633-641
·Chapter 633: Tsunade's Longing
As everyone left, Charles glanced at the ninja cards in his collection: Chiyo, Zaku Abumi, Dosu Kinuta, Shizuka, and Cee.
Looking at Cee's card, Charles decided to wait before manifesting this Cloud Village ninja. He planned to do it when he had recruited one or two more from the Cloud Village, making it more impactful when they finally appeared.
Opening the ninja card interface, Charles placed Chiyo, Zaku Abumi, Dosu Kinuta, and Shizuka into the deployment slots and selected to manifest them nearby.
Soon, the four figures materialized before Charles. As they became fully formed and awoke, Charles spoke:
"Chiyo, Zaku Abumi, Dosu Kinuta, you three will head to the Summoning Realm shortly. You will receive information about this world and learn it thoroughly. After that, you'll be assigned to the bases of Sound and Sand Ninjas in this world."
"Yes, Lord Charles!" the three responded in unison.
After receiving the learning materials, the three used the Reverse Summoning Technique to head to the Summoning Realm.
Looking at Shizuka, Charles decided to place her in the secretary team under Ginny's supervision.
"Shizuka, come with me."
"Yes, Lord Charles!"
Charles led Shizuka towards Ginny's office. Along the way, people gave curious looks at Shizuka. Her appearance and figure were strikingly beautiful, and the absence of a ninja village headband caught everyone's attention.
However, Shizuka's combat attire indicated she was no ordinary character.
Soon, Charles and Shizuka arrived outside Ginny's office, which was open. Inside, a ninja was discussing about vibranium with Ginny. Seeing Charles, everyone greeted, "Lord Charles!"
Charles nodded in acknowledgment and approached Ginny, saying:
"Ginny, this is Shizuka. She just arrived here, and I'll leave her with you to familiarize her with this world's knowledge and customs."
Shizuka stepped forward and extended her hand. "Hello, I'm Shizuka. Please take care of me."
Ginny looked at Shizuka, noting that the number of beautiful female ninjas from the ninja world was growing.
Previously, there was Tsunade, and now there was Shizuka...
Ginny shook Shizuka's hand and smiled. "I'm Ginny, the boss's secretary. You'll be working with me from now on."
Seeing the two get acquainted, Charles left without lingering and headed to the training room to get a handle on his newly acquired strength.
...
Soon, evening arrived.
The door of Training Room No. 3 opened, and Tsunade walked in.
"Charles, the party has started. Why aren't you there yet?"
Charles stopped training and said, "I got caught up in training and forgot about the party."
Tsunade approached him and said, "Come on, let's go to the party together."
"Alright."
Charles and Tsunade left the training room and headed towards the dining area. The party was primarily for the ninjas, so it was held in the dining area.
The party was lively, with ninjas gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing. When they saw Charles and Tsunade arrive, they greeted, "Lord Charles, Lady Tsunade."
Charles responded warmly, urging everyone to enjoy themselves and not worry about formalities.
Tsunade led Charles to a table where Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina Uzumaki were seated, while Naruto Uzumaki was with the younger generation.
Seeing Tsunade bring Charles over, Jiraiya grinned and said, "Tsunade, you brought Lord Charles over."
The others stood up and greeted, "Lord Charles."
Charles quickly said, "Sit, everyone. There's no need to be formal at the party."
Charles and Tsunade also sat down, close to each other.
Everyone enjoyed the food and drink, chatting happily. After a while, Jiraiya turned to Minato and said:
"Among the three of us, it seems my student turned out the best."
"Hahaha, my student became the Fourth Hokage."
Minato had met Jiraiya after leaving the conference room and explained the situation to his teacher, who then proudly shared it with the group.
Tsunade retorted, "Don't be so smug. You didn't even have a student when you came here."
Jiraiya, unfazed, responded, "A future disciple is still my disciple. Isn't that right, Orochimaru?"
Orochimaru squinted his eyes and glanced at Minato Namikaze beside him. He was curious about what had happened in the future that led to the Fourth Hokage being Jiraiya's disciple rather than one of the sannin.
It was interesting.
However, now that they were no longer in the ninja world, Orochimaru was no longer concerned with the original history of the future after several fruitless attempts to explore it.
"How does it feel to be surpassed by your disciple, Jiraiya?"
"You probably can't match Minato now, can you?"
Minato, unsure what to say, just smiled warmly at everyone.
Jiraiya, embarrassed by Orochimaru's words, scratched his head awkwardly and said, "I'm also training and strengthening my power. When I merge with my future self, I'll be even stronger."
Then Jiraiya looked at Charles and asked, "Lord Charles, do I also have a powerful future self?"
Charles laughed, "Didn't you already learn from Naruto?"
Tsunade chuckled, "You even took your own disciple's son as your disciple. Jiraiya, you really have a knack for this."
Tsunade and Orochimaru both burst into laughter.
At this moment, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki approached Charles with a toast, "Lord Charles, thank you for giving us a second chance at life, allowing us to accompany and care for Naruto."
Charles raised his glass and clinked it with the couple's glasses, then said, "Cherish the present. If a great war comes, Naruto might also merge with his future self and grow up instantly. I have a future self of his in storage."
Minato and Kushina drank their wine in one gulp and said, "Thank you, Lord Charles. We will do our best to protect Naruto and help him grow up."
Charles nodded, then drank his wine as well.
At this moment, Tsunade appeared with two dice cups and said, "Charles, let's play a game of dice. The loser drinks."
Hearing Tsunade's request, Charles found it amusing. Was she trying to get him drunk?
"Tsunade, are you sure you want to play with me?"
Tsunade placed the dice cups on the table and said, "I don't mind losing money, but I don't believe I'll lose in a drinking game. Are you afraid I'll win?"
Seeing Tsunade, already a bit tipsy, Charles didn't refuse her request and started playing dice with her.
"Big."
"Small."
"Triple."
The game started quickly, and Tsunade lost five rounds in a row, downing five glasses of whiskey in one go. Despite her strong constitution, her face started to flush from the alcohol.
Watching Tsunade play with Charles, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and the Namikaze couple left the table to give them some space.
Tsunade and Charles played for half an hour. Naturally, Tsunade kept losing and ended up drinking whiskey for the entire half hour. Frustrated with her constant losses, she put down the dice cup and said:
"This isn't fun. Let's play rock-paper-scissors."
With Charles intentionally letting her win a few rounds, Tsunade finally managed to win a few times, and Charles drank a few sips of alcohol as well.
At this point, Tsunade leaned on Charles's shoulder with one arm, the two of them very close. Charles could smell Tsunade's fragrance.
Tsunade then said, "Charles, I've heard that my brother died on the battlefield in the future. Can you bring him here? I want him to grow up safely."
Tsunade was devastated to learn that in the future, her brother died young in an explosive trap. She hoped Charles could bring Nawaki to her.
Hearing Tsunade mention her brother, Charles sighed, "Nawaki..."
"I'll see what I can do. If it's possible, I'll bring him over."
Charles was also troubled by Nawaki's situation. In the original story, his death was too dramatic, dying in front of Orochimaru on his first mission outside the village.
However, Charles was also concerned that there was no ninja card for Nawaki.
He wasn't sure if he could recruit him, but he didn't rule out the possibility that the card might appear, just like it had for other ninjas who hadn't shown up before his time travel in the game.
"Thank you, Charles."
Tsunade then kissed Charles on the cheek before passing out drunk.
Feeling the moisture on his cheek, Charles looked at Tsunade, who was now completely unconscious, thoroughly drunk, while the table was littered with empty whiskey bottles.
-1-
·Chapter 634: T'Challa's Ambition
Since the night of the party, a week had quickly passed. During this time, Charles Doyle had been focusing on chakra control training and mastering his rapidly increasing strength.
Over the past week, through system sign-ins, Charles had acquired 30,000 copper coins, 2 ninja recruitment scrolls (VIP level 2 or above receive double rewards), 300 prestige points, 50 bowls of delicious ramen, 200 ninja souls, 200 reincarnation stones, and 300 more prestige points.
…
Meanwhile-
In Wakanda-
Since T'Challa purchased three physical enhancement serums and a sealing scroll from the Sand Puppet Shop, some time had passed.
T'Challa, T'Chaka, and Shuri had each used one of the physical enhancement serums.
