章節 49: No Fear

The next few days passed quicker than one would have expected.

Arthur diligently practiced for the upcoming tournament, training alone to perfect his basic skills. He couldn't afford to appear rusty or underestimate his opponents, even the ones he deemed weaker.

Sasuke would by no means be considered a looming threat. Arthur had yet to gauge the extent of Sasuke's newfound powers, but if he was following his counterpart as in the original story, he wouldn't be too difficult to handle.

Meanwhile, Arthur continued to refine his other techniques. He focused heavily on perfecting the chakra flow to execute stronger ninjutsu and escape illusions. He spent hours practicing hand signs and meditating, visualizing the intricate flow of energy within his own body.

Throughout that time, no one was aware of his true acts.

One night, as he sat cross-legged under the shade of a large oak tree, concentrating on a complex natural energy flow pattern, a thought struck him.

He remembered his conversation with Alex about the curse mark. Alex had mentioned trying to convert Orochimaru's chakra and make it his own. If Arthur could learn how to also do that, would he be able to orchestrate something new with the reanimation technique?

The possibility seemed plausible, but not something that could help him grow in power. If Alex could harness such potent chakra from a Sannin, what other forbidden things might he be experimenting with?

Regardless, Arthur wouldn't fall behind. He couldn't afford to let either player or character rise above him. His life was on the line.

He stood up, clearing the black sclera from his eyes. He had a lot to learn, as well as a lot of dangerous options to consider. But one thing was certain: He was still going to destroy this village one day.

His need for vengeance hadn't consumed him, as he knew when to execute his plans.

Somewhere in the light, he would return to his home and his people. And he knew deep down that this path was a solitary one.

Allies, even unlikely ones, might cross that path, but Arthur mused. Perhaps more broken bridges would form and test whatever bonds of friendship CPUs and players thought they could withstand.

Night shrouded the village.

Arthur crept through the deserted streets. His destination this evening wasn't the familiar training grounds but a place far beyond the village walls—the Fire Temple.

The Fire Temple was in the Land of Fire and was also a renowned ninja monastery overflowing with nature. Led by Chiriku, the temple itself housed ninja monks who trained in a special chakra called the Gift of the Hermit Group.

The grounds were known for their impregnable, sealed iron walls, breached only twice before the Akatsuki's devastating attack that destroyed the temple and killed most of its inhabitants three years from now.

Arthur sought to harness their special chakra.

He kept a worn-out map in his bag with its exact location.

Just as he turned a corner, a figure materialized from the shadows. Jada, bathed in the soft glow of a nearby lamppost, stood there with a wide grin on her face.

"Arthur!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing out so late?"

Arthur's heart pounded. Where had she come from? Or rather, what was she of all people awake at this hour?

"Jada," he said, trying not to sound irritated. "What a surprise."

Before he could explain himself, Jada gave him a sudden hug. He stiffened momentarily but found himself reciprocating the embrace so as not to seem odd.

It had been a while since he felt the warmth and embrace of another person. There was Koko, but her fur didn't compare to a soft woman's touch.

"Arthur!" Jada announced, pulling back a little. "You're really cold!"

It had been weeks since he'd seen her. Her eyes brightened as she said, "Sorry, I haven't come by sooner. Margaret and I have been training intensely for the finals."

Arthur nodded vaguely, thinking quickly for a plausible explanation for his midnight excursion.

"Right," he managed. "That makes sense."

Jada's smile faltered slightly as she asked, "Everything okay? You seem a little tense."

Since when did she become proficient at reading people?

He forced a smile and said, "Just fine, Jada. Just fine. Getting prepped for the tournament myself."

She looked a tad doubtful, but she didn't press the issue.

"Well, you'd better get some rest then," she said, feeling a little concerned. "Those matches in the finals are going to be brutal."

Arthur was planning on attending the finals, but his true focus lay far beyond the competition.

"Probably," he agreed, offering a noncommittal reply.

Jada's gaze seemed to linger on him for a beat longer, and her brow furrowed in concern. But then, her smile returned as she playfully said, "Actually, how about we hang out sometime before the finals? Catch up a bit? Maybe grab some ramen at Ichiraku's?"

Arthur found himself considering it. There was a part of him that craved normalcy. It felt like a lifeline, a fragile connection to his past life.

"Sure," he finally agreed, surprising even himself. In hindsight, it was to gauge her advancement. "We could do that."

Jada's smile widened, genuine and warm, saying, "Great! Then let's make it a plan. See you around, Arthur."

With a final wave, she disappeared back into the night, leaving him standing alone. He watched her go, aware that his carefully constructed plan to leave for the Fire Temple had been thrown into disarray.

He couldn't risk going now that Jada had seen him here. He decided to stroll home instead, relaxing.

The next day.

Arthur found himself gazing out at the marketplace alongside Jada. He had surprised himself by agreeing to this outing, a temporary respite for gathering information.

Jada bounced from stall to stall, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She stopped at a stall overflowing with hand-painted masks, picking up a vibrant dog mask and holding it playfully against her face.

"Look, Arthur!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with childish glee. "Doesn't this remind you of Kakashi-sensei?"

Arthur faked a chuckle and said, "Haha. It kinda does if you cover the bottom half."

As the laughter settled, Jada placed the mask back on the stall.

"Hey, Arthur," she began, her voice softening. "I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"For helping me awaken the Sharingan," she said. "I know it wouldn't have happened without you. You believed in me when I didn't believe in myself."

