One week later.
Seven days had passed since Arthur began his healing training. There were times when rain lashed the village, turning the training grounds into a muddy quagmire and forcing him to abandon his attempts at perfecting his healing techniques.
Yet, amidst the setbacks, he still grew. He had learned a variety of new medical ninjutsu.
One such acquisition was the Body Activation Jutsu. It paled in comparison to the technique being used with 'dark chakra,' offering a slower, less dramatic form of healing. But it had the benefit of requiring only a single hand sign and consuming little of his chakra.
It was also a practical option for him to use during his physical training.
But as great as that jutsu was, it by no means was perfect and had a price to use: intense concentration. If Arthur lost focus at any time during its release, the technique wouldn't continue healing.
Other than that, he learned the following medical techniques: Regenerative Healing Jutsu, Poison Extraction Jutsu, Chakra Dissection Blade, Cellular Activation Jutsu, and Cell Activation Jutsu.
That brought the total number of jutsu he knew to fourteen.
While all these new techniques didn't heal with lightning speed, they did push his body beyond its natural limits. Exhaustion set in slower, injuries mended at an accelerated rate, and his physical potential seemed to expand with every session.
His meetings with the others still occurred.
The other players felt increasingly bored due to their easy missions. Most of them were stuck rescuing kittens from trees or delivering lost puppies to their owners.
Arthur forced himself to offer fake smiles and head nods while his insides churned every day.
Team 7 had already departed on their mission to the Land of Mist with Alice and William, who managed to get approval from the village elders to accompany their squad. They justified their request with the suspicion that Tazuna's story didn't add up.
Regardless of what they were doing, it didn't stop Arthur's training.
When not perfecting his jutsu, he pushed his body to its absolute limit. His fighting style was a patchwork of kickboxing, wrestling, and a smattering of karate from his time on earth. It wasn't taijutsu, but it was good enough.
The Body Activation technique proved to be his biggest ally. He trained for hours on end with it, hardly ever feeling fatigued. One thousand push-ups became two thousand, two thousand became four thousand, and so on.
Day by day, his muscles screamed at him both before and after workouts. But thanks to the jutsu, the burning agony never spiraled into debilitating pain. He trained under the sun and through the night, barely breaking a sweat until hours had passed.
Every time he felt like collapsing, he activated the jutsu and grew stronger!
He also learned to manage his chakra reserves, pushing the activation point further with every session. His strikes gained weight beyond that of any normal person, his reflexes improved, and his body felt more agile.
He wasn't quite a deadly ninja like Madara or Might Guy—far from it—but a seed of power had taken root within him.
Today, on this particularly humid afternoon, Arthur lay sprawled on the training ground, utterly spent, covered in sweat.
The ground beneath him had practically turned into a puddle. His body ached in familiar places, knowing he had pushed past his limitations today, further than ever before. But he didn't stop, despite having depleted most of his chakra.
Sweat streamed down his face, blurring his vision as he got up to do more. His muscles screamed with each calisthenic movement, but he was determined never to be defeated. Why he kept going was because he was clawing his way toward something beyond his grasp.
Ignoring the discomfort, his mind locked in on his training.
Suddenly, a sensation bloomed within him—an unfamiliar feeling that spread through his body like electricity. It felt somehow intuitive, as if he were being rejuvenated without using any medical ninjutsu.
But how was this possible?
His movements became effortless, and his body reacted with unnatural speed and fluidity. It was as if his very muscles anticipated his next move, pushing him beyond his perceived limitations.
He felt power course through him, like an overwhelming strength he never knew he possessed. A thrown punch caused the air to whistle; a kick was powerful enough to stir a large dust cloud from the earth.
Instinctually, he knew what this was: 'The Eight Inner Gates.'
The "Eight Inner Gates" (also known as the Eight Gates) were pressure points that limited a person's chakra flow and physical potential. By undergoing intense training, individuals could learn to open these gates, with each one granting them more speed and strength.
Opening them, however, was a double-edged sword. The higher the number of gates activated, the more damage its user would receive to their body after it closed. And as for the last gate, the Eighth Gate, it threatened to kill the practitioner once it was finished.
Due to this danger, it is considered a forbidden taijutsu.
Each gate was located at a specific point in the body. Opening all of them at once was known as the Eight Gates Released Formation, which only two users have ever used: Might Guy and his father, Might Duy.
But Arthur felt something off.
Each gate was also stated to unlock a different coloured aura, which acted as a visual indicator of the immense power coursing through the user.
Arthur scanned his body both outwardly and internally, searching for the green glow associated with the First Gate. Instead, he was met with an unexpected sight: a soft, yellow aura emanating from his person.
Confusion filled his features. He had undoubtedly broken the mental inhibitions as described in the First Gate, the Gate of Opening, yet the result wasn't what he expected.
Then a memory surfaced: 'The Seven Heavenly Breaths…'
This was another powerful taijutsu technique exclusive to a certain filler arc. It also granted a significant power boost far greater than the Eight Inner Gates, referred to as 'Activations.'
A character named Shira from the Sand Village used it in a fight against Rock Lee. He managed to go toe-to-toe with Lee, who had opened one of the higher gates, while Shira himself hadn't gone past the Third Activation.