With the enhancement provided by the serums, the father and son, who had previously consumed the heart-shaped herb, experienced even greater benefits than Shuri, surpassing both Barton and Natasha in sheer physical strength.
In the palace-
T'Challa said, "Father, New York was attacked by aliens. During this attack, so many superheroes gathered in New York."
T'Chaka, watching the video of the New York battle, was silent for a few seconds before speaking, "It seems the outside world is even more dangerous than we imagined."
"Although we are the most technologically advanced nation on the planet, they have progressed further than us in other areas."
"T'Challa, what have you found out about the Sand Puppet Shop and the people who attacked you last time?"
T'Challa tapped a few times on the virtual screen, and images of the Sand Puppet Shop and four Hidden Sand ninjas appeared.
"Based on the information Shuri gathered from the internet and the reports from our spies in New York, a new group of superheroes called ninjas has emerged in New York."
"Unlike the officially announced Avengers, the ninjas are mainly divided into four factions: Charles Agency, the Sand Puppet Shop, the Sound Ninja New York Base, and the Mist Ninja New York Base."
"Currently, only Charles Agency and the Sand Puppet Shop are fully open to the public. The Sound Ninja and Mist Ninja have not engaged in commercial activities."
"The main force in the New York battle was the Leaf Ninjas from Charles Agency."
"The physical enhancement serum is one of their main products, contrary to our initial assumptions. The serum hasn't been widely distributed outside, but it seems to be common among the ninjas."
"However, the ninjas' strength doesn't solely come from the physical enhancement serum. There are other factors we don't yet understand, perhaps a training system or other unknown elements."
T'Chaka frowned slightly, then said, "T'Challa, Wakanda's strength lies primarily in Vibranium and the technology developed from it."
"Although every king takes the heart-shaped herb, the Black Panther suit is our greatest asset."
T'Chaka then shifted his tone, "But only with a strong body can the Black Panther suit's full potential be realized."
"Next, take the Royal Guard and go to the Sand Puppet Shop to purchase a batch of physical enhancement serums. If possible, buy as many as you can."
"Have Shuri study them to see if she can reverse-engineer them. Even if she can't, ensure that all members of the Royal Guard receive the serum."
T'Challa asked, "Father, what about our military minister W'Kabi and his soldiers? Shouldn't they also receive the serum?"
T'Chaka looked at his son, considering it for a few seconds before saying, "If Shuri can develop it, we can then distribute it widely."
"If she can't, then it will only be used on a smaller scale."
T'Challa argued, "Father, even if Shuri can't develop it right away, it isn't expensive. One serum only costs fifteen kilograms of Vibranium. With our reserves, we can afford to give every citizen a dose."
"T'Challa, do you think they will provide an unlimited supply?"
"When you start buying with large quantities of Vibranium, do you think the price won't rise or that they won't refuse to trade?"
"You only purchased three serums and already attracted unwanted attention. What do you think will happen when large amounts of Vibranium flow into the market?"
Hearing his father's points, T'Challa realized his mistake. He had only been thinking about enhancing the physical capabilities of all Wakandans.
Now, he understood the complexities and potential issues of such a move, unless Shuri could develop the serum herself or even improve it. Otherwise, it was impractical to provide it to everyone, even for elite soldiers.
"Father, I see now that I was oversimplifying the situation."
T'Chaka nodded, then asked, "Have you identified who attacked you last time?"
T'Challa tapped the computer again, revealing the unique eagle emblem of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"The attackers have been confirmed as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents."
T'Chaka murmured, "S.H.I.E.L.D. ... The organization that oversees the Avengers?"
"Yes, Father."
"According to our information, the Avengers have left New York. Thor has returned to Asgard, Bruce Banner and Steve Rogers have left New York, and only Stark remains in the city, along with several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents."
"But I don't understand why they would attack me. Is it just because I visited the Sand Puppet Shop?"
T'Chaka replied, "That reason alone might be enough."
"You aren't the first to learn about the physical enhancement serum. Perhaps S.H.I.E.L.D. has long known about its benefits, and maybe their agents in the Avengers are strong because of it."
"They wouldn't dare attack the powerful Hidden Sand ninjas, so they targeted someone who had been there. When you left with a box of the serum, they saw an opportunity."
T'Challa, frustrated, said, "Isn't America a place that values free trade? How can they act this way?"
"As expected, backward nations are indeed barbaric."
T'Chaka nodded in agreement, then said, "This time, I want you to take a squadron of stealth jets for your protection. Okoye will lead a full Royal Guard team to ensure your safety."
"With such a large escort and your increased strength, even if S.H.I.E.L.D. attacks again, with careful planning, there should be no risk."
"Even if they send the remaining Avengers, we don't need to fear them."
T'Challa questioned, "Father, isn't this too much? Won't it draw too much attention?"
T'Chaka shook his head, "It won't draw attention. As soon as you complete the transaction, board the jet and return to Wakanda. Even if they notice, they won't be able to catch an invisible jet."
"Do as I say."
"Yes, Father!"
With the king's orders, Okoye's Royal Guard began to mobilize. A 29-member guard team was assembled, with 9 members assigned to pilot Wakanda's stealth jets.
Unlike other nations' guards, Wakanda's were composed entirely of female warriors, all capable of using Vibranium-based laser weapons and piloting Vibranium-made jets.
For this transaction, T'Challa prepared 450 kilograms of Vibranium, enough to trade for doses of the physical enhancement serum for thirty people.
Before leaving, T'Challa visited Shuri's lab.
"Shuri, have you figured out anything from the sealing scroll that can store items?"
"I'm heading to the Sand Puppet Shop for another transaction. Do you want me to bring back more sealing scrolls for research?"
Shuri paused her experiment and looked at her brother, "No need. This thing doesn't seem to belong to the tech side; I can't decipher it at all."
"But it has given me some new ideas. In the future, I might develop portable equipment so you don't have to carry the Black Panther helmet all the time."
Pleased with his sister's progress, T'Challa praised, "Haha, I knew you'd be the best in tech, just as good as that Tony Stark."
"Since you don't need anything else, I'll get going."
Happy with the praise, Shuri smiled, "Go ahead, brother."
T'Challa waved and left the lab.
As he was leaving, he recalled the female ninja's words during the transaction: "Only ninjas can use the sealing scrolls."
It seemed she was right; even his genius sister couldn't make any progress with it.
Worried that the physical enhancement serum might also be uncrackable, T'Challa boarded the stealth jet piloted by Okoye, heading towards New York.
As T'Challa's jet took off, eight other escort jets followed, flying towards New York.
The Wakandan flight squadron flew undetected, safely reaching New York.
Upon arriving in Brooklyn, T'Challa landed at Wakanda's secret base, where five bulletproof Maybach cars awaited them.
With 450 kilograms of Vibranium and 20 Royal Guard members, including Okoye, T'Challa headed towards the Sand Puppet Shop near the Brooklyn Bridge, while the nine jets continued to guard the convoy from above.
After about an hour, T'Challa and his team arrived at the Sand Puppet Shop's entrance.
As soon as the five Maybachs stopped in front of the Sand Puppet Shop, they immediately attracted the attention of passersby, who began to speculate about which important figure might be visiting this time.
Due to the protection provided by the Sand Puppet Shop during the alien invasion, the surrounding neighborhood had remained largely unscathed, and the residents' lives and properties were protected.
This led the locals to consider the shop's owner a superhero, resulting in a steady stream of wealthy and influential visitors.
People were accustomed to such car convoys by now but were still curious about which notable person was visiting today.
Two agents monitoring from a distance watched the convoy on their surveillance feed.
One of them sipped his coffee and said, "Eli, there have been so many visitors to the Sand Puppet Shop lately. I wonder which rich businessman it is this time."
"Raina, HQ wants us to keep a close watch here."
"Doesn't matter if they're businessmen or politicians; we need to keep records of everyone who goes in. Other agents will follow up with them..."
At that moment, the car doors opened, and T'Challa, fully clad in his Black Panther suit, stepped out. He then retrieved a large box from the trunk.
As T'Challa exited the vehicle, fifteen female Royal Guard warriors armed with spears also disembarked.
T'Challa, accompanied by Okoye, entered the Sand Puppet Shop, while the remaining fourteen guards took positions outside, securing the entrance and keeping an eye on passersby.
