Best Of Them

Arthur sat comfortably on his throne, quietly watching the village via his Flying raijin mark. His eyes were closed, but his mind was sharp, taking in everything happening out there.

He knew most of what went on—conversations, movements, even their political indifferences. He had a hand in shaping much of this world, yet he remained detached while observing it from a distance.

From his vantage point, he directed his focus toward Naruto, who was still in the training grounds with his father. And from what Arthur could see, the main character was trying to balance his chakra and learn the Flying raijin technique.

Naruto's movements were quick, almost frantic at times, but with clear determination.

Arthur watched how quickly Naruto was improving and noticed how the boy's natural talent, combined with his drive, made the learning process seem easy.

For instance, it had taken Arthur weeks just to learn the Flying raijin. To use it consistently took months.

Naruto, however, was already perfecting the basics. That was because he was using shadow clones to speed up his learning, which hastened his training.

Arthur found himself amused. The boy was once again gaining new strengths—first, his rapid growth, then his connection to the Nine-Tails, and now, the return of his parents.

It was all falling into place, and it was all a part of Arthur's carefully laid plan.

But there was a question lingering in everyone's minds. One that not even his servants understood: why had he gone so far as to revive characters like Kushina, only to return them to the Leaf Village?

That was a mystery yet to be seen.

While he watched Naruto and Minato, he also saw Jada and Margaret nearby. They were silently observing the training.

Naruto was eager and trying to perfect the technique step by step while pushing himself beyond his limits. Minato was patient and guiding him patiently like a real father would. One could say that he was impressed at Naruto's talents.

"Why does Naruto even want to learn that technique?" Margaret softly asked Jada. "It's so taxing on chakra, and if someone blocks the seals, it becomes pretty useless."

"Don't go bringing down my dad's jutsu!" Naruto yelled after overhearing her.

Minato turned his head slightly, giving a small, knowing smile. "Actually, it was the second Hokage who invented it first."

"I knew that!" Naruto defended. "Anyway, this is gonna be my seventh jutsu. I'm gonna go all out this time."

Arthur kept watching and noted how quickly Naruto was learning. It was clear he'd be able to perfect it soon, maybe even today.

But then Naruto's expression changed. His face grew serious, and he suddenly declared, "I'm gonna use the Flying raijin to take revenge for my clan."

Jada burst into laughter. "You're serious? That's a joke, right?"

Naruto's eyes hardened. "No, I'm serious. I want to make things right."

Margaret frowned. "That's funny, Naruto. You can't do that when you're not supposed to leave the village without permission. Who the heck are you trying to take revenge on anyway?"

"Obito, duh," Naruto answered. "I thought you already knew."

Margaret's cheeks almost flushed when she heard Naruto actually treating her as if she were stupid. She looked toward Jada and whispered, "Telling him was a bad idea."

Then Naruto looked toward his father and said, "Dad, I'm gonna do it for the family."

There was concern on Minato's face. He knew full well what things his pupil had done because the players had informed him of almost everything.

From Naruto's background to Obito surviving and pretending to be Madara Uchiha, a lot of the higher-ups knew the truth. They hadn't made it public due to more evidence needed.

Those who knew this were also aware of Itachi's mission in the Akatsuki and what truly transpired during the night of the massacre.

All these things were hard for them to take in but were accepted nonetheless.

Thanks to Danzo's demise, Hiruzen's survival, and Minato's return, almost all the main hidden facts within this world were made known because of the players' choices.

Arthur knew this was inevitable. When six powerful beings were sent into the world of Naruto, secrets were bound to come out—no matter how carefully they were hidden.

"Revenge isn't the answer," Minato said to his son. "The Flying raijin isn't for that; it's to help you protect yourself and the village."

Naruto hesitated, then blurted out, "But if you read mom's book, you'd see that Obito is the bad guy. He's the one responsible for what happened to the Leaf Village and why you two died in the first place. Even Kurama doesn't like him."

Talking about this touchy subject made everyone tense.

Kakashi suddenly arrived on the scene while holding a book. It appeared as if he were watching things from afar once he said, "He's right, Naruto…" Then he flipped the page of his book. "Revenge isn't the answer. Obito's influence is dangerous, but I believe we can undo the damages him and the Akatsuki have caused."

They were clearly in agreement that Obito should be redeemed since they knew he was being manipulated by Madara—per Jada's revelation.

"But—"

"Let us handle it," Kakashi said, interrupting Naruto. "If we can stop Madara and Zetsu, we can set things right. Then you can follow your dream someday."

"Why should we forgive him for what he's done?" the boy asked.

Jada approached the three and shook her head while saying, "No, Naruto. We can't just rush into this. We'll let you know when it's time." Then she looked at Minato and said, "I'm heading out to pick up Will and Jiraiya. We'll let you know when it's time."

Internally, Jada wondered about Naruto's motives. She didn't fully understand why he was so eager for revenge nor why he wouldn't want to forgive Obito for his trespass.

