Konoha Hospital was quiet at night. Hallways were empty smelling of disinfectant and sickness.
Uehara Naraku walked down corridor holding a basket of fruit. He wasn't visiting a friend. He was looking for entertainment.
"According to timeline Gaara should be trying to kill Rock Lee right about now" Uehara thought biting into an apple from basket.
He reached Room 305. Door was slightly ajar.
Inside heavy killing intent filled air like suffocating smog.
Rock Lee lay in bed unconscious and bandaged. Standing over him was Gaara. Sand trickled from gourd moving like living snakes ready to strangle helpless boy.
In doorway Naruto Uzumaki and Shikamaru Nara stood frozen. Sweat dripped down their faces. They were paralyzed by sheer malice radiating from Sand ninja.
"Why are you so scared?" Gaara whispered his voice trembling with madness. "I am just going to free him. He is in pain. Death is salvation."
"Stop it!" Naruto shouted but his legs refused to move.
Sand rose up forming a claw.
"Die."
Gaara swung his hand down.
Swish.
A purple playing card flew through air. It sliced through sand claw dispersing it instantly before embedding itself in wall next to Gaara's head.
"Visiting hours are over" a voice said from hallway.
Gaara froze. He turned his head slowly neck cracking.
Uehara Naraku stood behind Naruto and Shikamaru leaning against doorframe. He tossed apple in his hand.
"Uehara?" Shikamaru gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I brought fruit" Uehara pointed to basket. "But it looks like someone is trying to make vegetable juice instead."
He walked past two Leaf Genin stepping into room. Pressure that paralyzed Naruto seemed to have no effect on him.
"You again" Gaara hissed. Sand around his feet began to bubble angrily. "You interrupt me every time. Do you want to die that badly?"
"I am just protecting my investment" Uehara said standing between Gaara and Lee. "This guy put on a good show. It would be a waste if he died in his sleep."
"He has no purpose left" Gaara clutched his head eyes wide and bloodshot. "He lost. Losers are trash. Trash must be crushed."
"Is that why you are here?" Uehara asked calm smile playing on his lips. "Because he hurt you? Because he broke your armor? You are scared Gaara. Scared that you are not absolute."
"Shut up!" Gaara screamed. "I am a monster! I love only myself! I fight only for myself!"
Sand surged forward filling room. It wasn't just a stream; it was a tidal wave.
Naruto and Shikamaru braced themselves.
"Sand Coffin!"
Uehara didn't flinch. He gripped his Void Staff in his inventory mentally preparing to activate it.
"Guy Sensei!" Naruto yelled.
POOF.
A green blur appeared. Might Guy stood in front of Uehara sweeping sand away with a powerful backhand.
"That is enough" Guy said his face serious. "This is a hospital. Not a battlefield."
Gaara stopped. His sand recoiled shaking as if in pain.
"Why..." Gaara breathed heavily clutching his chest. "Why does everyone protect him?"
"Because he is our comrade" Guy stated.
Gaara stumbled back gripping his head in agony. Voice of his mother (the One Tail) was screaming inside his mind demanding blood.
"Mother wants blood... but not here... not yet..."
He looked at Uehara with eyes full of promise.
"In finals" Gaara whispered. "I will kill everyone. I will kill you. I will kill Uchiha. I will verify my existence with your deaths."
Sand swirled around him and he vanished using a Body Flicker technique leaving only a pile of dust on floor.
Room was silent.
"That guy is crazy" Shikamaru exhaled sliding down wall. "Completely crazy."
"He is in pain" Naruto looked at spot where Gaara stood. "He has same look in his eyes... as I used to have."
"Touching" Uehara broke silence biting his apple again. "But also dangerous. You saw that killing intent. He meant every word."
He looked at Guy.
"Guy Sensei you should put a guard on this room. Next time I might not be here to play hero."
"Thank you Uehara kun" Guy gave a thumbs up though his smile didn't reach his eyes. "You protected Lee. Konoha owes you thanks."
[Side Mission Complete: Prevent Rock Lee's Assassination.]
[Reward: 150 Gold Coins.]
"Just passing through" Uehara shrugged.
He turned to leave.
"Wait!" Naruto called out. "Uehara! Who are you fighting in finals?"
"Dosu Kinuta" Uehara replied. "Mummy guy from Sound Village."
"Oh" Naruto looked disappointed. "I am fighting Neji. I am going to win."
"Good luck" Uehara waved. "Try not to get your chakra points shut down."
He walked out of hospital into cool night air.
"150 Gold" Uehara muttered. "Pocket change. But at least I confirmed something."
Gaara's mental state was deteriorating rapidly. Seal of One Tail was weakening.
"If he transforms in middle of village during invasion..." Uehara grinned. "That is a boss fight. And bosses drop rare items."
He checked his inventory.
[Current Build:]
1. Sorcerer's Shoes
2. Nashor's Tooth
3. Rylai's Crystal Scepter
4. Void Staff
"I have two slots left" Uehara calculated. "I need defensive item. Zhonya's Hourglass. Invulnerability for 2.5 seconds. That will save me from Tailed Beast Bomb."
Price was steep. 2900 Gold.
"I need to farm more" Uehara decided.
He looked towards Hokage Rock.
"Maybe I should visit Orochimaru. I bet he is lonely planning his invasion all by himself."
.…
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!