The Third Tsuchikage hovered in midair, staring toward the horizon where Lock had vanished. His expression was dark, but he didn't pursue.
He'd seen Lock's teleportation technique firsthand. Even if he gave chase now, catching him would be next to impossible.
"I'm getting old," he muttered bitterly. "Outsmarted by a brat… I'll remember you, boy."
His clothes were half-burned, discarded during the explosion Lock had triggered. The detonation tags had been attached to his cloak—he'd realized it just in time to tear it away, escaping the worst of the blast.
He wasn't injured, but one thing unsettled him: why his Dust Release had suddenly failed mid-cast. The jutsu had been perfectly sealed—yet the moment that smoke surrounded him, his chakra had faltered.
From Lock's infiltration to his escape, every move had been unpredictable. Unfamiliar ninjutsu, strange tools, silence, and deception — this was the kind of shinobi that made even a Kage wary.
"This can't continue," the old Kage murmured. "Konoha cannot be allowed to grow unchecked."
For decades, the world's balance had relied on the five great nations keeping each other in check. If Konoha produced too many monsters like that boy, peace itself would crumble.
Yanyin had been infiltrated, its guards fooled, and one of its elites humiliated. The Tsuchikage's jaw tightened. The wound to pride cut deeper than any kunai.
Lock, meanwhile, was already far beyond the village perimeter. After teleporting once more to put distance between himself and Yanyin, he activated his camouflage technique, blending into the rocky terrain.
Above, his messenger hawk circled high, scanning the area for pursuers.
Only when he was sure no chakra signatures lingered did Lock finally exhale.
"That… was too close."
He leaned against a boulder, breathing hard. His body ached, and his chakra reserves were dangerously low. Without the hawk's barrier talisman deflecting that Dust Release, he'd have been vaporized.
He had survived only by chaining every trick he had—smoke screens, teleportation bursts, shadow detonations—each one draining his chakra further.
"Too much chakra spent for one escape," he muttered. "I can't keep burning through it like this."
Even with his control far beyond an average jōnin's, his stamina couldn't match the strain of rapid teleportation. He needed to increase his reserves—and that meant better gear.
Lock wasn't one to rely solely on natural talent. The ANBU's hidden channels and the black markets across the Land of Rivers often dealt in chakra-forged weaponry and sealing tools. Expensive, yes—but powerful.
He'd been saving for months, his earnings coming from assassination missions and under-the-table bounties. Now, with a small fortune hidden in his storage scroll, it was time to upgrade.
He had been eyeing one particular weapon: a short black blade forged with soulsteel—a rare metal said to cut chakra itself. Locals called it the Soul-Cleaving Blade.
A weapon that didn't just pierce flesh, but burned away chakra on contact.
Soul-Cleaving Blade
Enhancements: Lightweight, chakra-reactive alloy. Greatly improves speed and precision.
Effect: Each strike disrupts the enemy's chakra network, draining a portion of their reserves.
Technique Seal: A built-in paralysis charm can slow a target's movement when activated.
Description: "A blade that cuts the soul before the body."
Lock examined its notes carefully. The blade's craftsmanship alone could rival legendary Konoha steel. The paralysis seal might not last long, but in the hands of an assassin, it was all he needed.
He'd considered other options: reinforced chakra boots for speed, a wind-augmented staff that could break seals, or a barrier pipe that could counter ninjutsu. All were tempting—but none matched his fighting style.
Lock needed precision, speed, and chakra control above all.
And the Soul-Cleaving Blade offered exactly that.
He looked toward the horizon, where the dawn was breaking over the mountains. His fingers brushed the faint burn on his wrist—the mark left by the Tsuchikage's attack.
"Next time," he murmured. "I won't just run."
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