Supernatural Expansion

Snap,

The female police officer's finger pressed down as she raced forward, and the empty magazine slid out.

Before it hit the ground, Fuji Seiko had already inserted a fresh magazine into her gun, her eyes rapidly scanning the buildings ahead:

Three on the left, two on the right.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The shots rang out in a continuous burst. Though she was only using a pistol, she fired with the intensity of a submachine gun.

And she wasn't shooting blindly. As five targets appeared from behind the buildings and were pierced by her bullets, the policewoman charged forward at high speed. She pushed off the ground, stretched out like a cat, leaped two meters into the air, and grabbed the second-floor windowsill with a slap.

Whoosh,

She pulled herself up with one hand and nimbly flipped onto the second floor.

The experts and high-ranking officials in the control room couldn't help exclaiming in admiration at this superhuman agility.

"Her nerve response time is about 0.05 seconds."

"She emptied a magazine in one second, hitting five shots and missing one."

"Gentlemen, our Super Soldier project has finally succeeded!"

"With all the technological progress we've made over the years, there's no way we can't replicate the 'supernatural.'"

The officials in the control room were all beaming. This 'Super Soldier' was faster, stronger, and more responsive than any ordinary human. She could sweep up most of the gold medals at the Olympics, and with a weapon in hand, she could easily go on a rampage through a gang of armed thugs, just like in the movies.

But that was all.

"Everyone, I have to remind you of something."

Professor Osumi, with his white beard, stepped forward to pour cold water on everyone's excitement.

"We can only give people 'demonic power.' We can't make them use all kinds of 'Demonic Arts.'"

That was only natural.

Their research had merely given people magical energy. They weren't even at Genin level.

Using ninjutsu still required hundreds or thousands of repetitions of Hand Seals. Akihi Yu was an Otsutsuki, so naturally he didn't need such an 'outdated' method. The same went for the beings he granted powers to.

They were all the sort who could simply call for what they wanted and have it appear.

"Never mind. Demonic power—supernatural strength—is enough."

Director Takeya's face lit up. When faced with supernatural beings who could appear and disappear without a trace, move at terrifying speeds, or grow to enormous sizes, the Metropolitan Police Department and even the Self-Defense Force had been painfully helpless.

The most important thing was that they had no equal force!

And now they had finally made a breakthrough from zero. The significance of this—

Bang!

The control room door was suddenly shoved open, slamming hard against the wall and making everyone jump.

?!

The officials and experts all turned around.

A figure in a simple surgical gown strode in, radiating a vicious, murderous aura.

As she entered the control room, it felt as if a tiger's fangs were scraping across their faces.

"Ichika,"

Director Takeya pushed up his rimless glasses and spoke.

"How do you feel?"

"Ah~~"

A cloud of scorching steam billowed from Iori Ichika's mouth as she clenched her fist. She had grown noticeably more muscular.

"Great!"

Veins throbbed on her forehead, and muscles rippled across her body. Looking like some kind of bioengineered human, Iori Ichika wore a satisfied expression.

"I feel like I could punch a bear to death right now!"

Faced with the female division chief in all her ferocious glory, the officials and experts present couldn't help edging backward.

"Congratulations on becoming a Super Soldier. And—"

Director Takeya sighed.

"Tone down the killing intent."

"You look like some experimental subject has gone berserk and is about to slaughter the researchers."

"Ha, Director."

The female division chief's muscles rippled as she wore her usual, infuriating grin on her contorted face.

"You make it sound like it used to be so hard for me to kill you."

With that complete inability to read the room, she was unmistakably the same old Iori Ichika.

"Tell me, what are you doing here?"

Director Takeya had already given up trying to lecture his capable subordinate about manners.

"You can't have come all this way just to show off your strength to me."

"Of course not."

The veins in her forehead throbbed, and though Iori Ichika looked ready to fly into a murderous rage at any moment, her mind was perfectly clear.

"Director, it's time we brought that Shiba Inu to heel."

"Rumble~~"

In another room of the underground base, a Shiba Inu lay across a female pet groomer's lap, kicking its stubby legs. Its eyes were nearly closed.

The pet groomers all wore bitter expressions. They'd had a thorough taste of what it meant to live with a dog that was as dangerous as a tiger.

This Shiba Inu was a monster. No, it was better described as a 'supernatural creature.'

It was stronger than a tiger!

Its intelligence was especially remarkable. It could read people's expressions, do addition and subtraction up to ten, and deliberately throw tantrums to avoid cooperating with experiments. If it could speak, it would be just like a mischievous kindergarten child.

But kindergarten children didn't have the terrifying strength to overpower lions and tigers.

That was why this dog actually gave the groomers attitude!

It bossed them around and even looked down on them.

Was there any justice in the world?

Bang!!

The door was abruptly shoved open with brute force.

The loud crash startled everyone. The Shiba Inu on the female pet groomer's lap immediately sprang to its feet.

"Woof?"

The Shiba Inu gave a puzzled bark as it rose.

It recognized the 'female two-legged beast' striding into the room. She often came to its 'den,' and she smelled dangerous—the iron box at her waist was the source.

But now she wasn't carrying the dangerous iron box. Even so, she felt more dangerous than ever to the dog!

Like facing its master!

Her aura was very similar to that of the master who had given it its power, but much weaker.

"You. Out."

She tilted her head, signaling for the pet groomers and pet nutritionists to leave the room.

