章 153: William Rodriguez
He recalled the last time he had been there, accused of cheating. Thankfully, those accusations were somewhat lifted. And on top of that, he had managed to make to the finals.
He strolled over to a chair, sat down, let out a sigh of relief. The excitement inside of him couldn't be contained. He had, after all, reached the end.
All he could think of now was what he could do with the prize money if he won. Maybe he could finally pay Jada back for that time she covered his breakfast. Or perhaps he could take her out on a date to show her how much he appreciated her.
The thought filled him with warmth, painting a smile across his face. Just as he began to bask in the fantasy, the door swung open, and the same doctor from before entered the room, clipboard in hand.
"Mr. Uzumaki," he greeted with a professional tone. "To think we'd be seeing each other again. Congratulations on making it to the finals."
"Thank you!" William replied. "But… why am I being evaluated? Didn't we go through this already?"
The doctor cleared his throat, eyeing William with intent as he said, "The officials would like the final participants to go all out in the upcoming match. To ensure the quality of the barrier we plan on setting up, we must first know the level of techniques you possess."
William's curiosity was piqued, and he asked, "But… why do you need to know specifically? Isn't this about the excitement of the fight?"
"It is, indeed. But for safety reasons, we need to ensure the barriers can withstand the techniques used." The doctor continued with a straight face. "So I need you to write down all of your techniques."
Just as William considered the request, a tinge of skepticism crossed his mind. Nonetheless, he shrugged it off; he was too trusting in the whimsical nature of the tournament.
"Alright," he conceded, "I guess it makes sense?"
After taking the clipboard, he began detailing his abilities.
"Have you seen me out there by any chance?"
The doctor dismissed the question with a wave, gesturing to the clipboard, still waiting for William's input. "Please," he urged, "the officials are in a hurry, so write what you can."
"Right! Sorry!"
As the man in a child's body moved his pen, his thoughts drifted back to his life before Elysium.
On Earth, his life felt suffocating, a collection of days spent toiling away at a part-time job. His purpose revolved around meeting bills rather than fulfilling dreams.
He could vividly recall how, after work, he drowned himself in the computer—devouring Reddit forums, fanfiction stories, and hours of anime to fill his empty void. A weight settled in his chest.
He had never considered himself athletic; he was shy around girls and unable to find the courage to express his romantic side. The only serious relationship he had ever known ended after high school when his girlfriend moved away for college.
Living with his mother was another chapter of his life, as her constant reminders to do something better weighed down on him. Still, reconciliation with his fate was met with sheer nostalgia as he thought of Elysium.
Finally, he had seized the golden ticket to something extraordinary.
On the day things changed, he had raced inside, anxious and eager to partake in the groundbreaking virtual experiment.
But upon discovering that it was Naruto-related, he felt an unhealthy sense of joy. It was as if things were finally moving in his direction.
What more could a diehard fan like him want than to be a part of the world he had been morbidly obsessed with?
"And the Rasengan…" he whispered to himself while scribbling the last of his techniques.
William outlined everything he had learned as a Uzumaki. From his Rasengan to the Shadow Clone Technique, each description carried insights from the battles fought alongside others.
The more he wrote, the clearer his purpose became.
It was surreal how deeply personal traits linked to his character mirrored his hidden desires. He recalled the moment of hesitation when choosing his character's clan—tempted by the power of an Uchiha but deterred by the burden of hunting for bonds in darkness; intrigued by the Senju lineage but terrified of failing; and disdainful of the Ōtsutsuki clan with its grotesque visuals and malicious motives.
Ultimately, the Uzumaki clan had deemed itself the pinnacle of his aspirations.
"Oh, I'm the bomb," he murmured at the time. "This is my chance: to rewrite the story and not just live in it; I can reshape my world!"
As he progressed in that world, one player threatened his dreams—Arthur Bennett.
To William, Arthur's reputation was characterized by cunning and an overwhelming presence that overshadowed any other villain he'd read about. The specter of Arthur lingered in his thoughts even to this day—a dark and forbidding figure that terrified his dreams.
After discovering Arthur's villainy, William felt compelled to take action. He couldn't let him set the course of this world or crush its spirit. So, his venture into protecting Team 7 and the others became a mission—an affirmation of everything he wished to keep.
It was quite the obsession for a fan, one that seemed to grow maliciously after stepping foot in this virtual realm.
After writing down his techniques, he suddenly found himself reminiscing about a different conversation he had shared with Naruto. It was after the devastating encounter with Arthur back in the Land of Tea.
He could recall the pain in Naruto's eyes, his admission of defeat—they were heavy with regret.
"How was it?" William had asked at the time.
"Honestly, cuz, I really don't want to talk about it," Naruto explained, searching for the right words. "But since it's you, maybe you can help me understand or something... It was like fighting a mirror."
William had been taken aback; he understood that they had lost Idate Morino in that battle, and the weight of that loss settled heavily in the pit of his stomach.
"You mean he predicted everything you threw at him?"