From another street, Agent Raina, watching through surveillance, stood up in surprise and exclaimed, "084 target sighted."
Eli asked in shock, "Who?"
"The Panther. He's back at the Sand Puppet Shop for another transaction, and this time he brought a squad of spear-wielding women."
Eli quickly responded, "Report to headquarters."
Raina immediately picked up the radio and said, "Calling base, calling base, this is Wind Watch post."
"084 target sighted."
"Repeat, 084 target Panther sighted, entering Sand Puppet Shop with a large box, likely for a second transaction."
"Target arrived in five Maybachs, accompanied by a squad of 15-20 guards."
"Base received!"
"Dispatching personnel immediately."
While Raina reported, Eli discreetly slipped his hand into his pocket and sent a pre-written short message.
In an instant, both S.H.I.E.L.D. and the embedded Hydra agents were aware of Black Panther's arrival and his impending transaction at the Sand Puppet Shop.
As T'Challa and Okoye pushed open the door and entered the Sand Puppet Shop, they were greeted by a voice.
"Welcome!"
T'Challa glanced at the welcoming puppet at the entrance and then proceeded towards the service counter.
Today, Pakura was on duty, as Temari was out shopping with Gaara and Kankuro.
--2--
·Chapter 635: Transaction
Nick Fury, having just received word that the Black Panther, labeled as 084, had reappeared at the Sand Puppet Shop, immediately picked up the phone and ordered:
"Get Natasha, Barton, Chen Haoran, and Brock Rumlow to my office immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
After hanging up, Nick Fury muttered to himself, "This time, you won't escape."
Shortly thereafter, Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, Chen Haoran, and Brock Rumlow arrived at Fury's office.
Seeing everyone assembled, Nick Fury began, "The Black Panther, who attacked our S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and then vanished, has resurfaced at the Sand Puppet Shop."
"This time, your mission is to go to the location and apprehend him as soon as he leaves the shop and tries to get into his car."
"If capture is not possible, kill him."
"You will take the Quinjet there. I will arrange for nearby agents to stall him."
The four agents responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"
"Move out."
The four agents left Nick Fury's office and headed towards the Quinjet on the helipad.
Watching his subordinates leave, Nick Fury speculated about the Black Panther's purpose for visiting the Sand Puppet Shop this time.
"Carrying a box... Could it be more Vibranium?"
"Unlikely. Wakanda's Vibranium reserves were exhausted, and the last bit was taken by him. The allocations from the other three countries have also been handed over as far as I know."
"Or perhaps he found something else that the Hidden Sand Village needs. He couldn't have collected some Chitauri equipment to trade, could he?"
Nick Fury maliciously speculated about the contents of the Black Panther's box.
…
Elsewhere-
At a secret Hydra base, Eli's intelligence had also been received.
After cross-checking the information and seeing that Nick Fury had already sent nearby agents to intercept the target, Hydra decided not to make any additional moves.
Since S.H.I.E.L.D. was acting, it was as if they were acting themselves. They only needed to document the final outcome.
…
At the Sand Puppet Shop-
Pakura, observing the man in the Black Panther suit, thought to herself that it was unexpected for this customer to return so soon. She glanced at the large box he brought with him.
'Looks like he needs quite a bit this time,' she thought.
Pakura smiled slightly and asked, "What can I assist you with today?"
T'Challa and Okoye approached the service counter, with T'Challa speaking up, "Hello, Ms. Pakura."
"This time, I am here to purchase some physical enhancement serums."
Meanwhile, Okoye, upon entering, examined the layout of the shop. She noticed many large puppets and even small dolls displayed behind the counter.
She was curious about the ninja in front of them, who seemed to be of Asian descent.
However, Okoye did not underestimate the ninja due to her ethnicity. She had seen the footage of the New York battle.
Pakura, noting Okoye's curiosity, maintained her professional demeanor. "We have those in stock. How many do you require?"
"Thirty doses. Is that going to be a problem?" T'Challa asked.
Pakura was momentarily taken aback. Previous transactions typically involved only one dose at a time, and even the rare heavy customers, like those from S.H.I.E.L.D., had only purchased up to six doses at once.
Seeing Pakura's hesitation, T'Challa felt a twinge of concern and asked, "Is that quantity too much?"
Pakura shook her head. "No, it's just that I didn't expect someone to buy so many physical enhancement serums. This is the first transaction of this scale for our shop."
"Thirty doses are available, but it will practically clean out our current stock. I hope you brought enough for the trade."
T'Challa placed the oversized box he was holding on the ground and, after inputting a code, opened it.
"Everything is here—450 kilograms of Vibranium."
As the box opened, the room was filled with a soft blue glow from the Vibranium inside.
Pakura glanced at the Vibranium and nodded. "Since you have the necessary materials, let's proceed with the transaction. But you will need to wait a moment."
In a blink, Pakura disappeared from sight, startling T'Challa and Okoye, who instinctively prepared for a potential threat. Just as quickly, she reappeared holding a box.
"Such speed!" T'Challa exclaimed.
Okoye nodded in agreement, "Incredible!"
Pakura paid no mind to their remarks. She opened the box, revealing it was filled with sealing scrolls. She began unsealing the scrolls, each revealing a suitcase filled with the physical enhancement serum.
Pakura methodically took out each suitcase, piling them high until all thirty doses were accounted for.
Looking at the impressive pile of suitcases, Pakura asked, "Here are the thirty doses of the physical enhancement serum. How do you plan to transport these?"
T'Challa turned to Okoye and said, "Okoye, please take the Vibranium from the box and hand it to Ms. Pakura. As for the serums, load them all into the box."
T'Challa's box was custom-made, with three layers and compartments perfectly sized to hold the serum vials securely—specially designed for convenience after finding carrying two briefcases cumbersome during his previous visit.
Okoye nodded, "Yes, sir!"
She began unloading the Vibranium and then carefully placed the serum vials into the custom compartments in the box.
As Okoye worked, T'Challa asked, "Ms. Pakura, is it possible to place a standing order for the physical enhancement serum? Besides these thirty doses, I have a significant ongoing need."
Pakura was somewhat surprised at the extent of his demand and the amount of Vibranium he seemed to have at his disposal.
"Will you be trading more Vibranium for these additional doses?" she asked.
T'Challa smiled, "Yes, we will continue to trade with Vibranium. Although, if you accept US dollars, I can arrange that as well."
Pakura shook her head, "We do not need dollars. How many doses are you looking to order?"
---3---
·Chapter 636: Interception
T'Challa, hearing that he could place an order, tentatively suggested a quantity: "How about one hundred doses?"
Hearing the number, Pakura appraised the Black Panther in front of her and remarked, "It seems you have even more Vibranium than I thought."
At this, both T'Challa and Okoye felt a surge of tension. They silently wondered if they had revealed too much Vibranium and if the Hidden Sand might double-cross them. Was he being too hasty?
As T'Challa's unease grew, Pakura continued, "A hundred doses are doable, but some preparation is needed since we don't have that much on hand."
"Let's do this. Give me your contact information, and we'll notify you once we're ready for the trade."
"However, I must warn you, a hundred doses are not a small amount. The physical enhancement serums come with a significant cost. If you back out, we'll find you wherever you are."
Although Pakura's last words were spoken gently, T'Challa felt a chilling murderous intent, causing him to break out in a cold sweat inside his Black Panther suit.
T'Challa quickly responded, "We won't back out. We need these serums and definitely want to complete the transaction."
"Good."
T'Challa took a notepad from the service counter, wrote down his contact information, and handed it to Pakura.
During their conversation, Okoye had efficiently packed all the physical enhancement serums into the custom-made box T'Challa had brought.
"The serums are all packed."
Pakura then took the Vibranium from the floor, weighed it to ensure the amount was correct, and said, "The transaction is complete."
T'Challa accepted the box from Okoye and said, "Since the trade is done, we'll take our leave."
With a smile, Pakura replied, "See you next time."
As T'Challa and Okoye left the Hidden Sand Puppet Shop, Pakura quickly formed hand seals and performed a summoning technique.
"Boom~"
A puff of smoke cleared, revealing Parker standing before Pakura.
Parker, looking at the Hidden Sand ninja, asked, "What's the matter?"
Parker didn't have much fondness for the Hidden Sand, but as one of Charles's summoning beasts, he wouldn't refuse to assist them since they were also serving Charles.
