Kapitel 78: A Question
Arthur packed lightly. Food, water, a change of clothes, and his arsenal of weapons—that was all he needed.
The journey from the Water Country to the Lightning Country would take a fair bit. Days turned into nights as he traveled across the sea.
His mind wasn't idle; he spent the hours in contemplation, strategizing his next move, and planning for the challenges that lay ahead.
When he finally set foot on the unfamiliar shores of the Lightning Country, he surveyed the land with a ready mind. He was in enemy territory, a land that was also ruled by a rigid hierarchy.
He chose a secluded spot, a rocky outcrop overlooking the vast ocean. It was here that he would begin his training.
But he wouldn't be alone. He needed a sparring partner—a relentless opponent who would push him to his limits again.
'Summoning jutsu: reanimation.'
The familiar coffin materialized and revealed the corpse. This time, instead of Tatewaki, he summoned Minato.
The fourth Hokage's eyes snapped open. He looked around in confusion.
Unlike previous instances when Arthur had taken the extra step to suppress Minato's consciousness, reducing him to a mindless killing machine, he allowed Minato to be aware.
"Your purpose is simple," Arthur stated. "Attack me. Relentlessly."
Minato looked at Arthur without any emotion. Then he looked at his palms and understood.
"The forbidden Reanimation jutsu," he recounted. "You're a shinobi then. If you mind me asking, where am I and what's the status of the Leaf Village?"
Arthur was not at all surprised that this enigmatic character would be troubled to know what had unfolded. Moreover, he wasn't shocked to see Minato knew what technique was being used.
"I gave you an order," Arthur coldly said. "Now follow it."
With that command, Minato lunged at Arthur. Arthur's eyes flashed red as he met the attack head-on.
The scene was filled with the clash of flesh and hardened dust. Minato's strikes were relentless, each one very heavy. Arthur could barely hold his ground, but his movements were a counterpoint to Minato's assault.
By the time their warm-up ended, blood trickled down Arthur's lips. Minato remained untouched!
It was only a few exchanges, yet it was clear who had the upper hand.
Arthur remained stoic, his expression unreadable. He needed this pain, this constant barrage of attacks. It was only through adversity that he would truly grow.
Minato himself was focused on gauging the situation. It was clear that he was trying to adapt.
Without a word, as if he had a choice, he lunged again. This time, he began to incorporate new tactics, making his attacks more unpredictable.
Arthur, despite his Tamashii granting him something akin to precognition, was always one step behind. He barely dodged, could hardly parry, and had his own attacks countered.
Minato was just that much stronger!
The battle raged on for hours. Arthur pushed himself to his limits, his body aching with exertion. But he refused to yield. With each passing moment, he felt his mind sharpening.
As he was being beaten, he tried to focus on his healing technique to lessen the damage and repair his injuries—all in the process of attacking.
Finally, exhausted, Arthur called a halt to the battle. Minato stood motionless, having not said a word throughout.
Arthur dismissed the reanimated body, the coffin reappearing and carrying the corpse in side. He then collapsed to the ground.
The pain was intense, something he hadn't experienced in a while. But this familiar ache had to be endured.
Amidst the pain, a sense of contentment arose. He knew training with the likes of a Kage would yield better results. Surely, he would grow stronger, faster, and more resilient.
He still had a long road ahead of him.
The following day, the sun rose higher in the sky as Arthur and Minato resumed their training. Today, the focus shifted from physical strength to tactical finesse.
Physical prowess was essential, but without knowledge, it was a blunt instrument.
"What is your purpose here?" Minato finally asked.
There was a reason why this character had waited so long to say something. He, possessing keen intellect, was strategizing.
Arthur ignored the question and said, "Your sole purpose is to train me... Nothing more."
Minato smiled, remaining a dutiful servant.
Arthur wasn't concerned with loyalty or respect. He needed a training partner—a vessel through which he could absorb knowledge.
The exercise began. Minato demonstrated a series of hand signs for his more potent techniques. He explained the intricacies, the chakra flow, and the intended effect of everything he knew.
It was a crash course in techniques and strategies.
Arthur watched and listened intently to Minato's demonstrations. Every detail was absorbed like a sponge.
He learned the basics of sensory ninjutsu, the art of gathering information through the senses. He also had a better method of chakra control.
But it was the offensive techniques that truly intrigued him. Minato demonstrated a series of devastating attacks, each one faster and more powerful than the last.
There was the "Area Sensing" jutsu, a technique that allowed the user to perceive chakra signatures within a vast radius.
Then there was the "Chakra Transfer" jutsu, a method of transferring one's chakra to another to help replenish their reserves. What Arthur enjoyed most about this technique was that he could use Minato to transfer to him.
And then there were the variants of the flying raijin. Minato was a legend in his own time. It would have been foolish not to acquire his knowledge of one of his most famous skills.
Arthur learned the advanced principles of the flying raijin—things not revealed in the Scroll of Seals.
The speed of marking locations and teleporting to them instantly could be minimized if he simply thought ahead of the location and pictured himself already there.
Truly, it was the progressive techniques that truly fascinated him. Like the "flying raijin: teleportation barrier."
