700-710
·Chapter 700: Battle
In a room, Killian watched the President being hoisted up on his computer and said:
"Alright, this angle is good."
"Now switch to cameras A through E for a full technical rehearsal."
Multiple screens quickly appeared before Killian.
At the same time, Tony's group launched their attack.
Jiraiya threw a shuriken at a guard in a watchtower.
"Whoosh!"
The shuriken flew out, piercing the guard's neck, causing blood to spurt out as the guard fell from the tower.
"Thud!"
The body hit the ground with a dull thud.
In the next second, multiple shurikens flew out, knocking down the enemies standing on high ground like falling dumplings.
"Intruders!"
Instantly, alarms blared throughout the harbor, and searchlights began sweeping around to locate the intruders.
"Snap!"
A shuriken flew out, instantly shattering a spotlight about to illuminate their position.
Tony watched Jiraiya's move and praised, "Your shuriken skills are better than my gun."
As he spoke, Tony raised his handgun, unwilling to be outdone, and began shooting at the enemies.
Soon, Tony ran out of bullets, having broken more light bulbs than eliminating enemies.
At this moment, the port's broadcast announced, "All personnel, there is an enemy attack in East Sector 12."
"Repeat, there is an enemy attack in East Sector 12."
Two armed guards spotted Tony's hiding spot and shouted, "There he is!"
Jiraiya glanced at Tony and said, "Protect yourself. I'll take care of the enemies."
With that, Jiraiya left Tony's side.
These small fry wouldn't last long against Jiraiya once he let loose.
Tony watched as Jiraiya vanished in an instant. Looking at his empty handgun, he tossed it aside.
"Ha-ha-ha, Jiraiya is here!" Jiraiya's laughter echoed through the port.
He appeared next to a guard, casually throwing him off the high ground.
"Ahhh!" The guard's scream ended abruptly as he hit the ground and died.
"There he is!"
"Ratatatata!" Several guards fired at Jiraiya's last position, but he had already moved.
Jiraiya reappeared in front of three guards who had just fired, hitting one with a palm strike that sent him flying. He followed with a side kick, taking down another, and swept the last one away with his hair.
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"
The three guards were flung into a shipping container, creating large dents. They died instantly, despite their body armor, which offered little protection against Jiraiya's taijutsu.
At this moment, three soldiers injected with the Extremis virus jumped down from a high platform, heading straight for Tony.
Tony discarded his empty handgun and admired Jiraiya's prowess. He then noticed his suits flying in from the night sky, their lights shining brightly.
Tony smiled, "My reinforcements are here."
Dozens of Mark suits hovered in the air, drawing attention.
Tony commanded, "Jarvis, scan for Extremis heat signatures."
"Fire at will. Take them down."
Jarvis's unified voice echoed from the suits, "Yes, sir!"
Seeing this, Jiraiya also smiled, "Looks like his suits have arrived."
Kankuro had already reached the President, his puppet Crow flying up to sever the steel cables. He then caught the Iron Patriot suit and brought it down.
The President, experiencing a terrifying fall, looked at Kankuro's attire and asked, "Are you a ninja from the Sand Village?"
Clearly, the President recognized the ninja and their forehead protectors.
Kankuro nodded, "I'm Kankuro from the Sand Village, here with Tony to rescue you."
Rhodey, still bound to the wood, shouted, "Hey, rescue me too!"
The President and Kankuro turned to look at Rhodey. The President said, "He's our colonel. Please save him too."
Kankuro nodded, and his puppet Crow flew out, freeing Rhodey.
The port was now a battlefield, with explosions everywhere.
With Tony's suits arriving, Killian sent out all his forces, and many Extremis soldiers engaged in a fierce battle, with both sides taking casualties.
Rhodey told the President, "Mr. President, I need the suit back to escort you to safety."
Kankuro interjected, "Let me escort you instead. Tony asked me to ensure your safety."
"As for the suit, it's modified by AIM. I fear it might be used against us if you wear it."
Rhodey, realizing the potential danger, agreed. "Alright, I trust you, Kankuro of the Sand Village."
With his face painted, Kankuro's expression was hidden. He sealed the Iron Patriot suit in a scroll and began leading the President and Rhodey to safety.
Jiraiya, now surrounded by five Extremis soldiers, smiled and said:
"Don't say I didn't give you a chance. Surrender now."
But the soldiers didn't appreciate Jiraiya's offer and attacked. To Jiraiya, their movements were slow.
Jiraiya leaped into the air, forming hand signs, and shouted, "Toad Oil Bullet!"
A massive amount of toad oil spewed from Jiraiya's mouth, covering the five soldiers.
"Fire Style: Flame Bullet!"
"Boom!" Flames erupted, engulfing the soldiers.
With the combination of chakra and toad oil, the flames reached temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees Celsius.
Unable to withstand the heat, the soldiers exploded instantly.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The explosions scattered burning oil everywhere, setting the port ablaze.
Jiraiya, sensing the danger, quickly moved to avoid the blast.
-1-
·Chapter 701: Buddy, I'm Not Late, Right?
As numerous Iron Man suits arrived, the three Extremis-enhanced soldiers were blasted away, and Tony swiftly donned his armor, beginning to take out enemies in the air.
At that moment, Jarvis's voice sounded: "Sir, I have located Killian."
Tony responded, "Let's go take him out!"
Tony immediately flew in the direction of Killian's location, quickly finding him in a high-up container.
Tony confronted Killian, saying, "Killian, surrender. Your plot has been foiled."
Killian, looking at Tony Stark, wore a maniacal grin.
"No, the outcome is still undecided."
"Roar!"
Killian roared, spewing fire from his mouth towards Tony.
The intense heat surged forward instantly. Tony raised his hands to block, with the virtual interface inside his helmet showing an overload due to the high temperature.
Listening to the system's alarm, Tony mocked himself, "Can the Extremis virus evolve or something?"
He hadn't expected Killian to be able to spew fire, which was beyond his anticipation.
Unfortunately, he was wearing the Mark 33 Centurion armor and not the anti-ninja armor, which would have been more resistant to fire damage.
Killian advanced step by step, spewing flames, then reached out and grabbed the arc reactor on Tony's suit, pulling it out.
As he completed this action, Killian ceased the flame attack.
Looking at the fallen Tony Stark, Killian squatted beside him, pressing a finger on Tony's chest plate, saying:
"Is it hot in there?"
"Is it stuck? Do you feel stuck?"
"Like a little turtle cooking in its shell."
Tony looked at Killian and said, "You're still holding a grudge from that time in Switzerland, aren't you?"
Clearly, when Tony looked into AIM's information, he remembered his past encounter with Killian.
Killian laughed, "No, why would I?"
"How could I be mad at you, Tony?"
"I'm very grateful for what you did. You gave me something no one else ever has: despair."
"Now, I'm going to return it to you."
Killian looked at Tony Stark, saying, "I think you should close your eyes."
Seeing that Tony didn't comply, Killian repeated, "Close your eyes, you don't want to see this."
Killian didn't intend to waste more time with Tony; he was ready to end him. Just as he was about to pierce Tony's armor, a figure with white hair appeared in front of him and kicked him away before he could react.
"Boom!"
Killian was kicked, crashing into the workbench behind him, with computers and equipment falling on him.
Jiraiya looked at Tony and said, "Buddy, I'm not late, right?"
"No, you're right on time, but I need you to help me remove this armor; it's malfunctioning and stuck."
Hearing Tony's request, Jiraiya took out a kunai and easily cut through Tony's Mark 33 armor.
