Path Of War

"Thank you so much, brother Ryugetsu!" he exclaimed. "I promise I'll commit to those teachings of yours!"

"Good," Arthur encouraged. "Now allow me to ask: Do you have any friends?"

"Oh yes!" Sora eagerly nodded. "A few around my age, but I wouldn't really call them my friends. Also! Excuse me for my bluntness, but I want to be an example like you, brother Ryugetsu!"

"An example?" Arthur repeated, mildly surprised by the declaration. "What do you wish to demonstrate?"

"Courage and kindness, I suppose," Sora softly said. "When I meditate, I feel like I can protect others and help the temple. I want to grow stronger so that I can always stand up for what is right. Just like you fought against the occult!"

'What a sad little thing,' Arthur thought to himself.

While the young monk seemed sincere, a sense of pride could be felt.

"You're already being led in the right direction, brother Sora. It takes immense character to aspire to protect others, especially in a world that requires strength."

Sora beamed at the affirmation, and the atmosphere between them shifted as they both took another sip of tea. For a moment, it felt like all the external troubles didn't exist.

But Arthur knew better than to believe that.

"Do you think I could be just as strong as you one day?" Sora asked, hesitating briefly. "Or is it too hard to become like you?"

Arthur slowly placed his cup down, looking into the blue sky covered in clouds. He chose not to say anything, only remembering what his purpose in this world was—to utterly and completely destroy it!

Since he hadn't answered, they both sat in comfortable silence for a moment.

With their cups empty, Arthur rose.

"It was truly a pleasure to share tea with you, young Sora," he casually said. "I must take my leave soon, but I believe you are destined for greatness."

"Yes!" Sora announced. "I understand!"

Arthur was about to step away when a few other monks, noticing him with Sora, approached politely.

"Brother Ryugetsu, would you care to join us for a round of tea as well?" one of them offered.

Arthur politely shook his head with a gracious smile and said, "Thank you for the offer, brothers, but I must depart soon. Perhaps next time when I am in the temple again, I can join you?"

The monks nodded, accepting his response with understanding, and stepped back, respecting his choice.

Yet Arthur could sense what lingered in their hearts—they respected him, but they scowled at Sora, who had the pleasure of having tea with Ryugetsu.

Despite knowing this, Arthur departed to conclude his earlier meditation. Sora would undoubtedly be raised to follow him when the time came.

The next day.

The sounds of bubbling hot springs filled the air as Arthur, now disguised as Hoshikaze, waited beneath the shade of a nearby tree in the Land of Hot Springs.

This land was a serene country characterized by its numerous hot springs and was heavily reliant on tourism.

This peaceful nation shared its borders with the Land of Frost, the Land of Sound, and the Land of Fire. Hence why Arthur had been able to teleport here without effort.

The governance of this land fell under its feudal lord, and the economy prospered primarily on the natural resources offered by the hot springs, which were abundant in mineral content believed to possess medicinal qualities.

Enabling more than just relaxation, these springs also provided the local populace with spring water that played a crucial role in their health care, as specialized doctors recommended specific hot springs for various ailments.

While their waters were not even remotely as powerful as the springs in the Cayman Jungles, they were an effective source of healing.

Additionally, potatoes flourished in the area, allowing settlements to practice their culinary skills.

At the heart of the Land of Hot Springs lies their main village, the Village Hidden in the Hot Springs.

This hidden village followed peaceful principles that permeated the country, distancing itself from traditional shinobi duties and opting for a more pacifist approach.

The Hot Spring Village had evolved into a community focused on serving its citizens and making them feel safe, mainly by protecting the routes frequented by tourists and assisting the small settlements that surrounded it.

Once entangled in the cycle of combat-related services, the village now described itself as the "village that has forgotten wars," demonstrating its commitment to harmony.

This shift, however, was not universally supported, leading to internal conflicts, the most notable being represented by Hidan, the Akatsuki member who followed a false god. He rejected the village's pacifist ideologies and became a missing-nin after committing violence against his fellow ninjas.

Besides The Hot Spring Village, two other unique locations enriched the country.

The first is the Bamboo Village, a quaint clearing surrounded by bamboo forests. They're a community that capitalizes on its natural resources, incorporating bamboo into nearly every aspect of its borders.

From building materials to goods, almost everything was bamboo-related.

The second location was known as the "Valley," an inhospitable canyon marked by its flowing, iron-rich hot water. The valley's steam and water are blistering and foul-smelling that it deters most forms of wildlife.

Interestingly, after the expulsion of the Chinoike clan from the Land of Lightning, they found refuge in this valley.

A misunderstanding arose when villagers from The Hot Spring Village mistook the valley's striking red water for blood, leading them to declare it off-limits rather than investigate further. Thus, the Chinoike clan endured isolation yet managed off the minimal resources available until internal strife forced them to confront their challenges.

The Hot Spring Village was not too far from where Arthur was.

And right now, his mind was not on the serene environment. He had been pondering the arrival of two particular individuals—Jada and William.

According to the information he had gathered through his flying raijin marks in the Leaf Village, they had departed several days ago, leaving him to track their progress.

