"Hey, Shion, question for you."
Ryuuto's fingers danced over the console of his system interface, swapping data packets between characters and techniques like a bored hacker playing with godhood.
[Go on, Host~ What's on your overworked mortal mind?]
"Why doesn't Sarutobi's data set include the Ghoul Seal? Wouldn't that be way more effective?"
[It is powerful. Also suicidal. The caster's soul gets eaten by the Shinigami. A pure 'mutual destruction' type ninjutsu. And since I happen to like you alive, we're not learning that one.]
"Ah. Got it." Ryuuto nodded, satisfied. "Yeah, my life's too valuable to trade. No enemy's worth dying over."
He clapped his hands together, chakra flaring between his fingers as he began forming seals.
Gwen blinked. "Ryuuto? What are you doing? Did someone attack us?"
"It's fine," he said casually. "Just practicing."
"Okay…" She smiled faintly and stepped back, trusting him without hesitation.
"Summoning Technique!"
A puff of smoke burst from the ground. Ryuuto grinned wide, ready to greet his new summon. He imagined something sleek and obedient, maybe a spiritual beast that would bow and call him Master.
What he got instead was an explosion of dust and a voice like thunder:
"SARUTOBI! I'M HERE TO HELP YOU! WHERE IS THAT BASTARD OROCHIMARU? I'M GONNA SMASH HIS FACE IN AGAIN!"
A towering beast loomed before Ryuuto — a massive simian wrapped in animal hides, golden headband gleaming under the light. His muscles flexed like living stone.
Ryuuto coughed, straightened his back, and declared, "Ahem. Ape King Enma, I'm your master now."
The creature froze. Then, very slowly, his enormous head tilted toward Ryuuto.
"What did you just say, brat?" His voice rumbled like an earthquake. "You? My master? You wanna die that badly?"
"Calm down!" Ryuuto raised both hands. "First off, not a brat. Second, I summoned you here — into a parallel world, actually. And, uh… the Third Hokage's been dead for a while."
The Ape King's fury faltered. His expression darkened, eyes filled with old pain. "...So the old man's really gone."
Ryuuto nodded solemnly. "Yeah."
But then the great ape snorted. "Wait. You're lying. Something's off!"
"What?" Ryuuto barely had time to ask before the massive fist came down like a meteor. He dove aside, the ground exploding into a crater.
"HEY! I'm your master, you maniac!"
"Hah! No way a shrimp like you could pull off the Summoning Technique! What do you take me for, stupid?" The Ape King lunged again, fury blazing. "I get it now. You're Orochimaru's new body, huh? Think I wouldn't recognize that smug tone under a new face? When I fought across the Five Nations, you weren't even out of diapers!"
"Oh for—!" Ryuuto barely ducked as the ape's iron tail whistled past his nose, the shockwave alone making his cheek sting. "This gorilla's actually insane!"
[Correction: he's just stubborn. You'll need to dominate him with pure power, Host. Only then will he submit.]
"Right. So your big plan was to hand me a boss fight with a raging primate. Great system design, Shion."
[Come on~ I believe in you!]
Ryuuto rolled his eyes. "You're lucky I'm too handsome to delete you."
He cracked his knuckles, glancing at Gwen, who stood frozen in worry. That did it — he couldn't look weak now. Not in front of her.
"Alright, you dumb overgrown furball. You wanna fight your master? Fine!" Ryuuto's chakra flared, the air trembling with heat. "Let's see how you like it when your student hits back!"
He dashed forward, his fist slamming straight into the Ape King's chest. The impact echoed like a thunderclap.
The giant stumbled, shock flashing in his eyes. He took a step back. Then another.
For a moment, the battlefield was silent — just the crackling energy between them.
And then came the sound of two monsters grinning.
"Not bad, brat."
"Better start calling me Master then."
They clashed again, fists and fury lighting up the air.