The storm of iron sand swirled faster than Lock could move. The Third Kazekage's control was absolute — black dust cutting through the air like a living thing.
"Tch." Lock's eyes sharpened. "Guess I'll have to vanish again."
His body flickered, chakra pulsing under his feet — a high-speed movement so sharp that the sand blurred around him. In a blink, he appeared behind the Kazekage and drove his blade forward.
Clang!
A dense wall of iron sand surged up just in time, blocking the strike.
"I've been waiting for that trick," the Kazekage said coldly. "Let's see where you run this time."
Before Lock could withdraw, the iron sand shifted — enclosing him in every direction. The air around him hummed with magnetic energy.
The Kazekage had been anticipating another flicker — and laid a trap in advance.
The walls of sand iron closed in, leaving no room to move.
But just before it hit, Lock's form shimmered — and vanished.
"What…?"
The Kazekage's expression hardened. His senses reached out, but he couldn't feel Lock's chakra anywhere.
Then—
Clang!
A flash of cold light slashed from behind him. The Kazekage spun, iron sand instantly forming a barrier over his back. A kunai stabbed from thin air, striking the shield with a metallic shriek.
Had he been a fraction slower, the blade would've gone through his spine.
"Disappeared completely… interesting."
A few meters away, the red-haired youth watching the battle — the Scorpion — murmured with faint amusement.
But his smirk froze. A killing intent brushed his neck.
He snapped his fingers, pulling one of his puppets between them — just as another kunai tore through the air.
Thunk!
The puppet's torso took the hit, sparks flying.
Scorpion's expression darkened. "You dare attack me? Even I have limits to my patience."
He hadn't moved against Lock once during the fight — and yet the man's jutsu had targeted him too.
Before he could act, the Kazekage was struck again — another flicker, another sharp flash. Each time, Lock appeared for only an instant before vanishing again, attacking from unpredictable angles.
Scorpion watched closely, his analytical mind already breaking down what he was seeing. The kunai strikes weren't random — they were a pattern. Lock wasn't attacking him deliberately; the collateral hit had been accidental.
"So, not recklessness… a technique that obscures movement and confuses chakra sensing. Fascinating."
He smirked. "The more I see, the more curious I get."
Within seconds, Lock's flurry of surprise strikes ended. The Kazekage's sand iron had held — barely.
As the distortion of Lock's movement faded, he reappeared several dozen meters away, panting lightly. He had managed to test the Kazekage's defenses — but not break them.
The Kazekage, however, wasn't done. Spreading his arms, he sent his magnetic field roaring outward, black wings of sand iron forming again behind him.
"You won't escape this time."
The desert trembled as he surged forward.
Lock's eyes narrowed — his body tensing for a counter. But before he could move, three puppets dropped into his path, their wooden joints creaking as they spread out, blocking the Kazekage's charge.
"Scorpion!" the Kazekage roared.
The red-haired boy's mouth curved into a small, mocking smile.
"Kazekage-sama," he said smoothly, "you and I may have our differences, but this man…" He gestured toward Lock. "He's from Konoha, isn't he? Shouldn't we finish him first before arguing among ourselves?"
The Kazekage glared at him, suspicion flaring. "Don't play games. If you wanted cooperation, you wouldn't be shielding him. Are you really planning to betray the village?"
Scorpion chuckled, voice low and youthful, but cold. "At this point, does that even matter? Just give me what I came for — and I'll leave."
The Kazekage's eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"
Scorpion's grin widened. "Your life."
The puppets lunged — bladed arms flashing in the sunlight.
The Kazekage's response was immediate. "Then I'll kill you first."
Moments ago, he had intended to capture Scorpion alive — a talent like his was too valuable for the village to lose. But now that the boy had openly turned on him, that mercy evaporated.
"Magnet Release — Iron Sand Torrent!"
The air filled with glittering black metal, splitting into three massive waves that rushed toward the puppets.
Even then, Scorpion's focus didn't waver. His chakra threads danced from his fingertips, guiding his puppets through the storm with uncanny precision — dodging, countering, striking.
The two forces clashed midair — sand iron shrieking against steel and chakra wood.
"Hey, Konoha shinobi!" Scorpion called out suddenly, a wild gleam in his eyes. "How about we join forces? You and I together could bring him down."
Lock's gaze flickered. He'd been preparing another strike when the boy's words reached him.
Join forces with him?
Lock's eyes narrowed. "You want to use me as bait, don't you?" he muttered under his breath. He could read Scorpion's intention easily — this wasn't an alliance, just manipulation.
And Lock had no interest in becoming someone's pawn.
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A/N: New Fanfic Is Out " Naruto: I'm Boruto Uzumaki"
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