"Ding… ding… ding…"
The clash of steel echoed through the smoke-filled clearing.
Facing the two Root shinobi again, Lock felt calmer than before. Strength brought confidence — and his strength had grown.
Since leveling up twice, his speed, chakra flow, and physical endurance had all sharpened. His body felt lighter, faster, steadier. Each movement carried more precision and force.
Now, when the two attackers came at him together, he wasn't the same cornered prey he'd been before. He was still being pushed, yes — but not overwhelmed.
The third-level smoke screen had changed the rhythm of the fight completely. Within its haze, enemy strikes lost accuracy, their movements dulled. To them, it was as if the air itself was slowing them down.
Lock's eyes glinted through the smoke. "Perfect."
A blade slashed toward him — but the mist's distortion warped the opponent's aim, cutting through empty air. The man froze for a split second in disbelief.
Lock didn't waste it. He darted forward, cutting across the shinobi's side. Blood splashed the ground.
Six seconds. That was all the smoke screen would last.
Six seconds of chaos, where Lock traded blow for blow without hesitation. He took a gash to the arm but landed several of his own — clean, decisive strikes.
When the haze finally cleared, he moved first.
"Flash Step!"
In a blink, he appeared behind one enemy, slashing deep before retreating again. The Root operative barely twisted aside, leaving only a shallow wound — these weren't amateurs.
"Shh!"
The second enemy lunged, blade flashing three times in quick succession. Lock barely parried, forced back step by step.
Then the first attacker reappeared from behind, blade gleaming.
"Boom!"
The strike hit — but only a block of wood splintered apart.
Lock stood several meters away, hands flashing through seals.
"Earth Release — Quagmire!"
The ground beneath them liquefied, dragging both opponents waist-deep into mud.
"Flash Step!"
He appeared behind one of them, slapped a tag to the man's back, and jumped away.
"Detonate."
The explosion ripped through the air. The man screamed — his upper body torn open, collapsing into the sludge.
"Die!"
The last shinobi roared and swung his blade — but Lock vanished again, reappearing at his back.
"Earth Release — Headhunter Jutsu!"
The ground swallowed the man to the neck. Lock's blade rested against his exposed throat.
"Don't move," he said coldly. "You know what happens if you do."
The captive glared at him, silent. Lock tore off his mask — and froze. The man's face was mutilated, covered in scar tissue so thick it hid all features.
"Danzo's dogs…" Lock muttered. "No identity. No mercy."
He exhaled sharply. "Fine. Stay silent."
The blade flashed.
"Boom!"
Smoke exploded — a substitution!
"Shh!"
A strike shot up from beneath his feet. Lock twisted aside, too slow to avoid it completely. Pain flared as steel pierced his shoulder.
He gritted his teeth and countered — his own blade plunged through the enemy's throat as the man emerged from the earth. Both froze for a moment… then the Root operative crumpled lifelessly.
Silence returned to the forest.
Twenty shinobi — gone. Three of them, Jōnin, including Hijikata Shiro. The experience, the danger, the blood — all carved deeper instincts into Lock's bones.
He tore the blade free from his shoulder and hissed through clenched teeth. Pain anchored him, but he was alive.
Alive — and stronger.
He checked his pouch. Nearly a thousand ryō from the fallen. A brutal harvest, but earned.
He reached for a healing vial — then paused. Too suspicious to walk away spotless.
Instead, he wrapped the wound tightly with bandages and crouched beside the bodies. Every headband bore the mark of Cloud Village.
Danzo had planned everything — no witnesses, no trail, and no proof.
Lock stared at the crimson-stained dirt for a long time, then turned away.
Impressive as always, old ghost," he muttered. "But this isn't over."
He disappeared into the forest's shadows.
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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