The next day, the sun had just begun to rise.
Arthur stood in front of the mirror in his hotel room, the reflections of his many training sessions still fresh in his mind.
He had made advances with his smoke techniques, yes, but each step he took only highlighted how lacking his entire arsenal truly was.
As impressive as the smoke techniques had become, they represented only a piece of a much larger puzzle. He had once believed he could offset this imbalance through sheer creativity, but that notion felt hollow against foes powered with the kind of strength and tenacity he had faced recently.
Almost as if echoing this thought, he remembered his humiliating defeat at the hands of Jasper and his Tool Creation technique—one that seemed to morph and adapt under the strain of innovation.
That particular player, who harboured the original skills of the Naruto universe, could craft tools and weapons from nothing but his chakra.
The realization was enough to eat at Arthur, who had not been resilient to such devices.
While he had concocted new techniques, two things dawned on him: they lacked the kind of foundational strength that came from long time-bred skills, and they would falter easily against anything utilizing a source as dynamic and crafty as Gelel energy—a power Jasper had wielded to an unpleasant effect.
Arthur's brow furrowed in thought.
Jasper's technique blended with Gelel energy had rendered its weaponry immune to chakra absorption and was nonsensical to most shinobi skills.
For Arthur's arsenal to hold any potency against such unique creations, he needed a corresponding enhancement, some edge that could rival what Jasper had, if not exceed it.
Going all the way to another continent wouldn't be ideal. That would take too much unnecessary time to travel to.
And even if he did invest that time, who's to say that Jasper hadn't destroyed the Gelel veins?
That's when a memory sparked—a quiet yet impactful moment when Arthur had trained within the walls of the Fire Temple!
Perhaps he could rekindle that connection and explore its deeper secrets. If he could unlock something unique to infuse into his own techniques, it might just give him the leverage he needed to maintain his foothold amidst the influx of unknown powers the other players possessed.
And so he decided; he would make his way to the Fire Temple.
Using the transformation technique, he shifted his appearance into that of Ryugetsu, a guise that enabled him to traverse the temple grounds without drawing too much attention or causing chaos among its residents.
'Flying raijin.'
In an instant, he appeared to his destination undetected.
It had been some time since he'd traversed this mountainous area. The familiar vistas, golden hues of the temple's architecture, and the faint smell of burning sage wrapped filled his senses.
He couldn't quite erase the feeling of peace here. But as he approached the monumental structure, he understood something was off.
The atmosphere around the temple seemed charged and tense—reminiscent of a place under siege.
The serenity that once permeated the grounds had shifted into what felt like suppressed chaos.
As quickly as the sensation appeared, an uneasy feeling settled into his gut; the impression of danger lingering in the close quarters made him instinctively cautious.
He headed toward the pond where he had once meditated. Yet before he could reach the waters, a quick voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Brother Ryugetsu?"
The voice was brisk and all too familiar. He turned to see Chiriku stepping into view, his expression a blend of relief and urgency.
Despite the monk's customary calm demeanour, it was clear from his posture that he had been on edge.
"Brother Chiriku!" Arthur greeted, acting perfectly like a fellow monk. "Good to see you, but what has you so troubled?"
"I've been looking all over for you!" Chiriku replied with tension. "The Temple's been under attack—there's a rival occultic group intent on destroying us. It's been going on for the last six days, and our defenses are wearing thin."
Arthur had never heard of such an occurrence from the original story. Then again, no one had, since around this time, a three-year time skip was to commence soon.
Perhaps this was some sort of interrupted event, like a random quest line that showed up in video games.
"Where have you been?" Chiriku beckoned.
That was a question Arthur more than had an answer for. "Traveling, of course. Yet, I did not hear about this incident upon my return. How are you managing?"
"We've been holding them off," Chiriku exclaimed, "but their numbers are growing each time they attack. I've already contacted some shinobi from the Leaf for reinforcements, but we need immediate assistance!"
Arthur considered his options.
The Fire Temple had always been a repository of philosophies and potentiality. However, there were plenty of secrets and powers that he needed to garner—secrets that others might intervene with.
If these so-called "shinobi" happened to be one of the players, it would definitely make traveling to the Fire Temple a problem.
"What kind of firepower are they wielding?" Arthur asked, rapidly shifting focus.
"They're using advanced weaponry that no one here has ever seen," Chiriku answered, growing more animated. "It's some sort of backpack blistering with electricity. It's devastating, and it's not your typical gear that shinobis use; it's something we're not equipped to battle."
The news was interesting to Arthur. This world did incorporate more advanced technologies to combat traditional shinobi abilities. Perhaps this was the exact kind of innovation he was looking for, as it could be expanded on in his laboratory.
What was better was that it was implanted within enemy ranks. And if their technologies were capable of negating what traditional shinobi had to offer, there was a good chance he might be able to leverage that knowledge for his tactics.
As he weighed the options in his mind, a quick flash of insight ignited within him.
The advanced weaponry could serve as a template of sorts—a model from which he could extract details of chakra, shape, and form to innovate his unique techniques further.
