บท 9: Lost
Two days later.
Arthur rose, feeling no aches or pain after his training regimen. Every moment, he pushed himself to his limits, and his body would recover immediately.
He was thriving.
Yesterday, he learned to walk on vertical surfaces and acquired two fundamental skills: transformation jutsu and high-speed movement.
The former allowed him to disguise himself as another character, an animal, or an object, gaining their physical features. While useful, it's main purpose is for combat deception and intel gathering. The slightest imperfection could keep him away.
The latter, also known as the body flicker technique, allowed him to zip across short or long distances so fast that he appeared to teleport. By channeling chakra, he can temporarily boost his movements to extreme speeds. The amount of chakra needed varies depending on how far and uphill they're going.
Smoke bombs are often used to mask their movements, but other materials work too, like sand, mist, and leaves.
Thanks to Arthur having remembered the hand signs, practicing them was easy. But it wasn't anything worth praising since they were both "e-rank techniques."
In this world, techniques are classified based on their difficulty and required skill level. This is known as an alphabet ranking system to help assess a ninja's overall abilities.
Starting with the most basic rank, e-rank, techniques that fall in this rank are learned by academy students or trainees starting their ninja journey. They are the foundational building blocks for more advanced jutsu.
Next is d-rank. These techniques are within the grasp of the most active ninjas. However, some ninjas may specialize in a specific type and only perfect those techniques within this rank.
Following d-rank is c-rank. These techniques are considered appropriate for intermedia ninjas. While some highly trained ninjas might learn c-rank techniques, they are generally more challenging to perfect than the lower-ranked ones.
Next is b-rank. Techniques in this rank require a high level of chakra control, typically performed by elite ninjas. They can be quite powerful and often demand significant chakra reserves.
A-rank is reserved for even higher-skilled ninjas, to the point where a Kage uses them. These techniques require exceptional chakra control and might even be forbidden due to their extreme nature or potential dangers.
Lastly is the secret s-rank, incredibly powerful techniques unique to a single user or a small group. They represent the pinnacle of jutsu perfection and are often considered catastrophically dangerous or difficult to control.
It's important to note that Kekkei Genkai and unique abilities don't typically fall under this ranking system. They are inherent traits or learned skills that can be incredibly powerful but aren't categorized based on difficulty in the same way as jutsus.
Classifications are not the end of things.
The ninja villages are like military organizations with a clear hierarchy.
At the top is the Kage, the leader, who makes decisions with advisors. Below them are the regular forces, the Anbu (or secret operatives), and the medical teams.
The regular forces serve as the village's backbone. Ninja progresses through the ranks from academy student to Genin, Chūnin, and Jōnin.
Jōnin are the elite of the ninja world. Highly skilled and experienced, they're considered almost superhuman and can often use multiple elemental chakra natures, typically taking on high-risk missions alone.
They may also lead and train Genin teams, passing on their knowledge and deciding when their students are ready for the next level.
The most well-recognized Jōnin worth mentioning are those from the Leaf Village: Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yūhi, and Kakashi Hatake—the leader of the main characters' Genin team.
Genin are often put in three-person squads with a Jōnin leader to learn the ropes. These teams can stick together even as members rise in rank.
Following a Jōnin are Anbu, a special task force of elite ninjas who handle sensitive missions for their Kage. They may have different groups for tasks like hunting missing ninjas, interrogation, or even assassination.
The last of the forces within a village are medical teams, the support crew who heal the injured through medical techniques. Some medical ninjas deploy squads as field medics, whereas others work in village hospitals.
All of this was what Arthur had learned.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, he finally deemed it necessary to move elsewhere. He had a long road ahead of him; it was time to head to the Hidden Leaf Village.
Arthur didn't know much about the Leaf Village. He knew it was one of the five most powerful ninja villages, led by the Hokage. It is nestled deep in a forest, surrounded by walls, and its signature landmark is the Hokage Rock, engraved with the faces of all the past Hokages.
