However, temporarily shelving the conflict was also a good thing for S.H.I.E.L.D. They didn't have an effective way to deal with Kage-level ninjas, and even Jōnin posed a considerable challenge.
Launching an all-out assault wasn't feasible, so for now, restraint was the best option. If S.H.I.E.L.D. gained enough strength in the future, they might reconsider launching a proactive attack.
Coulson then asked, "What kind of cooperation do you have in mind?"
Kabuto took out a sealed scroll and produced a vial containing an orange liquid. He explained, "This is something Lord Orochimaru developed. It grants ordinary people the ability to control fire."
"Similar to what Chen Haoran had, though the two aren't identical."
Kabuto then pulled out a tablet and played a video for Coulson to watch.
In the video, Orochimaru injected the orange liquid into a burly man. Immediately, the man's body emitted an orange glow.
It looked somewhat like the Extremis virus. Over time, the orange light concentrated at the man's neck, forming an orange three-tomoe mark.
It resembled a tattoo, but Coulson knew it wasn't just a design—it looked more like the transformations Sound Village ninjas underwent.
The video then showed the man being led to an open area to demonstrate his newfound powers.
As soon as he opened his mouth, a massive fireball shot out, and he was even capable of firing them consecutively.
Targets in the distance were instantly incinerated by the fireballs. His arms ignited, and flames could be used as weapons, with fire even shooting from his palms.
Watching this display, Coulson frowned slightly. While the power was impressive, it didn't seem as potent as Chen's abilities.
Suddenly, the man in the video roared, and the orange three-tomoe on his neck glowed, spreading orange markings across his entire body. His fire abilities visibly intensified, and the flames he spewed now resembled molten lava.
At the same time, his speed and strength increased, and after showcasing this transformed state, the orange markings receded, returning to the three-tomoe mark on his neck.
The man then collapsed, drenched in sweat. It was clear that the transformation had greatly drained his stamina.
Coulson was quite satisfied by what he saw and couldn't help but admire the fact that ninja technology was indeed exceptional when it came to human enhancement.
Both Sunagakure and Konohagakure had their own body-strengthening serums, and similar items existed in Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure. Now Orochimaru, too, had developed his own enhancement product.
"Is this also a type of body-strengthening serum?" Coulson asked.
"Does it have any side effects?"
Kabuto began explaining, "It's not a body-strengthening serum. Lord Orochimaru named it the Curse Mark of Fire."
"And there are no side effects. What you just saw, the second form, is called the First Stage of the Curse Mark."
"After transformation, the only drawback is fatigue, as it consumes a lot of physical energy."
"I wouldn't call that a side effect, would you?"
Coulson nodded in agreement. Kabuto was right—it didn't seem like a significant side effect.
Since it wasn't labeled as a body-strengthening serum, Coulson then asked, "Is it possible to use the Curse Mark of Fire alongside a body-strengthening serum?"
Seeing the anticipation in Coulson's eyes, Kabuto shook his head.
"Although they are different, they still cannot be used simultaneously."
"If you try to combine them..."
Kabuto suddenly made a gesture with his hands, imitating an explosion. "Boom!"
"You'll end up with something like the Extremis virus going haywire."
Hearing this, Coulson thought of Michael, who had been taken by the Sound Village ninjas.
Could it be that Orochimaru drew inspiration from him? The effects of this Curse Mark of Fire were indeed somewhat similar to the Extremis virus.
Coulson continued, "Does it have regenerative abilities?"
"It doesn't."
"And what's the price?"
Kabuto smiled. "We offer two modes of cooperation for you to consider."
"One is through cash payments."
"Ten billion dollars per unit, with a limited number available."
"The second option is an exchange for goods—three billion dollars' worth of materials can be traded for a Curse Mark of Fire."
Upon hearing that U.S. dollars could be used for the transaction, Coulson's eyes lit up.
Although ten billion dollars was a high price, no other ninja village accepted dollars, so they often found themselves unable to make purchases, even with money in hand.
However, hearing that there was a limited quantity available for purchase in cash, Coulson realized that Sound Village likely needed funds to rebuild their new base. Once they gathered enough U.S. dollars, this payment option would probably be closed.
"How many units are available for purchase? And what kind of materials are required?"
Kabuto smiled, "We need some forbidden or restricted items."
"I can provide you with a list of materials later. It will include vibranium, raw adamantium, and secondary adamantium."
Coulson replied regretfully, "Kabuto, you should know that S.H.I.E.L.D. no longer has any vibranium."
Kabuto waved it off casually. "No matter, other materials will do just as well."
"This time, we're offering three Curse Marks of Fire. Two can be acquired via material exchanges, and one through cash."
"In other words, we need six billion dollars' worth of special materials and ten billion dollars in cash."
Hearing Kabuto's conditions, Coulson, although aware he didn't have the authority to make such decisions, still said, "No problem, we can accept your terms. Can you share the materials list?"
Coulson knew that agreeing to this deal wouldn't be an issue. Director Fury would likely not refuse this opportunity, and instead, Coulson would probably receive a commendation upon his return.
Seeing Coulson's quick agreement, Kabuto wasn't surprised—this was exactly the outcome he expected. Rejecting such an offer wasn't an option, as S.H.I.E.L.D. would never want such technology to fall into the 'wrong hands'.
Kabuto exited the video on his tablet and opened a folder containing a list of materials and the equipment needed for experiments.
Most of the items were restricted for sale or simply unavailable for purchase, while some were outright illegal.
As Coulson scrolled through the list, he noticed some items were marked in red, others in yellow, and some in blue.
While he recognized many, some were unfamiliar to him. Even as a seasoned agent, he wasn't omniscient and didn't know every piece of equipment listed.
"There are quite a few items here, and I can't identify all of them. What do the color codes mean?" Coulson asked.