- In Marvel: I Start by Marrying Scarlett Witch [Complete]
- MWM Chapter 3
The Temple of Fire is located on a small mountain five kilometers outside the capital of the Land of Fire. Due to its long history and grand temple structure, it enjoys a steady stream of visitors.
“Your Highness, we must proceed on foot from here!”
With a reminder from the butler, Kono, Leo jumped down from the carriage, finding a long staircase leading to the mountaintop right in front of him.
Unlike the deserted temples he saw in anime during his childhood, the staircase was bustling with common folk from the Land of Fire, creating a lively scene.
It seemed that the temple was temporarily closed back then due to a tomb robbery incident.
“Let’s go!”
Without further ado, Leo waved his hand and led Kina, the servants, and the guards up the stairs towards the mountain peak.
Thanks to his peak physical condition, Leo barely felt any fatigue when he reached the temple gates, unlike Kina and some of the servants who were already out of breath.
“I didn’t expect Your Highness to be in such good shape!”
To Kina and the servants, their prince seemed like someone who seldom ventured out or exercised, yet his physical fitness far surpassed theirs.
“Is this the famed Iron Wall?”
The temple gate appeared to be over five meters high, made of cast iron and painted gold. On either side stood two massive statues. From his vague memories, Leo recalled that these gates and statues were not mere decorations but part of a powerful barrier and sealing jutsu, forming a formidable defensive barrier around the temple.
Once activated, it required the unique chakra of the temple monks, known as the Celestial Clan, to pass through, and was reputed to be impregnable. However, it was broken once by “Sora” in a rampage with Nine-Tails’ chakra and another time forcibly by the Akatsuki’s Immortal Duo.
“Your Highness, should I inform the head monk to come and receive you?”
Seeing Leo standing at the temple entrance, Kina asked softly. To Kina, though the Temple of Fire was renowned, it was still a temple, and it was proper for the head monk to personally greet a prince of such high status.
Leo shook his head at Kina’s words:
“No need, let’s look around first.”
He had come to seek apprenticeship in ninja arts, not to flaunt his status. He needed to show the proper attitude; otherwise, even if he joined the Temple of Fire, he wouldn’t learn much if Chiriku, the head monk, was unwilling to teach him.
Though the royal family of the Land of Fire held a high status, they didn’t have absolute control over the ninja villages and temples. Even a prince without real power couldn’t force the Temple of Fire to hand over their ancient ninja arts, let alone the Daimyo.
After touring the temple with his attendants and burning a few sticks of incense, Leo noticed that the main deities worshiped at the Temple of Fire were two Buddhas: Guanyin and Acala.
“This fits well with the temple’s famed ninjutsu: The Thousand-Handed Kill and the Wrathful Vajra.”
Not wanting to waste time, he approached a high-ranking monk in the front hall and politely said:
“I am Yuan Chuan, and I have something to discuss with Head Monk Chiriku. Please convey my request.”
“Are you the Prince?”
The monk, being very astute, immediately guessed Leo’s identity upon hearing his surname Yuan, which was the royal surname of the Land of Fire.
“Indeed.”
Leo nodded.
The monk instantly smiled and respectfully performed a Buddhist greeting:
“I will inform the head monk immediately. Please follow me to the guest room in the rear courtyard to rest, Your Highness.”
…
Unlike the bustling front hall, the rear courtyard of the Temple of Fire was off-limits to visitors. Apart from the monks practicing martial arts in the open space, no one else was around.
“Huh, is that young man also a monk here? Why hasn’t he shaved his head?”
As they walked to the guest room, Leo noticed a long-haired boy and asked the monk.
The monk glanced in the direction of Leo’s gaze and showed a hint of disdain:
“Your Highness, that is Sora, a child brought here by Head Monk Chiriku. He is a lay disciple, so he doesn’t need to shave his head.”
“How old is he?”
Leo asked casually.
The monk thought for a moment:
“He should be eleven.”
Leo nodded, no longer inquiring further. In reality, he had guessed the boy’s identity at first glance and was asking to determine the timeline of his entry into this world. While he remembered the main plot of Naruto, he wasn’t clear on specific events and their timelines.
However, he recalled that Sora was about the same age as Naruto. Since Sora was now eleven, Naruto should also be around eleven, and Naruto graduated from the Ninja Academy at twelve. This gave Leo a good idea of the current timeline, easing his mind.
“Wait outside, Kina.”
After instructing Kina, Leo entered the guest room, sipping the hot tea from the Temple of Fire while patiently waiting.
About five minutes later, a bald monk in his thirties, clad in monk robes, knocked and entered the guest room.
“Head Monk Chiriku of the Temple of Fire, greeting Your Highness.”
“No need for formalities, Head Monk Chiriku.”
Leo quickly stood and returned the Buddhist greeting.
“What brings Your Highness here?”
After sitting on the mat, Chiriku showed a puzzled expression. He had no idea why the prince, whom he had rarely met before, would visit the Temple of Fire.
“Head Monk Chiriku, I’ve come to the temple to become a monk and to become your disciple!”
Leo didn’t beat around the bush and stated his purpose directly. With his princely status, he didn’t need to use many words.
Chiriku’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Your Highness, are you sure you’re not joking?”
A prince of the Land of Fire, with such a noble status, wanting to become a monk and his disciple? It was quite unexpected and difficult for Chiriku to comprehend.