ELSEWHERE, FAR FROM THE BEAST'S GAZE, Arthur found himself hidden behind a cluster of trees.
In his possession was something remarkable: a fragment of the Two-Tails itself. It was a flame-coloured hair that was thick and long, roughly the size of his entire arm. When had he acquired it? It was during the brief distraction while the beast was grooming.
Arthur truly was that fast.
To a giant creature of that size, it was no different than plucking out a tiny fragment from a grown man's arm hair.
Arthur hadn't needed to tell the creature anything more than what it already knew because some truths were better left unspoken. Once he returned to his timeline, he could make up something believable to reduce suspicion of him when they should meet again.
The game was complicated, but he was patient to craft more stories for the other Tailed Beasts since time was on his side. The main thing he valued was extracting more resources like this Tailed Beast hair from the others.
Meanwhile, Arthur used his Tamashii to see the Two-Tails let out a low hiss. It sensed something was amiss but couldn't quite place it. Rather than go looking for him, the beast decided to move on.
Now Arthur was certain that his actions here in the past would undoubtedly translate to the present.
What he wondered was how something like this was even possible. Time travel in this world could only bring an individual—more specifically, a player—as far back as a day. Had him waking up in the pod triggered this phenomenon? Whatever the case, he wasn't going to let it go to waste.
Arthur quickly turned into smoke and whisked into the night sky.
His mind was already preoccupied with the next phase of his plan. Currently, there were still two or three Tailed Beasts he intended to seek out. But before making those moves again, he understood the significance of the monks from the temples.
When he finally reached the inn, he confirmed that nothing had changed. The room still remained untouched, with no sign of anyone having moved the chipped wood. That was a good sign. Whatever precautions the monks took, they hadn't discovered his actions.
Arthur therefore lay on the thin mattress, which offered him little comfort. Still, he welcomed the rest, knowing he had nothing to complain about.
After only a few hours, the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs roused him. Arthur had only gotten about three hours of sleep at best. He sat up as the door swung open, revealing one of the familiar monks he had tea with yesterday.
"Wouldst thou fancy some breakfast?" the monk cheerfully asked, oblivious to the night's clandestine activities and the secrets Arthur carried.
"That would be most welcome," Arthur simply replied with a smile.
The morning peacefully unfolded as the monks gathered in the common area to share a modest meal and exchange quiet conversations. Arthur couldn't find himself drawn into their simple camaraderie since his mind remained alert for any new information or opportunities.
After breakfast, one of the monks turned to him and asked, "When dost thou wish to venture to the shrine once more?"
"I have another matter I would fain consider," he answered, drawing attention to himself. "I could not help but take note of the strength possessed by many who dwell in this land. Would it be unseemly of me to request training, or perchance to spar with thy mightiest brethren?"
This question seemed to amuse them. So one replied, "We do refrain from using our ninshu for strife. Even in sport, the use of chakra is sorely frowned upon."
Believing Arthur was confused, a second monk added, "Some of our brethren have turned aside from our grandsire's teachings. They now wield chakra to do battle, rather than to mend or aid."
"How curious," Arthur responded. Many fans had always wondered how or why such conflicts came into existence. In the earliest days, the study of chakra was about understanding, healing, and growth. But once the fighting started, research stopped. It became about creating new techniques for combat.
"I do assume this temple useth chakra chiefly for healing and for building?"
"Yea. We do chiefly devote ourselves thereto, for such is a peaceful purpose, and we do believe it aligneth with our teachings. We do hope thou dost understand."
If Arthur hadn't already guessed it, this was the time period a little after Indra and Asura passed, leaving their chakra behind to their reincarnation. During which time, ninshu would soon be called ninjutsu for combat rather than forming unity.
As the monks spoke, it was explained to Arthur that the only other time they used ninshu was to defend their land. Outside in the world beyond the temple, scarcity and competition often led to conflict. When resources were depleting, some would threaten or attack neighbouring lands. The monks here were not passive; they had more than enough strength to push back aggressors and protect their sacred grounds.
Such was the cycle of conflict in this world.
The peaceful atmosphere was suddenly interrupted when another fellow monk entered the inn. He approached his brother and whispered,
"There be rumours that Fujin Suzuki seeketh to lay hands upon one of the sacred beasts to make war upon us."
Arthur's ears pricked at the words. While he had never heard of this "Fujin Suzuki," anyone capable of using a Tailed Beast in combat had to have been strong.
The monk who received the whisper straightened as he said,
"Pardon us, good Mr. Hoshikaze. There is a matter of great import which we must needs attend."
The monk then bowed politely and stepped away. Arthur watched him leave before making up his mind. It was time for him to go as well.
He stood, gathering his belongings, and prepared to depart. Yet the other monks who lingered wished for him to spend more time with them. Such monks hardly left the temple and desired to hear stories from the outside.