Pakura pointed at the Vibranium on the floor and the box of physical enhancement serums, asking, "Can you track the scent of the two who just left the shop?"
Parker rolled his eyes and said angrily, "You're underestimating me."
Parker sniffed around the shop floor, then the Vibranium, and the briefcase. He then said, "I have their scent. Do you want me to follow them?"
Pakura looked at Parker and replied, "Remember their scent. I need to report to Lord Charles first before deciding whether to track them."
Parker warned, "If we don't track them now, the scent will fade with time."
Pakura shook her head. "No, they will come back. I just want you to remember their scent for now."
With that assurance, Parker didn't say much more. "If there's nothing else, I'll head back. It's not good for others to see me here."
Parker then unsummoned himself and returned to Inuzuka Mountain in the summoning realm.
Watching Parker disappear, Pakura gazed at the Vibranium, preparing to report to Lord Charles. She even intended to seize all of the Black Panther's Vibranium if given the go-ahead.
Coming from a war-torn background, Pakura was far from merciful. She fully understood the value of Vibranium.
Such a precious resource shouldn't be in the hands of a weak individual.
Business transactions?
In Pakura's eyes, it was akin to a child flaunting gold in a market—if she didn't take it, she'd be failing herself.
Had it not been for Lord Charles's principle of honoring transactions, and his restraint from robbing S.H.I.E.L.D., Pakura would have acted first and reported later, robbing the Vibranium outright.
…
Meanwhile-
Just exiting the Hidden Sand Puppet Shop, T'Challa breathed a sigh of relief. He feared they might have been detained inside the shop.
Despite his Vibranium suit, he felt uneasy; it wasn't invincible. Even if he could withstand an attack and escape, what about Okoye and the others? They'd still be at risk.
"Okoye, tell everyone to get in the car and leave immediately."
"Yes, sir."
T'Challa took the box and sat in the back seat of the Maybach. The Royal Guard members quickly boarded their vehicles, forming a protective formation around T'Challa's car, and drove away.
Watching the convoy, Raina, who had been monitoring the situation, picked up her radio.
"The target has departed, heading towards the Brooklyn Bridge. Prepare for tracking."
"Roger that."
Several Cadillac SUVs followed the Maybach convoy from a distance. On the other side of the bridge, more vehicles were ready to join the pursuit.
Meanwhile, Barton and Natasha, flying the Quinjet, received an update from the ground team.
"Sky 3, be advised, the target has left the Hidden Sand Puppet Shop. We will transmit their route. Please intercept as soon as possible."
Natasha looked at the navigation display showing the target's route and asked, "Barton, how long until we reach the target?"
Barton checked their position and replied, "We'll be there in three minutes."
Natasha nodded, while Chen Haoran and Brock Rumlow, in the cabin, finished donning their combat gear, ready for action.
At this moment, T'Challa's convoy was already halfway across the bridge and was soon to leave the area.
Although they hadn't noticed the following vehicles, but SHIELD's ground setup hadn't escaped the notice of the nine stealth fighters in the sky.
One of the royal guard members piloting a stealth fighter used the aircraft's equipment to contact Okoye.
"Captain, there are three suspicious Cadillac SUVs following you, and three more identical SUVs are stationed at the end of the bridge."
"I suspect they're targeting Prince T'Challa."
Inside the Maybach, T'Challa and Okoye, upon hearing this report, immediately realized it was SHIELD again.
SHIELD agents typically used Cadillac SUVs, which were instantly identified by the fighters in the sky.
T'Challa instructed, "Once we exit the bridge, head straight for the base at full speed. The courtyard there is suitable for a fighter jet landing. If they follow us, take them out directly."
Okoye nodded, then ordered the airborne fighters to eliminate any enemies if they followed to the base.
Soon, the convoy exited the Brooklyn Bridge, and to T'Challa's surprise, SHIELD agents began intercepting them as soon as they did.
Two cars immediately blocked the road, and several heavily armed agents got out, ready to force T'Challa's convoy to stop.
The situation ahead was quickly reported to T'Challa. Seeing this, T'Challa ordered, "Drive through them. Don't stop for anything."
Following orders, the royal guard members not only didn't slow down but stepped on the gas, accelerating towards the blockade.
One SHIELD agent, holding a loudspeaker, shouted at the approaching convoy, "This is SHIELD! Vehicles ahead, stop and submit to inspection!"
But Dora, a royal guard member driving the lead Maybach, smirked, gripped the steering wheel, and drove straight ahead.
The SHIELD agent, seeing the vehicle not slowing down, immediately dove to the side and shouted, "They're breaking through! Stop them!"
"Boom!"
Dora rammed the Maybach into the two Cadillac SUVs blocking the road, pushing them aside and clearing a path for the convoy.
The five Wakandan vehicles, though not made of Vibranium, were fully armored with bulletproof glass. The collision only scratched the paint and didn't damage the bumper.
However, as the vehicles hadn't yet traveled far, the sound of gunfire erupted.
"Ratatatat!"
Twelve armed SHIELD agents instantly opened fire on the vehicles.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
But the bullets were futile. They only made metallic clinks and rebounded when hitting the armored vehicles and bulletproof glass.
"Damn, it's a high-level bulletproof car."
Dora glanced at the agents shooting in the rearview mirror and said disdainfully, "So primitive, still using such outdated weapons."
"Shoot the tires!"
"Sir, their tires are bulletproof too."
The Maybachs sped past the SHIELD agents. But as the third Maybach tried to break through, two agents tossed grenades under T'Challa's car.
"Boom! Boom!"
The grenades exploded precisely as the car passed over them, shaking it violently off course, causing it to crash into a nearby Cadillac.
Okoye struggled to regain control of the steering wheel but still collided with the other car, pushing it across the road.
In the next moment, the overturned Cadillac rolled across the ground. Okoye seized the opportunity, braked hard, swerved, and continued driving forward.
The leading three Maybachs quickly moved away, followed by the remaining two.
The three trailing SUVs didn't attack but kept tailing the convoy, ensuring they didn't lose sight of them.
In the last Maybach, a guard member said, "Open the sunroof, keep the car steady, I'll deal with the pursuers."
With the sunroof open, a guard member stood up, holding a spear. Extending half his body out, he aimed at the trailing Cadillac and activated the spear.
"Boom!"
A laser beam shot out from the spear, hitting the leading Cadillac SUV, instantly blowing its front end and turning it into a fireball.
The SHIELD agents in the remaining two vehicles, seeing the weapon, lost their initial cocky attitude and became tense.
"What is that, an alien weapon?"
But the guard didn't stop after destroying one car. Two more laser beams fired.
"Fwoosh! Fwoosh!"
"Boom! Boom!"
The remaining two SUVs exploded like the first, turned into fireballs.
The ground agents witnessing this scene were stunned. The enemy's technology seemed advanced, resembling the alien tech from the New York battle, though the weapon designs were different.
One agent picked up his radio and reported, "The target is armed with what appears to be alien laser weapons and has destroyed three of our vehicles and tracking personnel."
"Repeating, the target is armed with alien laser weapons and has destroyed three tracking vehicles."
"Their vehicles are high-level bulletproof. Street personnel ahead, prepare roadblocks."
At this moment, Barton piloted the Quinjet to intercept T'Challa's convoy. Inside, Natasha and others heard the ground agents' reports and frowned.
Natasha said, "Use the heavy machine gun to blow up their cars."
"The armor on their bulletproof vehicles can't withstand the aircraft's heavy machine gun."
Barton nodded. A heavy machine gun extended from the jet's belly, and Natasha began aiming.
Unbeknownst to Natasha and her team, the Wakandan fighters had already targeted them.
As the gun barrel extended, a laser weapon on a stealth fighter fired.
"Fwoosh!"
"Boom!"
At the last second, Barton's combat instincts kicked in, and he slightly veered the jet. The laser meant for the cockpit hit a turbine engine, causing an explosion.
With one turbine engine gone, the jet lost control and plummeted towards the ground, alarms blaring and red lights flashing on the control panel.
Having experienced a crash before, Barton tried to stabilize the aircraft for a smoother descent. But the jet spiraled downwards.
"Boom!"
