"Father, if it were the old me, I might not have suspected anything. But now, I truly believe—this is an opportunity we can't afford to miss."
Kitsuchi's tone was firm as he spoke. "Just this batch of nutrient solution alone can save the village nearly 20% in financial expenditures. Over time, we can gradually reduce our reliance on the Daimyo."
"Watch your words, Kitsuchi," Onoki warned sharply.
"I understand what you're implying, Father. But I stand by what I said. I don't think it's healthy for our village to remain dependent on the Daimyo. We—the shinobi—are the foundation of the Land of Earth. If we find a way to support our people directly, the Daimyo's influence will naturally fade."
Onoki narrowed his eyes. "Is that your own opinion… or something Konoha planted in your mind? Or is it Uchiha Xiuyu's doing?"
"No one told me what to think. I saw it with my own eyes," Kitsuchi replied calmly. "The Uchiha clan is transforming Konoha. They don't bow to the Daimyo anymore. They simply don't need to. The Uchiha and Uzumaki clans have wealth beyond measure."
He paused, then added with a hint of admiration, "In their world, the richest man isn't even a shinobi—it's someone named Tony Stark. You may not know him, but trust me—his military industry is unmatched. The wealth and influence he controls rival entire nations."
"And he's a friend of Uchiha Xiuyu's," Kitsuchi continued. "He even helped the Uchiha build the nutrient solution factory. He didn't charge a single ryo. In fact, he ran around gathering resources and negotiating on their behalf. I've heard Tony Stark owes Uchiha Xiuyu quite a few favors."
He stepped forward. "We can build a factory here in Iwagakure someday. The only hurdle is acquiring the raw materials. But we'll get there."
"The world is changing, Father. We can't afford to see it with old eyes anymore."
Onoki remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. He had spent a lifetime pursuing dominance over the other great villages. Yet, his son's vision extended far beyond the power games of the Five Kage.
"...You're right," he finally said, voice low. "Your father needs to reconsider his perspective."
Kitsuchi smiled, relieved. "Good. I'm heading to rest now. I leave the rest to you—please take Kurotsuchi and Akato, and begin distributing the nutrient solution to the villagers."
With that, he exited the room, leaving Onoki to reflect.
Soon after, the Iwagakure Anbu mobilized, tasked with registering the civilians—particularly the orphans left behind by the last Great Ninja War. While Iwagakure had fared better than Kirigakure and Sunagakure in recent years, poverty still lingered in the shadows.
No matter the era, the lower classes always bore the brunt of hardship.
"We're compiling a list of orphans and single-parent families," one Anbu agent announced in the village square. "Anyone who qualifies—especially those not yet graduated from the Ninja Academy—may register for assistance. Fraud will not be tolerated."
This announcement quickly stirred the village. But thanks to Onoki's long and generally stable rule, the people of Iwagakure remained unified and orderly.
The list was compiled swiftly. Although the village had always provided meager subsidies to these children, it was barely enough to keep them alive. Now, with increased aid coming, even the ordinary civilians couldn't hide their appreciation.
"Tsuchikage-sama has always cared for us," an elderly woman said, holding her grandson's hand. "Even the orphans and widows have hope now."
"Yes, we're lucky to live in Iwagakure!"
"We're getting stronger every day!"
"…Except for that apprentice of his—Deidara's too noisy!"
Laughter echoed lightly, but the overall atmosphere was warm. Onoki's position as Tsuchikage remained rock-solid.
By nightfall, the Anbu had completed their survey. Kitsuchi, with his team, began distributing the nutrient solution—a thick, tubular fluid that lacked a formal name. Su Xiuyu hadn't bothered naming it. To him, it was just a basic survival food—not worth overthinking.
But for the people of Iwagakure, it symbolized hope.
News of Kitsuchi's return—and the mysterious nutrient solution—spread like wildfire across the elemental nations. By the third day, envoys from Kumogakure and Sunagakure had arrived. Kirigakure, less committed, sent only a few minor representatives to Iwagakure, while Mei Terumi herself went directly to Konoha with Chojuro in tow.
