Hulks on Ice

"Wow~"

"I see you are pleased."

"You bet!"

"Calm yourself, Naruto. You are still my guest and not to mention my disciple. You represent me after all."

Seeing the weird looks that Inari's kitsune were staring at him after his outbursts which hasn't been displayed for a long time, Naruto chuckled nervously as he waved at them. After the training, Naruto was adorned in an orange kimono top over his pants with his Hidden Blades and the sheathed Kogitsunemaru situated where they belonged on his person. Inari's attire was a crimson red and navy-blue kimono outfit while a short sword, a wazikishi, was strapped to the small of his back.

They reached their initial destination as Naruto stared at the wonders that was before him. The sky was as bright as the sun with a subtle tint of the lightest blue. Countless Japanese pagoda-style buildings floated with such grace that they were one with the sky instead of a hindrance. Wooden arching bridges connected each building to several platforms made of marble outlined with red stone and that included a bridge that connected to Inari's home. The platforms seemed to go on for miles from where the ninja was standing and he hoped his mentor would guide him all over his homeland.

Unlike the pagoda, Inari's home and temple was an authentic Japanese traditional home during the Tokugawa Shogunate and Meiji era. At the front of the bridge were two kitsune statues with red bibs around their as they stood guard on opposite sides. Naruto noticed this back at Fushimi Temple in Kyoto as well. The walls of Inari's home were colored violet red with themes of orange on the sliding doors while the main doors were silver instead of gold.

"Naruto, are you ready?"

"Yep!"

"Come then." Inari told his excited disciple.

As they crossed the bridge to the first platform, Naruto noticed many small buildings and shops that resembled those of the Tokugawa shogunate and the Meiji era. Not to mention the people who stared at him though their glances ceased when they noticed the god next to him and bowed as they passed by a sign of respect.

"Morning, Patron Inari." One of the citizens' kids cried out happily to the fox god whom responded with a happy wave.

That was when Naruto noticed the citizens' clothes as they were all violet red with themes of orange on their sleeves and hakamas. "Perhaps they're specifically loyal to him or praise him as their patron god."

"This platform connected to my home is under my jurisdiction thus everyone who had died and reincarnated here in Takama-ga-hara is under my protection." Inari explained calmly. "There are many believers who pray to us Shinto gods today and for many reasons as well. Farmers are a great example. They prayed constantly to me and, after death, they are allowed entry here to my platform and shall live here under my protection until reincarnation arrives for them."

"Really? How long does one wait for reincarnation?"

"Average?" Inari asked before he shrugged his shoulders. "2000 years."

"That's a hell of a waiting period." Naruto thought with a sweat-drop. "Until then, they just wait for reincarnation or-"

"STOP RIGHT THERE!"

Both student and master looked ahead where the commotion was about as they saw several men in matching Meiji-era Western uniforms chased a young boy who tripped over a box of salmon. The boy was around five years of age with black short hair and blue eyes in dirty clothes. The men in uniform wielded different weapons instead of the katana such as the kusarigama, wakizashi, tachi, and a naginata.

"Let me go!"

"You brat! You dare defy us, the Kitsune Guard honored by Lord Inari himself?! I'll make you pay," said one of the Kitsune Guard whom seemed to be the leader of the gathered men. He had a scar over his left eye with a muzzled beard and brown hair with a portion tied in a small bun like the warriors of old. "Perhaps I'll pay a visit to your house. I noticed your sister and she looked to be a fine woman."

The boy's head snapped up in defiance. "You leave my sister alone!"

"You little-"

"That. Is. Enough."

The Kitsune Guard felt dread and froze on their feet as they slowly turned around to see a stranger with blonde hair glaring at them. They looked to the stranger's left before their skin turned paled as it was the one whom they feared to never meet under any circumstances. It was the fox god, Inari, and he was not pleased at all.

"Naruto, do the honor."

The men shuddered in fear as Naruto cracked his knuckles loudly with a maniacal grin. "Gladly." The bystanders cringed, winced, and cheered at the display of justice and karma inflicted upon the men while the children were shielded by their mothers. Clapping his hands of figurative dirt, Naruto walked over to the boy and offered a hand in front of him. "Need help?"

The boy instead ran off and away from the ninja as the latter sighed in understanding his actions. It was probably the first time anyone stood up for him and he does not know how to respond to such action. Naruto felt that way sometimes during his childhood in Konohagakure, but he didn't let it stop him from being who he was.

"Poor boy." Inari sighed in contemplation as he looked at the men. "Imposters."

Naruto looked at his master. "You know them?"

"Of them." The fox god responded as marching footsteps could be heard from behind him and Naruto. "Kitsune Guard, arrest these men and send them to Yomi for their deeds."

"Hai."

Naruto watched the real Kitsune Guard who were dressed like samurai and their armor were the same colors like the civilians and the temple. He watched a small group of them talk to the bystanders who relayed everything that just transpired minutes before their arrival. "It appears they are the police force around here."

"And you are?" One of the Kitsune Guard asked the distracted ninja. He then noticed the golden fox pommel on his back and stepped back slowly nervously. "M-My apologies, my lord." He gave a small bow to the now-confused ninja before leaving him behind to rejoin his brethren in arms.

Naruto scratched his head quizzically. "What was that about?" He felt a hand on his shoulder and saw Inari's head gestured to the side as a way to continue their tour. "Lord Inari, what was that Kitsune Guard nervous about?"

"Ah yes." Inari said nervously as he shuffled his disciple forward to the next bridge. "On with the tour then, Naruto."

The ninja grew slightly suspicious at the god's attitude as the latter soon changed his appearance into that of a normal man. "Lord Inari, why are you acting weird?" He asked bluntly while Kogitsunemaru disappeared from his back or more specifically turned invisible by Inari's power.

