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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
”
—Henry David Thoreau
Arata Sarutobi (猿飛あらた, Sarutobi Arata) is a Jōnin class shinobi of Konohagakure, the former leader of Team 13, and a member of its historic, well-respected Sarutobi clan. Intellectual to the core, Arata is considered one of the village's most knowledgeable, intelligent residents. His high intellect and eidetic memory have translated to his versatility as a shinobi, as well, and earned him the title of The Academic (アカデミック, Akademikku). Befitting his title, he has learned the principles behind the five basic elements and is able to use them, allowing him to master many different techniques. He is also known for his mastery with his daggers, chakra blades through which he courses chakra transformed into his elemental affinity: Wind. For this skill he is referred to as Konoha's Royal Dagger (木ノ葉の王立刀剣, Konoha no Ōritsu Tōken).
When he was a child, Arata was a very quiet, observant, soft-spoken individual who preferred to allow his actions to speak for him. He never craved attention or the spotlight and was a boy of few words, a workaholic that would rather train than socialize, driven by an intense need to prove himself. Part of this was due to his own nature, and part of it was due to the sternness of his father, who had endeavored to mold Arata into the perfect Sarutobi clan heir from the moment that the boy was born. Growing up in a very strict, demanding, structured environment had the intended effect: Arata became far more calm, rational, and responsible than the average child, even amongst those born into powerful ninja clans. He was a mostly humorless, rigid, arrogant prodigy who radiated condescension without even realizing it. Because of his attitude, it was very difficult for Arata to make friends as a child, as to put it gently, he was not well-liked. Most children his age thought he was too stuck-up and full of himself to try and get along with, and they resorted to simply not including him in anything. Arata’s only real company was just himself or his parents, and considering the overbearing nature of his father and the fact that his mother served as his father’s enabler, this was not much comfort to him. Instead of allowing himself to dwell on his lack of friends, however, Arata simply blocked out the thoughts and focused on his training and studying.
During his time in the Academy, however, he met someone who would change him for the better: Seto Uchiha. In Seto, Arata found a kindred spirit, someone that understood the rigorous existence of a clan heir, someone that sympathized with the demands that Arata faced from his father on a daily basis, and someone who also possessed a high degree of natural talent in the ninja arts. For Arata, Seto represented an equal, someone on his level, a true rival that could propel his growth. They became best friends, despite Seto’s constant reproaches about how Arata treated their classmates. Having grown used to solitude, Arata had developed the habit of looking down on their peers, something which Seto disliked about his friend and worked hard to change. Slowly but surely, thanks to Seto’s positive influence, Arata became happier and started to slightly loosen up, which allowed him to begin gradually forming bonds with the rest of their class. Arata would come, as a result of all their shared adventures and hardships, to view Seto as a brother. Of all his friends, Seto would hold the most special part of Arata’s heart, and he learned much in the way of loyalty, camaraderie, and true strength from the Uchiha. In adulthood, Arata would experience a profound level of grief over the death of his closest friend, an emotional wound that would never truly heal, even with time.
