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.
Upon arrival, he noticed how much smaller of a village this was. It was akin to an impoverished settlement.
The people were wary, their eyes filled with distrust. Clearly, they had gone through some form of hardship or struggle.
Arthur moved cautiously with his senses on high alert. He eavesdropped on conversations, observed the villagers' interactions, and pieced together the puzzle of their daily drudgery.
It was during a casual conversation with an old man that he finally found the information he was looking for.
The man, weathered by years and toil, spoke of the brothers with a sense of calmness. He recounted tales of their bravery, their unmatched skill, and their tragic demise.
According to the old man, they had been buried in a hidden tomb. The location was a closely guarded secret, known only to a handful of people.
Arthur pressed for more details, but the old man hesitated.
"It's a dangerous place, young man," he warned. "I advise you not to head in that direction if you're looking to see the light of day tomorrow."
Arthur's resolve hardened. Danger was his constant companion.
He thanked the old man for his information and prepared to leave.
After a while of walking away from the village, he felt a strange sensation. But when he turned around, he hadn't seen anything.
'Tamashii…'
Five figures stood hidden in the shadows. They were armed and looked to have been following him.
"Come out," he demanded after deactivating his Kekkei Genkai.
"Well, well, well," one of them said as all five materialized on the road. "We heard you were asking about the Gold and Silver Brothers."
Arthur remained calm, scanning the persecutors for any signs of weakness. Much like every other character he'd come across in this country, he hadn't recognized any of them.
Perhaps they were hired mercenaries with no allegiance to any nation, seeing as how they didn't have a shinobi's headband on.
"And?" Arthur replied with a steady voice.
"And we're here to tell you that you're asking too many questions," another man replied. "Where you're thinking of going is off limits to outsiders. You'd best leave."
"Who sent you?" Arthur asked.
"Let's just say we got a tip from an old man," a woman snarled.
Arthur pieced together their motives instantly. That same "innocent" old man had ratted him out and informed these punks of his intentions.
If there was any time for someone to chuckle, now would be it. But Arthur's chuckle was mirthless.
A man then growled, "Get lost now!"
"Or what?" Arthur wondered. "You'll rough me up and send me to prison to be sold as a slave?"
The mercenaries exchanged glances. That's exactly the thought they had.
Then, with a coordinated movement, they charged, holding out their weapons—knives, kunai, and large shuriken.
Arthur moved with the speed of a striking cobra. He dodged, parried, and countered their attempts.
The mercenaries were skilled, but they were no match for his honed reflexes.
Within minutes, the floor was filled with running blood. Each mercenary sprawled on the ground, and their weapons were scattered around them.
Arthur stood amidst the chaos, hardly breaking a sweat. Not once had he used his Tamashii after its initial activation.
He had defeated them almost too easily. Perhaps they weren't as skilled as they thought.
Arthur wrapped their dead bodies in bandages and placed a flying raijin mark on each of them before burying them.
Of course, they wouldn't be used for his army of the undead. They were too weak. But he always liked to plan ahead, so who knew if these fodder would come in handy one day?
Thus was the life of a lone shinobi.
Arthur continued his path. The brothers' tomb was calling to him, and he wouldn't let anything stand in his way.
His journey eventually led him to a desolate expanse of land, a graveyard of sorts. The tombstones were monolithic, carved from obsidian stone.
Two guards stood watch over the graveyard. They didn't at all look imposing.
Arthur paused to consider. Why would a graveyard require such heavy security? The answer was obvious. The bodies buried here were deemed dangerous.
They were the legendary Gold and Silver Brothers. Arthur had already verified things with his Tamashii.
While the guards might have been shinobi, they were Chūnin level at best.
Sneaking safely inside, past the guards, he found the brothers' grave. He kneeled before the structures and performed an illusion to mask his actions.
He then excavated the earth, this form of work being nothing new to him. After a while, he reached the coffins. They were made of the same dark material as the tombstones.
He pried open the lids. Inside, the bodies of the brothers lay oddly preserved. Likely due to the lingering chakra of the Nine-Tails.
Arthur carefully extracted DNA samples from both, storing them in a scroll. Reanimating them now, using the guards, wasn't ideal; he simply needed their genetic material for later use.
With the mission accomplished, he replaced the coffins and filled in the grave as if it had never been disturbed. Then he left.
He spent the rest of the day observing the two guards, waiting for them to be relieved of duty. If one of them returned to the Cloud, it would be one of the easiest finds of a hidden village.
They were vigilant, their eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. But he was patient and more observant than them.
He watched as the first guard began to show signs of fatigue. The man yawned, rubbing sleep from his eyes. It was time.
With care, Arthur followed the guard from the shadows. He kept a safe distance, his eyes never leaving the guard's form or what was around him.
The guard meandered through an open path. Finally, he turned into a small, unassuming house. The house was dark, save for a faint glow from a single window.
Arthur watched him enter, puzzled as to why the guard had come here. He circled the building, searching for anything odd.
