Purple flames rose high into sky burning with intensity that warped air around them.
Four Violet Flames Formation stood firm. Inside this absolute barrier history was being written in blood.
Uehara Naraku landed on tiled roof of a nearby building. He ignored chaos in streets below. His eyes were fixed on battle taking place on roof of arena.
"I made it" Uehara whispered. "Just in time for curtain call."
Several Anbu Black Ops were crouching near barrier helpless to intervene. Their masks hid their expressions but their chakra radiated despair. One of them wearing a bird mask noticed Uehara.
"You!" Anbu shouted drawing a katana. "Identify yourself! Are you with invaders?"
"Relax" Uehara didn't look at him. "I am just a spectator. Besides you have bigger problems."
He pointed inside barrier.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was in bad shape. His armor was cracked and Enma the Monkey King had transformed back into a staff. Standing opposite him was Orochimaru.
Orochimaru looked youthful and arrogant sword of Kusanagi in hand.
"It is over Sensei" Orochimaru sneered. "Konoha will fall. You are too old to stop me."
Hiruzen panted heavily blood dripping from his mouth. He looked at burning village then at his student.
"I may be old" Hiruzen straightened his back. "But I am still Hokage. And I will not let you destroy my home."
Old man clapped his hands together. Shadows gathered behind him. Temperature dropped drastically.
"That seal..." Uehara narrowed his eyes activating Scrying Orb.
Through magical sight he saw it. A spectral figure hovering behind Hiruzen. It wore white robes held a rosary and clenched a knife in its teeth.
Shinigami. Reaper.
"Dead Demon Consuming Seal" Uehara recognized forbidden jutsu. "He is trading his soul."
Hiruzen lunged forward ignoring Kusanagi blade piercing his chest. He grabbed Orochimaru.
"Caught you!"
"What is this?" Orochimaru panicked seeing spectral image of Reaper. "Let go of me old man!"
"I cannot kill you" Hiruzen smiled sadly blood staining his teeth. "I don't have strength left to take your whole soul. But I will take your ambition."
"Seal!"
Hiruzen pulled. Spectral knife sliced through Orochimaru's spirit arms.
"My arms!" Orochimaru screamed in agony. "I can't feel my arms! My hands!"
"You will never weave signs again" Hiruzen declared. "Your ninjutsu is gone."
Old man collapsed. Reaper consumed his soul.
Third Hokage was dead.
"Lord Hokage!" Anbu outside barrier screamed.
Purple barrier flickered and faded. Four Sound ninjas maintaining it were exhausted.
"Orochimaru sama!" Tayuya shouted rushing to catch their falling leader. "We must retreat!"
Orochimaru hung limp between them his arms useless and turning purple. His face was twisted in pain and hatred.
"Retreat..." Orochimaru hissed. "Forget Konoha. Get me out of here!"
Sound Four grabbed Orochimaru and fled leaping away across rooftops.
"After them!" Anbu commander ordered. "Don't let them escape!"
Anbu chased but were intercepted by Kimimaro and other elite guards.
Uehara stood on roof watching retreat.
"I could stop him" Uehara calculated gripping a Gold Card. "With Void Staff I could pierce his defense and kill him right now."
He hesitated.
Killing Orochimaru now would break plot. Sasuke wouldn't leave village. Akatsuki wouldn't have a target. And Itachi's story would change.
"Too much risk" Uehara lowered his hand. "Besides a crippled snake is more useful to me alive."
He looked at body of Hiruzen Sarutobi. Rain began to fall from sky mixing with ash and smoke. It was as if heavens were crying for God of Shinobi.
[Main Event Witnessed: Death of the Third Hokage.]
[Reward: Unique Item - Tear of the Goddess (Fully Stacked).]
[Item Upgrade: Seraph's Embrace.]
[Stats: +80 Ability Power +860 Mana +20 Ability Haste.]
[Unique Passive: Grants bonus Ability Power equal to 5 percent of mana. Lifeline Shield active.]
Uehara felt a surge of mana. His Tear of the Goddess which he had bought months ago had finally evolved.
"Seraph's Embrace" Uehara felt power coursing through him. "Infinite mana. And a massive shield."
He walked over to where Hiruzen lay. Anbu were surrounding body weeping.
Uehara didn't approach too close. He simply bowed once out of respect.
"Rest well Professor" Uehara whispered. "Your will of fire is a bit outdated but your sacrifice was profitable."
He turned away.
Konoha Crush was over. Invaders were retreating.
Sand Village surrendered realizing they had been manipulated by Orochimaru (who had killed true Kazekage).
Uehara found a quiet spot on a water tower overlooking village.
"Mission complete" Uehara opened his status window.
[Total Gold Earned: 5800.]
[Items Acquired: Void Staff Zhonya's Hourglass Seraph's Embrace.]
[Level Up: 18.]
"I am full build" Uehara grinned. "Or at least close to it."
Suddenly a paper butterfly fluttered down landing on his shoulder.
"Konan sensei?" Uehara recognized technique.
"Naraku" Konan's voice echoed from paper. "Report."
"Mission accomplished" Uehara replied. "Konoha is in ruins. Hokage is dead. Sand Village is weakened. And I have gathered enough data to write a book."
"Excellent" Konan said. "Return to Rain immediately. Pain sama has a new task for you. Akatsuki is beginning its move."
"Already?" Uehara sighed. "I didn't even get to buy souvenirs."
"Come back Naraku."
"Understood."
Uehara stood up. He looked at battered village one last time.
Naruto was safe. Sasuke was safe (and traumatized). Kakashi was safe.
"Goodbye Konoha" Uehara waved. "Thanks for gold. I will be back when Pain decides to flatten this place."
He activated Sorcerer's Shoes.
Whoosh.
Uehara Naraku vanished into rain leaving behind a legend of a mysterious Genin who defeated monsters and turned into gold.
Start of Shippuden was approaching. And Mastermind was ready.
…..
Author Note
Hi guys! Thank you for reading my fanfiction.
I wanted to let you know that I'll be releasing bonus chapters for Power Stones. Here are the goals:
15 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
30 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
50 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
75 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
100 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
Thanks for the support!