"Hss…"
Lock let out a long breath, pressing a hand to his chest. The fight had ended, but the strain still lingered in his body. Chakra exhaustion left his limbs heavy, his vision blurred. For a long while, he simply sat against the tree trunk, forcing his breathing to steady.
Two Chūnin, both Root operatives… and I survived. Barely.
He thought about the exchange, about the illusions he'd used, the way his blade had found its mark. Victory was his, but not without cost. His chakra reserves were dangerously low, his body battered.
Still, the battle hadn't only drained him—it had also taught him. His growth was undeniable. His control of genjutsu had leapt forward, his combat sense sharper, his resolve hardened.
But more importantly, he had time now. Time to plan his next steps.
Lock withdrew a small pouch from his gear and opened it. Inside were the spoils he had managed to claim during the fight—two bodies' worth of weapons, tags, and scrolls. He laid them out carefully on the ground, his eyes scanning for anything useful.
Among the weapons, he found a fresh set of smoke bombs. His lips curled slightly.
"…Not bad."
Lock had considered experimenting with smoke in the past, but never seriously incorporated it. Now, after facing ninjutsu-heavy opponents, he understood its value. A simple smoke screen could obscure vision, disrupt hand signs, and create openings. In his hands, with his speed, it could be devastating.
If I refine this… time the throw just right… even a jōnin could be caught off guard for a few seconds.
The thought thrilled him, and he pocketed the smoke bombs. A new weapon in his arsenal.
Next, his mind turned to the techniques he'd been polishing—his Blink Strike especially. The fight had revealed its limitations. Ten meters was enough in skirmishes, but not in drawn-out hunts. He needed a greater range, faster execution. Pushing the technique further was risky, but worth it.
"If I can extend it to fifty meters…" he muttered under his breath, "I'll never be cornered again."
Even in his fatigue, Lock found himself running through the motions mentally—visualizing the chakra control, the instant transfer, the follow-through. With practice, he knew he could shave seconds off its cooldown and expand its reach.
He smirked faintly. That tall brute never would've stood a chance then.
After a while, Lock stood, legs unsteady but serviceable. He approached the fallen bodies again, grimacing as he searched their clothing. From the first corpse, he retrieved a single scroll. From the second, another.
Unrolling them briefly, his expression soured. Both were the same type as his own. Earth scrolls.
"…Tch. Figures."
The ratio was supposed to be balanced, and yet here he was—three of the same kind in his hands. A quarter of all the earth scrolls in the exam now sat in his pack, completely useless unless he could trade or seize a matching pair.
He sighed, sliding them back into his pouch. "Not much luck after all."
Just as he turned to leave, Lock froze. His gaze sharpened, his body lowering slightly.
Three o'clock.
Someone was there.
His lips curved in a thin smile. "You've been watching long enough. Still not going to act?"
Silence.
Lock's voice grew colder, mocking. "What's wrong? Thought you'd swoop in and take the prize while I bled myself dry? I have three scrolls now. Tempting, isn't it?"
The forest offered no answer.
Lock didn't relax. He kept his eyes locked on the trees, every muscle taut.
"You've been waiting for the fisherman's moment," he said softly. "So what happens when the fish looks back at you?"
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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