"You know as well as I do that Kogitsunemaru is a blade forged with the aid of my own hand." Naruto nodded as Inari continued his explanation. "Rarely has it been in the hands of a mortal much less another god." The fox god scratched his beard he grew as part of his disguise. "In fact, it is taboo to give a weapon associated with a god to another god."

A sweat-drop appeared on Naruto's head. "Is it such that it may be scandalous? How high?"

"War between pantheons."

Images of the Greek Olympians battling the Shinto gods over the lands of Earth flashed in Naruto's minds as he could hear the cries of millions of innocent people. And all because of the weapon on his back as well as the Greek sea god's power inside his body.

"Is there another reason of your training me?"

"Look, Inari-zushi!" The disguised god ran over to the stand that served his favorite offering and food for centuries. He happily ate all of them while his disciple watched the display of hunger comparable to his eating of ramen. "Delicious! I know Lord Inari would approve these, young lady."

The woman chuckled embarrassingly at the praise as she nodded before Naruto and Inari left the stand, much to the former's confusion.

"Um, don't we need to-"

Inari cut in his disciple's words. "Pay? Such a thing doesn't exist here in Takama-ga-hara. People here can continue their craft and trade without monetary exchange. No rent, debts, anything that caused grief for the living. Although what we saw earlier with the fake Guard is unfortunate, it will be quelled soon enough."

"By the Kitsune Guard?" Naruto asked for clarification as Inari nodded. "Okay then."

"On with the tour then."

The disguised Inari guided his secret disciple through the crowd of passed souls who seemed to live life in Takama-ga-hara like it was Earth. Much remained to be explored for the ninja and there was nothing going on Earth that would change that.

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(Five Minutes Later)

Somewhere on Earth

It was the transitioning of seasons that had the Earthlings ready for the spring as it brought new things in the year. It was the time of the warm sun with gentle breezes, fresh produces, and casual outings with one's family and friends. And yet…

"Why the hell is it so freaking cold?!"

Those words were the general consensus of the entire globe. A never-ending blanket of snow and cold hovered the entire planet according to the news report via Naruto's wrist computer. The floating ninja was in the midst of enjoying his tour around the legendary home of the Shinto gods when one of Inari's kitsune messengers approached them and informed about the rather sudden unnatural change of the planet's seasons.

Before Naruto could protest or even begin to leave the god behind to explore Takama-ga-hara, Inari swapped his casual clothes for his Patronus outfit and transported him as close as he could to the source on Earth.

"What's this?" The ninja asked after he felt something on his back other than Kogitsunemaru. It was a note from his master.

Naruto, as you know, we gods tend to stay out of mortal affairs unless it concerns us greatly. Think of this as another training session except you are dealing with Asgardian magic. Tata. P.S. Don't lick the snowman.

The ninja stared at the chibi Inari who had his tongue stuck out at the bottom of the note before he crushed and shredded it with his wind-chakra. "Just wait, old man. I'm gonna go Kurama Mode and then you'll wish you didn't take me as your disciple the next time I see you."

"Finally, I get some action. I want to smash that god so badly…Naruto, you might want to watch out."

"For what?" Naruto heard a weird whirring before he turned around in time to be stuck on the windshield of a hulking jet like a bug. "Thanks for the late warning, Kurama." He muttered lowly before his eyes caught sight of the people inside and joy replaced his brief anguish. "Hey there, Hulks!"

After he managed to get inside the Jump Jet, Naruto greeted the S.M.A.S.H. agents except Hulk and Red as the ninja felt the intense atmosphere in the air. He leaned from his seat and whispered to A-Bomb, "What's the deal with them?"

"Hulk and Red are ticked off at each other. I don't know why, but I'm sure Red started it: he always does."

"I see."

No words came from the blue agent and ninja as the aircraft rumbled against the obstacles and wind sheers from outside. It was hail in the size of cars. Jen did her best to avoid the projectiles but to no avail as the warning systems blared with damage throughout the Jump Jet.

"Am I crazy or does that ice cube have a guy in it?" A-Bomb asked his occupants.

Patronus and Hulk also took a closer look at the giant hail before they recognized the person. "That's no guy. That's the Prince of Asgard, Thor. He's been frozen." Hulk said as he noticed his rival's lack of movement nor attempt to break out. "We got to do something. Jen…"

"I'll get us as close as I can." Jen pushed the yoke to steer the ship close to the hail prison. "But what are we going to do then?"

The jet's door opened with Hulk at the ready. "I'm going to do this." He jumped off the aircraft which nose-dived to the ground and landed on the hail prison before the green behemoth smashed it with several powerful blows until Thor was free as they were now in free-fall. "Thor! Thor! THOR!" Hulk shouted in front of the sleeping Asgardian.

It did the trick as Thor woke up. "Hulk?" He asked in confusion. "Where am I?"

"Never mind that. Just make with the spinning-hammer-and-fly-away thing."

A loud boom was heard when Thor did so and soon both Avenger and Agent were airborne as Thor held Hulk by the latter's wrist.

A 'hmph' escaped Thor's throat. "Together on another adventure. Nearly avoiding doom as always. Reminds me of the time you and I-"

"Yeah, yeah." Hulk cut the Asgardian off from memory lane. "How did you end up in that block of ice?"

Thor recalled his memories. "I was attempting to return home with Stark's technology and succeeded somewhat. I somehow landed in Jotunheim and fought the giants there. I was pursuing a certain group of Frost Giants and near the portal, I was frozen. If I landed here, it means their portal leads to Earth and the Frost Giants are coming." He and his passenger eventually reached the crashed aircraft of the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. and landed some distance away from them.

And one of the Hulks was not happy about their current situation.

"You crashed us into downtown winter, Shulkie." Red sarcastically commented about Jen's flying skills.

