"Got it. We'll buy you as much time as we can!"
"Yeah! Let's go, Romanoff-san!"
Natasha and Gwen exchanged a brief grin—half nerves, half resolve. Without another word, they split left and right, flanking the rampaging Hulk like two streaks of red and white lightning.
"Web Shot: Net Bind!"
With a flick of her wrists, Gwen's web-shooters fired—silver threads exploding outward into a massive cocoon of reinforced spider silk. The sticky mass wrapped around Hulk's upper body, clinging tight.
"Nice one, Gwen! Hold him just like that!"
Natasha didn't hesitate. She darted forward, grabbing one end of the web and anchoring it with a grapple hook. For a brief second—it looked like the monster might actually be restrained.
Then—
RIP!
The air itself cracked as Hulk flexed. The webs tore apart like tissue paper. The shockwave sent both women crashing to the pavement.
"Ryuuto! Watch out—he's charging straight at you!" Gwen shouted, voice trembling with adrenaline.
Each of Hulk's steps was like a drumbeat of destruction—thud, thud, THUD!—splitting the concrete underfoot. His red eyes locked on Ryuuto, wild and primal. The message was clear: You dare challenge me?
"Air Shockwave!"
Hulk clapped his hands together. The resulting blast ripped through the street, a wall of concussive pressure that vaporized cars and pulverized stone.
Natasha and Gwen froze—he couldn't possibly block that.
But Ryuuto only grinned.
"Summoning Technique!"
He bit his thumb, slammed his palm to the ground, and the world itself seemed to hold its breath. Black seals erupted from the concrete, racing outward in a spiral of glowing symbols.
Then—BOOM.
The sky split. A colossal serpent tore through a rift above New York—scales glinting violet under the stormlight, eyes like twin infernos.
"Ten Thousand Snakes! Bind the Hulk—don't eat him!"
"Heh. Why should I listen to you, brat? Where's my offering?" The serpent's voice slithered through the air, deep and disdainful.
"Help me now, or I'll make sure you never get summoned again!" Ryuuto shot back without blinking.
"Tch. Fine, fine. But remember—you owe me a hundred sacrifices, boy."
"You're really living up to your cold-blooded reputation. No wonder you hung out with that creep Orochimaru."
Ten Thousand Snakes' laugh was like grinding stone. "Still got that sharp tongue, huh?"
Then the serpent struck. With terrifying grace, it twisted through the air, its massive tail snapping around Hulk's torso like a python.
For the first time, Hulk struggled—muscles bulging as he tried to tear free. His roars shook the windows for blocks, fists slamming into the serpent's coils hard enough to leave cracks.
"This thing's tougher than it looks!" Ten Thousand Snakes hissed. "Let me just swallow him whole—it'd be easier!"
"No need," Ryuuto said coolly, forming another hand sign. "You can let him go."
The serpent blinked. "What are you scheming, brat?"
"Just trust me."
"Your funeral!" Ten Thousand Snakes snorted, flicking his tail and releasing the Hulk.
The moment Hulk staggered free, Ryuuto slammed another seal into the ground. Dust and chakra flared like wildfire.
"You… you're not actually doing that, are you?" The serpent's slit pupils widened in shock.
"Reanimation Jutsu."
A coffin burst through the shattered asphalt, ancient wood creaking open. Hulk pounded the ground and roared, charging through the smoke like a furious god.
The coffin lid hit the ground—thunk.
From within stepped a man in crimson armor, long hair flowing, eyes calm yet blazing with power.
Ryuuto straightened, sliding a rune-tagged shuriken into his belt.
The man's eyes opened.
"The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama."
Hashirama blinked at the ruined skyline, then turned toward Ryuuto, brow furrowing.
"This… isn't the Shinobi World. And you—" he tilted his head slightly, curious—"you're no ninja, are you?"
Ryuuto smirked. "Guess I'm freelance."