Marvel: Devour to Evolve From Naruto

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S.H.I.E.L.D.

The emergency alarms blared.

"Unknown lizard-like creature spotted at Midtown Science High School!"

"It appears to be wearing a white lab coat—likely a researcher who mutated due to an unknown infection!"

"Urgent support needed!"

Nick Fury's expression turned grim as he read the alert.

"Which Avengers are in New York?" he asked.

Coulson quickly responded, "None."

"Banner is at headquarters."

"Cap, Natasha, and Barton are all on missions."

Fury's one eye narrowed. "What about Stark?"

Coulson pulled out his phone. "I'll contact him now."

A few seconds later, the call connected.

Then, almost immediately, it disconnected.

"Stark says he's on his way," Coulson reported, "but he's in Malibu. It'll take him almost an hour to

get there. He suggests we try to handle it in the meantime, or at least stall."

Fury's face darkened even more, but there was little he could do.

They were short on manpower.

Sure, he had decent relations with the mutants.

But Charles Xavier was currently tangled up with the Brotherhood of Mutants.

And the military was still actively targeting mutants, further straining any fragile trust Fury had built

with them.

If he asked for their help now, Xavier's first thought wouldn't be about the emergency.

He'd wonder if Fury was setting a trap for the X-Men.

Damn the military and their paranoia.

Fury clenched his jaw in frustration.

Just as he was about to assign available agents, Coulson's phone rang again.

Coulson picked up.

Fury watched as Coulson's expression shifted several times before he finally ended the call.

Coulson's mouth twitched. "Stark says he's not coming. He wants to sleep."

Fury's eye twitched. "And the lizard monster?!"

Coulson sighed. "He said someone else will handle it."

Fury narrowed his eye. "He really said that?"

Coulson nodded. "Yes."

Fury's gaze flickered with thought. "Fine. Keep monitoring the situation. And still send a team for

backup. Regardless of what happens, we need to stall that thing."

Coulson nodded firmly. "Understood, sir!"

Malibu Mansion

"Jarvis, how long have I been asleep?"

"Sir, you have been asleep for precisely one hour, forty-five minutes, and thirty-eight seconds."

"You really don't have to be that precise."

Tony Stark groaned, rubbing his face as he sat up, clearly annoyed at being woken up by the call.

A satellite projection hovered in front of him, showing the situation at Midtown Science High.

The screen displayed Gwen Stacy locked in combat with Dr. Connors.

But Tony wasn't paying attention to the fight.

His focus was on a figure standing at the edge of the battlefield.

Ron.

That was why Tony had brushed off Coulson and said he wasn't going.

Ron couldn't live under his protection forever.

With his incredible powers, Ron was bound to become a superhero in his own right.

He deserved recognition.

And as for whether Ron could handle the situation?

Seeing the calm, hands-in-pockets stance Ron maintained as he watched the battle unfold, Tony

immediately dismissed that ridiculous concern.

"I sleep for just over an hour, and you're already in New York..." Tony muttered.

His eyes flicked back to Gwen's fighting form.

She was clearly wearing a suit.

But even through the battle movements, he could tell—this was a girl.

He had a feeling.

Ron was in New York for her.

A smirk tugged at Tony's lips.

"Let's see who she is... actually, never mind."

"Ron isn't just any guy. He won't get into trouble."

"No need for me to meddle in his personal life."

"A girl he likes, who also happens to be a super-powered individual? That's actually kinda nice."

Jarvis spoke up. "Sir, before Ron left, he asked me to remind you of something."

Tony blinked. "What?"

"He told you to build two more adamantium suits."

"One of them for Miss Potts."

"And he also wanted you to look into a woman named Maya Hansen."

Tony frowned. "Maya Hansen? That name sounds familiar..."

For a moment, he couldn't recall where he'd heard it before.

And making an adamantium suit for Pepper?

That actually made sense.

He'd been considering it for a while now.

But his anxiety had kept pushing it off.

Wait—anxiety?

Tony suddenly froze.

His mind flashed back to his conversations with Ron.

Ron had mentioned the Battle of New York.

He'd talked about the space portal.

And yet, Tony wasn't freaking out?

Normally, even thinking about it would send him spiraling—panic attacks, shortness of breath, that

awful feeling of helplessness.

But now?

He just felt... a little tense?

Tony's expression shifted.

His eyes grew determined.

"Ron... thanks."

...