But Arthur knew better than to abide here for too long. Their kindness was genuine, but he had no interest in idle companionship now. Had they accepted to teach him their ways, he might have found someone worth learning from.
The only option left for him to understand their method of using chakra was to become their adversary. Only then could he learn their true fighting styles, their strengths, and their weaknesses.
"Is there aught we may do for thee ere thou dost depart, Mr. Hoshikaze?"
"I suppose there is one thing," Arthur answered. "Might I perchance be granted a map, that I lose not my way again upon my travels?"
Straightaway, the monks found a map that was crafted on new parchment and gladly gave it to him. Quite the hospital individuals. First they allowed him to freely stay in their temple, then they gifted him a free map. Surely, he would have to pay them a visit again.
As Arthur stepped outside into the afternoon sun, his next destination was north. A large volcanic structure was situated there. And if he was correct, that was where the Land of Earth was, which should also be the dwelling place of both the Four-Tails and the Five-Tails.
✟
Some time later.
While traveling in the sky, Arthur contemplated his strategy against the Tailed Beast. The Two-Tails was simple to handle, but the same could not be said about the Four and Five-Tails.
He had never personally met the Four-Tails but still found that beast intriguing due to its lava style capabilities. Hardly anyone in this world had that technique, and it would surely profit Arthur to at least learn something from it.
As he was considering what to do with that beast, Arthur suddenly spotted a group of monks steadily moving through the mountain pass. There were three of them, and they were walking in a disciplined formation.
"Oh…" Arthur said, eyeing their attire from above.
Their robes differed from those of the monks he had previously encountered, suggesting they belonged to a rival faction or perhaps were from a distant land. Nonetheless, their darker fabric piqued Arthur's curiosity.
As they approached a large boulder blocking their way, the monks didn't seem fazed. One of them stepped forward and performed a technique.
"Lightning Style: Black Panther!"
A surge of dark lightning crackled from his body before coalescing into the shape of a black panther. Then the creature lunged forward and struck the boulder with destructive force.
Ka-boom!
The rock shattered into fragments, sending dust and debris into the air. Then the monks pressed on as if the spectacle were common.
Arthur, however, found this a rarity. That monk wielded an impressive technique, one that was only ever shown to be used by two characters. But what truly caught his attention was their destination. It was the same general direction as where he had met the Two-Tails.
If anything, this might have been the group that was stated to be hunting Tailed Beasts to attack the temple. Arthur was by all means going to intervene. Not to stop them per se.
Five minutes later, the monks came to an abrupt halt. Their eyes fell upon a figure standing where the trail narrowed. It was Arthur, disguised as one of the monks from the temple he had visited.
"An enemy!" one of them shouted.
Without hesitation, all three launched their attacks. But Arthur was prepared. Their strikes phased through him like smoke.
"What the?!" one exclaimed, stumbling back.
Arthur slowly turned with an unreadable expression on his face. "Your speed is far inferior to the others." Then, without warning, he lunged forward and struck the closest monk in the clavicle, shattering the bone. "So I'll make this quick…"
The man cried out in pain and staggered back while the other two chose to attack in unison. Arthur responded with fluid taijutsu not yet seen in this timeline. He dodged, countered, and struck with only breakdancing.
"He… His movements are unorthodox," the second monk panicked, unable to land a single blow.
In their last bout, Arthur rolled off one of their backs, performed a breakdancing spin, and then kicked both simultaneously, sending them sprawling.
"Argh!" they both screamed.
Now these monks were better than fodder, and they could most certainly match up against a Jōnin based on their caliber. Arthur was simply that much stronger and faster.
Once he let them recover, one of the monks did something unexpected: his eyes widened, and he activated an eye technique—the Sharingan!
Arthur's brow furrowed slightly. The faint glow of the Sharingan was a surprise, but not so much since they only carried two tomoe each. This particular monk had to at least be a distant ancestor of the Uchiha clan.
"We'll have to tell Fujin about this when we get back," the monk with the Sharingan said in a tense voice.
Arthur paused for a moment. There was that name again—Fujin.
The last thing Arthur needed was for these monks to go back and reveal this encounter. His best options were either to erase their memories or eliminate them entirely. Both choices were feasible, so he chose the latter.
He quickly raced the monk with the Sharingan. The monk ducked a jab. When he tried to attack Arthur by the waist, his attempts were suddenly stopped by a block of ice. Arthur then struck cleanly through the ice and punched the monk square in the jaw.
The other monk attempted a sneak attack from behind, but Arthur's ears twitched. He gracefully turned around and caught the monk by the wrist before scissor-kicking his upper body to the ground, creating a mini crater.
Now all three were out for the count. The first monk couldn't even breathe after the initial attack. While the next monk seemed to be a threat upon activating the Sharingan, Arthur needed only to use ice to his advantage. The rest was over before it started.
Now it was time to collect his loot.