The next question lay in whether Arthur could control Jada.
Her pursuit of trying to mend this world and not fall behind was unique, and in many ways, it was admirable to others.
However, he would need to train her not just physically but mentally, ensuring that her loyalty remained steadfast.
If he could, he would mold her into a weapon for his interests while holding her ambition at bay. The task surely wouldn't be easy since she was an Uchiha. But his acting skills would further prove his effectiveness.
As evening descended and darkness came, Arthur turned from the peak of the mountain and headed back down.
He had no time to waste. Decisions needed to be made, alliances formed, and plans devised if he was to thwart the ever-growing dangers posed by those around him.
His next task was to return to the Leaf Village before the others. He would need to reach out to Sasuke and convince the boy to leave the Leaf Village.
While a task like that might have seemed challenging, for Arthur it wouldn't be. That was because the Uchiha was still under his Evil Illusion Flattery technique!
Nonetheless, Arthur would still have to employ a cunning approach, perhaps preying on Sasuke's insecurities and ambitions—the very qualities that had driven the Uchiha clan to the brink time and time again.
Acquiring Sasuke's trust would require a little finesse, subtly guiding his thoughts while masking his own agenda.
If the Uchiha could be convinced that there was more to gain from Orochimaru than friendship or allegiance to the Leaf, then he would have succeeded in creating a linchpin.
And what of Naruto? Could Arthur use him too?
Nay. A character like that was not as straightforward to manipulate. Exploiting him, however, was a different story.
After all, Naruto's dreams of peace and unity were noble but naïve in execution. And those without boundaries were often the most easily led astray.
If Arthur could manipulate their friendship and turn it into a wedge that would sap strength from within the village itself, then the opportunity to destroy it from the inside would become ever more plausible.
This was a struggle of bonds, with Arthur once again needing to help pull the strings.
Some time later, the early afternoon sun filtered through the windows of his hotel room.
Arthur set his bags down and made some space. It was modest yet cozy, and for now, it would serve as an intel briefing room.
Before heading back to the Leaf Village, he needed to first analyze the tournament footage.
He wasted little time, pulling out a compact device—a combo portable recorder and processor, customized for quick transfers. He hooked up cables and wires, staying focused on the task before him.
His moment spent jostling with technology felt like an investment. The monitor soon flicked on, projecting static before settling into crisp imagery—a montage of battles, explosive jutsu, and the clang of fists and feet meeting flesh.
The reason for doing this now was that he had something special planned for his next endeavour, a secret weapon of sorts: Koko.
"Summoning jutsu..."
A puff of smoke enveloped the room before resolving into the image of an average-sized monkey.
As the haze dissipated, Koko stood before him. Her frame seemed slightly taller than he remembered.
She glanced around before locking her gaze on Arthur.
"Daddy!" she squealed before rushing into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist and swinging around his neck in joy. "I missed you!"
It hadn't been that long since the two last saw each other. But time worked differently for her.
Arthur scratched the top of her head and said, "Koko, I have a special task for you…"
"A task?! What is it, daddy?" she asked with sparkling eyes. "Anything for you!"
"I need you to watch some footage of fighters. Learn their hand signs and how real ninjas from this world fight."
Koko squealed with excitement, her tiny fingers balling up as she said, "Okay, I'll do it! I've been training hard just for you!"
Not once had Koko slacked on her duties back in the Cayman Jungles. Arthur felt tempered by the understanding that while her spirit was admirable, she still had much to learn.
"I'm ready any time!" she declared, bouncing on her feet.
Arthur pointed to the giant monitor that paused at the first video.
"Watch closely," he said. The first fight shown was between Rock Lee and Omoi. "This match will consist entirely of taijutsu, so pay attention to their styles and movements."
Seating the small monkey on a stack of cushions, he pressed play, and the footage began. Her eyes widened, glued to the screen as the two combatants squared off.
"That's so cool!" she exclaimed, her hands gripping the edges of the cushions.
Based on her look, she seemed quite entranced by their well-coordinated fighting styles. Albeit, just showing her wouldn't be enough; Arthur also needed to teach her how to use the device.
"If you need to review something," he said, handing her the remote, "hit this button."
"What is it, daddy?" she asked, inspecting the device with a curious look.
She then began fiddling with the buttons like a new toy as he explained, "It's a remote control. Simply press that, and it'll replay the last few seconds of the footage."
It's times like these that tested his patience. Trying to teach a monkey how to operate a television wasn't as straightforward as it looked.
"And this one?" she asked, pressing a button.
Suddenly, the monitor turned off. Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly, suppressing the idea of pressing his fingers to his temple. He had hoped that, due to her intelligence, she wouldn't be so alien to such modern technology.
"That's the power button," he corrected, pointing.
"Oops!" she giggled. "I didn't mean to!"
"Don't worry about it. As long as you're learning, that's what matters."
