Simple Passerby

The Land of Birds.

Sunlight spilled over the horizon as Arthur approached the only village present in this country.

He had received word from the Akatsuki that he was now the owner of this territory, although the residents remained unaware of the new hierarchy.

Truth be told, it was never written that the Akatsuki owned any type of region save their own in the Rain Village.

Yet Arthur, having once been a political figurehead, understood the territorial rights that others did not. He also understood the significance of the place he was headed: a quaint village overshadowed by greenery.

From what he recalled from that filler arc, Naruto, Neji, and Tenten were dispatched by Tsunade to the Land of Birds to investigate reports of a "ghost" known as the Cursed Warrior, who was causing distress among the local populace.

Upon their arrival, they quickly learned about the recent death of the feudal lord, Ōwashi, who had secretly been killed by his chief adviser, Mōsō.

The political unrest and sorrow following his death permeated the land and amplified the fear surrounding the supposed ghost.

As their team delved deeper into the mystery, it became clear that Ōwashi's daughter, Toki, had taken on the guise of her brother, Sagi, to keep the family legacy alive and investigate the suspicious circumstances surrounding their father's murder.

Ōwashi had been a kind-hearted and gullible feudal lord. He often prioritized the welfare of his citizens over his own safety, even venturing into places where feudal lords were typically forbidden.

Tragically, his trusting nature proved to be his downfall, leading to his assassination by Mōsō. His son, Sagi, who was also the older twin brother of Toki, had shared a close bond with her during their childhood, often accompanied by their mutual friend Chishima as they spent their days playing together.

However, their childhood was shattered with Ōwashi's death, plunging Toki into a grief that almost drove her to consider suicide.

It was then that the spirit of her brother, Sagi, appeared and intervened, saving her from that fate.

His spirit bestowed upon her a broken pocket watch, a symbol of their bond and the time that had since been frozen by tragedy. Toki vowed to uncover the secret behind her brother's suspicious death and to restore the flow of time by avenging the family's loss.

In doing so, she chose to adopt Sagi's identity, disguising herself and living a double life as the Cursed Warrior in her search for retribution.

Like most events in Naruto, it ended with the hero saving their country.

She expressed gratitude towards Naruto in the end and also developed feelings for Chishima. Even her pocket watch began to turn again, a reference to her finally being able to move forward.

A happy ending indeed. One that was never spoken of again since it was only a filler arc.

Who was Arthur not to exploit this part of the plot?

As he entered the village, he was careful to blend in with the locals. His attire was that of a common traveler—simple yet unassuming.

He maneuvered through the streets and observed the architecture. This village wasn't quite different from places he's frequented before—traditional Japanese buildings with a lot of space to walk on.

Surrounding it all was a sense of serenity that only came with ignorance of their precarious situation.

Arthur could always destroy this entire village, for it was the only one in this country. But he was far from stupid; he needed to maintain that veneer of peace while ensuring no threats lingered since this country was allied with the Fire Country.

After planting the necessary Flying raijin marks, his next destination was clear: the feudal lord's mansion.

Having been a well-respected delegate once, he knew that authority could be easily earned or stripped away.

As he approached the gates, he was met by several guards who stopped him from entering.

"State your business," one guard demanded.

Arthur spoke calmly, "I have a matter to discuss regarding the village's security. It's of utmost importance."

The guards exchanged looks and were momentarily unsure about how to proceed.

A common citizen didn't typically possess such insights, yet Arthur's demeanour was calm enough that he seemed quite harmless. Especially in such modest attire.

"Security?" one guard repeated, feeling a tad skeptical. "Why should we allow you to speak to the feudal lord on such matters?"

Arthur smiled politely to carefully maintain his ruse as he said, "If I may request an audience with Sagi, I assure you it's of critical importance to the safety of this village. I can explain further once I speak with him."

The guards shared a quick conference before one of them said, "Very well. You may return in an hour. We'll inform the lord of your presence."

"Thank you," Arthur replied before turning away.

The situation was gauged correctly. He could have easily infiltrated the mansion with his unmatched skills, but there was wisdom in choosing the right approach.

Mincing words was unnecessary, and he would gladly keep this blissfully unaware that he was already made the true owner of the entire country.

All he had to do was strategically play his part.

Rather than spend time here, he returned to the Cayman Jungles to finish up more work. And when the hour was over, he teleported right back to the village.

He then returned to the feudal lord's mansion. The guards recognized him and allowed him inside. They directed him to a large chamber where Sagi—who was actually Toki—awaited alongside several other guards and council members, including one familiar figure: Hōki.

