Chapter 8: Bruce vs AO

New York City

After the battle between the Akatsuki and the initial members of the Avengers, the city was on its knees and was trying to put itself back together. 

A few days had passed since then, a week to be precise but the city was still mourning its losses. 

But that was all the time Loki needed to start his plan to take over Earth.

While the city mourned and tried to get back on its feet. The Avengers were quite busy searching for two people.

One was of course Loki who stole the Tesseract and the other, was Bruce Banner aka Hulk who disappeared in front of Fury and has not been seen since then. He didn't return to the abandoned building where he normally resides.

Still, SHIELD agents were placed there to monitor the place from a distance, just in case the strongest Avenger candidate shows up.

.

.

.

Flashback

After Bruce disappeared

New York Sanctum

In front of the Sanctum was Bruce who used Hirashin from Fury's office to his home and then used body flicker to arrive here as soon as possible since this was where he could sense the energy signature from that bald woman who talked to him before the battle with Deidara and Sasori.

The door of the sanctum opened before he could knock on it as a bald black man dressed in a monk robe appeared. 

"She's been expecting you, please follow me."

Bruce didn't say anything and followed the man as they went inside. The inside of the building was full of energy he was unfamiliar with. Chakra was the only common energy he was familiar with along with sage chakra, physical and spiritual energy, as well as life energy.

But inside this room, he could feel various energies from the weapons displayed. Even an ordinary-looking Jar was not so ordinary according to his senses.

Later on, they passed another door which was a bit peculiar as it showed a different scenery from before you entered. Only to end up in that same scenery.

They arrived at a room that he could already sense, someone strong was inside, and it was a familiar signature since he'd already interacted with this individual before.

The man who guided him left as he heard from the room the words.

"You may come in, Dr. Banner."

Bruce entered and saw a bald woman dressed in the same yellow monk robe as the man before but hers had long sleeves while the former lacked in that department.

"He said you've been expecting me?"

"I was."

"And why is that?"

"Because I am interested in how you can harness a dimensional energy that has never existed before, only now. Yet, you were using it as if it has always been a part of you."

"And why would you be interested in that? Never mind that you've been peeping on me, all this time?"

"While I assure you I wasn't exactly 'peeping' on you, I was merely looking at the future events around you. I am interested because I am part of a group of protectors of this realm and our main weapons fall directly into what you can do."

"And that is?" Ancient one eyebrow raised to his question.

"Not to sound arrogant but, I am perfectly capable of a lot of things. Maybe even something you didn't see in the future events you saw."

"Oh, I am fully aware. There was this one timeline where SHIELD pissed you off completely and you decided to eradicate them down to the last man including a member of the Avengers, Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye. Which then earned you the title of villain where almost every hero was after you."

"Almost?"

"A superhero named Spider-Man was on your side and became your apprentice after his aunt died."

"Oh, now that's interesting. I was beginning to become bored. SHIELD was too easy to infiltrate. They labeled themselves the best in the entire world yet they were infested with the enemy and they don't even have any idea."

"So, back to what we were talking about. You were interested in how I can harness the 'new dimensional energy' because you guys are a group of some sort of guardians of the Earth and you are harnessing dimensional energy to do your job?"

"Not exactly."

"So what is it really?"

"I am more interested in when and how you are able to use this new dimensional energy."

"In the previous future, before this new dimensional energy manifested in this universe, you have never shown anything different than what you've done, even compared to other universes, you have always been 'the Hulk'."

"And now?"

"And now you're like a different person altogether. Even your personality has changed. It's like Bruce Banner was replaced."

"Is that why you've created a spell that disables any teleportation spell and locks the space and time around this room?"

"Are you picking a fight with me, Grandma?" Bruce asked amused.

"My name is Yao and I am younger than you. No, I am not picking a fight with you but I just wanted you to know that you cannot get out of this room until we reach a certain agreement." the ancient one playfully replied to which Bruce was the one to raise his eyebrows this time.

He tried to teleport using Hiraishin but was unable to. He looked at Ancient One for an explanation and she obliged with a reply.

"Even if you are using a different kind of dimensional energy, it shouldn't be possible for you to get out since the concept of time and space is the same. It's like using the same remote control but with a different battery."

"Impressive! But you should know both of us are trapped because of what you did right?"

"But I was the one who created the spell, and is therefore able to pass through."

"If you're not trying to pick a fight with me, then what are you doing?"

"I want to know who you are and what do you want to do in this world."

Bruce fidgeted a bit in his seat. It seems he was found out earlier than he thought. But he didn't lose his composure and asked again.

"Don't you already know who I am if you have already seen the future?"

"You have never shared your identity."

"It only means I don't trust you." Bruce lifted one of his hands already forming the one-handed tiger seal as his chakra surged and blew everything inside the room while the ancient one leaped through the air and landed on the ground gracefully.

"Why is it that you can't trust somebody unless you've fought that person?" Ancient One asked with a low sigh as she already knew that a fight couldn't be avoided. 

Fan-shaped Tao Mandalas formed on both her hands while she entered her fighting stance while Bruce just finished weaving hand signs.

[Fire style: Flame bomb] 

Yep, he didn't chant or say the name of the technique out loud and simply blew out flames from his mouth.

Ancient one simply waved one of the Fans in her hands and it immediately dispersed the flames.

But a second attack was already coming from Bruce, it was a water-shaped dragon surging towards the ancient one.

AO opened a portal and the water was redirected towards a different place where hopefully no one was around.

