Lil's diamond body flared with unstable light. She wasn't fighting anymore—she was detonating.
"Explosion, huh?" Ryuuto cracked his neck, smirking. "Fine. You want fireworks? I'll host the show."
Sand Binding Coffin!
Before Lil could trigger her blast, Ryuuto twisted his palm. The ground trembled as a tide of sand surged up, wrapping around her from head to toe. Her limbs locked instantly, the pressure suffocating.
More sand rose—layer upon layer—forming a towering cocoon in her shape.
"Let's see how much you like this one… Sand Waterfall Funeral!"
The world went white.
The explosion tore through the forest, but the sand wrapped around her absorbed the brunt. The shockwave turned the landscape into a wasteland, trees ripped out and hurled like paper.
Even Dr. Scourge, standing a long distance away, was thrown skyward.
"Why is this storm so damn strong—?!" He hit the dirt with a crunch, wheezing.
Meanwhile, Natasha Romanoff stood safely within Ryuuto's sand barrier, staring at the chaos with wide eyes and something close to pride.
"Ryuuto… you're getting better every time."
Ryuuto landed beside her, his body armored in a smooth layer of sand. "Obviously," he said, brushing dust off his sleeve. "I'm not the same rookie from yesterday."
Lil? Gone—obliterated. Not even dust left.
Ryuuto strolled over to where Dr. Scourge was groaning in the dirt.
"So, looks like you're the last one standing," he said, yawning. "Still want to play dumb?"
"I'll confess to your—ugh, screw you!" Dr. Scourge snarled, suddenly pulling out a dozen tiny explosives and hurling them. The air filled with black dots and high-pitched beeps.
Ryuuto sighed. "Old man, you just don't learn."
He slammed his hands together.
Wood Style: Wooden Ingot Wall!
Wood Style: Eternal Tree Burial!
Massive wooden pillars erupted from the ground, forming a barrier as the bombs detonated harmlessly against it. Before the smoke cleared, roots burst from the soil, snaking toward Dr. Scourge.
The scientist's eyes went wide. "Wha—"
The branches twisted around him like serpents, binding his arms and legs, ripping away his weapons. One thick limb coiled around his neck. The color drained from his face.
"Ryuuto," Natasha called softly, "leave him alive. He might know where the others are hiding. Let me bring him in."
Ryuuto exhaled, shrugging. "Fine. You win. Prison's more punishment than death anyway."
He chopped Scourge's neck with the edge of his hand, knocking him out cold, then slung the limp scientist over his shoulder.
"Alright, let's get you back, Widow."
Natasha smirked. "Don't slow me down, Red Mirage."
After delivering Scourge to the S.H.I.E.L.D. outpost, Natasha gave him a rare smile—and a kiss that left him slightly dazed. Ryuuto, face blank but ears red, waved her off and ducked into a nearby bar.
He ordered beer. Lots of it.
But before the buzz even kicked in, Shion's voice echoed lazily in his head.
[Ding~ Master, new optional quest available! Interested?]
"Obviously," Ryuuto muttered, downing his drink. "Let's see what kind of crap you're throwing at me now."
[Mission intel loading...]
Then—crack!
A golden bullet shattered the bar's window, aiming straight for his forehead.
Ryuuto didn't even flinch. Two fingers snapped up and caught the bullet mid-air. He raised an eyebrow. "Really? A headshot while I'm drinking? Classy."
Screams filled the bar as more rounds tore through the walls, splintering wood and glass. Patrons fled in panic.
Ryuuto sighed, bored. "Can't even enjoy one beer."
The sand around his body rippled to life, blocking every bullet before it could touch him. His eyes turned sharp, scanning through the chaos until they locked onto a distant rooftop.
[Mission Update: Defeat the artificial mutant "Domino." Limitation—use no more than five types of jutsu.]
"Only five? Please," Ryuuto scoffed. "I'll need three at most."
[Then prove it, Master. I'll be watching.]
The gunfire stopped. Silence.
Up on the rooftop, Domino frowned behind her scope. "Where the hell did he go—?"
"Behind you," said a voice, calm and amused.
Domino froze.
Ryuuto stood behind her, smirking, a shuriken already pressed against her throat. "You picked the wrong bar to ruin, sweetheart."
...
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