The forest around Troy was alive with the sounds of approaching shinobi. He could feel their presence—strong chakra signatures moving rapidly, closing in from all directions. There's at least three more, he thought, the cursed energy swirling around him. His heart pounded, not from fear, but from excitement.
Sukuna's influence was making it harder to stay calm. The bloodlust crept into his mind, whispering to him, urging him to crush these enemies and bathe in their fear. But I'm not Sukuna, Troy reminded himself. I have to keep control.
He took a deep breath, centering himself. The power was there, but he needed to use it wisely. These shinobi weren't pushovers. In the Naruto world, even the weakest ninja could be a deadly threat.
As Troy weighed his options, a kunai whizzed through the air, embedding itself in the tree beside him. He jumped back just as two figures dropped from the treetops, landing in a crouch before him. Both were dressed in standard Konoha gear, their faces hidden by masks.
ANBU.
Troy's pulse quickened. The ANBU Black Ops weren't just regular shinobi. These were highly trained elites, specialized in hunting down dangerous targets. He had seen them in action in the anime, but now... they were coming for him.
The taller of the two ANBU stepped forward, his voice cold and commanding. "You there, state your business in Konoha territory."
Troy smirked. He couldn't help it. The power coursing through his body was intoxicating, and Sukuna's arrogance was bleeding into his thoughts. "Business?" he echoed, his voice dripping with disdain. "I'm here to test my strength."
The ANBU ninja exchanged glances, clearly unamused by his taunt. Without another word, they moved in perfect sync, launching a coordinated attack. One came at him from the left, the other from the right—kunai gleaming as they slashed toward him with deadly precision.
Troy didn't hesitate. His body moved on instinct, the curse energy erupting around him. His hand shot up, blocking the first kunai strike with ease. Sparks flew as the blade met his cursed energy, but before the second ANBU could land their attack, Troy's other hand flared with power.
"Dismantle."
A wave of cursed energy sliced through the air, ripping the ground apart as it hurtled toward the second ninja. The ANBU barely managed to evade, flipping back as the earth exploded beneath their feet. The first ninja pressed the attack, striking again with rapid, precise movements.
But Troy was faster.
With a speed that surprised even himself, he ducked under the strike and drove his fist into the ninja's stomach. The impact was brutal. The ANBU gasped, eyes wide as the curse energy surged through their body, burning them from the inside out. They crumpled to the ground in a heap.
Troy turned his attention to the remaining ANBU, a savage grin spreading across his face. Too easy.
But the second ninja wasn't retreating. In fact, they seemed unfazed by their comrade's defeat. They formed a series of rapid hand signs, their chakra spiking as the air around them crackled with energy.
"Lightning Style: Lightning Dragon Jutsu!"
A massive bolt of lightning shaped like a serpentine dragon roared toward Troy, its crackling energy lighting up the forest in blinding flashes. There was no time to dodge; the attack was too fast.
Troy raised his hands, summoning as much cursed energy as he could. The red aura flared around him, forming a barrier just as the lightning dragon struck. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, the ground trembling beneath his feet. His barrier held—barely—but the force of the jutsu knocked him back, his body skidding across the forest floor.
He groaned, pushing himself to his feet. That was too close.
The ANBU stood across from him, panting but determined. This one wasn't going to go down easily.
Troy clenched his fists. Fine. Let's see what Sukuna's power can really do. He raised his hand, focusing his energy.
"Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine."
In an instant, the air around them shifted. A dark, oppressive energy filled the forest, warping the space itself. Black and red cursed energy spread out in a circle around Troy, forming a grotesque temple in the middle of the woods. The ANBU's eyes widened in shock and fear.
This was Sukuna's ultimate technique—his Domain Expansion. Inside this space, Troy was invincible, his attacks guaranteed to hit their mark.
He didn't waste a second.
"Cleave."
The cursed energy lashed out, slicing through the air with terrifying speed. The ANBU had no chance to escape. The invisible force cut through their body, the precision of the attack leaving no room for survival. In the blink of an eye, the second ninja was down, their body collapsing into the dirt.
Troy let out a slow breath as the Malevolent Shrine dissolved around him. The forest returned to normal, the oppressive energy fading into nothingness.
The two ANBU lay motionless at his feet.
He hadn't expected to use the Domain Expansion this early, but it had been necessary. These shinobi were strong—stronger than he had anticipated. But in the end, Sukuna's power was overwhelming.
System update: Two S-rank shinobi defeated. Bonus objective complete.
A new screen appeared in his vision, offering the rewards for completing the simulation's bonus objective. Five icons flashed again.
Choose two rewards:
Mangekyo Sharingan (limited use)Curse mark activationMystic weapon summoningCursed energy enhancementBody control (similar to Orochimaru)
Troy's eyes widened as he scanned the list. Mangekyo Sharingan? That alone could turn him into one of the most dangerous beings in this universe. But the other options were tempting too—especially the curse mark activation and body control, which could give him even more versatility in a fight.
He had to choose carefully. These rewards would carry over to the Marvel Universe, and he needed to be prepared for whatever came next.
After a moment of thought, he made his selections.
Rewards selected: Mangekyo Sharingan (limited use) and Curse mark activation.
His vision blurred for a moment as the Mangekyo Sharingan's power fused with him. He could feel the curse mark, dormant for now, but ready to activate whenever he needed it.
The forest was quiet once more. The shinobi were defeated, and he had survived the first real test of his powers. But this was just the beginning.
Troy glanced at the sky. There was still time before the simulation ended. He had one week to survive. Bring it on, he thought with a grin. I'm ready for whatever comes next.
To be continued…