Night fell over Forest of Death bringing with it a suffocating darkness.
Most teams were huddling in caves or high branches taking turns to keep watch. Fear of predators and other ninjas kept adrenaline levels high preventing true rest.
Uehara Naraku however was walking boldly towards center of forest.
"Captain" Baiu whispered nervously clutching his kunai. "Are you sure we should be moving at night? Anko sensei said night predators are active."
"Predators are just loot pinatas" Uehara replied casually.
He held a glowing Blue Card in his hand using it as a makeshift flashlight. Magical light cut through gloom illuminating massive spider webs and strange glowing mushrooms.
"We are close to tower" Uehara checked his mental map. " Tower is safest place. But it is also where desperate teams will gather to steal scrolls at last minute. It is a hunting ground."
"So we are hunting?" Shigure asked.
"We are collecting taxes" Uehara corrected.
They arrived at clearing near central tower. Massive stone structure loomed ahead piercing canopy. A high chain link fence surrounded it with several gates allowing entry.
"Stop" Uehara held up a hand.
He sensed chakra signatures. Three of them.
"Someone is camping by gate" Uehara noted. "Hiding in mud. Waiting for prey."
He activated Scrying Orb. Blue magical eye appeared above muddy patch revealing three figures submerged in earth breathing through bamboo reeds.
They wore forehead protectors of Hidden Rain Village.
"Hey look" Uehara pointed. "It is our countrymen. Team Oboro."
Shigure squinted. "Team Oboro? They are famous in our village for their Genjutsu and clones. Should we say hello?"
"Of course" Uehara grinned. "We are all Rain ninjas. We should support each other."
He walked openly into clearing.
"Hello down there!" Uehara shouted at mud. "You can come out now! It is me your friendly neighbor!"
Mud exploded.
Three figures leaped out landing in a triangle formation around Uehara's team. They wore yellow jumpsuits and rebreathers covering lower faces.
Oboro leader of group narrowed eyes under his mask.
"You..." Oboro hissed. "You are Uehara Naraku. Hanzo sama's new favorite."
"News travels fast" Uehara smiled. "I see you guys are working hard. Camping in mud must be great for skin."
"What do you want?" Kagari another member of Team Oboro asked holding a kunai. "We are busy. We need more scrolls."
"I have scrolls" Uehara patted his pouch. "Heaven and Earth. Complete set."
Greed flashed in Oboro's eyes. Even though they were from same village competition in exams was fierce. Only strongest were allowed to advance.
"Is that so?" Oboro signaled his teammates. "You know Uehara... accidents happen in this forest. Even to favorites."
"Are you threatening me?" Uehara raised an eyebrow.
"Give us scrolls" Oboro demanded. "And we will let you live. Refuse and you die here."
"Sly Fog Jutsu!"
Oboro performed hand seals. Thick clones began to emerge from mist. Dozens of yellow clad ninjas appeared surrounding Uehara Shigure and Baiu.
"Genjutsu?" Shigure panicked backing up against Uehara. "Captain! There are too many of them!"
"Relax" Uehara yawned. "They are just holograms with bad graphics."
He stepped forward.
"You want my scrolls Oboro? Come and take them."
"Kill him!" Oboro shouted.
Fifty clones rushed forward swinging kunai.
Uehara didn't move. He simply raised his hand. Rylai's Crystal Scepter hummed in his chakra network.
"Wild Cards."
Three glowing cards shot out spinning rapidly.
Cards passed through clones dissipating them like smoke. But Uehara wasn't aiming for clones. He was aiming for real bodies hiding behind them.
Splat.
First card hit Oboro in shoulder.
"Argh!"
Oboro grunted expecting a simple cut. Instead he felt a wave of crushing frost spread through his body. His legs felt like lead. His movement speed dropped by 20 percent.
"What is this?" Oboro stumbled. "My legs... they are heavy!"
"Found you" Uehara grinned.
He drew a Red Card.