----4----
·Chapter 637: Blowing everything up
The Quinjet spiraled downward onto the road, but Barton managed to stabilize it enough to ensure a horizontal landing. Thanks to the specialized materials of the jet, it didn't disintegrate or explode upon impact.
Barton immediately opened the hatch, and Natasha, Chen Haoran, Brock Rumlow, and Barton himself quickly exited the jet.
Watching the convoy speeding away, Natasha said, "Chase them. There's an interception team at the next block; they won't get far."
The four immediately sprinted at full speed, with Barton, having used physical enhancers from the Charles Agency, running even faster than the rest.
Carrying his longbow, Barton kept glancing at the sky as he ran but saw nothing.
"Who just shot us down?" he asked.
Natasha replied, "I didn't see, but the attack method resembles the Chitauri army's weapons. Maybe someone got hold of their laser weapons and activated them."
Chen Haoran and Brock Rumlow added, "We were inside the cabin and didn't notice the attack."
Barton shook his head. "No, the attack didn't come from the ground. It was fired from the air."
Hearing this, everyone looked up at the sky but saw nothing.
Natasha, thinking for a moment, said, "When we catch up with the target, be on guard against aerial attacks."
"Understood!"
…
Meanwhile, T'Challa had witnessed SHIELD's jet trying to intercept him. Despite his disdain for SHIELD's outdated technology, their use of a jet showed they were serious about eliminating him.
Inside his Black Panther helmet, T'Challa's expression was grim. Even though the jet had been shot down, he couldn't understand why SHIELD was so relentless, first sending a large force to attack him and now deploying a jet.
What was SHIELD's objective?
As T'Challa pondered, Okoye reported, "Prince, Doraka says there's a roadblock ahead. Our cars might not be able to break through."
Hearing Okoye's report, T'Challa's face darkened further inside his helmet. After a brief silence, he said, "Have the airborne unit destroy the roadblock and checkpoint. I don't believe they can stop us after a bombardment."
"Understood!"
At the intersection, SHIELD agents had laid down spike strips and net barriers, with three cars positioned as a secondary blockade. Additionally, two armored vehicles with heavy machine guns were stationed by the roadside, gunners ready and aiming at the approaching Maybach convoy.
A team was on the way to provide backup, ensuring the convoy had no escape.
One agent, holding a loudspeaker, stood in the middle of the road. Soon, he spotted the approaching Maybachs.
"This is your final warning. Stop your vehicles immediately and submit to inspection. This is your final warning. Stop your vehicles immediately and submit to inspection. This is your final warning. Stop your vehicles immediately and submit to inspection."
As the SHIELD agent prepared to give further orders, the Maybach convoy ahead surprisingly came to a halt as ordered.
Seeing this, the SHIELD agents breathed a sigh of relief. However, in that moment, multiple laser beams shot down from the sky.
"Zing! Zing! Zing!"
Several blue lasers rained down, and the agents saw a flash of blue light before losing consciousness.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The lasers, relentless, struck with precision. Armored vehicles were blasted away, and the ground interception equipment was vaporized, leaving nothing behind. The cars used as barriers were also obliterated.
The SHIELD agents and task force members who had prepared to attack were nearly all killed or incapacitated in the assault.
Wakanda's invisible aircraft bombarded the area for a full minute, ensuring all threats were neutralized before halting the attack and disappearing once more.
Seeing that the enemies were eliminated, Doraka started the vehicle and ordered, "Move out!"
The convoy continued towards their safehouse, now only three blocks away. As the convoy sped away, Barton and his team arrived at the intersection.
The sight before them was devastating, causing them to stop in their tracks.
Chen Haoran exclaimed, "What kind of enemy did they face?"
Brock Rumlow, after a moment of silence, said, "It took us less than three minutes to get here. The battle ended too quickly."
Barton ran ahead, calling out, "Check if anyone's still alive." The three began inspecting the scene for survivors.
Meanwhile, Natasha contacted SHIELD headquarters to report the situation and ask for further instructions.
…
At SHIELD's Triskelion-
In the operations room, the team watched the final moments of the interception team's footage in silence. Hill spoke up, "Have we identified the owners of those five Maybachs?"
An agent at a computer responded, "Ma'am, the vehicle information is untraceable; the plates are likely fake. We're currently tracking the history of those plates to find any leads."
Hill frowned and ordered, "Access nearby street cameras. I want to know where they're headed. Where's the support team? Tell them to hurry up. Also, dispatch ten Quinjets for interception support."
"Yes, ma'am!"
As Hill issued commands, Nick Fury entered the room, glanced at the team, and asked, "What's the status?"
Hill played the previous footage and explained, "The situation is dire. The enemy has weapons similar to the Chitauri army's lasers. From the angles of the shots, it seems they're attacking from the sky. However, our intel and radar have detected nothing. I suspect they have cloaking technology, possibly more advanced than ours."
Nick Fury watched the video, silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Can the Helicarrier take off now?"
Hill shook her head. "The Helicarrier is still under repair, and the other units aren't operational yet. Natasha's Quinjet was shot down, and we've lost track of the target."
Nick Fury's expression grew serious. He had always believed that superpowered entities on Earth were individually stronger than SHIELD but hadn't anticipated encountering technologically superior adversaries.
The Black Panther's capabilities were beyond his expectations.
Reflecting on the mysterious disappearance of their previous target, Fury realized that the enemy must have used invisible aircraft for their escape.
-----5-----
·Chapter 638: Evacuation
Nick Fury understood that the enemy would likely use invisible aircraft to evacuate.
"Use the street cameras to track where the convoy ends up and investigate the property owners. Have Barton and his team return."
Hill was surprised and asked, "Sir, are we giving up now?"
Fury shook his head and said, "It's too late. By the time our people get there, the enemy will have already evacuated. But this is just the first round; I'll handle the next steps."
Hill nodded and asked, "Should we call in the Avengers?"
Fury shook his head again. "Not yet. This isn't a real enemy, and we initiated the conflict. If we bring the Avengers into this now, we might end up causing more trouble for ourselves."
"Captain, Banner, and Tony were already unhappy with SHIELD's development of lethal weapons. If they find out we started this fight, they might turn on us."
"Understood, sir."
Barton and his team checked the scene thoroughly but found no survivors. All three looked troubled.
"Let's keep pursuing. I want to take down this guy," Barton said, clenching his fists.
Natasha then relayed, "HQ has informed us that the enemy has evacuated. We're to return to base for further instructions."
Hearing this, Barton punched the ground in frustration.
…
Meanwhile-
T'Challa and his team reached their safehouse without further interception.
The location had a fully enclosed outdoor basketball court. As they arrived, three invisible aircraft landed in the court.
T'Challa, carrying the enhanced serum, boarded the aircraft under the protection of the royal guards.
Aware that their safehouse was likely compromised, T'Challa decided to evacuate with the Wakandan spies stationed here.
Before leaving, the royal guards placed a remote-controlled bomb under each car, then boarded the aircraft. The three aircraft took off vertically from the basketball court and flew out of New York in formation with six other invisible aircraft.
Onboard, T'Challa removed his Black Panther helmet, revealing his face, and checked the box containing the enhanced serum to ensure it was undamaged.
Okoye asked, "Your Highness, why did SHIELD attack us?"
T'Challa patted the box beside him. "They must be after this."
Okoye shook her head in disappointment.
"An organization like SHIELD doesn't deserve to lead the Avengers."
T'Challa nodded. "I suspect the Avengers may have been deceived by SHIELD. I'll try to meet with them soon to understand the situation."
Okoye nodded and said, "I hope they were deceived and not fully aligned with SHIELD."
…
Back in SHIELD's operations room-
Nick Fury asked, "Have we found information on the property owner?"
Hill responded, "Sir, we've identified the property owner. He's an African American named Leswan Woods who moved to the US 23 years ago," Hill reported, pulling up Woods' information on the screen.
"This is his profile and connections," Hill continued.
"Sir, the individuals with him at the puppet shop were also African American, but we haven't been able to find any information on them."
Nick Fury pondered, "They seem well-hidden. Surely they can't be like those ninjas who don't reside on Earth?"
Hill thought for a moment and replied, "It's unlikely, but considering they've hidden operatives in New York for over 20 years and have invisible aircraft, it's more probable that they are based on Earth."
Nick Fury nodded and asked, "Have the task force members reached the location?"
Hill switched channels on her headset. "The task force has arrived."
