The Third Hokage followed Yuzu into the house. Inside the small living room, Lock sat cross-legged on the tatami, his face pale and drawn. A faint shimmer of chakra still pulsed beneath his skin — residue from the healing array beneath his well.
"Lord Hokage," Lock greeted softly, voice weak. He didn't rise; his body trembled too much to stand, though he made sure to exaggerate the weakness slightly.
In truth, the worst of his wounds had already stabilized thanks to the spring beneath his home. But if he appeared too strong, the Third Hokage might begin asking questions Lock couldn't answer. It was safer to look fragile.
"Lock… what happened to you?" The Third's eyes tightened, the concern in his tone barely hidden.
Yuzu, sensing this was not a conversation she should overhear, bowed respectfully and slipped out, closing the door behind her.
Lock exhaled slowly. "I was ambushed during a mission in the Land of Wind. I was poisoned. The toxin's aggressive — I can barely move without risking chakra collapse."
The Hokage frowned deeply. "Poisoned? By whom?"
Lock's tone steadied. "That's what I needed to tell you. The Third Kazekage of Sunagakure… is dead. Killed by a boy they call the Scorpion of the Red Sand."
The Hokage froze. "What did you say?"
"Third Kazekage," Lock repeated quietly. "Slain before my eyes. The wound in my abdomen — that was his attack. The poison that almost killed me came from Scorpion. The Kazekage was hit by the same toxin. I saw it myself — his body couldn't endure more than two minutes."
The old man's pipe nearly slipped from his hand. "The Third Kazekage… dead?" His expression hardened into disbelief, then grim understanding.
Lock met his gaze, silent.
The Hokage finally asked, "This Scorpion… who is he?"
"He's from Sunagakure," Lock said. "The Kazekage seemed to know him well — likely a former prodigy of their village. But he's young. Fifteen, maybe sixteen at most. A puppeteer… unlike any I've seen. Controlled over a dozen puppets at once. All laced with poison."
The Hokage inhaled sharply. "To kill a Kazekage at that age…" He trailed off, troubled. "Sunagakure breeds danger in shadows indeed."
For a long moment, the old man said nothing. Then he leaned closer. "Can you still endure it? The poison, I mean."
Lock nodded weakly. "Barely. I can hold it down with chakra. My body's fighting it off, but it's not something I can expel. I've stabilized my organs for now. Still… if I stop concentrating, it spreads fast."
The Hokage's brows furrowed. "Your chakra can suppress poison circulating in your blood? Hm… as I thought — your constitution is unique."
It wasn't a compliment, just quiet awe. For poison this strong to be held at bay even temporarily… that defied ordinary human limits.
"Tell me what happened, in detail," the Hokage said.
Lock briefly recounted the encounter — the Kazekage's confrontation with Scorpion, the shifting sands, the puppets, the poison mist, and his narrow escape. He left out certain things — the spring beneath his home, the techniques he'd hidden — but even the shortened version was staggering.
By the end, the Third Hokage's expression was grim. "Your account… matches reports I've half-heard from the border scouts. If the Kazekage truly fell, Sunagakure would not take it quietly. They'll need someone to blame."
He sighed heavily, rubbing his temple. "War makes monsters, Lock. That child Scorpion… may already be one."
Lock's lips tightened. "He almost killed me, Hokage-sama. I'll remember his name."
The Hokage nodded, then changed the subject. "Your wounds — they must be treated. The poison won't stay dormant forever. Even you can't fight it endlessly."
"Ordinary med-nin won't be able to help," Lock said. "This toxin was engineered for puppets — not flesh. It mutates inside the bloodstream. Chakra can only slow it."
The Hokage thought for a long moment. "Then I'll summon Tsunade. She's away from the village, but I can reach her. If anyone can treat you, it's her."
Lock inclined his head. "I'd be grateful."
The Hokage gave a faint, tired smile. "You were hurt protecting the village. Healing you is the least I can do."
As he turned to leave, Lock spoke again. "Lord Hokage — one more thing."
The Third looked back.
"Please don't make my return or injury public. If word spreads, Sunagakure may act before we understand their intent."
The Hokage's eyes softened with understanding. "Wise. Don't worry — I came alone. No one else knows. Rest, Lock. I'll handle the rest."
Lock hesitated, then added quietly, "Also… we should move before they do. If Sunagakure learns I was in the Land of Wind, they'll twist the story. Maybe even claim I killed their Kazekage."
The Hokage's gaze darkened. "You're right. If the Scorpion set this in motion, he means to drive our villages into conflict. We'll take control of the story before he can."
Lock's eyes hardened, the faintest edge of anger beneath his exhaustion. "He poisoned me. I'll return the favor one day."
The Hokage exhaled a long plume of smoke. "I don't doubt it."
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