This time, Yuzu was truly stunned.
For so long, she had believed her son wasn't suited to be a ninja. More than once, she had scolded Lock, telling him not to be ambitious—that living a safe, ordinary life was more than enough.
But now? The boy who had been at the bottom of the class just last semester had suddenly defeated Kakashi, the son of the White Fang himself.
Yuzu didn't believe Obito's words, but when even Kakashi admitted it, she couldn't dismiss it anymore. The change was too drastic. Too much for her to accept so quickly.
And truthfully, she wasn't happy.
Her husband had been a shinobi too… and he died young, leaving her alone with their son. She had never wished for Lock to follow that path. To hear now that her son had real talent—perhaps even genius—it didn't fill her with pride, but with fear.
Lock, of course, had no idea what his mother was thinking. Smiling confidently, he said, "Don't worry, Mom. When I become a ninja, you won't have to work so hard anymore. You can sit at home and enjoy life."
Though their snack shop was thriving, everyone knew the truth—in this world, nothing paid better than being a ninja.
"Enjoy life? Waiting for you to support me?" Yuzu scoffed. "I'll be waiting until the Year of the Monkey for that."
A single mother who had raised her son alone, Yuzu had always been self-reliant. Even if she knew Lock was destined to become a ninja, she never expected to live off his achievements.
Lock grinned. "Don't underestimate me, Mom. Maybe in two years, I'll be making enough money to take care of you."
"Enough. You've got all your classmates here—don't go showing off in front of them. I don't care if you get rich, I just want you safe." She waved him off impatiently, though her voice trembled slightly at the end.
Lock gave a small sigh. He wasn't afraid of anything outside, but against his mother, he was helpless.
Around the table, the other children watched in silence. Envy flickered across their faces.
For them, this simple exchange between mother and son was something distant. Except for Lock and Genma, none of the others even had a mother. Kakashi, Guy, and Kurenai's mothers had died young. Rin had no parents at all, only an uncle. And Obito… he was a true orphan.
So seeing Lock and Yuzu speak like this filled them with a quiet, aching longing.
"Eat slowly," Yuzu said warmly, looking at them. "Don't worry. If it's not enough, I'll make more."
After the meal, Lock and the others left the shop, heading back to the academy. Classes would start soon.
"Kakashi," Lock said in a low voice, "after school, want to fight again?"
His chakra had recovered, but he wasn't sure if Kakashi was ready too.
Kakashi's eyes lit up. Even if Lock hadn't asked, he would have. Whether he won or lost didn't matter—facing Lock pushed him to improve.
"Alright," Kakashi replied. "Come with me after class. We have a training ground at home."
The Hatake clan was one of Konoha's respected families, with their own space to train. Lock's heart stirred at the thought. Maybe he'd even catch a glimpse of the legendary White Fang.
The afternoon class was indoors, taught again by Yagyū-sensei. Today was theory—basic knowledge, tactics, and trap design.
Many students groaned at the boring material, but Lock listened carefully. In his mind, he could already see the looming shadow of the Third Great Ninja War. Once he graduated, he would inevitably be dragged into it. In battlefields like that, knowledge and preparation weren't luxuries—they were survival.
When class ended, Lock followed Kakashi back to the Hatake compound. Unfortunately, his father wasn't home; he had been on a mission for days. Only the two of them stood in the wide training ground.
This time, Kakashi held nothing back. His focus was razor-sharp, his movements crisp. The fight stretched longer, harder, but in the end, Lock still claimed victory—his invisibility technique tipping the balance.
But the victory felt hollow.
The system's notification appeared faintly in his mind: +1 Experience. +1 Gold Coin.
Only one point. One coin.
Lock frowned. The first time he had defeated Kakashi, he'd earned five points and three coins. But now? Barely a trickle.
It was a crushing realization. To upgrade from Level 1 to Level 2, he needed 230 experience points. At this rate, he'd have to defeat Kakashi hundreds of times.
No. That couldn't be the way forward.
Resting briefly, he suggested another match. Kakashi agreed instantly, burning with determination. Again, they fought, and again, Lock's tricks secured him the win.
But this time, there was nothing. No points. No coins. Nothing at all.
Lock's stomach dropped.
He tested it again the next day. And the day after. Fight after fight, the same result. At first, Kakashi pushed himself eagerly, but soon even he grew weary of the constant defeats. Whenever Lock suggested another spar, Kakashi would flinch slightly, though pride forced him to agree.
For Lock, the pressure only grew heavier.
Though he continued to win, he could feel it—Kakashi's growth. Every match, Kakashi adapted, refined, and improved. His progress was frightening. Lock's own victories leaned more and more on his invisibility and cunning. Without them, he knew, Kakashi might already surpass him.
If this continues… he'll overtake me.
The thought gnawed at him.
There was only one answer. He had to break through. He had to upgrade again. Each level was a leap forward, a drastic increase in strength. Without it, he would fall behind.
But now… he was stuck.
A bottleneck.
And until he found a way past it, Lock knew—he was standing still, while everyone else was climbing higher.