"Put their footage on the screen," Fury ordered.
The video feed showed the task force at the last known location of the convoy. Five Maybachs were parked outside the basketball court.
"Split the team," Fury instructed.
"Some should inspect the house and gather any personal items they can find. We may need them later. Check the cars for fingerprints, cigarette butts, hair, anything."
"Yes, sir."
Unbeknownst to them, a camera on the basketball court's fence was recording everything. On the aircraft, one of the royal guards watched the live feed on his phone, smiling as he pressed the detonator.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The five cars exploded, sending the task force members flying and causing significant damage. Back at SHIELD, the screen shook violently and then went dark.
Hill grabbed the radio and yelled, "Task Force Two, what's happening on site?"
There was coughing on the other end before a male voice responded, "Commander, the cars had bombs under them. They were just detonated remotely."
Hearing this, Fury shook his head. "The homeowner was likely taken by them. Bring back whatever personal items you can find."
"When Natasha returns, send her to my office."
With that, Fury left the operations room and went back to his office.
…
Meanwhile, in the Summoning World-
Pakura stood respectfully before a man. "Lord Charles."
Pakura presented a sealing scroll and said, "My lord, this contains 450 kilograms of vibranium."
Charles was surprised by the quantity. Accepting the scroll, he asked, "Did the Black Panther come to trade?"
"Yes, my lord. He also wants to order a batch of enhanced serums, one hundred in total."
Hearing the number, Charles was impressed by Wakanda's wealth. One and a half tons of vibranium were worth about three billion dollars. With that much vibranium, he could equip every ninja with their own set of tools.
"Alright, I understand. I'll have the summoning beasts deliver the enhanced serums to you."
"As for the 450 kilograms of vibranium, I won't be leaving any for you this time. When the next batch of 1,500 kilograms arrives, keep 100 kilograms. Use it for making ninja tools or puppets as you see fit."
------6------
·Chapter 639: Granny Chiyo
Pakura, after hearing Charles Doyle's instructions, voiced her true thoughts.
Pakura proposed two plans: The first was to use ninja dogs to track the opponent's location by scent, then directly attack their place with the four members from Sunagakure, trying to obtain the vibranium from them directly.
The second plan was to detain the opponent during the next transaction, which might also yield the vibranium, though the opponent might resist fiercely.
However, Charles knew that without any specific location, the ninja dogs would likely fail to find T'Challa and his team.
After all, they were traveling between New York and Wakanda using an invisible aircraft. Without a precise location, it was unrealistic to expect Parker and the others to track the Black Panther's scent all the way to Wakanda.
As for the second plan, relying solely on the few from Sunagakure wouldn't be enough. Charles said, "You may not be able to detain the Black Panther. His equipment, as far as I know, is made of vibranium. Given its strength, you may not be able to capture him."
Realizing the opponent was equipped with pure vibranium gear, Pakura still said, "I still want to try."
Charles shook his head. "I have other plans for this matter. Proceed with the transaction as usual."
Charles knew that even if they detained T'Challa, it wouldn't necessarily secure the vibranium.
Given T'Chaka's character—someone who personally dealt with his own brother—he might choose to abandon his son rather than expose Wakanda for an uncertain rescue.
Seeing her suggestion rejected, Pakura felt a bit frustrated but still responded, "Yes, Lord Charles."
"Pakura, I've brought Sunagakure elder Chiyo to this world as well."
"I've already sent her to the Sunagakure Puppet Shop today; she should be arriving soon."
Hearing that Elder Chiyo had also been brought by Charles, Pakura nodded. "Understood, Lord Charles."
After informing Pakura of this, Charles gave her a few more instructions before dispelling the summoning technique and returning to his room.
Back at the shop, Pakura's face darkened.
It was impossible for her not to be angry with the elders of Sunagakure. Although her time in this world had somewhat eased her temper, she couldn't forget the betrayal.
She felt it was only fair to give the Kazekage and the elders who issued the order a good beating.
…
Meanwhile-
Chiyo was walking through Brooklyn, marveling at the skyscrapers around her. She thought how fortunate the people in this world were. If Sunagakure could own such land, the villagers wouldn't lack resources and water.
It was truly a pity.
Chiyo knew it was impossible for all of Sunagakure's villagers and ninja to come to this world. Even with Charles Doyle's immense power, he couldn't bring an entire village's population here.
It was just not feasible.
However, she knew that the Fourth Kazekage's three children and Pakura had also come to this world.
If possible, they could rebuild Sunagakure here. She wondered if her old husband might also be brought here by Lord Charles, giving him a chance to see this prosperous world.
As Chiyo walked towards the Sunagakure Puppet Shop, admiring the sights of New York, she was suddenly interrupted.
"Get out of the way, old lady!" a voice shouted.
A man had just snatched a luxury handbag from a woman and was sprinting towards Chiyo. Although she had sensed him coming, Chiyo decided not to dodge, wanting to experience the local culture.
The thief saw Chiyo in his path and, without hesitation, shoved her aside and continued running.
"Ouch, my back," Chiyo exclaimed, falling to the ground and looking around dazedly.
Hope Van Dyne, who had been chasing the thief who stole her handbag, became even more furious when she saw him knock over an old lady.
However, considering the danger of pursuing a criminal alone and the unlikelihood of catching him, she stopped.
As a wealthy heiress, Hope knew it was unwise to risk her life for a handbag. Approaching the elderly woman, she noted her unusual attire but still bent down and asked with concern, "Are you hurt, ma'am? Do you need an ambulance?"
Chiyo, clutching her lower back, replied, "Oh, my back is twisted. Could you help me up, young lady?"
Hope Van Dyne, despite finding the old woman's appearance peculiar, stepped forward to help her up.
"Old lady, if you find calling an ambulance too troublesome, my car is just around the corner. I can drive you there."
Despite being a wealthy heiress and chairman of Pym Technologies, Hope Van Dyne was not oblivious to the high costs of medical services. Judging by the old lady's attire, she guessed that the expense might be a burden.
Hearing the offer of a ride to the hospital, Chiyo shook her head.
"No need for the hospital, young lady. But I can't walk right now. Could you please take me to the Sunagakure Puppet Shop near the Brooklyn Bridge? I want to buy a puppet for my grandson. I've heard it's very famous now."
Hope Van Dyne paused at the mention of the Sunagakure Puppet Shop, a place she had recently heard about. It was known to be operated by street-level heroes.
Though it was popular in certain circles, it wasn't a well-known location to everyone.
"You really love your grandson to travel so far on your own. It's not very safe for someone your age."
Hope helped Chiyo to a bench and said, "Wait here for a moment. I'll bring my car around and drive you there. Are you sure you don't need to go to hospital?"
Chiyo nodded. "I'm fine, this old body can still manage."
Seeing the old lady's determination, Hope agreed. "Alright, wait here. I'll be back shortly."
Chiyo watched as Hope walked away, thinking to herself how this world also had good people. But the thug who had shoved her—he would pay for his actions.
When he pushed her, Chiyo had managed to sprinkle a special powder she concocted in the summoning realm on him. She would collect her dues after her visit to the shop.
Chiyo sat on the bench, observing the passing cars and people. Soon, a bright red Ferrari stopped in front of her. Hope Van Dyne got out, opened the passenger door, and helped Chiyo into the car.
Chiyo admired the vehicle, saying, "Your car has a nice design. I like this color."
Hope smiled. "I like it too. If you find it comfortable, I can drive you home after you buy what you need."
Hope felt a small pang of guilt towards the old lady. It was her chase that had caused the thief to shove Chiyo. Though she didn't feel overwhelmingly guilty, it was enough to make her want to help.
As she helped the old lady into the car, Hope thought of her own mother, who would be around this age if she hadn't disappeared.
With Chiyo settled, Hope started the car and drove towards the Sunagakure Puppet Shop near the Brooklyn Bridge. Chiyo looked around the car, curious about everything.
Driving carefully due to her elderly passenger, Hope kept the speed slow and smooth. As they drove, she asked, "Granny, how should I address you?"
Chiyo, still curious about the car's interior, replied, "Call me Chiyo. And you, young lady?"
"I'm Hope Van Dyne. You can call me Hope or Van Dyne."
Chiyo nodded. "Hope, you're a good person, helping an old lady like me. Unlike that brute earlier, people like him will get their punishment."
