The power vibranium could resist wasn't limited to physical strikes—magical attacks too were absorbed and hurled back, multiplied in strength. Otherwise, it would never have been known as one of the three great metals of the Marvel universe.
Of course, vibranium had been damaged more than once in that world. Even Captain Rogers' shield had shattered countless times. But those feats were usually only possible for beings on the level of gods.
Uchiha Itachi's Susanoo, even evolved with the Eternal Mangekyō, was ultimately no more than stronger than a typical Kage-level shinobi. At best, he might be able to raze a city, perhaps even a nation. But to destroy an entire continent? Impossible. To obliterate a planet? Beyond him.
After all, the world of Naruto was never meant to be a "high-power" setting. Aside from Naruto, Sasuke, Kaguya, and the Sage of Six Paths—beings who were practically aliens—the vast majority of shinobi were still human. Compared to the cosmic scale of Marvel, the difference was obvious.
So in light of that, it wasn't strange that Itachi's Susanoo strike had been absorbed and reflected by vibranium.
"Looks like this metal is even more useful than I thought," Senju Haruto thought to himself.
Consider Uchiha Madara's legendary fan—an artifact that could absorb ninjutsu and send it back at the enemy. Even that weapon only reflected an attack's original power, nothing more.
By comparison, the vibranium he had secured was far stronger than the Uchiha fan.
As Haruto pondered, the shinobi around him could only gasp in shock.
They knew nothing of vibranium or Marvel, but they knew the Uchiha, the Sharingan, and Susanoo. Many of them had even fought someone wielding Susanoo before.
"This… this is the power of vibranium?" Orochimaru's snake-like eyes widened as he stared at Itachi's Susanoo, half-destroyed by a single rebound.
He had already admired Haruto deeply, and no matter what strength Haruto displayed, he had never considered it impossible. But now… to think that a mere fragment of metal could counter Susanoo?
If Haruto hadn't avoided striking a vital point, that blow might have actually injured Itachi himself.
And Susanoo was considered one of the strongest defenses in the ninja world. Gaara's Absolute Defense, the Hyūga clan's Eight Trigrams Palms Rotation—none could compare to a Complete Body Susanoo. Even a half-complete form could casually withstand something like Sasuke's Kirin.
The thought made Orochimaru swallow hard. His fingers trembled faintly. His mind burned with only one desire: research.
Research vibranium.
If he could master this metal, he could forge the strongest ninja tools in history.
The age of ninjutsu was changing.
Once, shinobi had pursued only stronger techniques. But now… now would come the age of ninja tools.
With this metal, even geniuses like Uchiha Itachi would no longer be untouchable.
Orochimaru's blood raced, his heart aflame with excitement.
"This little piece of metal… to hold such terrifying strength."
Jiraiya's throat bobbed as he spoke, his mind no less shaken. He had traveled far and wide, seen countless wonders and cultures others could barely imagine. His intelligence on the ninja world was second to none.
And yet now—
He realized something.
The world was far bigger than he had ever allowed himself to see. Perhaps bigger than anyone imagined.
Vibranium had given him a new resolve. He had to leave the Land of Fire and explore. To truly see this world.
For reasons he couldn't explain, Jiraiya's gaze drifted to Tsunade at his side.
A memory surfaced. Her old dream: that when wars ended and shinobi were no longer needed, she would travel the world, become a wanderer, a free soul.
And back then, without hesitation, he had declared that his own dream was to protect her.
"Tsunade," Jiraiya said softly.
In a world where something like vibranium could exist… what else was really impossible?
The call of her name pulled Tsunade's thoughts back to reality. Her heart, too, was shaken.
That power released from Haruto's shield—it had been dozens of times stronger than her monstrous strength.
And more shocking still—Haruto hadn't used any ninjutsu, nor shaped chakra. That was the ability of the metal itself.
Which meant… even an ordinary person with no shinobi training could wield such a shield and resist Susanoo.
It was terrifying.
And the one who had discovered it, who had brought it back—was none other than Haruto.
This boy, another child of the Senju clan…
What kind of genius was he?
"Even greater than Grandfather," Tsunade admitted in her heart.
But wonder aside, she finally turned her attention back to her old friend. Jiraiya had raised his voice several times now.
"Hard to believe this world holds something like vibranium, right? Doesn't it make you wonder what else might be out there?" Jiraiya said with a grin, though inside he felt strangely nervous. They were both well into their fifties, after all.
"…Yes." Tsunade nodded faintly. After what she had just witnessed, of course she couldn't help but feel curious.
"So…" Jiraiya paused deliberately, voice deepening, trying to make his words sound weighty.
"Will you come with me? Let's go see it together."
The moment he blurted it out, Tsunade's expression shifted, complex, unreadable.
Their eyes locked, and before she could say anything, Jiraiya hurriedly backpedaled.
"It'll be for Haruto's sake, too. To help him gather intelligence on the wider world. After all, a battle between shinobi is really a battle of information, isn't it? And we don't know nearly enough about this world.
"Look at vibranium—just one shield was enough to match Itachi's Susanoo. What if there are more powers like that out there?
"For Haruto, for the Land of Fire, as members of the Sannin—we have a responsibility."
His words tumbled out in a rush. In truth, he was only trying to cover up his embarrassment.
From the moment he asked, he had expected her refusal.
But to his astonishment…
Tsunade actually nodded.
"Tell me, Jiraiya—what do you think the casinos are like in the rest of the world?"