The temperature on the bridge dropped but the intensity of the chakra spiked dramatically.
Inside the dome of ice mirrors Sasuke Uchiha fell to the ground. His body was riddled with senbon needles having used himself as a human shield to protect Naruto. He lay motionless his chest barely rising.
"Sasuke!" Naruto screamed his voice breaking.
The shock of seeing his friend fall triggered something deep inside the Uzumaki boy. The seal on his stomach burned. A terrifying malevolent red chakra bubbled out of him taking the shape of a fox's head. The sheer pressure of the chakra shattered the mirrors near him.
High above on the steel beam Uehara Naraku stopped eating. He stood up his eyes wide.
"There it is" Uehara whispered. "The Nine Tails chakra. The cheat code of the ninja world."
He looked at his system interface. The energy readings from Naruto were spiking off the charts. It was a chaotic hateful power that felt cold and hot at the same time.
"Haku is in trouble" Uehara noted.
Below Haku watched in horror as the orange boy transformed into a beast. The ice mirrors which had been impenetrable were smashed into glittering dust by a single roar. Naruto moved with blinding speed grabbing Haku's wrist and delivering a punch that sent the masked boy flying through the shattered ice dome.
Haku crashed onto the bridge his mask shattering to reveal his face. He lay there coughing up blood defeated by the raw power of the jinchuriki.
Meanwhile near the center of the bridge the battle between the Jonin had reached its climax.
Zabuza Momochi was struggling. Despite the potion Uehara gave him he was still outmatched by Kakashi's versatility.
"Earth Style: Fanged Pursuit Jutsu!" Kakashi slammed a scroll onto the deck.
The ground beneath Zabuza cracked. Eight ninja hounds burst from the concrete sinking their teeth into Zabuza's arms and legs pinning him completely. The Demon of the Mist was immobilized.
"It is over Zabuza" Kakashi said calmly. "I told you. You can't defeat me."
Kakashi began to gather chakra in his right hand. The blue electricity chirped like a thousand birds screaming in unison. The air smelled of ozone.
Raikiri. Lightning Blade.
"I am going to end this" Kakashi declared. "For the future of this country."
He charged. He ran with godlike speed the lightning trailing behind him aiming straight for Zabuza's heart.
Zabuza couldn't move. He watched death approaching.
Suddenly Haku who was lying defeated nearby saw the danger.
"Zabuza san!"
Haku ignored his own pain. He forced his body to move disappearing in a blur of speed intending to throw himself in front of Kakashi's lightning to serve as a human shield for his master.
It was the tragic destiny written in the original story. The tool dying for the master.
But this time there was a Mastermind watching from above.
"Oh no you don't" Uehara narrowed his eyes. "I just spent 100 gold coins healing you two. If you die now my investment goes down the drain."
Uehara jumped from the steel beam.
"Flash!"
He used the Summoner Spell Flash blinking instantly from the air to the ground directly into the path of the three ninjas.
Time seemed to slow down.
Kakashi was charging with the Lightning Blade.
Haku was rushing to intercept.
Zabuza was pinned.
Uehara appeared right in the middle. He didn't try to block the lightning with his body. He raised his hand which was glowing with a brilliant gold light.
"Pick a Card: Gold Card!"
He threw the card directly at Kakashi.
DING!
The magical card hit Kakashi's wrist just inches before the lightning could pierce Zabuza or Haku.
The effect was absolute.
Kakashi's body seized. The lightning in his hand sputtered and vanished as his chakra flow was instantly halted by the stun effect. He froze mid stride his single eye widening in shock.
"What..." Kakashi couldn't speak. He couldn't move.
Haku who had arrived a split second later stopped in confusion seeing Kakashi frozen in place.
"Good afternoon everyone!"
Uehara landed gracefully between them his purple raincoat fluttering. He kicked the ninja hounds pinning Zabuza sending them poofing back to the spirit world one by one.
"You..." Zabuza gasped falling to his knees as the dogs vanished. "Uehara?"
"The one and only" Uehara smiled shuffling his deck. "I told you Zabuza san. I would be watching. And I have to say your performance was sloppy. Getting caught by dogs? Really?"
Kakashi fought against the paralysis. His willpower was immense and the stun only lasted for two seconds. He stumbled back regaining control of his limbs panting heavily.
"You..." Kakashi looked at Uehara warily. "You are the Rain ninja Naruto met in the forest. Uehara Naraku."
"Correct Mr Copy Ninja" Uehara bowed politely. "I am the new owner of the Gato Shipping Company. These two..." he pointed at Zabuza and Haku "...are my employees. You are trying to damage my property."
"Employees?" Kakashi frowned. "They are rogue ninjas who kill for money."
"And I am a businessman who pays money" Uehara shrugged. "It is a perfect match."
Behind them the red chakra around Naruto began to fade. The boy looked confused seeing the new arrival.
"Hey! Raincoat Guy!" Naruto shouted. "Get out of the way! I am going to beat Zabuza!"
"Relax Naruto" Uehara waved his hand. "The fight is paused. It is time for a commercial break."
He looked at Kakashi then at Zabuza.
"Here is the situation. Zabuza can't beat Kakashi. Haku can't beat the Nine Tails kid. And none of you can beat me. So I propose a deal."
"A deal?" Zabuza grunted standing up shakily.
"Yes" Uehara said. "The bridge builder wants to build his bridge. I want to control the shipping routes. Gato is dead so there is no one left to oppose the bridge."
He turned to Kakashi.
"If I order Zabuza to stand down and let the bridge be finished will you Konoha ninjas pack up and go home?"
Kakashi analyzed the situation. He was low on chakra. Sasuke was injured. Naruto was unstable. And this new enemy Uehara was a complete unknown whose ability could instantly paralyze a Jonin.
"If the bridge builder is safe our mission is complete" Kakashi said cautiously. "We have no reason to fight unnecessary battles."
"Excellent!" Uehara clapped his hands. "Then it is settled. Peace in our time."
He turned to Zabuza.
"Zabuza san Haku let's go. We have a company to restructure. And I need to teach you how to dodge dogs."
Zabuza looked at Kakashi then at Haku. He sheathed his sword.
"Fine" Zabuza spat. "But this isn't over Kakashi."
"It never is" Kakashi replied pulling his headband down to cover his Sharingan.
[Main Mission Complete: The Battle of the Great Naruto Bridge.]
[Reward: Random Item Component - Giant's Belt.]
[Giant's Belt: +380 Health.]
Uehara felt a surge of vitality. His body felt tougher more resilient.
"Pleasure doing business with you" Uehara waved to Team 7.
He turned and walked away flanked by the Demon of the Mist and the Ice User.
As they walked into the mist Uehara whispered to Zabuza.
"By the way Zabuza san since I saved your life again I am deducting it from your salary. You are basically working for free for the next three years."
Zabuza didn't answer. He just gripped his sword handle so tight his knuckles turned white.
"Welcome to the Akatsuki corporate lifestyle" Uehara grinned. "We have great benefits but the boss is a tyrant."
….
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!