The rain continued to pour, acting as the eyes and ears of "God."
Uehara Naraku stood before a large cave entrance, the hideout of the remaining Hanzo loyalists. He knew that in Amegakure, nothing happened without Pain (Nagato) knowing about it. The rain was Nagato's sensory jutsu, Rain Tiger at Will Technique.
If he simply killed these men in cold blood, he would just be a talented killer. But Uehara wanted to be a "Mastermind"—someone who manipulates perception. He needed to show Nagato and Konan not just his strength, but his unwavering loyalty.
Uehara took a deep breath, adjusting his facial expression to one of righteous fury.
"Found you... you rats!"
He didn't sneak in. He didn't assassinate them. He stomped into the cave entrance, his silhouette framed by the lightning and rain, looking like a tragic hero.
Inside the cave, about a dozen rogue ninjas were resting. They jumped up, startled by the intrusion.
"Who is it?!"
"It's that kid!"
The leader of the rogues, a scarred Chunin, stepped forward. "You again? You killed my scouts?"
Uehara ignored the question. He pointed a trembling finger at them, his voice cracking with "emotion."
"How dare you... how dare you betray the village! How dare you betray God (Pain) and Lady Angel (Konan)?!"
The rogues were confused. "What is this kid babbling about?"
"Amegakure finally has peace!" Uehara shouted, his voice echoing in the cave. "Pain-sama brought order to this hell! And you... you want to destroy it? You want to bring back the war? I won't let you!"
Outside, high in the tower, Nagato (controlling the Deva Path) and Konan were indeed monitoring the situation through the rain.
"He is... very passionate," Konan noted, a rare softness in her voice.
"He identifies with the village," Pain's voice was flat, but there was a hint of approval. "He understands the pain of this country."
Back in the cave, the rogues were less impressed.
"Kill this noisy brat!"
A dozen ninjas rushed forward, throwing shuriken and kunai.
Uehara's expression instantly shifted from "righteous hero" to "focused gamer."
[Skill Activated: Pick a Card (W) - Red Card]
"For the peace of the village... disappear!"
He threw the Red Card into the center of the charging group.
BOOM!
The explosion rocked the cave, collapsing part of the ceiling. The magical fire and force sent five or six ninjas flying, their bodies broken by the blast.
[Side Mission Progress: 9/10 Enemies Killed.]
"Damn it! He's strong!" The leader roared. "Water Release: Water Shark Bullet!"
A shark made of water surged toward Uehara.
Uehara didn't panic. He had plenty of mana now.
[Skill Activated: Wild Cards (Q)]
Three cards sliced through the water shark, dispersing it, and continued onward to pierce the chests of the ninjas standing behind the leader.
[Mission Complete: The First Blood.]
[Reward: 500 Gold Coins. Fixed Reward: Skill Card.]
The notifications popped up, but Uehara couldn't check them yet. There were still enemies left.
"You monster!" The leader screamed, realizing his squad was decimated in seconds. "You aren't a Genin! What are you?!"
Uehara walked forward slowly, another Gold Card spinning in his hand.
"Me?" Uehara looked at the terrified man. "I am just a student who loves his village."
Ping.
He threw the Gold Card. It hit the leader squarely in the forehead.
[Stun Effect Applied.]
The leader froze, his body locked in magical stasis. Uehara walked up to him, drew a kunai (to save mana), and slashed his throat.
"And you are just 30 gold coins."
The cave fell silent. Bodies littered the ground.
Uehara stood amidst the carnage, breathing heavily. He made sure to look exhausted, in case Pain was still watching.
"I did it..." he whispered to the empty air (and the hidden audience). "I protected the village."
He then quickly opened his System Interface to check his loot. He had farmed over 400 gold coins from the kills, plus the 500 mission reward. He was rich.
"System, show me the skill card reward."
[Reward: Command: Protect (E) - From Orianna, the Lady of Clockwork.]
Description: Passive - The Ball adds Armor and Magic Resist to the attached target. Active - Command the Ball to fly to a target location, dealing damage to enemies it passes through and shielding the allied target upon arrival.
Uehara blinked. Orianna's shield?
It was a defensive skill. Since he didn't have "The Ball," the system usually adapted these skills.
[Skill Adaptation: You can designate an object or person as 'The Ball' (Center of the skill). If no target is selected, the energy forms a shield around yourself.]
"A shield," Uehara nodded. "Good. I was too squishy. Now I have a defense."
He looted the bodies for Ryo (to keep up appearances), then dragged his tired body out of the cave and back into the rain.
As he walked back toward the tower, he saw a figure waiting for him in the rain.
It was Konan.
She was holding an umbrella. She walked over and tilted it to cover him.
"You did well, Naraku," she said softly.
Uehara looked up, feigning surprise. "Sensei? I... I killed them. They were bad people."
"I know," Konan said. "Let's go home."
Uehara lowered his head to hide the smirk. Step one of becoming the Mastermind: Make the boss think you are their most loyal soldier.
"Yes, Sensei. Also... can I have money for dinner? I lost my wallet in the fight."
Konan: "..."