Chương 177: Dangerous
Some time later.
Back at Arthur's office in the Water Country, the midmorning sunshine streamed through his window.
As he settled in for a new day's responsibilities, he heard three knocks at his door.
"Enter," he called, knowing who it was.
The door opened, and to Arthur's delight, his secretary strode in, holding a package.
"My lord," she announced, presenting the parcel, "it seems the flute has arrived."
After she handed him the parcel, he unwrapped it, revealing a constructed flute, ornately designed.
Something was strange—this was not the same flute he remembered Tayuya having. This one looked too new.
Using his Tamashii while the secretary was unaware, he scanned it and verified that this was indeed Tayuya's flute. The craftsmanship was striking; he could sense chakra layered inside it.
Then he understood: Yoshiyuki had modified it to show Arthur his sincerity for their potential partnership!
The secretary cleared her throat, breaking him from his trance. "Is everything all right, my lord?"
Arthur's eyes moved toward her, then back at the flute as he said, "Yes… You may leave."
"Understood, my lord."
Arthur began to ponder this recent acquisition. Tayuya's flute was not worth the price of admission, but the lord who commanded over the most powerful village in the world was.
If anything, he could have recreated the flute himself, or asked Tayuya how she acquired it in the first place.
Going to this meeting and making a discreet agreement with Yoshiyuki proved worthwhile. Not only had he obtained the flute without drawing much attention, but it had also been modified.
Some time later.
As Arthur sat behind his desk, he scribbled signatures over the paperwork laid out before him. He skimmed through the documents—contract permits, lease agreements for buildings that seemed even more pointless than the last.
It was necessary that he sign off on another request for a new training facility, built specifically for the "aspiring ninjas" of his country.
If only the villagers understood the amount of bureaucracy that went into running a place like this. Then they would leave him alone.
These monotonous papers were a distraction, and beneath his composed exterior, his thoughts were focused on one matter: Tayuya. He hadn't seen her since their last encounter but had managed to deliver the flute.
He knew that distancing himself might discourage her. After all, she needed to keep a low profile. And, at the same time, she needed to find her own place.
Suddenly, two knocks at the door broke his concentration. Odd, he thought. His secretary always knocked three times.
Without hesitation, he activated his Tamashii, gazing through the walls to see who stood outside. His relaxed expression almost faltered upon seeing two figures cloaked in dark attire with red clouds on them—Itachi and Kisame, members of the Akatsuki!
This was bad. Very, very bad.
Methodically, he increased his vision range, searching for any other presence in the vicinity. There it was—the telltale signs of genjutsu. Itachi had placed his secretary under an illusion, and she was most likely oblivious to the presence of these dangerous men.
Controlling himself, he feigned calmness; he couldn't show weakness.
"Come in," he said in a firm voice.
They entered, and the atmosphere instantly shifted as the door clicked shut behind them.
This was the first time he had personally laid eyes on them.
Itachi presented a distinguished figure, characterized by his somewhat tall stature and fair skin. His striking black eyes were notable for their elongated tear troughs, giving him a somber appearance.
His high-collared cloak was also unbuttoned at the chest, resting his arm casually across it, revealing a fitted outfit beneath—a combination of mesh armor highlighted with navy and a simple T-shirt.
This was undoubtedly him, the famed Uchiha, who slaughtered his clan alongside Obito.
Everything was on him. Accessories included his signature red Akatsuki ring, inscribed with the kanji for "vermilion," and he sported light blue nail polish. His look was completed by a necklace adorned with three silver rings containing red stones.
Then there was his partner, who was equally as deadly, Kisame Hoshigaki.
Kisame was notably the tallest and most imposing figure in Akatsuki, boasting a muscular frame combined with an aquatic aesthetic. His skin was blue-grey, unlike the comics that depicted him as pale green.
He also had small, round eyes accented by three curved marks beneath them, alongside gills decorating his shoulders. His sharp, triangular teeth gave him a shark-like visage, further enhanced by a hairstyle reminiscent of a shark fin with blue locks.
Regarding his outfit, he wore his cloak open to showcase his bare chest and secured his weapon, Samehada, with a sash. His Akatsuki ring was inscribed with the kanji for "south" and was yellow, being worn on his left ring finger.
Itachi's expression was inscrutable, while Kisame wore a grin.
"What can I do for you two gentlemen?" Arthur asked, maintaining a façade of nonchalance.
Kisame smirked, crossing his arms, and said, "John doesn't seem too surprised to see us."
Arthur quelled the impulse to roll his eyes. Of course, he wouldn't betray any knowledge of their identities. He was John, the successor of the feudal lord, a mere bureaucrat in their eyes, not a ninja at the moment.
"I'm a bit surprised, actually," he said. "I wasn't expecting any guests today, and truth be told, I don't have any meetings scheduled."
Itachi shifted slightly, narrowing his gaze as he said, "This won't take long then... We're looking for someone."
"And who might that be?" Arthur asked, though he had his suspicions.
Kisame leaned forward and said, "He goes by the name of Arthur Bennett. We have reason to believe he's in this country."
'What…?' Arthur thought to himself.
This was the nail in the coffin—his past had come back to haunt him. But how and for what reason?
He maintained his cover, keeping his tone steady.
