As Arthur sat behind his desk, he was seen scribbling signatures over the paperwork laid out before him. It was the same old same old—contract permits and lease agreements for buildings that seemed even more pointless than the last.
If only the villagers understood the amount of bureaucracy that went into running a place like this. Then they would leave him alone.
Beneath his composed exterior, Arthur's thoughts were focused on one matter: Tayuya. He hadn't seen her since their last encounter. But he had managed to deliver the flute.
Eventually, she would need to find her own place. Only, Arthur couldn't decide where to place her.
Suddenly, two knocks at the door broke his concentration. This was odd. His secretary always knocked three times.
'Crimson gaze…'
Looking through the walls, he saw none other than Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki!
Arthur almost faltered upon seeing these two figures cloaked in dark attire with red clouds on them.
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 and many of the works in this castle under an illusion.
Controlling himself, Arthur feigned calmness. "Come in…"
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.
High-collared cloak unbuttoned at the chest, and mesh armor—it was him; it was the Itachi Uchiha, the same man who slaughtered his clan.
Not a single detail was missed: his signature red Akatsuki ring, inscribed with the kanji for "vermilion," blue nail polish, and 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 the 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.
To think these two would be here of all places.
Itachi's expression was inscrutable, while Kisame wore a grin.
"What can I do for you gentlemen?" Arthur asked, maintaining a façade of nonchalance.
"John doesn't seem too surprised to see us," Kisame smirked.
Arthur quelled the impulse to roll his eyes, unwilling to 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… I wasn't expecting any guests today, and truth be told, I didn't think they'd be fugitives."
"This won't take long then," Itachi said. "We're looking for someone."
"And who might that be?" Arthur asked.
"He goes by the name of Arthur Bennett," answered Kisame. What?! But how and why?! "We have reason to believe he's in this country."
Arthur maintained his cover by keeping his tone steady. "You'll excuse me if I sound confused, but I can't assist until you clarify who this Arthur Bennett is and why it seems as if you'd like help in finding him."
Kisame's eyes showed interest. "Your recent expansion in this country tells us that you might at least know something."
This was good to hear, for the shark's statement implied that they didn't suspect John and Arthur to be one in the same.
"Surely," Arthur said, gesturing toward the chairs across from his desk, "it's best to discuss this matter professionally... Wouldn't you agree?"
"We'll pass," Itachi answered.
"Now, now," Arthur said, maintaining his authority. "Two wanted 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 with stiff postures.
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."
"And what makes you believe I could possibly be of any assistance?" Arthur asked, feigning ignorance. He had truly felt like asking them what made them believe he was here. But the last thing he wanted was to seem suspicious. "The authorities regulate matters like this, not me."
"I thought you were smart for a second," Kisame said, "since you know we're wanted shinobi."
"Arthur Bennett is just as dangerous as us," Itachi added. "It would be unwise of us to ask authorities."
'Dangerous…'
That word set alarms ringing in Arthur's mind. It implied they were not hunting to kill, but hunting him to capture.
Was it for recruitment purposes? Even if this were true, 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," he 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..." The two men stood up. "We can't have you speaking about our involvement here."
Suddenly, Itachi's eyes swirled into his Sharingan!
Ka-boom!
An explosive wave erupted, shattering the stillness of the office as glass exploded outward like rain, showering the streets below.
Citizens nervously glanced upward, their eyes widened in shock at the suddenness of it all. As bits of charred paper, wooden splinters, and glass floated like confetti around them, they noticed a figure propel himself through the debris, hitting the ground before taking off running.
It was Arthur, and 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.
Behind him, he could sense the duo through the haze—Itachi's piercing Sharingan glowed ominously amid the smoke, while Kisame's shark-like eyes blazed in blue fury.
"Well, well," Kisame said, voice above the explosion's aftermath. "This city's still 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.
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.
So, 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 it was the back of his hand.
This wasn't the first time he had been chased to this degree, but it felt more intense this time, fueled by the danger that came from two of the most lethal ninjas to date.
Glimpses of walls, market stalls, and the intricate architecture of the city he had raised flashed by as he raced through the streets.
It was in that moment of determined focus that he felt it—a searing heat that spiked from behind him.
Swoosh!
Arthur darted to the side just as one of Itachi's fireballs crashed elsewhere.
"Fire style: fire ball jutsu!"
Before he had time to think, Arthur was vaulting off the side of a building and twisting fluidly in the air, narrowly avoiding another swirling inferno that erupted behind him.
'So it's stronger than I had thought,' Arthur said, continuing his stride.
Those two fireballs were far more potent than even Jada's when Arthur had fought her in the past.