What intrigued him even more was William's unexpected presence as Jada's companion.

Arthur, aware of the undercurrents that existed between them, was curious as to what William hoped to gain by joining her.

Arthur leaned against the rough bark of the tree, waiting for the familiar chakra signatures to enter his sensing range.

Moments passed, and just as he began to contemplate shifting his position, he detected two approaching figures. It was time to intercept them.

With a swift motion, he leaped from his perch and bounced from tree to tree until he settled silently into the shadows of another tree, allowing himself a moment to observe them.

William was animated, gesturing dramatically as he spoke to Jada.

"So, what makes this Hoshikaze so special again?" he asked, skepticism evident in his tone.

Jada, with an earnest smile, held a finger to her lips, admonishing him playfully as she said, "You know you shouldn't talk behind people's backs."

William rolled his eyes, smirking, and said, "Yeah, right. It's not like he can hear me or something."

Before they could continue their exchange, Arthur made his presence known with a whistle.

Both Jada and William froze mid-conversation, instinctively turning around. Their comedic reaction was worth a moment of amusement as they came face to face with the very figure they had been discussing.

"Wha—" William stammered, his eyes widening in shock as he registered Hoshikaze perched coolly on a branch above them. "This has to be a genjutsu, right?!"

Jada, however, seemed genuinely delighted. Her face brightened, and she rushed toward the base of the tree to greet him.

"Hoshikaze-sensei! It's great to see you!"

Arthur gracefully descended from his branch, landing softly on the ground before them. With his blindfold on, they couldn't quite gauge what his expression was.

"It appears you both failed the first lesson," he coolly remarked. "You should have sensed me long before I revealed myself."

William's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he said, "How were we supposed to know you would sneak up on us?"

Jada smacked William upside his head for having been disrespectful. She then chimed in, "Hoshikaze-sensei's right. We should have been more careful!"

Arthur, noting the liveliness between them, decided to cut into the moment.

"I believe I only agreed to teach Jada," he said. "So why are you here?"

William pointed at Arthur comically and answered, "I just wanted to make sure you didn't do something bad to her while she was alone."

At that, Jada giggled. Arthur nonchalantly disregarded the comment.

"I see," he said. "Very well, then… Follow me."

He turned, leading them deeper away from their initial clearing to a more secluded spot shielded by trees and bathed in sunlight. He could feel both of them traipsing quietly behind him, each wearing their own expressions.

Once they arrived at the secluded area, he turned to find Jada smiling just a little too widely at him. She seemed to glow; William, meanwhile, stood with his arms crossed over his head, surveying the scene with animated curiosity.

Arthur couldn't help but reflect. Here were the same two individuals who, not that long ago, had nearly taken his life.

How the tides had turned! To think that he would be the one teaching them—amazing how fate worked in mysterious ways.

"This is quite the spot," William commented, breaking the brief silence as he glanced around.

"William, come here," Arthur stated with an authoritative tone.

"Eh?" William blinked in surprise while comically pointing at himself. "Wait, me? I thought it was Jada being taught?"

The playful skepticism was evident on William's features, making him look both endearing and ridiculous.

"Don't act so shocked," Arthur replied, not at all smiling. "Since you're here, it's only fitting that you contribute to the second lesson."

Reluctantly, William was ready to say no. That is, until Jada spoke up.

"Go on, Will. You'll learn something awesome!"

"Alright, I'll help," he grinned. The change in attitude was a little too quick. "But if I get hurt, I'm suing you!"

"I hope you have a competent lawyer then," Arthur shot back. "Jada, prepare to take notes; observe carefully, as I'm going to demonstrate what you're lacking."

It came as no surprise to either of them that he knew about Jada. His feats in the tournament had been more than enough for both of them to understand he had outstanding analytical skills.

With a gleam in her eye, Jada activated her Sharingan. But what surprised Arthur was that she pulled out an actual notepad and pencil, ready to jot down notes like an overachieving student.

He chose not to comment on that peculiar choice, fully aware that with the Sharingan at her disposal, she didn't need to waste time writing things down—she would be able to mimic everything perfectly.

Her earnestness honestly made her look more charming.

"Now then," Arthur continued, redirecting his focus. "You, warm up. We're going to have a light sparring session."

A rush of excitement showed in William's eyes as he pumped a fist into the air.

"I've been waiting for a rematch!" he enthusiastically said. "I've been training hard since I lost at the tournament!"

In hindsight, William might have secretly feared Arthur, a truth masked by bravado. William was a skilled shinobi—of that there was no doubt—but he lacked the spiritual and mental fortitude that was necessary to be considered a true warrior.

As William began to stretch, Arthur prepared himself as well. A subtle breeze rustled the leaves around them as Arthur took off his shirt, revealing an impeccably sculpted physique that seemed to showcase zero percent body fat.

The sun cast a golden glow, making the contours of his muscles glisten slightly, and the sight left both Jada and William momentarily speechless.

Jada's face turned crimson upon seeing Arthur's flawless form. William, feeling jealous, pointed at Arthur with a comedic flair, desperately trying to reassert his confidence.