Chapter 107: The Sound Village
The air moved and the grass parted as Arthur returned to the Fire Country. He had a mission to fulfill, one revolving around the elusive and dangerous Orochimaru.
Of course, Arthur wasn't stupid. He had already performed the Transformation technique, disguised as an unknown passerby.
Navigating through sprawling trees and meadows, he headed toward a certain location reported by the Anbu. They had spotted a group of Sound Ninjas, and pinpointing their whereabouts was essential to revealing Orochimaru's hideout.
Anyone who understood how things were progressing would have also known that venturing to the Sound Village personally would be risky. Orochimaru was not a fool; he had built a sanctuary of darkness, nestled with traps and complex layers of defense.
Sensing the general vicinity of a hideout was one thing, but navigating the dangers that lived within its walls required a much more cautious approach. Arthur had spent significant time learning and honing new techniques to ensure he wouldn't fall prey to the deceptive charms of the snake-like villain.
He eventually reached a grove where the Anbu had reported the last sighting of the Sound Ninjas. No one was here, so he activated his Tamashii. The surrounding trees stood still, and he sensed the pulse of nature all around him.
Still, there were no signs of a battle—or anyone for that matter.
Sitting down in a lotus position, he began to gather natural energy. The world around him began to shift, colours sharpening, and the cacophony of the forest transformed.
His sensing range expanded exponentially as the Sage Chakra poured in, allowing him to sweep the area for chakra signatures, both innocuous and malignant.
Time seemed to pass by as he scanned the forest, filtering through its many layers. There were countless signatures: squirrels, birds, other creatures flitting through the trees—an entire ecosystem. Yet he couldn't find who he was looking for.
What if he was too late? What if these Sound Ninjas returned to their village and Orochimaru changed his plans? That would be a grave factor to consider.