Path Of War

Jada's face was one for the ages—turning as red as a tomato due to not having expected Arthur's comment.

Their teasing looked like playful banter among friends, but he knew better than to befriend this lot. At the end of the day, they were players—real people—on the verge of possibly losing their minds in this simulation.

But killing them would defeat the purpose of his goals. If they truly were trapped here like him, as he believed, then all he could do was continue fighting, even if they chose to stand in his way.

Jada, having finally calmed herself down, shot a playful glance at William and said, "I can't wait to try out everything I learned!"

Before he could respond, William comically jumped to his feet, raising his hands defensively.

"Wait, no! Let's talk about this! I didn't sign up for another round!"

His protest, however, was cut short by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching them.

A woman burst onto the scene with a panicked expression as she sprinted toward Arthur, clutching her chest to catch her breath.

"Please!" she gasped in desperation. "You have to help me!"

Arthur immediately calmed her down, holding up his hands in a placating gesture, and said, "Slow down. Take a breath and tell us what's the matter."

She looked at him with teary eyes before answering, "I really need help. My husband… he couldn't pay off our loan. The loan sharks took him—and they took my little girl away too!"

"Loan sharks?" Jada wondered, her expression turning serious. "Where are they holding them?"

"I don't know! I just know that they took them away!" The woman's voice quivered as she struggled to maintain her composure. "I ran here, hoping to find someone who could help!"

Jada was ready to jump in with a reassuring 'we'll help you,' but was again eclipsed by Arthur's calm demeanor.

"Where do you live?" he asked in a soothing tone.

"Just a few paces down. Please, I don't know what I'll do if they hurt them!"

William, bypassing his previous apprehensions, blurted out, "Why don't we just go there and get them back?"

Arthur looked at him, saying, "And do you even know where they are?"

William faltered, his bravado fading as he understood that the woman had no idea where her family was being held.

"Uh… well…" he hesitated.

"We'll help you, no matter what it takes!" Jada chimed in.

Arthur regarded these players. Despite how admirable it was to help strangers, their hearts were too reckless. They were willing to risk their lives for an unknown person, pursuing a cause that, by many standards, felt utterly precarious.

Deep down, he also found himself considering the implications of their decisions. He couldn't deny this route, as it would not only tarnish their ideas of him, but it could also allow him to truly gauge their level of strength.

"Alright," he finally said. "Lead the way…"

The woman nodded, wiping her tears as they began to walk. They made their way through the village, and Arthur couldn't help but inquire, "Why didn't you go to the police or the Jōnin office for help?"

The woman frowned, feeling shameful as she answered, "I couldn't. The loan was illegal. If the authorities found out, it would only make things worse for us. I was hoping someone… anyone would help. That's why I ran."

Arthur immediately understood her plight.

"We won't alert the authorities or make this matter public after we bring back your family," he declared. "You have my word."

Jada looked at Arthur with admiration. She wasn't sure at first if he was going to come. And because he had, it made her respect him even more. His willingness to shoulder the responsibility without any hidden motives was profoundly moving.

They continued walking until they reached a modest house, the woman gesturing for them to enter.

As soon as they stepped inside, Jada reactivated her Sharingan to scan the area. Arthur sensed this would be a crucial moment for piecing together information, so he exchanged glances with William.

"Stay alert," he demanded. "We need to gather as much information as we can."

"Right," William said, nodding, although he looked slightly daunted.

"Tell us anything you think could help us," Arthur prompted the woman as they entered her home.

It was never verbally stated, but he seemed to have instantly become the leader of this suddenly formed group.

Jada looked around, her eyes darting for any clues.

"My husband was the only one who took the loan," the woman began, rubbing her temples as she tried to remember the details. "When he left the village to find them, it took him two days just to give back."

"That means it would have to be a day's journey," Arthur deduced.

"I was gonna say that," William added.

Arthur narrowed his eye in contemplation, trying to elicit more clarity.

"What do you know about them?" he began. "Are they part of a larger group, or are they more independent?"

The woman shook her head, clearly distraught as she answered, "I—I don't know much. He never spoke to me about them. Just that we needed money to help us pay our debt."

"Do you know how much he owed?" William prompted.

"One hundred thousand ryō," she said. "Plus… interest."

William's eyes widened in shock at the figure. "That's a lot of money!" he exclaimed, turning to Arthur. "Sheesh, am I right?"

Arthur chose not to comment. While the loan amount was indeed large, he remained cognizant of his own financial background—one that would laugh at the notion of a hundred thousand ryō.

Had he always thought that way? Nay. Being a multimillionaire in the realm they found themselves navigating taught him interestingly, even if it was a simulated world.

As Jada was reviewing the room, she called out, "Hey! I found something!" She held up a crumpled piece of paper, drawing everyone's attention. "It's a receipt signed by your husband."

She approached, unfolding the paper carefully, and continued, "The amount matches exactly what you said."