Bruce was already rushing towards AO as he punched her. AO blocked it with one of the Fans but she was hurled away by the force of the punched. She threw off the Fans towards Bruce while in the air, the Fans rotated fast and were obviously lethal if they connected.

Bruce simply put his hand on the ground as a wall made of earth grew in front of him and blocked the Fans. 

But the ancient one was already done with her spell. Suddenly, the room expanded and multiplied almost like mirrors. Some parts of the room joined together and formed geometric figures.

Bruce didn't let this bother him as he shot another technique.

[Wind style: Wind bullets]

A hail of wind-compressed bullets was shot toward AO who had a very wide Tao Mandala shield already laid in front of her shielding her from the attack.

Bruce rushed towards AO once more. In a blink of an eye, he was already punching at AO who avoided his fist by simply evading or using different sizes of Tao Mandala Shield that just popped out of nowhere to block his attacks in perfect timing.

AO conjured another set of Fans and would sometimes use it to attack Bruce yet even she was unable to touch Bruce who was faster than her. Bruce was clearly holding back at the moment.

And because of that AO was able to activate another spell leaving him unable to move on the spot. This was one of the traps she laid on the ground while they were fighting.

One of the fans disappeared from AO's hands as she prepared to push Bruce's astral form. But then she also found herself unable to move.

She tried to look around and observe her surroundings as best her eyes could accommodate since her head couldn't turn.

Then she saw it below her, their shadows were somehow joined together. 

[Shadow Imitation: Shadow Bind Technique]

This was the bloodline he recently awakened. He experimented himself with various bloodlines and even added each bijuuu chakra forming the 10 tails inside him.

It is only a matter of time for him to once again awaken the other bloodlines like the first Hokage's wood release, the kazekage's magnet style, Ohnoki's particle style and more as he recovers his strength until he met his wife.

"How long does your spell last Master Banner?" AO asked curiously.

"First of all, don't call me that, and second, for as long as I am alive."

"What coincidence, mine does the same," AO answered back.

"Yes, but I can see through your spell." Bruce retorted back as the remaining part of his shadow which was not touching AO moved.

[Shadow Sewing Technique]

Tendrils of his shadow pierced the magic circle on the ground where he was standing. The spell was broken and Bruce was able to move.

"I believe it is my win." Bruce declared too early as a greenish glow emitted from AO's necklace and AO also got herself free from the Shadow Bind.

"Neat," Bruce commented as he flickered from his spot and appeared in front of AO but froze as if time suddenly stopped. 

AO was about to touch Bruce again to get his astral form out but he vanished in a puff of smoke and was replaced by one of the furniture in the room.

AO turned to see two Bruce about to exhale something.

[Fire Style: Dragon Flame Technique]

[Wind Style: Great Breakthrough]

There were 2 Bruce that appeared and each blew different elemental techniques.

Wind and Fire combined together was scorching hot and fast approaching AO who simply held her palm as if to catch the technique as the attack turned to ashes.

Bruce was surprised.

'So long-range elemental attack doesn't work on her. How about Taijutsu then?'

Bruce thought as he tapped the tip of his left foot twice.

[Eight Inner Gates: First Gate: Gate of Opening]

Chakra bursts out of Bruce's body and emits a greenish glow. Rapidly, his skin turned dark red as his eyes turned white.

"Here I come." He warned.

AO took it seriously as almost the same greenish glow was emitted by her necklace. 

Bruce arrived at AO and started punching her but she easily avoided it which surprised Bruce a bit so he decided to open more gates.

[2nd Gate of Healing, 3rd Gate of Life, 4th Gate of Pain, and 5th Gate of limit: Open!]

More and more concentrated chakra bursts out of Bruce as his speed increases. Once more, Bruce appeared in front of AO in the blink of an eye and started punching and kicking her using Taijutsu.

But the same thing happened. It was like AO already knew where he was going to strike and she was even more faster than him.

Then a sound of smoke was heard as bruce realized something. He has created a clome awhile ago and have that clome watch from the sideline when he engage AO in close combat.

The clone was able to see that AO did not become faster, rather it was bruce who became slow as soon as the necklace AO has started glowing green.

So with that knowledge, the clome dispersed himself.

"I see. It must be the glowing necklace you're wearing." Bruce commented as soon as he made some distance between them.

"And it must have been the other you who was watching that let you know of this. Interesting, you were able to absorb his memories and knowledge when he disappeared. I really thought he was going to do a sneak attack on me." AO made her own comment .

'She's sharp'

Bruce let his guard off and relaxed before saying:

"What do you really want from me?"

"I simply want to know. What do you want to do on this world?" Ao asked seriously.

"Shouldn't you already know that with the future and all?"

"Sadly, although you've made changes to the future. It does not change my fate to give my position to a destined successor."

"I see." It was like telling him that she's bound to retire so he understood but it was a wrong understanding since she's bound to not just simply retire but also die.

Bruce thought for a moment before replying.

"I am here because I was punished." Bruce knew that, even if the one responsible didn't say so. He was not naive enough to believe 'him'.

"However, to answer your question, my purpose would be to-"

Bruce was sure he was to say take revenge on the one responsible for his torture but-

It was a very cliché thought that came to him.

This didn't escape AO's keen senses as he saw Bruce's expression from anger to peace. Then Bruce smiled at her. A very cliche line was uttered by our protagonist.

"I want to a place to call home."

Taken by surprise, AO almost lost her footing. This man right here, is probably one of the strongest being in the universe, and he wants a home?

End of chapter 8