It seemed out of character for him to be so passionate about avenging his clan.

She suspected there was more to the story—maybe involving Madara or Zetsu—but she wasn't sure.

Arthur remained silent as he contemplated the scene from afar. He could see Naruto's resolve, the boy's desire to protect his loved ones, and his naïve hope to fix everything.

Still, the boy knew better than to let such emotions guide him blindly.

'He'll still seek revenge,' Arthur believed.

As for Margaret, Arthur was now keenly aware that she had unlocked a new Sage Mode. That meant he had to prepare himself for it and stay more alert.

The Leaf Village was changing fast, and so were the citizens that were involved with the players. Because of that, Sound Village's plans might be disturbed soon, which would threaten everything.

Deciding now was the time to act, Arthur slowly opened his eyes and rose from his throne. He then stood up and took a step forward before walking all the way to the opposite end of the wall.

'Transformation jutsu…'

He now appeared as a random bystander.

Tapping on the wall, it opened into a dark corridor. This was his secret entrance from the throne room that led directly to the plaza.

Walking down the corridor, he opened a door that brought him close to the heart of the plaza. Many Uchiha were passing by and didn't bat an eye.

From the beginning, when he first designed this place, he had done well in hiding certain rooms from the main areas. For instance, his laboratory was still present and hidden deep in the plaza, where only a select few knew how to enter it.

Not even the Uchiha sensors could distinguish from an empty room thanks to the many seals around.

He wasn't at all proud of his work of having revived many from that clan and accepted various citizens into this village. The lack of pride stemmed from his understanding of the risks he was taking.

At any point, a citizen could decide to leak important information about his Hidden Light Village. This would cause an uproar within the Five Great Ninja Nations, leading them to seize all his assets and likely kill both the Uzumaki clans and the Uchiha clan.

Hence, he always had to be on his guard. He understood everything that went on in his village; he had cameras and Flying raijin marks just about everywhere.

As he walked by, the citizens all understood that everything cost so much. But the one thing Arthur couldn't put a price on was their loyalty.

Fugaku was named Kage of his village, so just about every Uchiha followed him. And if they followed Fugaku, they in turn followed Arthur. Arthur himself let Fugaku do as he pleased, so long as it did not jeopardize the country.

Once Arthur exited the plaza, he continued along a trail. His destination was toward the back of the constructed village walls.

Everything within this village was breathtaking. The interesting part was that it was still undergoing various constructions.

All Arthur had done was permit these works while at the same time filling not just the village but the whole country with loyal citizens.

This particular village was most certainly like the country's capital. Its timber-framed homes and thatched roofs were bathed in a warm, golden glow from the late afternoon sun.

With the soft murmur of the nearby stream accompanying his steps, Arthur strolled along a meandering path lined with flowers. A landscape architect had painstakingly sculpted its verdant core.

A large carriage silently pulled up, and he noticed happy elders descending to tend this area.

Before continuing his slow stroll, he observed a few villagers pass by with cordial nods. Many of them were Uchihas, and some were from unspecified clans that were not ninja related. Only some were from the Hidden Eddy Village.

Because of the moss and wood chips that covered the pathways, rainwater was able to seep into the ground with ease.

Clusters of houses, each constructed with respect for regional architectural traditions and using sustainable materials, were tucked away among fruit trees and tiny gardens in the residential side.

The castles were also there, giving the village a proper social class that divided the rich from the less rich.

He observed that some of the rooftops had solar-like panels subtly incorporated into them, demonstrating the village's support for suitable renewable energy.

That was one of the more tedious things to construct.

While tending to their plots, Uchiha neighbours conversed in a flourishing community garden. The sounds of nature, such as birdsong and leaf rustling, filled the air, interspersed with friendly greetings.

Arthur continued until he arrived at the center of the village green, a shared area with a clear pond and old trees. Children from the Uchiha clan played simple games. They had adapted far faster than the adults.

Sitting on a bench that had been hand-carved was an elderly Uchiha villager who relished the tranquility. The foundation of Light Village's sense of community and dedication to the welfare of its citizens was amazing to him.

"Boy, this culture sure does add a distinct charm that the Leaf Village never had," the elder commented aloud.

Arthur didn't find much pleasure in those words as he strolled past.

He went by the village's modest, immaculate health post, which blended in perfectly with the surrounding buildings. Interestingly enough, this post was governed by a physician from the Uzumaki clan.

Not everyone from the clan was a ninja. Many were in fact simply labours, like teachers and writers. Only a handful of those four thousand clan members knew how to use their chakra.

Close by, the welcoming community hall served as a center for social gatherings, education, and activity. One could say it was the equivalent to the affairs that go on in the plaza, but on a smaller scale.

Even when it was almost finished, the Hidden Light Village exuded a profound sense of connection and respect for the environment.

Perhaps in military prowess, it wouldn't rival the Five Great Ninja nations. But in terms of the economy, it more than surpassed even the best of them.