The house was small and sparsely furnished. The first thing the guard did was go to sleep on a bed in a corner of a room.
Arthur continued to search the whole house, hoping to find some clue, a map, or a hidden compartment. But there was nothing.
Perhaps the guard was posting here for a week until he would return to the village. But Arthur was by no means going to stay here that long.
The Cloud Village was a very strong village, housing one of the Treasured Tools. Yet he had a lot of work to finish on his end.
Content with what he had already gained—the DNA samples of the Gold and Silver Brothers—it was time to leave this country.
His next journey led him back to the Water Country. He arrived right inside Hiromu's office, standing in the middle of the opulent chamber.
Arthur was a very crafty man. He knew how imperative it was to have flying raijin marks in almost every place he ventured to.
Hiromu's castle was no different. There were marks secretly placed all around, allowing him not just to teleport to them but also to sense them as if he were visually seeing through a camera's lens.
The office itself screamed of wealth and power. Many lavish furnishings were inside, and intricate artwork hung on the walls. This wasn't the first time he had been here, but it was still difficult to see an area like this from the Edo era.
Hiromu eventually entered the room and was startled by the sudden appearance. He quickly bowed without hesitating.
"Greeting, my lord," he began, "My greatest apologies. I had not expected you to come; otherwise, I would have made the proper arrangements."
It should come as no surprise that a feudal lord thought highly of another. Unless they believed that person to have a higher status, they would never act this way in private.
Arthur dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand and said, "No apologies are needed, Hiromu. I needed to speak to you regarding an urgent matter."
Hiromu lifted his head and nodded, walking towards a nearby seating area.
"Of course," he said. "Please, my lord, have a seat at my desk."
As they settled into their respective chairs, Arthur took a moment to assess the situation.
"I need you to summon the key councilmen," he said in a firm voice. "The head advisor, the secretary-general, the treasurer, and the head diplomat—bring them all to the meeting for an important matter."
His knowledge of the council was apparent.
In Edo-period Japan, even in this world, there was a hierarchical feudal system.
At the apex stood the feudal lord, wielding absolute authority over the territory. Underneath them was a council composed of key advisors, each with a specialized role.
The head advisor served as the primary counselor, offering strategic and political guidance. The secretary-general managed administrative affairs, ensuring the smooth operation of the domain's bureaucracy. Overseeing the financial aspects was the treasurer, responsible for taxation, budgeting, and economic policies. Diplomacy and foreign relations fell under the purview of the head diplomat.
The only thing different was that there were no samurai advisors in this country to provide real military expertise and counsel on security matters.
These council members worked collaboratively to assist the feudal lord in governing the domain effectively. Decisions were made collectively, with the feudal lord possessing the final authority.
This system ensured a balance of power and expertise, allowing for effective administration and the maintenance of order.
While the feudal lord ultimately held supreme power, the council's input was crucial in shaping policies and making informed decisions.
Hiromu's eyebrows rose in surprise to ask, "Why such urgency, my lord? Is something wrong?"
Arthur shook his head and said, "I believe it's time for the Water Country to undergo a transformation. A radical one."
Hiromu leaned forward, his interest piqued. Arthur could tell he wanted an explanation.
"I envision a country that is strong, prosperous, and united. A country where everyone is in harmony and has security. To achieve this, we need to restructure the government, streamline the economy, and strengthen our defenses."
Hiromu listened intently, his expression growing more admirable with each passing word. When Arthur finished, he leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes.
"I understand, my lord," Hiromu bowed. "Assessing our country's current situation identifies a challenge and a comprehensive strategy that not even I have been capable of. Under your reign, it will surely prosper!"
"I'm glad you see it my way…"
As Hiromu left to summon the council, Arthur turned his attention to the documents scattered across the desk.
He had already done his research on the Water Country's economic situation, but a refresher would be beneficial. So he skimmed through reports on trade, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Thirty minutes later, he found himself in the main meeting room (also known as the council chamber).
It was a vast, high-ceilinged hall, its walls adorned with tapestries depicting the country's history. A long, polished oak table was in the center, surrounded by expensive chairs.
Arthur sat at the head of the group, and around him was a diverse group, their personalities and expertise mimicking their professional attire.
He stood up to greet them.
"I have called you here today to discuss the country's affairs," he began. "We are at a crossroads, and we must choose the right way that will lead us to prosperity and security."
The council exchanged glances. Some felt curious, others felt skeptical.
Just from leading this meeting, with Hiromu not sitting in the main seat, he knew he had their attention.
Everyone in this room were no more than salary characters working to ensure their country's safety. Most, however, cared about their own personal affairs. Like how much money they would earn from their position.
They each had important things outside of this room to take care of. Such as business reports and other meetings with artisans or marketplace owners.
While prestige and reputation mattered most, not all the members in this room cared for such things. Some genuinely desired to ensure their feudal lord's success.
Because if Hiromu was at his best, so was the country. And since Hiromu's best relied on Arthur to lead, these council members had no choice but to follow.
Why else would they have dropped everything just to come to this unexpected meeting?
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