Jen put her hands on her hips as she said, "I hate the cold too. You know, I live in warm places to get away from this stuff." That's when the two powerhouses of Earth and Asgard made their presence known.

"The other Avengers are dealing with this mess elsewhere, so what do your icicle pals want?" Hulk asked gruffly as usual.

Thor answered gravely. "To take over the Nine Realms, beginning with Midgard. But we will face the sons of Jotunheim with fury. But before beware of the horror the Frost Giants bring. Their footprints are canyons, their fists are mountains, and their icy gaze alone will freeze your own soul."

Everyone looked at each other quizzical at Thor's rather dramatic speech about their mutual foes.

"A little exaggeration there, Thor?" Naruto asked knowingly. Thor noticed his presence and asked him about his being here. "I was investigating the source of the winter when I…was picked up by the Hulks."

Hulk chuckled lowly. "Don't you mean off of our windshield like a bug."

"Why you!"

She-Hulk and Skarr watched the display of comradery between the laughing Hulk pointing at the airborne kicking Naruto who was held by the back of his collar by an amused Thor. "All that manliness…I don't know if I'm supposed to swoon or barf," Jen joked under breath to her confused teammate.

"You have to be a little impressed." A-Bomb remarked with his finger and thumb emphasizing 'little.' "I mean this guy is the prince of Asgard." He whispered to the female Hulk.

Red on the other hand actually minded the Asgardian's presence. "Hmph, Goldilocks thinks he's so tough tossing around his hunk of hammer."

"You jest but they intend to freeze every land, ocean, and every living thing on this planet." Thor remarked before tossing the gawking Patronus aside into a hill of snow, leaving the latter's outline as a result. "Now let us take the fight to them."

A lone hand rose from Patronus's outline. "I'm game for some ass-kicking!" The ninja shouted with glee.

The group followed the storm's origin via flight as the Hulks were on hover-boards designed specifically for them while Patronus was flying like normal, much to the S.M.A.S.H. agents' surprise san Hulk who saw him do it during Kang's invasion. "Rick, how'd you talk me into using this?" Hulk asked as he still can't believe about using the board.

"Rocket-boards are the right tools for the job." A-Bomb answered excitedly. "Not to mention they are rocket-boards!"

Naruto snorted loudly. "Geek alert." He deliberately said out loud as A-Bomb pouted angrily at him. Both men heard Jen talk aloud about her discomfort in the cold weather despite being a Hulk.

"I just want to know where is the heater on this thing," said Jen as Naruto and A-Bomb were dumbfounded by the layers of clothes on her person such as gloves, a parka, and a scarf over her mouth. "It's cold. I'm a California girl, born and raised. I don't do cold."

"R-right." Patronus simply responded with a sweat-drop as he flew closer behind Thor and Skaar.

"I admire your warrior spirit and manly hair." Thor remarked to his airborne associate. "What is your name?"

"I Skaar."

"A warrior's name if ever I heard one by a lot."

The sweat-drop on Naruto's head grew after that discussion before it slid down when he heard Red's voice. "A-Bomb, tell Hulk to get his ugly green butt out of my way." The red armed Hulk said as he glared at the leader's back.

Patronus watched A-Bomb groaned at this before he flew next to Hulk with his body stiffened like a toy. "Hulk, Red says to tell you to get your ugly green butt out of his way. Are we really doing this?" The youngest member asked softly.

"You tell Red that I'll try to stay as far away from him as I can." Hulk barked back as Patronus sighed before he flew to the comfortable area with Thor and Skaar.

"They always like this?" Thor asked out of curiosity to Skaar.

Skaar pondered about the past arguments between Hulk and Red. "Not this bad." He finally responded.

"Ah, family issues. I understand those well." Thor flew between the glaring Hulks with Mjolnir separating them. "I do not know why you squabble, but put your differences aside like a good Hulk."

Thor took the lead as Hulk said to Red, "He's talking to you, Red."

"I heard that." Red countered as he and the others followed Thor's lead.

"I think that was the point, military man." Patronus pointed out as Hulk and Thor shared chuckles.

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It took some time but the superhero group finally found the cause of the unnatural weather around. It was a large snow-covered mountain with the top exhaling an endless vapor of cold like a snow machine. Jen immediately felt the air becoming colder, much to her chagrin while the men remained unaffected.

"I'm not the only one seeing this, right?" Patronus asked as everyone shook their heads. "Good, then I'm not imagining about those hail!" He and the others weaved out of the car and boat-sized hail as they approached the mountain. "Oi Thor, what else can you tell us about these pals of yours?"

Thor nodded his head. "First of all, Patronus, they are not my pals. Secondly, the Frost Giants bring a cold that this world has never known. They will pave the way of their invasion on an ocean of ice."

"Oh great." Patronus remarked sarcastically. "Just another day in the office then."

Hulk scoffed at the ninja. "Yeah for you. How come I got left out of bashing that freaky Ultron robot?" Both Patronus and Thor shared a glance before they whistled innocently while their faces found the sky and ground suddenly interesting. "Guys!"

"We got company!" A-Bomb shouted over the wind as he pointed at the obstacle that formed in front of the mountain's base.

The snow swirled around a specific spot before it solidified into a being with dark blue color. It looked like an icicle man with pointy edges on his forehead and shoulders as his frozen beard gave an unsettling scratching noise when the enemy rubbed his nails against it. And Thor recognized him.

"Laufey, king of the Frost Giants." Thor said to his friends.

"Great, another mythological figure to fight." Naruto thought inwardly as Laufey summoned a saber made of ice and slammed it onto the ground, forcing a tunnel wind and sending them backwards on the snowy plateau. "I say we crush him into ice cubes! Who's with me?!" He dashed at the Frost Giant king with the Hulks and Thor.

"No need to tell us, short stuff!" Red shouted with glee as he readied his guns. Much to their chagrin, Laufey retreated in a hailstorm he created to shield himself as the heroes stopped in their tracks and looked around for him. "Damn it!"

"I think your constipated look drove him away, Red." Patronus countered with the armed Hulk pointing his gun at him. "You want to risk your toy?" He emphasized his statement by raising Kogitsunemaru.

Laufey's voice boomed over the icy winds around them. "Follow if you dare."

"Where'd he go?" A-Bomb asked his teammates even though he knew the answer.

"Beware the Frost kind are a treacherous lot," Thor warned his allies.

Patronus didn't like this as he noticed Hulk pondering about the suspicious circumstances. "You thinking what I'm thinking, Big Green?"

"Yeah. They're trying to lure us in. It's a good plan but-" Hulk was cut off when the ground shook violently under his feet. "Below!"

The Hulk's warning came too late as the ground caved in and everyone fell to the icy caverns below while hunks of hails poured down on them, preventing their escape while darkness covered their eyes.

It was sometime later when Hulk woke up and found himself, his agents, Thor and Patronus imprisoned via their limbs and lower bodies restrained in ice. Patronus was already awake since he had been trying to break out of the ice but, much to his surprise, they were really strong to withstand his pressure.

Red was the third to awaken via A-Bomb's camera that shone its light on his face. "Douse the light, you one-eyed coffee bot." The machine obeyed before the red-skinned Hulk, like Naruto, tried to break out of his restraints to no avail as he stopped. "A-Bomb, tell Hulk that this is all his fault."

"A-Bomb, tell Red if he doesn't like it, he can heat himself faster and melt his crybaby self out of there." Hulk retorted annoyingly.

"These guys are worse than me and Sasuke. And that's saying something." Naruto thought to himself.

Before A-Bomb could repeat Hulk's message, Jen let out an annoyed shout. "Stop! It's cold enough in here already without the two of you giving each other the cold shoulder."

"Ba-dum Ba-pssht." Everyone looked at Patronus who laughed at Jen's cold remark. "Come on, it was right there. I couldn't let it pass by."

Red turned his attention from the ninja to the female of the group. "You're bundled from head to toe. How can you possibly complain about the cold?" He sighed as he diverted to the situation at hand. "Well, I'm guessing the Frost Giants brought us inside their ice mountain."

The cavern/prison quaked as a swirling hailstorm formed on a position before it revealed a towering Laufey who looked down upon them. "You guess correctly." The king of the Frost Giant ominously said.

"Laufey." Thor remarked derisively. "What do you want from us?"

"Tell me, Thunder God, when I have frozen your beloved Midgard, will you accept that you are to blame?" Laufey asked rhetorically as his staff formed in his hand before the top glowed a snowy and whispy light.

Hulk looked at his rival. "Uh, Thor, what the heck is he talking about?"

"You better spill the beans right now." Patronus said strongly as he too wanted to know what is missing now.

Laufey pointed his staff on the ground as a small portal showed the captive heroes about the hazardous snow storms that covered the globe. "The icy revenge I had planned for his home Asgard even now I unleash on your once green realm, mortal monster and weakling." He said to Hulk and Naruto respectively.

"Your quarrel is with me." Thor told his life-long enemy, which didn't go unnoticed by the audience present.

"Wait a minute." Red spoke after realizing the cause of the snowstorm. "He attacked Earth because of a grudge between you two?"

Hulk put in his two cents. "Yeah, whatever happened to putting your differences aside?"

"Really you two?" A deadpanned Patronus looked between Red and Hulk. "You guys of all people in this room are saying this?"

Thor looked back at his allies. "I can't help it if he's evil." He answered like it was the obvious answer. Sweat-drops slid down on everyone's heads at the response.

"Evil or not, your fates are sealed as is the fate of humankind." Laufey interceded as he leaned close to Thor. "I could never understand what you saw in mortals, Thor. They are so weak, so easily frozen, even your monstrous Hulks walked right into my trap. They're no better than ogres."

Hulk smirked at the Frost Giant. "Well, you were trying to trick us. We decided to make you feel smart, right Jen?"

"The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I get my jacket back." Jen breathed in as she wrestled her hands out of her sleeves and opened the zipper before smashing the restraints on her legs. She quickly helped Hulk and the others san Patronus who used Katon chakra to free himself.

"You're going down, Snowman!" Red declared as he was ready for a fight.

Laufey was undaunted before his attention was brought to Thor's voice. "Monsters or not, these are the strongest beings on Earth." He stated matter-of-factly before Laufey retreated via hailstorm.

"He got away." Patronus muttered disappointedly with a hidden pout.

Meanwhile Jen stomped her feet into the ground as she was angry about her current situation. "Great, my jacket's soaked. Someone big and frosty is toast."

"Was that another pun?" Cue the angry look from Jen as Naruto raised his hands defensively. "You're that peeved… got it."

The heroes climbed out of the hole where Laufey retreated towards where wisps of ice blue energy solidified into a large creature with three serpentine-like heads and necks as one of them snarled at the intruders.

"Ice serpent!" Thor cried out as he and the others jumped out of the way to avoid one of the head's lunge. Skaar threw his boomerang at the serpent before Thor threw Mjolnir at the head where it chipped off like ice and the barbarian Hulk grabbed it, only to be dragged backwards to the Asgardian. "Nay, dear barbarian, only I am worthy to wear Mjolnir." He informed the confused Hulk after retrieving his weapon.

"Incoming!"

Hulk had jumped at this point and smashed the second head to pieces, much to Red's annoyance. "A-Bomb, tell J-Jaws I don't need him trying to help me."

"*sigh* Hulk, Red said-"

"A-Bomb, I'm busy." Hulk interrupted the younger teammate. "I don't care what Red says right now." He didn't see Red's skin glowed the eponymous color as his anger grew at being ignored and growled to show it.