Seeing this, Tony was amazed, "Buddy, what material is that weapon made of?"
Although the Mark 33 wasn't the most robust model, it was made of gold-titanium alloy aerospace materials, capable of withstanding artillery. This small kunai easily cut through it, suggesting that ninjas could shoot through his armor if they wanted to.
After cutting the armor, Jiraiya pulled Tony up and proudly said, "It's made of Vibranium, cool, right?"
Tony glanced at it and was surprised, "The design also looks different from what you used before. Isn't this material out of stock?"
"Any way to get more? I'd like some of this good stuff."
Jiraiya smiled, "A gift from my student, a special edition."
This kunai was a Hiraishin kunai given to Jiraiya by Minato Namikaze. As for Jiraiya's Vibranium, he was saving it to make a full-body armor.
"As for the source, it was provided by Lord Charles. It's tough to find outside."
Tony thought to himself, "Does the magical world also have Vibranium mines?"
At this moment, Killian had already gotten up from the ground. Seeing Jiraiya ignoring him, he roared:
"This is a personal vendetta between him and me. What does it have to do with you ninjas?"
Five Extremis soldiers entered the container to support Killian.
Jiraiya, unfazed by the additional opponents, said, "He's my friend."
"Ninja Art: Needle Hair!"
In the next second, silver hair wrapped around himself and Tony, transforming into countless needles that shot towards Killian and his men.
The barrage of silver hair resembled a rain of white light, directly piercing through the six men and the container, sending them flying.
As the jutsu ended, Jiraiya looked at the container, now with a huge hole, and awkwardly smiled, "Seems like the power was a bit too much."
Tony shouted, "Jarvis, send me a suit."
Jiraiya said, "I'll go finish them off."
At that moment, barrels of ignited oil were thrown towards the container, turning into bombs.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Seeing the incoming oil barrel bombs, Jiraiya grabbed Tony and instantly moved away.
Jiraiya took Tony to a relatively safe place and said, "Hurry up and put on your suit; it's not safe here."
As Jiraiya was about to leave, Tony said, "Be careful, he can breathe fire. At least 3000 degrees."
Jiraiya nodded solemnly, "Got it."
Leaving Tony behind, Jiraiya headed towards Killian, aiming to end the fight by taking out the mastermind.
Tony, seeing Jiraiya leave, spread his arms and said, "Jarvis, send a suit over."
Soon, the Mark 23 flew towards Tony.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya appeared in front of Killian with a Body Flicker Jutsu, immediately attacking. His hands quickly formed seals.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Knowing Killian could control fire, Jiraiya decided to counter with water jutsu.
In the next moment, a giant water dragon appeared out of nowhere, engulfing Killian.
Caught in the water dragon, Killian's body glowed orange as he roared:
"Ah~"
With a roar, fire spewed from Killian's mouth towards the center of the water dragon. He knew that destroying the eye of the water dragon would stop it.
The clash of 3000-degree fire and water created massive steam and fog.
In an instant, the fog enveloped the water dragon, making it hard for Jiraiya to see what was happening inside.
--2--
·Chapter 702: Medals
As Killian's flames burned through the water stream, they reached the eye of the water tornado, causing it to lose its momentum and collapse into water.
Killian, using the mist to conceal himself, steadied his stance. His clothes were completely burned away, and his body glowed orange, healing the wounds caused by the water tornado.
Both Jiraiya and Killian couldn't see each other through the thick mist. Jiraiya quickly formed hand seals, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Poof!"
As the smoke cleared, Jiraiya's shadow clones appeared beside him. The three Jiraiyas exchanged glances and then simultaneously performed different hand seals:
"Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!"
"Water Style: Water Shockwave!"
"Lightning Style: Earth Flash!"
Jiraiya's main body used the Wind Style: Vacuum Wave to blow away the mist, revealing Killian's position.
One shadow clone then summoned a river-like water wave that surged towards Killian, while the other infused the water with lightning, creating an electrified torrent.
Given the proximity to the ocean and the moisture in the air, the water jutsu was significantly enhanced.
Killian, unable to escape the attack range, had to counter with his flames. However, the overwhelming water wave quickly engulfed him, and the lightning within the water nullified his flames.
As the water receded, Killian lay slumped against a container, with occasional electric arcs dancing over his body.
His body showed signs of cracking, with orange light flowing through the cracks like magma, healing his wounds despite the gruesome appearance.
Jiraiya marveled, "This regenerative capability is truly formidable."
"Since that's the case, I'll send you off with a more dignified end. After all, you did bring the Extremis virus to the world."
"Fire Style: Great Flame Rasengan!"
Jiraiya executed his ultimate jutsu, a combination technique of immense power. He first unleashed the Fire Style: Flame Bullet, creating a raging fire. Then, he leapt back, forming a massive Rasengan larger than a human head in his right hand, and thrust it forward.
"Boom!"
The Rasengan exploded, releasing a terrifying rotational shockwave combined with the fire's destructive force.
When the attack ended, everything in front of Jiraiya, including Killian, containers, and equipment, was obliterated, leaving a clear path to the sea.
Jiraiya retracted his hand, panting heavily. The combination jutsu had consumed a significant amount of chakra, but the result was highly satisfactory.
At this time, Tony flew over in the armor. All the Extremis virus soldiers in the port had been wiped out with the help of the Mark series armor though the armor suffered a lot of damage. Only 9 of the more than 40 sets of armor were left.
Tony landed next to Jiraiya and asked, "Is he dead?"
Jiraiya nodded, "Dead, not a trace left."
Tony surveyed the scene and sighed, "It's finally over."
Jiraiya nodded in agreement, "Yes, it's over."
Tony then contacted Kankuro. "Kankuro, the fight is over. Give the armor to Rhodey and let him escort the President back."
Kankuro glanced at the two men beside him and responded, "Understood. Where should we head next?"
Tony replied, "Head to Charles's place. I need to pick up Pepper Potts."
After ending the call, Kankuro turned to Rhodey. "The enemies have been eliminated. You can put on the armor and take the President away now."
Rhodey looked at Kankuro and said, "Thanks for your help."
The President, visibly moved, shook Kankuro's hand and exclaimed, "Thank you for the rescue! I'll make sure the government awards you a hero's medal to honor your deeds. You must attend the ceremony."
Kankuro was somewhat interested in the medal, seeing it as a recognition similar to receiving an award from the Wind Country's Daimyo. He nodded, "Alright, I'll be there."
Rhodey then donned the armor and left with the President, while Kankuro made his way to join Tony and Jiraiya.
Once Kankuro arrived, Tony suited them all up in armor, and they flew to Charles's base. During the flight, Tony informed Charles of their victory and their imminent arrival.
Soon, Tony, Jiraiya, Kankuro, and the remaining Iron Man suits landed on the lawn at Charles's base. Tony stepped out of his armor first and, seeing Pepper Potts standing nearby, rushed over to embrace her.
"Pepper, I'm sorry for making you worry," Tony said.
Pepper, choking back tears, hugged him tightly. "I'm just glad you're safe."
Jiraiya and Kankuro exited their suits and approached Charles, respectfully greeting him. "Lord Charles."
Charles nodded and asked, "Did everything go smoothly?"
Jiraiya shook his head, "No unexpected incidents."
Pepper, still holding onto Tony, added, "Killian sent a squad of Extremis soldiers to capture me, but thanks to Mr. Charles that nothing happened."
"If it weren't for him, I would have been in great danger."
"By the way, your ex-girlfriend was planning to use me to force you to help them."
Tony was surprised. "Maya?"
