From just a few meters away, Natasha Romanoff's legs nearly buckled. She couldn't even begin to measure the strength coursing through Ryuuto's body, but the signs were obvious—the change in his skin tone, the bulging veins writhing like serpents beneath his flesh.
This isn't a minor boost… this is a complete transformation.
Even under normal conditions, Natasha doubted she could win against him. In this state, she wasn't even comparable to an insect.
Before she could take another breath—Ryuuto vanished.
In his place, the Hulk bellowed, lashing out wildly as unseen blows hammered into him. The green giant swung his massive arms again and again, striking only empty air.
Natasha's lips parted. She knew it was Ryuuto. The way he was striking—like an invisible phantom—was terrifying. Even the Hulk, enraged and feral, couldn't find him.
At that moment, the outcome of the battle was already clear.
Meanwhile, aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier…
"Report! Massive energy fluctuations detected over northern Australia!"
"What's the situation?"
Maria Hill, her face tight, rattled off, "Location matches Banner's last known position in the rainforest. From the continuity of the readings, it's not a missile, not conventional tech. It's some kind of energy output… sustained and supercharged. If anyone on our books could do something close, maybe Stark—but even that's a stretch."
Nick Fury leaned forward, single eye narrowing at the pulsing readings on the radar. "Contact Romanoff. This morning she said she was recruiting a mutant for backup. I want to know if this energy spike is coming from him."
"Trying now, sir… but no luck. Wireless comms are jammed—the interference is too strong!"
"Then patch me through to Stark or Rogers."
Maria dialed Tony instantly. A few seconds later she reported, "Iron Man confirms—it's from the Mutant. Codename: Red Mirage. He says this kid can manipulate some kind of unknown energy."
"Unknown, huh?" Fury stroked his chin beneath the eyepatch, a faint smile curling his lips. "Fine. Once this fight's done, Stark brings him in. And confirm again—he's Japanese, right?"
"Yes, Director. Native of Japan."
"That's rare. A Japanese mutant with a power we've never catalogued before… let's see if he's a miracle or a disaster waiting to happen."
Back in the rainforest, Red Mirage's body blurred, his movements faster than lightning. The Seventh Gate burned inside him, flooding his veins with raw, violent power.
The Hulk's skin, thick as armor, absorbed strike after strike, but even the strongest walls crack under constant bombardment.
"Damn, even his ribs are stubborn? Figures… it's the Hulk."
Then, in a flash, Ryuuto planted himself with his back exposed to the monster.
Natasha's heart lurched. "Ryuuto! Don't—!"
Too late. His voice roared like thunder:
"Taijutsu—Shadow Dance Leaf!"
The kick connected. The impact was beyond human, beyond mutant. Hulk—yes, the Hulk—was launched into the sky like a missile.
The only reason it worked: Ryuuto's earlier barrage had shredded the Hulk's insides, destabilizing his balance. Coupled with the explosive fury of the Seventh Gate, even the strongest monster alive couldn't withstand it.
Natasha stared in disbelief. She'd seen gods clash before, but never—never—had anyone kicked the Hulk into the heavens.
And the one doing it was only eighteen years old.
Ryuuto didn't stop there. He leapt after the green giant, slamming a brutal heel-kick into Hulk's stomach. The titan plummeted to the earth like a meteor, smashing a crater deep into the forest floor.
When the dust cleared, the Hulk was gone. In his place lay Bruce Banner, frail and broken, his body reverting after sustaining damage no healing factor could immediately mend. His pupils were dilated—he was at death's door.
But Ryuuto himself wasn't faring much better.
The moment he landed, he sealed the Seventh Gate shut, his entire body trembling. Pain screamed through every fiber of his being. It felt like his bones were splintering into shards, his muscles tearing from the inside out.
He nearly collapsed then and there. Note to self: never open that gate unless you've written your will. Damn, that hurt like hell.
Just as he was about to sink to the ground, a familiar teasing voice echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Hokage Character Data Pack acquired!][Ding! Life Potion obtained!]
"…Life potion? The hell is this, a video game drop?"
Scanning the system's description, his eyes widened. Instant restoration, even from fatal injuries. Basically… a full heal cheat code.
Without hesitation, he activated it.
A rush of vitality exploded through his body. One second he was drowning in agony, the next it was like he'd been reborn.
"Holy crap… one second I was in hell, the next I'm in paradise. That's… addictive."
Then the system chimed again, voice smug:
[Hokage Role Integration Mode unlocked. Please check instructions.]
"…Integration Mode? What is this, DLC? Shion, don't tell me you're turning my life into a freaking crossover patch update."