After completing his previous mission, Lock returned to his original ninja team — still led by Yuhi Makoto, though both Kurenai and Asuma had since been promoted to Chūnin.
Because Lock was still recovering from his injuries, the team only accepted lighter missions, giving him time to heal.
Half a year passed in a flash.
Lock's body had fully recovered, and his strength had grown noticeably. His mastery over stealth, speed, and chakra control was sharper than ever, and his signature assassination techniques had become far more refined.
One warm afternoon, Kurenai sat beside him under a tree, enjoying the sun.
"Lock, when are you finally getting promoted to Jōnin?" she asked curiously. Her father had told her more than once that Lock's strength already surpassed most Chūnin.
Lock shrugged. "Who knows. The Jōnin assessment isn't like the Chūnin Exams. Strength isn't enough — it depends on experience, leadership, and mission record. My attendance rate's been low lately, so it'll probably take a while."
He wasn't wrong. Becoming a Jōnin required far more than passing a test. Without enough completed missions — especially high-level ones — even a strong shinobi could be held back.
Lock had completed numerous missions, but most were of lower rank. So far, he'd only completed a handful of A-rank assignments and a single S-rank one — the one given directly by the Third Hokage. Compared to Kakashi, who had already taken on more than a dozen A-rank missions, Lock's record was lacking.
"Father said he might be called back to train new genin soon," Kurenai sighed. "If that happens, who'll lead our team next?"
Lock wasn't surprised. "Probably no one. We'll get reassigned. The team structure's bound to change soon."
Makoto Yuhi was one of Konoha's best instructors, and with tensions rising along the borders, the Hokage was surely reorganizing forces. Lock knew the Third Great Ninja War was fast approaching.
"Ah? That's not fair," Kurenai said, frowning. "I don't want to be separated from you."
Lock smiled faintly. "Orders are orders. We're shinobi — that's how it is."
Truthfully, he'd grown restless. After months of light work and slow progress, he was itching to move forward again. War was coming, and he needed to be ready.
Then, suddenly, he felt something stir within him — a subtle pulse of chakra deep in his core.
A whisper echoed in his mind.
A connection.
Something… awakening.
Lock focused his chakra, and new information surfaced within him — instinctive, wordless, yet clear. His unique power, that mysterious energy that had guided him before, had evolved again.
He could now summon a Rebirth Pool, a chakra spring capable of accelerating recovery and replenishing life force. There were other functions as well — communication through chakra marks, and even a rapid movement technique tied to the pool's location, allowing for an instant return when needed.
It wasn't a "system." It wasn't external. It felt like his own chakra network expanding — unlocking something dormant within him.
Lock thought for a moment, then chose to anchor the Rebirth Pool in his home courtyard.
Konoha might be called a village, but its size rivaled that of a small city. His family home, once a modest yard, had grown over the years as they became more comfortable. It wasn't luxurious, but the enclosed space — about two hundred square meters — was perfect for privacy and training.
There, within his courtyard, Lock formed the seal and poured his chakra into the ground. The energy sank deep, rippling through the soil before glowing softly — the faint shimmer of the Rebirth Pool taking shape.
A place where wounds could heal faster.
A sanctuary where he could restore his chakra and strength in hours instead of weeks.
He looked at it quietly, feeling both relief and determination.
"This… will change everything."
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