Power (1)

(A/N: This has major changes (From the previous one) so be sure to read all of them)

『Universal Affinity』

This is quite versatile.

I don't need to change to Chakra or Magic now.

Of course, EP is used as an alternative.

There is not a need for me to acquire Chakra Pathways to stick on walls or breathe fire.

But what made me intrigued, was the fact that I can form a perfect control over Chakra and Magicules, and even Mana.

*Tak*

A small fire lights itself above my finger.

Well, that is interesting.

But I think I can force myself for another power-up right here...

≪Would you like to buy a copy of 『Steel Thread』≫ [Y/N]

Yes.

And then...

DING*

≪『Sticky Thread』 has been annihilated ≫

≪『Steel Thread』 has been annihilated≫

DING*

≪『Universal Thread』 has been acquired≫

All according to keikaku (A/N: Keikaku means Plan)

Who needs 『degenerate』 amirite? (A/N: Degenerate is a skill to break down a skill tree and create new skills.)

Of course, that's not all.

I still stored some of the toad senjutsu Chakra in me.

I can't use it. I mean... I am able to feel it and control it, but it didn't enhance my body like how it was supposed to.

That is why, I should "delete" some substances on these Energies.

Since Naruto and Jiraiya have signed the contract, the Nature energy they gain is converted to the ones the toads use before entering sage mode.

Therefore, I will try creating a "converter" of my own in my body.

Umu that's right, just about... beside my core...

Done.

*DING*

≪『Sage Mode』 has been acquired≫

The orange linings below my eyes disappeared and the faint yellow toad-like pupil has now turned neon purple with a white pupil resembling an X.

Wow.

I look f*cking edgy. But just as I grinned in the mirror, "Are you complimenting yourself in front of a mirror?"

That almost makes me jolted. "If yes, then what?" I told that to the unmasked Rimuru leaning on the door.

Rimuru stepped forward. "You look like a horny teenager." THAT・DOES・IT, "Look, I'm going to be straight. Why are you antagonizing me so much?"

That brought silence into our conversation.

After a while...

"What is your relationship with Demon Lord Leon?"

...HA?

"Demon Lord Leon? That fallen hero? I know him, but he doesn't know me. What does this have to do with him anyway?"

Demon lord, Leon Cromwell, formerly a True Hero, is one of Ten great Demon Lords and the only Hero to be publicly known as a "Demon Lord." The summoner and master of Shizue Isawa. The very same Shizue Izawa, the conqueror of flames that gave Rimuru his human form right now.

"Then are you an Otherworlder?"

"Everyone in the group is an otherworlders."

"How do you make those smartphones?"

"I didn't make them. "

"Why do I feel my skills in you?"

"...I copied some of them."

This answer made his/her eyes narrow.

Hey, I "copied" it, I didn't "steal" so you can't really be mad at it.

What, you're gonna sue me with a "Skill" copyright claim?

"Last question." Oh really, "last"? That's funny.

"Do you have any relationship with the conqueror of flames; Shizue Izawa?"

I look at him/her with a raised eyebrow. "...No."

But then,

"Prove it."

"Ha?"

***

"I knew you are connected to that event somehow! You even knew about it!"

"Excuse me!? shouldn't YOU be the one throwing evidence at me here!? That's just plain accusations!"

"It's not! It's a conclusion, and now that we meet each other, I need to know-! " (Rimuru)

My eyes went wide. "I need to know... How should I save those children!"

My eyes stared back at him/her.

So that's what he meant. Why does he need to make it so confusing?

"So that's what you mean..." Saying that, I closed my eyes.

"Yeah..."He looks down while muttering lowly.

So it's because of the smartphone... ah, I think I have a few guesses, some similarities can be found between the dimensional chat group and Shizu's mask, perhaps?

Maybe he was worried about that?

Well I mean, this thing backfired my magic once I tried to mana style Rasengan it before, so...

Ah no... he is worried about that, but the fact he came to me means... "I see, I'll let you know how sooner or later." This is what I said whilst opening my eyes.

Which means, he is smart. Rather than trying to find out if I have something to d with it, he asked me how to save those kids instead.

Bravo.

Well, he wasn't like this in the anime. Was it due to a butterfly effect?

"...You won't lie, right? "

"Why would I be doing that now...?"

"Uhmm... Why are you guys in the toilet together?"

In front of the opened door, Shin stated these words while rubbing his eye in drowsiness

***

"So what am I going to do? " Jiraiya asked.

Well, that's surprising. How did he gain so much trust in us now? Well, I suspect Gamamaru or Bunta but that's a story for another day.

