An hour later, Arthur was seen walking side by side with Alex.
There was a comfortable silence settling between them until Alex finally asked, "Think Itachi and Kisame are still gonna come?"
Arthur had almost forgotten about that part of the story.
After Orochimaru's attempt at invading the Leaf Village, the Akatsuki organization discovered the news. Pain instructed one of their members to check the village's status as well as how Naruto was doing. And the member who chose to accept the task was Itachi, who was partnered with Kisame.
Because of recent events, the two were likely not going to show up. And if that didn't happen, Sasuke wouldn't be reminded of how vast the difference between his and his brother's powers was.
"Honestly," Arthur answered, "so much has changed that you guys are doing a great job at helping this world…"
"That's 'we're' doing," Alex corrected. "But I guess you're right. Everything seems stale lately, and I haven't got anything to do except wait for the finals."
Arthur pretended to chuckle. "If this keeps up, we'll make it all the way to Shippuden before anything starts really happening."
Alex seemed disappointed by the idea. Something was bothering him, but Arthur refrained from asking unnecessary questions at this point. If anything, Alex seemed oddly bored.
Eventually the two reached Alex's apartment building.
"We've walked all the way back here?" he said, turning to face Arthur. "Shoot, dude, you had me lost in thought."
"Haha… Since we're here, I'm gonna assume that the important thing you wanted to tell me was regarding the Akatsuki."
"Actually, it was something different."
"Oh…"
"Listen, Will is bent on living with Naruto. And Jasper doesn't know how to clean or wake up by himself without me or Alice. Plus, Hiashi wants me to move into the Hyūga compound. Bro, do you know what my day is like?"
"No, I suppose not," Arthur laughed.
"Please, help, man! I know you still live in that hotel, so why not room with Jasper and I instead."
"Why don't you ask Will instead?"
"I told you: the dude's bent on living with Naruto. I'm starting to think he's gay."
The two shared a brief laughter, although Arthur was far from being genuine about it.
"Sorry, bro, but I prefer to stay solo."
Alex comically sighed upon being rejected. Whatever reason for him asking may have held something deeper. Either way, Arthur wasn't buying it.
"Man, I thought for sure you'd accept," Alex laughed, placing a hand out. "Seriously, though, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. We're all friends, after all."
Arthur grasped his hand firmly. "Of course, mate. Friends…"
They held their gaze for a moment longer as if something unspoken passed between them. Then, with a final nod, Alex turned and walked away before disappearing into the streets.
Arthur couldn't deny that a part of him wanted to save Alex if he was truly being manipulated. But for Arthur to succeed, he couldn't afford emotional attachments with any of these so-called "friends".
✟
Midday rose high over the village as Arthur walked elsewhere.
His destination was the Jōnin Station to see Asuma Sarutobi.
Asuma was written to be a laid-back and easygoing character, often choosing not to get involved in things unless absolutely necessary. He was a heavy smoker but would break the habit under certain circumstances.
He was also very close to Kurenai Yūhi, with the latter eventually becoming pregnant with his child three years from now.
Like almost every Jōnin, Asuma was willing to go out of his way to make sure his students were content and fulfilled. His death, which should take place three years from now, had a significant impact on those around him.
Arthur knew him well.
Reaching the station, he was stopped by a guard at the front desk. The man, a Chūnin, scrutinized him for a moment before grudgingly nodding him through after hearing he was looking for Asuma.
Entering this area wasn't difficult at all. The only thing the guard had to verify was his Leaf Village headband, and the rest was easy.
Arthur soon found Asuma inside a storage unit. The Jōnin was poring over a framed picture, looking melancholic.
"Asuma-sensei," greeted Arthur.
Asuma looked up to see who had called him. There was a deep sigh because he had heard the word 'sensei' following his name.
"Arthur, right?" he said, acknowledging his presence. "It's been a while."
Arthur's gaze lingered on the picture in Asuma's hand. It depicted none other than his former team: a frowning Shikamaru, shoulders relaxed; a smiling Ino; and a grinning Chōji holding up two fingers.
"I see you're doing well," Arthur finally said as Asuma returned the picture.
"Well enough, I suppose... Which reminds me, I didn't see you at the funeral."
Funeral? Of course, there would be a service held for the respected clan heads' children.
"I was out of the village and hadn't received any news about it," Arthur answered. "I'm still sorry about what happened. We all are."
Asuma respected those words, having remembered Arthur's proclamations back in the Chūnin Exams.
"A ninja," he began, "especially regarding lost comrades, must always be prepared for losses." How ironic that this same ninja would die, causing almost everyone to grieve over him because of it. "You're still a Genin, Arthur, so never forget that."
"I understand… A ninja's way isn't always fun and games. Missions are taken where their lives are on the line."
"That's right," Asuma agreed. Yet there was still a sense of bitterness in his tone. "Now, what can I do for you?"
