"Why should I carry a weaker version of you on my back to fight?"
This sentence echoed endlessly within Naruto's mind.
He could not argue.
He could not deny it.
He could not even open his mouth to respond.
It had been nearly two months since Lock had appeared.
Yet every time danger arrived, it was Lock who protected them.
Every time a crisis emerged, it was Lock who resolved it.
While he himself — ordinary, hesitant, powerless — could only seize control of the body after everything was already decided.
So why… should the weaker one be the king of this body?
[Main Personality Trust and Dependency: 60% (Non-droppable: 35%)]
Seeing the steadily rising value, Lock's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Ahead, Haku stepped calmly out from the shattered ice mirrors.
Four senbon formed from condensed ice rested between his fingers as he approached slowly.
His voice was gentle, almost apologetic.
"Don't be sad. They're fine. They'll wake once their bodies recover…"
"If you hadn't broken the ice wall so suddenly and reduced the number of needles… You wouldn't feel this regret now."
As he spoke, the senbon descended like lightning.
They aimed precisely for Naruto's neck and chest pressure points.
Haku disliked killing. His method was simple — disable opponents, induce a deathlike state, and deceive Zabuza into believing the targets were already dead.
Many enemies who had not seemed evil had survived because of this mercy.
Except—
Crack!
"What!?"
Haku's eyes widened.
Lock's hand had seized his wrist mid-strike.
The despair, grief, and collapse from moments earlier had vanished completely.
"You were pretending?" Haku demanded, shock mixing with anger.
With his free hand, he instantly drew another senbon and thrust toward Lock's skull.
Clang!
The needle struck a layer of blood-red chakra and bounced away harmlessly.
"What is this… chakra?!"
Without hesitation, Haku attempted to retreat.
But his arm would not move.
Not even slightly.
The next instant—
Thud.
Lock rose from his kneeling position, fingers tightening around Haku's throat as he lifted him effortlessly into the air.
"You did well," Lock said calmly. "And I wasn't lying earlier."
He raised his head.
Crimson vertical pupils gleamed beneath narrowed eyelids.
Violent chakra surged outward, thick and oppressive, carrying an ancient malice that made Haku's heartbeat falter.
It felt less like facing a shinobi…
…and more like standing before a demon crawling out of hell itself.
"You… you're not him," Haku struggled, voice strained. "Who… are you?"
Lock smiled, showing white teeth.
"Who am I?"
His voice dropped, cold and certain.
"I am your future master."
Swish!
The Kubikiribōchō sliced across Kakashi's back before disappearing again into the dense mist.
"Kakashi," Zabuza's voice rang out, heavy with irritation. "Can those eyes of yours still copy my jutsu?"
Kakashi fell silent.
He had copied only two techniques — Water Dragon and Great Waterfall — yet Zabuza already sounded pushed to his limits.
Both techniques had canceled each other out anyway. Neither side gained an advantage.
Meanwhile, Kakashi's chakra reserves were steadily draining.
"I can't copy everything," Kakashi replied calmly. "But I can see you clearly whenever you get close."
He shook his torn clothing. His back remained completely uninjured.
"Hmph. Maybe you can endure," Zabuza sneered. "But your little students are probably dead by now."
"You don't understand. My subordinate is extremely strong — not weaker than me."
"I'd bet those brats are already corpses. Ke-ke-ke…"
His laughter echoed as he reappeared, blade swinging toward Kakashi's waist.
"To be honest," Kakashi said lazily while sidestepping and pulling out Young A-Ming for a glance, "I'm more worried whether your subordinate will leave behind a complete corpse."
"There's a monster among my students," he added casually. "One who enjoys slaughter."
Zabuza snorted.
"The black-haired brat? The pink-haired one?"
"It can't possibly be that idiot blond kid."
He struck again, blade crashing toward the book.
"You still have time to read? You really are cold-blooded—"
A sudden gust tore through the battlefield.
The thick mist scattered.
A massive impact thundered across the clearing.
Then Naruto's voice sounded — calm, cold, unmistakably belonging to Lock.
"Zabuza… speaking ill of others behind their backs is a bad habit."
Swish!
Zabuza's smirk froze.
A blood-red palm expanded rapidly before his eyes.
BOOM!
The strike slammed into his face, launching him backward like a fired projectile.
"It's the blond brat!?"
"What kind of monster carries chakra like this?!"
He forced himself upright and charged again, rage burning in his eyes.
"And what are you holding—?! Bastard! What did you do to Haku?!"
Lock stood calmly, gripping Haku by the collar.
As the Kubikiribōchō descended—
He raised two fingers.
Clang.
The massive blade stopped.
Held effortlessly between them.
Zabuza's eyes widened in disbelief.
Ignoring him, Lock smiled faintly.
"He's alive. I'll send you to join him shortly."
He then glanced sideways at Kakashi, who continued reading.
"To struggle this long against someone like him… Kakashi, you really are trash."
"You bastard!" Zabuza roared.
"It's only Tailed Beast power! I've fought a Jinchūriki before!"
Fury overtook him. Memories of battling the Fourth Mizukage flashed through his mind.
Could this brat truly surpass Yagura?
He pulled with both hands.
The sword did not move.
Not even a fraction.
"Am I wrong?" Lock said lightly. "A single Wind Release could've ended this."
Kakashi: "…"
He possessed all elemental affinities — not every technique.
Otherwise, he would be called the Professor of Ninjutsu instead of the Third Hokage.
"I'm not skilled with Wind Release," Kakashi muttered, already retreating and raising both hands. "So yes, I'm trash. Please finish this quickly."
He stepped aside completely, surrendering the battlefield.
Zabuza released the sword and leapt backward, forming seals with ferocious speed.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
A massive torrent erupted from his mouth.
An ocean surged forward, roaring like a collapsing tidal wave, swallowing the battlefield.
Lock watched calmly.
"It has some momentum."
He raised a single finger.
Behind him, three chakra tails aligned, their tips converging toward that point.
"I'll use you… to test the legendary Tailed Beast Ball."
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