Consciousness

The Yamanaka clan had long been revered for their exceptional mind techniques, hence why most of their abilities were considered secret. Now that same ability, the ability to forge a direct mental bridge with another's mind, was now in Arthur's possession.

The technique wasn't merely about manipulation; it was about connection, and he understood that the ramifications of perfecting the art could be monumental. Now what he needed to do was test it.

Since revealing himself to be alive would raise questions better left unanswered, he wouldn't test this newfound skill amongst the villagers. Too many eyes wandered the streets of arguably one of the most fortified villages—that's not considering plot devices.

He needed a subject. After a moment of contemplation, his resolve solidified.

Returning the scroll, he teleported out of the village using the flying raijin technique. In mere instants, he returned to the Water Country. Anything he did here would be a lot quieter than in the Fire Country.

And the chances of encountering a wandering passerby were greater since he understood his country's layout better than most.

What he had here was an opportunity to test almost anything he desired with fewer risks.

He ventured along the sandy landscape until a figure caught his eye: a man, seemingly lost in thought as he walked along the edge of a forest.

With stealth and precision, Arthur shadowed him, staying hidden before taking swift action. Performing the correct hand sign, some chakra coalesced around his very mind, and before the man knew it, a sharp pain darted through his consciousness.

His world faded to black.

Moments later, the unsuspecting passerby awoke—but to an entirely different scene. He found himself sprawled upon a barren, desolate wasteland, the sun burning overhead.

Panic began its ascent through his veins as he took in the vast emptiness surrounding him. All he could see were the reflections of shimmering heat warping the horizon.

"What the heck?" he muttered under his breath. "Where am I?"

Suddenly, Arthur stepped forward, standing only a few feet away. He wasn't visible to the man, having expertly placed him under a simple genjutsu.

Intrigue whispered through Arthur, watching as the man continued to panic.

A moment passed, and apprehension morphed into instability as the man's breath hitched in his throat. He steadied himself, and the idea of the desert began to sink into him, wrapping around his thoughts like liana vines constricting a tree.

Then, as if on cue, he crumbled to the sandy floor, his consciousness folding in upon itself, fading to nothing.

In the realm of illusions, the landscape twisted and distorted, shifting from barren dunes to grasslands adorned with flowers once more. The breeze returned, but in truth, it had never left—the man simply couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't.

Arthur walked away from his unsuspecting host. He had a fascinating juxtaposition of the experiment he was conducting.

The man, lost still within the depths of his experience, would eventually wake up to see the grassy meadows.

Arthur, however, was displeased. He knew he needed a stronger subject, for a mere passerby had proven to be too weak. Still, even in his genjutsu, he questioned: Was the Psycho Mind Transmission technique even necessary when one could seize control in a more direct way?

Nonetheless, he had an urge to learn, grow, and test his limits. The gnawing need for enhancement, for something bigger than himself, pushed him onward.

Arthur teleported again, this time to the Mist Village.

As the familiar sensation of being pulled through dimensions subsided, he stood amidst thick fog.

He had hardly ever traversed here on account that this was one of the five great villages. Their ninjas were a lot more clever. Albeit, this was still his hidden village, one in which he could command Mei Terumi, their Mizukage, at any time if he pleased.

He found a corner of the academy where young students trained, throwing kunai and practicing hand signs in the thin air. He crouched behind an outer wall, scrutinizing their forms, hoping for a promising candidate.

After several minutes, he caught sight of a particularly gifted boy; his chakra presence was robust, clearly showing his innate potential.

Arthur didn't recognize him. Settling on his target, he prepared himself mentally like a hunter, waiting patiently for the right moment to strike.

When class ended, the students dispersed, and Arthur followed the boy from a distance until they approached a secluded area. There, the opportunity arose as the boy's curiosity got the better of him; stepping a little farther from the beaten path, he was vulnerable and alone.

With a swift motion and little more than a breath, Arthur approached.

A single, precise strike to the back of the head, and the boy succumbed to the darkness. His body slumped against a bush.

Using the flying raijin, he then transported the young boy and himself to a remote clearing beyond the village fringes. Once there, he cast a genjutsu that cloaked the clearing.

He watched as the boy stirred, awakening in confusion and fear. His wide eyes scanned the surroundings, mingling the greenery with wild imaginings, but it all felt unreal, like a dream.

Arthur proceeded. With a focused mind, he reached into the recesses of his training, channeling chakra deep within himself as he initiated the Psycho Mind Transmission technique.

He needed the boy's essence to connect, intertwining their thoughts, allowing a bridge of mental fortitude to link together.

Arthur could feel it as palpable energy, pulsating between the two of them. It was like gossamer threads pulling taut.

And how could this mere boy, who wasn't even a Genin, compare to the likes of Arthur's might?

The boy's eyes glazed over, revealing confusion that turned quickly into a haze. As he fell into a state of tranquility, Arthur stretched his awareness.