Although that scene of her awakening didn't happen like he might have remembered, he still considered her kindness.

He forced a smile and said, "It was nothing, Jada. You always had the potential within you. It's in your chara—"

"I also wanted to tell you..." she cut him off, feeling a tad sad. "How much I love you guys. Lee, Naruto, Sakura… even Kakashi-sensei."

Arthur felt off and out of place. Her words reminded him how carefully crafted this world was and how dangerously real things felt.

He couldn't let himself get sucked into it.

"Jada," he said in a low and careful tone. "Remember that we're all in a simulation?"

The playfulness in Jada's expression faded slightly. She bit her lip and frowned. Feeling the enthusiasm drained from her voice, she mumbled, "Oh, right... Of course. My real body's still back in the pod at Elysium."

"Exactly," Arthur said, his tone gentle. "We need to remember that. It can be easy to get lost in it, but we can't forget we're players."

Jada's gaze fell to the ground as she whispered, "I know. It's just... everything feels so real sometimes. The people, the places... it's like I could stay here forever."

Arthur felt conflicting emotions. Did he just hear her say that?

He understood her yearning—the desire for a life filled with friends and camaraderie—to escape whatever troubles the real world kept dealing with. But the truth was a harsh reality they couldn't escape.

Here she was treating this place as if it were real, as if she would never wake up. What she was seeing was a lie, an illusion that was carefully crafted to blind others.

Why Arthur hadn't fallen into this deception, like the others might have, was because of his faith in Jesus Christ.

He reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, and said, "We'll eventually reach the end. But for now, we need to stay focused."

Jada shot him a quick, grateful smile, regaining her usual cheerfulness.

"You're right," she said. "Sorry for getting caught up in it. Let's just enjoy the rest of the day, shall we?"

Arthur nodded as they continued through the marketplace, sharing a sweet laughter that echoed through the streets.

He knew the weight of the situation, but for now, they could exist in this borrowed time, a moment of normalcy amidst the chaos that awaited them.

Moments later.

Silence blanketed Arthur's apartment as he closed the door behind him.

Jada's had offered him to train together. It was tempting, but he'd declined, knowing his time would be spent better elsewhere.

Reaching his room, he removed his shirt, revealing his zero-percent body-fat, muscular physique. While impressive, yes, it was his chakra that truly mattered.

Tonight, however, wasn't for sparring sessions or lighthearted conversations with others. Tonight was for preparation.

He rummaged through his apartment to gather items.

Carefully, he placed the contents on the floor—the meager collection of assorted tools he'd collected.

A handful of kunai; a pouch of shuriken; wrapped-up metallic wires; a small roll of thin needles; and an array of medical tools for emergencies.

Arthur had never had the luxury of living comfortably like some of the other players. He remembered how hard it was to strive. Without faith, he never would have made it this far.

Honing his skills and his resourcefulness helped compensate for his lack of material wealth. He had learned to fight with the bare minimum, to rely on his faith, his resilience, and his refusal to be denied by his circumstances.

Arthur unearthed a small pouch hidden in the closet. It held his remaining ryō, a small sum of ten coins.

It was all he had after making purchases to fill his bag. He wasn't naïve; he knew that at any time his role in the village could end.

There were always unforeseen obstacles, unexpected expenses, and the constant risk of discovery.

He felt frustrated at the thought. Arthur was sick of limitations, sick of playing by the rules of a world that wasn't his own. He knew he needed to defy the boundaries that separated him from others.

So what if he had more than one Kekkei Genkai? So what if he was proficient in medical ninjutsu? So what if he had a Sage Mode? He was, by no means, the strongest.

William was like a walking Naruto who had foreknowledge; Jada was like a walking Sasuke who also had foreknowledge; Margaret was a younger and stronger Tsunade who kept boasting she had wood style; Alice was a sensor; Jasper was an Ōtsutsuki with the Eight Gates who could also manifest sharp tools made of chakra; and Alexander, the most suspicious of them all, was this world's cheat code.

But even in Arthur's frustration, he knew how to control his emotions.

He wouldn't let his lack of resources be a crutch. He would use his cunning, his knowledge gathered through his experiences, and his unwavering will to overcome any challenge that lay ahead.

He was Arthur, a Christian who had no fear.

With renewed focus, he began organizing his equipment. He sharpened all the kunai, checked the integrity of the shuriken, and unfurled the roll of needles to inspect them for any nicks or bends.

Each action had a quiet purpose. It wasn't about preparing his tools; it was about preparing himself.

The sharpening of the blades mirrored the sharpening of his resolve. The inspection of the shuriken symbolized the scrutiny he would need to employ to navigate the rest of this world. The careful handling of the needles reflected the meticulous planning he would need to employ.

As the night wore on, the room remained utterly quiet.

After Arthur finished checking the last tool, he looked at the rest of his supplies.

Empty scrolls were stored tucked in the weapon pouch, and anything he deemed a necessity to carry was also stored inside.

He wasn't a wealthy ninja with a vast arsenal at his disposal, but he was still as resourceful as they came—one with a strong will and a clear purpose.

He had faced impossible odds before, and he would do it repeatedly until they forced him out of this world.

The finals are tomorrow. Once he got that over, believing Orochimaru wouldn't attack, he would journey to the Fire Temple and learn the secrets of harnessing their special chakra.

No one would stop him from achieving his goal of shaking this world's core.

With a final glance at his equipment, he shut off the lights, plunging the room into darkness.