Tony Stark is accused by Defense Minister Kuroda of trying to avoid controversy by sneaking plutonium into Japan aboard an undefended cargo ship. This ship has been attacked and the plutonium stolen, posing a grave threat. Tony dons the Iron Man armor and vows to retrieve the plutonium and clear his name.

Tony Stark meets Aki, a mysterious young girl with strange powers. Tony is shocked when the girl tells him that she belongs to Zodiac and mentions that she needs Tony, as Iron Man to protect her from Zodiac. Is Aki who she says she is? And even if she is, how can Tony trust her?