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·Chapter 592: Arrival

Two days later-

Kakashi's team was in a helicopter and already arrived in Peru. With the latitude and longitude coordinates provided by Red Queen, the Seventh Squad didn't waste any time on the way.

As they flew over the waterfall, Naruto looked out the window and exclaimed, "The scenery here is so beautiful!"

Sakura, hearing this, also came to the window to look down and couldn't help but marvel, "The scenery here is indeed beautiful."

She then turned to Sasuke and said, "Sasuke-kun, come and take a look. It's really beautiful."

Sakura was secretly hoping that if Sasuke came over to enjoy the scenery, she could sit closely with him, and if the plane happened to shake a bit, then she could fall into Sasuke's arms. The thought made her a bit excited.

However, Sasuke, with his chin resting on his hands, sat in the cabin, hoping that this so-called Golden City would have something that could help Lord Charles. When he heard Sakura's words, he just coldly replied, "Not interested."

Kakashi, holding a Playboy magazine, was flipping through it. This was a book recommended to him by Jiraiya.

Through communication, Kakashi knew that Jiraiya had also come to this world. He asked if Jiraiya had brought his work, "Intimate Paradise," but instead of receiving it, he got this magazine.

Although it was not what he expected, the magazine wasn't bad.

After flying for a while, the helicopter arrived at the designated location. The pilot spoke, "Lord Ninjas, we've flown to the designated location."

"I've observed the surroundings and there's no suitable landing spot. We can only lower the altitude and drop ropes."

Kakashi closed the magazine, looked through the window at the environment below, and said, "Fly above that stone platform and lower the altitude to the lowest possible height without affecting the helicopter's normal hovering."

"Yes, Lord Ninja!"

The helicopter quickly descended to the lowest altitude. At this point, Kakashi opened the cabin door and said, "You can return now, no need to wait for us."

"Yes, Lord ninja."

After instructing the pilot, Kakashi turned to his students and said, "Let's go. Prepare to execute the mission."

The four glanced at the height between the helicopter and the ground. Instead of dropping ropes, they jumped directly from the helicopter.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"

One after another, they landed smoothly. The height was no problem for them, not even for Sakura.

However, just a few seconds after their descent, a large number of wild people wielding weapons suddenly emerged from the cave below the stone platform, alerted by the loud noise of the helicopter.

As worshippers of the Golden City and guardians of this place, they were ready to kill anyone who didn't belong to their tribe.

Kakashi looked at the wild people with spears appearing here and his eyes instantly filled with killing intent.

"Stay alert!"

The three members of the Seventh Squad immediately assumed combat stances, cautiously eyeing the large group of wild men before them.

Just as Kakashi was about to give an order, the wild men launched an attack against the members of Kakashi's team. Spears and ropes tied with stones were hurled at them with a whooshing sound.

Seeing this, Kakashi drew the short Anbu blade from his back and said, "Take them out."

In Kakashi's eyes, anyone who attacked was an enemy, and he would leave none alive.

Within moments, screams filled the area. In less than three minutes, the wild men who had rushed out were slaughtered.

The battle ended, and not a drop of blood remained on Kakashi's blade. After sheathing his sword and confirming that there were no further threats, Kakashi walked over to the stone pillar.

Naruto joined him, examining the massive stone pillar and asked, "Kakashi-sensei, what do we do next? Should we smash this big stone pillar?"

For an ordinary person, opening such a mechanism with brute force might be impossible, but for Naruto, a simple Rasengan could easily shatter it.

Kakashi shook his head and said, "No need to go to such trouble."

Kakashi approached the stone pillar and, looking at the series of human face carvings, pulled one out with a firm grip.

As soon as the human face carving was removed, a hollow appeared in the stone pillar, and sand began flowing out of it.

"Remove all these human face carvings."

"Yes, Kakashi-sensei."

Understanding Kakashi's intent, the three members of the team joined in removing the carvings. Soon, all the carvings were taken down, and sand flowed out from each hole.

With all the human face carvings removed, the stone pillar slowly began to sink, and the four connected stone columns, each weighing several tons, were retracted.

As soon as they were retracted, the ground beneath them shrank into a pit, and the four of them fell to the next level. The floor beneath them spiraled down to the bottom, but it was also retracting.

Kakashi, leading the team, rushed down quickly. Though the retracting floor was fast, it was slow in comparison to a ninja's speed.

Soon, they reached the bottom, where they stood on the surface of a large pool of water. For a moment, Kakashi glanced at the statues standing in the water but then focused on a nearby cave entrance.

"This should be it."

Kakashi walked into the cave and entered a grand hall filled with artifacts from various periods and numerous golden items. The floor was littered with chests overflowing with gold coins, and some coins were even scattered on the ground.

Sakura, amazed by the sight, exclaimed, "Is this the Golden City?"

Kakashi looked around at the artifacts and said uncertainly, "While these items are valuable, they don't seem to be enough to call this a Golden City."

Sasuke, observing everything, felt that while these items were ancient, they didn't even compare to the Uchiha Clan's treasury he had seen as a child.

Sasuke sneered, "This just looks like a treasure vault, not a Golden City."

Kakashi stopped in front of a wall in the hall, tapping it lightly to feel the vibrations.

"We need to investigate further," he said, his eyes narrowing as he tried to sense if there was more to this place than met the eye.

-----1-----

·Chapter 593: City of Gold

"The wall behind is hollow; there should be something else inside," Kakashi said.

Naruto jumped over excitedly, "Kakashi-sensei, let me use Rasengan to break it open."

Just as Naruto was about to form hand seals to create shadow clones, Kakashi grabbed him.

"We're underground. If it collapses, we'll all be buried here."

"The crystal skull is the key here. It's time to use it."

Kakashi took out a sealing scroll from his ninja pouch. As he unfurled the scroll, the crystal skull sealed within appeared before him.

Picking up the crystal skull, Kakashi noticed it start to emit a purple glow from within.

Naruto exclaimed, "Kakashi-sensei, the skull is glowing!"

Sakura and Sasuke turned to look, confirming that the skull was indeed glowing.

Sasuke curiously asked, "Kakashi-sensei, if we're not using force, how do we open this wall?"

Kakashi pointed to a skeletal image on the wall, noticing a sunken spot perfectly shaped for the crystal skull. He placed the skull in there.

In the next moment, the mechanism in the wall activated, causing the bricks and stones to retract and reveal a passageway.

Naruto exclaimed, "It opened just like that!"

Kakashi glanced at the passageway but did not enter immediately. Remembering Lord Charles's instructions, he sealed the crystal skull back into the scroll before proceeding.

As Kakashi sealed the crystal skull, Naruto rushed into the passageway ahead.

Inside, Naruto marveled at the golden hall adorned with thirteen chairs, each occupied by a crystal skeleton.

"Kakashi-sensei, come quickly! There are so many crystal skeletons here!"

Outside, Sakura yelled, "Baka Naruto, be careful of traps!"

Naruto turned back toward the entrance and smiled at Sakura, "Sakura, it's safe in here. No traps."

"And there's so much gold! It looks like the entire hall is made of gold."

Kakashi, having sealed the crystal skull, said, "Let's go. Let's see what's inside."

The three of them quickly passed through the passageway and entered the inner chamber.

Sakura's eyes sparkled with excitement at the sight of the golden hall. Everything seemed to be made of gold, even the chairs holding the crystal skeletons were made of gold.

The bright golden light was almost blinding. Even for Sasuke, he had never seen such wealth, not even in his clan's treasury.

Kakashi, however, was focused on the crystal skeletons around him.

"There are thirteen skeletons here. What kind of species had bones like these?"

Curious about everything around him, Kakashi approached the headless skeleton, wondering if the skull he held belonged to this one.

After a thorough examination, Kakashi couldn't decipher much more. Naruto spoke up again, "Kakashi-sensei, what should we do next?"

"Should we collect all this gold? We can't carry it all by ourselves," Naruto asked, looking around the glittering hall.

Kakashi responded, "Lord Charles instructed us to notify him once we found this place. He'll handle the rest."

Naruto jumped up excitedly, "Great! Lord Charles will be coming soon then!"

Kakashi bit his finger and formed hand seals. "Summoning Jutsu!"

With a puff of smoke, Parker appeared before them.

"Kakashi, what's up?"