"Since I've been away from the village, I haven't had the time to talk to Shikaku and Inojin. How are they exactly?"
Asuma's gaze turned back to the cabinet. "They're still devastated…" Then a moment of silence passed before the Jōnin revealed something interesting. "The Nara clan, along with the Yamanaka, has launched a joint investigation into the Forest of Death since a rogue ninja named Orochimaru was involved."
Arthur hadn't expected that news.
A month ago, when he slew those two, he had banked on the Nara and Yamanaka prioritizing mourning over suspicion. Clearly their tenacity wasn't to be underestimated.
But how could he expect this to happen when everyone signed a death waiver?
"An investigation, huh?" he said, trying to sound casual. "Well, I'm sure this Orochimaru fellow had something to do with it."
Asuma met his gaze. "Perhaps, but we won't know for certain until they've finished."
"I understand, Asuma-sensei. I'll help if the investigation requires it."
"Glad to know, but it's best to just let us handle it since Orochimaru is an S-rank level threat."
"Of course!" Arthur straightened. His inquiry about the deaths of Ino and Shikamaru wasn't the only reason he came here. "There's one more thing, Asuma-sensei."
"What is it?"
"If you have some time, I would be honoured to receive some training from you."
Surprise crossed Asuma's face. Then it softened into a grudging respect. He believed Arthur to be an upright fellow, a natural individual who had always shown sympathy toward others.
Despite Arthur having beaten his own student, casting this request aside wouldn't serve the village's best interests. Add that Asuma was the third Hokage's son, it was reasonable why he, of all Jōnin, was being asked.
"Well," Asuma slowly said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "As it happens, I don't have any missions assigned today. Guess it wouldn't hurt to have a refresher on the basics, even for a strong Genin like yourself."
Arthur knew he wouldn't be denied. Even if he were, there were hundreds of ways to train and dozens of other Jōnin he could try to exploit.
"Great!" Arthur replied, faking his eagerness. "Let's head to the training ground east of the village."
Asuma grinned. "Slow down there, kid. There's still something I gotta do first. Meet me there in an hour. We'll see if you've gotten rusty since your match with Chōji."
At that, Arthur left the storage unit and made his way to the only training ground on the east side.
This area wasn't as secluded as the ones he ventured into. It had logs perched up from the ground and ninja tools left behind by others.
After an hour had passed with him lightly warming up, Asuma finally arrived.
"Alright, Arthur," he said, wiping his brow. "What would you like to focus on?"
Arthur was no fool; attempting to learn straightforward techniques from Asuma would be a waste.
So he first feigned a thoughtful expression by running his hand through his hair. "There's an advanced technique I've been considering. Something I came across during my time outside the village."
Asuma perked up at that. "An advanced technique, you say? Tell me about it."
Arthur then launched into a carefully crafted description of a ninja dressed like a monk who used this technique. He threw in terms like 'chakra control' and 'precise hand signs' to lend the technique an air of legitimacy.
When he finished, a sly grin spread across Asuma's face before laughing. "Aha. You must have come across my old friend, Chiriku."
Chiriku was a formidable ninja monk. He served as both a guardian for the Land of Fire's leader and the head monk of the Fire Temple, a place known for its skilled monks. He was also once part of a group of elite guardians alongside Asuma, but when some members attempted a takeover, he and Asuma fought back, leaving them as the only survivors.
"I believe I know the technique you're referring to," Asuma said. "It's called the Raigō: Thousand Hand Strike."
Bingo. Exactly the reaction Arthur had hoped for.
That technique was the Fire Temple's ultimate technique, summoning the Thousand-Armed Kannon, a protective spirit fueled by the user's 'Gift of the Hermit Group' chakra. While normally peaceful, the spirit becomes a monstrous devil when the user feels anger.
"The Raigō: Thousand Hand Strike..." Arthur repeated, feigning ignorance about it. "Can you teach it to me?"
"It's a very powerful jutsu, and it requires a special type of chakra mainly found at the Fire Temple."
Arthur knew learning the actual technique was a long shot. Why he was asking was because he needed to understand the fundamentals. Heading to the Fire Temple itself was something for later on.
"Of course," Arthur said, adopting a conceding tone. "I get that it's not possible for me to learn right this second, but maybe you could instruct me on the principles."
"There's always something to learn… But be warned, it's a complex technique. It might take some time to grasp even the basics."
Arthur gave a fake smile.
✟
The day went by, filled with learning the special hand signs and means of executing the technique.
Asuma's explanations were quite simple. All one needed to do was form the monk's hand sign and harness the Gift of the Hermit Group's chakra outward until the spirit manifested.
As the sun started to go down, Arthur left with full knowledge of how to perform it.
While he hadn't learned how to execute it entirely, he had taken a crucial step towards understanding its intricacies.
And that, in his mind, was a victory.