Stadium grew restless.
Sun beat down on impatient spectators. Murmurs of discontent turned into loud boos. Ten minutes had passed since end of Shigure's brutal execution.
"Where is he?" Naruto shouted leaning over railing. "Sasuke! You are going to be disqualified!"
"Hokage sama" Genma looked up at VIP box. "Time limit is approaching. Should I disqualify Uchiha?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. He looked at empty seat beside him where Kazekage sat.
"Please wait a moment longer" Kazekage (Orochimaru) urged smooth voice dripping with anticipation. "I traveled far to see Uchiha bloodline. It would be a shame to end it on a technicality."
"Very well" Hiruzen nodded. "We will give him one more minute."
Seconds ticked by.
Gaara stood in center of arena. He was vibrating with impatience. His sand swirled around his feet hungry for more blood. He had just killed Shigure but it wasn't enough. It was just an appetizer.
"Come..." Gaara whispered. "Come and die."
Suddenly wind picked up. Leaves danced in center of arena forming a whirlwind.
WHOOSH.
Two figures appeared back to back.
One was tall with silver hair reading a book. Other was young wearing black outfit with bandages on his arms.
"Sorry we are late" Kakashi Hatake smiled eye closed in a happy crescent. "We got lost on road of life."
"Sasuke!" Naruto cheered. "You made it!"
Sasuke Uchiha stood up straightening his posture. He looked stronger. Sharper. His chakra felt refined.
"So that is him" Uehara Naraku observed from stands. "He learned Chidori. And he copied Lee's speed. Classic protagonist power up."
"You are late" Genma noted taking senbon out of his mouth. "But just in time. Name?"
"Sasuke Uchiha."
"Opponent is Gaara of Desert. Everyone else clear out."
Kakashi vanished leaving Sasuke alone with monster.
"Finally" Gaara turned slowly. "I have waited. Mother has waited."
"I am not going to wait" Sasuke said.
"Begin!"
Sasuke moved. It was a blur. He disappeared from view reappearing instantly behind Gaara.
BAM.
A heavy kick slammed into Gaara's face. Sand shield was too slow.
"Fast!" Rock Lee gasped from his wheelchair on balcony. "That is my speed! He copied my movement in just one month?"
Sasuke dominated early exchange. He was faster than sand. He punched kicked and tossed Gaara around arena. Gaara's armor cracked and crumbled.
"This is bad" Kankuro whispered. "Gaara is getting angry."
Gaara retreated. He enclosed himself in a sphere of hardened sand. A giant eye made of sand floated above it watching Sasuke.
"Shield of Shukaku" Uehara noted. "He is camping. Boring strategy."
Sasuke stood back. He began to weave signs.
Ox. Rabbit. Monkey.
Chakra gathered in his left hand. Blue lightning began to chirp like thousand birds.
Chidori.
"That sound..." Uehara leaned forward. "High concentration lightning chakra. High penetration. It is basically a physical version of my cards."
Sasuke charged. He ran down wall of arena dragging lightning through dirt.
"Chidori!"
He thrust his hand into sand sphere.
CRASH.
Lightning pierced absolute defense.
For a moment silence reigned.
Then a scream echoed from inside sphere. It wasn't human scream. It was shriek of a wounded beast.
"My blood! My blood!"
Gaara's arm transformed. A monstrous claw shot out of sphere knocking Sasuke back.
At that exact moment feathers began to fall from sky.
White feathers. Soft. Sleep inducing.
"Temple of Nirvana Jutsu" Uehara recognized it instantly. "Here we go."
Audience began to slump over. Civilians fell asleep instantly. Even weak ninjas dropped like flies.
"Release!" Kakashi Guy and other Jonin dispelled Genjutsu instantly.
"What is happening?" Sakura rubbed her eyes seeing chaos.
BOOM!
Explosion rocked VIP box.
Kazekage grabbed Third Hokage holding a kunai to his throat. He leaped onto tiled roof of stadium dragging old man with him. Four Sound ninjas appeared erecting a massive purple barrier.
"Four Violet Flames Formation!"
Inside barrier Kazekage ripped off his face mask.
Pale skin. Snake eyes.
"Orochimaru!" Hiruzen gasped.
"I told you I would be back Sensei" Orochimaru laughed. "To crush Konoha."
Simultaneously giant snakes summoned by Sand and Sound ninjas crashed through walls of village. Calls for invasion echoed.
"Enemy attack!" Anbu shouted. "Defend village!"
Chaos. Absolute chaos.
In arena Gaara was screaming in pain clutching his bleeding shoulder. Kankuro and Temari jumped down grabbing their brother.
"We have to go!" Baki the Sand Jonin ordered. "Plan A is failed. Gaara is wounded. Retreat!"
They grabbed Gaara and fled towards forest.
"Sasuke!" Genma shouted defending against a Sound ninja. "Go after them! Do not let them escape!"
Sasuke nodded. He chased after Sand siblings.
"Naruto! Sakura! Wake up Shikamaru and go help Sasuke!" Kakashi ordered fighting two enemies at once. "This is an A rank mission!"
Uehara stood on balcony amidst sleeping spectators. He watched Sasuke run. He watched giant snakes destroying walls. He watched Orochimaru fighting Hokage.
"Beautiful" Uehara smiled.
"Captain!" Baiu pulled at his sleeve. "We have to run! This is war! Konoha is under attack!"
"Run?" Uehara looked at him. "Why would I run from a buffet?"
He pointed at Sound and Sand ninjas flooding stadium.
"Look at all that gold walking around."
He activated Sorcerer's Shoes.
"Baiu find a safe place and hide. I have work to do."
"Work?"
"Farming" Uehara drew a deck of cards.
He jumped from balcony landing in center of arena where a group of three Sound ninjas were surrounding a Konoha Chunin.
"Die Leaf scum!" Sound ninja raised a sword.
Swish.
Gold Card hit him in back of head.
DING.
Ninja froze.
"Hello gentlemen" Uehara announced. "I am Uehara Naraku of Rain Village. I am here to offer my services as a third party consultant."
"Rain Village?" Sound ninja sneered. "You are allied with us! Help us kill these Leaf ninjas!"
"Am I?" Uehara tilted head. "I don't remember signing a contract. But I do remember you guys owe me money."
He raised his hand. Void Staff glowed in his inventory giving his chakra a menacing purple aura.
"Wild Cards."
Three cards sliced through Sound ninjas. With magic penetration they cut through flak jackets like butter.
[Enemy Killed. Reward: 60 Gold.]
[Enemy Killed. Reward: 60 Gold.]
[Enemy Killed. Reward: 60 Gold.]
"Easy money" Uehara grinned.
He looked around stadium. It was a battlefield.
"System" Uehara commanded. "Mark all hostile targets with a bounty over 50 Gold."
Hundreds of red markers appeared on his HUD.
"It is harvest season."
Uehara began to move. He wasn't fighting for Konoha. He wasn't fighting for Orochimaru. He was fighting for his item build.
Zhonya's Hourglass was waiting. And Konoha Crush was just a massive XP event.
...
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!