The next day.
The sounds of bubbling hot springs filled the air as Arthur, now disguised as Hoshikaze, waited beneath the shade of a nearby tree in the Land of Hot Springs.
This land was a serene country characterized by its numerous hot springs and was heavily reliant on tourism.
The governance of this land fell under its feudal lord, and the economy prospered primarily on the natural resources offered by the hot springs, which were abundant in mineral content believed to possess medicinal qualities.
Enabling more than just relaxation, these springs also provided the local populace with spring water that played a crucial role in their health care, as specialized doctors recommended specific hot springs for various ailments.
While their waters were not even remotely as powerful as the springs in the Cayman Jungles, they were an effective source of healing.
Additionally, potatoes flourished in the area, allowing settlements to practice their culinary skills.
At the heart of the Land of Hot Springs lies their main village, the Village Hidden in the Hot Springs.
This hidden village followed peaceful principles that permeated the country, distancing itself from traditional shinobi duties and opting for a more pacifist approach.
Once entangled in the cycle of combat-related services, it now described itself as the "village that has forgotten wars," demonstrating its commitment to harmony.
This shift, however, was not universally supported, leading to internal conflicts, the most notable being represented by Hidan, the Akatsuki member who followed a false god. He rejected the village's pacifist ideologies and became a missing-nin after committing violence against his fellow ninjas.
Besides The Hot Spring Village, two other unique locations enriched the country.
The first is the Bamboo Village, a quaint clearing surrounded by bamboo forests. They're a community that capitalizes on its natural resources, incorporating bamboo into nearly every aspect of its borders.
From building materials to goods, almost everything was bamboo-related.
The second location was known as the "Valley," an inhospitable canyon marked by its flowing, iron-rich hot water. But the Valley's steam and water were blistering and foul-smelling to the point that they deterred most forms of wildlife.
Interestingly, after the expulsion of the Chinoike clan from the Land of Lightning, they found refuge in this valley.
A misunderstanding arose when villagers from The Hot Spring Village mistook the valley's striking red water for blood, leading them to declare it off-limits rather than investigate further. Thus, the Chinoike clan endured isolation yet managed to get the minimal resources available until internal strife forced them to confront their challenges.
The Hot Spring Village itself was not too far from where Arthur was.
It shared its borders with the Land of Frost, the Land of Sound, and the Land of Fire—hence why he had been able to arrive here without effort.
And right now, his mind was not on the serene environment. He had been pondering the arrival of two particular individuals: Jada and William.
According to the information he had gathered through his Flying raijin marks in the Leaf Village, they had departed several days ago.
What intrigued him even more was William's unexpected presence as Jada's companion.
Arthur, aware of the undercurrents that existed between them, was curious as to what William hoped to gain by joining her.
As such, Arthur leaned against the rough bark of the tree, waiting for their chakra signatures to enter his sensing range.
Moments passed, and just as he began to contemplate shifting his position, he detected their approaching figures.
So with a swift motion, he leaped from his perch and bounced from tree to tree until he settled silently into the shadows of another tree just atop of their location.
William was animated, gesturing dramatically as he spoke to Jada. "So, what makes this Hoshikaze so special again?"
"I told you already," she said with an earnest smile, "so I'm not gonna repeat myself."
"But… but why?"
"Because," she said, finger now to her lips, "you know you shouldn't talk behind people's backs."
William rolled his eyes. "It's not like he can hear us." Suddenly, they heard a whistle, causing them to turn around. "Wha—" William stammered as he registered Hoshikaze perched coolly on a branch. "This has to be a genjutsu, right?!"
Jada, however, seemed genuinely delighted as she rushed toward the base of the tree to greet him.
"Hoshikaze-sensei!"
Arthur gracefully descended from his branch before landing softly on the ground. They couldn't quite gauge what his expression was since he still had his blindfold on.
"It appears you both failed the first lesson," he coolly remarked. "You should have sensed me long before I revealed myself."
"How were we supposed to know you would sneak up on us?" William asked, furrowing his brow. Bam! He was smacked upside his head for having been disrespectful. "Owe, Jada. What was that—"
"Hoshikaze-sensei's right! We should have been more careful!"
"I believe I only agreed to teach Jada," Arthur calmly said. "So why are you here?"
"I just wanted to make sure you didn't do something bad to her while she was alone," William said, comically pointing.
Jada giggled as Arthur nonchalantly disregarded the comment.
"I see," he said. "Very well then… Follow me."
He turned, leading them deeper away to a more secluded spot.
Once they arrived at a more secluded area, William and Jada had animated expressions. Jada was smiling a little too widely at him that she seemed to glow. William, meanwhile, stood with his arms crossed over his head, surveying the scene with curiosity.
Arthur couldn't help but reflect on these two individuals who, not that long ago, had nearly taken his life.
To think that he would be the one teaching them now.
"This is quite the spot," William commented as he continued glancing around.
"William, come here," Arthur stated with an authoritative tone.
"Eh?" he blinked. "Wait, me? I thought it was Jada being taught?"
"Don't act so shocked," Arthur replied, not at all smiling. "Since you're here, it's only fitting that you contribute to the second lesson."
William was ready to say no until Jada spoke up. "Go on, Will. You'll learn something awesome!"
"Alright, I'll help," he grinned. The change in attitude was a little too quick. "But if I get hurt, I'm suing you!"
"Do you even have a lawyer?" Arthur shot back. William was trying to answer, but the question was rhetorical. "Jada, prepare to take notes; observe carefully, as I'm going to demonstrate what you're lacking."
With a gleam in her eye, Jada activated her Sharingan. What surprised William was that she pulled out an actual notepad and pencil, ready to jot down notes like an overachieving student.
"But ya have the Sharingan," he reminded. "Ya don't need to—"
"Shush!" Her earnestness honestly made her look more charming.
Arthur chose not to comment.
"Now then," he continued, redirecting his focus to William. "You, warm up. We're going to have a light sparring session."
A rush of excitement showed in William's eyes as he pumped a fist into the air. "Good! I've been waiting for a rematch!"
"That so?"
"You bet!" In hindsight, William secretly feared Hoshikaze, a truth only masked by bravado. "I've also been training hard since I lost against you."
As William began to stretch, Arthur prepared himself by taking off his shirt, revealing an impeccably sculpted physique that showcased zero percent body fat.
The sun cast a golden glow, making the contours of his muscles glisten slightly.
The sight left both William and Jada momentarily speechless as the latter's face turned red.
William, feeling jealous, pointed at Arthur with a comedic flair, desperately trying to reassert his confidence.