"Parker, please inform Lord Charles that we have found the Golden City."

Parker nodded and then disappeared, releasing the summoning jutsu.

Watching Parker leave, Kakashi said, "Alright, let's wait here for Lord Charles to arrive."

…

Meanwhile-

At the New York base-

Charles Doyle was chatting with Tsunade when he sensed the reverse summoning. "Tsunade, I need to go to the Summoning World for a bit. Sorry!"

Tsunade took a sip of her drink and smiled, "No problem, go ahead."

Charles nodded and immediately responded to the reverse summoning, disappearing from Tsunade's sight.

In the Summoning World, Charles faced Parker. "What's the matter, Parker?"

"Kakashi said they found the Golden City."

Charles nodded, feeling satisfied. With his map, they had found it pretty quickly.

"Alright, I understand. Did Kakashi mention when he will summon me?"

"In ten minutes."

…

In the Golden City, ten minutes had passed.

Kakashi performed the summoning jutsu again, and in the next moment, Charles Doyle and Parker appeared before the team.

"Lord Charles, this is the Golden City," Kakashi reported.

Charles looked around and nodded. "Yes, this is the place. Good work, everyone."

Naruto ran up to Charles, excitedly shouting, "Lord Charles, it's been a while! I missed you!"

Charles smiled, ruffling Naruto's hair. "Alright, once this mission is complete, you can all return to the base."

"Yay, awesome!"

Sasuke, observing Naruto's uninhibited display of affection, felt a twinge of envy but his pride held him back from acting similarly.

Sakura, too, watched Naruto's interaction with Charles with envy.

Kakashi took out the sealing scroll from his pouch and handed it to Charles. "Lord Charles, the crystal skull is inside."

Charles accepted the scroll, placing it into his storage space without opening it.

Surveying the grand hall, Charles glanced at the thirteen crystal skeletons before glancing upwards.

He knew that the aliens were not truly dead; placing the crystal skull on the headless skeleton would revive them.

Above their head, a star-faring spaceship was hidden.

Turning to the team, Charles commanded, "Bring all the gold and artifacts to me."

"Yes, Lord Charles!" Kakashi acknowledged. He then directed Naruto, "Use your Shadow Clone Jutsu."

"Got it!" Naruto exclaimed, immediately forming the hand seals for the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, creating 200 clones that filled the hall.

Seeing the hall crowded with clones, Charles chuckled, shaking his head. "Naruto, 50 clones will suffice. You've overdone it."

Realizing his mistake, Naruto sheepishly dispelled 150 clones, reducing the crowd.

The remaining clones enthusiastically cheered and began transporting the artifacts and gold from the hall to Charles.

Charles, faced with the incoming treasures, swiftly stored them in his storage space.

-----2-----

·Chapter 594: Harvest

The entire Team 7 sprang into action, and with the help of Naruto's shadow clones, Charles quickly stored all the treasures in his storage space. This included the thirteen crystal skeletons, which Charles also stored away.

The headless skeleton showed no signs of life, and Charles planned to give this alien artifact to Orochimaru for further research. He figured Orochimaru would be highly interested in a creature that could live for ages, die, and then revive.

Looking around the now-empty grand hall, Charles spoke up, "You all take Sakura outside. I'm going to destroy the upper level of this hall. There's a big surprise up there."

While he wasn't concerned about Naruto or Sasuke getting hurt by falling debris, he was worried about Sakura, who was still too weak at this point to handle such a situation.

"Yes, Lord Charles!" The four members of Team 7 obeyed without question and left the grand hall, heading towards the stone platform outside.

Once they were gone, Charles glanced up at the ceiling. His primary interest in this expedition was the starship capable of interstellar travel. With such a ship, he could easily venture to other planets to plant chakra trees.

With a powerful punch enveloped in blue chakra, Charles struck the ceiling of the hall.

"Boom!" The ceiling shattered, revealing the spaceship above.

Charles leaped up to the spaceship, feeling the smooth surface. His chakra surged, enveloping the entire ship. "Collect!" he commanded, and the ship vanished, stored within his spatial storage.

Without the support of the spaceship, the structure above began to collapse. Outside, Team 7 felt the ground shake and saw the tremors.

Sakura shouted in panic, "This place is going to collapse!"

"Boom!" The ground beneath them gave way, forcing the four to jump to a nearby rock wall for safety.

Naruto, worried, shouted, "Lord Charles is still in there! Is he going to be okay?"

Sasuke, with a calm demeanor, replied, "With Lord Charles's power, this collapse won't harm him."

Kakashi also reassured Naruto, "Don't worry, Naruto. Lord Charles will be fine."

At that moment, the rubble below burst apart, and Charles flew out, surveying the scene.

The starship's extraction hadn't flooded the Golden City with river water; only the stone platform had collapsed. The once-high platform had turned into a large pit.

Charles looked over at Team 7 and flew to them. "I've got what I came for. Let's head back to the New York base."

"Yes, Lord Charles!" they responded in unison.

Passing through the cave to the plain, Charles activated Merlin's Teleportation Array. "Everyone, step inside the array. We'll return directly to the base."

...

As the group stepped into the array, a flash of light enveloped them, and they vanished, returning to the New York base.

Upon returning to the base, Charles and Team 7 made their way to the conference room.

Charles looked at everyone and said, "The mission is complete. Take some time to rest. There are many new comrades from Konoha in the base now, so take the opportunity to catch up with your classmates and friends."

"I'll be hosting a gathering in a few days. It will be a chance for everyone to get together."

Hearing about the new arrivals, everyone, including Naruto, showed expressions of joy and excitement.

"Yes, Lord Charles!" they responded in unison.

The team didn't linger in the conference room and quickly dispersed. Charles then instructed, "Red Queen, inform Ginny to meet me at the Treasury."

"Yes, Master."

After giving the instruction, Charles headed to his Treasury. Despite its name, the Treasury was an entire building.

Entering the building, Charles began unloading the treasures collected during their recent mission. The hoard included artifacts from various countries and eras, even containing a Terracotta Warrior and an Egyptian mummy.

"It seems my Treasury will get quite the improvement," Charles mused.

Although he initially considered keeping one of the crystal skulls for his collection, he decided to give it to Orochimaru for research, curious about what insights the scientist might glean from the extraterrestrial artifact.

Charles sorted the historical and valuable items, filling the first floor of the Treasury to the brim with jewels, artworks, coins, and antiques.

He then moved to the second floor, where he stacked the gold bricks he had collected. The sheer volume of gold bricks illuminated the entire floor, creating a dazzling sight that even Charles found impressive.

Soon, Ginny arrived, her eyes widening in astonishment at the sight of the gold. "Boss, did you rob a national treasury?"

Charles laughed, "Kakashi and his team found the Golden City. The artifacts downstairs and these gold bricks are their haul."

"Wow, they got lucky, didn't they?" Ginny remarked, still in awe of the treasure trove.

Charles continued, "I have a task for you. Leave the Chinese antiques downstairs to decorate the Treasury. Pick one or two of the most valuable items to keep for the collection, and sell the rest. Also, sell all these gold bricks for cash."

"Boss, selling such a large quantity all at once could devalue them significantly. It's better to sell them gradually. It might take longer, but the returns will be higher."

"Alright, handle it as you see fit. Remember, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Coulson mentioned they could help sell items from the Golden City if we managed to find it. If the price is right, let them handle some of the sales."

"Got it, boss."

Charles thought for a moment and then added, "I'm planning a banquet at the base in a week. Prepare for that as well."

"Send out invitations to people from the Sound Village, Sand Village, Mist Village, and also to Tony Stark and the Elders of the High Table."

-----3-----

·Chapter 595: Orochimaru's Research

"Got it, boss. Should I notify S.H.I.E.L.D. as well?"

Hearing Ginny's suggestion, Charles considered it for a moment. With such a big event, S.H.I.E.L.D. would definitely be interested.

Even if they weren't invited, they would try to get involved. So, it was better to invite them.

He then said, "Send an invitation to S.H.I.E.L.D. too. Address it to that ninja they have, Kabuto Yakushi. Each invitation can bring one guest at most."

"Oh, and notify my junior disciples and teachers, as well as John and the current batch of adjudicators. Make sure to get the ones who are on missions, like Cross and Wesley, back here too."

"Boss, what's the theme of the party?"

