Chapter 403Archive Chamber
"PLEASE FIND IT NO TROUBLE to venture about our temple," one of the monks softly said before turning and departing.
Arthur watched him go as the rest of the monk's footsteps faded away. Now he was alone. Yet that did not mean he could do as he pleased. The monks here were skilled, disciplined, and observant. Arthur knew better than to try to play the role of a spy at this moment.
So, he opted for a natural approach by walking calmly around the temple. Many of the residents greeted him, knowing he was a visitor because of his attire.
As he passed by them, his destination became clearer: a chamber that resembled a library. Though not officially a library, it was the closest thing he had seen to one in this temple. He had spotted it before coming and aimed to find something of value or something that could aid him.
When he arrived inside, the walls were lined with shelves filled with scrolls and books, some bound in leather, others rolled tightly. Arthur's Tamashii scanned the texts as he looked for anything relevant.
Many of these texts were written in archaic languages with contents difficult to decipher at a glance. Still, he understood enough of the language to recognize the significance of some of the writings.
Several contained instructions on brewing herbs, shaping landscapes, or manipulating natural energies. These were knowledge he already possessed or had little interest in at the moment.
It wasn't long until he stopped in front of a particular section. There, amid the stone walls, he found a scroll that caught his attention. Its title was "The Origins of Chakra."
While much of the information inside was already known, it wasn't bad to brush up on certain things that Arthur may have forgotten.
So he quietly read how chakra was a mystical and potent energy that originated from the Ōtsutsuki Clan, among whom Kaguya Ōtsutsuki played a pivotal role. She was the first to consume the chakra fruit from a forbidden tree, an act that granted her access to this extraordinary life force.
Through her, chakra became intertwined with the physical and spiritual energies of this earth, transforming her into a being of immense power. Her use of chakra was deeply rooted in her desire for power and control, but it also served as a catalyst for the evolution of the chakra system as known by later generations.
In the aftermath of her reign, the chakra she left behind continued to influence the world, especially through her descendants like Hagoromo and Hamura. To ensure that her followers would remember her, she left behind her inheritance in a book titled "Kaguya's Legacy."
The scroll was thorough, describing early practices, the connection between mind and body, and the spiritual energy that flowed through all things.
As Arthur finished reading, his curiosity was further piqued regarding "Kaguya's Legacy." He had never heard of such a thing. That led him to suspect that this temple held more information about the legendary figure—Kaguya—whose influence had shaped many of the techniques and philosophies he encountered in his journey.
Arthur's eyes drifted across the shelves once more to search for a more comprehensive account. Suddenly, his gaze landed on a thick, leather-bound book with the aforementioned title, Kaguya's Legacy.
The pages within were filled with hurried notes, sketches, and passages that read like a memoir. Judging from its contents, it was perhaps written by one of her former slaves or followers. That was because it described her time in this world and the techniques she passed down from varying perspectives.
'I, Kaguya, was tasked to journey from the celestial realm of the Ōtsutsuki Clan to the realm called earth. My purpose was to cultivate the mighty tree and harvest its sacred Chakra Fruit, which would sustain my clan's ancient ambitions. Yet, as I arrived among man, I was discovered by the people of the Land of Ancestors, and I concealed my true nature, pretending to be their protector. Over time, I grew to feel a strange attachment to this world I was meant to destroy, and my desire for peace was deepened by what I witnessed. When the war among men threatened to engulf everything, I defied my clan's command and ate the Chakra Fruit myself, awakening the power of chakra within me—a power I believed I could wield to end their endless strife. This act transformed me into the first wielder of chakra on the earth, and with my newfound strength, I ended their wars and was worshipped as their divine Rabbit Idol, seeking to bring lasting peace through my divine power.' – Legacy Of Kaguya, page 2.
As Arthur read, he could immediately sense the importance of this book. It was a window into her existence, her methods, and her influence on subsequent generations. Not only that, it revealed details about the techniques she had shared with her two sons, Hagoromo and Hamura.
Certainly, he could not leave this time period without this book in hand. But just as he was beginning to delve deeper, footsteps echoed from the corridor outside. Someone was approaching.
"I see thou hast taken an interest in our archive chamber," appeared a monk in the doorway.
The new arrival's tone was even, so Arthur closed the book and, ere replying, said, "Indeed... Question for thee, friend: may I take this book to accompany me on mine journey?"
When the monk saw the book Arthur spoke of, he said, "I prithee, this book is not for be read by guests. It is part of our sacred archives, reserved for study by the monks."
Arthur accepted, without argument.
"I understand," he said, and returned the book. "Are any of these books or scrolls available for borrow?"
The monk returned the book to its place, then replied, "All books are available for reading and borrowing—save this one." His gaze was steady, and he made plain that Kaguya's Legacy was off-limits.
Arthur regarded him thoughtfully but pressed no further, knowing it was clear that Kaguya's Legacy was forbidden. Instead, he moved to the nearby shelf and chose a different book, titled "Brewing Herbs by Akito B. Takahashi."
"I think I shall take this one to accompany me through the night," he said with a practiced smile. "If thou wilt accept, of course."
"A fine choice," the monk replied with a smile, stepping aside to let Arthur take the book. "Feel free to use it, and return it when thou wilt."
With that, the monk gestured toward the door, and Arthur followed close behind.
"Hast thou offered thee a place to stay for the night?" asked the monk.