Hope agreed, "Yes, people like that will face retribution. Even God won't forgive them; they're destined for hell."
Chiyo nodded again, thinking to herself that she would be the one to send him there.
Throughout the drive, Chiyo and Hope chatted, with Chiyo subtly gathering information about Hope. She learned about Hope's workplace but not her specific role.
They soon arrived at the Sunagakure Puppet Shop. Hope parked and said, "Granny Chiyo, here we are. Let me help you out."
Just then, Hope's phone rang. Seeing it was Darren Cross calling, she gave Chiyo an apologetic look. "Granny Chiyo, please wait a moment while I take this call."
Using her Bluetooth headset, Hope answered, "Yes… Yes… I understand, I'll be there right away."
After hanging up, Hope looked even more apologetic. "I'm sorry, Granny Chiyo, but I have an urgent matter at work. I can't drive you home, but I'll help you into the shop."
Chiyo smiled kindly. "It's alright, Hope. I'll call my family to pick me up later. You go ahead."
Hope helped Chiyo to the door of the shop, apologizing again before heading back to her car and driving away.
…
Meanwhile-
S.H.I.E.L.D. agents monitoring the Sunagakure Puppet Shop noticed the red Ferrari and its occupants. One agent, Eric, asked, "Rena, what's that old lady doing at the shop?"
Rena replied, "Maybe she's a fan of the heroes running it. Today we've seen two groups visit, and neither seemed poor."
"Regardless, upload the details. The intel team will investigate why she's visiting."
Rena nodded, sending the vehicle's license plate information and photos of Hope and Chiyo to S.H.I.E.L.D.
Before she finished, Eric noted, "Hey, that woman didn't go in. She just dropped off the old lady and left."
…
Inside the shop, Chiyo straightened up, no longer needing assistance. Spotting Pakura at the counter, she approached her.
Pakura commented, "I didn't expect you, an old relic, to be brought here by Lord Charles. What luck did you stumble upon?"
Unfazed by the jab, Chiyo thought, this girl still holds a grudge against Sunagakure.
"Pakura, it's been a while."
"For me, it hasn't been that long. I didn't expect Elder Chiyo of Sunagakure to be so aged. Can you still contribute under Lord Charles's command? Or will you collapse before defeating any enemies? That would truly be a disgrace to Lord Charles's efforts."
-------7-------
·Chapter 640: Various Progress
Chiyo heard Pakura's words but didn't get angry. She just let the young girl vent. With her current mindset, she wouldn't hold a grudge against someone who had already died once.
"The fact that the Lord Charles brought me to this world means there must be something useful that I can do."
"Pakura, where are Gaara and the other two youngsters? I don't see them around."
Pakura, seeing the old woman remain unfazed, felt somewhat deflated and replied, "They went shopping and haven't returned yet."
Since the three were not around, Chiyo didn't inquire further about them but instead asked about her accommodation.
"Pakura, from now on, I am also a member of the Sunagakure Puppet Shop. Where is my room?"
"I'll show you your place in a moment. Did Lord Charles give any other instructions for you?"
Chiyo responded slowly, "Nothing special for now. He just asked me to teach Kankuro more puppet techniques and to handle other matters together."
With that, Chiyo subtly divided half the power with Pakura. However, there were only five people in the entire Sunagakure Puppet Shop, so there wasn't much power to share.
Pakura nodded, "Kankuro does need to improve his puppet skills. Otherwise, it's a waste of good materials."
Chiyo noted Pakura's mention of good materials but did not ask further.
"I'll take you to your room first. From now on, you will live with us here."
Pakura then led Chiyo to choose a room, prepare living supplies, and explain the business scope of the Sunagakure Puppet Shop.
…
Elsewhere-
Zaku Abumi and Dosu Kinuta walked down a street on Staten Island. Although they were just teenagers, their unique attire deterred people from approaching them.
Their sound ninja headbands were seen as cosplay, especially with the rise of ninja popularity and authorized merchandise. Most cosplayers wore Konoha headbands, so sound ninja ones were rarer.
Zaku and Dosu encountered no trouble as they arrived at the entrance of the Sound Ninja Base. Zaku pressed the doorbell, and soon, Kin Tsuchi's face appeared on the screen.
Inside the base, Kin Tsuchi recognized her teammates through the smart doorbell and said, "Zaku, Dosu, I didn't expect you two to come as well. I'll open the door."
Kin quickly opened the door and welcomed her teammates. During her time at the Sound Ninja Base, Kin felt somewhat depressed.
Among five people in the base, she was the weakest.
Unlike in the Sound Village, where there were many people and she had her team, here she was the weakest and constantly got beaten by the Sound Four in sparring matches.
Seeing her teammates arrive, Kin was naturally happy.
"Welcome, you two. Our strength has increased significantly now."
With the two successfully entering the Sound Ninja Base, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent monitoring from a distance was shocked.
"They really went in."
Recently many fans had visited them while cosplaying sound ninja, but they were all thrown out by the Sound Ninja.
These Sound Ninjas had little patience for fans disrupting their lives.
"Could they be real Sound Ninja Village members and not just cosplayers?"
"Has the Sound Ninja Village sent more people? I need to report this immediately."
The agent quickly reported what he saw to headquarters.
…
S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion-
The door to Nick Fury's office opened, and Natasha Romanoff walked in.
"Director, you wanted to see me?"
Nick Fury looked at Natasha, "How's the progress on your last mission?"
Natasha shook her head. "I visited Charles Agency several times but didn't meet Charles Doyle himself. Selene, who manages the agency, said they haven't started selling the physical enhancement serums yet, only taking on missions."
"I told her about the Sunagakure Puppet Shop selling enhancement serums, but she didn't care and said I could buy from them if I was in a hurry."
Nick Fury nodded.
"We don't have the resources the Sunagakure Puppet Shop needs, and Charles Agency's enhancement serums are more potent."
"Strengthen your connections there. Try to finalize a deal as soon as possible."
Natasha slightly frowned. Last time, Fury wasn't in a hurry, but now he seemed urgent.
Though puzzled, Natasha replied, "Yes, Director."
Fury continued, "There's another mission for you, also related to Charles Agency."
"We failed to capture the target today, so I plan to commission the mission to Charles Agency."
"We already gathered the items at the target's hideout that might be useful for the mission."
"Signing the commission is your job."
"Even if Charles isn't at the office, it shouldn't be hard to sign this commission."
Natasha asked, "Are we targeting the leopard man or tracking all residents of the hideout? If there's an issue with the items, the results might vary."
Fury knocked on the table, wondering if Natasha was playing dumb or if the crash had affected her mind.
"Our target is the 084 object. The items are just for assistance. How they identify the target isn't our concern."
"The mission is to locate the 084 object, not the hideout's residents."
"Yes, Director."
"The reward will come from the batch of energy blocks."
"Understood."
"Alright, you're dismissed."
As Natasha left, Nick Fury leaned back in his chair, feeling increasingly bewildered by the Earth's situation.
If there were indeed so many powerful factions, why had they allowed World War I and World War II to happen, especially those with advanced technology?
Could it be that these factions only developed after finding alien ships during or after the wars?
If these were Earth-native forces, were they aware of alien ships? And what about the current mission target? Had they completed a transaction with the Sunagakure Puppet Shop?
Although the target left with the same box they had brought in, it didn't mean a transaction hadn't occurred. It could be a trick, with the exchanged items still in the box.
At this moment, Nick Fury pondered many things. But his thoughts were interrupted by a phone call. He answered it.
"What?"
"Two new ninjas seem to have arrived at the Sound Ninja Village base, and an old lady entered the Sunagakure Puppet Shop and hasn't left."
"The person who escorted her in was the chairman of Pym Technologies."
"Okay, I understand."
Photos of the individuals quickly arrived via email. Looking at the pictures, Nick Fury rubbed his temples.
A young man with a unique outfit labeled "death," a peculiar boy wrapped in bandages with hair down to the ground, and an old lady with no ninja markings but seemingly in poor health.
Also, there was Hank Pym's daughter.
Nick Fury was well aware of Hank Pym's profile. Despite Pym leaving S.H.I.E.L.D. for certain reasons, Fury's attention to him hasn't diminished at all.
The fact that his daughter escorted this elderly person to the Sunagakure Puppet Shop hinted at some kind of plan.
