Capítulo 84: Not By Me
Arthur approached Sakura.
"Enjoying the scenery?" he asked amusingly.
She turned upon recognizing the voice. Her face then lit up with a smile as she said, "It's so peaceful here. The flowers are beautiful."
To think such a character was hated this much. Yet her personality, when she wasn't upset, seemed calm.
Arthur nodded and agreed, saying, "They are indeed. The Land of Tea is known for its natural beauty."
The two sat down to engage in small talk, discussing the weather, the local customs, and the upcoming race. Sakura spoke with enthusiasm, pleased and excited about how a lot of things have been going lately.
Arthur noticed a subtle change in her demeanour.
There was a sense of maturity about her—a confidence that contradicted her young age. The Sakura he remembered was a lot shyer and a little insecure, often looking for approval.
But the girl before him was different. She was like her older self: strong, independent, and capable.
He wondered if the time spent with the other players had changed her. It had to have been. Or perhaps it was simply a matter of growing up. Reasonable to believe, but it was written that her maturity phase wouldn't develop for at least another three years.
Whatever the cause, Sakura had evolved into a notable young girl.
As their conversation continued, Arthur probed deeper, trying to assess her strength and abilities. He asked about her training, her aspirations, and her fears. Sakura answered openly, not at all suspicious because of his friendliness.
There was no trace of her "inner Sakura," the manifestation of her inner emotions, representing her actual opinion on things when she outwardly displays something completely different.
Arthur would have easily been able to tell if she was hiding her feelings, but she didn't give any signs of doing so. This Sakura was far too confident, almost as if she was ready to face any challenge.
He was not the least bit impressed, knowing that she was still Team 7's weakest link. But at the same time, he wouldn't underestimate her.
"Hey, Sakura, why are you carrying a medical bag?" Arthur asked in a gentle tone. "I wasn't told you were on the medical corps or anything."
Sakura casually moved her bag from sight with a nervous smile. In a lax tone, she explained, "I'd love to share, but I made a promise to my friends that I wouldn't tell anyone why. You understand, right?"
Now was not the time to break character, so Arthur nodded.
There was a reason she had a medical bag, and he knew what was inside—bandages, small vials, and the sort. Only ninjas who knew how to use these items would even bother carrying them. And not just any ninjas, but medical ninjas.
Her role as a simple support character was only ever made crucial after she received her training from Tsunade. But Tsunade wasn't in the village, and there were no reports claiming that she ever stopped by.
There was only one reason why Sakura possibly knew how to perform medical ninjutsu—the players.
Medical techniques, while needing refined chakra control, weren't that difficult to learn for anyone with the aptitude. Any one of the players could have taught it to her.
If he were to guess which player passed down that information, it was likely Margaret.
As the sun began to set, Arthur stood up and said, "It's getting late. We should get going."
Sakura nodded, replying, "Thank you for the company. It was nice talking to you."
"It was my pleasure," he said, smiling. "Perhaps we can do this again sometime."
Sakura smiled back and replied, "Yeah. I'd like that."
As the two departed for the inn, he knew that she and the rest of her friends had to die.
The next day.
The race had already begun. Arthur watched as Team 7 boarded the boat, their figures growing smaller as the vessel pulled away from the shore.
What he learned yesterday from those interactions was of their strengths and weaknesses. It was clear that they had grown significantly since his last encounter with them.
The influence of the other players was evident in their demeanour. They were no longer the naïve and impulsive children he had read about. They were a little more confident and competent.
But regardless of their changes, Arthur was not afraid. No, not even remotely.
Did it matter that they were still a formidable team? Perhaps yet he had faced greater challenges in the past, and he would overcome them with his might.
As the boat carrying Team 7 disappeared from sight, Arthur turned his attention elsewhere, knowing how dangerous the event would turn out.
If he remembered correctly, Team Oboro (from the Chūnin Exams), consisting of Kagari, Mubi, and Oboro, were going to attack the boat.
Exactly as it was written, the Rain Village ninjas attacked. Arthur watched as Team 7 faced off against them. He had expected ambush, but the ease with which they handled the situation surprised him.
Up until Team Oboro arrived, nothing was the same as the original story.
Sasuke, in particular, displayed an uncanny ability to counterattack all of his enemy's moves without the Sharingan. Naruto, with his boundless energy, was a force to be reckoned with. His speed and strength were impressive, and his determination to protect his friends was still present. Sakura, though smaller in stature, protected Idate on her own.
This wasn't at all what was written. From what Arthur remembered, their boat was destroyed.
This time, the Rain Village ninjas, despite their techniques, were no match for Team 7. They were defeated quickly, their bodies lying motionless on the deck of the boat.
One of the surviving ninjas managed to gasp out a question before losing consciousness: "How did you know about our attack?"
Sasuke smirked and said, "Information is power…"
Idate looked at Team 7 with newfound respect because that saying was from his older brother's teaching.
Only Arthur understood the meaning behind those words. Team 7 had been told in advance of Team Oboro's ambush. Not by the characters of this world, but by the players.
Naruto grinned and said, "We've also been training hard!"
By the time the boat came to shore and the team set foot on land, Aoi Rokushō finally made his appearance. He arrived on a rock pillaring out of the sand, his eyes scanning the scene.
This character was a former Leaf ninja turned rogue. Once a promising shinobi, his ambition and greed led him down darkness. He possesses a cunning intellect and a ruthless demeanour, making him a dangerous opponent.
