Returning from the dead, the Kumogakure forces were fully convinced that Locke—someone far beyond their understanding—was a legendary ghost. Blinded by fear, they scattered in chaos, screaming and losing all will to fight.
Only the Third Raikage A and his two bodyguards remained nearly unmoved. They instantly appeared before Locke, unleashing their signature techniques.
"Hell Stab: Four-Pronged Assault!"
The surging purple lightning at his fingertips was like an enraged dragon, tearing through the air, scorching and shredding all the shadows before him. The forest's branches and leaves ignited and exploded upon contact with the thunder, the entire area engulfed in roaring flames and lightning.
Even though he had wiped out nearly half of the shadow clones in one fell swoop, A's brows only furrowed tighter, his face dark as iron. The reason was simple: he hadn't felt the impact of striking the real body. The shadow clones before him were like actual shadows—impossible to hit.
It was like trying to box with your own shadow.
"To be honest, I was just thinking about gambling a little—wondering if you could help me successfully break through this obstacle. But now it seems you've actually helped me break through."
An eerie, overlapping voice came from all directions. A attacked immediately, but unfortunately, there was still no way to deal with him.
Locke was like a ghost at this moment. Neither physical attacks nor chakra-condensed strikes worked. A had even disrupted the chakra flow within Locke's body, but there was no response, proving he wasn't trapped in a genjutsu.
At this point, the frustrated A realized just how valuable the information Locke had previously spoken was. Now, without any intelligence, Locke could only toy with him.
At this moment, Locke wasn't just toying with the Third Raikage. He was also tapping into the secrets of the Shadow Flow he had mastered during the robbery.
Unlike those born with such abilities, as a power cultivated by the Shadow Flow Master, Locke could experience their skills and strength in extreme moments and even master their abilities.
Though it was a great test of comprehension and talent, Locke—possessing both the Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Technique and the Ten Shadows Method—quickly grasped the true essence of Shadow Flow.
[Forbidden Secret: Shadow Prison Instant Kill Formation]
In an instant, countless shadow clones burst from the shadows throughout the forest, surging toward the panicked Kumogakure forces like a tidal wave.
A immediately moved to intercept them, but suddenly realized that the shadows he had considered insubstantial, the moment they touched him, condensed into solid entities.
"What...!"
Caught off guard and struck heavily, A didn't have time to reorient himself. He lost his balance and was driven into the ground. He hastily reinforced his lightning-release armor to protect his body and endured the relentless onslaught of the shadow clones.
Seeing this, the two bodyguards hurriedly drew kunai to block, but in the end, they couldn't maintain their lightning-release chakra mode like the Raikage. In an instant, they were completely swallowed by the endless tide of shadow clones.
"Stop!"
"Monster! Monster!"
"This is death! We're being punished by death!"
"Run..."
"Pfft!"
A's ears were filled with the heart-wrenching screams of the young ninja, but now he could only defend himself, with no room to provide support.
The black shadows and cold mist generated by the Shadow Flow's secret techniques gradually consumed the entire forest.
This wasn't the cunning power of chakra—it was impossible to distinguish reality from illusion. And the enemy's true body had still not been found.
Locke was like a ghost in the shadows, leading countless shadow clones in a merciless harvest through the forest. The elite Kumogakure forces fell one after another.
In just a few breaths, over a dozen of Kumogakure's elite lay on the ground, leaving only the last of the Raikage's bodyguards, collapsed on the ground.
He looked at Locke as if he were a ghost, his body trembling uncontrollably, his eyes blazing with intense fear.
Locke met his fear-filled gaze. There was no pity in his eyes. He slowly raised his right hand, a blade of shadow forming in his fist, his voice cold, as if pronouncing the final verdict:
"Unenlightened fools, fall into calamity!"
Before the words faded, the shadow blade let out a sharp sound and slashed down fiercely.
[The host has been detected in an extreme situation. Emergency character card granted.]
[Shadow Flow Master: Calamity is greatly pleased with you.]
[Fixed character card change available once.]
[Accept / Decline]
[Declined]
[Shadow Flow Master has acknowledged you and sent a signal.]
[Skill Card Acquired: Shadow Binding Technique, Soul Annihilation, Calamity]
[Skill Card Acquired: Reverse Cursed Technique 1 (0/10)]
[Skill Card Acquired: Domain Expansion / Disabled]
[Character Trait Acquired: Mad Sorcerer]
The battered Raikage slowly stood up, raised a hand to wipe the blood from his face, and stared silently at Nara Locke, who had once again transformed into the pineapple-headed boy.
Every time he thought he had overestimated Locke, everything that followed proved that he had not only underestimated him but had continued to make mistakes he should never have made.
That is, underestimating him, despising this extremely deceptive appearance... of a genin.
Now, he had learned a deep lesson. The elites he had brought from the village—the pillars of the village's future—had been killed by the other side.
And he had fully elevated Locke to the same level as himself, truly recognizing the other party.
"You're right. I really am a complete fool. I've failed as a ninja, and even more so as a Raikage."
A's figure paused for a moment, then he took a deep breath. As the breath entered his lungs, it shook the surrounding air with thunderous force, pushing his power to the overload limit. Pale lightning, as thick as a barrel, instantly coiled around his body. The crackling arcs licked at his sleeves, even lifting his hair with their electrical force.
The lightning in his pupils suddenly condensed into a blinding substance. Several raging bolts of lightning burst out in all directions, raging between heaven and earth, splitting the surrounding grass and rocks into charred fragments. The entire space trembled with this overwhelming thunder.
"I admit, I want to apologize for my contempt. You don't need my recognition, you don't need my charity. So now, I will give you the respect you deserve as a strong man!"
"I will kill you without the slightest hesitation!!"
From A's side emanated a rich, pure murderous intent. Locke smiled at this moment, pulling Akimichi Choza from the shadows. The suffocating Choza was thrown hundreds of meters by Locke before he could even understand the situation, far from the battlefield.
Locke also assumed a stance, ready to counter the enemy. They simply faced each other, waiting for the opponent to make the first move.
Realizing that the other side had been completely intimidated by the techniques he had just displayed and didn't dare to strike first, the corners of Locke's mouth curled into a smile.
Because he knew he would win.
Then Locke gently touched the inside of his right forearm with his left hand, slightly raised his hand, and quickly assumed a forward stance with both fists.
The moment Locke's strange hand sign was completed, the world before A's eyes suddenly went dark. The surrounding light was like lamps being extinguished one by one by an invisible hand, each vanishing from sight. In the end, a dead silence fell between heaven and earth, leaving only him and Locke, with not even a trace of wind remaining in the four directions.
But immediately after, Locke's soft exhalation made A break out in cold sweat.
Every cell in his body screamed wildly—this was an instinctive warning from a ninja's flesh and blood, seizing his nerves, leaving only one burning thought in his heart:
He must—immediately—stop him!
Unfortunately, it was already over.
"Domain Expansion: Chimera Shadow Garden."