In terms of appearance, Toki was truly a fair-skinned woman with long, dark hair who also hid her face under her bangs. Her ensemble comprised a traditional, multi-layered kimono adorned in various hues that signified her status and heritage.

Each member present had only gathered for what they believed was a crucial discussion since an apparent citizen seemed distressed about the safety of the village.

Arthur, however, was going to shatter that delusion.

"Sagi," he began, abandoning all formalities, "it's imperative that I first inform everyone here that you aren't who you claim to be…"

Toki, disguised as Sagi, narrowed her eyes at his accusation. "Who are you, stranger, to make such claims? State your purpose."

"I came to warn you… Toki," he plainly stated.

This reveal took her aback. She was both confused and angry now as she demanded, "Who are you, and how do you know that name?"

"Let's not waste time with secrets," he smoothly replied. "There's a traitor in your midst—a traitor responsible for your father's death."

As everyone else gasped in shock, Toki leaned forward and asked, "Who is it? Tell me, or I'll have you imprisoned for life!"

Arthur, unfazed by the threat, turned his gaze towards Mōsō, whose expression shifted from surprise to defensive.

"You, Mōsō," he said, "you've betrayed this village and this family, and you've aligned yourself with the enemy."

Mōsō hesitated mid-sentence and attempted to deflect the accusation: "This is absurd! What does a mere commoner know of our affairs?!"

Undeterred, Arthur pressed on, "You're not even who you appear to be. You are, in fact, Hōki—a ninja of the Watari clan—and you have been plotting to take this country!"

The revelation electrified the room.

Toki shot a look of disbelief between Hōki and Arthur, while members of the council began to murmur in confusion.

"Enough!" Hōki shouted, trying to wrest control of the situation. "You're the intruder here! How can we trust anything you say? You're likely a spy trying to create dissonance!"

Arthur's features remained resolute as he said, "I understand your confusion, but I know the truth of your intentions, Hōki. You think you can fool these people, but I know your past well."

Before Hōki could respond, he summoned guards to arrest Arthur.

"Seize him!"

But as the guards advanced, a sudden commotion erupted, and a figure with a blindfold on appeared seemingly out of nowhere. It was Hoshikaze who startled everyone in the chamber.

Before anyone could react, he twisted the nearest guard's wrist and swiftly disarmed him.

"Anyone who touches him," he warned, "dies…"

The guards stilled as eyes were drawn to the unexpected arrival. Toki only watched Arthur, who remained confident.

Then, Hoshikaze threw a sealing tag at Hōki. Gasps filled the room as Hōki's disguise was dissolved, revealing a man with a painted face, mesh armor and ninja sandals.

The transformation exposed the true shape of the treachery they had been dealing with, and the clear look of shock permeated many faces.

Hōki frantically searched for an escape route, but before he could react, Hoshikaze tackled him to the ground and pinned him in place.

Toki's expression was one for the ages. It was clear that she was trying her best to comprehend the revelation and the confrontation taking place before her.

When the guards finally accepted Arthur's claims, they lowered their weapons.

"Who are you exactly?" Toki asked as her eyes switched between Arthur and the immobilized Hōki.

"I'm simply a passerby…"

With Hōki subdued, the council's previous authority floundered, and the truth of his deception began to sink in.

Arthur then motioned for Toki to follow him, knowing that their conversation would be crucial in determining things for both the village and her own sense of identity as the rightful ruler.

Though she still wrestled with confusion and mistrust, the situation compelled her to listen. So the two stepped into a more private chamber and away from prying eyes.

"I guess I'll start," she began. "How did you know there was a traitor?"

"I've been doing some investigation in your village… It wasn't hard to connect the dots after I learned of your father's strange death."

Toki frowned at the reminder before asking another question, "How did you know about who I really was?"

Arthur chuckled, yet he wasn't at all amused by her naivety.

"In a way," he said, "it's not hard to tell a guy and a girl apart. For instance, guys tend to have more masculine jawlines, and did you know that their index fingers are shorter than their ring fingers? It's a pretty simple distinction to make."

Toki blinked in surprise. "I… didn't know that. But if I had tried harder, surely—"

"Even if you tried to play the role of a man or hid your features," he lightly interrupted, "you could never truly change your gender."

Toki's gaze dropped to the ground. As she tried to cope with the truth, a faint ticking noise drew her attention.

Reaching into her pocket, she fished out the pocket watch that had stopped since Sagi's death. To her disbelief, she found the second hand moving again—a sign that her father had finally been avenged.

Arthur watched her as tears swelled in her eyes. It was something precious when a piece of lost hope was rekindled. But deep down, he genuinely did not care.

Finally, Toki smiled and came to terms with the fact that the burden of her past had finally lifted.