Arthur's current combat repertoire had a diverse range of techniques and items.
First, he had all the useful e-rank techniques down: the Substitution jutsu and the Transformation jutsu. His first Kekkei Genkai, acquired from transferring Yukimi's cells, was smoke style. This gave him two techniques: Smoke jutsu and Body Oxidation jutsu.
The second Kekkei Genkai he obtained was Ranmaru's, which dubbed his "Crimson Gaze." By mixing that with his Chakra Disguise jutsu, he could remain virtually undetectable and never be caught off guard.
After having recently acquired his third Kekkei Genkai, ice style, he's honed his skills to perform two of its techniques: A Thousand Needles of Death and Shattering Ice Spears.
For close-quarters combat, he was very well versed in taijutsu, able to use the Seven Heavenly Breaths techniques up to the Fifth Activation. He also possesses Chakra-Enhanced Strength in the event someone bested him physically.
What was better was that he could heal himself with both the Healing jutsu and the more potent Regenerative Healing jutsu, which is comprised of the Body Activation, Cellular Activation, and Cell Activation jutsus.
If he were harmed internally, he could help himself with the Poison Extraction jutsu. And if he needed to execute attacks with precision, he had the Chakra Dissection Blade jutsu.
Beyond healing, he also had two elemental affinities: wind and water. Because water was his first and main affinity, he learned to perform the Water Prison, Surface Slice, and Water Dragon jutsus.
Partner that with his Flying raijin, he's able to traverse the plains quite effectively without wasting too much of his chakra. And even if chakra became a problem, he knew the Akimichi clan's Calorie Control technique, allowing him to replenish his reserves by simply eating.
What's more was that all these techniques could be enhanced with his Simian Sage Mode transformation.
Just those techniques alone made him an s-rank level threat.
But his arsenal also extended beyond taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu. He currently wielded five out of the seven unique swords from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist: the Boltswords, the Long Blade, the Blunt Blade, the Explosive Blade, and the classic Executioner's Blade.
He also carried a hefty sum of around one-point-nine million ryō. Of which, more than thirty million of his original net worth had been used for purchasing Sun Stream Plaza.
Adding another layer to his power, he possessed the ability to summon two things: Koko and an undead from the Reanimation technique.
While the Reanimation technique is game-breaking, he still required more time and practice to use it perfectly. And for now, he only had two undead worth using in combat: Minato and Mangetsu, of whom he could only summon one at a time without external help.
There were other techniques that he was capable of learning but hadn't found the time to practice them.
First was unlocking the Akimichi clan's Butterfly Mode transformation. Then there was the Hardened Water Drill technique he saw Jada perform. Following that was the Raigo: 1,000 Hand Strike technique, which he had yet to train.
At the top of his list that he was going to work on first was the Enhancing Flattery technique.
Not including jutsus from his weapons, in total, he knew more than thirty techniques. This was more than incredible for one ninja since Jiraiya himself was only ever shown to use approximately thirty-six techniques, and he was dubbed one of the top ten strongest characters in the Narutoverse.
Yet Arthur himself couldn't be considered anywhere close to a Sannin's level.
So, what was he missing?
A lot, to be exact. He might have seemed strong on paper, but compared to others like Itachi Uchiha, Nagato Uzumaki, or even Jasper (an Ōtsutsuki), Arthur was weak!
✟
The Land of Silence.
As Arthur walked in the quiet plains, he sought to learn how to use weapons like swords and katanas. Doing so would help advance his skills so as not to fall behind.
Known as kenjutsu, it relied heavily on weapons to help thwart those who were skilled in the craft.
Of course, there were better places to practice kenjutsu, like the Land of Iron. But that was more than a week's journey from where he currently was.
While the Land of Iron was the best place to practice with a sword, the Land of Silence was still a samurai-led nation, and Gengo was written not to have taken full control of the country for another three years from now.
An opportunity like this for Arthur wasn't going to be passed up.
The journey was relatively short before he soon arrived at his destination: a small settlement amidst a few tall trees. That was where he knew a samurai's base was.
Samurai were elite warriors similar to shinobi but focused more on tradition and swordsmanship. They wore heavy armour, wielded multiple swords, and channeled chakra to enhance their attacks. They were also highly skilled and respected, though not as widespread as ninjas were in the eastern hemisphere.
These specific samurai, Arthur knew, wouldn't be ninjas.
Their strength lay in swordsmanship, yes, but their skill set was fueled by physical training rather than the complete manipulation of chakra.
That also meant there were no elaborate sensory types to alarm anyone about his presence.
