Inside the prison of ice mirrors, Haku completed his hand seals.
The mist trapped within the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals suddenly condensed, droplets forming unnaturally in midair before freezing solid.
In the next instant—
Those droplets sharpened into countless slender ice senbon.
At the same time, Haku moved.
His figure flashed between mirrors at terrifying speed, his body becoming nothing more than streaking shadows impossible for the naked eye to follow.
Swish. Swish. Swish.
Each pass carved new wounds into the trapped trio.
Every time Haku entered a mirror, his kunai shaved fragments of ice from its surface. Those fragments floated upward, reshaping themselves into more senbon needles that hovered silently in the air.
The number kept growing.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
A storm waiting to fall.
"Damn it… I can't track him at all!"
Sasuke panted heavily, blood running down his arms and face. His Sharingan strained to follow the movement, but even with enhanced perception, Haku's speed exceeded what his body could react to.
Behind him, Sakura trembled.
She could barely remain standing.
Unlike Sasuke, she couldn't even defend properly anymore. Each attack left another shallow but bleeding wound.
"You bastard!" Naruto shouted, fists slamming against the ice wall. "Come out and fight me properly!"
Ironically, Naruto had suffered the least damage.
Because he stood near the wall, most attacks prioritized Sasuke and Sakura—the true threats inside the formation.
But every chunk of ice Naruto broke away quietly dissolved into new senbon needles, joining the growing storm overhead.
Sasuke noticed immediately.
"Idiot!" he shouted hoarsely. "Stop breaking the wall and escape through the opening!"
Sakura forced herself to speak despite exhaustion.
"Naruto… listen to Sasuke…!"
Her voice trembled.
"Get out… and call Lock…!"
Naruto didn't turn around.
His fists tightened.
"There's no need to call him!"
Another strike slammed into the ice.
"I'll get you out myself!"
"Even without him… I can protect you!"
His voice rose, desperate and stubborn.
"Just hold on a little longer! I'll end this soon!"
Their words cornered him.
Why couldn't he be the one who saved them?
Why was Lock always the answer?
Why did danger always mean surrendering his body?
He was Naruto.
A member of Team 7.
The owner of this body.
The comrade who should be trusted.
So why—
Why did everyone look at him while waiting for someone else?
Inside the Mindscape
Lock watched everything calmly.
A slow grin spread across his face.
Perfect timing.
"Naruto," he said softly, "you can't do this. Just give me the body."
"Just like Sasuke and Sakura want."
"I'll protect them for you. Complete the mission for you."
His tone turned amused, almost gentle.
"After all… the one they trust and expect…"
"…is Lock."
The words struck deeper than any blade.
"No!!!"
Naruto roared internally.
"I'm about to break it!"
"I'll save them myself!"
"After this—they'll trust Uzumaki Naruto!"
"All I need is one more strike—!"
Lock's smile widened.
"Then let me… lend you a hand."
For a single second—
He shared his Kage-level taijutsu.
Outside
BOOM!
The ice wall exploded apart under Naruto's punch.
Haku's eyes widened behind his mask.
"How…?!"
He had allowed damage intentionally—to create more senbon.
But that level of raw force exceeded Naruto's capabilities entirely.
What had just happened?
"…It doesn't matter."
Haku abandoned hesitation.
The senbon storm, not yet fully complete, descended instantly.
Thousands of needles rained downward.
Most targeted Sasuke and Sakura.
Only a fraction aimed at Naruto.
Naruto turned back excitedly.
"I did it! I'm getting you out of—"
He never finished.
The senbon struck.
Pain exploded through his body as needles pierced precise chakra points, draining his strength instantly. His legs buckled.
But physical pain meant nothing compared to what he saw next.
Sasuke and Sakura lay collapsed.
Their bodies were covered in needles.
Blood spread beneath them, staining the ground crimson.
Ice senbon protruded from their necks… their chests…
Their eyes were dim.
Unmoving.
Just like the dead.
Just like Mizuki.
Just like the Root ninja.
Just like every corpse Naruto had tried not to remember.
"It's not supposed to be like this…"
His voice trembled.
"It shouldn't be like this!!!"
A scream tore from his throat.
[Blackening Value +25,000]
[Current Blackening Value: 28,000]
[Main Personality Trust/Dependence: 55% (30% Locked)]
[Emotional Collapse Detected — Personality Switch Available]
The lock did not switch immediately.
Instead—
He applauded.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
"Congratulations," Lock said calmly. "You shattered the ice wall exactly as you wished."
Naruto didn't argue.
He only stared at his fallen teammates.
"It's not like this…" he whispered repeatedly.
Lock's voice softened.
"Naruto… do you know the difference between a king and his mount?"
No answer.
"It isn't some childish difference like two legs and four."
"It's simple."
"Why, when two people possess the same body… does one become king while the other becomes the mount?"
He continued without waiting.
"A king surpasses the mount in talent, judgment, and resolve."
"A king uses every method necessary to protect what matters."
"A king wins—no matter the cost."
"A mount… only carries the king forward. Mediocre. Dependent. Existing only to assist."
A pause.
Then—
Lock seized control.
Personality Switch
The world shifted.
Naruto's consciousness was forced backward into darkness.
Golden chakra erupted outward.
Lock opened his eyes.
Cold.
Emotionless.
Looking down upon Naruto's fading awareness, he spoke the final sentence:
"So tell me…"
His voice carried absolute certainty.
"Why should I carry a weaker version of you into battle?"
---
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