Asuma

They walked side by side, a comfortable silence settling between them.

There was hardly anything for Arthur to smile about, despite the bustle of the village around them. People who could experience what they were—merchants hawking their wares and children chasing each other through the streets—would drool to switch spots.

Arthur couldn't help but compare it to the isolation he went through while trapped in prison. Their walking together was only a reminder of the two different paths they were treading.

"So," Alex said, finally breaking the silence, "ya think Itachi and Kisame's still gonna come?"

Arthur's mind raced. He had forgotten about that part of the story.

After Orochimaru's attempt at invading the Leaf Village, the Akatsuki organization discovered the news. Pain, their leader, instructed one of their members to go and check the village's status as well as how Naruto was doing.

The member who chose to accept the task was Itachi, who was partnered with Kisame.

Now that Orochimaru hadn't attacked the village, the two were likely not going to show up. And if that doesn't happen, Sasuke wouldn't be reminded of how vast the difference between his and his brother's powers was.

Itachi, at the time, placed Sasuke under Tsukiyomi, a powerful genjutsu. Disregarding filler arcs, after Sasuke woke up, he was tempted into leaving the village to grow stronger than his brother.

These things were likely not going to happen anymore. Unless Orochimaru intervenes in some way,.

"Honestly," Arthur answered, "so much has changed that you guys are doing a great job at helping this world…"

"That's 'we're' doing," Alex corrected. "But I guess you're right. Everything seems stale lately that I haven't got anything to do except wait for the finals."

Arthur pretended to chuckle and said, "If this keeps up, we'll make it all the way to Shippuden before anything starts really happening."

Alex seemed disappointed by the idea.

They reached Alex's apartment building.

"We've walked all the way back here?" he announced, turning to face Arthur. "Listen, about what I said about two months ago…"

Arthur braced himself, expecting another attempt at probing him.

"About moving in together," Alex continued. "Maybe I was a bit hasty. Sharing an apartment wouldn't exactly be my ideal situation either."

Arthur blinked, surprised by the sudden change of subject.

"I'm listening," he said.

"Besides," Alex added, scratching the back of his head, "Jasper can be a bit messy sometimes. You wouldn't want to deal with that, would you?"

"No, I suppose not," Arthur laughed.

"Well," Alex said, extending a hand. "If ya ever change your mind about rooming with us, the offer still stands."

"Yeah… Thanks, Alex."

"It was good catching up, Arthur. Seriously, though, if you need anything at all, don't hesitate to ask. We're all friends, after all?"

Arthur grasped his hand with a firm grip, saying, "Of course, Alex. Friends."

They held their gaze for a moment longer, something unspoken passing between them. Then, with a final nod, Alex turned and walked away, disappearing into the streets.

Arthur watched him go, not at all feeling moved. He couldn't deny that a part of him wanted to save Alex if he was truly being manipulated. But for Arthur to succeed, he couldn't afford emotional attachments.

The midday rose high in the village as Arthur walked elsewhere.

His destination today was the Jōnin Station. Asuma Sarutobi was his target.

Asuma was written to have been a laid-back and easy-going character, often choosing not to get involved in things unless absolutely necessary.

He was a heavy smoker but would break the habit under certain circumstances, showing a softer side to his personality. Despite his blunt nature, he had a positive relationship with others.

Asuma also had a romantic side. He was close to Kurenai Yūhi, and it was heavily hinted that they were romantically involved, with her eventually becoming pregnant with his child during the three-year time-skip.

He was willing to go out of his way to make sure his students were content and fulfilled, and he showed a deep affection for Kurenai, even going so far as to buy her flowers and trying to protect her during battles.

His death, which should take place three years from now, had a significant impact on those around him, particularly Kurenai, who was deeply grief-stricken by his passing.

Arthur knew his character well.

Reaching the station, he was stopped by a guard at the front desk. The man, a Chūnin, scrutinized him for a moment before grudgingly nodding him through after hearing he was looking for Asuma.

Entering this area wasn't at all difficult. The only thing the guard had to verify was his Leaf Village headband, and the rest was easy.

Arthur navigated the corridors until he found Asuma inside a storage unit. The Jōnin was poring over a framed picture, looking melancholic. Yet his posture remained straight.

"Asuma-sensei," Arthur greeted.

Asuma looked up to see who had called him. There was a deep sigh because he had heard the words "sensei," following his name.

"Arthur, right?" he said, acknowledging his presence. "It's been a while."

Arthur nodded, his gaze lingering on the picture in Asuma's hand. It depicted none other than his former team: a frowning Shikamaru, shoulders relaxed, a smiling Ino, and a grinning Chōji, holding two fingers up. Asuma steadily returned the picture to a cabinet.

"I see you're doing well," Arthur said finally.

"Well enough," Asuma snorted, his eyes hardening slightly. "Despite the recent events... Which reminds me, I didn't see you at the funeral."

Funeral? Of course, there would be a service held for their respected clan head's children.

"I didn't receive any news about it," Arthur truthfully answered. "It's still a sad thing."

"The path of a ninja—especially among lost comrades. You're still a Genin, so never forget that, Arthur."

Arthur could neither relate to nor feel surprised by this character's words of advice.

"I understand," Arthur said, adopting a conciliatory tone. "A ninja's way isn't always fun and games. Missions are taken where their lives are on the line."

"That's right," Asuma agreed. Yet there was still a sense of bitterness in his tone. "Now, what can I do for you?"

"I've actually been away from the village and haven't had the time to know how the Nara and Yamanaka clans are handling the… loss."

Asuma's gaze turned back to the cabinet.

"They're devastated, of course," he said, his voice softer now. "The Nara clan, along with the Yamanaka, have launched a joint investigation into the Forest of Death. It seems their curiosity hasn't been quelled since a rogue ninja named Orochimaru was involved."

Arthur hadn't expected such a response and a focused investigation during the Exams.

A month ago, when he slew those two, he had banked on the Nara and Yamanaka, prioritizing mourning over suspicion. Hence, he was here now to make sure he was in the clear.

He had underestimated their tenacity. But how could he expect this to happen when everyone signed a death waver?

"An investigation, huh?" he said, trying to sound casual. "Well, I'm sure this Orochimaru fellow had something to do with it."

Asuma met his gaze and said, "Perhaps, but we won't know for certain until they've finished."

His voice trailed off, but the message was clear. Asuma wouldn't actively pursue Orochimaru himself, not without concrete proof that he was involved. But he wouldn't hesitate to expose anything if inconsistencies arose.

Arthur remained calm. He needed to tread carefully to maintain the façade of a loyal Leaf ninja until the time came to rid this world of more of them.

"I understand, Asuma-sensei," he said respectfully. "I'll help if the investigation requires it, seeing as how I was also part of the Exam."

"Good," he said, nodding dismissively. "If that's all you have, then you'd best be on your way. Duty calls, and all that."

Arthur straightened. His inquiry about the deaths of Ino and Shikamaru wasn't the only reason he came here.

"There's one more thing, Asuma-sensei."

Asuma raised an eyebrow to ask, "What is it?"

"Training," Arthur said, pressing forward. "If you have some time, I would be honoured to receive some training from you."

Surprise, mixed with curiosity, crossed Asuma's face. Then it softened into a grudging respect.

He believed Arthur to be an upright fellow, a natural individual who had always shown sympathy toward others. Despite Arthur having beaten his own student, casting this request aside wouldn't serve the village's best interests.

Add that Asuma was the third Hokage's son, and it was reasonable why he of all Jōnin was being asked.

"Well," Asuma said slowly, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "As it happens, I don't have any missions assigned today. And it wouldn't hurt to have a refresher on the basics, even for a strong Genin like yourself."

Arthur knew he wouldn't be denied. Even if he was, there were hundreds of ways to train and dozens of other characters he could try to exploit.

"Great!" Arthur replied, masking his eagerness. "Let's head to the training ground east of the village."

Asuma nodded, his old grin returning, and said, "Slow down there, kid. There's still something I gotta do first. Meet me there in an hour. We'll see if you've gotten rusty since your match with Chōji."

Arthur left the storage unit and made his way to the only training grounds on the east side.

This area wasn't as secluded as the ones he ventured into. It had logs perched up from the ground and ninja tools left behind by others.

After an hour had passed with him lightly warming up, Asuma finally arrived.

"Alright, Arthur," he said, wiping his brow. "What would you like to focus on?"

Arthur had already formulated a plan. He was no fool; attempting to learn straightforward techniques from Asuma would be a waste.

He feigned a thoughtful expression, running his hand through his hair. He began, saying, "There's an advanced technique I've been considering. Something I came across during my time outside of the village."

Asuma perked up at that and said, "An advanced technique, you say? Tell me about it."

Arthur launched into a carefully crafted description of a ninja dressed like a monk that used this technique. He threw in terms like "chakra control" and "precise hand signs" to lend the technique an air of legitimacy.

Asuma listened intently, nodding occasionally. Finally, when Arthur finished, a sly grin spread across Asuma's face.

He laughed, saying, "Aha. You must have come across my old friend, Chiriku."

Chiriku was a formidable ninja monk. He served as both a guardian for the Land of Fire's leader and the head monk of the Fire Temple, a place known for its skilled monks.

He was once part of a group of elite guardians alongside Asuma, but when some members attempted a takeover, he and Asuma fought back, leaving them as the only survivors.

Despite his past battles, Chiriku remained calm and collected. He was a man of strong morals who wouldn't hesitate to fight for what was right.

"I believe I know the technique you're referring to," Asuma said. "It's called the Raigo: Thousand Hand Strike."

Bingo. Exactly the reaction Arthur had hoped for.

This technique was Fire Temple's ultimate technique that summoned the Thousand-Armed Kannon, a protective spirit fueled by the user's "Gift of the Hermit Group" chakra. While normally peaceful, the spirit becomes a monstrous devil when the user feels anger.

"Indeed?" Arthur replied, feigning surprise. "The Raigo: Thousand Hand Strike... It sounds strong. Perhaps you could teach it to me."

Asuma stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "It's a very powerful jutsu, Arthur... It requires not only exceptional chakra control but also a special type of chakra mainly found at the Fire Temple."

Arthur's disappointment was quickly masked. He knew learning the actual technique was a long shot. However, what he needed was to understand the fundamentals.

Heading to the Fire Temple was something for later on.

"Of course," Arthur said, adopting a conceding tone. "I get that it's not possible for me to learn right this second, but maybe you could instruct me on the principles and the underlying chakra flow."

Asuma studied his fake eagerness for a moment before answering, "There's always something to learn… Alright, Arthur, we'll delve into the theory of the Raigo: Thousand Hand Strike. But be warned, it's a complex technique. It might take some time to grasp even the basics."

Arthur gave a false smile. Time was something he had plenty of.

The day went by, filled with learning the special hand sign and means of executing the technique.

Asuma's explanations were quite simple. All one needed to do was form the monk's hand sign and harness the Gift of the Hermit Group's chakra outward until the spirit manifested.

As the sun started to go down, Arthur left with full knowledge of how to perform the technique. He hadn't learned how to execute it entirely, but he had taken a crucial step towards understanding its intricacies.

And that, in his mind, was a victory.

Asuma appeared to have taken a liking to Arthur himself. How could this character not, when Arthur knew so much about him?

With his acting skills, he could manipulate any character he chose.