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.
Apart from his training, his meetings with the others still occurred.
Everyone 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 had forced fake smiles and head nods while his insides churned every day.
As for Naruto, 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.
Supposedly, 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.
The Body Activation technique proved to be his biggest ally. He trained for hours on end with it, hardly ever feeling fatigued. One thousand pushups 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 agony never spiraled into any real pain.
That had allowed him to train under the sun or through the night without barely breaking a sweat until hours had passed. And every time he felt like collapsing, he activated the jutsu and grew stronger!
He also learned to manage his chakra reserves by pushing the activation point further with every session. His strikes had gained weight beyond that of any normal person, his reflexes improved, and his body felt more agile.
While he wasn't quite a deadly ninja like Might Guy, a seed of power was gradually taking root.
Today, on this humid afternoon, Arthur lay sprawled on the training ground, covered in sweat.
The ground beneath him had practically turned into a puddle and his body ached in familiar places. But he didn't want to stop, despite having already depleted most of his chakra.
Sweat blurred his vision as he got up to do more.
Suddenly, an electric sensation bloomed within him. It felt somehow intuitive, as if he were being rejuvenated without using any medical ninjutsu.
But how was this possible?
When he went to go do calisthenics, his movements became effortless, and his body reacted with unnatural fluidity. It was as if his very muscles anticipated his next move by pushing him beyond his perceived limitations.
A thrown punch caused the air to whistle; and 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 was considered a forbidden taijutsu technique.
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 one user (in this time period) had ever used: Might Duy, Might Guy's father.
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.
But when he scanned his body to search for the green glow associated with the First Gate, he was instead met with an unexpected sight: a yellow aura emanating from his person.
A memory quickly surfaced: 'This is… the Seven Heavenly Breaths…'
The Seven Heavenly Breaths was another 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.
"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?"
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. 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." Then he looked toward the village skyline. "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. Peculiar enough to make Arthur wonder if the Hokage had 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."
'So he doesn't know. Good..'
"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," he 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…" 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 and casually rested on the only piece of furniture.
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.
Since the ninja world was filled with various opportunities, he had to remember the structures of a ninja's tasks.
Ninjas undertook missions assigned by their village leader. These missions were 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 were often given to ninjas who had just graduated from the academy and involved minimal danger. These might have included menial errands.
C-rank missions were suitable for more experienced ninjas and might have involved capturing animals, guarding people from minor threats, or basic investigations. There was a low chance of encountering other ninjas during these missions.
B-rank missions became more serious and involved combat. Examples included guarding VIPs, spying, or eliminating rogue ninjas. They were often given to experienced Chūnins and some Jōnins.
A-rank missions were entrusted to elite Jōnin and involved critical matters for the village or country, such as protecting high-level officials or suppressing large enemy forces.
S-rank missions were the most dangerous missions. They were assigned only to the best of the best and involved political secrets, like assassinating VIPs or transporting classified documents that would otherwise have been 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 would easily disregard whatever mission Hiruzen offered if it didn't serve his purpose. Because, 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.
Exiting his apartment, he walked along the streets before arriving at the Hokage's building. He then ascended the steps until he reached the top and pushed open the doors.
Inside sat Hiruzen behind a large desk with a lit pipe resting between his teeth.
"Ah, Arthur!" he said, gesturing for him to come closer. "I trust you've had time to prepare."
"I have..."
"Good." Hiruzen leaned back in his chair after 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. 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?" he asked.
"You catch on quickly," Hiruzen smiled. "Whether you choose to accept or not is up to you."
"I accept..."