Sun rose over Konoha marking first day of training month.
Most Genin were already awake. Sasuke was in hospital nursing injuries. Naruto was searching for Kakashi. Rock Lee was undergoing surgery.
Uehara Naraku sat on roof of a dango shop counting money.
"50000 Ryo from Team Oboro. 20000 from betting on matches. Plus system gold."
He was rich. At least by Genin standards.
"Captain!" Shigure shouted from street below. He was carrying huge stack of books. "I bought books you asked for! 'How to Write a Will' and '101 Ways to Beg for Mercy'!"
"Good job" Uehara jumped down landing gracefully. "Study them well. You will need them when you fight Gaara."
"Do I really have to fight him?" Shigure wept.
"Yes. Unless you want to swim back to Rain Village. Now go train. I have important business."
Uehara waved goodbye and walked towards hot springs district. He wasn't going there to bathe. He was going there to farm a specific legendary NPC.
According to plot Naruto would meet a certain pervy sage today.
Uehara activated Scrying Orb. Blue magical eye hovered high above village scanning chakra signatures.
"Found him" Uehara grinned. "Massive chakra source. Feels like nature energy. And it is right next to women's bathhouse. Classic."
Steam rose from hot springs carrying scent of sulfur and soap.
Naruto Uzumaki stood by riverbank yelling at a man in dark sunglasses.
"Hey closet pervert!" Naruto shouted. "Teach me cool moves! Kakashi sensei dumped me on you!"
"I am an elite tutor!" Ebisu adjusted his sunglasses. "I am not a pervert! I am a gentleman! And I will teach you how to walk on water."
"Boring!" Naruto crossed arms.
"Quiet!" Ebisu snapped. "Look over there. Someone is disrespecting sanctity of hot springs!"
Ebisu pointed to a large man with long white spiky hair. Man was crouched on top of wooden fence peeking through a hole into women's section. He was giggling like a schoolgirl.
"Hehehe... what a view... magnificence of youth..."
"You pervert!" Ebisu raged. "How dare you!"
Elite tutor charged forward intending to punish peeping tom.
White haired man didn't even turn around. He simply summoned a toad.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
POOF.
A giant toad wearing armor appeared out of thin air. It slammed down on top of Ebisu crushing poor tutor into ground.
"Do not interrupt my research" man said majestic pose.
"Research?!" Naruto dropped his jaw. "You just knocked out my teacher!"
"I am Jiraiya!" man declared spinning around to strike Kabuki pose. "The Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku! One of Legendary Sannin!"
"Never heard of you" Naruto picked his nose. "You are just a super pervert."
Jiraiya fell over comically.
"Disrespectful brat! I am famous!"
"Famous for getting caught perhaps?" a new voice interjected.
Uehara walked out from behind a tree. He was holding a notebook and pen.
"Jiraiya sama" Uehara smiled pleasantly. "It is an honor. I am a big fan of your... literature."
Jiraiya froze. He looked at boy in purple raincoat.
"Oho?" Jiraiya stood up dusting off his clothes. "A fan? You have good taste kid. Which book is your favorite? Icha Icha Paradise?"
"I prefer the plot" Uehara lied. "But I am actually here for an autograph. And maybe a mission."
[Side Mission Triggered: Impress the Toad Sage.]
[Objective: Force Jiraiya to use a Ninjutsu.]
[Reward: 500 Gold Coins.]
"Mission?" Jiraiya narrowed eyes. "I am not active right now. I am gathering intelligence."
He glanced at women's bath again.
"Intelligence on local anatomy" Uehara nodded understandingly. "Very important work. But seeing as you knocked out Naruto's teacher don't you think you owe him a lesson?"
"Why should I?" Jiraiya scoffed. "I don't teach brats."
"I will pay you" Uehara pulled out a wad of cash. "And... I will show you a jutsu you have never seen before."
Jiraiya looked at money then at Uehara. He sensed strange chakra from Rain boy. It felt cold unnatural.
