Ryuuto lounged on a thick tree branch like he owned the forest, one leg dangling, munching on an apple as if villains weren't crawling around in the bushes trying to murder him.
Honestly, it was kind of peaceful.
[Ding! System Upgrade Successful. Growth Package Obtained!]
His eyes lit up. "Finally. Shion, open it. And don't get stingy with me this time."
A lazy, sugary voice drifted through his mind.
[Yeah yeah, Host. Don't drool on yourself. Opening now.]
Ryuuto flicked his half-eaten apple aside. The core hit a boulder and cracked it clean in half.
Two hidden silhouettes froze.
"He crushed a rock with trash," whispered the first Mutant, Life Monument, crouched low in the underbrush. "That… that wasn't normal."
The second, Longshot, subtly adjusted his stance. His gaze followed Ryuuto with growing unease. "Kid's not supposed to be this strong. Quicksilver didn't say anything about this."
[Congrats, Host! You've received 20,000 System Experience and one Hokage Data Packet Shard. Gather six for a full unlock.]
"Good stuff," Ryuuto whispered. "Shion, got any hints on where I can get more?"
[Sure. There's a hidden mission nearby. But you know… you have to figure it out yourself.]
"I swear you're one 'teehee' away from getting muted."
[Host, I'm adorable. You can't mute me.]
He sighed and stood up on the branch, stretching. "Whatever. Let's deal with the two mice hiding around."
Both hidden assassins jolted.
"Impossible, he sensed us?" Life Monument tensed, sweat running down his temples.
Longshot stopped breathing entirely. "We wait. We observe. Don't act rashly."
Ryuuto cracked his knuckles. "Come on then. Don't make me drag you out by the tail."
That pushed Life Monument over the edge.
With a snarl, he burst from the bushes like an enraged tiger. "Die, brat!"
He charged with the subtlety of a freight train, fist cocked back, shockwave forming around his knuckles.
Ryuuto just stared at him, unimpressed. "Finally done hiding? Took you long enough."
"Cocky little punk!" Life Monument roared and slammed his fist forward.
The tree exploded into splinters, leaves raining down like confetti.
Ryuuto was already airborne. "You idiots always go for the furniture first."
Longshot clenched his fists in the shadows, sweat dripping. "He saw me too. He definitely saw me."
Ryuuto twisted mid-air, landing lightly. His expression shifted into something disgustingly calm.
"You two jump me like cowards, and I'm the problem? Sure."
Life Monument yelled, "Don't talk while I'm killing you!" He threw another punch, wild and heavy.
"Annoying."
Earth Release: Light-Weight Boulder Technique.
Expansion Technique.
Rock armor swept across Ryuuto's body, plating him in hardened stone. His right arm ballooned in size, strength surging from Akimichi-style augmentation.
He swung.
The air cracked.
His fist slammed into Life Monument's chest.
The towering Mutant's face twisted, teeth clattering, shockwave rippling across the clearing.
"Wha… what force is this?!"
He staggered, almost folding in half.
Ryuuto exhaled sharply. "You barged into my nap time. Honestly, you deserved worse."