, is what highlighted his loyalty.
In terms of appearance, he was a striking figure. His pale skin, green eyes, and shoulder-length white hair set him apart from other Sound ninjas. He wore their traditional outfit, often adorned with a purple rope.
His physical transformation during battles, fueled by his cursed seal, further accentuated his imposing presence.
Arthur simply had to have Kimimaro's Kekkei Genkai!
With purpose igniting his faculties, he took a moment to fine-tune his chakra, finding clarity in his next steps. He had information and an arsenal of skills at his disposal, but the strategy to pursue was now paramount.
The direction was clear now; Jirōbō's scattered thoughts had revealed Orochimaru's main hideout, located to the northeast of his current position. It was a two-day journey at most, a task he was more than willing to complete.
As he propelled forward, the landscape eventually changed. He was determined, and his heart raced with anticipation at the thought of what awaited him within the confines of the hideout.
Arriving at dusk, he solidified his form atop a rocky outcropping that overlooked his destination.
The Sound Village was an extensive complex, camouflaged throughout the rugged terrain. Albeit, this wasn't a village per se. It was more of a clandestine territory founded by Orochimaru.
Unlike traditional villages, it wasn't a physical location but a network of hidden bases scattered across various lands. Orochimaru established it to gather skilled ninja for his experiments and pursue his always-failing goals.
While outwardly presenting itself as a haven for ninjas seeking a purpose, its true nature was far more sinister. It served as a breeding ground for experimentation, with Orochimaru and his subordinates conducting unethical research on his own subjects.
The Sound Ninja, Orochimaru's elite bodyguards, were products of such experimentation. Not only were they enhanced through curse marks, other notable ninjas that he deemed worthy, like Anko Mitarshi, were also given curse marks.
The village's ruthlessness and willingness to sacrifice its members for Orochimaru's goals are evident. Despite its eventual downfall and Orochimaru's defeat by Sasuke Uchiha three years from now, its legacy of experimentation and manipulation left a lasting mark on the ninja world.
Arthur had never seen the third installment of the series. So he wouldn't know that in later years, the area would undergo a transformation, evolving into a more legitimate ninja village.
This shift was partly due to the influence of Mitsuki, Orochimaru's son, who attended the Leaf Village's academy and fostered a connection between the two villages.
Nevertheless, with the mental blueprint Arthur had gleaned from Jirōbō, he felt a sense of clarity. He identified the structure instantly; its twisted builds were designed both for defense and concealment, reflecting Orochimaru's snake-like mind.
Wasting no time, he floated down from his perch and moved toward the back of the facility, his body shrouded in smoke. Silently, he slipped through a crack in the stone wall, entering the belly of the beast without a whisper.
Navigating through dark corridors that twisted like serpents within the earth, he traced the outline of the hideout Jirōbō's mind had revealed.
It was very easy, almost as if Arthur had personally stepped foot in here before. Every hidden entrance and concealed passageway flashed through his mind like a well-rehearsed play.
Soon, just soon, he would reach Kimimaro. But one wrong move, and Orochimaru would chase him to the ends of this world.