Pepper nodded. "Yes, her. But Mr. Charles took care of her."
Tony turned to Charles again. "Thank you!"
Tony then addressed everyone, "It's Christmas, and I didn't prepare any gifts, so how about a fireworks show?"
"Jarvis, initiate the clean slate protocol."
"Yes, sir."
With Tony's command, the remaining nine Iron Man suits ascended into the sky and began a self-destruction sequence, creating a spectacular fireworks display.
Watching Tony use his suits as fireworks, Charles couldn't help but marvel at Tony's extravagance. Billions of dollars were being blown away just like that.
…
The death of Killian marked the end of the Mandarin incident.
The actor portraying the Mandarin, Trevor Slattery, was arrested by the police, and the Vice President was also taken into custody.
With the public disclosure of the events, the terror caused by the Mandarin came to an end.
The President held a special ceremony, awarding hero medals to Tony Stark, Jiraiya, and Kankuro for their bravery and contributions.
---3---
·Chapter 703: Ten Rings
After receiving the government-issued medals, Tony Stark arrived at Charles Doyle's base. Upon meeting Charles, Tony remarked, "Looks like I need to build a base like this myself, to have a safer place."
Given the exposure of his location and the destruction of his home, Tony's concern was understandable. Charles, recalling Tony's future Avengers base, responded, "You do need a base to carry out your hobbies."
At that moment, the TV displayed news coverage of Stark and his companions receiving their medals. Tony glanced at the news and commented, "I think this medal owes a lot to you."
Charles waved his hand dismissively, "I have no interest in such things. If I wanted, I could get plenty of these. That guy Fury wanted to give me several titles."
Tony chuckled and then retrieved a small iron box from his pocket, slightly opening it to reveal the new element inside. Smiling, he said, "How about this, then?"
Charles smiled back, "You know me well."
Taking the box from Tony and opening it, Charles was surprised to see 20 new elements inside.
"So many?" he remarked.
Tony took a sip of whiskey from the table and explained, "Given what happened recently, I realized that not only do I need to increase my strength, but the people around me also need to enhance their abilities. I'm not saying they need to join the fight, but they should at least have the means to escape the battlefield."
"I need a physical enhancement serum to improve Pepper's survivability. With my lifestyle, it's impossible to keep those around me safe all the time."
Clearly, Tony's visit was to purchase a physical enhancement serum for Pepper Potts.
Charles, hearing Tony's request, didn't hesitate and retrieved a packaged physical enhancement serum from his storage space.
"Here's the serum you need. However, after giving it to Pepper, I recommend some special training for her to get accustomed to her new strength."
Tony nodded in agreement.
"Yes, otherwise, the things in the office might not withstand her strength."
With the serum issue settled, Tony shifted the conversation.
"Charles, this time, the Ten Rings and the Mandarin were fakes, but you've told me that the real Ten Rings exist in this world. How do I find them?"
Despite the mastermind behind this incident being Killian, Tony wasn't planning to let the organization that had once kidnapped him go unpunished.
Charles looked at Tony and asked, "Are you planning to wage war against the Ten Rings?"
Tony nodded firmly. "If I didn't know about their existence, I wouldn't care. But knowing they are out there, I need to take action."
Charles thought for a moment and then said, "You can, but finding them won't be easy. You'll need to sign a mission contract."
With that, Charles retrieved a blank scroll from his storage space. While he had a good relationship with Tony, he wasn't inclined to help for free.
Seeing the mention of a mission contract, Tony wasn't surprised.
Tony asked, "How much will the commission cost in dollars?"
Charles shook his head and held up two fingers, "Twenty units of the new element."
Tony was taken aback by the request but knew Charles wouldn't deceive him. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Does this matter involve the supernatural?"
Charles nodded, "Yes. Are you sure you want to go to war with them?"
Tony's expression turned serious, "If it involves the supernatural, then it's even more important to eliminate this threat."
Charles nodded in agreement, quickly writing down the details on the mission scroll and handing it to Tony for his signature.
After signing the mission contract, Tony said, "I don't have that many new elements with me, but I'll deliver them soon. Let me know once you locate the Ten Rings' headquarters. Since they're involved in the supernatural, I'll need to build a batch of new suits."
Charles nodded, "I don't know the exact location of the Ten Rings' headquarters right now. It will take some time to investigate. In the meantime, you should prepare your suits."
"Tony, a supernatural organization that's existed for thousands of years won't be easy to take down. You'll need all the resources you can muster."
Tony nodded solemnly, "I'll be prepared."
Tony then donned his Iron Man suit, took the box containing the physical enhancement serum, and left.
Watching Tony leave, Charles tossed the mission contract into the mission hall, receiving an A-rank mission rating, which he found satisfactory.
Reflecting on the power of the Ten Rings and their leader Xu Wenwu, Charles realized that with the Ten Rings' mystical powers, Tony might struggle to defeat them, especially with his current technology.
The gap between Tony's current suits and the advanced suits from the later phases of the Avengers was significant.
To assess their abilities, Charles thought it might be wise to have Tony scout their strength, though it could be risky for him. So, precautions would need to be taken.
Charles then went to Tsunade's lab, where Tsunade and Shizune were busy. He asked, "Any progress on the Extremis virus? Where's Maya Hansen?"
Seeing Maya wasn't in the lab, Charles was curious.
Tsunade paused her work and looked at Charles, "Her ideas are creative, but Orochimaru and I have split the Extremis research into two directions."
"My focus is on healing and recovery. By injecting a specific amount of the serum, we can stimulate the brain's central nervous system to reconstruct and repair damaged tissues. It can heal injuries, regrow limbs, and so on, without the risk of spontaneous combustion or explosions."
"Patients will undergo a single healing process per injection, after which the serum's effects will wear off. Once healed, users will revert to their original state, with no additional abilities or automatic healing from future injuries."
----4----
·Chapter 704: Interview
"Regarding Orochimaru, his approach focuses on discarding the healing ability and enhancing the ability to control fire, giving the user high-temperature attacks and the power to launch fiery assaults," Tsunade explained.
"Maya Hansen is currently with Orochimaru in his lab."
It was clear that Tsunade and Orochimaru had divided the Extremis virus research into two branches: one focusing on healing and recovery, the other on offensive capabilities.
"Both of your research directions are excellent, especially yours, Tsunade," Charles remarked.
"For us, giving ordinary people fire-release abilities doesn't add much value. However, developing a serum that can heal injuries and regrow limbs would be immensely beneficial. It could help not only us but also many injured and disabled individuals."
Tsunade nodded, "Back in Konoha, I always envisioned spreading medical ninjutsu widely. If something like this had existed then, the war might not have dragged on for so long, causing so many casualties. Especially for those ninjas who had to retire due to disabilities."
Charles nodded, "While we can't change the past, successful research on this could change the future."
"I'll work on it diligently," Tsunade said resolutely.
"Good luck!" Charles encouraged her before leaving the lab, not wanting to disturb her work further.
If this project is successfully developed, it will be of great help to him, and it can be regarded as a development that changes the world.
As for Orochimaru's research direction, it is also a good project. After the successful development, he will have one more product to sell.
…
Back in his room-
Charles instructed Red Queen to craft a mask using vibranium. Then, he took out the 20 units of the new element given by Tony.
Ding! Detected items suitable for recharge. Proceed with recharging?
"Recharge."
Ding! Recharge successful. 10,000 gold coins acquired!
Charles's recently had lifted eight layers of the seal, bringing him eight magical items. After recharging them, he accumulated a total of 16,000 gold coins, bringing his current total to 76,199 coins.
With the recharge complete, Charles entered the system space to browse the updated system store for ninja fragments. Finding nothing of interest, he refrained from making any purchases.
"Red Queen."
"Yes, Master."
"Notify Shino Aburame and Eddie to meet me at the base tomorrow. I have a mission for them."
"Understood, Master."
The next day, Eddie and Shino Aburame arrived at the base.
In the meeting room, Charles addressed them, "Eddie, I have a task for you."
Eddie responded respectfully, "Yes, sir. What is it?"
"In the Ten Rings incident, the Mandarin impersonator, Trevor, has been sentenced and imprisoned. Your job is to conduct an exclusive interview with him."
Eddie, feeling confident, said, "No problem, sir. This kind of work is right up my alley."
"Do you have any specific themes in mind for the interview?" Eddie asked.
Charles shook his head. "No specific requirements. Feel free to handle it as you see fit."
Then, turning to Shino Aburame, Charles instructed, "Shino, your task is to accompany Eddie for the interview with Trevor. Your job is to leave a parasitic insect on him. I need you to monitor Trevor's location constantly and report to me immediately if he leaves the prison."
"Understood, Lord Charles," Shino responded.
Curious, Eddie asked, "Sir, are you expecting someone to target Trevor? Isn't he just a puppet?"
Charles smiled. "No, the Ten Rings organization is real. By impersonating them, Trevor might attract the real Ten Rings. Shino's goal is to use Trevor to locate their headquarters."
Eddie, intrigued, remarked, "I didn't expect the Ten Rings to be real. This just got interesting."
Charles waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, go make your preparations."
"Yes, Lord Charles!" Eddie and Shino left the meeting room.
Outside, Eddie communicated with Venom, "Buddy, why were you so quiet just now? That's not like you."
Venom's voice echoed in Eddie's mind, "Terrifying... it was too terrifying. This base has too many presences that can destroy me. I felt very uncomfortable."
Venom's voice was faint, and he seemed to be cowering inside Eddie, not daring to show himself.
Seeing this, Eddie almost laughed out loud. After walking for a bit, he turned to Shino and said, "I'll need to prepare for the interview first. Once I get the interview approval, I'll contact you, and we'll go together."
Shino, hands in his pockets and wearing dark sunglasses, stopped and said, "Call me when you're ready."
With that, Shino disappeared in a flash, leaving Eddie to marvel, "What a cool and silent guy. Too bad he's so young."
Eddie then left Charles's base, hopped on his motorcycle, and went to pick up his girlfriend from work.
…
A week later-
In a New York prison-
The door to Trevor's cell opened, and a guard entered, saying, "Trevor, a journalist named Eddie is here to interview you. Get ready; I'll take you to the interview room shortly."
Trevor looked at the guard and asked, "Can I refuse?"
The guard replied sternly, "No, you don't have the right to refuse this."
Trevor argued, "I remember that under federal law, as a convict, I have the right to refuse interviews. What's in it for me if I agree to this interview?"
The guard pulled out his baton and looked at Trevor, "I don't know what benefits you might get from participating in the interview. But if you refuse, I believe you'll have trouble immediately. This is a request from high up."
Seeing the baton and a thick Oxford dictionary the guard pulled from a drawer, Trevor hesitated, then smiled, "An interview sounds like a great idea. Why would I refuse?"
Disappointed that Trevor gave in so easily, the guard put down the dictionary and baton, grumbling, "Follow me, then."
The guard escorted Trevor to the interview room, where Eddie and Shino, who had already prepared, were waiting.
-----5-----
·Chapter 705: Actor
Eddie had a video camera set up in front of him and a table in the middle. Next to him sat Shino Aburame, while a police officer recorded everything happening in the interview room.
Soon, the guard brought Trevor in. Instead of sitting down for the interview, Trevor started doing vocal exercises, mimicking a gorilla.
Eddie glanced at his watch and said, "Let's start when you're ready."
Trevor, still moving around, replied, "Vocal exercises, an old habit from my stage performance days."
Eddie smiled and asked, "When you accepted that role, did you ever imagine you'd end up in a place like this?"
Trevor, unfazed, responded, "Not bad, right? The whole public thing let me experience VIP treatment."
With that, Trevor stopped his exercises and took a seat at the table.
Eddie commented, "Seems like that role gave you a taste of a different life. You seem to be doing well here."
Trevor grinned, "I do miss those days. Ketamine, and obviously all those sexy ladies. In that castle, I was the undisputed master. You know what I mean."
He then turned to Shino and asked, "Is this young man your assistant? That headband, are you sure it's not a costume piece?"
Trevor didn't seem to grasp the significance of Shino's presence, assuming a ninja wouldn't be interested in him.
Eddie, keeping his tone light, replied, "Trust me, you don't want his attention."
Eddie admired and feared Shino. He had Venom inside him, but Shino hosted countless insects, which even made Venom uneasy with a kind of fear of crowds.
Shino, hidden in his coat with his hands in his pockets, remained silent.
Eddie then took out a notebook and pen, ready to write down the interview details. He opened the notebook and began, "Let's discuss Aldrich Killian's recruitment of you and the hybrid warlord created by his think tank."
Trevor interrupted, "I gave it life."
Eddie scoffed, "Based on my inquiries with the actors' guild and interviews with various production companies, Trevor Slattery, a Z-list actor with no notable roles, once made a living performing stage plays. He eventually lost his job due to drug addiction. I'm curious, how did Killian find and choose you for this role?"
Trevor, visibly excited, countered, "No, I once had a show on CS Television. 'Caged Heat,' a great piece about a Russian cop's revenge story. That was my masterpiece."
As he spoke, Trevor's enthusiasm was intense. Trevor gestured enthusiastically, emphasizing the excellence of his work.
However, Eddie smiled and said, "I did find out about it, but it was just a pilot episode that was quickly canceled due to poor reception."
Trevor, dejected, lowered his head. "Alright, I didn't think you'd find out about that."
Eddie pressed on, "So, why did Killian choose you?"
Trevor raised his head and looked at Eddie. "I hoped for a show that would be well-received, something that represented me."
"When he offered drugs, women, a mansion, and a yacht, I was moved and accepted his invitation to star in what was supposedly a movie but was actually a terrifying video."
"Killian needed someone to take the fall, but I gave that character life. People won't remember the Mandarin; they'll remember Trevor Slattery."
Eddie scribbled in his notebook. "A perfect fit, then. Good answer."
He continued, "When people heard I was coming to interview you, most asked me one question: How could you not know what was happening?"
Trevor paused before responding, "I lived in the mansion, just an actor. Killian never told me his plans. I only had three things: ketamine, women, and cameras. It's precisely because I knew nothing that you're able to interview me now, isn't it?"
Trevor clearly understood that admitting knowledge versus ignorance would result in vastly different legal outcomes.
Eddie pressed, "Is it that you didn't know, or you don't want to admit it? Being aware and involved makes you one of them, but being ignorant changes your trial's outcome entirely."
Trevor shrugged. "Didn't the court already rule on that? Clearly, I didn't know about his plans or this hybrid warlord model. I thought they were actors like me."
Eddie smiled, not pressing further. He pulled out a stack of documents from his briefcase and placed them on the table.
"If that's the case, let's talk about the character you played, the Mandarin."
"Trevor, you said you did thorough research when you got the role."
Eddie opened the documents, revealing photos of the warlord Tony Stark defeated in the Afghan desert, the Ten Rings symbol, and some ancient documents. These materials were partly obtained through Charles's channels and intelligence from Hawkeye.