"You'll excuse me if I'm confused. I can't assist until you clarify who this Arthur Bennett is and who you two are."
Kisame's eyes showed interest as he said, "Your recent expansion in this country tells us that you're pretty big and might be able to help us find him."
This was good to hear, for the shark's statement implied that they didn't suspect him to be Arthur.
"Surely," Arthur said, gesturing toward the chairs across from his desk, "it's best to discuss this matter professionally..."
"We'll pass," Itachi answered.
"Now, now," Arthur said, maintaining his authority. "Two unknown men come waltzing into my office unannounced. Don't you think that's a little rude?"
Kisame chuckled, albeit sadistically, stating that Arthur was different and that he liked him already.
Reluctantly, the two men took their seats, their postures stiff and guarded.
Arthur's internal clock was ticking. He needed to buy time to outmaneuver this situation while ensuring no harm came to anyone—least of all him.
"Arthur Bennett was reported dead," Itachi stated in a neutral tone. "But we have sources indicating he's alive and hiding."
Arthur leaned back in his chair, feigning contemplation as he said, "And what makes you believe I could be of any assistance? The authorities regulate matters like this, and it would be best if they handled it."
He had truly felt like asking them what made them believe he was here. But the last thing he wanted was to seem suspicious.
Kisame leaned forward and said, "We can't allow that. Arthur Bennett is…" He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Dangerous."
That word set alarms ringing in Arthur's mind. It implied they were considering not hunting him to kill him, but hunting him to recruit him!
No, not possible. He refused to entertain the thought of being recruited by such a manipulative organization.
"I'm flattered that you would come to me of all people," Arthur answered, masking his disdain, "but there have been no sightings of this person here in this country."
"I see," Itachi interjected. Talking to this Uchiha felt odd; he had an extremely calm façade, one that measured to Arthur's acting skills. "Then we'll be on our way. But before we go... We can't have you leak our involvement here. We'll need you to forget this conversation."
Suddenly, Itachi's Sharingan began to swirl in its hypnotic dance!
Arthur's carefully curated world shattered. He had no time to waste.
An explosive wave erupted, shattering the stillness of the office. Glass exploded outward like rain, showering the streets below as the windows imploded.
Citizens nervously glanced upward, their eyes widened in shock at the suddenness of it all.
Bits of paperwork, wooden splinters, and glass floated like confetti around them. And as they rained down, Arthur propelled himself through the shattered window. He hit the ground running, ignited by the urgency of his escape.
His instincts kicked into high gear as he dashed through the streets, weaving between startled citizens who were just beginning to comprehend the pandemonium unfolding in their midst.
Smoke from the crumbling office building billowed into the sky like dark clouds.
It would have been a terrible idea to start a fight here. Not just because those were Akatsuki members, but because he was still John Belfort—the well-known successor of the feudal lord.
Behind him, he could sense the duo. Their presence was unmistakable, with a predatory aura. Through the haze, he caught glimpses of their figures—Itachi's piercing Sharingan glowed ominously amid the smoke, while Kisame's shark-like eyes blazed.
"Well, well," Kisame said, booming above the din of startled bystanders and the explosion's aftermath. "This country's got more surprises than I expected. What do you suppose we do now, Itachi?"
The two just stood there for a second, unperturbed by the destruction.
"After him…"
At that command, they sprang into action, performing the high-speed movement technique that blurred their forms, racing toward Arthur like predatory beasts.
The sound of their rapid approach echoed ominously in his ears, so he quickened his pace.
With an impressive display of parkour agility, he flung himself off a low wall, landing smoothly on the roof of a nearby building. He could hear the gasps of astonishment from the citizens below, but he didn't pause.
Skipping through windows and sliding down ledges, he navigated the familiar layout of the city like the back of his hand, his mind focused solely on evading his pursuers.
His movements were fluid, almost second nature; this wasn't the first time he had been chased, but it felt more intense this time, fueled by the danger that came from two of the most lethal ninjas in this world.
With each leap and bound, he remained calm, centered on his goal.
It was crucial to maintain the façade of John Belfort while embracing the skills of Arthur Bennett. If he hadn't, he would have been prey to Itachi's Sharingan. And who knew what that Uchiha would have made him do under his influence?
That meant he had to evade them while keeping the use of his true abilities to a minimum.
He sensed the two Akatsuki members closing in rapidly, a reminder that he was far from being out of danger.
Glimpses of walls, market stalls, and the intricate architecture of the city he had raised flashed by as he raced through the streets. The citizens all had confused faces. They were safe, considering that his pursuers were only after him.
It was in that moment of determined focus that Arthur felt it—a searing heat that spiked from behind him. He darted forward instinctively.
Itachi had unleashed a fireball jutsu aimed directly at him.
Before he had time to think, Arthur was vaulting off the side of a building and twisting fluidly in the air, narrowly avoiding the swirling inferno that erupted behind him.
The fireball detonated against the wall of the structure he had just left behind, showering the area with sparks and flames. It was more intense than he had expected.
This wasn't just any jutsu; Itachi's techniques were far more potent than even Jada's when Arthur had fought her in the past.
Feeling the adrenaline, he instinctively redirected himself upward, launching up the side of a tall building. He could still feel the heat radiating from the explosion below. The sharp, acrid scent of smoke filled his nostrils, urging him to move faster.
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