"Psst!"
With a blur of his high-speed movement, Ryuuto suddenly appeared behind Steve, who was still clutching his shield. A cruel, teasing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Ryuuto's hands moved into a precise formation—index and middle fingers upright, the rest interlaced into a deadly seal. No hesitation. No mercy. With a single push, he drove his fingers straight into Steve's vulnerable spot, landing a humiliating strike perfectly.
"Ah! Damn it, Ryuuto! You—!"
Steve blushed red, mouth wide open, even tears forming, and launched himself into the air in sheer agony. He hit the ground hard, clutching his back, convulsing, utterly silenced. For the first time, Captain America felt both physically and mentally battered.
"Oh? 15 said you didn't want to fight me—but now? You're suffering, huh?"
Ryuuto shook his head, a wicked grin spreading across his face. He chuckled loudly, teasing mercilessly:
"Steve, admit it already—this round goes to me!"
"Asshole! That's… that's despicable! I won't accept this!"
Steve glared at him, looking like a wronged child, tears still glinting in his eyes. Ryuuto sighed theatrically, hands clasped together, feigning concern:
"Are you sure you want to keep fighting? Seriously… why are you doing this?"
"Bah! I haven't lost yet! Someone's gotta fight me three hundred rounds!"
Ryuuto rolled his eyes and grinned. "Well then… I guess I'll just give my life to keep up with you, Kunzi!"
Before the words even left his mouth, Steve roared, aura flaring, and lunged, shield raised, ready to crush Ryuuto with raw force.
Ryuuto, calm as ever, closed his eyes and quickly formed a series of hand seals, every movement precise, unpredictable.
"Pretend to be a fool."
Steve snarled, charging anyway, determination blazing.
"You can't fool me! I will defeat you, no matter what!"
"You're wrong."
Ryuuto's eyes snapped open. Scarlet and black irises glinted with deadly focus—Sharingan-like intensity. At the same moment, he activated Kakashi's data packet.
"The final victory belongs to the Master!"
Earth Style · Earth Heart Decapitation Technique!
Steve's strike met nothing but air—Ryuuto had vanished in a blink, leaving only an afterimage. Panic surged through Steve, a dangerous, twisting fear gnawing at him. Where would the next attack come from?
Boom!
A soft thud on the ground, and Steve's ankle was seized. A terrifying force yanked him down. Weightless and disoriented, he landed hard, sinking into rocky earth. When he finally looked up, his jaw dropped.
Ryuuto's massive feet were planted on the ground, Steve's body buried beneath the rocks, head poking out in a humiliating display of total domination.
"Feeling better now? Convinced?"
Ryuuto squatted, casually dragging some scraggly grass across Steve's face like a cat playing with its prey. His smirk was pure mischief.
"Look! Your shield's on the ground again. Ready for round two?"
"Don't! Don't tickle me anymore!"
Steve wriggled helplessly, face contorted in terror and humiliation, unable to look at Ryuuto directly.
Khan! Ryuuto hummed triumphantly, spinning the grass between his fingers like a deadly blade, aiming at Steve's forehead:
"Speak! Are you ready to be my little brother? Time's short—I won't wait forever. When the moment comes, you won't even know what hit you!"
"Okay! Okay! I… I said it!"
Steve swallowed hard, trembling at Ryuuto's overwhelming presence.
"I promise. From now on, I'll be your little brother. Happy now?"
"Yeah! That's a good boy!" Ryuuto cheered, releasing the ninjutsu. He lifted Steve, pats him on the shoulder, grinning ear to ear.
"From now on, don't worry—I've got your back. Only I can mess with you!"
Steve, cheeks burning, could only sigh, realizing the truth: Ryuuto was far stronger than he had imagined. Nothing about this "Red Mirage" was ordinary.