She-Hulk punched off chips of the last serpent head while Patronus sliced through the main body with the flaming Kogitsunemaru. "At least all this exercise is keeping me warm."

"Hulks be wary as we enter Laufey's lair." Thor warned once again.

Patronus twirled the ablaze Kogitsunemaru in anticipation. "Now the main round is here."

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Tokyo, Honshuu

Japan

The island nation of exquisite arts, architecture, and otaku culture was like the rest of the world besieged by the unnatural and endless ice storm. The city unlike the Western cities suffered greatly to secure their citizens and face the harrowing conditions against the snow. There was mass chattering about loss of life regarding both civilian and professional officials via the government's secure radio frequencies, much to the official's chagrin.

There was one thing Japan and the entire Asian continent lacked in the world: heroes.

The Western Countries have abundant supply of heroes and they act as major deterrent against crime though it depended on each city or country for that matter. The most prominent example was the United States of America where the famous reputations of the stationed heroes reached their lands as well such as the Avengers, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, even the X-Men.

It was this one component that the land of Japan suffered for too long and now it was time to fix it.

That is why he petitioned to his superiors about a program not unlike the Avengers six months ago in November. He, like many officials, heard of the marvelous miracle to ever happen to his people: the recovery of the Imperial Navy of Japan's missing officers from World War II. And it was accomplished by the hands of Westerners, a young British woman and Boston's own superhero.

The official looked at his computer's screen and was glad to have Internet even in a storm like this as he examined the contents with an approved smirk. He already found someone to lead the charge of his plan since this person had been in the hero business since last April. Unfortunately for said associate, his reputation was only known to Japan and hasn't extended globally though on the precipice.

He picked up his cellphone and called the hero associate after hearing on the radio about a group of citizens trapped under an overturned car in the Shinjuku prefecture. "Go."

="Hai."=

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Shinjuku Prefecture, Tokyo Metropolitan

Honshu, Japan

She was just returning home for a visit to her grandparents after finishing her studies early in America and graduating with her degree in Engineering. She never once thought that her bus would turn over after some idiot ran the red light during a soft hail storm…the same hail storm that caused her and the other passengers' current situation.

The doors were frozen. The metallic walls of the bus did little against the intense cold. And the audible shaking of people, family, and tourist shivered as they huddled together to gain warmth. Their efforts were at a fault as hunger struck them followed by the linger feeling of exhaustion.

One of the children hugged her mother tightly as she shivered to her neck. "Mama, are we going to die?" The teenager watched the mother shakily rubbed her head to soothe her.

"Don't worry about that, sweetie. Just count to ten and we'll be out of here." The mother responded as she did her best to hold back her tears to avoid showing fear to her child.

The teenager never knew her mother since she was dumped in the streets of Tokyo and fended for herself all these years until she was struck with kindness of the elderly couple who soon became her adoptive grandparents. They raised her and taught her enough to blend in with society though her street demeanor was somewhat stayed by her education.

"One."

She never had the opportunity to do something more with her life once she graduated college.

"Two."

She didn't have friends nor attempted to make any since either her personality drove them away or they were scared of her.

"Three…four."

Nor was she approached by any guy.

"Five."

Granted all the guys she knew were hoodlums who only wanted one thing from her during her childhood but she fought them off.

"Six…Seven."

Even she had a dream of being married and having children of her own.

"Eight."

She could see the image of her own daughter smiling at her moments after birth and the comfort she exhibited in her arms.

"Nine."

The image of her future family was tarnished by this wretched storm and she hated the one whom caused it.

"Ten."

All seemed lost for the people inside the wrecked bus until the roof was stripped off the vehicle as a rush cold wind blasted them until a hulking man appeared before them and the teenager stared at him in awe.

"It's fine now. Why?" The man asked boisterously as the civilians looked at him with hope stirred in them. "Because I am here."

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Laufey's Lair

The heroes entered the lair of the Frost Giant King and found themselves in front of a massive snow-like energy spouted out of an equally-sized hole. "That's the biggest snow cone machine ever!" A-Bomb pointed out childishly.

And sitting behind it like a king was Laufey himself.

"That geyser is the source of the global ice storm." Thor said. "Find something to block it."

Laufey clenched his fist as he said, "My frost creatures, attack!" Said creatures came running in the throne room and charged at the group of heroes.

"Now this is more like it!" Patronus shouted with glee as he swung Kogitsunemaru, unleashing a wave of intense blue flames that instantly melted the creatures on his end. He then lashed out with his left arm as the Pivot Blade stabbed through the head of a lone frost creature, shattering it like tiny glass.

Thor swung Mjolnir side-to-side in rapid succession and destroyed four frost creatures while Skaar threw his boomerang at another charge's head, cleaving it. She-Hulk tossed aside her jacket and slammed her gauntlets together to unleash a green energy net that held back the reinforcements at one of the tunnels.

"Red, how about closing the doors on these freaks?" Jen asked rhetorically.

"With pleasure, Shulkie." Red answered gleefully as he pulled the pin and threw the grenade at the creatures. "Fire in the hole!" The top of the tunnel crumbled after the explosion and caved in the creatures while it blocked the way inside the throne room.

Meanwhile Hulk pulled out a giant icicle from the ground, swung it a couple times to rid of close enemies, and clogged the geyser. Skaar aided his teammate with a leap to the ceiling and sliced three more giant icicles that helped clog the geyser completely. A-Bomb, much to Naruto's surprise and wonder, brought out his flamethrower before he unleashed said element at one of the frost creature's spear, melting it and causing them to retreat.

"Aw~" A-Bomb taunted. "Where you running? Home to mama, hide in the fridge? Hey, your mom probably is a fridge."

"Look out!" Hulk cried out as he tackled the frost creature away from the distracted A-Bomb.

"Thanks, big guy, I owe you one."

Hulk didn't hesitate to cash it in. "Okay then, tell Red he needs a better deodorant. I can smell him from here."

"Hey!" Red shouted indignantly before he retorted, "A-Bomb, tell Hulk that he'd better watch it or I'm gonna smack the green out of him!"

Patronus kicked away one of the creatures. "Are you guys really doing this?"

"Can't you just rage-text each other?" A-Bomb offered softly as a confused Naruto raised a brow.

"Rage-text? Is that a thing now?"

A-Bomb deadpanned at him. "Seriously?" Patronus shrugged his shoulders. "Oh man, poor you."

"Mind your own business!" Both Hulk and Red shouted at each other or more specifically A-Bomb who growled in annoyance.

The ground shook more violently than before as the storm began to be sucked into the geyser rather than blown outwards, much to Thor's suspicions.

"Something is amiss," said the Asgardian.

"You and your monsters think you've won, Thor, but you've already lost." Laufey stated calmly as the cavern's icicles fell from the ceiling. "With my defeat, you have awoken he who slumbers."

A concerned Hulk asked, "What kind of ice volcano is this?"

"This is no mere volcano." Thor responded gravely before he and everyone else were blown away by the force of the geyser and out of the volcano to the surface. The ground shook once more as the snowy hill shuffled in front of the heroes. "The Asgardian keeper of winter. Centuries ago, my father, Odin, trapped and banished him. His mountain is a portal to Jotunheim, realm of the Frost Giants. And through it, Ymir will bring to Midgard an endless age of ice."

"Damn it, Inari!" Patronus cursed inwardly. He gasped when the progenitor of the Frost Giants emerged from the once-volcano as the size of him was titanic. "He's huge!"

Ymir was extremely tall and Naruto ranged him to be as tall as a mountain. His icy body was pure white in contrast to Laufey's somewhat gray color with spiky protrusions on his chest, shoulders, and head as he roared with arms raised for battle.

"Somehow Laufey's controlling him," stated Thor after observing the situation.

Laufey made himself present in front of his enemies with an evil chuckle. "I freed Ymir from your father's imprisonment. In exchange, he would turn Earth into a frozen waste and crush anyone who stand in the way. Destroy them!" Ymir roared in agreement as he formed an ice club and smashed the ground where the heroes were standing before they dodged out of the way.

"So do we have a plan about a 1000-foot snowman?" A-Bomb asked his leader.

"I only know one plan: smash!" Hulk leaped onto Ymir's leg and repeatedly smashed his right fist.

Everyone else followed the plan except for Naruto and Thor who floated into the air. "I will bring down thunder and lightning to send you to the ground where you belong!" The Asgardian declared as he summoned a thunderstorm above him and cast a powerful lightning bolt at the Original Frost Giant who blocked the blast with his arms.

Skaar watched Thor be smacked by a backhand followed with Hulk and the others as well before he growled at the giant. "Skaar crush Icicle-Man!" He said while drawing his two blades from his back and leaped higher at Ymir's lower body before climbing.

Thor recovered out of the snow and hurled Mjolnir that reflected of Ymir's chest harmlessly while Patronus swung Kogitsunemaru, unleashing another wave of blue flames at the giant. Ymir groaned slightly in pain as his left arm steamed intensely from the effort, much to both him and Laufey's intrigue.

"Damn, not hot enough." Patronus chastised his effort as Skaar leap-climbed to Ymir's chest and stabbed one of his blades directly, causing Ymir to pick him up and blow him away with his icy breath that froze him. "Skaar!"

Hulk quickly looked at his blue teammate. "A-Bomb!" Said person morphed into a ball and high-tailed it to Ymir's feet where he returned to normal and caught his frozen friend before leaping out of the red zone.

Thor looked at Skaar and nodded in relief. "Our gray friend is alive. Frozen inside-out but alive."

"Be careful." Hulk told the remaining able fighters. "If you're frozen and get shattered, then you're done."

"Any plans then?" Patronus asked as Laufey commanded Ymir to crush them via a stomping foot. Hulk lifted his hands and stopped the foot from squishing them before he pushed the Frost Giant back with a shove as everyone continued to batter the enemy. "The usual then, okay." He switched from fire to wind before swinging Kogitsunemaru and the Pivot Blade several times as blades of wind hit Ymir's head several times with seemingly no effect.

After throwing Mjolnir and retrieving it, Thor landed next to Hulk who hurled a boulder at the Frost Giant Progenitor. "The shell is nigh-invulnerable but there must be a weakness."

"We'll keep him occupied. Go handle the ice cream man." Hulk told Thor as the latter flew to Ymir's shoulder.

And he wasn't going alone.

"Wait for me!" Patronus overheard their conversation and reached Ymir's shoulder just as Thor landed. In front of them was Laufey who summoned an ice spear. "I've always wanted to beat up a king."

"You dare challenge me, mortal?" Laufey asked in disgust. Patronus simply shrugged his shoulders. "As for you, Thor, Asgard will pay what you've done to Frost Giant."

Thor said nothing as he clashed with Laufey's spear before the latter twirled it to push the Asgardian back. Patronus leaped at Laufey and slashed with Kogitsunemaru, but the Frost Giant parried his attack and shoulder-tackled the ninja away next to Thor. "Is it just me or is this guy's energy growing?"

"You sense my power, mortal. Even for a maggot, that is somewhat impressive." Laufey stated as a tick mark appeared on Patronus's head. "You two will not deny us our vengeance."

Thor narrowed his eyes at his eternal enemy before he struck him cleanly with Mjolnir. "Revenge is only just an excuse. Your goal is to conquer the Nine Realms."

"What is it with villians and their need to conquer?" Patronus asked out of curiosity. "It never ends well for them."

"And conquer them I will. With every passing moment, this world grows colder and my power grows with it."

"Oh crap." Patronus swung Kogitsunemaru rapidly to deflect many of Laufey's icy narrow projectiles with tight dodges. "Thank you, Soresu." Thor however wasn't lucky as he was hit in the back and fell to the ground unconsciously. "Thor!" He leaped off Ymir's shoulder and grabbed Thor's arm before Shunshining next to the S.M.A.S.H. agents.

Ymir fired his own ice javelins at the heroes and Naruto quickly used Soresu to deflect or redirect the projectiles away from the semi-conscious Thor. Hulk then noticed something on Ymir's chest after Patronus fired a quick flame wave at the Frost Giant. "Skaar's sword…A-Bomb, Smashball Special!"

"Eh?" Patronus turned his head and watched Hulk as he threw A-Bomb in ball form at Ymir's chest. "Baseball?"

The airborne A-Bomb cheered loudly as he slammed Skaar's sword deeper into Ymir's chest, causing an ice white glow as it caved in slightly. "Focus your attacks there. Let's hope Skaar find our soft spot." Hulk informed his hero allies before he pulled out his gauntlet from his pants and fired blasts at the target.

"Your turn, Shulkie!" Red told the female hero present as he fired his guns along with Patronus' sword swinging wind blades as well.

Jen took the approach and leaped high onto Ymir's chest where she pulled out Skarr's sword before she punched into the weak spot several times. "Hey, icepick, in case you haven't heard I hate the cold!" She quickly disembarked off the glowing spot.

"A-Bomb, you tell that green cluster to stay out of my way."

"A-Bomb, tell Red to get out of my way."

Patronus looked at the arguing Hulks who were shoving each other for a better spot to fire at Ymir. "Seriously?"

"A-Bomb, look out!"

The ninja switched his attention to Jen who tackled A-Bomb away from Ymir's ice club swing, but neither of them were moving.

"Rick…Jen…" Hulk muttered softly out of concern. He quickly grew angry as his eyes were glued on Red. "This is your fault!"

Red looked at the accusing Hulk. "Me? This is all your fault!"

"Then whose fault is it really?" Thor asked after waking up and seeing what happened with A-Bomb and She-Hulk.

"Admit it, you two." Patronus told the solemn Hulks sternly. "This is no time for grudges. Let it out now."

Hulk looked between Patronus and Thor before he sighed in defeat. "We're…We're both to blame." He looked at Red. "And unless you and me get over this grudge, we're going to get front-row seats to the end of the world."

Red groaned loudly. "So that's your apology?" He grunted as he walked away from the three. "You really sting me. I'm going to get A-Bomb's flamethrower."

"What's this?" Thor asked out of intrigue as Naruto and Hulk saw steaming footprints left by Red. "Your crimson brother's fury can indeed melt ice."

"Yeah, the angrier Red gets, the hotter he-" Hulk stopped as he and Thor realized the key to victory. He looked at Patronus who already realized it as well since he sheathed Kogitsunemaru with his hands rubbing in anticipation. "Hey Red." Said the armed Hulk turned only for the original to punch him in the stomach.

Red held his stomach as he staggered backwards. "What was that for?!" He got punched again by Hulk who smirked also.

"That's the rest of my apology."

"Have you lost your gamma-irradiant mind?!" Red asked angrily.

Thor approached the confused armed Hulk. "And I would like to apologize as well." He finished by smashing Mjolnir against Red's head.

"My turn, my turn, my turn!" Patronus cried out in glee as he Shunshined in front of the stupefied Red and double-kicked him in the face. "Oh that felt so good!"

Red recovered as he glared at the trio. "What is the matter with you creeps?! I'm on your side, remem-" Thor caught him off by dashing behind him and sending him flying to Hulk with Mjolnir.

Then came the game of 'Whack-a-Red Hulk' between Patronus, Hulk, and Thor as they punched, kicked, and hammered the stupefied and increasingly angry Red, much to the ninja and the original's glee.

"AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!" Red screamed out as his anger reached the boiling point literally. His red skin glowed profusely while Thor had him in a full-nelson who remained unaffected by the increasing heat.

A smirking Thor said, "I think perhaps he is hot enough."

"HOT ENOUGH FOR WHAT?!"

"I'll explain later." Hulk answered while he grabbed Red's hands and spun around him around for momentum. "But first you need to cool off!" He released his angry teammate in the sky.

"IIIII HHHHAAATTTTEEEE YYOOOUUUUUU!"

Patronus whistled appreciatively as Red hit right through Ymir's weak spot. "The armor is broken!" Thor shouted after seeing cracks in Ymir's body.

"It…cannot be." Laufey said slowly in disbelief.

Thor flew to the air and floated in front of Laufey, "Mortals often find a way." He stated matter-of-factly before he threw Mjolnir at the Frost Giant King who fell off Ymir's shoulder. "You have no place here on Midgard, Ymir. Patronus, I require your aid."

"I'm right behind you, Thor." Patronus declared as he drew Kogitsunemaru and combined his wind chakra with Inari's blue flames around the blade, increasing the heat as a result. "Say the word!"

"This ends now!"

Lightning and wind-enhanced flames shot forth at Ymir's weak spot from the legendary weapons as the Frost Giant Progenitor howled in pain while his being was engulfed in a net of lightning and cracks of burning flames. Soon, Ymir crumbled into tiny shards of ice and snowflakes except for his head whose maw remained open.

Oddly enough a whitish-dark blue portal appeared in Ymir's mouth as it began to suck the winter cold along with a screaming Laufey.

"The portal leads to the Frost Giants' home of Jotunheim." Thor said to his allies, still eager for battle as he pointed Mjolnir. "We can take the fight to them."

However, and surprisingly, Hulk placed his hand on the Asgardian's shoulder. "They had enough, Thor. Let it go."

"I agree with Hulk, Thor." Patronus said, supporting the behemoth's words. "As much as I like to fight, there also comes a time to cease fighting in the day."

Thor looked back at the portal before it and Ymir's head disappeared from their sight as he sighed loudly. "You are right, friends."

"Of course, we are. That's why we're better than you." The ninja arrogantly stated with crossed arms like Hulk.

"Really?"

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The Pacific Ocean

For some reason, the group of heroes found that staying on a floating ice slab in the middle of the ocean to be soothing after a battle with an ancient Asgardian entity. Thor and Naruto knew that entities don't really die but, given enough time, they can reform their physical bodies so Ymir will definitely be back.

"Ah, now this is the kind of global warming that I'd like to see: Tokyo is toasty, London is drying out, and even Vista Verde is heating up." A-Bomb said with joy as he told his friends with information with his smartphone. "My online feed system says the sun is shining all over the world! We did it, guys!"

Thor nodded warmly. "Indeed. And I am deeply indebted to you."

"Don't mention it, buddy." Hulk returned the thanks. "We're the Hulks; it's what we do."

"Sans one." Patronus pointed out. "I'm not a Hulk."

"But you smash like one." Jen retorted teasingly.

Patronus shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly before his stomach growled loudly, much to his embarrassment. "Damn it, I think I skipped lunch."

"Hey blondie." Naruto looked at Red as he thought the crimson Hulk talked to him but it was to Thor.

Thor looked at Red. "Yes?"

"Apology accepted!" Red punched the Asgardian in the face, sending him off the ice slab before he recovered himself.

"AHAHA, well played, Red Giant. Farewell, Hulks and Patronus." Thor bid his goodbye before leaving them in a loud 'boom.'

Hulk had taken a seat at the edge with a loud groan as Red glanced at him. "What, I owed him that: he started it and I finished it. No grudge," He finished casually.

"We could've asked Thor for a lift home." Hulk said, explaining his reason of upset.

Jen sighed in relief as she took off her parka and laid down on the ice slab. "Well, we'll eventually end up back in civilization. In the meantime, the weather's warm…just the way I like it."

"We good now?" Hulk asked as he glanced at Red over his shoulder.

Red answered, "As long as you quiet waking me." Both A-Bomb and Patronus's heads snapped at them skeptically and incredulously.

"Wait, wait, this whole thing between you, this grudge was over sleep?" A-Bomb asked as he became frustrated over their argument on such a measly topic.

Red nodded vehemently. "Yeah, because this green big knucklehead stomps around and drums all night, keeping me awake. I'm on military time; I rise and shine at the crack of dawn."

Patronus had the mental image of Hulk drumming it up and keeping an annoyed Red awake followed by another image of Red blowing the trumpet and doing jumping jacks in cadence while waking Hulk from his sleep before the latter sent Devil, their pet dinosaur, at the military man who was quickly stomped by the roaring creature.

"Yeah, I know." Hulk responded gruffly. "You wake me up early every morning. I stay up late because you used to chase me around all day." He was referring to the time when Red as Ross chased Hulk long before they became reluctant teammates.

Red's anger rose to the boiling point as his skin glowed crimson while he began to sink into the slab.

"But you know what, forget it; what's done is done. I'm letting it go." Hulk spoke solemnly before he opened his eyes and found Red's lower body deep in the slab.

Red gritted his teeth. "So that's your apology."

"As much as you're going to get, Red." Patronus said with a chuckle. "Who here wants lunch? It's on me today." All the Hulks raised their hands simultaneously so fast that he almost couldn't see them. "I just know my wallet is going to regret this."

Soon after the agreement was made, a yellow light flashed over the slab and the heroes were off to their destination of gourmet heaven.

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Tokyo, Honshu

Japan

"This is impressive." The official spoke as he sat on his chair. "68 rescues in one hour at Shinjuku, 48 fires put out in the Miyagi Prefecture, 100 buildings stabilized at Kyoto. This is more than I and the others expected and the Emperor is pleased about the results."

"Hai, it is our job to ensure peace is secured and the citizens safe." The cheery man stated as he felt good of heroism. He recalled the bus civilians' smiles of joy and hope when he flashed his smile at them. "Though I sense you have troubling news."

"The Emperor feels that your associates are missing something in regards of a hero. I know not of this, but still he wants outside help to aid the process." The hero in shadows saw the TV screen next to him activate with a single image of a hero who made ripples in the hero/villain community. "This person has been chosen for the job due to his city's crime rate being at an all-time lowest in years."

"Oi, oi, this person is…"

"Hai."

"Sounds interesting."

"Then I assume you'll get him to come over."

The hero walked to the official's office door but stopped as he turned his face enough to smile so big that the light from the lamp glinted off the teeth. "Of course, since I'm here."

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Somewhere in Denver, Colorado

"Ah-choo!" Patronus sniffed his nose as he looked around the restaurant. "Someone must be talking about me."

"Red, that's my steak!"

"Get your own, Greenie!"

"Keep your hands off my cheeseburger, Skaar."

"Skaar like cheese."

A-Bomb chuckled at Patronus' misfortune at the increasing cost of damages after Hulk punched Red through one of the restaurant's walls as the latter dug his head into his hands with a muffled scream. "Hulk fans, don't forget to subscribe to my one and only segment called: Patronus' Dead Wallet."

"Bite me, A-Bomb." Patronus sighed as he resigned to eat his meal of macaroni cheese, barbecue ribs, and mashed potatoes. "Good thing I'm rich though." He whispered to himself. It was really fortunate for him and his clan that Hagoromo gave him substantial money pit before his departure from the Shinobi Dimension.