"A jutsu I haven't seen?" Jiraiya laughed. "Kid I have traveled world. I have seen everything."
"Bet?" Uehara raised an eyebrow.
"Fine" Jiraiya crossed arms. "You have one shot. If you can surprise me I will teach this loudmouth something. If not you give me that cash."
"Deal."
Naruto watched confused. "Hey Raincoat Guy! Don't gamble with my training!"
Uehara stepped forward. He didn't weave signs. He tapped his boots.
[Item Active: Sorcerer's Shoes.]
[Item Active: Rylai's Crystal Scepter.]
[Item Active: Nashor's Tooth.]
"Watch closely Sage."
Uehara raised his hand.
"Trueshot Barrage."
It was an ultimate ability from Ezreal (League of Legends). Uehara channeled massive amount of chakra into a single crescent arc of energy.
Air hummed. Ground vibrated.
A massive golden wave of energy erupted from Uehara sweeping across river. It wasn't just chakra; it was pure magical damage mixed with physical force.
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
"No hand signs? And that density..."
Wave moved fast. Too fast to dodge casually.
"Earth Style: Earth Mud Wall!"
Jiraiya slammed hands on ground. A massive stone wall rose up reinforced with chakra.
BOOM!
Golden energy smashed into wall. Stone crumbled instantly turning into dust. Force of impact sent shockwave rippling through water blowing steam away from hot springs.
Women inside screamed.
Jiraiya stood amidst rubble his sandals skidding back a few meters. He had blocked it but smoke was rising from his sleeves.
"That..." Jiraiya looked at Uehara with serious expression. "That was not Ninjutsu. It had no element. It was pure shape manipulation compressed to extreme."
[Mission Complete: Impress the Toad Sage.]
[Reward: 500 Gold Coins.]
Uehara panted slightly. That move cost a lot of mana.
"Well?" Uehara asked casually shuffling his deck. "Surprised?"
Jiraiya grinned. A genuine wild grin.
"Not bad kid. Not bad at all. You from Rain Village?"
"Yes."
"Hanzo has trained a monster" Jiraiya rubbed his chin. "Alright. A deal is a deal. I will look after Naruto."
He walked over to Naruto inspecting seal on boy's stomach.
"But you..." Jiraiya looked back at Uehara. "You are dangerous. That power feels unstable."
"It is perfectly safe" Uehara lied. "As long as I get paid."
"Hah! A mercenary through and through" Jiraiya laughed loudly. "I like you! But don't cause trouble in my village Rain brat. Or I will have to crush you for real."
Killer intent flared for a split second. It was heavy suffocating pressure of a Sannin. It made Orochimaru's intent feel like a gentle breeze.
Uehara didn't flinch. Warrior's Blood kept his heart steady.
"I am just a tourist" Uehara bowed.
He handed cash to Jiraiya.
"For your research."
Jiraiya took money eyes turning into yen symbols.
"Excellent! Naruto come with me! We are going to... do more research!"
"You just want to peep!" Naruto yelled being dragged away.
As they left Uehara checked his status.
[Gold: 2500]
"I have enough" Uehara clenched fist.
He opened System Store.
[Purchase Recipe: Void Staff.]
[Component Required: Blasting Wand + Amplifying Tome.]
[Combine Cost: 1365 Gold.]
[Item Acquired: Void Staff.]
[Stats: +65 Ability Power +40 Percent Magic Penetration.]
A purple staff appeared in his inventory immaterial but potent. With this 40 percent of enemy's magic resistance would be ignored.
"Gaara's sand armor is dense with chakra" Uehara calculated. "It acts like magic resistance. With Void Staff my cards will cut through it like paper."
He looked at training ground where Lee had been destroyed.
"Next time we meet Gaara" Uehara whispered. "Your absolute defense will become absolute Swiss cheese."
He turned and walked back towards tower.
"Now I just need to make sure my teammate Shigure doesn't die of fright before tournament starts."
One month of preparation.
One month to farm.
Mastermind of Konoha was ready for finals.
…..
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!