Naruto: Seishin – The Bond That Binds

Washington D.C. — Senate Armed Services Committee, Room 315

October 19, 10:06 AM

The marble floor gleamed under the spotlights.

Cameras were rolling. Microphones buzzed. Dozens of journalists, assistants, military representatives, and government officials packed the chamber, hanging on the words about to be spoken.

Tony Stark entered the room like it was a theater. Light gray suit. Sunglasses. A confident, almost insolent stride.

By his side: Rhodey, stiff in uniform.

High above the crowd, hidden in the shadows of the second balcony gallery, a blond figure watched in silence.

Naruto.

He wasn't here as an agent.

Nor as a ninja.

He was here as a silent brother, guardian of balance.

And a witness to a world too slow to recognize its own fear.

Seated cross-legged, cloaked in total sensory concealment, Naruto listened. He didn't watch the cameras. He watched faces. Breathing patterns. Heartbeats.

And he could feel that Tony… was burning himself out trying to shine.

Senator Stern: "Mr. Stark, the purpose of this hearing is very clear. You are currently the only private citizen in possession of a weapon of mass destruction."

Tony: You're flattering me, but that's not exactly accurate. It's not mass destruction... it's just stylish."

(Muffled laughter in the room.)

Stern: This isn't a joke. We have evidence that hostile governments are attempting to replicate your technology."

Tony: And they're failing. So... I'm doing you a favor."

Stern: You're accountable to no one. What you call a 'reactor' is a geopolitical threat. The American people demand—"

Tony: The American people now have a superhero, Senator. And they love him. Polls available on request. I'll send you the links."

Naruto gave a discreet smile.

— "He's playing with fire. But that fire… it's the only thing keeping him from falling."

He activated a sub-module of the system:

▓ System: Shinri Kōka – Psychic Evaluation Activated

▓ Target: Hammer, Justin

▓ Result: Calculated Hostility / Inferiority Complex / Latent Ethical Instability

Naruto understood instantly.

Hammer didn't want to oppose Stark.

He wanted to be Stark.

And that made him dangerous.

Justin Hammer entered the room. Impeccable suit. Overly wide smile. Eyes twitching with anticipation.

— "Good morning, everyone," he said. "I've brought a few videos you might want to see. One from Iran. Another... from North Korea."

(Rhodey tensed. Tony crossed his arms.)

The footage showed failed armor tests, explosions, malfunctions. A mechanical silhouette crumpled and collapsed.

Hammer, confidently: These nations are trying. Stark is putting them at risk. We must make this technology public."

Tony: What you're showing is a clown suiting up and blowing out his tailbone. Congratulations."

In the shadows, Naruto mentally traced the connections:

Hammer was stirring chaos to climb.

Stern was seeking control to matter.

Tony was trying to stay upright so he wouldn't have to admit he was falling.

And at the center of it all… was Pepper.

If he breaks, she'll be the one picking up the pieces.

Tony pulled out his tablet.

— "JARVIS, project my screen."

The image appeared: confidential military footage, leaked from inside HammerTech.

A HammerTech prototype exploded disastrously.

A test pilot screamed.

A mechanical arm tore clean off.

Tony: Congratulations. You're about to arm the world... with suicidal coffee makers."

(Laughter erupted. Stern turned red with fury.)

Tony stood, calm.

— "I am Iron Man. And you're not taking anything from me."

He remained still.

He didn't need to reveal himself.

Not today.

But he knew this theater... was just the first act.

And soon, Tony wouldn't have the strength to stand alone