With keen interest, Arthur leaned in closer to inspect the document. On it, the name of the lending company stood out clearly: "Hightower Loans."

He recognized their logo and felt a strange familiarity.

"Do you know this place?" William asked, peering over Arthur's shoulder.

"I know where they're located," he admitted.

"Really?" Jada inquired. "How'd a guy like you get involved with loan sharks?"

"I said I know where they are, not who they are…"

In hindsight, he actually did know who they were but hadn't wanted to reveal that information. Little did they know that this was a company he had dealt with during his time as the feudal lord's successor.

He had once alleviated a farmer from this very company, paying off a debt to ensure the man's land and crops continued to thrive. Because of his kind act, much of the country's land went undisturbed by shady investors.

To think something from his past like this would be useful for this situation.

"That's perfect!" Jada exclaimed before looking at the woman. "With Hoshikaze-sensei leading the way, we'll definitely bring your family back!"

The woman's hope renewed as tears welled in her eyes. She bowed deeply and then dropped to her knees, saying, "Thank you! Thank you! I don't know how to repay you!"

William beamed, feeling prideful for being recognized as heroes. Yet, in a moment that caught Jada off guard, Arthur lowered himself to the woman's level, meeting her gaze with sincerity.

"Never worship us like that," he announced. "This service is an obligation—helping those in need is just the right thing to do."

The woman lifted her head in surprise and stammered, "You… you're different."

Jada observed the entire exchange, her heart swelling with emotion. For the first time, she truly saw the light within Arthur. To her, he wasn't just an adventurer or a combatant driven by power; he was righteous and willing to step into the abyss to save others.

"Alright," he said, standing tall. "Let's move…"

With hopeful spirits, they set out on foot.

By the time they made it to the shady complex located in another village, Jada marveled at the structure before them. It was flanked by tall, uninviting walls and solid iron gates.

Arthur stood at the forefront, assessing their surroundings. His voice was measured as he said, "We don't want to disturb this village."

William, glancing at the building, furrowed his brow in confusion and asked, "What do you mean? All we have to do is bust open the door and rescue the family, right?"

Arthur turned to him and corrected, "Quite the opposite… Jada and you are Leaf ninjas, which means if word gets out about this, it could tarnish your village's reputation. Some might even twist the news to fit their own agendas. We'll need to resolve this quietly."

Jada had never considered those implications before, regarding how their actions could impact their village's image. In truth, Arthur simply didn't want the name "Hoshikaze" to continue spreading where it ought not.

"You're right," she admitted. "What's the plan, then?"

"There are security cameras and traps set up to alert any intruders," he revealed. "We'll have to be cautious if we want to avoid detection."

William looked around, his eyes flaring with surprise.

"Security cameras?" he wondered in disbelief. He took a moment to truly look at the building and finally spotted one in the corner. "Hey! How are you able to see all of this with that blindfold on?"

"I'll disrupt their security first," Arthur stated, ignoring the question. "You two will sneak in through the back entrance. Once I've verified that you're safely inside, I'll create a diversion by raising the alarm. That should gather the armed men in the main room."

William turned to look at the building again. Incredulity got the better of him once more as he interjected, "Armed men? Just how do you know all of this?!"

But by the time he turned back to seek an answer, Arthur had already vanished. Jada herself was already walking away, determined to scout out an entry point.

"Hey, wait for me, Jada!" he yelled after her.

The two stealthily walked around the complex, keeping low to the ground. Jada's Sharingan activated, scanning for any signs of security measures.

"Hoshikaze-sensei was right," she reminded him, glancing back. "There are far too many cameras... This really is a shady operation."

"Right, but I mean—armed men?" William sighed. "Think they're shinobi or just mercenaries?"

"Beats me," Jada urged. "But stick close to me."

As they rounded the side of the building, they spotted a narrow alley that hugged the structure. Jada motioned for William to follow closely as they used the shadows and approached an unguarded back door.

William peered nervously at it and asked, "What do we do if it's locked?" Jada looked at him with doubt before rolling her eyes. "Sorry, I forgot."

Using her Sharingan, she plucked a bobby pin from her hair and inserted it through the keyhole.

"Just give me one…" Her fingers cautiously moved at the most subtle mechanics before she exclaimed, "Got it!" The lock clicked open, and the door creaked ajar.

"Nice work!" William exclaimed, impressed. "Was the Sharingan always able to let you do that?"

Jada reminded him with a grin that she was full of surprises.

With that, they slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind them.

The room they entered was fully lit, filled with boxes and crates, each marked with labels indicating various illicit goods. Her Sharingan scanned the area, perusing each corner.

"We should be able to hide here," she whispered, moving slowly as she assessed their surroundings.

William nodded. He glanced around, attempting to catalog any potential threats.

"What now?" he wondered.

"We wait, of course," she answered. "At least until Hoshikaze-sensei sets off the alarm."

William was starting to become weary of her calling Arthur that.