"You guys like hiding in groups right? Group hugs are dangerous."
He threw Red Card into center of real Team Oboro.
BOOM!
Explosion was precise. It blasted three Rain ninjas off their feet shattering their formation and dispelling remaining clones instantly.
Oboro Mubi and Kagari hit ground rolling in dirt. They tried to stand up but Rylai's slow effect lingered making them sluggish and clumsy.
Uehara appeared in front of them in a blur of purple.
"Too slow" Uehara tutted.
He kicked Oboro in chest sending him crashing into fence.
"Stay down."
He spun around and slapped Mubi with a card infused hand knocking him out cold.
Kagari tried to run but Shigure realizing enemies were weakened unleashed a barrage of senbon from his umbrella pinning him to a tree.
"We... we surrender!" Oboro coughed blood leaking from his mask. "We are allies! We are from same village!"
"Now we are allies?" Uehara laughed walking over. "A minute ago you wanted to kill me."
He squatted down in front of defeated leader.
"This is awkward Oboro. I can't let this slide. Attempted murder of a superior officer? That is treason."
"Superior officer?" Oboro stammered. "You are just a Genin!"
"I am the Captain of Team Rain" Uehara stated coldly. "That means I outrank you. Now empty your pockets."
"What?"
"Pockets" Uehara snapped fingers. "Money. Scrolls. Equipment. Hand it over. Consider it a fine for stupidity."
trembling Oboro handed over his wallet and three scrolls.
"Only 2000 Ryo?" Uehara looked at cash with disgust. "You guys are broke. No wonder you resort to robbery."
He took scrolls.
"Two Heaven scrolls. Useless to me but I can sell them."
[Subjugated Enemy Faction. Reward: 150 Gold Coins.]
Uehara stood up.
"Listen closely Oboro. I am letting you live because I am generous. And because I want you to go annoy other teams. Go find Team 7. Go find Team Guy. Make their lives miserable."
"Yes... yes sir!" Oboro nodded frantically.
"Get out of my sight."
Team Oboro scrambled away limping into darkness terrified of their own village mate.
"Captain" Baiu looked at Uehara with worship in his eyes. "That was amazing! You defeated them in ten seconds!"
"They were weak" Uehara shrugged. "Just fodder."
He looked at high tower gate.
"We have scrolls. We have money. But..."
Uehara checked his Gold balance.
[Gold: 1850]
"I am close to 2000 Gold" Uehara thought. "I can buy Sorcerer's Shoes upgrade soon. Magic Penetration will be useful against guys like Gaara who have armor."
He sat down on a rock near gate.
"We wait here" Uehara announced.
"Wait?" Shigure asked. "But gate is right there. We can finish exam!"
"And miss all customers?" Uehara shook his head. "Night is young. Plenty of teams will try to enter this gate before sunrise. And every one of them has to pay toll."
He shuffled his deck.
"I am setting up a checkpoint boys. No one enters tower without paying Uehara Tax."
For next six hours Gate to central tower became a nightmare for candidates.
A team from Grass Village tried to sneak in. Uehara stunned them with a Gold Card and took their lunch money.
A team from Konoha tried to rush him. Uehara slowed them with Rylai's and took their scrolls.
By sunrise Uehara had collected 12 scrolls 50000 Ryo and enough system Gold to buy his next item.
[Purchase Item: Sorcerer's Shoes.]
[Stats: +18 Magic Penetration +45 Movement Speed.]
Uehara felt power in his boots change. They felt lighter deadlier. Now his cards would ignore a portion of enemy magic resistance.
"Time to clock out" Uehara stood up stretching his back.
Sunlight was breaking through canopy.
"Let's go inside" Uehara told his exhausted but rich teammates. "I heard tower has showers. I need to wash off smell of poverty."
Team Rain unlocked gate and walked into tower officially becoming first team to pass second exam.
But Uehara knew real challenge was waiting inside.
Preliminaries.
One on one fights.
And Gaara was still waiting for him.
...
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!