As hours passed in the confines of deliberation, the discussions became talks of reports covering multiple aspects of governance and security.
Arthur remained at the forefront, listening to vital information from the council. Most of what he heard, however, was already known thanks to having always kept his eyes in this area.
Occasional prying questions about his whereabouts were mentioned, to which he carefully answered so as not to give himself away. This caused the council members to refrain from pressing too hard, having witnessed how things had already turned out.
"They wish to know where you were during your disappearance," Hiromu finally commented as the meeting began to wind down.
It was truly a mystery to most of them, but Arthur was not going to yield.
"Let them speculate," he shrugged, no longer interested. "It's of no concern to me. We have more pressing issues to worry about."
Everyone eventually left, leaving him alone. He still needed to recover.
✟
Outside, the sun began to set.
Arthur finally stood up and walked toward the window as his mind reflected on his journey.
Things were stitched together by faith, as if each experience had burned itself into his soul while forging him anew through his many trials.
It truly had felt surreal to be in this place, the ninja world—a realm where everything was designed for adventure. But the conflicts were not worth it. That, and the challenges that tested the very essence of everyone who made mistakes.
'I wonder how long it's been on earth…'
The journey started with Arthur merely intrigued by Naruto, unsure of his significance amidst the grand narrative.
With every revelation, with every battle fought, he forged a stern belief in his place in this world.
The forest he awoken in. Oh, how he was unjustifiably sent to prison.
Arthur then remembered his first clash with Sasuke Uchiha. That fight had only emphasized the continuous threads connecting past battles to later encounters.
Every one of them was giving him purpose.
No matter how vibrant things looked in this world, it only served as a reminder that he was very much alive, even if part of his existence felt like a dream at times.
Thankfully, this wasn't a dream. Neither had he arrived here blinded by ignorance.
No, Arthur was always resolute, steeled by experience, and sharpened by the threats that sought to purge his existence in the ninja world. Those same threats had morphed him into the shinobi he needed to become.
It didn't matter who they were—the Akatsuki, Orochimaru, or the constant web of deception among those from earth. All of them compelled him to survive through the only one he believed in: Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior.
Arthur closed his eyes to further recall those recent events.
All he could hear were the gentle cadences of hymns, the foundation provided by his parents, and the teachings that had shaped him into the man he was today.
But what did it mean to be a hero? To wield strength and protect others in another world?
Arthur didn't want to protect anyone. Neither did he want to become a hero of the world.
He was in a place filled with an amalgamation of bright colours, vivid battles, and characters that leaped from the pages of a long-forgotten story. The last thing he wanted to be was to help anyone.
No, what he needed to do was transcend self-interest.
Settling into the moment, his thoughts traversed back to the experiences and choices that had defined that belief.
He remembered the day he discovered chakra. Unlike those before him, he acquired it while in a prison cell while he was bound by chains.
Chakra was not gained by thinking that he could depend on the world and become its champion.
Heroes cannot possibly thrive in this world.
Look at Sasuke, who lost his clan. Even Nagato, who named himself after the very thing he wanted everyone to feel.
Arthur, at the end of the day, was made to be a villain. The main difference between him and them was that he was never going to change.
The transition from simply being a participant to someone who could rival even those regarded as prodigies had made that turning point for him clear.
Like that time he deflected Sasuke's Chidori—which only a few could do. Then there was the moment he slaughtered Kiba Inuzuka.
Those were just one of many accolades he had accomplished. And regardless of what he did, he never retreated out of fear.
Jada had a hopeful spirit, yet she and Arthur had different views. Margaret was a challenge in her own right due to her literal hotheadedness. Then there was Jasper, whose arrogance sparked irritation.
What about William and Alice? The latter was a tad precarious with unknown motivations. Whoever she was, there was no denying her prowess as a woman wrestling with him. As for William, he seemed to be a lost cause until things began to stir.
But the strangest one of them all was still Alexander. He was undoubtedly part of this experiment, gaining who knows what sort of perks and privileges.
Did he even know if Arthur was alive?
Regardless, if neither of them was for Arthur, then they were against him.
As he stood in the office, he found clarity in knowing that every interaction added chapters to his evolving story. Friends or foes, enemies or allies—each one he met would help his fate in ways he couldn't predict on his own.
It was that same faith that had guided him through adversity during moments of doubts. It was that same faith that got him out of the Leaf Village. It was also that same faith that allowed him to create his own tournament to grow stronger.
Perhaps he was miles away from the end; he remained hopeful since the beginning.
Arthur turned his thoughts inwardly, recalling the prophecy delivered by the pastor in a dream he once had here.
To think it meant coming to this unknown world.
'Flying raijin…'
Where Arthur found himself now was in a lone forest.
Being here, alone, would help him understand where he was headed in this world. Or rather, where he needed to continue heading.
When he found a brook, he released his transformation to look at himself. He was still young, like he was twelve or thirteen. And his eyes, which weren't his, were just another reminder of who he was turning into.
Either way, it didn't matter how many times he modified himself. Inside, he was still Arthur Bennett.
Walking away deeper into the forest, he found the trees beginning to part ways. A bit further down and he was now in an open land filled with measured grass and a few craters that had formed into hilltops.
This was where he had fought Jada.
The land had recovered for the most part, but things felt as if it had happened yesterday.
Through the trials of wandering this world, his faith was one of his greatest weapons. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to survive that encounter.
Every battle was fought through faith. That was God's design throughout the victories and the defeats.
Some of Arthur's choices were borne from misunderstanding. Others from unprecedented betrayal. That was why he had no real allies in this world.
Sure, there were those who admired him—like Lars. But there were also those who were more adept at navigating this world than he was.
Regardless of whether they were rich like Jasper, knowledgeable like William, or simply bred like Alexander, Arthur would still never yield.
What about Jada?
To think their strife was mainly caused because he had failed to hide a couple of bodies.
But who knows?
Everyone had their own grand narratives to play. Arthur's just revolved around darkness.
The enemies he would continue facing and the allies he could potentially forge were only fragments of a larger tale—a story of redemption, belief, and the ever-revolving battles amidst darkness.
"The helpless call to him, and he answers. He saves them from all their troubles. Psalms 34: 6-8…"