After maneuvering through many more hallways, Arthur eventually reached the hospital area—a cold, clinical space filled with the scent of antiseptics.
In one of the rooms, he recognized a flickering white candle beneath a mountain of ash. It was unmistakable. This was him: Kimimaro, who lay on a stretcher with a cloth over his face. A tube was also inserted into his mouth to assist his breathing.
The sight was exactly as Arthur remembered: a pale adolescence who seemed to have no more purpose in this world.
From the doorway, he watched Kimimaro's still figure against the white sheets. The shinobi's breathing was weak, but even in slumber, the power that emanated from him was palpable.
Arthur carefully moved closer by curving around the edge of the bed in his smoke form. He then analyzed Kimimaro closely.
Time felt suspended as he stood there, weighing the potential that lay before him.
Although Kimimaro was sick and his time was near, Arthur believed he could curse the shinobi's illness. Of course, this was only in theory since this world operated on its own unique principles regarding anatomy.
While Arthur's knowledge from earth might help, it was still uncertain whether the resources and technology available here would be sufficient to implement a successful treatment.
Then there was the fact of what was to happen next. If Arthur could cure Kimimaro, would it be possible to ethically persuade him to join his side?
No, not even close.
Kimimaro's devotion to Orochimaru was too tenuous; he had given everything to that snake. So much so that Arthur's Evil Illusion Flattery technique wouldn't work.
But now was not the time for diagnosing this character.
Arthur's heart remained steady as he considered the delicate task ahead. The mere thought of operating on Kimimaro, even in his state of unconsciousness, was extremely dangerous. Especially considering that he was in the heart of arguably one of the top ten strongest ninjas in this world's lair.
Yet wielding Kimimaro's Kekkei Genkai wasn't something to pass up on. Anyone who'd seen what the Macabre Bone Pulse could do in battle would understand the sheer force that could offer anyone unparalleled combat potential.
So many prisoners, so many ninjas in his hand, and yet Orochimaru mainly desired Sasuke's Sharingan. As for why he hadn't taken Kimimaro's body prior to choosing Sasuke, it was because Kimimaro was a fragile vessel, one that was too sick for Orochimaru to use anymore.
Now Arthur desired to make Kimimaro his own. So he glanced fleetingly at the doorway, ensuring that no one was watching. Not a single footstep could be heard for some distances.
'Crimson gaze…'
A genjutsu enveloped the room in an illusion, one that would not only keep Kimimaro asleep but also shroud Arthur's actions from any prying eyes.
With the immediate threat of discovery averted, he solidified himself and reached into his bag to produce a small scalpel. Then in one swift motion, he scraped a substantial piece of flesh from Kimimaro's arm.
The blood that welled did not make him panic whatsoever as he quickly sealed the flesh inside a scroll. When he was done with that, he pressed his palm against the wound and performed the Healing technique.
Arthur could see the deteriorating blood cells. It's no wonder medical ninjas like Kabuto couldn't cure this unknown illness. Average chakra alone can't heal what Arthur was seeing. Coupled with the insidious Sage Chakra from the curse mark, Kimimaro was a sitting duck.
In moments, the skin knit back together. There was no trace of Arthur's violation left behind, merely the stillness of Kimimaro's sleeping form.
This was only the first step since he knew full well he would need more than just Kimimaro's genetic material to carry out his ambitions.
So he carefully exited the room and began quietly gliding through the hospital's interconnected halls. Each room was navigated through the shadows as his eyes alighted on various spots that would serve as ideal locations for his Flying raijin marks.
Every single one of them was placed discreetly, hidden within the structure of the walls, behind medicine cabinets, in recesses of the stairwell, inside supporting beams, and around the corners of the ceiling.
If alarms were triggered or if any typical guard were to see them, he would already be prepared for an exit strategy. But the chances of that happening were seldom low.
The aim was to have a presence in the hideout, granting him a tactical advantage should things go awry one day. Because by keeping track of the Sound Village, he could make better plans against those who would eventually find it.
Satisfied with the work, he exited the hideout. Already, he could feel all his marks he had placed. Each one was like looking through a camera lens, which tethered him to the hideout regardless of where he was.
