After ending communication with Natasha Romanoff, Nick Fury ordered Maria Hill to scour the global news networks for any reports tied to northern Australia. If the wrong outlets framed the explosion as a nuclear test, panic could ignite—and with it, the spark for World War III.
While Fury paced with a stormy expression, Ryuuto had already reached the base of a mountain.
He wasn't sure if Natasha and the others were waiting above, so he fished out his phone. That's when he noticed something on the display—an active tracker pinging faintly.
It was the micro-transmitter S.H.I.E.L.D. had once slipped into Mystique's bloodstream. If she had died in the blast, the device would've gone silent with her pulse. But it was still alive, still beating. Which meant Mystique was alive. Which meant Magneto was alive too.
Ryuuto grimaced. Figures. Villains like them don't croak that easy.
But he didn't dwell. As long as Magneto didn't stick his nose into Ryuuto's path, he wasn't going hunting for payback. Still—if the old man wanted another round, he'd answer with another Rasengan.
Magneto's too damn arrogant, Ryuuto thought, recalling the clash. If he had pressed me from the start, I'd never have had time to finish the Shadow Clone + Expansion + Rasengan setup. A full minute to charge—hell, that's basically me holding up a sign that says: "Please kill me while I prep." Lucky for me, he gave me the opening.
His phone buzzed. Caller ID: Natasha. Relief.
After hanging up, Ryuuto crouched, then sprang upward, bounding stone to stone in swift leaps. His figure blurred like a phantom rising toward the summit.
Natasha had just pocketed her own phone when a gust of wind swept past, followed by a familiar laugh. She spun—and there he was, Ryuuto, standing unscathed.
"How come you bulk up like Banner now?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Banner makes his whole body bigger. Me?" Ryuuto grinned. "I can choose which parts to expand."
Natasha's cheeks flushed. "Don't say weird things like that."
"I'm serious. Look below."
[Ninjutsu – Partial Expansion Jutsu!]
Natasha's eyes widened and she instantly turned her head away, expecting the worst. "Don't! Change back right now!"
"Turn around, I'll show you where I'm thick and strong."
"Stop it!"
Down by the helicopter, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers had front-row seats to the teasing.
"If I ever said something like that to Natasha," Tony muttered, "she'd slit my throat in under five seconds."
Steve folded his arms. "My neck's tougher than yours."
Back with Natasha, Ryuuto slipped behind her and patted her shoulder. She bristled, ready to scold, but then she noticed something odd: his shadow stretched unnaturally long. She whipped around—only to see his legs monstrously thick and elongated, like giant prosthetics.
He wore a mischievous grin. Natasha exhaled, realizing she'd been played.
Clearing her throat, she said coolly, "Enough games. Fury wants to speak with you."
Ryuuto dropped the jutsu, his limbs snapping back to normal. "Cyclops himself? Fine, what does he want?"
"I don't know. Put this on." Natasha carefully handed him her communicator.
Ryuuto clipped it on. "Yo."
"This is Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.," came the gravelly voice.
"Name's Ryuuto. Third-year at Axville Mutant School."
"I know the explosion was yours. That makes you wanted across the globe," Fury said, his tone deceptively calm. "But… there's a way out. Join the Avengers, become a hero, and I'll cover what happened in Australia. Refuse, and you'll be branded a criminal worldwide. Even Charles' school won't escape the fallout."
Ryuuto's smirk faded. His voice chilled. "Director Fury. I might only be eighteen, but I'm not stupid. Let's get this straight—you're the one who dragged me out here to 'help' capture the Hulk. I did your dirty work. Now you want to dump the blame on me? If you think I'll play scapegoat, think again."
Natasha glanced at him, concern flickering in her eyes. If he turned against the Avengers here, the fallout would be catastrophic.
Before Fury could press further, Natasha swiftly unclipped the communicator and spoke herself.
"Director, Ryuuto helped us secure the Hulk. If you try to pin this on him, I'll personally rally the Avengers against S.H.I.E.L.D. Don't test me. We might work under your command—but we're not chained to you."