The village was founded by Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha to bring peace after years of warring clans. Hashirama, the first Hokage, used his special wood powers to build much of the village's infrastructure.
The residential districts are where ninjas, non-ninjas, and their families live. There are also multiple training grounds for others to hone their skills. The academy is a building dedicated to training future ninja and is where the Hokage's office resides.
Hospitals, administrative buildings, and restaurants are all located inside, all surrounded by enormous walls to focus on their citizens' security.
While nestled deep within a forest, it blends in with the surrounding nature. And as an extra layer of protection, a giant, invisible, dome-shaped barrier resides over the forest. Any unauthorized person coming in or out of the barrier can be detected and pinpointed instantly.
Arthur had every reason to go to the Leaf Village. He had already been in this world for about a week and a half, so he believed.
If Dr. Kapoor hadn't lied, that would mean that the main character's ascent to a Genin would happen soon, thus cementing the start of the story. On top of this, he hadn't contacted any of the other players. They alone were enough reasons to at least pay a visit.
The crisp morning air nipped at him as he set off, the map clutched tightly in his hand.
Though the village itself wasn't marked on this map, his memory sufficed, knowing where it was likely located. It was his only lead, so he knew the journey would be arduous.
A couple days passed, measured by the rising and setting sun. His food rations had dwindled, replaced by berries and scavenged scraps. He was getting hungry.
He wouldn't let hunger deter him, so he pushed onward.
As the sun began to set again, he emerged from a dense thicket of trees into a clearing. A dirt road stretched before him, disappearing into the distance. Two figures stood in the middle, blocking his path.
They were large men, clad in mismatched leather armor and wielding an assortment of crude weapons—a rusty axe, a dented sword, and a club wrapped in barbed wire. They weren't ninjas, at least not in the traditional sense. Rather, they looked like petty thugs.
Arthur paused, his gaze sweeping over the scene. Their bags bulged with what appeared to be stolen goods. As they neared him, he said, "Hold... Identify yourselves."
The two bandits exchanged a look of amusement. On scoffed, "Identify ourselves? What kind of game are you playing, kid?"
When Arthur hadn't answered, their amusement faded, replaced by annoyance. The other bandit, a tall, burly man with a missing tooth, hefted his club menacingly.
"Ya got a problem, pal?" he snarled, taking a menacing step forward. He was clearly twice the size of Arthur.
But Arthur didn't back down. He met the bandit's gaze, his own eyes devoid of fear. He had faced worse. These thugs were nothing more than a nuisance.
"I'll say it again: identify yourselves," he replied, his voice steady.
The bandits exchanged another look, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, the first bandit sneered, "Look here, little boy; we don't appreciate being questioned like that. Now, if you know what's good for you, you'll turn around and keep walking."
Negotiation was clearly futile. These men weren't interested in reason; they understood only the language of force.
With a quick hand sign, Arthur performed the high-speed movement technique. He was upon them before they could react. The first bandit, caught off guard, barely raised his axe before Arthur slammed a chakra-enhanced fist into his chest.
Bang!
The impact sent him sprawling backward. The second bandit, however, reacted with a roar, swinging his club wildly. Arthur sidestepped the clumsy attack. He grabbed the bandit's wrist with one hand, his augmented muscles holding on like a vise.
"Let go!" the bandit bellowed, struggling against Arthur's grip.
Arthur ignored him, focusing on his own chakra control. The bandit swung his club again, this time connecting with a sickening thud. But when the bandit looked, his entire weapon had been stopped by Arthur's forearm!
A scream of pain ripped from the bandit's throat as his arm buckled. Arthur didn't hesitate. With a swift kick, he sent him sprawling onto the dirt road, whimpering in pain next to his unconscious comrade.
The entire fight had taken only a few seconds.
Arthur stood tall, his chest heaving slightly, his gaze fixed on the two groaning figures at his feet.
