Confusion Technique!
Ryuuto's fingers blurred through hand seals, chakra pulsing through every vein. A faint shimmer burst from his palms and surged toward Gwen.
She froze mid-step—body trembling like an invisible current had swept through her. Her pupils dilated, her breathing hitched, and her limbs… stopped obeying her.
"Huh—what's happening?!" she gasped, voice trembling.
"Heh. Success." Ryuuto grinned, satisfaction flickering across his face. "Man, that feels weird—but it worked."
For a brief moment, Gwen's body moved like a puppet's, arms rising and lowering at Ryuuto's will. His chakra tethered her like invisible strings.
He focused, guiding her a few steps forward—then, half out of curiosity, half from instinct, Ryuuto made her take his hand. Their bodies aligned almost naturally, and in that strange chakra trance, they moved together like a slow, awkward dance.
Gwen's eyes softened despite herself. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, mixing confusion with something else—something warmer. Even if her movements weren't her own, she could feel the connection, the pulse of his chakra blending with hers.
"Release."
The chakra thread snapped, and Gwen's body relaxed instantly. She stumbled but caught herself—then turned to him with wide eyes and an incredulous smile.
"That was… amazing! Ryuuto, how did you even do that?!"
She threw her arms around him, excitement sparkling in her gaze. To her, it wasn't creepy—it was awe. He had just performed something between psychic magic and pure art.
Ryuuto laughed lightly, scratching the bridge of her nose. "Just a new jutsu I picked up. Honestly, if you'd moved faster or attacked first, I wouldn't have landed it."
"Then…" Gwen leaned forward eagerly. "What's next?"
Ryuuto's grin deepened. "Glad you asked. That was the beginner version. Let's test something stronger."
"Alright!" she said without hesitation. "Tell me what to do!"
Her trust made Ryuuto's chest tighten for a second—but he pushed the feeling down. This is what power's for, he told himself. To protect, to understand… not just destroy.
"Just relax. Same as before."
He exhaled sharply, hands flying through a new series of seals.
Mind Transfer Technique!
A surge of chakra pulsed—and Ryuuto's body suddenly slumped lifelessly to the floor.
Gwen gasped. "Ryuuto?! Wait—what—"
Then she froze again. Her breath hitched. Her fingers moved… but not by her command.
Her eyes widened as realization hit. "Wait. You—you're inside me?! You actually entered my body!?"
Inside her consciousness, Ryuuto chuckled. "Don't phrase it like that, it sounds weird."
He looked down through Gwen's eyes, seeing his own body lying motionless a few feet away. It was surreal. "Huh. So that's what I look like when I'm out cold. Not flattering."
Gwen was flustered, half-panicked, half-fascinated. "This is insane. I can feel you moving my hands!"
"Focus, Gwen. I'm testing the limits of this jutsu."
With measured control, Ryuuto flexed Gwen's hands, shot a web at the wall, then flipped over a desk with fluid motion. He could feel her strength, her instincts—every bit of that Spider-gene humming like electricity under his chakra.
Incredible synergy, he thought. If I can do this mid-battle, I could hijack enemies or turn their power against them.
He dove deeper, brushing against fragments of Gwen's memories—faces, dates, emotions. He stopped himself immediately. He wasn't here to pry.
"Don't worry," he muttered inside her mind. "I'm not reading anything private."
Gwen's spirit form floated beside him, faintly translucent and pink-tinged. She looked embarrassed but trusting. "I… I know. It's okay."
Ryuuto smirked. "Good. Then let's try resistance training. You push me out."
"Got it!"
Gwen's consciousness surged forward, her will colliding with Ryuuto's. The psychic pressure slammed into him like a shockwave.
"Whoa—alright, Spider-girl's got bite!"
Her mental strength flared, spider-sense amplifying her spirit. Ryuuto's soul flickered under the push, but he held his ground. Chakra pulsed against willpower, sparks of psychic energy flaring like lightning.
Seven minutes later, his body jerked awake. The jutsu broke. Ryuuto's soul snapped back into his real body.
He sat up, clutching his head. "Damn. That's… disorienting."
Across from him, Gwen exhaled hard, cheeks flushed, eyes shining. "That was real, wasn't it? That actually happened?"
"Yeah," Ryuuto said, smiling faintly. "And you held out longer than most trained shinobi could. Impressive."
Her fatigue showed, but so did her excitement. "I feel stronger. Like… mentally sharper somehow."
Ryuuto nodded, stretching his arms. "That's the Mind Turn Technique for you. It drains like hell but boosts both sides. Just don't overdo it."
Gwen yawned and rubbed her eyes. "I'm fine… just sleepy."
He chuckled softly. "Then rest. You earned it."