Rain fell endlessly upon steel skyline of Amegakure.
It was not gentle rain of Konoha or humid mist of Waves. It was heavy industrial rain that smelled of oil and iron. To Uehara Naraku it smelled like home.
He walked across a metal bridge connecting two skyscrapers. His purple raincoat was slick with water. He pulled down his hood revealing his face to grey sky.
"Konoha had too much sun" Uehara muttered wiping droplets from his forehead. "My skin was starting to dry out."
He reached central tower. It was highest point in village a place where a god resided. Guards at entrance bowed low seeing his face. They knew him. He was disciple of Angel. He was future of Rain.
Uehara walked into elevator.
"Top floor" he commanded.
Gears ground together as elevator ascended.
"System open status."
[Name: Uehara Naraku]
[Level: 18]
[Gold: 5800]
[Items: Seraph's Embrace Zhonya's Hourglass Void Staff Rylai's Crystal Scepter Sorcerer's Shoes Nashor's Tooth.]
"Six items" Uehara admired his inventory. "I am officially fully built. Any more gold I earn will go into buying elixirs or upgrading skills."
Elevator dinged. Doors slid open.
Room was vast and dark illuminated only by faint blue lights and lightning flashing outside.
In center of room stood a figure wearing black cloak with red clouds. He had orange hair and piercings covering his face. His eyes were purple concentric circles.
Rinnegan.
Pain.
Beside him stood Konan holding a paper flower.
"Welcome back Naraku" Konan spoke softly. Her voice was only warmth in cold room.
"I have returned Sensei. Leader" Uehara bowed respectfully.
"Report" Pain's voice was deep carrying weight of divine authority.
"Konoha is crippled" Uehara began. "Third Hokage is dead. Orochimaru has lost his arms and his ability to use jutsu. Sand Village has surrendered and is currently in chaos due to loss of Fourth Kazekage. Power balance of Five Great Nations has shifted."
"Good" Pain stared out at rain. "War brings pain. Pain brings growth. Konoha has known peace for too long."
"Here are funds" Uehara tossed a heavy scroll to Konan. "Profits from mission. Plus interest from my side businesses."
Konan caught scroll. She opened it briefly checking numbers.
"This is..." Konan looked surprised. "More than we expected. Enough to fund our operations for six months."
"I am good at math" Uehara tapped his temple.
"You have done well" Pain turned his Rinnegan to look at Uehara. "Your strength has grown. I can feel it. Your chakra feels... dense."
"I picked up some tricks" Uehara admitted. "So what is next? Do we start hunting Jinchuriki?"
"Not yet" Pain shook his head. "We need more capital. And we need to wait for Three Tails to reappear. However there is movement in Leaf."
"Movement?"
"Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki are going to Konoha" Pain stated. "Their official mission is to investigate Nine Tails Jinchuriki. Unofficially Itachi wishes to verify safety of his brother now that Hokage is dead."
"Ah" Uehara nodded. "Family reunion."
"Kisame is volatile" Pain continued. "And Konoha still has powerful defenders. Jiraiya of Sannin is currently in village."
"Jiraiya is there" Uehara confirmed. "I met him. He is strong."
"We cannot afford to lose Itachi or Kisame" Pain said. "Naraku I want you to shadow them. Stay hidden. If situation becomes critical intervene. If not simply observe."
[Main Mission Triggered: The Return of the Uchiha.]
[Objective: Ensure Itachi and Kisame survive encounter with Jiraiya.]
[Reward: Skill - Destiny (R Ultimate).]
Uehara's eyes lit up.
Destiny. Twisted Fate's ultimate ability. Global teleportation.
"Global teleportation" Uehara thought heart racing. "With that I can go anywhere instantly. No more running. No more boats."
"Understood Leader" Uehara bowed again. "I will be their guardian angel. Or rather their devil in shadows."
"Go" Pain ordered. "World is changing. Akatsuki must be ready to rule it."
Uehara turned and walked back to elevator.
"Oh one more thing" Uehara stopped. "Is Zetsu around?"
"Why do you ask?" deep voice came from floor.
A venus flytrap like plant emerged from concrete. Inside was a man half black half white.
Zetsu.
"Just curious" Uehara smiled at plant man. "You owe me money for that bet on Chunin Exams. You said Gaara would win tournament. Technically Naruto beat him."
"That match was outside tournament bracket" Black Zetsu argued voice raspy.
"Details" Uehara held out hand. "Pay up."
White Zetsu giggled. "He is funny! Can we keep him?"
"No" Black Zetsu grumbled tossing a small bag of gold coins to Uehara. "Greedy brat."
"Pleasure doing business" Uehara caught coins.
[Gold: +100.]
He entered elevator.
As doors closed he heard Konan whisper to Pain.
"He is becoming dangerous Nagato. Can we control him?"
"He is useful" Pain replied. "As long as he shares our pain he is one of us."
Uehara smirked as elevator descended.
"Control me?" Uehara laughed softly. "I am not a piece on board. I am player holding dice."
He walked out of tower into rain again.
"Destination Konoha... again" Uehara sighed activating Sorcerer's Shoes. "At least this time I get to see Itachi choke Sasuke. That meme is legendary."
He jumped from platform landing on water surface of huge lake surrounding Amegakure.
"Time to farm some S rank ninjas."
Uehara blurred into motion leaving a wake of white foam behind him as he sped back toward Land of Fire.
Hunt for Tailed Beasts was about to begin. And Uehara Naraku intended to be present for every single capture. Not to help. But to secure last hit.
...
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!