"Everything," Naruto replied, visibly frustrated. "I can't really explain it, but it was like he knew all of our moves… I guess ya could say it was like fighting a nightmare."
The gravity of those words settled deeper in William's heart. The notion terrified him; it overwhelmingly reminded him of the struggles he had faced in the past while navigating through life on Earth.
Arthur had not just been a fighter to beat; he was a lesson, a reminder that strength and strategy went hand in hand. After hearing that, William felt compelled to forge ahead and fuel himself with that lesson.
In his silent contemplation, he shifted his focus to Jada, whom he had sought out to learn more about Arthur's methods following Naruto's discourse. She, too, had been reticent, requiring coaxing to share her truths. Yet her story had an emotional depth to it.
"You're okay, right, Jada?" he asked after their epic battle.
"Yeah… He was strong, but I pulled through thanks to you guys," she earnestly replied.
"How was it fighting him… er, I mean another player?"
Jada wasn't quite sure how to answer that question. After recollecting those memories, her eyes shone with sadness as she confessed, "It was as if he used every emotion against me… He made me scream, and I lost my cool... I… I couldn't think straight. If I hadn't let him manipulate me, maybe I could have stopped him."
William felt his heart ache. Under that strength, something sorrowful lingered, a longing to make Arthur pay for what he had done. He also regretted not having been there when everyone needed him the most.
"You're glad he's gone now, right?" he had asked, hoping reassurance would mend the rift her memory had opened.
"Oh… so glad. But sometimes I think about—what if?" her voice trailed off.
At that moment, his hope bordered on despair. It seemed she carried the weight of losing a battle, but what if there was more? What if Arthur's absence left a void in Jada's heart, something beyond mere victory?
Shutting down that trajectory of thought, he gripped the clipboard tightly. The doctor noticed, wondering what or who might have made him act so dramatically.
"Oh!" William said, sensing his anger rise. "Sorry about that, doc. I… uhm, I've finished writing everything down."
As the doctor scanned the clipboard, he deemed the list acceptable, allowing William to use all his listed techniques. The shock was more toward William, for he hadn't expected most of his jutsus to pass.
"Is the barrier that strong?!" he asked in surprise.
"There's no need to worry about it. From what you've jotted down, the officials will ensure everyone's safety, including your opponents."
"Gee," William said, dumbfoundedly scratching his head. "I guess I'll try to go all-out then!"
Upon getting approval, he hopped to the floor, thanked the doctor, and left the room. He desired more than just his own victory; he would do his best to keep this world stable with the same dream he had throughout his adulthood.
Arthur leaned back in the chair with the clipboard resting in his hand. He skimmed the list William had written. 'Affinity for wind…' he repeated in his head.
Arthur had long understood the advantages of elemental affinities; they were the backbone of any ninja's arsenal. Wind, with its capacity for both offensive and defensive maneuvers, was a solid choice. But to have such abilities merely as a reflection of a fictional character?
His gaze shifted down the list once more, and his brow furrowed as he spotted "Multi-Shadow Clones."
'Just like Naruto,' he scoffed. The sheer volume of shadow clones had become a crutch for many wannabe ninjas, yet here was William, wielding the technique as if it were his right.
It was almost laughable, a reminder that he was just another fanboy who wanted to abuse techniques. Continuing, Arthur read, "Everywhere Shuriken jutsu," another technique that relied heavily on clones. It was clever but dependent on a foundation of creativity that William's list suggested he lacked.
Next, he narrowed his gaze at "Toad Summons" and "Ninja Art: Toad Transformation." The two signature moves were from Jiraiya, so it was plausible to believe a player like William had them.
'Not too bad,' he admitted. 'But still pathetic…'
Arthur couldn't help but roll his eyes at the comparisons drawn. William, with all his affinity for the world of Naruto, had become a paid reflection of the original.
Moving on, the list detailed the remainder of the rest of William's arsenal: wind style: air bullets, wind style: pressure damage, Toad Sage Mode, and so on.
It all felt oddly superficial under Arthur's scrutinizing gaze. William wasn't just any ordinary player; he had access to techniques that, in their raw form, could easily rival some of the strongest contenders.
But there was still a glaring weakness.
'Rasengan… and a Rasenshuriken,' Arthur thought.
With all that power, he had a right to feel frustrated. Yet he remained calm. The idea that William had opted for the conventional—that he had chosen to emulate Naruto's path rather than forge his own—was exasperating.
This wasn't a game of homage; this was an arena of survival. And with the potential of the Nine-Tails chakra coursing through William's being, he could have transcended it, simply becoming a shadow of his idol.
'Perhaps the Toad Sage Mode gives him an edge,' Arthur contemplated, tapping his fingers against the surface of the clipboard, 'but he seems bent on sticking to a single narrative.'
It was pitiable. The true power came from individuality—from wielding techniques of one's own creation. What did Arthur expect? William's strength wasn't the issue; it was that he was simply unprepared to wield it at its fullest potential.
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