To reinforce her positive learning, he scratched the top of her head. It made her giggle, believing that so long as she didn't anger Arthur, she was well in his favour.
Finally, they got back on track. The monitor turned on, and once more Koko's eyes were glued to the match. Arthur stood next to her as she leaned forward, committing to the lessons he laid out.
Once he saw Rock Lee consistently weave around Omoi, he injected explanations.
"See how that shinobi moves? His taijutsu is precise. You'll want to memorize his patterns."
Koko nodded enthusiastically, her big eyes absorbing every detail as if chemically imprinting them into her memory. She didn't have a special dōjutsu to copy those exact movements, but at least she was trying.
"I think I saw something cool, daddy!"
She pressed the rewind button a little too enthusiastically, and the monitor rewound before converging back on the moment when Rock Lee executed his signature moves.
"Good catch," he said.
Koko was hanging on every second of the battle, occasionally bouncing slightly with excitement.
"Can I get a suit like him, daddy?!"
As the video continued, Arthur glanced at the monitor, noticing how their styles differed. Each punch, kick, and defensive maneuver gripped Koko's attention.
Only when she actually tried mimicking those movements and almost succeeded did Arthur understand her burgeoning interest in combat.
"This is fun!" she said, clapping her hands.
"Not bad," he said, crossing his arms. "But this is only a glimpse. I specifically chose the fights that were important for you to watch. Some with hand signs, some without. Whatever you see on screen, memorize them and practice them here without breaking anything."
Koko nodded solemnly. It didn't matter what Arthur commanded; she would always listen.
As Rock Lee landed a kick, she cheered, "I can do that too!"
Arthur nodded, observing her.
"Yes, but do you have the agility to do it just as fast?"
"Umm…"
"The ability to change direction swiftly will give you the edge in real battle."
"Okay! Got it!"
Koko eagerly pressed the rewind button, and the fight restarted for her to analyze things again.
Arthur was content with the progress. She was not only engaged but absorbed like a sponge, eagerly imprinting combat strategies and techniques.
Many people can train a dog to sit or give their paws, but there were hardly anyone on earth who could teach a monkey how to use a television. This partnership, while strange, was unbreakable.
As they dissected the match, he found himself speaking less as a summoner and more as a father—a mentor to a child whose innocence teetered on self-discovery.
He couldn't spend too much time lingering here. Yet if he wasn't one hundred percent certain that she understood what she was watching and was able to apply it, then he wasn't going to leave just yet.
"Show me what you've learned," he ordered. "If you mess up, I'll guide you through it."
"Okay!" she said, bouncing to her feet.
With the first fight fresh in her mind, she launched into a series of punches. Her small fists flew through the air as Arthur stepped back, allowing her to make mistakes.
He kept his gaze steady, watching her spin and shout like Rock Lee had done. There was something strange about her motions. She lacked proper form.
"Stay on your feet," he instructed.
Koko beamed as she danced through the air. While this was an average-sized hotel room, he had made enough space for the little chimp to go all out.
"Your breathing should be measured," he encouraged, stepping forward. "Twist your hips into your strikes so you have better control."
She stopped mid-movement. Most would frown because of how many mistakes they were making. But most weren't as determined as Koko was.
"Okay, okay! I'll do my best, daddy!"
They continued practicing together, Arthur giving corrections as she tried to integrate the lessons from the footage.
After about an hour of vigorous movement, Koko finally sank to the floor, panting heavily.
"Wow, I'm tired, daddy! But that was super fun!"
"You've made progress," he said. "Take a break before we move on. I'd like you to think about what you did here and how you can incorporate it into the next session."
Koko plopped down and rested her head on her paws. Her nostrils flared as she gauged the physical exhaustion that overcame her.
"Can we watch more fights after the break? I want to learn more!"
'Tenacious,' he thought to himself.
But if he pushed her too hard, it would contradict her learning; that, or it might cause her to disperse back to the Cayman Jungles.
"Of course, but first, hydrate…"
He grabbed a small bottle from the kitchen and placed it next to her palm. When she felt the cold liquid run down her skin, her head shot up.
"I will!" She gulped down the drink almost instantly. "I'm ready for what's next!"
While amusing, the weight of her aspirations needed to be pondered. Arthur knew that she was naturally equipped to grow into her skills and talents, but she still required discipline.
After dropping the empty bottle to the side, her gaze returned to the monitor.
"I really love spending time with you, daddy! Thank you for teaching me!"
In truth, he had only been teaching her the basics while making subtle corrections. What she had learned prior to coming here was being refined.
Some more time passed as they delved into the combatants once again. One of the fights that popped up was Margaret's.
"Why does she look so angry all the time?" Koko jabbered.
Arthur, maintaining his usual calm demeanour, answered, "Emotions can often cloud judgment. See that you don't let rage have its way."
Koko scrunched her nose in contemplation for a moment before returning her attention back to the film.