Nick Fury analyzed the data, one hand supporting his chin.
Could Hank Pym have some new intentions, perhaps to use the ninjas' power? Or was it simply his daughter's idea?
The escorted person might not even be an old lady. Even with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s technology, such a disguise was easily achievable let alone ninjas.
Nick Fury also noted the incident where the old lady was pushed by a robber but was unharmed—clearly a disguise.
She might not be an elder. As for whether she was a ninja, Fury shook his head. It was hard to say, but probably not, since even rogue ninjas usually wore headbands.
Regarding the two young men, their attire clearly identified them as Sound Ninja Village members. Being allowed into the base confirmed this.
It seemed that after losing Kimimaro, the Sound Ninja Village was reinforcing its numbers, sending a total of three ninjas. But why were they always young?
Nick Fury couldn't figure this out at the moment. Additionally, after Mist Ninja took Kimimaro, they had remained silent. Was someone mediating, or was there another conspiracy brewing?
Looking out the window, Fury reflected on the increasing number of superhuman forces and individuals on Earth. It seemed that more and more such people emerged after Tony Stark became Iron Man.
…
Wakanda – Palace -
At this moment, T'Challa had returned by jet. T'Chaka looked at his son and asked, "Was the transaction successful?"
T'Challa pointed to the box beside him. "Everything's inside. The transaction went smoothly, but some things were exposed to S.H.I.E.L.D."
T'Chaka frowned and asked, "What happened?"
T'Challa explained the details of the transaction, including the order of vibranium, the S.H.I.E.L.D. ambush when leaving the Sunagakure Puppet Shop, and the possible exposure of their stealth aircraft and laser weapons.
After hearing his son's report, T'Chaka's frown deepened.
"T'Challa, you acted hastily. You shouldn't have pre-ordered the physical enhancement serums."
T'Challa was puzzled. "Why, Father? We need those serums."
T'Chaka shook his head. "In total, we have ordered 133 enhancement serums. Do you know how much vibranium that represents? Ordering so many before consuming the current batch signals that you have more vibranium than expected. This behavior puts Wakanda at great risk."
T'Challa realized his mistake but couldn't retract his words.
"What should we do now?"
"They warned me not to deceive them. I suspect they have a way to find me; her tone was very confident when she warned me."
T'Chaka responded, "The transaction will continue, but we need to change the location. One and a half tons of vibranium isn't easy to carry."
"Take the Royal Guard for the transaction. Even if there's foul play, you won't be at risk."
T'Challa nodded, agreeing with his father's plan. Knowing the strength of ninjas, he didn't believe his vibranium suit would ensure absolute safety.
"Yes, Father."
T'Chaka looked at the box of enhancement serums and said, "Send one to Shuri for research. See if she can replicate it. If progress is made, authorize further experiments."
"Distribute a third to the Royal Guard members and store the rest. These will be our royal assets."
T'Challa agreed, "Father, arrange it as you see fit."
T'Chaka continued, "Okoye will inject one serum. For the other nine, select the best Royal Guard members through competition and give the serums secretly."
"I'll inform Okoye to keep this operation confidential. You must not leak information about these enhancement serums."
"Understood, Father."
Compared to T'Challa's immaturity, King T'Chaka is much more experienced in handling things.
To him, the enhancement serums were an invaluable asset.
With these, their royal family would remain strong against future succession challenges from other heirs.
--------8--------
·Chapter 641: Chiyo's Revenge
Upon returning from shopping, Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara were delighted to meet Granny Chiyo.
As children of the Fourth Kazekage, they were familiar with Chiyo's role as an advisor to Sunagakure. Unlike Pakura, their attitude towards Chiyo was warm and welcoming. They were thrilled to have another Kage-level puppet master among them.
The trio had been feeling anxious watching Konoha's increasing numbers and the arrival of Kirigakure. Today, seeing another Sunagakure ninja brought into this world by Lord Charles confirmed that their village was not neglected.
Kankuro, in particular, was overjoyed when Chiyo offered to teach him puppet techniques.
Chiyo was a renowned puppet master and poison expert, known for her mastery over the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu. Training under her meant endless opportunities for growth.
Night Fell.
After meeting the Fourth Kazekage's children at the Sunagakure Puppet Shop, Chiyo quietly left. She had a task to complete—collecting some interest.
Tracking her target, Chiyo arrived in a Brooklyn slum. This area was a haven for vagrants, and at night, it became synonymous with chaos. Except for gang members, pedestrians were a rare sight.
In an underground warehouse, Leonardo was there to fence stolen goods. Earlier that day, he had stolen an LV handbag, which he hoped to sell for a few thousand dollars.
Given its stolen nature, the luxury bag, originally worth tens of thousands, could only fetch a fraction of its value. Still, a few thousand dollars was significant to Leonardo. Unfortunately, the bag contained only women's cosmetics and other trivial items.
Approaching a man with a cigarette, Leonardo said, "Roman, I have a bag to offload."
Roman, cigarette in mouth, took the bag and casually inspected it. "An ordinary LV women's bag. I'll give you $1,200 for it."
Leonardo protested, "This is a limited edition. I checked online; it sells for over $30,000 at retail. $1,200 is too little."
Roman sized up Leonardo, then smirked. "You're right, it's worth more. How about $2,000? That's my final offer."
Leonardo hesitated, then firmly said, "I want $3,000. According to the usual rules, we get one-tenth of the retail price for high-end, easy-to-sell items."
Roman didn't reply immediately but stared at Leonardo with a menacing look. Leonardo, however, stared back resolutely.
For Leonardo, an extra $1,000 meant a lot—enough for 20 visits to his usual $50-a-time call girls, a month's worth of cigarettes, 10 nights out at the bar, or a stash of beer to drink himself to death. This difference was crucial.
Roman flicked away his cigarette and, with a sudden change of expression, smiled.
"Alright, kid, if you insist, we'll go with your price."
Roman opened a drawer, pulled out a wad of hundred-dollar bills, and counted out thirty. "Three thousand dollars, here you go."
Seeing the stack of hundred-dollar bills, Leonardo's face fell. "I need smaller values, Roman. You think I can spend all these hundreds easily? Or how long will it take me to use them up reasonably?"
Roman sneered. "Three thousand is three thousand. How you spend it is your problem."
"If you want tens, I can do that, but you'll get only two thousand."
Leonardo frowned but reluctantly reached for the stack of three thousand dollars. Spending hundreds might be difficult, but it wasn't impossible—he'd just have to be more careful.
Roman, unconcerned, packed the LV handbag into a bag. For them, reselling stolen luxury goods was no problem, and this deal alone would net them at least $25,000.
Just as Leonardo was about to leave, a voice echoed, "You can't sell that."
Everyone in the warehouse turned to see who spoke. Leonardo instantly recognized the old woman he had pushed down earlier in the day. How had she found him?
"Old woman, you actually found me. Got some skills, huh? What, you think you're a superhero now?"
The warehouse erupted in laughter. One of the men shouted, "Granny, this isn't a place for you. Get lost before you get hurt."
"If you don't leave, you might end up dead."
Roman frowned at the old woman. "Leonardo, you brought this trouble here. Deal with it."
"This isn't a secret base, but not just anyone should know about it."
"If we have to handle it, you'll lose those three thousand dollars you just got."
Leonardo's face darkened. He reached behind his back and pulled out a butterfly knife.
He twirled the knife skillfully before gripping it tightly and advancing towards Chiyo. He needed to get rid of this troublesome old woman and keep his hard-earned money.
Chiyo, smiling calmly, wasn't concerned. She subtly moved her fingers, sending chakra threads out, instantly connecting to Leonardo and nine others.
Leonardo suddenly froze, realizing he couldn't control his body. His hand, holding the knife, turned and slashed at the neck of a nearby gang member.
"Slit—"
The knife sliced the man's throat, spraying blood onto Leonardo's face. The man clutched his neck, stumbled, and fell to the ground, twitching and unable to make a sound.
The sudden violence stunned everyone. Roman grabbed a gun from under the table and yelled, "Leonardo, you're dead!"
Leonardo, terrified, shouted, "No, it wasn't me! My body—it's not under my control!"
Roman ignored Leonardo's pleas and fired three shots, each one aimed at Leonardo's chest. At such close range, Roman was confident Leonardo was finished.