The Forest of Death seemed eerily quiet in the aftermath of Orochimaru's attack. Jack watched from the shadows, his upgraded Shadow Cloak ensuring he remained unseen. Sasuke lay unconscious, his body still trembling from the cursed mark now etched into his skin. Naruto was restless, pacing back and forth, his frustration palpable. Sakura hovered over Sasuke, concern etched across her face as she tried to make sense of the chaos that had just unfolded.
Jack's optics scanned the scene, his mind still processing the success of his intervention. Orochimaru had planted his seed, but the encounter had left the snake Sannin suspicious. He had sensed something—a presence hidden in the shadows. Jack had made his move without fully revealing himself, but Orochimaru was not a fool. The game had now changed.
As he considered his next steps, the system pinged softly.
"Mission Update: Orochimaru's curiosity has been piqued. Next objective: Manipulate events to weaken Orochimaru's forces. Reward: War Gauntlet (Level 1)."
Jack's optics flickered. Weaken Orochimaru's forces? The mission intrigued him. Orochimaru was a puppet master, manipulating everything from the shadows, and his forces—especially his Sound Village operatives—were instrumental in his larger plans. Jack realized that if he could subtly sabotage Orochimaru's minions, it would hinder the snake's goals while allowing the story to progress as it should.
A new predator's web was forming in Jack's mind. If he could stay ahead of Orochimaru, picking off his pieces one by one, Jack could create an environment where he controlled the chessboard. But this required precision. Too much interference, and the entire narrative could collapse.
He turned his attention back to Team 7. Naruto's frustration continued to bubble over as he tried, in vain, to wake Sasuke. Sakura's attempts to calm him were equally futile. Jack could tell that tensions were running high, and this instability could easily play into his hands. But for now, his focus needed to shift.
There was another force lurking in the forest—the Sound Genin trio under Orochimaru's command: Zaku, Kin, and Dosu. They were sent specifically to disrupt the Chūnin Exams and stir chaos, particularly targeting Sasuke. Dosu had already fallen to Jack in their earlier encounter, but Zaku and Kin were still a threat, and their allegiance to Orochimaru made them key pieces in the larger game. Jack's mission was clear—begin dismantling Orochimaru's pawns, one by one.
Moving silently through the dense underbrush, Jack's sensors detected faint chakra signatures not far from his position. Zaku and Kin were nearby, likely searching for Sasuke to complete their mission. Orochimaru had undoubtedly given them orders, and they were hunting their target with ruthless efficiency. However, they didn't realize they were now being hunted.
Jack perched himself atop a towering tree, his optics zooming in on the unsuspecting duo. Zaku, with his brash demeanor, was loudly complaining about the difficulties of finding Sasuke, while Kin seemed more focused, her eyes scanning the forest with cold determination. They were skilled, but Jack had the upper hand. His advanced technology allowed him to track them long before they could sense his presence.
The system pinged again.
"Target identified: Zaku Abumi. Objective: Eliminate without disrupting immediate plot. Reward: War Gauntlet (Level 2)."
Jack's optics narrowed. Zaku was the perfect starting point. His defeat wouldn't drastically alter the story, as he was only a minor player in Orochimaru's larger scheme. But taking him out now would weaken the Sound forces, setting Orochimaru's plans back subtly. It was time to strike.
Zaku stomped through the forest, his impatience growing with every step. "Where the hell is Sasuke?" he growled, kicking a rock in frustration. "We've been searching for hours!"
Kin shot him a withering glare. "Shut up, Zaku. You're making too much noise. If we keep this up, we'll attract unwanted attention."
Unwanted attention was already upon them.
Before they could react, Jack descended from the treetops, his form a blur of black metal as his Shadow Cloak flickered off. Zaku barely had time to register the attack before Jack struck, his Sonic Disruptor Cannon firing a low-energy burst that sent Zaku crashing into a tree with a heavy thud.
Kin's eyes widened in shock. She reached for her senbon needles, ready to retaliate, but Jack moved with swift precision. His Energon Harpoon shot forward, wrapping around her wrist and pinning her to the ground. She struggled, but Jack's grip was ironclad. With a twist of his wrist, the harpoon tightened, leaving Kin immobilized.
Zaku, groaning from the impact, staggered to his feet. "What… what the hell are you?"
Jack didn't respond. Instead, he advanced on Zaku, his optics glowing menacingly. The system pinged in his mind, urging him forward.
"Warning: Lethal force could disrupt the plot. Non-lethal takedown recommended."
Jack calculated his options. Killing Zaku outright could throw off the balance of Orochimaru's plans, but leaving him conscious would invite complications. His predator's instincts screamed for dominance, but the system was right. He needed to maintain the integrity of the timeline, at least for now.
With a swift motion, Jack activated his Energon Harpoon once again. This time, the energy surged through Zaku's body, sending him into a convulsive state before he collapsed, unconscious but alive. Jack turned his attention back to Kin, who was struggling to free herself from his grip.
Without a word, Jack released the harpoon and disappeared into the trees, his Shadow Cloak rendering him invisible once more. Kin, stunned and terrified, scrambled to Zaku's side, her mind reeling from the sudden attack. She had no idea who—or what—had just attacked them, but she knew that Orochimaru would not be pleased with their failure.
Jack moved swiftly through the forest, his mind buzzing with the satisfaction of his successful takedown. The system pinged in approval.
"Mission complete. Reward: War Gauntlet (Level 2) unlocked."
The War Gauntlet materialized within Jack's inventory—a sleek, powerful piece of technology designed to enhance his physical strikes and energy output. Jack flexed his mechanical fingers, feeling the surge of power as the gauntlet integrated seamlessly with his systems.
But Jack knew this was only the beginning. Orochimaru would soon discover that his forces were being hunted, and the snake's curiosity would grow. Jack needed to stay one step ahead, always in the shadows, always observing, always ready to strike. Orochimaru was playing his own game, manipulating the events of the Chūnin Exams to his advantage. But Jack was weaving a web of his own, pulling at the strings without disrupting the story's natural flow.
The hunter was patient, and the prey didn't even realize it was being watched.
As Jack moved deeper into the forest, his system pinged with a new mission update.
"Next objective: Investigate Kabuto Yakushi. Potential ally or threat? Reward: Plasma Blade upgrade."
Jack's optics flickered with interest. Kabuto—Orochimaru's right-hand man. A master manipulator, playing both sides. If there was anyone in this world who could rival Jack's skill in the shadows, it was Kabuto.
The game was growing more complex, the pieces shifting on the board. But Jack was ready. The web had been spun, and soon, Orochimaru would find himself ensnared within it.