"The Ten Rings, this terrorist organization, was once active in history. Officially, they were said to have ceased operations, but evidence suggests they never disappeared and are still active."
Trevor, shocked, exclaimed, "My god, the Ten Rings, they're real?"
Eddie, calm, replied, "They're well-documented."
"That's so cool!"
Eddie asked again, "So, your thorough research was?"
------6------
·Chapter 706: New Recruitments
Trevor answered, "Yes, but when an actor says they did research, it means he opened his computer, googled a few names, and then jerked off."
Eddie was taken aback by this response, not expecting such a ridiculous answer from him.
"So, you don't really understand the backstory of the Mandarin character you portrayed," Eddie clarified.
Trevor nodded again and added, "But I studied Western religious studies and terrorism. At least in the eyes of the public, my portrayal fit the image of a terrorist organization."
Eddie said, "However, isn't there a chance that your performance might have angered some people? You know, some of them are very dangerous."
Eddie knew from Charles that the Ten Rings was a real organization, and their mission was to use Trevor to lure them out.
Trevor, nonchalant, replied, "You don't need to tell me, brother. I've read those online forums... they're brutal."
Trevor clearly didn't realize that the people who might come after him were the actual Ten Rings.
Eddie glanced at Aburame Shino, who nodded slightly.
Eddie then stood up from his chair and said, "Well, enjoy the rest of your life here, Mr. Actor. I hope you won't regret your actions."
He then turned to the prison guard and said, "The interview is over. You can take him back now."
The guard grabbed Trevor and escorted him back to his cell.
As Eddie packed up his equipment, he remarked, "When the public finds out how the Mandarin was created, they'll be quite shocked."
Shino, with a cold voice, said, "A new hot topic will soon divert their attention. This won't hold their interest for long."
Eddie shrugged, "True, the terrorist attack now is over."
As they left the prison, Eddie asked Shino, "Have you set up the tracker?"
Shino held up a finger, showing a kikaichū bug on it.
"I've already had a kikaichū enter his body. It will live in his fat layer and continuously report his location to me."
During Eddie's interview, Shino had discreetly released the kikaichū, which had pain-numbing properties in its bite, making it undetectable to Trevor.
Eddie, looking at the bug and thinking about the many bugs inside Shino's coat, shivered. "Well, since the task is done, I'll take my leave."
Shino asked, "Not heading back to the base?"
Eddie shook his head, "No, I need to get back and edit this footage. This is still my interview."
Shino waved and then turned to walk away.
Eddie mounted his bike and rode off into the distance.
…
Meanwhile-
In Charles's base-
Charles was preparing for another blessing ritual, as some time had passed and he was eligible for another blessing. Once the ritual items and the magic circle were ready, he began his prayer.
With this, the feeling of being blessed filled him, and Charles immediately entered the system space without delay.
Once inside the system space, Charles went straight to the recruitment interface and began the ninja recruitment.
"Ninja Recruitment, ten consecutive draw, begin!" A Uzumaki clan symbol appeared, glowing with a unique light. After a flash of light, the recruitment results appeared before Charles Doyle.
Without taking time to tally or check, Charles continued with another ten pulls while the blessing lasted. He successfully performed five ten-pull recruitments under the blessed state. Once the recruitment ended, the blessed state faded.
With the blessing gone, Charles relaxed and prepared to check the results of the fifty consecutive pulls to see if he had completed the collections for Konan and Zetsu. He wasn't expecting to get S-Rank Orochimaru yet.
S-Rank: Orochimaru – 30 fragments from 10 recruitments.
A-Rank: Konan – 8 fragments from 2 recruitments; Zetsu – 8 fragments from 2 recruitments.
B-Rank: Shippuden Naruto Uzumaki – 2 fragments from 1 recruitment; Shippuden Sakura Haruno – 6 fragments from 3 recruitments; Shippuden Sasuke Uchiha – 6 fragments from 3 recruitments; Shippuden Neji Hyuga – 10 fragments from 5 recruitments; Guren – 8 fragments from 4 recruitments.
C-Rank: Hanabi Hyuga – 1 fragment from 1 recruitment; Young Killer Bee – 4 fragments from 4 recruitments; Ino Yamanaka – 1 fragment from 1 recruitment; Ninja Academy Naruto Uzumaki – 1 fragment from 1 recruitment; Karui – 1 fragment from 1 recruitment; Hayate Gekkō – 3 fragments from 3 recruitments; Shino Aburame – 1 fragment from 1 recruitment; Maru Hoshigaki – 2 fragments from 2 recruitments; Naruto Uzumaki – 3 fragments from 3 recruitments; Sakura Haruno – 1 fragment from 1 recruitment; Iruka Umino – 1 fragment from 1 recruitment; Shizune – 2 fragments from 2 recruitments; Sasuke Uchiha – 1 fragment from 1 recruitment; Tenten – 1 fragment from 1 recruitment.
Charles was stunned to see that neither Konan nor Zetsu was fully collected; each was missing 4 fragments.
Additionally, none of the B-Rank or C-Rank ninjas had reached full cards. While he had acquired many fragments, the lack of complete ninjas was a bit disappointing, especially considering his upcoming plans against the Ten Rings.
Determined to enhance his strength and team, Charles decided to use the remaining 58 ninja recruitment scrolls to continue.
First ten-pull: One guaranteed S-Rank Orochimaru fragment.
Second ten-pull: One guaranteed S-Rank Orochimaru fragment.
Third ten-pull: One guaranteed S-Rank Orochimaru fragment, four A-Rank Konan fragments.
Fourth ten-pull: Four S-Rank Orochimaru fragments.
Fifth ten-pull: One guaranteed S-Rank Orochimaru fragment, four A-Rank Zetsu fragments.
After five more ten-pulls, he finally completed the collections for A-Rank Konan and Zetsu. His ninja recruitment scrolls were now down to 8, but he had also accumulated many B-Rank and C-Rank fragments, including enough to recruit Young Killer Bee.
Opening the recruitment menu, three highlighted avatars appeared: Konan, Zetsu, and Young Killer Bee.
-------7-------
·Chapter 707: New Ninjas
Gazing at the three ninja avatars in front of him, Charles first clicked on Konan's avatar. Konan's information appeared before him.
A-Rank Ninja: Konan
Fragments: 40/40
Recruit?
Recruit!
Ding! Congratulations to Charles Doyle, for successfully recruiting two-star A-Rank ninja, Konan.
In the next second, an image appeared in front of Charles. Konan, wearing the Akatsuki uniform, was flying with paper wings formed by her signature Paper Jutsu. With a wave of her hand, countless paper sheets flew forward to attack the enemy. (Heavenly Dance of Paper Blossoms - Bloom!)
Konan had light bluish-purple hair styled in a bun with a light blue paper flower on the right side of her head. Her eyes were a light orange color, with a fair and delicate face accented by light purple eye shadow, and a lip piercing.
She wore a black cloak embroidered with red clouds over a light purple fitted jumpsuit and a backless top with a zipper. She had a navel ring and a headband from Amegakure tied around her waist.
This was Konan of the Akatsuki, also known as the Angel of Amegakure and the only female ninja of the Akatsuki!
Charles wondered what kind of story Konan's arrival would bring to this world.
Next, he checked Konan's skills.
Konan: A-Rank Ninja
Stars: Two Stars
Basic Attack: Paper Ninjutsu Attack!
Substitution Jutsu: Wooden Substitution, Paper Clone!
Skills: Dance of the Shikigami - Ascend, Dance of the Shikigami - Split, Dance of the Shikigami - Angel's Judgment.
Dance of the Shikigami - Ascend: Transform into paper and dash forward. When used on the ground, float into the air. When used in the air, float to the ground. (While in paper form, ignore enemy attacks!)
Dance of the Shikigami - Split: Float into the air and create a large paper wheel to throw forward. The paper wheel rolls along the ground, pauses at the maximum distance, and then rolls back.
Dance of the Shikigami - Angel's Judgment: Create a large paper circle on the ground to attack enemies. Then float into the air and create numerous paper spears for a devastating ground attack.
Charles nodded in satisfaction at Konan's skills. Although they weren't Kekkei Genkai, they were a unique secret technique with considerable power.
One of the three founders of Akatsuki was now present, and he hoped the others would follow soon.
Charles also knew that besides the Akatsuki version of Konan, there were Summer Swimsuit Konan and New Year Exclusive Konan, both of which were also A-Rank. If successfully merged, Konan's power and ninjutsu would be significantly enhanced.
For example, Summer Swimsuit Konan could summon 600 billion explosive tags using chakra, a far more convenient method than the original technique.
After recruiting Konan, Charles's chakra increased by 15, reaching 371. He also received Konan's Paper Ninjutsu knowledge.
Next, Charles turned his attention to the remaining two avatars, A-Rank Zetsu and C-Rank Young Killer Bee.
Clicking on Zetsu's avatar, the information appeared.
A-Rank Ninja: Zetsu
Fragments: 40/40
Recruit?
Recruit!
Ding! Congratulations to Charles Doyle, for successfully recruiting two-star A-Rank ninja, Zetsu.
In the next second, an image of the plant-like Black and White Zetsu appeared. He stood there in the Akatsuki uniform, extending a hand forward. (Stealth and concealment, Zetsu enters the stage!)
Checking Zetsu's skills, Charles saw:
Zetsu: A-Rank Ninja
Stars: Two Stars
Basic Attack: Taijutsu Attack + White Zetsu Attack!
Substitution Jutsu: Wooden Substitution!
Skills: Mayfly Technique, White Zetsu Split, Pitcher Plant Technique.
Mayfly Technique: Enter a defensive stance; if attacked, burrow underground and emerge from beneath the enemy to attack. (Merge body with earth and plants for high-speed movement, integrating with the land.)
White Zetsu Split: Summon a White Zetsu clone that dashes forward and launches the enemy into the air with an additional knee strike and kick.
Pitcher Plant Technique: Summon a pitcher plant to trap the enemy, followed by Pain appearing to use Mirror World Reflection to create an enemy clone for a final powerful attack, or summon Pain to use Chibaku Tensei.
Charles was amazed at the last skill. The ability to summon Pain to use Chibaku Tensei was extremely powerful, even if it was just a single attack. This skill truly reflected Zetsu's reputation as the mastermind behind the scenes in the Naruto series.
After recruiting Zetsu, Charles's chakra increased by another 15, reaching an impressive 386, along with Zetsu's ninjutsu knowledge.
Finally, Charles focused on the C-Rank Young Killer Bee.
Clicking on Young Killer Bee's avatar, the information appeared.
C-Rank Ninja: Young Killer Bee
Fragments: 13/10
Recruit?
Recruit!
Ding! Congratulations to Charles Doyle, for successfully recruiting one-star C-Rank ninja, Young Killer Bee.
In the next second, an image of Young Killer Bee appeared on a dazzling stage, dancing with two swords strapped to his back and a headband from Kumogakure.
Checking Young Killer Bee's skills, Charles saw:
Young Killer Bee: C-Rank Ninja
Stars: One Star
Basic Attack: Taijutsu and Short Sword Attack!
Substitution Jutsu: Wooden Substitution!
Skills: Dance of the Bee, Flying Swallow, Absolute Bull Lightning Strike.
Dance of the Bee: Perform a dazzling dance to unlock the two skills of Flying Swallow.
Flying Swallow: Throw two swords forward, which will bounce upon hitting the enemy. The second sword hits and Killer Bee instantly teleports to catch it and slash down.
Lightning Ascension: Perform a swift lightning dash forward, launching the enemy into the air.
Updraft: Perform a spinning kick to launch the enemy, followed by a powerful downward kick.
Absolute Bull Lightning Strike: Summon A, and together perform Lightning Strike against a single enemy.
Charles was impressed by Killer Bee's skills. Even at 12, Killer Bee was already a Jōnin and A's partner. Summoning A, a powerful Kage-level ninja, to perform Lightning Strike was formidable, capable of shattering Susanoo's bones in one hit.
After recruiting Young Killer Bee, Charles's chakra increased by 1, reaching 387, along with Killer Bee's ninjutsu knowledge.
In a short time, Charles's chakra had increased by 31, requiring him to adjust to the new amount. However, his chakra was now heading towards an incredible level, allowing him to confidently state, "I can use ninjutsu all day."
Having recruited the three ninjas, Charles saw he had only one available slot left. He clicked on the plus sign.
Ding Would you like to use 56,000 coins to unlock a ninja slot?
Yes!
After deducting the coins, another ninja slot was unlocked. Charles now had only 20,000 coins left, and besides the two Akatsuki members, he also had three Mist Village ninjas needing slots.
Considering the three slots required over 160,000 coins, Charles thought of using the 20 new elements Tony had given him and the Mind Stone, which he hadn't used yet.
He also planned to speed up the search for Wanda and Quicksilver.
Exiting the system space, Charles used the Reverse Summoning Jutsu to reach the Summoning Realm.
Entering the system space again, he placed Zetsu's ninja card in the battle slot, setting Zetsu to appear within three meters of himself.
As the manifestation began, Zetsu materialized in front of Charles.
In the Naruto world, the Akatsuki had just finished recruiting all members and was preparing funds and team integration for capturing tailed beasts.
Black Zetsu nodded in satisfaction, knowing everything was proceeding according to the plan for his mother's return.
Suddenly, Black Zetsu's vision went black, and information about Charles Doyle flooded his mind.
When Zetsu opened his eyes again, he saw Charles standing before him. Although he had never seen him before, Zetsu instantly knew this man was Charles Doyle, his most revered person.
--------8--------
·Chapter 708: Zetsu Undressing
In the next second, the other half of Zetsu's body, Black Zetsu, became emotionally unstable. Based on the information he had just received, he knew he had been summoned to another world.
Black Zetsu's raspy voice called out, "Mother!"
Charles looked at the newly materialized Zetsu and frowned slightly. The first word out of his mouth was "mother." Could it be that he mistook him for Kaguya Otsutsuki? It shouldn't be.
"Ahem!"
"Zetsu, your mother is not here."
Black Zetsu calmed down and bowed, "Lord Charles."
Then, with a hint of excitement in his eyes, he looked up at Charles and asked, "Lord Charles, do you know my mother?"
Charles nodded and began to speak slowly, "I have wandered through the timeline of the ninja world and witnessed the arrival of its Rabbit goddess, Kaguya Otsutsuki."
"I have seen the entire history of the ninja world through the river of time."
"Your mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki, was sealed by her two sons, Hagoromo and Hamura, within the moon they created."
"I brought you from the river of time to this world."
Hearing Charles's words, Black Zetsu was stunned. He hadn't expected the person before him to know everything about the ninja world and to have traveled through the river of time.
Black Zetsu hesitantly asked, "Lord, since I am now in this world, does that mean there is still a version of me in the ninja world?"
Charles replied calmly, "I only brought a shadow of you from the river of time and reforged it in this world."
"The original you still exists in the ninja world, within the Akatsuki organization, carrying out your plan to save your mother."
Hearing that the original him still existed, Zetsu sighed in relief. At least his plan in the original world had not been disrupted.
Zetsu then remembered what Charles had said and asked, "Lord, if you have wandered through the river of time in the ninja world, you must have seen its past, present, and future."
"May I be fortunate enough to know if I succeeded in saving my mother in the future?"
The white half of Zetsu widened his eye. It seemed he had heard something unbelievable, but Black Zetsu controlled the body, and White Zetsu couldn't speak.
Charles did not refuse Zetsu's request and began to explain, "Your plan succeeded, but it also failed."
Black Zetsu looked confused and asked, "What happened?"
Charles continued, "You managed to release your mother, allowing her to break free from her seal and reappear in the world, but ultimately, she couldn't escape being sealed again."
"No..."
Black Zetsu collapsed to the ground, wailing in pain.
He prostrated himself, seemingly realizing something, and looked up at Charles, "Lord, please bring my mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki, to this world. I am willing to give up everything for this..."
Charles glanced at him, and Zetsu immediately felt an overwhelming aura, his entire body trembling.
In a cold voice, Charles said, "Everything you have now is already mine. What is there to give?"
If he wished, he could recall Zetsu and let him experience a dark and endless seal in the storage space.
Charles then softened his tone, "I brought you to this world because I have tasks for you."
"If you perform well and complete enough tasks."
"And bring me what I need, I will use my power to bring Kaguya Otsutsuki to this world one day, giving you a chance to reunite."
Just moments ago, trembling with fear, Zetsu now spoke excitedly, "I will bring you everything you desire, Lord Charles, and complete any tasks you assign."
"Your will is my will, and I only wish to see my mother again."
Charles nodded and then said, "Stand up. You are not the only one I brought from the ninja world to serve me."
"Everyone has their regrets. If you want me to bring Kaguya back, you need to work harder."
With that, Charles's will entered the system space, placing Konan's ninja card in the battle slot and manifesting her beside him.
Zetsu, who had just stood up, was about to pledge his loyalty again when he saw a figure materializing beside him. When he saw Konan's figure, he knew that the Lord had not deceived him and that he was not the only one brought to this world.
Seeing his outfit and the Genbu ring on his finger, he channeled his chakra and sensed the rings representing Deidara, Kisame, Itachi Uchiha, and Hidan.
At this moment, Zetsu's mind was racing. Was the Lord planning to gather the entire Akatsuki organization here? He was also curious about what tasks they would be assigned in this world.
As Zetsu pondered, Konan fully materialized.
After surveying her surroundings, Konan quickly walked up to the man in front of her and respectfully said, "Lord Charles!"
"What are your orders?"
Charles waved his hand, summoning two sets of equipment that contained basic information about this world and instructions for the recruited ninjas, informing them that all the recruited ninjas were his subordinates and allies.
The ninja information would be updated as Charles continued his recruitment.
"This contains information about this world and some information about the ninjas I've recruited."
"It includes many familiar faces for you, and the Akatsuki organization has already made a name for itself in this world."
"Your task now is to study this information. Once you are familiar with it, I will assign you tasks."
"The Akatsuki has four members already here. Including you two, there are now six."
Charles then took out two Akatsuki cloaks made of vibranium and said, "These are your new battle uniforms."
"They look the same, but the material is stronger than chakra metal and has the same chakra conductivity and strong defensive capabilities."
Konan and Zetsu stepped forward to take the clothes. When they held the cloaks, they could tell the difference.
The chakra conductivity was the same as chakra metal, and while they hadn't tested the defensive capabilities, they trusted the Lord Charles's words.
The cost of such uniforms must be astronomical.
Konan asked, "Lord Charles, have you prepared new uniforms for the entire Akatsuki organization? Do you intend to bring all the members to this world?"
Charles glanced at Konan. These Akatsuki members were indeed sharp.
Without trying to hide or divert the topic, Charles replied, "If possible, I would very much like to see the Akatsuki organization in action together."
"The two-man team formation limits your power."
Konan thought for a moment and said, "I would also like to see the Akatsuki organization in full force, but we have never encountered such an enemy."
"There will be opportunities here, and you will not lack opponents."
"Study the information well. In a while, there will be a group task for you."
After speaking, Charles left the summoning realm and returned to his base.
Konan looked at the equipment provided by Charles and began studying the knowledge of this world.
Meanwhile, White Zetsu controlled the body, took off the Akatsuki cloak, and prepared to put on the new uniform, saying, "Konan, don't you want to experience this powerful cloak?"
Seeing Zetsu undressing in front of her, Konan waved her hand, and several paper shurikens flew towards Zetsu.
"Get lost."
As the shurikens flew towards him, Zetsu took the cloak and dived underground, laughing, "Oh, I forgot I shouldn't undress in front of a lady, hahaha..."
Konan waved her hand again, and spears made of paper rained down from the sky towards the ground.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
With the attack, a large crater appeared, but Zetsu had already escaped underground.
----------9------------
·Chapter 709: Another Interview
On the other side-
In South Africa, four members of the Akatsuki organization were in a town, surrounded by corpses. Hidan lay on the ground, performing his sacrificial ritual. As the ritual concluded, Hidan stood up and said, "My injuries are fully healed."
"Shall we continue our separate actions, or explore the extraordinary aspects of this world?"
"Or perhaps continue to offer sacrifices to Jashin?"
At that moment, Itachi Uchiha appeared beside the three with a swift movement, showing no expression on his face, and said coldly:
"The rings representing Konan and Zetsu have also appeared in this world."
As soon as Itachi finished speaking, the remaining three members immediately channeled their chakra into their rings, sensing the arrival of Konan and Zetsu.
Kisame Hoshigaki hoisted his Samehada and said with a smile, "Looks like the boss plans to bring all the Akatsuki members into this world."
Kisame recalled the man who had recruited him, one who promised a world without deception. He wondered if that man still held such an ideal after arriving in this world. Would Lord Charles create such a world?
Kisame considered that in the current world, he no longer needed to be wary of his companions or kill them. Perhaps this was the world without deception he had longed for.
While Kisame was lost in thought, Deidara spoke up, "Too bad it's not Sasori-senpai. I wanted to discuss art with him."
Deidara, the youngest member of the organization, missed his teammate deeply when it came to art. As for his current partner, Kisame, he had no sense of artistry.
Even Hidan chimed in, "So, Angel Konan is here. When is that self-proclaimed god going to show up?"
"Too bad Kakuzu didn't come. His stitching skills are really impressive."
Listening to the different opinions from the three, Itachi didn't react. He gazed into the distance and said calmly, "Let's wait. With these two arriving, the boss should have tasks for us. We'll decide our next steps then."
The other three agreed with Itachi's suggestion and nodded in agreement.
...
Elsewhere-
With Eddie's interview news broadcasted, viewers worldwide soon saw Trevor in prison. His shameless pride in the incident enraged many viewers.
Especially Trevor's claim that his portrayal gave life to the character of the Mandarin, which deeply offended the real Ten Rings organization and its leader.
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
Christmas holidays were over, and Eddie was back to his busy work, having made contact with Hawkeye Barton.
The previous target had already changed their appearance and left New York through the Continental Hotel's network, leaving Eddie and Barton without any leads.
However, the crackdown on criminal organizations continued. Amid the city's reconstruction following the Battle of New York, corruption in the underworld resurfaced.
Kingpin in Hell's Kitchen seized the opportunity to make a fortune in the real estate market, engaging in widespread corruption of the city's reconstruction efforts.
…
On the other side-
During this time, Tony administered a physical enhancement serum to Pepper, and through Jiraiya's introduction, invited Team Guy to provide taijutsu training.
…
Meanwhile-
In prison, Trevor received another interview request, this time from Jackson Norris.
For Jackson Norris, today was going to be the most important day of his career because he was about to do something that would end his career.
Today would be his final interview with America's most infamous prisoner.
The world thought he was the notorious Mandarin, but recent news revealed he was just an actor.
So far, the interviewee had been evasive and clearly unaware of the real focus of the interview. In fact, he seemed oblivious to everything except his growing fame.
Because now, the whole world knew his name.
As the interview progressed, Jackson Norris recounted Trevor's history, showing clips from his past television roles and informing him about the real Ten Rings organization.
Trevor yawned and said, "An interesting story becomes boring when heard too many times."
Jackson Norris, surprised, asked, "You know about the Ten Rings?"
"It seems you did thorough research and investigation before playing the role."
Trevor didn't deny it and nodded, "Yes, understanding the character's story is a basic requirement for any good actor."
Jackson Norris continued, "But do you know that your actions have angered some people?"
Trevor, nonchalant, replied, "So what? People will remember me, Trevor, and this place is very safe."
"There's no safer place in all of New York than here, right?"
Trevor spread his arms, indicating that the prison was the safest place for him.
After all, Trevor had recruited a strong man as his personal servant and had a group of fans supporting him. His days in prison were more comfortable than before, so he had no complaints.
Hearing Trevor's response, Jackson Norris stood up, took off his suit jacket, and pressed a switch on the recording device. He then said, "You should know the real Mandarin's history. He was a warrior king."
"He inspired generations in the medieval period, maybe even earlier."
Trevor, now annoyed, said, "Who cares, man?"
"This is the performance people want, and I performed it well."
"They will remember not the Mandarin, but this name—Trevor Slattery."
"And I will become a brand!"
Jackson Norris adjusted his sleeves and said, "You're right, but because of these sins, you will soon be in unbearable pain."
"Every ring we believe in will leave a corresponding hole in your body."
At this point, Trevor sensed something was wrong and quickly asked, "Excuse me?"
-----------10-----------
·Chapter 710: Tony's Training
"What do you mean?" Trevor asked.
"You know what I mean."
In the next second, a gun popped out of the camera. Jackson Norris swiftly grabbed it and immediately started shooting at the two guards in the interview room.
"Biu, biu!"
Realizing something was wrong, Trevor dived under the table, while his guard charged at Jackson Norris.
Despite the struggle, Jackson Norris managed to shoot and kill the prison enforcer. As he stood up, the sound of a gun being cocked came from behind him.
Trevor had picked up a guard's gun and was now pointing it at Jackson Norris.
"You killed my guard!" Trevor shouted.
Without turning around, Jackson Norris calmly replied, "You don't have the guts to pull the trigger, Mr. Slattery."
Trevor, holding the gun, moved behind Jackson Norris and pointed the gun at his head. "I'm an out-of-work actor, my dear. You have no idea what I'm capable of. And thanks to CBS, I know my way around a gun."
In the next instant, Jackson Norris spun around, disarmed Trevor, and pointed the gun at his head.
Jackson Norris with his cold voice, said, "Consider this a lesson on what's real and what's not."
Trevor then noticed the tattoo on Jackson Norris's wrist – the symbol of the Ten Rings.
"Why do people always point guns at my head?" Trevor muttered. "Please, I don't want to die."
Jackson Norris raised his left arm and spoke into his wristwatch, "Target acquired and in position. Extraction team, begin operation."
Then he looked at Trevor and said, "I'm not here to kill you, Mr. Slattery. I'm here to break you out."
Relieved, Trevor replied, "That's good."
Just then, the sound of heavy gunfire erupted outside the room, startling Trevor.
Jackson Norris chuckled, "It may not be a good thing. Someone out there wants to meet you."
Trevor cautiously asked, "Do I know them?"
Jackson Norris, still pointing the gun at him, replied, "No, but you stole his name. And he's here to take it back."
At that moment, Trevor realized he was in deep trouble.
He also realized that the prison was not as safe as he had thought.
Soon, a fully armed squad stormed in. They put a black hood over Trevor's head, twisted his arms behind his back, and bound his hands with zip ties. The squad then escorted him out of the prison, first by car and then by plane, taking Trevor out of New York.
As Trevor's location changed, Shino Aburame, back at the base, detected the information through his bugs. He quickly moved to Charles Doyle's room and knocked on the door.
Seeing Shino enter, Charles immediately asked, "Is there a situation with Trevor?"
Shino nodded. "Yes, Lord Charles."
"Based on the chakra signals from my parasitic insects, Trevor has been moving and should have already left New York."
Hearing Shino's report, Charles realized that the Ten Rings had likely made their move. Next, Trevor would probably be taken to the headquarters to meet their leader, Xu Wenwu.
"Can you track his location?"
Shino replied, "They've left New York, and I don't know how far they will go. I need to stay within a certain distance of my insects to detect their chakra. While they emit chakra signals, a long distance can make it hard to receive them."
Charles nodded, acknowledging the limitations.
"Track the target and lock in his final location. Once you have it, report back."
He added, "Remember, don't expose yourself. Confirm the location and return immediately. If discovered, disengage and use reverse summoning to retreat. This is a solo mission, so be careful."
Charles was concerned that Shino could be detected by the Ten Rings. If he engaged with them, it could lead to a confrontation with Xu Wenwu, who was far stronger than Shino.
Losing him would be a significant blow, especially given the time it takes to train a new insect user without the support of his clan.
Shino nodded, "Understood, Lord Charles."
He then left Charles Doyle's room to begin tracking the insect he used for locating Trevor.
As Shino departed, Charles called out, "Red Queen, get me Tony Stark."
"Yes, master!"
…
Meanwhile-
Tony Stark was training with a wooden dummy when Jarvis's voice interrupted.
"Sir, you have a call. It's from Mr. Charles Doyle."
Tony stopped his training and said, "Put it through."
A virtual screen appeared before Tony, showing Charles sitting in his office chair.
"Hey, buddy."
Tony's virtual image also appeared in front of Charles. Seeing Tony in his martial arts attire, Charles asked with a smile, "So, how's the training with Team Guy?"
Tony marveled, "Buddy, I can't believe their strength. Just a sparring match between Guy and Lee destroyed one of my training grounds. It's incredible how powerful the human body can be."
"I've learned Konoha's Strong Fist, Dynamic Entry, Leaf Whirlwind, Leaf Great Whirlwind, Leaf Rising Wind, and even Shadow of the Dancing Leaf. They are incredibly dedicated. Even Tenten taught me a lot about using cold weapons."
"Your people are truly amazing and skilled."
Hearing how much Tony had learned, Charles thought to himself that Tony had indeed invested a lot. Building a training ground for Team Guy in New York must have been expensive, not to mention the compensation for their mission.
"It sounds like you've learned a lot. But remember, physical fitness is crucial for mastering taijutsu. Keep up with your training."
"By the way, I contacted you because I have some initial intel on the Ten Rings. We'll have the final location within a few days. Be ready for your revenge."
Tony's expression grew serious at the mention of the Ten Rings. He nodded, "I've been busy too. I've built several suits of armor. When the time comes, I'll give them a surprise."
Seeing that Tony was prepared, Charles nodded and said, "Stay ready. Once we have the location, I'll inform you immediately."
"Alright, I'll be waiting for your call."
After a brief conversation, Charles ended the call with Tony.