Thinking for a moment, Charles replied, "My birthday party!"

After instructing Ginny about the birthday party, Charles headed to the base's basement.

The basement housed not just any equipment but the data processing center for Red Queen.

Red Queen, as an AI, required substantial computing power, supported by numerous computer systems and a large supercomputer within the base.

Charles walked past rows of neatly arranged servers and took the elevator to the lowest level of the basement.

This level has no equipment yet it was significantly larger than the floors above due to being magically expanded with the Extension Charm, creating a vast space.

Charles mentally accessed his storage space and looked at the aircraft carrier and the spaceship inside. He directly took out the spaceship.

"Boom!"

The massive spaceship landed on the ground with a thunderous sound.

"Red Queen!"

"I'm here, master."

"I have a task for you. Without damaging it, hack into this spaceship and gain full control."

"Yes, master!"

Red Queen began scanning the spaceship and initiated a connection.

"Master, the technology level of this spaceship is very high. My current computing power can't crack it quickly. I need to purchase more equipment to enhance my processing capabilities."

"Notify Ginny to allocate some funds for you. You can place the order directly."

"Yes, master."

"Red Queen, where is Orochimaru?"

"Master, Orochimaru is in the lab."

"Notify him that I'll be coming over shortly."

"Yes, master."

After delegating the spaceship to Red Queen, Charles left and headed to Orochimaru's lab.

It had been some time since he handed over Riot to Orochimaru, and Charles wanted to check on the progress.

If Orochimaru wasn't too busy, he planned to give him the crystal skulls for research as well.

In the lab, Orochimaru smiled as he looked at the now dormant Riot in the medicinal tank.

Suddenly, Red Queen's voice echoed in the lab, "Orochimaru, Lord Charles will visit the lab shortly. Please prepare to receive him."

Knowing that Lord Charles was coming, Orochimaru's serpentine eyes gazed thoughtfully at the symbiote before him as he replied to Red Queen:

"I understand."

It didn't take long for Charles to arrive outside Orochimaru's laboratory. The door was already open.

Orochimaru stepped forward to greet him, "Lord Charles!"

Seeing Orochimaru at the door, Charles was curious. This wasn't a typical behavior for the person in front of him.

Charles nodded and entered the laboratory.

"Orochimaru, how is the research on the symbiote going?"

Orochimaru walked alongside Charles and said, "There has been some success. Lord Charles, please follow me."

They walked deeper into the laboratory and soon reached a sealed nutrient tank. Inside the tank, there is an armor.

"My lord, this was the symbiote Riot."

"Through my research, I've transformed it into a ninja tool, completely eradicating Riot's consciousness."

"Now it's just armor. When worn, it provides certain abilities, such as summoning various weapons. The symbiote retains a weapon arsenal unique to its species, which can now be controlled at the wearer's will."

"Wearing this armor enhances the user's strength, speed, and reflexes, and it also offers a degree of regenerative capability."

Hearing this, Charles became interested and asked, "Does it enhance everyone's abilities equally?"

Orochimaru shook his head. "No, there is an upper limit. For ordinary people, users of physical enhancement serums, and even some Genin, the boost is significant."

"But for Chunin, the enhancement is much less noticeable, and for Jonin, it's even weaker."

"Additionally, the symbiote still has its weaknesses to fire and sound. A Fire Release or Sound Release attack can cause it to disintegrate. Even a single explosive tag could easily destroy it."

"However, avoiding these weaknesses allows it to provide healing, almost like having a medical ninja constantly performing Mystical Palm Technique on you."

"In short, it's a mixed bag. It's a useful tool as long as its weaknesses are not exposed."

"However, it's not suitable for users of Fire Release or Thunder release, otherwise, it could be helpful for Sasuke."

Through Orochimaru's experiments, it was discovered that using Chidori while wearing the symbiote would cause it to detach from the body.

As for using Fire Release, it wouldn't harm the user but would cause the symbiote to revert to its original form.

Hearing Orochimaru's explanation, Charles was somewhat disappointed. It seemed the armor would only be useful for people like Ginny and John.

"Can it be replicated?"

Charles knew symbiotes could reproduce through splitting, so creating more could bolster his forces' strength.

Orochimaru, though not particularly interested in such a flawed symbiote, replied, "If that is your wish, I can look into it. It should be possible to replicate the symbiote."

He knew Charles had a secretary with limited combat ability and some non-ninja personnel.

Charles nodded. "Make more of them. Erase their consciousness and fashion them into armor. It will be useful for some members of the base."

"Understood, Lord Charles."

-----4-----

·Chapter 596: Earthling

At this moment, Orochimaru spoke up, "My lord, I have a request. The laboratory is severely understaffed. Shizune is usually assisting Tsunade, so I need more assistants."

Hearing Orochimaru's need for assistants, Charles felt a bit of a headache. Orochimaru's best assistant was Kabuto Yakushi, but he had been sent to S.H.I.E.L.D. The rest of the Sound Village personnel were all out establishing the Sound Village.

Charles pondered for a moment and then thought to himself: Should I have Orochimaru defect as well? That way, I could recruit people like Suigetsu, Karin, and Jūgo to assist him.

After considering for a while, Charles decided that this matter should be planned carefully.

"There aren't many who can assist you in your experiments. If there's anyone in the base you have your eye on, you can ask them."

"There are also some researchers on this planet. Are you interested in any of them?"

Hearing about ordinary people from this planet, Orochimaru shook his head. "Ordinary people won't do. I'll have to rely on my Shadow Clones for now. If it becomes absolutely necessary, I'll seek help from Tsunade and Shizune."

To Orochimaru, apart from Tsunade and Shizune, no one else in the base seemed capable of assisting him.

"Alright, we'll leave it at that for now. If I find suitable candidates, I'll arrange for them to assist you."

Charles then approached a nearby experiment table and, with a wave of his hand, a crystal skull appeared on the table.

"I have another item for you today. I think you'll find it quite interesting."

Orochimaru looked at the skull with curiosity. The entire skeleton was composed of crystal-like bones, and the head was disproportionately large, clearly not the bones of a normal human.

Licking his lips with his tongue, Orochimaru asked, "What species is this?"

Charles shook his head. "I don't know what species it is. I only know it's an alien."

"And it's not dead."

Orochimaru was surprised. "Not dead?"

"Yes, it's not dead."

"This skull is just part of the alien's skeleton. There are thirteen such skulls in total."

"When all thirteen skulls are gathered together, they will merge and resurrect."

"And this being has existed for at least a few thousand years, possessing a remarkably long lifespan."

Hearing Charles's explanation, Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with interest. Such an alien was indeed fascinating.

"My lord, what about the other bones...?"

With a wave of his hand, Charles made thirteen crystal skulls appear in Orochimaru's laboratory.

Orochimaru immediately began examining the skulls. He carefully inspected each of the thirteen skulls.

As he touched the brains of these crystal skulls, Orochimaru felt a will attempting to enter his mind. However, it was quickly blocked by him.

Even if the current Orochimaru's soul wasn't in perfect condition, a mere alien skull wouldn't be able to invade his mind.

"This being is indeed still alive."

Sensing the weak will of the alien, Orochimaru, confident in his abilities, decided to lower his mental defenses.

...

Soon, Orochimaru heard the voice and understood its meaning.

"Just find my other skull and return it to me. As a token of gratitude, I will grant you one wish, any wish."

Charles asked, "Did you manage to communicate with it?"

Orochimaru nodded, "It is indeed alive and tried to force its way into my mind to communicate, but it was too weak. If I hadn't lowered my mental defenses, I wouldn't have been able to hear it."

"But this creature is quite boastful, claiming it can grant me any wish with such a weak will."

Charles sneered, "It's just an alien with some abilities."

"However, once all thirteen parts of its body are combined, its power will indeed increase significantly, though I can't be sure of its exact strength."

As he spoke, Charles took out a sealing scroll and handed it to Orochimaru.

"This scroll contains the last skull. I'll leave it to you."

"I trust you know how to handle this. When you finish studying the bones and are ready to research the alien's full body, make sure you're fully prepared."

"Since we don't know how powerful this creature is, it's always better to be cautious."

Orochimaru accepted the sealing scroll and reassured, "Don't worry, Lord Charles. This creature won't cause any trouble in my hands."