Arthur absolutely had to delve deeper into this new discovery. Exhausted, he shuffled back from the training ground and returned to the inner village.
After rounding the corner to the street his hotel was on, he unexpectedly saw Hiruzen by the stairs. Surprised, he gave a quick nod to show his respect.
"I wasn't expecting you, lord Third."
Hiruzen offered a benign smile, saying, "Forgive the intrusion, Arthur. I've been preoccupied with delegations lately, but I've been meaning to speak with you."
"Is it about my decision not to be a ninja?" Arthur inquired, half suspecting that to be the reason.
Hiruzen's tone became a tad saddened as he said, "Yes... About that, it surprised me once I heard the news."
"No regrets, lord Third," Arthur firmly replied. "It simply wasn't the right fit for me. And please, don't blame yourself for what happened during that night with Jasper and I. Besides, I wasn't comfortable with that team I was placed on anyway."
"I see…" Hiruzen sighed, "You understand that you have a responsibility toward that decision. You possess a lot of talent, Arthur. Talent that should be used for the village."
Arthur's heart pounded. The way Hiruzen stated that was peculiar. Had this old man been watching him train with that Crystal Ball jutsu technique?
Arthur himself had been careful to focus solely on taijutsu techniques during the day, saving the den of night for perfecting his medical techniques, just in case Hiruzen was attempting to pry into his affairs.
As if sensing Arthur's unease, Hiruzen continued, "Let me be blunt. I've witnessed your training on occasion. You have a raw talent in taijutsu that shouldn't go unexplored."
Arthur paused to wonder how much this old man truly knew. He decided to err on the side of caution.
"Arthur, is there anything that could change your mind? How about going on a mission to get a feel for the ninja world?"
Arthur, caught slightly off guard, considered the question. Venturing outside the village was like asking him to obtain more power. The monotony of his current drudgery had also grated on him. Perhaps a change of pace could be beneficial.
"Alright," Arthur admitted with a shrug. "If there's a mission you think might change my decision, I'm willing to try."
"Good," Hiruzen said with amusement. "Come by my office later today. I think I have a job that's tailor-made for your unique skillset."
"Oh…" Arthur spoke, raising his eyebrows. A mission suited for his skillset? That surely had to pique his interest. "Will do… lord Third…"
After parting ways with Hiruzen, Arthur walked inside his room. He casually rested on the only piece of furniture inside.
First was the unexpected unlocking of the Seven Heavenly Breaths technique, and now was the surprise encounter with Hiruzen.
Sinking deeper into thought, he closed his eyes.
The world of Naruto was a large one, filled with various lands and characters. Whether he was going to learn from them or exploit them, he wouldn't relinquish a worthwhile opportunity.
So he mentally reviewed the structure of ninja tasks.
Ninjas undertake missions assigned by their village leader. These missions are ranked based on difficulty and importance, with D-rank being the easiest and least risky and S-rank being the most difficult and confidential.
D-rank missions are often given to ninjas who have just graduated from the academy and involve minimal danger. These might include menial chores or errands.
C-rank missions are suitable for more experienced ninjas and may involve capturing animals, guarding people from minor threats, or basic investigations. There is a low chance of encountering other ninjas during these missions.
B-rank missions get more serious and involve combat. Examples include guarding VIPs, spying, or eliminating rogue ninjas. They are often given to experienced ninjas like Chūnins and some Jōnins.
A-rank missions are entrusted to elite Jōnin and involve critical matters for the village or country, such as protecting high-level officials or suppressing large enemy forces.
S-rank missions are the most dangerous missions. They are assigned only to the best of the best and involve political secrets, like assassinating VIPs or transporting classified documents that would otherwise be targeted by someone extremely dangerous.
Completing missions was a vital part of being a ninja, and the success or failure of a mission could have significant consequences.
Arthur could easily disregard whatever mission Hiruzen offered if it didn't serve his purpose. But knowing that Hokage, he would probably give him something like a C-rank escort mission.
Resting for a while, Arthur eventually rose from his thoughts. Now was a great time to find out what that mission entailed.
Exiting his apartment, he walked along the streets, arriving at the Hokage's building. He then ascended the steps until he reached the top and pushed open the doors.
Inside sat Hiruzen. The Hokage was behind a large desk with a lit pipe resting between his teeth. It was a scene straight out of the story—a surreal experience Arthur didn't quite care for.
"Ah, Arthur," Hiruzen said, gesturing for him to come closer. "Do come in. I trust you've had time to prepare."
Arthur walked toward the desk, saying, "I have..."
"Good." Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, taking a long drag from his pipe. "The mission you'll be going on is like a C-rank mission. I would like for you to travel to Takumi Village in the Land of Mist and deliver this trade agreement."
Takumi Village was known for its craftsmanship, particularly weaponry. They supplied weapons to ninja villages but faced repeated attacks during conflicts. As other villages developed their own skills, Takumi's weapons became more obsolete, leading to hard times and resentment toward the villages they once aided.
Decades from now, a group of skilled craftsmen would resent the Five Great Shinobi Villages and seek revenge.
What caught Arthur's attention was that the Hokage said, "like a C-rank mission."
"Is this a mission or a request?" Arthur asked.
"You catch on quickly," Hiruzen smiled. "Whether you choose to accept or not is up to you."
Arthur didn't waste any time responding: "I accept."