Arthur noticed that Aoi's physical appearance was exactly the same: handsome, chiseled face with spikey dark hair.
This character's skills with needles and his ability to combine them with his umbrella weren't the easiest to defeat. However, it was his overreliance on the Blade of Thunder and his arrogance that ultimately led to his downfall.
"You dare?" Aoi demanded in an irritable tone.
Naruto stepped forward, his courage undeterred, and declared, "We're protecting Idate, and we're not gonna let you hurt anyone!"
Aoi laughed and sneered, "You're all just children! You can't possibly believe mere Genin can stop me."
Sasuke stepped forward, his eyes locked on his opponent, and said, "We'll see about that… Aoi Rokushō of the Hidden Rain Village."
Aoi was stunned for a moment. They knew his name? The village was understandable because of his headband, but his name wasn't something they should have had information on.
More importantly, why was it they were acting as if they also knew he was coming?
The stage was set for a confrontation. Arthur watched calmly from a safe distance. He wondered how fierce this battle would turn out, the outcome uncertain.
Sakura, knowing that Idate was the intended target, stood protectively in front of him with her fists clenched. Naruto and Sasuke, their bodies taut with focus, ran forward.
They were planning to circle Aoi, but he leapt back, throwing his umbrella up to the sky.
"You think you can protect him?" he sneered. "I'll crush you all like insects!"
After performing hand signs, the umbrella's underside opened to reveal an array of poisoned needles. The barrage rained down on the two.
Naruto and Sasuke weaved around the deadly shower, not a single needle hitting them.
"Don't underestimate us!" Naruto shouted.
Sasuke's, now being the closest, narrowed his eyes as he focused on Aoi's movements. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance between them.
Aoi, anticipating the attack, tried pulling out the Sword of Thunder. But before the sword could be released, Sasuke stretched out his arm and stopped Aoi's hand.
Aoi was shocked. There was no way for the Uchiha to know what he was planning, let alone know where his most dangerous weapon was.
Sakura, sensing an opportunity, launched herself at the enemy, her fists aiming at his vital points. Aoi, however, was too quick. With a flick of his wrist, he knocked Sasuke's hand back and just barely dodged Sakura's attempts.
"Rasengan!"
Before Aoi even knew it, the swirling sphere of chakra collided on his back, sending him crashing into a wall!
'Not bad,' Arthur commented.
Aoi emerged from the wreckage, his eyes burning with a cold fury.
"You think that's all it takes to defeat me?!" he shouted. "You're nothing but Genin, the lowest of the—"
Before he could finish, he felt a sudden jolt of pain, his eyes losing their light as he slowly collapsed to the ground with a thud. The Rasengan had taken its toll.
Aoi lay motionless, his body still. He wasn't dead, but he was certainly out for the count.
Naruto smiled, while Sasuke smirked in triumph. Sakura, her eyes filled with relief, moved to Idate's side, making sure he was unharmed.
Idate, witnessing the incredible display of skill and teamwork, was awestruck. He had never seen such a powerful and coordinated attack.
He was more than filled with admiration as he looked at the three ninjas who had just saved him.
"We're here to protect you," Naruto exclaimed.
"And that's just what we're going to do," Sakura added.
To Idate, it felt as though this team could accomplish anything.
Aoi had clearly underestimated Team 7, believing that they were mere children. Their synergy was evident. Even Sakura, who wasn't supposed to move from her position, had attempted an attack.
This wasn't at all like how their original fight took place. Aoi was outmatched. His arrogance had once again been his downfall. Only swifter.
With the threat neutralized, Team 7 turned their attention to the race. They had lost valuable time, but their spirits were undeterred. They were determined to finish the mission.
As Sasuke went to retrieve Aoi's weapon, he quickly fell back to his team. Naruto, Sakura, and Idate looked to see what had him so startled.
Arthur was standing right over the hilt of the Blade of Thunder.
"Desmond?" Naruto asked. "What are you doing here?"
Arthur ignored the question, his eyes fixed on the Blade of Thunder. He picked up the weapon, its weight surprisingly light in his hands. The hilt itself didn't look any special, hardly having any carvings on it.
He turned it in his hand, admiring more of its craftsmanship. The members of Team 7 exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of confusion and apprehension.
"Be careful," Sakura warned. "We were told to secure that—"
"Wait, Sakura," interrupted Sasuke. "I moved back because something felt off."
Arthur neither smiled nor looked at the team. He was too mesmerized by the properties coursing through the weapon.
"What're ya talkin' about, Sasuke?" Naruto wondered. "Desmond's not just gonna run off with it. Come on, tell them, Desmond."
Arthur continued to ignore them, causing tension to rise. When he finally confronted the four, his eyes scanning their faces, he saw their fear, respect, and determination in their gazes.
They were a formidable team, but they were still learning, not at all as strong as their Shippuden counterparts.
Arthur knew that he could defeat them, that he could take the Blade of Thunder and disappear without a fight. But he also knew that it would be a hollow victory.
He wanted to slay them right here, right now, and test to see if he could truly match the skills of the main characters.
With an unreadable expression, he placed the Blade of Thunder in his weapon pouch and said, "Naruto… Sasuke… Sakura… Raise your guards, use everything you have, and don't hold back. Because if you don't, your deaths won't be remembered. No, not by me..."
The crowd erupted in gasps.
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