Ryan understood it perfectly. An Ultraman-level body defense—this wasn't just strong. It was terrifying.
The mere description was enough to paint a picture of its absurd durability. Withstanding extreme temperatures, from the subzero void of space to the heart of a supernova. Enduring the relentless onslaught of kaiju—beasts whose fire-based attacks and energy beams could raze entire cities.
These weren't ordinary techniques.
Monster flames that could incinerate entire landmasses.
Light-speed energy blasts capable of splitting planets.
Each one carried enough destructive force to wipe out mountains in an instant. Some were so intense they could vaporize entire oceans, leaving nothing but desolation in their wake.
To put it into perspective, if such attacks were scaled to the Naruto world…
They would be equivalent to at least ten Tailed Beast Bombs, unleashed at full power.
And yet, Ultraman tanked these attacks like they were nothing.
No dodging. No barriers. No tricks.
Just raw, unshakable endurance.
Ryan clenched his fists, realization dawning upon him.
With this level of defense, even a Tailed Beast Bomb wouldn't be enough to make him move. Even if he stood perfectly still and took the blast head-on, it wouldn't leave a scratch.
That kind of resilience?
It was beyond ridiculous.
Beyond monstrous.
Beyond human.
It was perverted.
And yet, even this wasn't the peak.
A special notification flashed in his mind—a direct message from the system.
[Your defense is still evolving.]
Ryan's breath hitched.
It wasn't just a static trait. His body would continue to grow stronger, refine itself, and mutate into something even more incomprehensible.
But that was only natural.
In the Ultraman universe, defense was never a fixed number—it was something that could be evolved, perfected, and transcended. Many Ultramen had transformation states that drastically enhanced their durability. The stronger their forms, the more absurd their defensive capabilities became.
And now, Ryan had stepped into that realm.
A body that defied reason. A defense that no shinobi, no beast, no god could break.
He had become an existence that could no longer be harmed by even Sage Ninjutsu or a tailed beast.
Ryan had no doubt.
The evolution mentioned in the system's description had to be something similar.
At that moment, under the watchful gaze of the Hokages, Ryan finally extracted his reward.
The instant he pressed the button—
A radiant light descended from the ceiling.
It enveloped his entire body, shrouding him in a brilliant glow.
The intensity was so overwhelming that no one in the chat group could keep their eyes open. Seconds passed. And then, the light slowly faded.
Ryan's figure reappeared before them. At first glance, he didn't seem all that different. But upon closer inspection, his skin had changed.
A faint, celestial glow now radiated from his body. It wasn't blinding, nor was it flashy. It was deep, vast—like the shimmering stars in the night sky. There was an undeniable sense of immensity to it, as if his very existence had become untouchable.
Just by looking at him, the Hokages could tell—
This was on a completely different level.
"It really lives up to being a grand prize," Hashirama muttered in awe, his sharp eyes analyzing every detail.
"No doubt about it." Tobirama nodded, his tone carrying a rare hint of admiration. "Just looking at it, I can tell… This level of defense is beyond anything we've seen before."
Naruto clenched his fists, his eyes burning with excitement. "Damn! I bet you could take a full-power Susanoo slash—and not even get a scratch!"
The rest of the group couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
Ryan had already been ridiculously strong. His physical abilities had been enhanced over and over again through previous rewards. But now?
Now, he had something even more ridiculous.
His body alone could withstand attacks beyond anything they could unleash.
And as the realization settled in—
Someone finally stepped forward.
A challenger.
"Alright, Ryan," Tsunade said, cracking her knuckles with a smirk. "Let's see if that so-called unbreakable body of yours is the real deal."
She rose to her feet, rolling her shoulders as anticipation sparked in her golden eyes.
"Ryan!" she called out, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Get in the arena. I want to see just how strong you've gotten."
Her fists clenched eagerly, a smirk playing at her lips.
Ryan sighed, rubbing the back of his head. It wasn't that he didn't want to fight her—far from it. But at this point, his strength had reached an absurd level. Could Tsunade even put up a meaningful fight? The outcome was a foregone conclusion.
More than that, she was still technically his teacher. Beating her outright in front of everyone didn't seem very respectful.
As he mulled over how to decline, the others jumped in, fanning the flames.
"Yes, yes! Let's test this new defense of yours!" Hashirama grinned, his excitement palpable. "Can it really be as insane as the description says?"
"Come on, don't back down!" Kakashi chimed in.
"The arena's been empty for too long," Madara added. "It's about time Ryan put it to use!"
Laughter and jeers filled the space, anticipation thick in the air. Ryan groaned internally. These were the Hokages—the most revered shinobi in history. And yet, when it came to moments like these, they were like a bunch of unruly kids hyping up a street brawl.
Tsunade's smirk deepened as she crossed her arms. "What's wrong, Ryan? Don't tell me you're scared?"
Ryan rolled his eyes at her taunt.
"Don't worry," she added playfully, "I won't hit you too hard. You are my disciple, after all. I'll show some mercy."
That only made the crowd laugh harder.
Ryan let out a long sigh, realizing there was no way out of this. He stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders before standing up.
"Alright, alright," he said at last. "Since you're so insistent, let's do it."
Tsunade cracked her knuckles in satisfaction, but Ryan wasn't finished.
"However," he continued, his tone turning serious, "I have one condition."
The air grew still for a moment as everyone listened.
"This is meant to test my new physical endurance, right?" he said. "Then I won't fight back. I'll stand still and let you hit me. If I so much as counterattack, I lose. Sound fair?"
A wave of silence washed over the crowd before an eruption of reactions.
Madara scoffed, arms crossed, as he watched the scene unfold. "Hah! This brat's really getting cocky. Let's see if he can back it up."
Hashirama burst into laughter, slapping his knee. "Hahaha! You're not even giving my granddaughter a chance! This is gonna be fun!"
Minato smiled wryly, shaking his head. "If Lady Tsunade loses like this, it'll be… well, let's just say she won't let it slide."
Tsunade's reaction, however, was different. Instead of frustration, a slow, almost predatory grin stretched across her face.
"Oh?" she mused, stepping forward. "It's been a while since I've educated you, hasn't it?" She cracked her knuckles, chakra already surging to her fists. "You're getting way too arrogant, brat."
Then, without another word, she slammed both fists together—
BOOM!
The force of the impact alone sent a shockwave rippling through the air, shaking the very ground beneath them.
The match was on.
---
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