There was also the "flying raijin slice," a shocking attack that involved teleporting with a sharp object at high speed while attacking. It was practically impossible to dodge.
Then there was "flying raijin: level two," a technique that involved a thrown weapon and a well-timed attack. While the need for a weapon wasn't necessary, it was the speed at which the technique as a whole was executed.
In a short span, the user could deliver one finishing blow. It was so quick that not even an opponent with the Sharingan could react in time.
And then there was the pinnacle of Minato's teleportation arsenal: the "flying raijin: combo level" and the "flying raijin: style zero."
These were not mere techniques; they were combinations of multiple jutsu, executed with a speed and precision that defied logic. Little did Arthur know that they were also game techniques.
The latter was actually called "flying raijin: jiku shippu senko rennodan zeroshiki."
He dubbed that technique "Style Zero," a simple, easy-to-remember name for a complex jutsu. It would be a challenge to perfect, but he was determined to add all of them to his arsenal.
The training session ended with him exhausted after sixteen whole hours.
"That's everything I know," Minato conceded. "May I ask you a question before you let me go again?"
'Polite,' Arthur thought. 'But not stupid…'
He nodded his head, allowing Minato to speak freely.
"You must know a lot, seeing how you also knew my techniques... Tell me, how long has it been since my death?"
"Twelve years…"
"I see… Is the Leaf Village still up and running?"
"You said 'a' question…"
Minato sighed with a smile. Clearly, he was in no position to argue, let alone make any more requests. As such, the reanimated shinobi returned to his coffin, his purpose fulfilled.
Arthur, despite the physical strain from practicing, got up to continue traveling. He had learned more in a single day than he had in months of self-training.
To perfect these techniques would be long and arduous, but he was ready to embrace the challenge. With each new skill he acquired, he was inching closer to his goal—to become the ultimate villain this world would repent of creating.
The foundation had been laid, and he would build upon it at a later time.
Arthur packed his belongings and set off. He would have loved to continue training, but there was so much that needed to be done.
The Land of Lightning.
This part of the world was a mountainous country located northeast of the Land of Fire. Known for its frequent thunderstorms, it boasts beautiful coastal scenery and numerous hot springs.
Its hidden village, unlike the Water Country, is its capital and home to the Raikage. The Valley of Clouds and Lightning, two hidden training grounds, are also notable locations within the country's mountains.
Additionally, the Land of Lightning is home to Genbu, a massive, ancient turtle that serves as another training ground for specific Cloud ninjas.
Arthur's problem was that he wasn't aware of any of this country's landmarks. Even with the world map, there were hardly any notable places he could venture to.
Nonetheless, he still needed to move swiftly and gather information without attracting attention.
'Transformation jutsu.'
His features were altered, and his chakra was masked, creating a new identity. It was a precaution, a necessary step that he always took when faced with uncertainty.
The journey through the Lightning Country was demanding. The terrain was taxing—a harsh landscape of towering mountains and treacherous canyons.
But he pressed on with no complaints.
After a while, he finally stumbled upon a small village nestled amidst a verdant valley. It was a peaceful oasis in a land known for its harsh climate.
The villagers, a simple folk, greeted him with warmth and hospitality. He spent a few days there, blending in with the locals and gathering information about the country.
The village was a microcosm of the nation. Arthur learned about the village's history, its customs, and its character. Most importantly, he gathered information about the Gold and Silver Brothers, Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
The villagers spoke of the brothers with reverence and fear. There were many rumours said about them.
Arthur both heard and remembered that these characters were notorious shinobi from the Cloud Village, known for their immense power and treacherous nature.
Distantly related to the Sage of Six Paths, they gained vast chakra reserves after surviving being swallowed by the Nine-Tails. This power enabled them to wield the Treasured Tools.
Their appearance was also said to be striking, with gold and silver hair styled as headdresses, giving them their names. They were both muscular and shared a similar attire.
Their personalities were equally formidable, marked by arrogance and a complete disregard for their comrades. This entails that they were willing to use any means necessary to achieve their goals, often relying on deceit and betrayal.
Arthur couldn't relate.
Despite their villainous nature, there was a bond between the brothers. Ginkaku deeply cared for Kinkaku, and Kinkaku displayed anger when Ginkaku was in danger.
This loyalty, however, did not outweigh their ambition and ruthlessness.
Their fate was tragic. After a failed coup, they were presumed dead.
In the original story, they were later revived by Kabuto and caused havoc during the Fourth Shinobi World War. Ultimately, they were sealed away once more after being defeated by a character named Darui.
Arthur spent his days exploring the village, its surroundings, and the nearby mountains.
He learned of the terrain, looking for potential hiding spots, escape routes, and vantage points—going as far as placing secret flying raijin marks here just in case.
After a couple of days, he had gathered enough information to continue his journey.
For him, the village held no more secrets. He thanked his hosts for their hospitality, knowing that the chances of him returning were slim.
His next destination was another village, not too far from the oasis. It was there, in the heart of the Lightning Country, that he hoped to find the Gold and Silver Brothers and, with them, the elusive Treasured Tools.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein