Never Change
"How does Lars move so fast?" she asked. "I can't see him, daddy."
Arthur had a feeling the cameras wouldn't be able to pick up on Lars's speed. Nonetheless, he explained to her how that man had honed his reflexes and techniques over years of training.
"Speed is about more than just physical ability; it's also about technique and knowing when to react."
With a huff, Koko swung herself around, settling back.
"I'd rather watch the man with the blindfold on," she decided boldly.
She was referring to Hoshikaze, who was truly Arthur in disguise. As flattering as the comment was, her visual training required her to learn from others so she could counter them one day.
"That man is not your concern," he replied coolly.
Koko dramatically sighed, peering through the flickering shadows at the screen, and said, "Fine, but I think he's super."
As the action escalated in the tournament, Arthur's responsibilities needed attention. He turned around, preparing to leave the hotel room.
"Where are you going, daddy?" Koko called out, tilting her head in genuine concern.
Arthur glanced down at her and said, "I've got business in another country. Two countries, to be exact."
The calmness in his tone assured her that while it was important, he would surely be back. That also meant that she was going to learn everything she could before his return.
During the grand tournament he held, Arthur had not been idle.
With his flying raijin marks dispersed across locations, he had been keeping an eye on significant happenings in the world.
What grabbed his attention right now was the return of the Sound Ninja Four to Orochimaru's main hideout. He watched them relay their report on their failure to enter the Leaf Village due to various encounters with Anbu.
Orochimaru's insatiable hunger for power did not wane even after failing to invade the Leaf and have Tsunade heal him. He yearned for the Uchiha boy, Sasuke, and his judgment was being clouded because his arms had been sealed by William.
Arthur watched as Orochimaru confronted the Sound Four with disdain.
"Where is Sasuke?!" Orochimaru demanded with venom in his tone. "Send Kimimaro; I don't care how you bring him to me!"
Kabuto, being in the room, felt the weight of his lord's ire. He remained calm and level-headed.
"If you send Kimimaro, you risk losing him early. He's barely hanging on as it is. If he pushes himself too far, he could die before reaching the Leaf Village."
"Severe consequences," Orochimaru panted to the four ninjas. "Return to me with Sasuke's body, or do not return at all."
Arthur could almost feel the ninjas' anxiety as they accepted their fate under the weight of Orochimaru's threats. Fear outweighed reason, a guiding principle that seemed all too familiar in the shinobi world.
Retrieving his attention from the flying raijin marks, he stepped out of the room.
"I'll see you later, daddy!"
Now outside in the forest, he reflected on the notable events of the "Sasuke Recovery" arc.
The Sasuke Recovery Mission was a pivotal arc in the Naruto series, setting the stage for the confrontation between the two main characters.
It was also considered the best arc, if not one of the best, in the entire franchise.
It began with Sasuke feeling inadequate in light of his older brother Itachi's taunts and the rise of Naruto, whom he perceived as surpassing him.
In a desperate bid for power to avenge his clan, he ultimately decided to leave the Leaf Village and join forces with Orochimaru, forsaking his teammates. This decision, driven by pain and resentment, set the stage for a dramatic conflict between him and the Sound Ninja Four.
The group somehow managed to enter the village unnoticed and even fight Sasuke, tempting him to seek power with Orochimaru. Their entire skirmish went unnoticed, which many fans of the series found daunting.
As Sasuke prepared to leave the village, he was confronted by Sakura, who desperately tried to convince him not to go. She confessed her love for him, expressing her fear of what lay ahead.
However, Sasuke refused her pleas, revealing the depth of his emotional struggle. When she threatened to alert the village guards, he moved quickly to knock her out, ensuring that his departure went uninterrupted.
This moment underscored Sasuke's internal conflict: his desire for revenge led him to sever the bonds that tied him to his allies—Kakashi included.
In the meantime, a rescue team was formed, led by Shikamaru Nara and comprising Naruto Uzumaki, Kiba Inuzuka, Chōji Akimichi, and Neji Hyūga.
They were motivated by the promise to Sakura that they would do everything in their power to bring Sasuke back.
Their journey led them to confront the Sound Four, who served as Sasuke's escorts to Orochimaru. Each member of the rescue team faced off against a member of the Sound Four, showcasing their growth and abilities in a series of battles.
Chōji's confrontation with Jirōbō was highlighted as he used the Akimichi clan's special pills to increase his power drastically, culminating in a moment where he sacrificed his health to defeat his opponent.
Neji battled Kidōmaru next, employing his Byakugan and Gentle Fist techniques to exploit Kidōmaru's weaknesses.
The nature of each fight not only tested the abilities of the Leaf ninjas but also emphasized various themes as they strove towards a common goal. However, not all fights went smoothly.
Kiba and Shikamaru faced overwhelming odds against their respective foes, forcing them into precarious situations where teamwork became their lifeline.
Had it not been for the arrival of Gaara and his siblings, those two would have most certainly perished.
Kimimaro wound up joining the mission to retrieve Sasuke, prompting Naruto to chase after him. Their fight was eventually stopped by Rock Lee, who had made a successful recovery at the time.
Both he and Naruto would have likely been slaughtered had it not been for Gaara's arrival prior to Sasuke's awakening.
The narrative built to a climax when Naruto finally confronted Sasuke.