Charles nodded and then left Orochimaru's lab.

Orochimaru looked at the collection of crystal skulls and licked his lips, muttering, "Aliens, this world is truly fascinating."

...

S.H.I.E.L.D. -

In Nick Fury's office-

Black Widow Natasha had completed her mission and returned to report to S.H.I.E.L.D.

Nick Fury looked at Natasha and asked, "What have you discovered during your time with the Mist ninjas?"

Natasha began, "During my time with the three Mist ninjas, I've learned quite a bit about the Mist Village."

"The Mist Village is part of the Country of Water, an island nation surrounded by the sea. Based on the information I gathered, I suspect they are not from Earth."

Hearing Natasha's conclusion, Nick Fury glanced at her and then said, "Have you shared this suspicion with anyone else?"

"Director, no, I haven't."

Nick Fury stared at Natasha for a few seconds, then handed her a file, saying, "Take a look at this."

Natasha took the file and began reading.

The file contained information suggesting that the ninja world is a completely different world, with an analysis indicating the population of the ninja world might have originally migrated from Earth.

It also mentioned that Earth and the ninja world are connected by numerous teleportation arrays, which allow for travel between the two worlds.

Additionally, it stated that Charles Doyle is suspected to be a high-ranking member's offspring from the Land of Fire's Hidden Leaf Village, who had been lost on Earth and later found.

Reading this intelligence, Natasha widened her eyes in disbelief and asked, "Director, are they Earthlings or aliens?"

Nick Fury was silent for a few seconds before responding, "Based on the medical examinations and social security records from when Charles Doyle was adopted, the evidence indicates he is an Earthling."

"Our hypothesis is that Charles is from the ninja world. If the people from the ninja world and Earth share a common origin, they should all be Earthlings."

-----5-----

·Chapter 597: Birthday Party

Nick Fury looked at Natasha and said, "This matter is of the highest confidentiality within S.H.I.E.L.D., classified as top secret. Until the classification is downgraded, do not disclose it to anyone."

Natasha responded with a serious expression, "Yes, Director!"

Nick Fury nodded, "Alright, continue with your report."

"Director, from my understanding, the relationships between the ninjas are not amicable. They have had conflicts and wars in the past."

"Based on the intelligence I received, the Mizukage does not have control over the teleportation arrays between the two worlds."

"If they remain missing for an extended period, the Hidden Mist Village will likely consider their leader lost and conduct a widespread search in the ninja world."

"To avoid losing contact with the ninja world, the Mizukage will try to find the teleportation arrays. If unsuccessful, they might target other ninja villages."

Nick Fury agreed with Natasha's assessment. The prolonged absence of an organization's leader would undoubtedly lead to significant problems.

"Which village do you think the Mizukage would target if they decide to take action?"

Natasha thought for a moment and then said, "If the Hidden Mist Village takes action, they will most likely target the Sound Village first."

"Among the forces that control the teleportation arrays, the Hidden Leaf Village has the most personnel, making it the hardest target."

"The Akatsuki, despite having the fewest members, consists of strong Kage-level ninjas and is highly elusive."

"Although the Hidden Mist initially encountered the Akatsuki, I don't think they will target them."

"The Hidden Sand Village currently has only four ninjas, making them relatively weak. However, three of the Hidden Sand's members are the children of the Kazekage."

"Additionally, the Hidden Sand, Hidden Leaf, and Hidden Mist are among the Five Great Shinobi Countries and top-tier forces in the ninja world. The Hidden Mist would likely avoid conflict with them unless absolutely necessary."

"If Temari and the others are attacked, it's highly possible that the Hidden Sand will send reinforcements."

"The Sound Village, on the other hand, has only five ninjas and is considered a small village. I suspect that if the Hidden Mist takes action, it will be against them."

Upon hearing Natasha's analysis, Nick Fury furrowed his brows. Ninjas indeed are not peaceful individuals, and the destruction they could cause in a conflict is considerable.

Based on previous combat reports, the three members from the Hidden Mist are not primarily taijutsu users but ninjutsu users capable of large-scale attacks and terrain-altering powers.

Even battles in remote areas could cause significant damage and impact.

Nick Fury pondered for a moment and then asked, "Is there any possibility of mediating the situation? Perhaps getting the Hidden Mist to pay a price to borrow the teleportation arrays from the other three villages and send the Mizukage back."

To Nick Fury, sending the Hidden Mist back to the ninja world and keeping them off Earth would be beneficial, though he recognized the difficulty.

If he were the Mizukage, he would also try to find the teleportation arrays upon returning and send people back, as Earth is a habitable planet that would not be easily abandoned.

Natasha shook her head.

"I don't think we have the ability to mediate this situation effectively, but we can arrange for someone to try."

"Alright, I understand. We'll leave it at that for now. I'll have another task for you soon."

"Yes, sir!"

As Natasha turned to leave, Nick Fury opened a file he had been holding. Inside were dossiers on several individuals, with Brock Rumlow, Natasha Romanoff, and a few other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents listed.

This was the candidate list for the next round of serum injections. Nick Fury planned to select two or three agents to undergo the procedure.

Nick Fury even considered whether he should inject himself with the serum. But since he seldom found himself on the front lines, the value of using the serum on field agents was greater.

Besides, he had his own set of contingencies and wasn't overly concerned about his safety.

After contemplating for a while, Nick Fury selected the files of Brock Rumlow, Natasha Romanoff, and Steve Rogers.

...

A week later-

The large lawn in front of Charles's base was set up as the main venue for the birthday party.

Numerous staff members were bustling around, serving guests. Drinks, snacks, and desserts were arranged on tables for everyone to enjoy.

Top-tier Michelin star chefs were brought to prepare gourmet dishes for the attendees.

Although Charles hadn't invited any random people, the turnout was still considerable.

The Elders of the High Table arrived early.

The Charles Agency was closed for the day, allowing even the werewolves under Charles's command to join the festivities.

The spaciousness of Charles's base ensured that, despite the large number of guests, the venue didn't feel crowded.

At that moment, Tony Stark arrived with Pepper Potts and made his way toward Charles.

"Hey, buddy, happy birthday!"

Charles smiled as he saw Tony. "Tony, long time no see."

Pepper Potts handed over a gift box and said, "Mr. Charles, happy birthday! This is a little something from Tony and me."

Ginny, standing nearby, took the gift box from Pepper.

"Tony, you shouldn't have. Your presence is gift enough."

Tony chuckled and replied, "There are a lot of guests today. You go ahead and greet them. We can catch up later."

"Sure, there are other familiar faces here for you. You and Pepper can mingle with them for now."

Tony and Pepper walked away, and as they did, Jiraiya suddenly appeared and threw an arm around Tony's shoulder.

"Tony!"

Tony quickly pushed Jiraiya away and introduced him, "Pepper, this is Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin from Konoha. He's a powerful ninja and a friend of mine."

Pepper extended her hand to Jiraiya, "Hello, I'm Pepper Potts. Nice to meet you."

Upon hearing that Pepper Potts was Tony's girlfriend, Jiraiya was somewhat surprised but still shook her hand warmly. "Hello, I'm Jiraiya."

After exchanging a few words, Jiraiya pulled Tony aside and asked in a low voice, "Bro, when did you start dating? How come I didn't know about this before?"

Tony cleared his throat and replied seriously, "Jiraiya, Pepper and I have been together for a while now. She's been busy running my company, so you haven't seen her around."

Jiraiya gave a thumbs up and raised an eyebrow. "Well done, buddy!"

Meanwhile, elsewhere at the party, the 'Konoha Twelve' gathered together, chatting and enjoying their time. They shared stories of their experiences in this world.

Kakashi, Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Obito Uchiha stood together, reminiscing about their own stories. Kakashi, especially, cherished Obito dearly, next only to Charles.

The entire scene was divided into various groups: the Elders of the High Table, the werewolves, the Adjudicator team led by John, and the ninja from Konoha—all mingled separately in their own circles.

Observing the crowd from a corner of the banquet hall were Kabuto and Coulson.

"Kabuto, the number of Leaf Village shinobi has increased again. There are so many of them now."

"I counted at least twenty-three people with Leaf Village headbands. It seems like there are more Leaf Village ninja here than from all the other villages combined."

