As soon as they clashed, Lock could tell—the Iwa-nin slowed by his blade was no ordinary opponent. The man's movements were hindered, but his strength was immense. Even Lock was forced to take a step back under the pressure.
His kunai barely left a shallow scratch across the man's arm. The Iwa-nin had reinforced his body with Earth Release, hardening his skin like stone.
Lock narrowed his eyes and flickered forward again, striking in a blur.
Clang!
The slowing effect from his previous technique only lasted a few moments, its influence fading quickly. As the man's speed began to recover, Lock tried to seize the advantage and appeared behind him—but his opponent had anticipated it. With a sharp turn, he blocked Lock's strike and countered with a powerful kick that sent Lock sliding backward.
For a jōnin, his combat ability was formidable. With his body fortified by Earth Release, he wasn't an easy target to bring down.
They exchanged blows in rapid succession. The smoke from earlier had cleared, removing the distortions that had hindered the Iwa-nin's movements. Their clash grew fiercer—steel rang, earth cracked beneath their feet, and bursts of chakra flared with each strike.
Despite his youth, Lock's strength and speed far surpassed that of an average shinobi. Yet this opponent was exceptional even among jōnin, his raw power exceeding Lock's in close combat.
Within moments, they had traded dozens of blows. Meanwhile, the three other Iwa-nin had already escaped, vanishing beyond Lock's range. Chasing them now would be pointless.
He exhaled slowly. Fine. I'll take you down instead.
Lock's form blurred as he vanished and reappeared—aiming for the man's back.
"Earth Release: Earth Core Rising!"
The ground erupted beneath Lock's feet, a sudden surge of rock throwing him upward. Only his sharp reflexes saved him from being toppled outright.
"Earth Release: Rock Fist Technique!"
The earth split open as the Iwa-nin launched out from below, his arm coated in stone, punching upward with brutal force.
Lock crossed his arms and met the blow head-on, chakra surging through his body as he countered with his own enhanced strike. Their fists collided with a thunderous crack, the shockwave blasting through the clearing.
But Lock had been caught off guard—the Iwa-nin had initiated the attack, and his strength won out. Lock was flung backward, twisting midair before landing lightly on the torn ground.
He looked up, scanning the area. The man had vanished.
In the past, that might have thrown him off—but not now. With his keen sensory focus, Lock could feel every chakra source within range. He located his target almost instantly—the man was moving underground.
Lock frowned. So, he can move beneath the surface that quickly? Even most Earth Release users can't do that…
The opponent's skill was beyond ordinary jōnin.
Lock placed a hand on the ground, channeling chakra into it. Then, using his flicker technique, he appeared ahead of the man's path and slammed his palm into the earth.
The resulting chakra shockwave ruptured the ground. The Iwa-nin, unable to stay hidden, burst upward in defense.
"Detonate!"
Lock had already planted explosive tags beneath the soil. The moment the enemy surfaced, a chain of detonations roared to life.
Rumble…!
A massive explosion tore through the terrain, flame and smoke engulfing the clearing. The blast was so loud it echoed across the valley like thunder.
Far away, an Iwa patrol halted in their march.
"An explosion ahead!" one of them shouted. "That's the direction our recon team went!"
Their commander's eyes narrowed. "Move! Double time!"
Lock stood hundreds of meters away, the wind from the explosion brushing past his face. At that distance, the shockwave no longer posed a threat. He formed several quick seals and triggered a few more tags, setting off secondary blasts—partly to finish the job, but also to send a signal.
Konoha's scouts should notice this… and understand the message, he thought.
Then his expression hardened. Through his sensory focus, he felt numerous chakra signatures rapidly entering his detection range—a large formation.
"No doubt… that's the main Iwa force."
If he stayed any longer, he'd be surrounded.
As soon as his flicker marker stabilized again, Lock vanished from the battlefield. The explosions ceased almost immediately.
From the center of the scorched earth, a single battered figure clawed his way out of the rubble—the Iwa jōnin. His body was a mess of burns and blood, barely intact, but he was alive.
"…He spared no effort," the man muttered, coughing. "Just as Lord Tsuchikage warned… such power at his age… truly terrifying."
Despite his wounds, the man's voice was calm. He recalled the Tsuchikage's words before deployment and finally understood them.
"That boy realized our reinforcements were coming. That's why he withdrew."
If the explosions had lasted longer, even his Earth Release defenses might not have saved him. But Lock had vanished before pressing the attack further—proof that he'd sensed the incoming army.
The jōnin lowered his gaze. "A shinobi like that… if he survives the war, he'll be a name the whole world remembers."
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San