Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Into the Forest of Death
The Chūnin Exams had only just begun, but Jack was already feeling the thrill of the hunt. The written test was behind him, and though it had been an uneventful start, it was a vital piece of the puzzle. He had observed the key players, gotten a feel for the competition, and more importantly, his system reward—a sleek, deadly Energon Sniper Rifle—was now safely tucked into his inventory.
But now, things were about to get serious. The second stage of the Chūnin Exams was about to begin, and this stage was held in a place that even the bravest of ninja feared: the Forest of Death.
Jack crouched on a high branch, hidden among the thick canopy of trees surrounding the entrance to the infamous forest. From his vantage point, he watched as the participants gathered below. Teams were being briefed by the exam proctor, Anko Mitarashi, a sharp-tongued, battle-hardened Jonin. She had a wild, dangerous energy that reminded Jack of some of the bounty hunters he had admired from the Transformers universe. But she was no Lockdown.
Jack's optics zoomed in on the scene below, his advanced sensors locking onto the key figures. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood together, their faces a mixture of determination and anxiety. Gaara's team was there as well, the sand ninja standing eerily calm amidst the tension. Shikamaru yawned lazily nearby, already annoyed by the whole situation. The other teams were gathered too, each group sizing up the competition as they prepared for the next phase.
The Forest of Death. This stage was where things would get messy—where true survival skills would be tested. Jack had no intention of playing along with the rules of this world, but he needed to see how these ninja fought. The more he understood their abilities, the better prepared he would be when the time came to make his move.
"Mission update: Enter the Forest of Death. Observe combat between teams and key players. Rewards: Tactical Cloak upgrade."
Jack's grin widened. The system was practically daring him to get involved. His Tactical Cloak was already a powerful tool, allowing him to blend seamlessly into his environment, but an upgrade would make him nearly undetectable. He could become a true predator in this world of shinobi. The thought of it sent a thrill down his spine.
As the gates to the Forest of Death creaked open, Jack silently dropped from his perch, landing softly on the forest floor. His cloaking device shimmered for a moment before rendering him nearly invisible once more. He slipped past the teams as they filed into the forest, completely unnoticed. The hunt was on.
Once inside, Jack moved swiftly through the dense underbrush, his optics scanning for any signs of conflict. The forest was vast, dark, and alive with the sounds of wild animals. The perfect place for a hunt. His sensors picked up movement ahead—two teams had already engaged in battle.
Jack perched himself on a high branch, his cloaked form blending with the shadows. Below, two teams clashed violently. Shuriken flew through the air, followed by bursts of fire and water jutsu. The combat was intense, but none of these ninja were the ones he was truly interested in.
He waited, watching as one team gained the upper hand and the other was quickly subdued. A quick fight, but nothing he hadn't anticipated. His real targets were deeper in the forest.
The system pinged softly.
"Mission update: Key players identified. Proceed to observation point."
Jack's sensors locked onto the location. Naruto's team was in the area, and so was Gaara's. Perfect. This was the encounter he had been waiting for. He activated his Tactical Cloak again and moved quickly, making his way toward the heart of the forest. As he leaped from tree to tree, he could feel Lockdown's instincts taking over. The thrill of the hunt, the cold calculation of every movement—it was all becoming second nature to him.
Soon, he arrived at a clearing where the real action was about to take place.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood in the center of the clearing, on high alert. They had been ambushed by a team from the Hidden Grass Village. The Grass ninja had the advantage of numbers, but Naruto's team wasn't going down without a fight. Sasuke's Sharingan flared to life as he dodged a kunai, while Naruto summoned his clones to create a diversion. Sakura hung back, trying to stay out of the direct line of fire.
Jack watched the battle unfold, studying their techniques. Sasuke's movements were precise, calculated—just like a predator honing in on its prey. Naruto, on the other hand, was chaotic but relentless, his unpredictable fighting style throwing his opponents off balance. And then there was Sakura, who, despite her caution, had an impressive command of strategy, guiding her team through the battle.
But it wasn't this team that Jack had come to see.
His sensors detected a new presence—one that sent a chill through the air. Gaara had arrived, his team moving silently through the trees, watching the battle with cold detachment. Jack's optics zoomed in on the sand ninja, his mechanical mind analyzing every detail. Gaara was calm, his arms crossed as his eyes followed the fight below. But Jack knew better than to be fooled by his stillness. The sand around Gaara's feet was already shifting, reacting to his unspoken commands.
Without warning, Gaara's sand exploded into action. In a heartbeat, it engulfed the Grass ninja who had been targeting Sasuke, crushing them with terrifying ease. Naruto and his team froze, their eyes widening in shock as Gaara's sand tightened around the Grass ninja, squeezing the life out of them.
Jack's optics whirred softly as he recorded the event. This was what he had been waiting for—the raw, unfiltered power that only someone like Gaara could wield. He could see the fear in Naruto and Sasuke's eyes, even as they prepared to defend themselves. But Gaara wasn't interested in them. Not yet.
"Mission update: Key combat observation complete. Reward: Tactical Cloak upgrade unlocked."
Jack felt a surge of satisfaction as the upgrade activated. He could feel the changes immediately, his cloak now even more refined, his movements quieter, more efficient. He was becoming the perfect hunter, and this world was giving him everything he needed.
But as he watched Gaara's sand retreat, releasing the lifeless body of the Grass ninja, Jack realized something. Gaara was more than just a powerful opponent. He was like Jack—a predator, driven by something darker, something primal.
Jack smirked. The Forest of Death had proven itself worthy of its name. But this was only the beginning. There were still more players to observe, more power to gather.
With his Tactical Cloak now upgraded, Jack faded into the shadows once more, slipping deeper into the forest. He had seen enough for today, but there would be more battles, more opportunities to watch—and eventually, more opportunities to hunt.
The sun was setting over the Forest of Death, casting long shadows over the trees. Jack stood at the edge of the clearing, his optics scanning the landscape one last time. The Chūnin Exams were far from over, but Jack knew that with each step, he was getting closer to his ultimate goal.
He wasn't just here to watch. He was here to dominate.
The hunt continued.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone