Path Of War-Chapter 361: Herd Of Deer

With a sly grin, Arthur smoothly said, "As fellow ninjas, of course. You're not the type to beat around the bush, and that's something I admire in strong kunoichi."

She blinked, then looked away, feeling a little flustered. Was he teasing her? Or was he being serious? She wasn't sure. The moment felt strange—almost cumbersome.

So she cleared her throat and tried to regain her composure by changing the subject. "Is there another reason why you want to join the Cloud Village?"

Arthur shrugged, keeping his tone casual as he answered, "My abilities are lacking, so I'd like to improve. Perhaps spar with the best to see how far I can go."

"I can understand that since you are the one who won that tournament, after all."

He humbled himself, saying, "I would've lost had Lars not forfeited."

She looked at him for a moment longer, then smiled faintly and said, "Either way, I think you have potential. We'll see in a moment if you pass or not."

'Pass?' he repeated in his head.

No matter what sort of tests they wanted to give him, he'd already gone through much worse.

The two stood there for a while longer, each lost in thought. The atmosphere was quiet, but the air was thick with unspoken words.

Not long after, a new group of Cloud ninjas arrived on the scene. He watched as they approached, walking in a loose formation, and even recognized most of them—Kayui, Musai, and Rashii.

Rashii was the oldest, with a long grey beard that reached down to his ankles. He looked tired but alert, the kind of ninja who had seen a lot. As for the others, Arthur didn't see them as particularly special.

He remembered them only because they had participated in the Fourth Shinobi World War. They weren't famous or powerful compared to others in their village, but they had experience. That was enough for him.

Rashii was the first to greet him with a respectful bow, allowing Arthur to return the greeting with a formal nod.

"I've heard about you," the elder said. "And I'm interested that a shinobi of your caliber wishes to join us."

"Yes. My goal is to help build and strengthen this village with my skills."

Rashii looked him over carefully before saying, "Joining a hidden village is not simple. Especially if you're not already affiliated with one. You need someone from here to vouch for you first. Has anyone done so?"

Arthur's head settled on Samui. She looked a little surprised at first, caught off guard by the fact he was implying that she would vouch for him. But she quickly masked her surprise and kept her expression neutral.

"I..." she hesitantly started. "I can say that he's a capable shinobi. He has great taijutsu skills. We participated in a tournament almost a year ago. Besides that, I don't know him much outside of that event."

She was being honest, and that was exactly the answer Arthur was looking for. Had he not coerced her a moment ago, she might not have even spoken up.

Rashii was already aware that Hoshikaze was the winner of that tournament. But winning a tournament wasn't enough. The Cloud had their own rules about who could officially join, meaning they didn't just take anyone with talent.

"Thank you," he said. "That's enough of a vouch for now. We'll see how you handle our process."

Then, Musai stepped forward. He was shorter than the others, but he looked sharp enough to be a shinobi. Without a word, he introduced himself, saying, "I'm Musai, and I had also heard of you."

"Good to know," Arthur politely said.

Musai looked him over again and said, "This part is pretty straightforward. All you have to do is answer a few questions for us to determine if we should let you in our village or not."

That was it? Arthur didn't expect it to be this easy. Otherwise, he would have just snuck in, disguised as someone else.

"Have you ever been listed on a bounty or sought after for criminal activities?" Musai began. "If so, please explain."

"Never," Arthur answered. "And if I was, I wouldn't be aware of it since I often travel to uphold the peace."

Was he lying? Nay, for right now he was Hoshikaze. And Hoshikaze had a cleaner record than all of his transformations.

Musai looked toward Rashii, who nodded. Arthur himself didn't let that gesture slip.

Next, Musai asked, "Are there any crimes or misconduct in your past that you regret or have taken responsibility for?"

Arthur answered without hesitation, "I have no regrets that I haven't otherwise handled by now."

Again, Musai looked at Rashii, who nodded again.

The third question came: "Have you ever used your skills as a shinobi for personal gain or malicious intent?"

"No," Arthur calmly responded. "I've always used them ethically to protect and serve others."

Musai once again looked toward Rashii, who nodded a third time.

"If you were approached to commit an illegal act that would benefit the village," Musai continued, "how would you respond?"

"I would report the situation to the proper authorities to ensure the law was upheld."

At Rashii's fourth nod, Arthur was now sure that Rashii was using a technique that could detect whether he was lying or not. A nice safety cushion. But things like that didn't work on Arthur Bennett.

"Have you ever been involved in any organized crime or underground activities?"

"No, since my aim is to maintain integrity wherever I'm at."

"What is your stance on justice and law within the shinobi world?"

That was an interesting question. But nothing Arthur wasn't prepared for.

"I believe that justice and law are fundamental to the stability of any society. And as shinobi, it's important we all uphold these principles at all times."

Rashii's chin tilted upwards at that response. Had Arthur lied? When Musai looked back, Rashii took a moment before nodding.

The next question was then asked, "How do you handle situations where your personal morals conflict with orders from your superiors?"

"I'd seek to communicate my concerns respectfully and prioritize the ethical standards while still respecting the chain of command."

"Sheesh, that was a good answer," Musai admitted. That made Rashii cough in his hands, implying that this situation should be taken more seriously. "Sorry, sir. Okay, next question: have you ever betrayed your village or fellow shinobi? If so, why?"

