The next day, the sun had just begun to rise.
Arthur stood in front of the mirror in his hotel room. He had made advances with his smoke techniques, yes, but each step he took only highlighted how lacking his entire arsenal truly was.
As impressive they had become, the smoke techniques represented only a piece of a much larger puzzle. No thanks to the foes powered with the kind of strength and tenacity he had faced recently.
Almost as if echoing this thought, he remembered his humiliating defeat at the hands of Jasper and his Tool Creation technique—one that seemed to morph and adapt under the strain of innovation.
That particular person's abilities was enough to eat at Arthur, who had not been resilient to such devices.
While he had concocted new techniques, two things dawned on him: they lacked the kind of foundational strength that came from long-time-bred skills, and they would falter easily against anything utilizing a source as dynamic and crafty as Gelel energy—a power Jasper had wielded to an unpleasant effect.
Arthur's brow furrowed in thought.
Jasper's technique blended with Gelel energy had rendered its weaponry immune to chakra absorption and was nonsensical to most shinobi skills. For Arthur's arsenal to hold any potency against such a thing, he needed a corresponding enhancement. Some type of edge that could rival what Jasper had, if not exceed it.
Going all the way to another continent wouldn't be ideal. That would take too much unnecessary traveling time.
And even if Arthur did invest that time, who's to say that Jasper hadn't destroyed the Gelel veins?
That's when a memory sparked: the walls of the Fire Temple!
Perhaps Arthur could explore its deeper secrets. Or maybe there was something there he could infuse into his own techniques. If so, it might just give him the leverage he needed to maintain a foothold amidst the influx of unknown powers the otherworldly ninjas possessed.
Using the transformation technique, Arthur shifted his appearance into that of Ryugetsu again.
It had been some time since he'd used this disguise. But that didn't mean he forgot it: a bald monk with white garments that exuded piety.
'Flying raijin…'
In an instant, he appeared at his destination undetected.
The familiar vistas, golden hues of the temple's architecture, and the smell of burning sage wrapped his senses. He couldn't quite erase the feeling of peace here.
As he approached the monumental structure, something was off. The atmosphere around the temple seemed tense. Like a place under siege.
As quickly as the sensation appeared, an uneasy feeling of danger lingering in the close quarters made him instinctively cautious.
He headed toward the pond where he had once meditated. Yet before he could reach the waters, a quick voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Brother Ryugetsu?"
The voice was brisk and all too familiar. He turned to see a relieved Chiriku stepping into view.
Despite the monk's customary calm demeanour, it was clear from his posture that he had been on edge.
"Brother Chiriku!" Arthur greeted, acting perfectly like a fellow monk. "Good to see you, but what has you so troubled?"
"The Temple's been under attack…"
"How can this be?! Who would dare attack such sacred grounds?"
"A rival occultic group intent on destroying us. It's been going on for the last six days, and our defenses are wearing thin. I've been fending them off for as long as I could, but they just keep coming back."
Arthur had never heard of such an occurrence from the original story. Then again, no one had since around this time a three-year time skip was to commence soon.
On top of that, to hear that Chiriku (arguably the strongest monk) was having this sort of problem only hinted at how strong these occultists were.
Perhaps this was some sort of interrupted event, like a random quest line that often showed up in normal games.
"Where have you been?" Chiriku beckoned.
That was a question Arthur more than had an answer for. "Traveling, of course. Yet, I did not hear about this incident upon my return. How are our brothers managing?"
"We've been holding them off," Chiriku exclaimed, "but their numbers are growing each time they attack. I've already contacted some shinobi from the Leaf for reinforcements."
Anyone from the Leaf Village coming here would not be the best thing for Arthur. Mainly because the Fire Temple had always been a repository of potentiality. There were plenty of secrets and powers that he needed to garner—secrets that others might intervene with.
If these so-called "shinobi" happened to be one of the otherworldly ninjas, it would definitely make traveling to the Fire Temple a problem.
"What kind of firepower are these occultists wielding?" Arthur asked.