And so long as he didn't activate them, their chakra could never be sensed. That meant Arthur now had eyes where the former Sannin dwelt.
✟
Back in the Water Country.
In his hotel, he contemplated the possibilities of everything he could envision.
A scroll was spread before him, the same scroll with Kimimaro's cells. Arthur's excitement was tempered by the knowledge of what it would take to wield such power effectively. That was because Kimimaro's cells were volatile; Arthur could not take the risk of experimenting with them until his laboratory was properly constructed.
While he was quite ambitious, he was by no means one to take risks without consideration.
What he needed were tools and a place where he could wield both skill and caution. Until then, the cells would remain untouched—there was no hurry, after all.
So he took out more scrolls containing different cells and a lot of his weapons he'd acquired in the past and scattered them across the expansive room.
Many would gawk at this collection. It was an incomprehensible sight that would leave even the most legendary of ninjas, like Hashirama, speechless.
At the forefront is Arthur's latest tool, the Thunder Sword, a weapon he acquired after defeating Team 7; he knew that using it in public was ill-advised. So if it were to be implemented, it would first need to be modified.
Then there are the Boltswords, a weapon quite similar to the Thunder Sword but with a completely different usage style. Ironically, Arthur hadn't practiced the lightning chakra element. But thanks to these swords, it was a suitable compensation.
The only problem was that they were damaged after his fight against the now-dead Jinchūriki, Utakata.
Arthur was by no means going to discard such a deadly weapon. He worked hard in obtaining them, and they were still potent. Its provision for remote control offered strategic flexibility to engage enemies from a distance and could easily be paired alongside his other weapons.
Despite its broken state, with some ingenuity, he might find a way to repair it or even use the concept of remote control to manipulate nearby electrical fields for sabotage.
Next came the Executioner's Blade. There wasn't much to this weapon outside of its regular abilities. While Zabuza and its later wielder, Suigetsu, were excellent owners, Arthur had trained far harder than they, possessing more than enough strength to swing this broadsword with elegance.
Next was the Blunt Blade, optimal for non-lethal engagements yet often underestimated since it served as a tool to incapacitate foes.
Alongside that was his Explosive Blade. With its explosion-style technique, it always had potential for mass destruction by transforming a cut into detonations.
Among his more favoured weapons was the Long Blade. That sword was his ideal choice to use due to the Massacre Method Formation and the Stitching Spider technique. Its multifaceted convention allowed for versatility in combat while chaining attacks with mercilessness.
Without it, he would have had limited options when facing Jada back in the Land of Tea.
The others, having discovered he had at least two of the seven unique swords, likely didn't know how he obtained them. Regardless of whether they knew how, it wouldn't matter now. They all believed him to be dead.
In addition to the Long Blade, Hiramekarei was also very useful. He had only ever used it twice: once during training and again during his fight with Utakata. Since then, he had little time to practice its shape manipulation abilities to dismember enemies.
Just having any one of these weapons easily tipped a fight. Not because they were deadly to use, but because they were in Arthur's possession, the only person who knew how to use them more effectively than any of their previous owners.
And if someone still wasn't convinced of his arsenal, he also had four out of the five Treasured Tools from Hagoromo. Such weapons were in the possession of men who even frightened the Raikage.
Take away Arthur's weapons, and he still had budding resources: Zabuza's cells, Kimimaro's cells, and Haku's body—stored elsewhere. Each one of them represented the potential for genetic manipulation or reanimation.
Finally, there was the one thing he knew how to use better than most: money.
Arthur was quite affluent in both knowledge and riches. While he didn't desire to be a wealthy mogul that could rule over nations with an iron fist, he did know that money was just a tool to be used as opposed to being horded in a bank all day.
All these things were excellent to have as a ninja. Yet none of them were what made Arthur great. What made him so cunning and resourceful was his unyielding faith, the same faith that had gotten him so far ahead in this world.
Weapons, forbidden techniques, money—none of them was what he truly cared for.
While staring at his collection, he went to the balcony of his hotel. There, he watched the sun begin to rise as the heat from the light washed over his face.
'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God," he slowly recited. "Mathew 19:24..."