"No, I've never done such a thing."

While Arthur did indeed slay two grown adult Genin at the Leaf Village and even abandoned said village, he never considered that village his village.

Finally, Musai asked, "Why do you wish to join the Cloud Village, considering your strong background?"

Certainly that question wasn't part of their test. No, that was a personal one.

As such, Arthur looked back at Saumi, who'd been listening quietly. Then she looked at the group and said, "My main goal is to commit myself to a suitable village that's been thriving for ages. So long as the Cloud's loyalty towards protecting others remains, I'm ready to contribute my strength."

The questions finished, and Rashii gave his final nod. Then the group gathered together to process what they had just heard.

Arthur waited patiently until they were ready.

"There's just one last thing," Musai said upon returning. "May we see your eyes?"

Arthur agreed without hesitation. Carefully, he reached up and removed the blindfold that had concealed half his face from everyone. The others leaned in slightly, watching intently as his gaze was revealed.

His eyes were striking—deep and sharp with a piercing intensity that seemed to look right through whoever was in front of him. Samui dared not to look any further due to how handsome he was.

He explained with confidence, "I wear it because the eyes are not the only way to sense one's surroundings. In this day and age, most men only see with their eyes but never with their hearts."

Those words alone were enough to put shame in their group. Yet they hid it well, especially Samui, who seemed to understand that she'd been in the presence of someone greater than she believed to be.

In her heart, Arthur could tell that she was hoping she hadn't made a fool of herself earlier.

Because of all that he had said, Rashii gave a big smile. It was almost imperceptible, but enough for the others to notice.

"Your attitude and mindset are most impressive," he admitted, "and your level of wisdom is better than any shinobi I've ever had the pleasure of meeting." That was a lot considering this was an old man who'd likely been in the presence of two different Raikages. "You have my approval to join our ranks."

A quiet murmur of agreement followed next.

With the decision made, the group first frisked him before leading Arthur toward the village. Of course, nothing was found since he hid them all elsewhere.

The route was short, but as they moved through the landscape, he took in the surroundings. The outside of the Cloud Village was unlike any other village he'd visited.

It was heavily fortified, with layers of defenses built into the mountain's natural terrain. The walls were tall and smooth, almost blending into the rocky cliffs around them. Security also seemed tight, as every entrance was guarded and every corner watched.

Once they crossed into the village gates, he felt an immediate shift. The atmosphere was lighter and more open. The air was thinner, making it easier to breathe—probably thanks to the higher altitude.

The buildings were also crafted with a minimalist elegance, integrating seamlessly into the mountain's natural shape. Everything was clean, organized, and efficient. It was clear this was a place built for resilience and precision.

"I've got to go and make the report," Samui declared once they reached the main administrative area. Her tone was professional, but her eyes carried curiosity toward Arthur. "If you need anything—"

"I'll be sure to ask for you personally," he smoothly interrupted.

For the first time, her face slightly reddened—probably from the compliment—so she quickly turned to leave. Her pace was brisk, but he caught the faint smirk on her lips as she walked away.

She liked the comment; he could tell. It was a small thing, and he would surely capitalize on it in days to come.

The group would later guide him toward the Jōnin Station to handle his registration.

Inside, the process was straightforward but mildly surprising. The officials looked at him with surprise, clearly not expecting to see someone like him applying.

Arthur was asked to provide details about himself—his name, background, skills, and any accomplishments in other villages.

He kept his responses vague, claiming ignorance about any affiliations with others outside. It was easier that way, especially since revealing too much might raise questions he hadn't felt like explaining.

He was also asked to list his specialties and notable achievements. He did so confidently, emphasizing the skills that would benefit the village. That included his Tamashii, which he dubbed another name to deter their records.

When asked about his reputation elsewhere, he simply said he was largely unknown and preferred to keep it that way.

Normally, they would have newcomers enter their academy and take an aptitude test to become a Genin. Yet Arthur's skills superseded any thoughts of placing him anything below the level of a Jōnin. And thanks to Rashii, an exception to immediately promote him to a Chūnin was granted without him taking anymore tests.

Once all the paperwork was complete and his picture was taken without his blindfold, the clerk handed him a shinobi headband. Arthur examined it briefly before choosing to strap it around his arm, the customary place for him.

It felt odd to have one there again but only showed how easy it had been to infiltrate one of the best ninja nations in the world.

Perhaps it was easy for him, but that's because he had an abundance of experience. For instance, he had once been in the Leaf Village and only made a few mistakes there. Had he covered his tracks, he might have been able to spend years without anyone knowing his plot.

Now that he'd learned from those mistakes, entering and dwelling in a new village would be a cakewalk.

Before leaving, Rashii approached him again to ask, "Do you need help in purchasing property here?"

"I'll be fine," Arthur answered. "I brought enough money with me and am already accustomed to the village's ways."

Having already gained Rashii's express, the old shinobi didn't press him any further. Rashii even sensed that Arthur's confidence was well-founded.

As they parted ways, Arthur took a moment to look around again with his Tamashii.

The village was active but orderly. The citizens moved with purpose—ninjas and civilians alike. He'd seen many places like this before, but this felt different. There was a sense of security here, as if not a single one here felt instability.

To Arthur, it was like a lion who walked right into a herd of deer without the deer's noticing.