Naruto: A Century as an Arrancar, Starting Off by Killing the Demi-God

Land of Fire.

Konoha Village, high above the clouds.

Two figures stood suspended in midair, clad in black cloaks adorned with red clouds.

Obito tapped the surface beneath his feet, surprised to find himself standing on an invisible force. "So this is your flight technique? I didn't expect it to support others as well. What a mysterious power."

"It's not all that mysterious."

Lucas Moore shook his head, his voice calm. "This is just one of the most basic applications."

He could condense spirit particles from the air beneath his feet and naturally, he could do the same for others. The condensed reishi formed a transparent, floating platform capable of bearing another person's weight.

That said...

This technique was rarely used in combat.

After all, supporting someone else mid-battle required tracking their every movement, which was too much of a hassle.

"Well, even if it's basic… I'm still impressed," Obito admitted, his tone now serious. "So, what's the plan? Give me the full details."

"The plan is simple."

Lucas spoke slowly, every word deliberate. "You stay hidden. I'll infiltrate the Root base in the name of the Akatsuki's acting leader. I'll kill Danzo instantly, and then we retreat immediately using space-time ninjutsu."

"What if you can't kill him right away?" Obito asked.

"Then you prepare to intercept the Fourth Hokage."

Lucas's eyes flashed with resolve. "When that happens, Konoha's elite jonin will swarm us. Tsunade and Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin will arrive, along with Sarutobi Hiruzen, the so-called Professor of Ninjutsu. I'll take them all on by myself!"

"Are you sure about this?" Obito looked concerned.

"Relax."

Lucas gave a slight nod. "Even if I can't defeat them all, I can still escape."

"Alright then." Obito nodded.

"Let's move!"

At Lucas's command, Obito's Sharingan flickered. In the blink of an eye, he vanished in a swirling vortex.

Lucas, meanwhile, brought his fingers together and sliced the air.

Shrrrip!

A massive rift tore through space. Lucas stepped into the darkness.

…

Konoha Village.

Inside the Root base corridors.

Dozens of masked Root operatives patrolled the dimly lit hallways in tight formation.

Suddenly, a pitch-black rift tore open in the air like the gaping maw of a beast.

Lucas stepped out, his eyes scanning the soldiers with cold indifference. "Tell me where Danzo is hiding, and I'll spare your lives."

"Who are you?! You're courting death!"

"How dare you invade the Root base?! Kill him without mercy!"

"…"

The leader raised his voice in alarm. "Attack!!"

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

"Wind Style: Gale Palm!"

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"

A barrage of elemental jutsu roared toward him with lethal intent.

Lucas frowned slightly and drew his Zanpakuto.

Shing!

A crisp sound rang out as the blade shimmered in his hand.

"Scatter… Senbonzakura."

His sword shattered into a thousand petal-like blades, blooming into a storm of gleaming cherry blossoms that coiled around him like a shield.

Clang! Boom! Bang!

The enemy jutsu exploded against the protective field.

But Lucas stood unharmed.

With a flick of his will, a portion of the petal blades shot out like needles, piercing clean through the Root operatives.

"AAAHHH!!"

Screams echoed through the corridor as bodies dropped like flies.

Only two managed to survive, battered and bloody.

Though not mortally wounded, their uniforms were torn, and hundreds of shallow cuts bled steadily across their skin.

Lucas studied their faces, and his expression shifted in surprise. "You two? Interesting… Danzo took you in this early?"

Unlike the other Root members, these two wore slightly different gear.

One was entirely shrouded in black clothing, with only his eyes visible.

The other had long orange hair and wore a pair of black gloves.

They were Torune Aburame and Fu Yamanaka.

From their youthful features, it was clear they were still in their early teens.

Torune gritted his teeth. "Who are you? Why have you come to the Root base?!"

"Me?"

Lucas chuckled and introduced himself. "I'm Kurosu, acting leader of the Akatsuki. I've been hired to take Danzo's filthy head. You two show some promise, so if you're smart, get the hell out of here."

"You're here to assassinate Lord Danzo?! You lunatic!"

Torune was furious.

He ripped off his shirt and pants, revealing only a pair of boxers as his skin turned a dark purple hue and he charged forward.

"Fu, assist me!"

"Got it! I'll take over his body!"

Fu quickly formed hand seals and focused on Lucas.

"Ninja Art Mind Transfer Jutsu!"

His spiritual energy shot toward Lucas's mind.

But the moment Fu entered Lucas's mental realm, his expression turned to horror. "Impossible! How can anyone in this world possess such vast spiritual power?!"

Lucas's spirit world stretched endlessly, like a boundless ocean.

Fu was nothing more than a lone boat adrift in a storm. Even the smallest ripple could crush him.

And that's exactly what happened.

He hadn't even begun his technique when his face went deathly pale.

Blurt!

Fu coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed, dead, his face twisted in unspeakable terror.

"What?!"

Torune's face changed drastically. "Fu! What happened to you?!"

In his moment of distraction, he left himself wide open.

Lucas raised his right hand, summoning thousands of petal blades.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

The blades spun into a cage of death, grinding Torune into pulp.

As the cherry blossoms faded, nothing remained but chunks of flesh on the floor.

Lucas's voice was cold. "I gave you a chance. You should've taken it."

He hadn't had a strong impression of Torune and Fu.

Though they later served as Danzo's trusted aides, even Obito had defeated them with ease.

Lucas had considered sparing them because of their youth.

But their blind loyalty to Danzo sealed their fate.

And if that was the path they chose...

Then they didn't deserve to live.

Lucas surveyed the bloody corridor, raising an eyebrow. "Hmm? One still breathing?"

He walked over and removed the last operative's mask.

Underneath was a boy with longish hair, a strange forehead protector covering part of his cheeks. He had already fallen unconscious.

Lucas looked surprised. "You? 'Kinoe'?! Hah, didn't think you'd survive all this."

This was the same boy who had once received Wood Style transplantation 

The one who would later be known as Yamato.

"What should I do with him? It'd be a shame to kill him."

Lucas stroked his chin, mulling it over. "He's not very strong, but at least he can use Wood Style. He'd be great for landscaping… or maybe I'll just let Afei possess him and boost our combat power."

After all…

The legendary Wood Style: Two-Bedroom Apartment Jutsu was pretty well known.

With that thought, Lucas summoned Obito.

Whoosh!

Space twisted and Obito appeared. "What's up? You already killed Danzo?"

"As if it were that easy. What do you think I am, stomping ants on the roadside?"

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Take this kid with you. We'll deal with him once we're back."