Iori Ichika shook her head, and her neck bones cracked in a series of loud pops.

"Little dog,"

"Your vacation is over. You're coming to work for us!"

As Iori Ichika advanced step by step, the corners of her mouth pulled back in a ferocious 'smile.'

"But before that, you need to understand your place."

"Woof~~?!"

As the Shiba Inu stared in astonishment,

she charged at it and kicked out!

The fight began.

"Inspector Fuji, here's your towel."

After testing out various weapons, Fuji Seiko came out of the testing ground and saw—

"Iori... Chief?"

"Hahaha, surprised to see me become supernatural?"

Iori Ichika strode over in her tattered clothes and slung an arm around Fuji Seiko's shoulders.

At her feet was a limping Shiba Inu.

After Iori Ichika had beaten it up, the 'proud' Shiba Inu had finally remembered that it was a dog.

This two-legged beast is terrifying!

When faced with fists and feet, a dog had no choice but to bow its head~~

In fact, if they'd only compared the magical energy in their bodies, the Shiba Inu was stronger than Iori Ichika.

But their combat experience and fighting spirit were worlds apart. The fight hadn't lasted long before the Shiba Inu rolled onto its back and surrendered.

Now that she had supernatural strength and had 'beaten' the Shiba Inu into submission, Iori Ichika rubbed her hands together, ready for the next step.

"It's time to wrap up the Collar Project!"

All they had to do was stage one more scene, and Tanimura Wataru would be hooked.

"Huh? What project?"

"Nothing. Just come with me."

She raised a hand to beckon Fuji Seiko, but the other woman hesitated.

"Chief, about my junior..."

"Oh, that."

After thinking it over, Iori Ichika changed direction.

"Come with me. We'll go see Director Takeya."

"Ask Miko to treat her?"

In another control room, after hearing Fuji Seiko's request, Director Takeya beckoned to the secretary beside him.

"When will she be available?"

The secretary opened the notebook in her hands and flipped through it. She hesitated before answering.

"Tomorrow."

?

"It's like this: because the Prime Minister's Residence canceled the Americans' appointment slots, well..."

Because of a certain lieutenant colonel, the Japanese government was using Miko's unwillingness to meet Americans as an excuse to cancel the slots reserved for the powerful people on that side. If they didn't get some concessions out of America this time, the Americans definitely wouldn't back down!

Don't assume that just because Japan was America's dog, it obeyed every order without question.

Back in the 1980s, when Japan's economy was at its peak, it bought America's iconic Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Van Gogh's paintings, and the Warner Group. Japan even published the famous book The Japan That Can Say No.

In the eyes of the Japanese,

they could already buy anything with money.

They believed they could raise Japan's independence in every field, including economics and diplomacy, and even turn the tables and control America.

Then, well...

The financial bubble burst, and their ambitions went up in smoke.

But given the chance, Japan would never give up the possibility of biting back!

Now, with the supernatural on their side, they had the confidence to negotiate with America again.

"Make the arrangements."

As the official in charge of all things supernatural, Director Takeya had the authority to do this. Besides, he needed to win over his two newly minted supernatural subordinates.

"Free up one treatment slot for—"

"Kawai Mai! My... my junior's name is Kawai Mai."

Fuji Seiko hurriedly took over, deeply bowing as she spoke.

"Thank you, Director!"

"No need to thank me. You've earned it."

"Hm?"

The next day,

Akihi Yu had just woken up

when he sensed another source of magical energy.

"The Japanese government has some tricks up its sleeve. They've got two supernatural beings already."

But the amount—

He closed his eyes and sensed it. Their magical energy wasn't even as strong as a Genin's, making Akihi Yu shake his head slightly.

Magical energy alone could only improve someone's hand-to-hand combat ability. Even Xiao Li had his 'Eight Gates Formation,' a commoner's cheat skill.

Without any ninjutsu to use, they were only on the level of 'Super Soldiers.' They weren't worth worrying about at all.

Thinking this, Akihi Yu stepped out of his home, ready to go—

buy groceries!

With Akihi Yu's current strength, sleep was no longer a necessity.

In the World of Fire, shinobi often fought fiercely for days and nights on end. Who had time to sleep? After you died, you could rest forever!

He got up very early, early enough to buy groceries and come home to make breakfast and pack lunch. If he didn't, Akiyu Sora would spend lunchtime living off snacks.

That wouldn't do. She needed a balanced diet.

"Mmm~~"

At the nearby supermarket, Akihi Yu stopped in front of a tank.

"Boss, I'll take one."

"No need to clean it."

He pointed at the tank.

The owner came over, scooped up a live octopus, and handed it to him in a plastic bag.

Squid, shrimp, and horse mackerel were all regulars at the supermarket. The one in Akihi Yu's bag was an ordinary Common Octopus.

After buying some other vegetables and meat, Akihi Yu left the supermarket but didn't head home. Instead, he went to a nearby stream and lifted the plastic bag in his hand.

"Little guy,"

"You're free now—"

He casually turned the bag upside down.

With a splash, the octopus dropped into the stream.

It even came with a portion of a Genin's chakra and the Multi-Size Technique.

"Every gift of fate comes with a price, hidden from view. Off you go~~"

Akihi Yu turned and headed home to cook. Following the command in its mind, the bewildered octopus swam downstream toward Tokyo Bay.