"None, my friend."
"What a shame. Thou shalt be glad to know that our lodgings at the inn are ever ready for visitors such as thee."
Arthur gratefully accepted, for he had no intention to stay longer than a night.
It was not long ere they exited the archive chamber and made their way to the inn. There, they ascended a staircase leading to a modest, quiet chamber that resembled a guest quarter. The chamber was simple, with a bed, a small table, and a window overlooking the temple grounds.
"Normally," began the monk, "we charge our guests. But thou hast made such a good impression that our brethren deemed thee should stay for free."
"How comely of them," Arthur appreciated.
With that, the monk eventually left. Arthur sat on the edge of the bed, opening the book he had chosen. Though it seemed like a loss from being unable to obtain a useful text like Kaguya's Legacy, it truly wasn't. That was because in his possession was Kaguya's Legacy!
How had he managed to secure it? When he heard footsteps approaching, he had used the transformation technique and disguised the real Kaguya's Legacy with the book on brewing herbs. The monk, unaware of the switch, couldn't tell the difference.
If Arthur was even remotely late, or his trick had been seen through, he had more than enough excuses to make. These monks, after all, were quite forgiving and gentle if not directly provoked. Such traits were learned during Arthur's time as Ryugetsu in the Fire Temple.
Now, as he held the book in his hands, he felt no sense of satisfaction. This invaluable piece of knowledge was quite long to read. Perhaps it would take him days to finish, but he wasn't going to let it go to waste. Not after reading the first two pages.
Now when nightfall came, Arthur casually arose from bed and placed small chipped wood in front of the door. Should anyone open the door, they would also move the piece of wood, alerting him that someone entered the room.
'Smoke jutsu…'
His body gradually turned into a wisp before seeping through the room's cracks. Outside, he dared not to use his Tamashii, lest one of the monks spot him again. Instead, he went through the more traditional means by verifying whether he could be detected or not.
Flying above the temple as a very thin layer of smoke, not a single monk seemed to notice his presence. This was good. Because now, he could secretly go to his destination: the shrine that the Two-Tails resided by.
Arthur quietly moved through the landscape from above. The land around him was rich and textured, unlike the time period he was in. The sway of trees, the call of birds, and the small animals in the undergrowth kept him alert; he couldn't ignore the beauty of the night scenery, even as he remained vigilant for any sign of the Two-Tails.
His eyes swept the terrain as he continued scanning for any sign of the beast. Several miles away from the temple, he eventually came across a trail of burnt bamboo and enormous paw prints pressed into the earth. The tracks crisscrossed and overlapped, indicating the creature had recently moved.
The flames had left a scorched patch of ground, a reminder of the beast's fiery nature. Quite the redundant choice of Hagoromo to have chosen this greenery location for a flaming creature.
Nonetheless, the very flames that threatened to raze everything also made the trail easier to follow.
Arthur pressed onward by navigating the terrain until he approached the mountains. The trail grew more distinct as he neared the vicinity. There, he saw the creature's size more clearly. It was not as colossal as he remembered. Perhaps a juvenile or a young adult.
Its form was still massive, towering with an estimate of around 200 feet in length. Not the staggering size of the fully matured Two-Tails, but still large enough to instill awe.
Arthur paused on a rocky outcrop before considering his next move. If memory served him well, the Two-Tails had recognized him as Hoshikaze. While their encounter had been strange, he at least knew that he had to play the part convincingly if he was to gain the creature's trust.
'Transformation jutsu…'
Arthur shifted into his form as Hoshikaze and adopted Hoshikaze's chakra signature. Then he silently leapt from rock to rock until he was close enough to be seen. The fiery coat of the beast was partially hidden behind a boulder, making it very hard to miss.
Crunch, crunch.
When the Two-Tails heard feet approaching it, it raised its head and spotted him. The beast's eyes immediately narrowed. It didn't seem pleased to see a man in its territory.
"Matatabi," he announced, "I come in peace!"
The creature's eyes widened slightly at the sound of its name being uttered. With curiosity, it asked, "You… Have we met before, mister?"
"Come now," he said. "You glared at me as if you were going to pounce on me a second ago."
The Two-Tails huffed, causing a puff of flame to lick around its maw.
"That was off instinct," it admitted, grooming a paw. "Now who might you be, mister?"
"I go by many names, but you can call me Hoshikaze… I'm here on account of what your father left behind."
The beast paused its grooming, and its ears twitched at the mention of Hagoromo. "You know my father?"
"More than just know him," Arthur replied. "Rather, I have something to give you regarding him."
"And just what might that be, Mr. Hoshikaze?" pondered the beast by tilting its head.
"What I have to give you isn't now. You and I will meet again, but it will be so long that I'll forget who you are."
"Mr. Hoshikaze," the beast skeptically began, "you almost had me on my paws because the way you speak is different than other men. For you to suddenly forget such an important thing makes me unwilling to cooperate. Assume we do meet again; what shall I say to you if you forget?"
"If I forget, ask me if I at least remember your name…"
The Two-Tails blinked, confused. "I don't understand."
"Consider it an induction. If I remember your name, it'll also trigger what I'm supposed to do."
The beast hesitated before grooming itself again. "Since you came here on behalf of my father, I'll take your word for it. Just answer me how long it will take until we meet—" But as soon as the question was posed, Arthur was gone. "—again?"