Now came the tricky part. When performing this technique, it was like a swimmer diving into an expansive ocean. The thoughts of the boy began to surface, ineffable streams flowing into Arthur's own mind.

"Gosh, where am I?' The boy's thoughts spilled out.

Next, a barrage of imaginings cascaded all around like diamonds under the sun. There were layers of memories, fleeting images of friends, of laughter, and of playful pursuits. Everything unfolded like a cinematic reel.

Unlike the first man with little chakra, this boy was like an open book, allowing Arthur to read every page in mere seconds.

Yet something felt inherently wrong. Arthur grasped for control, urging his internal connection to deepen further. He added more chakra and felt it flow through him as he pierced deeper into the boy's mind.

Impressions shifted into sharper clarity—the boy's fears, his dreams—flashes of a tormenting thundercloud that loomed over him. Despite all this, something was still wrong.

This was not the Psycho Mind Transmission technique.

Arthur suddenly found himself veering away from the telepathic culmination he sought. What transpired next was something entirely different: vivid, colourful bursts of the boy's "life" unfolding like a story draped across a movie screen.

It was an unexpected revelation, but he understood something the more this technique commenced.

Where thoughts should have been dispersed, figures morphed, and soft pastel scenes unfolded with clashing urgency—moments of little significance carved persistently into silence.

The boy's heartbreak from a lost pet. Scrapped plans of getting to the top of the academy. Innocent puzzles swirling amidst clouds of impending responsibility. It was quite a lot for Arthur to keep up with.

He pulled back, feeling a strange sensation wash over him as clarity sank in—he had not executed the Psycho Mind Transmission technique at all; he had instead performed the technique known as "Eye Mind Reading," an art that is comparable but entirely unique.

It was also a technique only ever used by one character named "Hanare." She was also a filler character.

From what Arthur knew about her, it was that she was a skilled kunoichi from Jōmae Village. Her past was never expanded on, and her motivations were often difficult to distinguish.

Despite her solitary nature, she possessed a deep sense of loyalty and a willingness to sacrifice for those she cared about.

Three years from now, she would be driven by a desire to gather information and protect her village. As such, she would attempt an infiltration of the Leaf Village. Her espionage skills and resolve are what made her a meaningful adversary to those who challenged her.

However, her encounter with Kakashi Hatake led to a surprising turn of events. Kakashi's kindness and understanding touched her heart, awakening feelings she had long suppressed.

Their interactions revealed a softer side to her character, a vulnerability she had carefully concealed. Despite her efforts to remain detached, she eventually found herself drawn to Kakashi, developing romantic feelings for him.

The revelation of her true identity and her role as a spy created a complex situation. Torn between loyalty to her village and her growing affection for Kakashi, she faced a difficult choice.

Ultimately, her love for the Leaf Village prevailed, leading her to sacrifice her own well-being for the sake of the village she had come to call home.

Hanare's story was one many fans of the series felt should have expanded on. Mainly due to the fact Kakashi, a well-favourite character, now had potential for a romantic interest. Her journey from a solitary spy to a dedicated member of the Leaf Village community also proved that the two could have been a couple.

Perhaps in this world, they could meet again and possibly become lovers. But did Arthur bother with such trivial matters as love interests? Not even close.

Annoyance flared momentarily before acceptance settled warmly within him. The Eye Mind Reading technique was not as potent as the former.

'Insight lost, but the lesson learned,' Arthur internally sighed.

He allowed the boy's memories to fade back into the depths of his subconscious as he dispelled the genjutsu.

The grassy realm of the clearing melted back while the colours reconnected with significance.

He gazed down at the boy, still entranced by the recesses of sleep. It was almost as if a scroll the boy's mind had been tucked away neatly under the veneer of his consciousness.

Arthur had seen clearly into a mind, woven moments into visions. The skill he had originally craved was still just out of reach, but this could suffice for now.

With the last reserves of chakra swirling within him, stained by exhaustion, he returned the boy exactly where he knew he resided. Afterwards, he decided to return home.

Back within his hotel room, he paused, contemplating his experiences.

The lessons learned today were minor stepping stones. They wouldn't really help build the bridge required to grapple with others. Even if he had veered off course, he knew he was a little closer than before.

Meetings with political heads, documents being signed left and right, and a newly acquired technique. Today was well spent.

By the time he arose, it was early in the morning. Sleep was a beneficial thing, but he needed to be vigilant at all times. Not because he was trapped in this world and fending for his life at every corner, but because time was of the essence.

Considering that things were progressing far faster than expected, his new target for today was one other than Sasuke.

Granted, he couldn't contact that Uchiha. The other players were more or less monitoring the main characters with diligence. Yet that didn't mean Arthur couldn't influence things from the shadows like he always has.

To ensure that the Uchiha fell in line, Arthur needed to interact with one out of the two characters the boy was obsessed with. And one of those characters just so happened to also be obsessed with the Uchiha.

Who was Arthur not to give that character a little helping hand?

Settling his mind to do more than just push the story, he desired something even more, something that would help boost his list of arsenals.