35. Ten Rings

"F*ck those bastards! I am gonna break their damn legs when I find them!"

Adam cursed loudly as he took a sip from a bottle. It's been five hours since he was dropped into his scorching place, he had travelled for five damn hours and still saw no sign of Stark.

And the seals were running out. He had used seven of them, each seal had a limit of five miles, after that it would expire.

Seven of the seals were gone and still there was no sight of them. If he can't find them after three more then there was no other way but to give up.

"Should I get the Uzumaki bloodline?"

Adam thought.

Pure Uzumakis were natural born sensors. His chakra sensing jutsu was shit, it used too much chakra and the range was very small.

Just as he was thinking what to do the circle and needle above him trembled and shot forward. Adam immediately followed.

A rock formation came to view. It was blocked from sight by sand dunes and from the air by protruding rocks.

So that's why the drones couldn't find them.

His feet sunk into the sand and he disappeared.

Doton! Hiding Like A Mole!

Armed men with tattoos on their bodies patrolled the area. Several men stood guard infront of a cave. Further inside was a tightly secure metal door.

Behind this metal door were two men, one young and the other old, they were working with iron and forging something.

"Hold it steady Yinsen."

The young man instructed the old one.

This man was Tony Stark. The other was an old doctor named Yinsen.

Yinsen held a block of metal steadily and asked, "Just how many day do you think we can fool them?"

Still focusing on his work Tony answered, "With any luck, a few more days."

Without them noticing a figure slowly emerged from the ground.

Adam didn't immediately step out. He looked at this legendary character and couldn't help but smile. He was witnessing the birth of Iron Man.

He could already see the Ark reactor shining inside Tony's chest. Now all that remained was for him to break out of this place.

After a while they took a short break. Tony picked up a piece of bread and was about to eat it when a sound spooked him.

"You don't look like the rich playboy from the news."

Tony and Yinsen were shocked, they shot to their feet and looked around. But no one was there.

Tony couldn't see anyone but he still asked, "Who are you!?"

"Calm down. First, take care of them."

Tony and Yinsen saw no one but that voice still rang out. Just as they were thinking what was happening, a few armed men rushed in.

As smart as they were both of them had an idea of what was happening. A man aimed his gun at Yinsen and yelled in a different language. Yinsen raised his arm and calmly stated something.

Making sure nothing was wrong the men left.

Tony started to eat and asked in a small voice, "Who are you?"

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Stark. I was requested to find you and get you out."

Adam's figure emerged from a corner, out of the surveillance range.

Tony scoffed, "I don't need saving."

Adam shrugged.

Yinsen suddenly cut in, "How did you get in?"

Adam smiled under his mask, "I have my ways."

Tony didn't bother with the details and said, "I can get out on my own. Your job is to do nothing and act like an excited fan when I escape."

Adam expected this kind of answer. Tony was proud and arrogant. He wouldn't ask for help unless he absolutely had no other choice.

But he had the capital to be arrogant, the man was a genius.

Adam simply shrugged and found a corner to lay down, "If you need anything, just ask."

Yinsen still wanted to ask some more but Tony dragged him away. They resumed their work. Adam was curious and watched them work.

Two days passed by without any incident.

On this day the metal door was opened and in came several armed men. Leading them was a blad man with a cold demeanor. He walked towards the work bench and traced several sketches.

He stared at Tony, "Where is Jericho, Mr. Stark?"

Tony looked at him straight and said, "It will take some more time."

The man didn't say anything. He turned to Yinsen and spoke in a different language. Yinsen was nervous as he spoke.

The men behind the bald man captured Yinsen and got him on his knees. The bald man took out a metal holder and pulled out a piece of scalding metal from the forge.

He repeated what he was asking and Yinsen repeated what he was saying.

Tony was panicking inside and suddenly said, "I need him!"

The bald man looked back. Tony added, "He is good assistant."

The bald man looked at him for a second and said, "You have two days."

After he left Tony helped Yinsen and sat down, tired.

Adam suddenly said, "I can kill him for you."

Tony looked up and shook his head. He patted Yinsen, "Let's get back to work."

He is surprisingly cool-headed.

Adam said to himself.

Their work sped up. No one came to disturb them in the coming days.

Two days passed by.

The last day was here and Tony planned to escape before the bald man came.

He was already wearing a metal armour. Yinsen was following his instructions and fitting some lose parts.

Making sure the fittings were done Tony said, "Upload the program."

Time was running out, the men had already found something wrong when they lost sight of Stark from their surveillance.

They banged the metal door and tried to open it only to be blasted away by a granade strapped to the door.

Looking back and forth between the dead men and the laptop Yinsen whispered, "We don't have time."

He heard footsteps coming from outside the cave. He walked over to one of the dead men and took off his gun.

Stark had a bad feeling when he saw picking up a gun, "What are you doing Yinsen? Follow the plan!"

Yinsen looked at Tony calmly, "This was always the plan."

"Damnit"

Tony cursed.

Just as Yinsen was about to run out Adam held him down and said, "Your work is done. Let me do mine."