บท 4: Writing This Felt Somewhat Boring.

There is not much to say. And it was hard to just show thoughts and personality.

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A week had passed since the encounter with Boruto and his team. The quiet stretch of time suited Arsene just fine—he preferred it that way. Away from the hustle and noise of Konoha's village center, Arsene found his solace near a grassy, serene area by a stream. The sun had risen high in the sky, signaling noon, but Arsene had been training long before the dawn light touched the horizon.

Wearing nothing but black pants, he was performing push-ups on the surface of the water, a method far beyond the basic chakra control of walking on water. His arms moved fluidly, rhythmically, as his chakra kept him balanced on the rippling stream. This exercise wasn't just physical; it demanded complete focus on his chakra control. Strength, balance, control—all of it sharpened with each precise movement.

The water beneath him barely trembled as he pushed his body through repetition after repetition. Arsene had lost count long ago, but it didn't matter. Time felt irrelevant when there was work to be done. The repetitive motion had taken him to the edge of his physical limits, yet he kept pushing—because others, shinobi from different villages, were surely training harder. They would be coming for him during the Chunin Exams. That thought alone drove him beyond exhaustion.

Finally, he paused, sweat dripping from his forehead as his chest heaved with each breath. He stared down at the shimmering water beneath him, watching it ripple slightly under his weight. Not enough, he thought, narrowing his eyes. There was always more to achieve, more strength to unlock. But even Arsene knew when to stop for a moment of recovery.

He stood, the water below his feet holding steady under his chakra control. With a calm exhale, he stepped off the stream and onto the grassy bank, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. There's never enough time to train. The thought lingered as he pulled his shirt over his head and put on his black sweater, the soft fabric absorbing the moisture from his skin.

Though his body was screaming for rest, Arsene's mind remained sharp, already thinking of his next move. The Chunin Exams. They were looming closer, just a few weeks away. Other villages would send their best, and Arsene knew the shinobi he faced wouldn't hesitate. I can't afford to fall behind. Not now. Not ever.

He made his way back to the more populated part of Konoha Village, his presence drawing little attention. He preferred it that way—just another face in the crowd, blending in, avoiding unnecessary interactions. Arsene wasn't the type to waste time on small talk or pleasantries. His focus was singular: becoming stronger.

Stopping at a local shop, Arsene made his usual purchases—food, new training weights, and other necessities. He moved through the store with mechanical efficiency, not pausing to browse or take in the atmosphere. His mind was elsewhere, always thinking of ways to improve. As he made his way to the counter, something caught his eye—a mirror reflecting his own image, and more specifically, the black mask he'd left on the counter in front of him.

"How annoying..." Arsene muttered, picking up the mask. It was the one thing about his routine he found cumbersome. He had to keep buying fresh bandages to cover his eyes after every training session, and if he didn't, there was the risk of infection. Better not to take that chance, he mused, briefly running his fingers over the fabric of the mask. But still, the whole process was inefficient.

He turned to the mirror, staring at his reflection as he wrapped the black mask around his eyes. It was a familiar look, one that had become second nature to him. The mask wasn't just a tool for concealing his damaged eyes—it was a barrier between him and the world, an extra layer of distance from people he didn't care to interact with.

As he adjusted the mask, he noticed something else: his hair had grown longer. The dark strands now brushed against the edges of the mask, threatening to interfere with his vision. For a moment, he considered cutting it. Long hair could be a liability in combat, he reasoned, thinking through the potential distractions it could cause.

But then he shrugged. "Nah, I should be fine," he muttered under his breath, brushing the hair out of his face. If it becomes a problem, I'll deal with it then. Arsene wasn't one to fix things that weren't immediately broken.

After paying for his items, he left the shop and headed back toward his home. The weight of the village's energy around him barely registered in his mind. For Arsene, the people, the noise, the bustling of daily life—it was all background noise.

Not training for this long is uncomfortable. The thought gnawed at him as he walked. His body craved the strain of physical exertion, the burn of muscles working past their limits. His mind, always sharp, couldn't tolerate stillness for too long. I need to keep moving. Keep training. There was no time for rest when the next battle could always be looming on the horizon.

As he walked through the quiet streets of Konoha, Arsene's thoughts flickered to the upcoming Chunin Exams again. The competition would be fierce, but he welcomed it. Strong opponents were exactly what he craved—what he needed. A twisted smile ghosted his lips as he imagined the upcoming challenges. Let them come. The stronger they are, the better.

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[Auther: Sheesh, and here you guys thought, Kurokami was the edge lord? Bro's got nothing on Arsene.]