Elsewhere.
Arthur sat perched on a flat, moss-covered rock beside a stream. He raked his fingers through his hair with an angered expression as he pondered the implications of the Akatsuki knowing he was alive.
How did they find out? Could it have been Zetsu lurking in the shadows again?
Or maybe there was a more extensive investigation at play—something he had been unaware of while he kept to the shadows, waiting for the right moment to rise.
Whatever the reason, the Akatsuki were now searching for him.
That also meant Saiken's fate hung in the balance. The last thing he wanted was for the Akatsuki to get wind of its existence before he was ready to devise a strategy to protect it.
A battle against that organization who thirsted for power was not one he wished to engage in lightly.
To top it all off, Hiruzen had awakened.
Arthur had long kept Flying raijin marks hidden in various locations throughout the village, and from their secluded vantage points, he could currently see the excitement among the villagers from this news.
Prior to having escaped Itachi and Kisame, Arthur was hiding out in the woods. Primarily to contemplate his situation. That time was used to send a messenger bird off to Jada.
Right now, three persistent thoughts nagged at him.
First, what would be the Akatsuki's next move? The Akatsuki wouldn't just come looking for him. At least not without first procuring more information on anyone involved with Arthur. That meant he had to absolutely stay away from the Water Country for a time.
Second was Itachi's and Kisame's level of strength. They were far more challenging than what was to be expected.
Were they truly that strong, or was this one of those buffed-up advantages some of the characters received—making them more of a challenge?
If that were the case, then one could only imagine how strong someone like Nagato was.
The last and more pressing matter was still Hiruzen's return. Others would rally around him, and the old man knew that stirring the villagers' affections could potentially lead them to reject any possible overtures.
Arthur should have assassinated him when he had the chance. But how could he when there were always several high-ranking shinobi guarding the room Hiruzen was in?
Infiltrating the Anbu Headquarters was simple since they were so well hidden inside that they didn't need things like tight security from any perceivable threats.
That hospital room, however—as Arthur knew—was laced with sensors, sealing experts, and many 24/7 guards on watch.
Arthur settled looser in a more relaxed seating position.
To ensure his longevity, he knew that this organization he was thinking of growing had to be done more swiftly.
So, after thinking long and hard, one name came to his mind: Tsunade. Not as a partner, but a scapegoat for an even bigger plan.
That particular legendary Sannin was renowned not just for her strength but also for her connection to the Leaf Village. And truth be told, she was not a bad Hokage. If he could get to her, he could infiltrate the Leaf Village far better.
But why would he aim for that village again?
Because there was someone else there that he absolutely had to get his hands on. And to get to that someone, he had to first get to Tsunade.
Tsunade, as he knew, had a very big gambling addiction. That meant all he had to do was play her in a game.
Arthur had never gambled before but knew how to play certain games like poker and baccarat on earth.
In this world, however, gambling was broken down into various forms of Japanese games. Most of them were similar to the games used to play. Minus a few rules here and there.
And would it be gambling if he knew the results beforehand? He was a ninja, having supernatural abilities that were honestly considered cheating.
But Tsunade, although a gambling addict, was not stupid. To secure an audience with her would still be paramount.
Arthur looked into the distance for a little while before finally rising to his feet. After taking just a little more time to run through his plan, he walked away from the stream to his next destination: the Land of Money.
'Flying raijin…'
✟
Arthur now found himself on the outskirts of the Land of Money, which was awash in shades of green and gold.
In every new country he visited, even if it wasn't his initial destination, he would always leave at least one Flying raijin mark there in case of emergencies. This country was no different, having been crossed before when he was traveling to the Land of Silent.
The Land of Money was a realm unlike any other, known for its questionable economy and culture. The city that never sleeps is what it was known as to many.
For what reason? It boasted the largest casino in the world known as "The Golden Mirage," a spectacular emporium that rivaled the ones in Las Vegas, Nevada.
That was Arthur's main target.
'Transformation jutsu…'
His form shifted to that of an unremarkable man—average height, ordinary features, and an air of affluence that made him look more like a rich prospect than a villager.
Once fully cloaked, chakra included, he began his journey toward the capital.
Arthur was hardly impressed at the manicured fields peppered with unblossomed flowers. This particular country, as the name implied, was filled with greedy individuals and rich tycoons that ventured here for investments.
Xavier, the construction mogul from the Water Country, had actually been born here. He left mainly to secure more profits elsewhere.
When Arthur arrived at the Golden Mirage, dazzling lights bathed him in a kaleidoscope of colours. The sounds—the incessant clinking of coins, the shouts of shock, and the frenetic music filling the air—were quite electrifying.
Everything was luxurious from top to the bottom.
The citizens present were diverse, each with their own aspirations. Couples were adorned in sleek attire and held hands while nervously eyeing the roulette wheels. Other groups shared joy in their excitement from winning their games.
A high-stakes player loudly celebrated a win at a nearby poker table, eliciting cheers and applause from onlookers. On the other end, a weary but hopeful elderly man sat at a slot machine, playing despite being down thousands.
Arthur truly couldn't understand these types of individuals. They loved to gamble and never seemed to know when to stop after losing so much.
Like all Christians knew, gambling done wrongfully was a sin, one that would bury them in debt if they continued.
Undeterred by the lights and shouts, he maneuvered through the excited patrons while keeping himself well hidden.
That's when something caught his attention: a table draped in green where a larger-than-average crowd had gathered.
There was also a dealer there, sporting an impressive mustache as he dealt a deck of cards with flair.
Drawing closer, Arthur could see the game unfolding. It was Kuro'o Hazama, a game similar to blackjack. Or rather, it was blackjack.
What was more interesting was that there was an empty seat available. Why hadn't anyone else taken it? Because it was the most costly table in the casino!
Arthur desired to play.
His knowledge of card games, coupled with the foresight offered by his Kekkei Genkai, would undoubtedly give him an upper hand that few could rival.
'Crimson gaze…'
Already he could see every detail on that table, and from the looks of it, he knew he could win. So long as he played his cards right.
But to play this game required chips.
Arthur navigated through the crowd until he reached the booth designated for exchanging currency for chips. A clerk behind the counter looked up from his paperwork, glancing at Arthur with the same indifference one might expect in a casino.
"How much would you like?" he asked in a chipped but polite tone.
"How much for a chip?"
"Ya must be new," the clerk said, handing him a brochure.
Inside detailed the exchange rate, unlike the ones he was familiar with back on earth.
Red chips were worth 100 ryō, blue chips valued at 250 ryō, green chips at 500 ryō, black chips at 1,000 ryō, purple chips at 5,000 ryō, orange chips at 10,000 ryō, yellow chips at 25,000 ryō, and finally, the white chips at 50,000 ryō.
Arthur only had 100,000 ryō on him. That amount was paltry in light of his overall net worth.
Sad for him that he could not access his larger funds safely from the Water Country right now. That would be both risky and a waste of chakra.
"Figured out how much you'd like?" the clerk asked.
"Give me a combination of all the chips until they equal one hundred thousand ryō…"
The clerk confirmed the order, handing over an array of chips that settled into a pile before Arthur. It was honestly quite a lot for one man to carry.
In a sense, he was flat broke now since these chips had no intrinsic value outside the casino.
Especially if he lost it all.