Their battle, which took place in a famous area known as the "Valley of the End," was the culmination of all their shared experiences and struggles.
In an emotionally charged fight, both characters unleashed their signature techniques: Sasuke's Chidori and Naruto's Rasengan. The battle was fierce, with both ninjas tapping into higher levels of power and abilities.
Ultimately, their clash represented the conflicting philosophies between them—Sasuke's desire for revenge and Naruto's belief in the bonds of friendship.
When things ended in their final confrontation, Sasuke emerged victorious but chose not to kill Naruto, illustrating his unwillingness to follow Itachi's hopes of having him kill his best friend to gain power.
Fans, however, would argue that it was because he still had some semblance of a bond left, thus sparing Naruto.
In the aftermath, the mission to retrieve Sasuke failed, leading to emotional turmoil among the members of the rescue team.
Shikamaru grappled with the weight of their defeat, questioning his own capabilities, while Naruto was left to nurse his injuries and promised to continue fighting for Sasuke's sake.
Characters processed their losses and vowed to train harder, setting the stage for the next encounters with both their own challenges and the looming threat of organizations like Akatsuki.
The Sasuke Recovery Mission arc served as a catalyst for the growth of multiple characters, defining their paths and relationships. Sasuke's choice to embrace darkness and Naruto's resolve to bring him back spoke to the story's broader themes and the complexities of vengeance.
Arthur, remembering all these things, understood that such events couldn't unfold again.
How could they when characters like Shikamaru and Kiba were dead?
Yet Arthur's own ambitions superseded death. He knew that he had to get the Uchiha to leave the village. And he knew exactly what he had to do.
'Flying raijin…'
He arrived at the outskirts of Orochimaru's hidden hideout. The air itself was never one he enjoyed. It was always filled with a sense of foreboding.
'Smoked jutsu…'
After concealing himself in smoke, he glided through the entrance.
A myriad of silhouettes swayed in his peripheral vision, but he remained undeterred.
He slipped through several layers of the hideout, looking for an essential prize worth the risk: the "Mind Awakening Pills," a concoction that held the potential to elevate one's curse mark to the next level.
But there was no denying the toll it extracted—a descent into death as the cursed mark's contamination rate incessantly spiraled. Orochimaru was as sinister as they came, contemplating ways to siphon power from unsuspecting ninjas, even if it meant that a wrong step would kill them altogether.
Pausing at the entrance to a chamber, Arthur caught sight of the vials lining the shelves. They were unmistakable, those cursed pills. He recognized them by their black colour.
In swift succession, he gathered one vial into his pouch.
Without seeking to waste any time, he then cloaked himself with the chakra disguise technique and the transformation technique.
His image dissolved, morphing into a new identity—silver hair cascading down to his neck, a black robe billowing around him, and a rope adorned in the signature shade of the Sound shinobi tied around his waist.
Finally, as an added flourish, he inscribed a deceptive tattoo across his chest.
The real Arthur never had any tattoos, as it was bad to pierce the skin and mark it.
The current transformation left his features obscured, adding an air of mystery to the character he now embodied.
He then positioned himself at the exit of the hideout; it was time to seek his true quarry. He activated the flying raijin once again and appeared right in the sprawling expanse of the Leaf Village.
Upon arrival, he couldn't help but understand why so many reminisced at their return here.
However, unlike those whose destinies intertwined here, his was in prison. Arthur could never form real bonds with anyone in this world. Be it with players or otherwise.
Neither was he here to reminisce; he was here on a mission—a mission that could reshape the narrative.
He quickly activated his Tamashii, spreading his senses far and wide, reaching for any signs of Sasuke's presence.
It took only a moment before a vision crystallized in the distance: Sasuke stood by a riverbank, the evening sun illuminating him against the water.
And beside him was the familiar figure of Kakashi Hatake.
Judging from their appearance and movements, it looked as if Kakashi was being overprotective.
Another intriguing note was that Sasuke wasn't wearing his black outfit. During the time he and Arthur fought in the Land of Tea, he wasn't wearing it either.
Arthur wasted no time heading toward their direction. Drawing closer, he positioned himself behind a tree, allowing their conversation to unfold without drawing attention.
"Sasuke, you can't isolate yourself like this," Kakashi implored. "You need to connect with your teammates, your friends."
In response, Sasuke's demeanour shifted, exuding the unmistakable tension of unexploded ordnance.
"I don't need friends," he retorted, his voice clipped and edged with anger. "You should have known by now to stay out of my business."
The insight gleaned from their discussion brought a measure of contentment to Arthur. It was as he had suspected; the struggle for revenge was not lost on the Uchiha.
And judging from their conversation, Sasuke had indeed fought Naruto again. Perhaps it might not have been at the hospital, but at least that requirement was met.
The battle with Naruto they referred to felt convoluted, layered with hidden motivations, a need for dominance budding beneath defiance.
'I wonder which of them had the upper advantage,' Arthur thought as he listened in.
In the original story, the two seemed at equal odds. This time, however, Naruto had to have been stronger due to William's involvement.
"Maybe you're right," Kakashi encouraged, "but you know your behaviour will only push them further away… It's not too late for you to change."
Arthur understood one thing: Kakashi was beating a dead horse. Unless he dispelled the Evil Illusion Flattery technique, the Uchiha would never change!