"Advanced weaponry that no one here has ever seen," Chiriku answered, growing more animated. "It's some sort of backpack with electricity. Not your typical gear that shinobis use…"
The news was interesting to Arthur. This world did incorporate advanced technologies to combat traditional shinobi abilities. Perhaps this was the exact kind of innovation he was looking for to help boost his prowess.
Plus, such technology could be expanded on in his laboratory.
After Arthur finished weighing his options, he met Chiriku's gaze and said, "There's no need to contact the Leaf now that I'm here. I urge that you allow me to assist you in defending the temple against these heathens."
Chiriku responded with a surprise of gratitude across his features. "Thank you, brother… But… you understand that this is dangerous. I can't emphasize how strange their weapons are. If—"
"If they're using technology we don't understand," Arthur said, cutting him off, "then let's scout them out so we can turn the tide in our favour."
"I see…" Chiriku contemplated. "The last ambush occurred near the outer grove by the east perimeter. But are you also suggesting that we go alone?"
"Brother Chiriku, believe it when I say that I'm a lot more capable than you think. Give me a chance to assess the situation, and if you feel like we need help, you can gather more reinforcements."
With a heavy sigh, Chiriku yielded before accepting. "Alright then. I'll lead you to the area. Just be sure to exercise caution… We've already lost a brother due to negligence."
✟
It wasn't long until Arthur was seen sprinting through the forest while matching Chiriku's pace.
If Arthur played his cards right and harnessed this technology against the backdrop of ninjutsu, he might unlock more possibilities.
"So, brother," Chiriku asked with a smile, "where have you been traveling while away from the Temple? It's not often we leave the grounds for personal pursuits."
"On a journey through many of the world's affairs, brother. It was good that I returned today."
"How mysterious," Chiriku chuckled. "I'd love to hear all about your adventures when we get back."
The monk's enthusiasm forced a fake smile on Arthur's face. But as they vaulted through the foliage, Chiriku couldn't shake an underlying tension since they had never fought together.
Arthur sensed the doubt in the monk's heart.
'I wonder what could have made him that intimidated…' he thought.
As they approached the occult's camp, the landscape began to change. Trees thinned, and a makeshift barricade came into view.
Chiriku silently motioned to Arthur, and they found a suitable hiding spot just behind the treeline before crouching low among the brush.
"We'll move quietly," Chiriku whispered.
"Very well…"
It's been a while since he'd engaged someone in combat. His blood was boiling at the thought; the thrill of the hunt coursed through him; the air buzzed with an oomph that had initially felt foreign till now.
The two soon neared the clearing.
Not once did Arthur feel unease at this unknown threat, and his thoughts were undisturbed.
Figures of the occultist began to come into focus. What met his gaze was a scene of interest: the enemies stood poised among barricades with devices strapped to their backs. They looked like strange packs that discharged electricity exactly like Chiriku had described.
Arthur's keen observation captured the nuances of their activity; they were preparing to set up offensive equipment that seemed like caricatures of ninja tools. Gripped tightly in their hands were also energy weapons that purred.
"That's what they're using," Chiriku hissed, signaling Arthur to stay low.
'That's also exactly what I was hoping for…' Arthur thought, narrowing his eyes.
The gathering row of foes became less of a daunting prospect and more of an opportunity for exploration. Better techniques begged to be unearthed.
"Assessed what you needed?" Chiriku asked.
"Yes… In fact, from what I'm seeing, I'm more than enough to handle them alone."
Chiriku frowned. "I wouldn't underestimate them. I made that mistake before after fighting them a couple times already."
The urgency in Chiriku's voice prodded at Arthur's resolve. So he said, "Worry not, brother… Allow me a moment to scout more of their camp."
Chiriku opened his mouth as if to argue, but the weight of Arthur's conviction persuaded him. "Fine, but be careful, brother."
Arthur vanished from their hiding spot, only to eventually appear several yards elsewhere to use a better means of scouting.
'Crimson gaze…'