"I'll help," he stated decisively, meeting Chiriku's gaze. Of course, what he meant was that he would be helping himself. "Let's figure out how I can assist you in defending the temple against these heathens."
Chiriku responded with a surprise of gratitude across his features.
"Thank you," he said, "but you understand that this is dangerous. I can't emphasize how overwhelming their forces have grown. We've managed to hold them off so far, but—"
"Dangerous is relative," Arthur cut in with a voice firm. "If they're using technology we don't understand, I have to see it for myself. I need to learn about it. There are ways we can turn the tables. If you know where they struck last, we can scout out and turn the tide in our favour."
"The last ambush occurred near the outer grove by the east perimeter. But are you suggesting that we go alone without reinforcement?"
"Brother Chiriku, believe it when I say that we are a lot more capable than you think. This isn't my first encounter with adversity. Give me a chance to assess the situation, and if you feel like we need help, you can contact the shinobi from the Leaf Village."
With a heavy sigh, Chiriku yielded, nodding in acceptance.
"Very well," he replied. "If you believe this is possible, then we should hurry. I'll lead you to the area where we last faced them. But please exercise caution; we've already lost a monk during these encounters."
With that, Arthur matched his pace with Chiriku's as they made their way out the Temple. They sprinted through the forest, leaping effortlessly from branch to branch.
This experience could be the very thing he needed—not just to assist the Temple but to test the building blocks of unique techniques that transcended the barriers he had encountered thus far.
If he played his cards right and harnessed this advanced technology against the backdrop of ninjutsu, he might unlock more possibilities.
"So, brother, where have you been traveling while away from the temple?" Chiriku asked with a smile amidst the rustling foliage. "It's not often we leave the grounds for personal pursuits."
Arthur had anticipated this question but chose to keep his answer simple: "On a journey through many of the world's affairs. It was good that I returned today."
"Ah, wise as always," Chiriku chuckled. "I'd love to hear all about your adventures when we get back. You always seem to have some wild tales to tell!"
The monk's enthusiasm forced a fake smile on Arthur's face. But as they vaulted through the trees, Chiriku couldn't shake an underlying tension.
He had an unshakable confidence, but they had never fought together, and Arthur had sensed the doubt in his heart—an excitement mixed with uncertainty. What could have honestly made a character like this so intimidated on the inside?
As they approached the occultic group's camp, the landscape began to change—the trees thinned, and a makeshift barricade came into view.
Chiriku silently motioned to Arthur, and they found a suitable hiding spot just behind the treeline, crouching low among the thick roots and brush.
"We'll move quietly," Chiriku whispered, gesturing to crouch low out of view. Arthur nodded, knowing that each step mattered.
It's been a while since he's engaged someone in combat. His blood was boiling at the thought; the thrill of the hunt coursed through him; the air buzzed with an oomph that had initially felt so foreign.
Not once did Arthur feel unease at this new threat. His thoughts were undisturbed.
As they neared the clearing, the figures of the occultic group began to come into sharper focus. What met his gaze was a scene that piqued his interest.
The enemies stood poised among makeshift barricades with devices strapped to their backs—strange packs that purred with energy and discharged electricity exactly like Chiriku had described.
Arthur's keen observation captured the nuances of their activity; they were preparing to set up offensive equipment that seemed like caricatures of ninja tools. Gripped tightly in their hands were energy weapons, indicating a new frontier of technology.
"This is what they're using," Chiriku hissed, signaling Arthur to stay low.
'This is exactly what I was hoping for,' Arthur thought to himself, eyes narrowing in focus.
The gathering row of foes became less of a daunting prospect and more of an opportunity for exploration. Better techniques begged to be unearthed.
As he premeditated the scene, a thought sparked—a flash of inspiration fueled by his adrenaline. If he could successfully replicate or adapt their technology to enhance his own techniques, perhaps turning energy gathering into a weapon capable of dissolving environments or consuming solid constructs.
"Alright, I have a plan," Chiriku began while also surveying the camp.
"You stay back," Arthur calmly responded, cutting him off. No one was going to stop him from possessing this advanced technology. "From what I'm seeing, I'm more than enough to handle them alone.
Chiriku frowned, shaking his head while saying, "You need to be careful about underestimating them. I made that mistake before. Their technology drains me in combat. I can barely break through their defenses after just one encounter, and you don't know how many they have among their ranks."
The urgency in Chiriku's voice prodded at Arthur's resolve. He couldn't deny the truth in what Chiriku was saying, but he felt confident in his abilities.
"I won't put you in danger," he shot back. "Just stay here, and I'll scout the camp to learn more about them first. If something happens, I'll give you a signal."
Chiriku opened his mouth as if to argue but ultimately remained silent, the weight of Arthur's conviction persuading him.
"Fine, but be careful," the monk yielded. "You have no idea what we're dealing with."
Ignoring the wary tone in Chiriku's voice, Arthur turned the other direction and shifted into his scouting mode.
'Tamashii…'