Kabuto nodded in agreement. "Yes, unless there's been a large influx of ninja from other villages recently, the Leaf Village indeed seems to have a significant presence."

Kabuto couldn't help but wonder if Charles had a particular fondness for the Leaf Village, considering that two-thirds of the ninja he had brought from the ninja world were from there.

Just as they were conversing, Pakura arrived with three shinobi from the Hidden Sand Village.

"Mr. Charles, happy birthday. This is a birthday gift prepared by the Hidden Sand Village for you."

At this moment, Temari held out a wrapped gift box. It appeared quite large, and no one knew what was inside.

Charles smiled at the Hidden Sand ninja as they approached. "You're all here, and bringing gifts too? That's too kind."

"Ginny, take this."

Ginny stepped forward to receive the gift from Temari. As she took it, she felt its weight and wondered what could be inside.

Fortunately, Ginny had been injected with Type III physique enhancement serum, so her strength was extraordinary. She easily took the gift and placed it with the others on the gift table.

After the Hidden Sand Village delegation arrived, it wasn't long before the five members of the Sound Ninja also made their appearance.

Unlike the Hidden Sand, the Sound Ninja attracted more attention as they approached, causing a stir among the guests.

Sakon, Ukon and Kidomaru are both quite strange in appearance; it's hard not to notice them.

Following that, Kimimaro, accompanied by the four members of the Sound Ninja, presented birthday gifts and wishes to Charles Doyle, and then proceeded to the banquet area to interact with other ninjas.

The last to arrive was Mei Terumi, the Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village, accompanied by Ao and Haku.

Approaching Charles Doyle, Mei Terumi smiled and said, "Happy birthday, Mr. Charles. I'm a bit unfamiliar with this place since I've just arrived. I hope I'm not too late."

Charles smiled back, "Not at all. The party hasn't officially started yet, so your timing is perfect."

Mei Terumi chuckled before calling out, "Ao!"

Ao, who was behind Mei Terumi, held a gift box and stepped forward, saying, "Happy birthday. This is a little token from the Hidden Mist."

Ginny came over, accepted the gift from Ao, and placed it aside before leading Mei Terumi and her companions to another area.

Coulson looked at Kabuto and said, "This beautiful lady is actually the Mizukage of the Hidden Mist. Have you ever met her before?"

Kabuto smiled bitterly, "Coulson, I'm just a nobody in the ninja world. How could I have met the Mizukage?"

Coulson nodded, "True, but you have now."

"If you go back later, you'll have the capital to boast to your buddies. Want to go say hello?"

Kabuto shook his head, "Forget it. Such a big shot, I'd rather not bother her."

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Charles took the microphone and said, "A very warm welcome to all the guests who have taken time out of their busy schedules to come to my birthday party."

"The party starts now. I hope everyone enjoys the food, drinks, and atmosphere!"

Charles didn't waste much time with pleasantries and quickly thanked everyone before officially starting the party.

Watching Charles Doyle with a smile on her face, Mei Terumi couldn't help but feel a bit infatuated; Charles Doyle was just too handsome. She thought to herself, "It would be great if he could be my future husband."

At this moment, Ao spoke up, "Mizukage, there are many guests here. Are there any that catch your eye?"

Ao knew that Mei Terumi was actually a woman who was eager to marry a handsome and powerful man.

Mei Terumi's expression changed, and then she calmly said, "The man for me, Mei Terumi, must be someone who isn't easily swayed."

Ao looked at the men on the stage and whispered, "What do you think of Mr. Charles Doyle?"

Mei Terumi glanced at Ao but didn't say anything.

As Charles announced the start of the party, Mei Terumi went over to the Sound Ninja's area and approached Kimimaro.

"I heard you're from the Kaguya Clan."

Kimimaro, whose gaze had been fixed on Orochimaru, turned to face Mei Terumi when she stood in front of him and replied, "What's the matter?"

"I'm Mei Terumi, the Fifth Mizukage, and I'm inviting you, a member of the Kaguya Clan, to return to the Hidden Mist."

Kimimaro remained expressionless and replied coldly, "Not interested."

Mei Terumi smiled, "You little brat, it's not up to you."

Meanwhile, from a distance, Coulson watched anxiously as Mei Terumi went to chat with the Sound Ninja.

He had received information from the director that the Hidden Mist might engage in a battle with the Sound Ninja.

Coulson worried, "The Hidden Mist won't start a fight with the Sound Ninja directly at the party, will they? They shouldn't."

-----6-----

·Chapter 598: Battle

The birthday party was very successful, with both the host and the guests thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Charles had gathered all the recruited ninjas together, allowing everyone to get acquainted in this setting. Fortunately, the potential conflict that Coulson had been worried about did not occur.

During the party, Charles approached Tony and asked for help in preparing a batch of new elements, to which Tony agreed.

After the party ended, Charles returned to his room.

At that moment, his living room was filled with gift boxes from various attendees. Since they were birthday gifts, they had not been opened, and Charles didn't know what was inside them yet.

Charles sat on the sofa, waved his hand, and a gift box flew into his lap, starting his journey of unwrapping presents.

"No wonder it was so heavy, it's vibranium."

Charles quickly unwrapped another gift. As he opened the box, he heard the system prompt in his ear.

"Discovering a rechargeable item, would you like to recharge it?"

Looking inside the box, Charles saw it contained five samples of a newly synthesized element. Although there wasn't much of it, its value was in the billions.

"Tony, you truly are a generous friend!"

"Recharge!"

"Ding· Recharge successful, obtained 2500 gold coins!"

Charles quickly unwrapped all the boxes. The gifts were diverse, including jewels, antiques, and even items Charles didn't recognize.

Seeing that this particular gift was from the twelve High Table elders, Charles understood that they were trying to find items he might need for recharging, though unfortunately, it couldn't be recharged.

From S.H.I.E.L.D., Charles received ten energy blocks as a birthday gift, which he promptly recharged, gaining 1800 gold coins.

The gifts from the Sound Village and Hidden Mist Village were each a box of energy blocks, fifty each, providing a total of 18,000 gold coins.

Additionally, the magical equipment from David and Balthazar, which was a set of five magical items, earned Charles a total of 10,000 gold coins.

This gift was not just from the two of them but represented the combined effort of the magical world, making it the most valuable among all the gifts Charles received.

…

Elsewhere-

On the way back to their base, the Sound Village group was stopped. Suddenly, Kimimaro halted and coldly said, "Come out!"

The Sound Four immediately took up defensive positions, surrounding Kimimaro.

"As expected of the Kaguya clan, who have mastered the Dead Bone Pulse, have such strong sensing abilities."

The next moment, Mei Terumi appeared with Ao and Haku, blocking their path.

Kimimaro stepped forward and coldly said, "Move aside!"

Despite facing the Mizukage of the Hidden Mist, Kimimaro showed no fear.

Mei Terumi looked at Kimimaro and smiled, "What a cold kid."

"Sound Village is just a small ninja village. There's nothing worthwhile for you there."

"Kaguya's lineage originally belonged to the Hidden Mist's bloodline limit family. Return to the Mist Village with me."

Upon hearing Mei Terumi's words, the Sound Four glanced at each other, their mouths curving into mocking smiles.

They found the idea of the Mizukage trying to take the loyal Kimimaro away from Orochimaru laughable.

Even though Orochimaru had not yet returned to the Sound Village, the Sound Five were confident that he would eventually come back.

Kimimaro glanced at Mei Terumi and, with an indifferent tone, said, "I will not leave the Sound Village."

"Kid, you don't have a choice."

"Haku, Ao, take care of those four from the Sound Village."

"Yes, ma'am!"

As Mei Terumi finished her command, Haku and Ao sprang into action, attacking the Sound Four. Ao quickly appeared in front of Kidomaru, striking him with a swift palm and sending him flying before kicking Ukon and Sakon aside.

"Bang!"

The two were knocked away instantly. Ao had targeted the two most peculiar-looking members, leaving the remaining two for Haku to handle.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the road, only Kimimaro and Mei Terumi remained, locking eyes with each other.

Kimimaro raised his hands.

"Dead Bone Pulse: Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!"

Bones shot out from Kimimaro's fingers, firing like bullets with a powerful sound towards Mei Terumi. The force behind them could easily pierce through steel plates.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Seeing Kimimaro's attack, Mei Terumi smiled even more and quickly formed hand signs.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

A massive water wall appeared in front of Mei Terumi. The bone bullets hit the wall with loud impacts, splashing water everywhere but failing to penetrate the wall.

Kimimaro frowned slightly at this sight. The Mizukage's water release technique was incredibly strong; a simple Water Formation Wall had blocked his Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets, which had pierced through many water release techniques before.

Even though Mei Terumi was the Mizukage, Kimimaro wasn't intimidated. He had faced Kage-level opponents before.

Kimimaro pulled out a bone sword from his arm and charged at Mei Terumi, intending to use his advantage in close combat.

...

S.H.I.E.L.D. Chakra Detection Center-

Alarms blared in the monitoring room: "Chakra fluctuation detected! Chakra fluctuation detected! Chakra fluctuation detected!"

The agents in the monitoring room sprang into action.

Coulson and Kabuto were waiting outside the Sound Village base for the Sound Five to return.

"Coulson, why didn't we leave with the Sound Village group after the party and wait for them here?"

"Kabuto, there were too many people at the party. I didn't want anyone to know S.H.I.E.L.D. had business with the Sound Village."

Coulson checked his watch, puzzled. "They should be arriving soon, based on the timing."

"Ring~ Ring~"

Coulson's phone rang. Seeing it was the director, he quickly answered.

"Coulson, there's a battle between the Hidden Mist and Sound Village on Isabella Street in Staten Island. Where are you and Kabuto?"

"Director, we're outside the Sound Village base."

"Go to the scene immediately and investigate. Do not engage with either side. Wait until the battle is over before contacting the Sound Village."

"Yes, Director!"

-----7-----

·Chapter 599: Rare Genius

Coulson and Kabuto hadn't yet reached Isabella Street when they heard the sounds of intense battle from a nearby street.

Just as Coulson was about to drive closer, Kabuto shouted, "Coulson, stop the car."

"Stop?"

Coulson hit the brakes, bringing the car to a stop. He asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"If we drive straight into the battle, we might get torn apart by the shockwaves of their jutsu before we even get close."

Hearing Kabuto's warning, Coulson broke into a cold sweat, realizing the danger of recklessly approaching a fight involving powerful ninjas.

"Thank you for the warning, Kabuto. You just saved my life."

Coulson parked the car on the side of the road, then followed Kabuto up to the rooftop of a nearby building. They planned to observe the battle from a safe distance instead of getting too close.

...

Isabella Street-

Haku used his Ice Release to trap Jirobo and Tayuya. Even in her second state, Tayuya couldn't break through Haku's ice.

Ao had an even easier time. With his Byakugan's 360-degree vision, Kidomaru couldn't land a hit, even in his second state.

Ao occasionally glanced at Haku to ensure he was ready to assist if needed. Unlike Neji's Byakugan, Ao's didn't have any blind spot.

Meanwhile, in the battle between Mei Terumi and Kimimaro, Mei formed hand signs as Kimimaro charged at her.

"Water Release: Water Bullet Rain!"

Water elements gathered in the air, forming a massive cube of water above Mei's head. From this cube, half-meter-sized water bullets shot out at high speed, hitting Kimimaro.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

However, the water bullets, powerful enough to turn a person into pulp, didn't harm Kimimaro at all. A layer of bone membrane grew from his body, protecting him.

Seeing this, Mei Terumi's satisfaction grew. Only such a formidable Dead Bone Pulse user was worth her efforts.

She quickly formed more hand signs, causing water to gather at Kimimaro's feet, binding him.

"Little boy, come with the Mizukage."

As she spoke, Mei formed a water whip in her hand. She lashed out, wrapping it around Kimimaro, intending to pull him closer.

Just as Kimimaro was about to be captured, the Cursed Seal of Earth on his chest activated, covering his body with a layer of bone armor. He broke free from Mei's water whip.

In that moment, Kimimaro's aura reached the level of an elite jounin. Mei, instead of being worried, was even more pleased with his transformation.

Kimimaro's body sprouted numerous bone spikes. He lunged at Mei, the spikes extending to attack her.

"Lava Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"

Facing the charging Kimimaro, Mei remained calm. She extended her hand and gently exhaled a mist.

In an instant, both Kimimaro and Mei Terumi were enveloped by the mist, with Mei becoming invisible within it.

Kimimaro's attack missed, and the next second his face changed color. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and the previously indestructible bone spikes on his body softened, beginning to melt and crack from the high-temperature mist.

This particular technique of Mei Terumi was capable of melting even the first stage of Uchiha Sasuke's Susanoo. Kimimaro's Dead Bone Pulse was no match for it.

...

On the rooftop of a building a kilometer away, Coulson and Kabuto were lying flat, observing the battle through binoculars.

"My God, Kimimaro from the Sound Village is completely outmatched, continuously being suppressed by the Mizukage."

"Even against S-class rogue ninja Hidan, he managed to hold his ground and even easily restrain him," Coulson noted in surprise.

Kabuto glanced at Coulson and calmly explained, "Coulson, they're both kage-level powerhouses, but one is the shadow of a village while the other is just a rogue ninja from a small village. They can't be compared on the same level."

"Unless something unexpected happens, the winner of this fight will undoubtedly be Mizukage Mei Terumi."

Hearing Kabuto's words, Coulson sighed, "It looks like the Sound Village's dimensional transportation array is about to fall into the hands of the Hidden Mist."

"Kabuto, do you think the Mizukage will kill Kimimaro?"

Kabuto shook his head, "I don't know, but I remember that Kimimaro is a member of the Kaguya clan."

"The Hidden Mist used to have many bloodline limit clans, and I recall that one of them was the Kaguya clan."

"Maybe the Mizukage won't kill him."

Puzzled, Coulson asked, "If the Kaguya clan is a bloodline limit clan of the Hidden Mist, why is Kimimaro a jonin of the Sound Village?"

Kabuto shook his head, "That, I don't know. I've only heard of these famous bloodline limit clans because their legends are widespread in the ninja world. But the specific reasons are beyond what a wandering ninja like me could find out."

Coulson nodded, agreeing with Kabuto's words. Such secrets were indeed beyond his reach.

"Coulson, what are your plans afterward?"

"Let's wait. Wait for the battle to end and handle the aftermath."

As the battle continued, some nearby civilians came out due to the commotion but were swept away by the shockwaves of the fight. Many nearby shops were destroyed, and the ground was riddled with craters.

Some people hiding in their houses had already called the police, while some daring individuals took out their phones to record the scene, intending to post it on their Twitter accounts.

At this moment, enraged by Mei Terumi's Boil Release, Kimimaro clenched his fists and let out a furious roar:

"Ahhh!"

A red light burst from Kimimaro's body as he entered his second state.

At this moment, Kimimaro's aura reached the level of a quasi-Kage, transforming into a dragon-like humanoid form with a long tail.

Without the burden of his bloodline disease, Kimimaro, even at the quasi-Kage level, was unafraid of Kage-level opponents.

He even had the potential to fight them to the death. However, his opponent was none other than Mizukage Mei Terumi.

Among the ninjas under Charles, Mei Terumi was undoubtedly the strongest. Even the legendary Sannin like Tsunade were no match for her.

Mei Terumi watched Kimimaro's transformation with a slight frown, "This doesn't seem like a Dead Bone Pulse ability."

"It also looks ugly, but his strength has indeed increased significantly. A fifteen-year-old quasi-Kage level ninja—truly a rare genius."

-----8-----

·Chapter 600: Captured

Because Mei Terumi was completely hidden in the Mist Technique, Kimimaro lost track of her and initiated a wide-range attack.

"Dead Bone Pulse: Dance of the Fern!"

With a loud shout from Kimimaro, countless bone spikes suddenly grew from the ground, spreading throughout the range of the Mist Technique and beyond, resembling a forest of white bones.

Seeing the bone spikes emerging from the ground, Haku immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to retreat, while Ao jumped to the rooftop to avoid Kimimaro's area attack.

"I found you!"

Kimimaro leapt into the air, gathering his strongest bone spear and heavily striking towards Mei Terumi's direction. Simultaneously, the bone spikes on the ground exploded, attacking Mei Terumi.

"Boom!"

A massive explosion echoed, causing the buildings on both sides of Isabella Street to collapse instantly. The neighboring streets' buildings had their glass shattered and structures swayed from the shockwave.

With this move, Kimimaro had destroyed an entire street and caused significant damage to the surrounding streets. As for the civilians on these streets, they were of no importance in Kimimaro's eyes.

A kilometer away, Coulson was blown away by the shockwave. Luckily, Kabuto grabbed him in time, or Coulson would have been blown off the building.

"God, is this the power of top-level ninjas?"

"Kabuto, thank you for saving my life again."

Kabuto shook his head and looked towards the battlefield, thinking to himself: Without the Kekkei Genkai disease, Kimimaro should be the most suitable vessel in Orochimaru-sama's mind.

After using his strongest attack, Kimimaro landed back on the ground, breathing heavily. The Earth Curse Mark on his body receded, returning to his body, and the Mist Technique also dissipated under the attack.

"Huff... huff..."

"That should have defeated her!"

In Kimimaro's perception, his attack should have hit Mei Terumi directly.

Kimimaro was puzzled by today's battle but didn't question it. He hadn't received any message from Lord Charles instructing them to cooperate with the Mist Village in a staged fight, nor did he understand why the Mizukage was attacking them.

As for Mei Terumi saying she wanted to bring him back to the Mist Village, he didn't care at all.

In his heart, Lord Charles was first, Orochimaru-sama was second, and everyone else was insignificant.

As for the Mist Village, it had no good influence on him. Even though he was not well-treated in his clan, he had no feelings towards the Mist Village, which had slaughtered his Kaguya clan.

Mei Terumi, on the other hand, genuinely wanted to bring Kimimaro over. Without a doubt, in her heart Charles Doyle was the top priority, but she also had the desire to rebuild the Mist Village in this new world.

She believed that in the future, Lord Charles would bring more Mist ninjas, and Kaguya Kimimaro, like Haku, was part of the Mist's bloodline clans. Recovering bloodline clans was part of her duty as the Mizukage.

As for the Sound Village losing Kimimaro, Mei Terumi didn't care at all.

While Kimimaro was panting heavily, suddenly a hand chop landed on his neck, causing him to collapse to the ground unconscious.

Mei Terumi bound Kimimaro with a water whip and breathed a sigh of relief.

"As expected of a Dead Bone Pulse user. If I hadn't dodged that last attack, even I would be seriously injured."

After dealing with Kimimaro, Mei Terumi gave the Sound Four a glance, which intimidated them completely.

"Ao, Haku, the mission is complete, let's go."

As for the Sound Four, Mei Terumi didn't bother with them, and Ao didn't mention anything about eliminating them. After all, this was not the ninja world, and they were all under Lord Charles.

It was fine to give them a beating, but they didn't have the authority to kill them.

Ao and Haku used the Body Flicker Technique to reach Mei Terumi, and Ao carried Kimimaro on his shoulder as they left the battlefield with the Mizukage.

With the Mist ninjas gone, the Sound Four looked at each other, completely baffled by the purpose of this battle and why the Mist attacked them and took Kimimaro.

Kidomaru, with blood trickling from his mouth, deactivated his Stage Two form and said,

"What do we do next?"

Tayuya, looking at her injured arm from the ice release, said, "Let's return to the base first. We'll discuss this matter later."

"Alright!"

The four of them, despite their injuries, headed back to the Sound Village base. After they left, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the NYPD finally arrived on the scene.

As soon as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents arrived, they immediately informed the NYPD that this case was now under their jurisdiction.

...

Coulson and Kabuto had already descended from the rooftop. Coulson was relieved to see his car undamaged.

"Thank goodness the car isn't damaged. Kabuto, come with me to the Sound Village."

Kabuto nodded, got into the car, and asked, "Coulson, what are you going to say when we get there?"

"Are you going to ask about the cause of the battle, inquire about the Sound Village's teleportation array, or condemn this battle?"

Coulson looked at Kabuto, his expression serious but he said, "Although we have some guesses about the cause, we still need to confirm the specifics with them."

Soon, the car started and headed towards the Sound Village base.

...

The Sound Four, although injured, were not seriously hurt and quickly returned to their base.

Lying on the sofa, Tayuya said, "Today's battle was quite baffling. I checked the summoning realm just now, and we haven't received any message from Lord Charles."

"But Lord Kimimaro was indeed taken by the Mist's Mizukage."

Kidomaru, lying next to her, said, "Could it be as that woman said, she wants to take Lord Kimimaro back to the Mist?"

Jirobo sneered, "There's no Mist Village here anymore."

Tayuya shook her head, "With the Mizukage, she can rebuild the Mist Village."

"Just like us, as long as Lord Orochimaru is here, this is the Sound Village, and we continue to wait for Lord Orochimaru's return."

Sakon and Ukon, who had been silent, said, "Since we don't know the situation, why not write a message to the summoning beast and ask Lord Charles? That way, we'll know the outcome."

-----9-----

·Chapter 601: The unruly Sound Village

Hearing the suggestion, everyone reacted.

"That's right, Tayuya."

"Let's ask Lord Charles, and we'll understand what's going on."

Nodding in agreement, Tayuya said, "Alright, I'll write a letter to Lord Charles right away."

Just then, the doorbell rang, and Jirobo stood up. "I'll go see who it is."

Jirobo checked the monitor and saw two people at the door: S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Coulson and a familiar face, Kabuto.

"It's Mr. Kabuto and Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D."

Hearing that Kabuto was among the visitors, the Sound Four immediately fell silent.

"Mr. Kabuto is here. Open the door quickly."

Soon, the door was opened, and Coulson and Kabuto walked in together.

Tayuya looked at them and asked, "Why has S.H.I.E.L.D. come here? What's the matter?"

Coulson glanced at the four injured individuals, paused for a few seconds, and then said, "We want to understand the reason behind the battle that took place on Isabella Street between you and the Mist Village. Your fight destroyed three streets and caused numerous casualties."

Sakon/Ukon scoffed, "Well, make sure to ask the Mizukage for compensation if you can."

Coulson was momentarily at a loss for words. If S.H.I.E.L.D. had the capability to deal with these ninjas, they wouldn't be in this situation. However, he responded, "Ninjas can be killed too. If we go all out, it's not impossible."

Sakon/Ukon looked at Coulson seriously and said, "I suggest you fire a tactical nuke at the Mizukage's location. I'd also like to know if a nuclear bomb can kill someone of her level."

Hearing the thinly veiled sarcasm, Coulson felt a surge of anger. These ninjas were too arrogant.

If they weren't in the city, S.H.I.E.L.D. might actually consider dropping a nuke to see if the ninjas could withstand it. This gave Coulson an idea; maybe they could try it sometime.

At this moment, Kabuto, who had been standing by, spoke up:

"Members of the Sound Village, we're not here to hold you accountable for the damage. After all, you're victims too."

"According to our intel, when the Mizukage arrived in this world, she didn't find a way back to the Mist Village. We were worried she might attack you to seize your teleportation array."

"We didn't expect that before we could inform you, the Mizukage had already attacked."

The room fell silent for a few seconds after Kabuto's words. Then Tayuya seemed to realize something and said, "Unfortunately, your warning came too late. Kimimaro has already been taken by the Mizukage."

Coulson asked, "Was the teleportation array taken by the Mizukage as well?"

Tayuya looked at Coulson, amused, thinking to herself that there was no such teleportation array. But she said, "The teleportation array isn't something that can fit in a ninja tool pouch. It's not something you can take away by just capturing a ninja."

Understanding the response, Coulson realized that they might have misunderstood the situation.

The teleportation array should still be under the control of the Sound Village.

"Members of the Sound Village, the Mizukage won't give up easily without obtaining the teleportation array. After all, the prolonged absence of a village leader will certainly cause many problems."

"If possible, S.H.I.E.L.D. hopes that you can discuss this matter peacefully."

Tayuya glanced at them and said coldly, "We'll handle this ourselves. There's no need for S.H.I.E.L.D. to worry."

"We have matters to deal with here, so we won't keep you."

Seeing that Tayuya was dismissing them, Coulson and Kabuto didn't linger and promptly left, returning to S.H.I.E.L.D.

······

Meanwhile-

After unwrapping his birthday gifts, Charles Doyle's consciousness entered the system space.

He was preparing to confirm the existence of the Eternals in this world, but before meeting them, he wanted to enhance his own strength.

