Path Of War

Exiting the cemetery, he teleported to the outskirts of Tanzaku Town. There, he took solace in the safe confines of his own thoughts.

He could not deny that the advantage of having Rin's cells gave him the upper hand. It was not the cells themselves that gave him that triumphant status, but having acquired them early and without anyone knowing.

Obito, who had been manipulated by Madara, was truly a redundant shinobi and a failed byproduct of Naruto.

That character knew that his goal was to revive Madara. If he understood that such a thing was possible in this world, he should have just revived Rin instead.

Then destroying everything could have come next.

But no. The stupidity of these characters was enough to make Arthur roll his eyes and shake his head, knowing that all their antics were just a ploy to keep everyone entertained.

After arriving at a secluded site on the outskirts of Tanzaku Town, he needed to contemplate things.

Tayuya had long departed, moving out of his apartment and purchasing a piece of land somewhere on the fringes of the Water Country. Of course, it was via his funds.

Knowing the nature of his operations, he had no idea when he'd be able to regroup and connect with her again, let alone know when he'd return to that country.

To put it bluntly, he needed to gather more adept pawns. And if the Akatsuki were trying to track him, those same pawns would be in danger.

He pondered if he could still afford to keep pawns like Tayuya or if she might unknowingly lead enemies to him, especially with the implication of Zetsu infiltration methods that were possibly at play in the Water Country.

Using the flying raijin technique was a stroke of good fortune that had kept him in the shadows while still allowing him to watch over his territory. He had marked various key locations across the Water Country, knowing that entering the land wouldn't be safe for now.

Venturing out was a hazardous gambit, one that could spell disaster at any misstep. These narrow escapes continued to leave a bitter taste in his mouth.

And then there was the media frenzy. Coverage of him had spread like wildfire, his disappearance becoming the kind of scandal that determined the fate of nations.

The beloved philanthropist "John Belfort" was being pursued like there was no tomorrow.

News of the supposed terrorist act grew louder, reaching even neighboring territories and causing a political earthquake in the Water Country.

Hiromu was forced to take control.

Arthur's absence had prompted cries of worry among citizens who still adored him; they refused to believe he was dead. Instead, many of them were spreading news that took on the shape of conspiracies and deception.

"Was Lord Belfort crooked after all?" some asked, while others shook their heads in disbelief.

There was one particular character that steadfastly branded him a hero, ultimately vowing to resurrect his legacy: his own secretary-general. His zeal for Arthur was greater than all the other followers.

Still, amidst this turmoil, there was one thing Arthur was sure of: he had to get stronger.

The time he had directed toward securing Rin's cells presented an undeniable avenue to establish dominance, yet he could not act recklessly. Not while the Akatsuki was out there hunting.

The riddles of the political landscape made it worthwhile to stay hidden for now, to lie low until things stabilized.

Fortunately, given the attention on him, he could stealthily maneuver awareness away from himself. He would much rather remain an anonymous figure.

With the files on his operations and the fast-approaching appointment for training with Jada in the Land of Hot Springs coming soon, he decided it was time to re-energize his Gift of the Hermit chakra; the renewal of his skills was paramount.

He had not been to the Fire Temple in some time. And because of Alice's incredible spiritual techniques, harnessing chakra from there had become paramount.

As he prepared his next steps, something pricked at his senses—someone was nearby. He swiftly turned, his eyes surveying the bushline with acute awareness.

A small figure burst through the undergrowth—a rabbit, not at all exhibiting any threatening levels of chakra. It wasn't menacing, more opportunistic, likely drawn to the scent of food.

Was Arthur truly that on edge? To mistake a simple creature with its concerns for potential harm? Or perhaps his senses had dulled after his recent endeavors.

Regardless, it only showed how far he had descended from his relaxed demeanor to become the villain he needed to be.

Relaxing himself, he performed the Transformation technique, altering his appearance to that of Ryugetsu.

'Flying raijin…'

Already, the familiar scene of the Fire Temple was in his sight. This area never seemed to lose its aura of reverence.

As he walked around, monks in white robes paused in their tasks, many of them recognizing him. They bowed respectfully, giving him admiration earned by his past actions against the dark occultic group that had once threatened them.

Whether it was a beneficial thing or a detrimental one, he could always alter his appearance to masquerade as a different-looking monk.

But there was no need for that at the moment since these were monks and not the paparazzi.

Anyone else would have flocked to him with a barrage of questions—about his whereabouts, battles fought, or training methods.

Yet everyone here understood that while he was well regarded, their relationship was grounded in respect, not fame. The papers might have painted him a hero, but here, among those with a little faith, he was simply a soul seeking sanctuary.

He briefly scanned the temple layout and noticed the absence of Chiriku. This was alright since Arthur hadn't come for company; it was a welcome reprieve. He didn't want to be disturbed.

After a brief pause, he pushed his thoughts aside, focusing instead on the location with the highest concentration of chakra in the temple.

He made his way through the corridors until he reached that same tranquil garden where the pond lay.

He then sat on the ground, taking a meditative stance before closing his eyes and channeling his chakra.

After what felt like an hour, he lost track of time, entranced in the calm—until the rustle of underbrush caught his attention.

He remained relaxed, having already sensed the familiar chakra signature approaching beforehand.

By the time he opened his eyes, the unexpected presence was seated beside him.

It was Sora, the pseudo-Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.

There was an embarrassed look gracing his features as he sat cross-legged, attempting to mimic Arthur's previous posture but failing to mask the awkwardness.

As Arthur rested his gaze on the boy, he drew a quick conclusion: Sora had undoubtedly heard of his arrival and sought to share in the peace of meditation without the courage to address him directly at first.

Noting the young boy's demeanor, Arthur played his role well and gave him a small smile.

"You know, brother Sora, if you're hoping to deepen your meditation practice by sitting next to me, I have to ask—what do you wish to gain from it, especially without so much as a word of greeting?"

The remark made Sora visibly blush, scrambling to his feet and bowing deeply.

"Forgive me, brother Ryugetsu! I—I wasn't trying to be rude! I just… wanted to be close to you and learn from your presence."

Arthur softly chuckled, yet didn't find the boy's earnestness remotely humorous.

"There's no need to bow so deeply, young monk. I'm not God—just a fellow now having the strange yearning for some tea."

"Tea?" Sora blinked in embarrassment.

"Yes, tea," Arthur confirmed. This was a good opportunity to connect with the boy. "Don't tell me a young monk like yourself doesn't drink the fine herbal supplement to keep one healthy."

Sora's face became even more ashamed, aware that he was being invited to have tea with this prestigious monk.

"Of course!" he said. "I can find some right away!"

Arthur slowly stood as the boy hurried off, saying, "Take your time, and remember that you don't always have to rush things."

Sora turned, smiled, and decided to speed walk instead.

Arthur took a seat on a bench in the garden, allowing the gentle breeze to ease some fatigue from his spirit.

A few moments passed, and soon Sora returned with a small wooden tray balanced skillfully in his hands. It bore two simple ceramic cups, steam rising from each.

"I hope this is good enough!" the boy exclaimed, presenting the concoction. Arthur took one whiff, smiling before stating that he enjoyed green tea. "Ah! Yes, your senses are really amazing, brother Ryugetsu!"

As the two sat together, sipping slowly from their steaming cups of green tea, Sora couldn't help but feel at ease. The tranquility of the Fire Temple provided a fitting backdrop for their exchange.

Finally, the young monk broke the comfortable silence.

"Brother Ryugetsu," he exclaimed, feeling a tad excited, "your advice really helped me, you know? I've been practicing diligently as a monk, and I can feel myself growing stronger every day!"

Arthur smiled, both pleased and contemplative, as he said, "That is good to hear. Dedication is an interesting virtue for a monk to possess. It reflects your commitment not just to yourself but also to those you wish to protect."

"I want to protect everyone!" Sora nodded vigorously. "But sometimes... I've been having these awful dreams. Nightmares, really. I don't know where they're coming from. It feels like they might be important, but I don't understand why."

Arthur's interest piqued. Nightmares weren't uncommon among those who regularly dwelt in darkness, but such phenomena could hold deeper meaning, especially regarding chakra in this world.

What was most evident was that it was Sora having them, a bearer of Tailed Beast chakra.

Without revealing his intentions, Arthur subtly focused on Sora with his Tamashii, allowing him to feel the subtle nuances of the boy's chakra.

As he extended his awareness, he felt a familiar pulse: the malicious nature of the Nine-Tails. This must have been the cause of the boy's nightmares.

Yet Arthur masked his thoughts, keeping his expression neutral as he processed his next words.

"Sometimes journeys into darkness can lead to profound revelations, Sora. You need to embrace those nightmares. Let them guide you, even if things seem dark."

Sora's eyes widened, not having expected to hear that. Nonetheless, he absorbed the advice.

"Embrace them?" he repeated. "You really think I should?"

"Yes," Arthur replied smoothly, "the darkness can be a teacher. In the depths of that fear, you might find answers to questions you didn't know you had. Remember this: The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.' (Proverbs 4:18, KJV)."

Notwithstanding, Arthur would never tell a real soul to venture into the darkness or learn from the darkness. He believed in guiding souls toward the light of Christ, not into the unknown.

But right now, he needed to continue manipulating Sora. This pseudo-Jinchūriki's latent chakra held potential that could be vital to his ambitions.

"And I thought I had to run away from them!" Sora continued, looking inspired. "I'll lean into the nightmares! I'll see what they want to teach me!"

Arthur didn't feel guilty—the young monk didn't know he was being set on a precarious route.

Embrace the nightmares? That was the last thing anyone should do.

If everything went according to Arthur's plan, Sora might find himself ostracized from the other monks, consumed by a darkness that only he could see. It would make controlling him so much easier when Arthur returned for the next step.

Sora beamed, clearly relieved to have someone he admired on his side.