By a lamplight, he had successfully infiltrated their camp to observe a group of patrolling samurais. Their movements and posture showed career confidence, so Arthur positioned himself strategically and used his Crimson Gaze to ensure nothing fishy was going on.
His vision range allowed him to watch the entire camp.
Within it, a group of samurais began their nightly training. Their movements were very precise, with each swing of their katanas whistling through the air. Sparks even flew from their blades as they clashed against hidden posts.
Despite their heavy armour, they moved with surprising agility, and their footwork was clearly not amateurish.
One samurai channeled chakra into his katana, extending the blade into a glowing crescent that cleanly sliced a nearby practice dummy.
Arthur observed intently, impressed at such control of chakra for a non-ninja. These were clearly no ordinary warriors; they were men of war, waiting to be used for lethal purposes.
He remembered a time when Sasuke fought against several samurais at once. Had the Uchiha not had his Sharingan to his advantage, he surely would have been minced meat.
One hour later.
Arthur's patience finally paid off as a trio of samurai emerged from a tent.
Their leader was a man with a scar across his cheek. Arthur recognized this man as Tatewaki.
Tatewaki was a skilled samurai who journeyed beyond the Land of Iron, which was also his homeland. He became a ronin, a wandering warrior, and eventually a bodyguard for the leader of the "Land of This."
Though hardened by his travels, Tatewaki remained a man of duty and honour. He trained a young lord named Shū in swordsmanship and protected those he served.
Despite his samurai background, he valued peace and only resorted to violence when necessary. His loyalty and swordsmanship were so renowned that even after his death by Sasori three years from now, he was reanimated by Kabuto to fight in the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Currently, Tatewaki and his group were tasked with traveling elsewhere. This was Arthur's chance.
'Transformation jutsu…'
He turned himself into a young, unassuming traveler and stalked this trio far outside of their base.
A few miles later, he finally stepped into the path of the patrolling samurai, immediately drawing their attention. Their hands instinctively hovered near the hilts of their katanas.
"Greetings," Arthur said.
"You're in our way," a samurai retorted.
"Forgive me for interrupting your patrol, but I couldn't help wondering something."
"Eh? What business do you have with us, traveler?"
"A question, if you will… Why is Tatewaki here, so far from the Land of Iron?"
Tatewaki, under his full-faced helmet, was surprised to hear his name. That made all three of them tighten their grips on their hilts.
"I am stationed here on official business," Tatewaki finally replied. "But you… How do you, a stranger, know my name?"
Arthur's polite attitude vanished. He had the answer he sought. Tatewaki's presence here confirmed that his narrative was simply progressing. Thus was the fate of all these filler characters.
So with a swift, almost casual movement, Arthur drew a katana he had "borrowed" from within their base.
Steel sung from unsheathed scabbards as the samurai drew their own blades in response.
"Stand down, traveler!" one of them demanded. "If this is a misunderstanding, drop the weapon and explain yourself!"
But Arthur's eyes, glowing red, held a gaze that brooked no argument.
"No," he countered in a calm voice. "I'd like all of you to come at me with everything you've got. More importantly…" With a burst of surprising speed, he launched himself forward before disappearing and reappearing right in between them. "Don't hold back."
The three samurais quickly scattered as he spun with his weapon.
Swoosh!
"You must have a death wish attacking us!" Tatewaki bellowed after landing.
"That's one mistake you won't live to regret!" another challenged.
Arthur mused. These samurai, skilled as they were, viewed him with a touch of disdain. Three against one? The odds weren't stacked in their favour.
Tatewaki charged first. His katana slashed diagonally towards Arthur's chest. But Arthur raised his weapon as steel met steel.
Cling!
With a strength that belied his lean frame, he then pushed Tatewaki back.
"Urgh!" Tatewaki grunted in surprise.
When he recovered, he rained down a series of strikes. But Arthur's footwork was beyond comprehension as he evaded each of them.
Another samurai, seeing an opening, materialized from the side and aimed a slash at Arthur's torso.
Phew!
It missed as Arthur leapt in a perfect one-eighty-degree angle. He hung suspended for a heart-stopping moment. Then, with a controlled flip, he planted his palm on the ground and used the momentum from his fall to propel himself backwards, landing slowly on the balls of his feet a few paces away.
In stunned silence, the three samurais stared at him. They had never seen someone move with such unnatural fluidity against their attacks before.
How could they not be stunned? Arthur hailed from earth, possessing a keen understanding of the most effective fighting styles. That's simply who he was: an unmatched predator that had no equal.
"Is that really all you've got…?"