Glancing at his current gold coin count of 69,075, he figured it would be enough to purchase Kushina Uzumaki and draw the younger Minato, both of whom were Kage-level ninjas.

He opened the recruitment interface for limited edition ninjas and, seeing that Kushina Uzumaki was the only one left unacquired, he proceeded to buy her.

Ding! Would you like to spend 16,800 gold coins to purchase B-class ninja Kushina Uzumaki?

Yes!

With Charles's confirmation, 16,800 gold coins were deducted, and he acquired Kushina Uzumaki.

Ding! Congratulations to Charles Doyle for successfully recruiting two-star B-class ninja Kushina Uzumaki.

The next second, an image appeared before Charles. Kushina Uzumaki stood there, her long red hair flying behind her like the tails of a tailed beast. She raised a fist, looking forward.

Looking at the Blood Red Habanero, Kushina Uzumaki, Charles was particularly interested in two things.

One was her pure Uzumaki clan bloodline. Although he had previously acquired Naruto Uzumaki's bloodline, it wasn't pure. This time, his bloodline power would be even stronger.

The other was Kushina Uzumaki's Uzumaki clan secret technique, the Adamantine Sealing Chains. This technique, which could attack, control, and seal, was something Charles was very fond of.

Knowing that Kushina could use it to suppress the full Nine-Tails, he could imagine its immense power.

He opened the ninja details to check the skills first.

Kushina Uzumaki: B-class ninja

Star level: Two stars

Basic attack: Divided into gentle and furious forms. In gentle form, she uses kitchen utensils to attack the opponent. In furious form, she attacks with violent taijutsu.

Substitution Jutsu: Wood Substitution

Skills: Gentle/Furious, Housewife Weapon/Adamantine Sealing Chains, Tyrant: Blood Red Habanero.

Gentle/Furious: Can switch between gentle or furious states.

Housewife Weapon/Adamantine Sealing Chains: In gentle state, she throws a flying spoon forward, then runs forward to follow up with a frying pan attack. In furious state, uses the Adamantine Sealing Chains to attack the enemy.

Tyrant: Blood Red Habanero: Generates multiple golden chains behind her and stab forward at the enemy, then rushes forward to knock down the enemy, pinning them to the ground and delivering six heavy punches.

Note: Each heavy punch is not weaker than Tsunade's punch. (don't underestimate the Uzumaki clan!)

After reviewing Kushina Uzumaki's ninjutsu, Charles's only regret was not having the ability to release a Tailed Beast or undergo Tailed Beast transformation. This disappointed him a bit, as he could have gotten a full Nine-Tails for free.

Considering Naruto had half of the Nine-Tails, Minato Namikaze had the other half, and he could buy another Nine-Tails, if Kushina Uzumaki could also release a full Nine-Tails, he would have a lot of Nine-Tails on his side.

Just imagine three Jinchuriki with the power of the Nine-Tails. It would be enough to overpower many enemies.

Charles wondered about Kushina Uzumaki's strength and whether she could beat a Kage-level opponent in her furious state.

After collecting Kushina Uzumaki, Charles didn't recruit any more ninjas. Instead, he went to the Ninja Direct Purchase Store. His target wasn't any other ninja but the Randomly Selected - Naruto Uzumaki.

It wasn't because this randomly selected Naruto Uzumaki was particularly powerful, but because Charles valued his ability to summon Gamabunta.

He opened the C-Class ninja section, found the Randomly Selected - Naruto Uzumaki, and seeing the price of 1,980 gold coins, Charles directly purchased him with his gold coins.

Ding! Congratulations to Charles Doyle for successfully recruiting one-star C-Class ninja, Randomly Selected - Naruto Uzumaki.

The next second, an image appeared before Charles. The Randomly Selected - Naruto Uzumaki was wearing a white shirt and holding a flag, happily waving it forward.

He opened the ninja details to check the skills first.

Randomly Selected - Naruto Uzumaki: C-Class ninja

Star level: One star

Basic attack: Taijutsu attacks combined with Shadow Clone Technique to use Windmill Shuriken to attack enemies!

Substitution Jutsu: Wood Substitution

Skills: Random Battle, Victory Banner, Transformation Technique: Nine-Tails.

Random Battle: As the most unexpected ninja in history, Naruto will use Tailed Beast Transformation or Seduction Jutsu to attack according to his mood. (The power of the Seduction Jutsu even overwhelmed the Third Hokage!)

Victory Banner: Naruto waves the Victory Banner for a three-stage attack, with the final blow planting the banner on the battlefield. (While the Victory Banner is on the battlefield, enemies cannot use summoning jutsu and genjutsu!)

Transformation Technique: Nine-Tails: Naruto uses the summoning technique to summon Gamabunta, then immediately activates a cooperative transformation technique to transform into the Nine-Tails and attack the enemy. (No matter who the opponent is, I won't lose!)

After reviewing Randomly Selected - Naruto Uzumaki's ninjutsu, Charles's only concern was the ability of the summoning Gamabunta.

After all, Gamabunta was a Kage-level combat unit and had the ability to rival the likes of Shukaku. It could be said that he was very powerful.

He clicked to claim the ninja.

After recruiting the ninja, Charles's chakra capacity increased by 1 card, reaching a total of 223 cards, and also boosted his Uzumaki bloodline once again.

After completing these two tasks, Charles still had 50,295 gold coins. Glancing at his ninja recruitment scrolls, he noticed he had 20 scrolls. Initially, he had 16, but he obtained 4 more through the system's daily check-in during the week.

With a plan in mind, Charles directly purchased 80 more ninja recruitment scrolls to make up a total of 100, spending 13,440 gold coins.

After completing all this, Charles didn't immediately recruit ninjas. Instead, he left the system space. He wanted to buff himself before recruiting any more ninjas.

In the real world, Charles began setting up his blessing ritual. First, he constructed a blessing Merlin's magic circle on the ground using mana.

Then, from his storage space, he took out a new element that Tony Stark had given him and placed it in the top-left corner of the magic circle.

Next, he placed an unused ice crystal in the top-right corner.

Following that, he positioned Merlin's staff and the Heart of the Earth in the bottom-left and bottom-right corners, respectively. In the middle, he lit a candle.

After arranging the ritual items, Charles began his prayer to his future self.

After completing everything, the feeling of blessings once again descended upon him. Charles immediately entered the system space.

...

Kamar-Taj-

The Ancient One looked at the magical energy that transcended time and space and imbued Charles Doyle with the essence of the future, shaking her head helplessly.

"This Supreme Merlin! If he can't harvest my and Merlin's powers, he'll turn to harvesting his future self. Doesn't he know that each gift comes with a price?"

"Does he really think that his future self is there to be harvested at will?"

...

Feeling blessed, Charles immediately entered the system space and went straight to the recruitment interface, initiating the ninja recruitment.

"Ninja recruitment, ten consecutive draws, go!"

A whirlpool symbolizing the Land of Whirlpools appeared before him, emitting a peculiar light. After a flash of brilliance, the recruitment results appeared before Charles Doyle.

Ding! Obtained S-rank ninja, Namikaze Minato fragment x1!

Ding! Obtained A-rank ninja, Young Namikaze Minato fragment x4!

Ding! Obtained C-rank ninja, Kin Tsuchi fragment x2!

Ding! Obtained C-rank ninja, Ino Yamanaka fragment x1!

Ding! Obtained C-rank ninja, Shizune fragment x1!

Ding! Obtained C-rank ninja, Sakura Haruno fragment x2!

Ding! Obtained B-rank ninja, Naruto Shippuden - Sakura Haruno fragment x1!

Ding! Obtained C-rank ninja, Tenten fragment x1!

Ding! Obtained S-rank ninja, Namikaze fragment x1!

Ding! Obtained B-rank ninja, Naruto Shippuden - Rock Lee fragment x4!

Charles glanced at the results and saw three icons shining with golden light. He knew that this recruitment was definitely a big success.

As expected, under his self-blessing, the results were incredibly satisfying. The guaranteed S-rank ninja Namikaze Minato fragments directly exploded to 6 fragments, while the A-rank Young Namikaze Minato also exploded to 4 fragments.

It can be said that under the results of blessing himself, this recruitment made Charles very satisfied. Indeed, the effect of shearing one's own wool was the best. He had never been disappointed.