For now...

"Watch for that Suna kid against the Uchiha. That'll be the trigger to start the invasion. What you should be worrying about right now... is not Orochimaru or us."

He widens his eyes at this.

"You should worry about your sensei, the current Hokage. He IS going to die after all."

His pupils narrowed.

"Give me the details kid."

As I look at him, a grin slowly crept into my face

***

**

-Third Person's POV-

The Chunin exam. In this Shinobi world where currently one-on-one tournament battles are being held inside an arena, lies a scheme of a snake and the sand.

Orochimaru planned to destroy Konohagakure when the fight between Gaara of the sand and Sasuke Uchiha take place. But unbeknownst to them that something would interfere.

Right after the genjutsu was cast, feathers fell down from the sky and the majority of everyone present fell asleep.

They thought it was the signal, but...

*BOOM*

A blue explosion can be seen in the distance. That was Shin who was tasked to subdue sound ninjas. His job was to hold the shinobi of sounds who in the original timeline, unleashed a giant serpent summon as a distraction as they invade Konoha.

But that never happened because in front of them is a purple-haired kid casting techniques without any attack announcement or hand seals.

(A/N To non-Naruto watchers/readers: Hand seals [English TV: Hand Signs] are used to perform many ninjutsu[Ninja techniques], genjutsu[Illusion], and other secret arts other than taijutsu[Close combat]. In the anime, they are designed to aid people in properly summoning and moulding the chakra necessary to perform a technique. There are different sequences of hand seals for every technique, requiring memorization.)

Konoha's ninjas were deployed to investigate the explosion, only to find Sound and sand nins burned as a blue aura glows around them as if they're regenerating from being flamed by the blue fire.

Of course, something else happened inside the arena where the chunin exams were being held.

"Come on now, don't look at me like that~ I'm just gonna take some of it Okay? he won't die anyway..." A figure of a teen, sitting leisurely on a tree inside the arena. He wears a black mask with neon magenta lines forming two eyes with no holes as one of his free hands digs inside the stomach of a boy with red hair whilst the boy screams in pain. "GAAAAAAAHKKKK"

"Gaara!!" That was the boy's name, and that was shouted by the boy's siblings.

"You... what is your motive...?" a masked ninja asks.

"Wha- you think I'd answer that?" The teen responded.

"Tch-!" Another boy in black; the one who seemed to be fighting with the red-haired boy, Gaara before cursed under his nose.

Unlike the original, now there are no attacks from the hidden sand and hidden sound, Rather, two mysterious individuals become the highlights of this invasion. One is a boy with a black mask, the other was a weird little girl with a white mask and a pair of bat wings taking her high into the sky.

From another building, the Hokage was being held hostage by the Kazekage.

After a while, "Heh, about time..." The teen released his hand and the boy named Gaara panted in pain, ultimately falling asleep. But unlike the original, he didn't transform into the sand beast. The teen stood up as he mutters, 『Shadow step』

Immediately he disappear into his own shadows, leaving the still awake spectators dumbfounded.

***

**

On the roof of a high building, The fourth Kazekage dragged The Third Hokage to a fight. But,

*Swoosh*

A weapon travels quickly like a boomerang. Its target was the fourth Kazekage who had the Third Hokage as a hostage. He dodges the boomerang-like weapon as he released the third Hokage from his hands.

"Who...?!" Now, that certainly was exclaimed by the Fourth Kazekage, but the sound of his face doesn't match how they are supposed to be... And the third Hokage realized that. "You're... Orochimaru?" The Third Hokage, Hiruzen, stated.

Orochimaru scoffed at him, "Huh, you've finally noticed.... sensei."

"Oooh~ what a reunion, I'm sorry that I'd have to interrupt." Suddenly came a voice, playful yet low-baritone, and the owner of that voice himself caught the swirling boomerang with his hand.

That boomerang was never a boomerang in the first place, but rather, a scythe. One of the dual scythes he possessed to be precise.

*SHINE*

A barrier erupted, trapping the three; the mysterious masked guy, the Third Hokage, and the disguised Orochimaru together. Behind the teen, separated by the barrier is a girl with silverish blue hair with a white mask on his face.

"Who... who are you?" (Orochimaru)

"You know... I'm getting that a lot these days... 'What are your motives!?' 'Who are you!?' But you know what? Since you've given me a chance to make a reference, I guess I can tell you..." With his nonchalant and playful demeanor, he stated all that with his baritone voice before continuing...

"Just passing through demon lord, remember that well!"

.

.

.

To be continued

(A/N: If you know that last reference, I'll give you this strawberry)