The surprise attack, fueled by his enhanced movements, was the key to his victory. These men, bandits by trade, lacked the honed reflexes and preemptive awareness of trained ninjas.
They relied on brute force, which could be countered with a strategic combination of speed and power. It wasn't that he was strong; they were simply too weak.
The bandits, disoriented and wounded, posed no further threat. Yet Arthur knew the dangers of underestimating his opponents. He reached into his satchel, knowing what had to be done.
With practiced precision, honed over days of relentless training, he threw two knives in quick succession. Each one found its mark, one knife embedding itself between the first bandit's eyes. The other found its mark similarly, lodged in the center of the second bandit's forehead.
Both had died.
Arthur hadn't planned on killing them. Ideally, he was testing himself, preparing for the evil he would deliver to everyone who stood in his path. In this unforgiving world, hesitation was a luxury he couldn't afford.
He wasn't at all a sadist, but he was a cold pragmatist.
He rummaged through the bandits' bags. What he found was exactly what he needed—food rations, a canteen filled with water, clothes of various sizes, and money. Unlike when he started off with nothing, now he had four hundred ryō and an extra set of clothes.
Arthur kneeled beside the first bandit, removing his throwing knife. The man's face wasn't familiar. No resemblance to any notable characters.
Gathering their bodies and belongings, he set about burying them. It was a grim task, but he managed to dig a hole deep enough to deter scavengers and wild animals. He threw them inside with all the items, including his own, filling the hole with his bare hands.
After finishing, he turned his attention to the new set of clothes. They were a tad dusty, but they were his size—a sleek kimono with subtle blue trimmings and matching sandals ninjas typically wore. It wasn't the flashiest attire, but it was certainly more practical than his ragged shirt and trousers.
He slipped into the new clothes, feeling content.
Some time later, the Leaf Village came into view. It was a towering wall, but something wasn't right.
He should've been stopped after entering the village's barrier. Yet he'd walked straight through without a hitch. Why hadn't the barrier been activated? He could only think of two reasons: it was inactive or his chakra signature was already registered in the village, making him a welcomed citizen.
He pressed onward, the village gates looming closer.
Two figures, clad in familiar green flak jackets, stood guard. Arthur recognized them—Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, the ever-present gate guards. They were minor characters, having only proved their worth in the second part of the story.
As he approached, the guards straightened, their postures turning alert. Kotetsu, a man with a strip of bandage running across the bridge of his nose, spoke first: "Halt! You need to identify yourself before we let you in."
Arthur needed to be this careful, so he announced, "Arthur... Arthur Bennett."
Silence followed. Kotetsu exchanged looks with Izumo.
"Arthur Bennett? You've been missing for over a week! Where have you been?"
Now Arthur understood. Dr. Kapoor hadn't lied when she said there was a surprise about their characters. And like all the descriptions of each character, their backgrounds were already programmed.
Arthur, coming up with a believable excuse, said, "Lost... I got lost in the woods for days. I can't tell you how I ended up so far from the village."
The answer wasn't perfect, but it would have to do. He kept his gaze fixed on the guards, avoiding any mention of the barrier or the strange circumstances of his arrival.
He'd already discarded the satchel along with most of the other items—anything that could potentially expose what he's been through.
Kotetsu and Izumo looked a tad skeptical. They clearly weren't convinced, but Arthur held his ground, his expression resolute, saying, "Thankfully, I came across a river and cooked fish out in the wild."
The tension eased a little. They informed him that they'd file a report on his return, and the entire thing was a misunderstanding. Stepping aside, they allowed him to enter the village.
This was it, but something felt amidst. The character known as "Arthur" had a background that he wasn't completely aware of. Surely, he would do some research on the matter once he navigated this unfamiliar landscape.
What was in front of him mattered more: the Hidden Leaf Village, a place of ninjas and camaraderie. It was just one of many steps towards unraveling the mystery and exacting his revenge.
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