The moon hung low over the Forest of Death, casting long shadows across the dense landscape. Jack had just eliminated Dosu and his team, claiming his new Sonic Disruptor Cannon and inventory upgrade. The thrill of the hunt still coursed through him, the satisfaction of dominating his prey feeding into the Lockdown persona that was slowly becoming part of him.
But Jack knew that his journey in this world was far from complete. The Chūnin Exams were just the beginning, and the players he had yet to observe were his real targets. Naruto, Sasuke, Gaara—these names resonated within him, not because of their power, but because they were crucial to the story. They were the key to understanding this world, and Jack was determined to hunt them from the shadows.
As he moved deeper into the forest, the system pinged softly.
"Mission update: Observe the fight between Team 7 and Orochimaru's forces. Side mission unlocked: Test new weapon on Orochimaru's summons. Reward: Advanced Energon Harpoon."
Jack's optics flared with excitement. Orochimaru was one of the most dangerous figures in the Naruto world, a legendary rogue ninja with a lust for power. A perfect adversary to test his evolving abilities. But Jack wasn't foolish enough to confront Orochimaru directly—at least, not yet. He needed to understand more about the way this world's power dynamics worked, especially with key figures like Orochimaru involved.
The system guided him towards the direction of Team 7, where Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had already encountered one of Orochimaru's disguised subordinates, an assassin sent to test them.
Jack perched high in the trees, his cloak activated as he observed the scene below. Naruto and Sasuke were locked in a desperate battle against the sinister ninja. The assassin wielded strange abilities—elongated necks and venomous strikes, clear indicators that they had been enhanced by Orochimaru's cursed techniques.
Sasuke, his Sharingan active, was dodging the strikes with finesse, but it was obvious that both he and Naruto were struggling to match the sheer ferocity of their enemy. Sakura, once again, was holding back, her face full of fear as she clutched a kunai, unsure of how to help.
Jack's optics zoomed in, analyzing the combatants. This fight was critical to the story—an early test of Sasuke's and Naruto's resilience, and their first encounter with Orochimaru's influence. The outcome would shape much of what was to come in the Naruto timeline.
But Jack wasn't here just to watch. The system had given him a side mission, and he intended to complete it. Orochimaru's summons were deadly, serpentine creatures capable of overwhelming even skilled ninja. And Jack was eager to see how his new Sonic Disruptor Cannon would perform against them.
The system pinged again.
"Enemy approaching. Orochimaru's summon detected."
A low hiss echoed through the forest. Jack's optics scanned the ground, locking onto a massive snake slithering toward the battlefield. Its scales shimmered in the moonlight, and its eyes gleamed with deadly intent. This was no ordinary creature; it was one of Orochimaru's infamous snake summons, a beast capable of devouring ninja whole.
Jack's hands tightened around the Sonic Disruptor Cannon. This was the moment he had been waiting for. His Tactical Cloak shimmered as he deactivated it, stepping into the clearing with silent precision. The snake, sensing a new presence, turned its head toward him, its forked tongue flicking out as it hissed menacingly.
The battle between Team 7 and the assassin paused as Naruto, Sasuke, and the enemy ninja turned to see the new figure standing amidst the chaos. Jack's appearance was striking—Lockdown's mechanical body towering over the battlefield, his optics glowing a menacing red.
Naruto, ever the reckless one, shouted, "Who the heck are you?!"
Jack ignored the question, his focus entirely on the snake. The beast lunged at him with terrifying speed, its jaws wide open, ready to crush him in its maw. But Jack was faster. In one swift motion, he raised the Sonic Disruptor Cannon and fired.
A deafening wave of sound burst from the weapon, slamming into the snake with the force of a tidal wave. The creature recoiled, its body convulsing as the sound waves shattered its senses. Jack didn't stop there. He followed up with a second blast, this time aimed directly at the snake's head. The beast let out a final, ear-piercing shriek before collapsing, its body twitching violently before falling still.
Naruto and Sasuke stared in shock, their fight momentarily forgotten. The assassin, too, seemed taken aback by the sudden appearance of this new player, his cold eyes narrowing as he tried to assess the situation.
"Side mission complete. Reward: Advanced Energon Harpoon unlocked."
The system's notification brought a satisfied smirk to Jack's face. He had completed his objective, but his curiosity was piqued. The interaction with Team 7 was unplanned, and the assassin posed an interesting challenge. Orochimaru's influence was clearly at play here, but Jack wasn't ready to make his move on the snake Sannin just yet.
Without another word, Jack turned and began walking toward the shadows, his form shimmering as his cloak activated once more. He could feel the confused gazes of Naruto and Sasuke on him as he disappeared into the forest.
"Wait! Who are you?!" Naruto shouted after him, but Jack didn't respond.
His mission was complete, and there was no need to reveal himself any further. The hunt wasn't over, but for now, he would retreat into the darkness, gathering more information and preparing for the battles ahead.
As Jack moved through the trees, the system pinged once again.
"Main mission update: Orochimaru encounter imminent. Watch key plot events. Next objective: Prevent interference with Sasuke's development. Reward: Plasma Blade."
Jack's optics flared. Orochimaru was making his move soon, and Jack had a role to play. But the idea of preventing interference with Sasuke's development intrigued him. The system was guiding him toward ensuring that certain events unfolded as they should, but Lockdown's predatory nature was pushing him to take a more active role.
He would need to tread carefully. Orochimaru was a dangerous foe, and any direct confrontation could draw unwanted attention. But with the Advanced Energon Harpoon and Sonic Disruptor Cannon now in his arsenal, Jack felt more than prepared to face whatever came next.
As the forest grew quieter, Jack's thoughts drifted back to Naruto and Sasuke. He had seen their potential firsthand, but more importantly, he had seen their weaknesses. This world was full of powerful individuals, but none of them understood what it truly meant to be a hunter, to dominate through sheer strength and cunning.
Jack was no longer just watching. He was shaping the story, one mission at a time.
And soon, even Orochimaru would learn what it meant to be the prey.