It was clear—both Kumogakure and Sunagakure, having offended Konoha in the past, were now scrambling to repair relations and gain information.
The delegation from Kumogakure included notable figures like Dodai and Darui. Sunagakure sent none other than Elder Chiyo and the stoic Maki. As for Kirigakure, they dispatched Ao and a few minor shinobi.
Inside Iwagakure's council hall, Onoki convened the visitors.
"I understand everyone's concern about this so-called 'new world,'" Onoki began. "So I'll have my son, Kitsuchi, provide a briefing."
Chiyo's voice cracked through the room. "Does this 'other world' truly exist? It sounds like a child's tale."
"You've already visited it once, Chiyo," Onoki replied with a raised brow. "And you're still questioning it?"
Chiyo harrumphed and looked away.
"What's the population like? Their economy? Their military?" Dodai asked.
"Are they shinobi-based?" Darui followed up.
Questions poured in from every corner of the table—except from Ao, who sat quietly, simply absorbing the discussion.
Kitsuchi answered each one with patience, describing the world of Marvel Earth: its advanced technology, its decentralized political systems, and its unfathomable combat potential. But the representatives couldn't stop comparing it to the Shinobi World—often misunderstanding or underestimating what they heard.
Some of their remarks were so naïve, Kitsuchi nearly chuckled. But he restrained himself. After all, he had seen that world firsthand—they hadn't.
When he revealed that Su Xiuyu possessed the Rinnegan, the room went dead silent.
Stunned faces surrounded him.
"Yes," Kitsuchi confirmed. "He's not just powerful—he's a force unlike anything in our world. And yet, he openly shows his cards. He's not afraid of spies or information leaks."
He paused. "Because power like his doesn't fear whispers."
Despite that, the representatives remained skeptical. They fixated on plans, alliances, contingencies. As if they could contain what they didn't understand.
Chiyo spoke up again, bitter as ever. "So, are you saying we must now live under Konoha's shadow?"
Onoki let out a sigh. "When have we ever truly beaten Konoha?"
His words cut deep. Even Chiyo, who had held onto grudges for decades, fell into silence.
"When Sarutobi Hiruzen was Hokage, we missed our chance. And now, the Konoha of old is gone. This is the era of the Uchiha. The sooner we accept that, the sooner we can shape our future."
A heavy stillness settled over the room.
And in that silence, one truth became clear:
The world had changed—and those who refused to evolve would be left behind.
------------------------
The warming climate had caused large sections of Arctic ice to fracture and drift, creating dangerous conditions for the scientific expedition teams navigating the polar terrain.
"Edward, watch your step! There's a lot of broken ice shelves around here. One wrong move and you're done for!"
The Arctic glacier was a treacherous place. For most explorers, one misstep could mean falling into a crevasse and becoming an oversized human popsicle before rescue was even possible.
With a loud crack, the ice beneath Edward's boot gave way. He plunged downward—only to save himself at the last second by jamming his mountaineering pick into the edge of the opening.
"Hold on! Edward, we're coming!" several teammates shouted, rushing over.
Thanks to their quick reaction, Edward managed to haul himself back up with great effort, collapsing onto the ice with a heavy gasp. That hole had been the most dangerous kind of terrain—deceptively solid on the surface, a deadly trap just beneath.
But as he lay there catching his breath, Edward's eyes widened.
"Guys... look! There's a fighter jet under the ice!"
---
Back at SHIELD HQ, Nick Fury handed Agent Coulson a photo. It showed a stretch of deep, pale-blue ice. But beneath it, half-obscured, was something unmistakable.
A Nazi emblem.
Coulson's expression changed immediately. "Where is this?"
"It's the Arctic Ocean," Fury replied, voice low. "This fighter matches one that went missing in World War II. You know what that means."
Coulson did. He didn't need to be told. His heart was already racing.
Nick Fury allowed a faint smile. He knew Coulson too well—and he knew exactly who Coulson idolized. "You're the best man for this mission," Fury said simply. "Also, you'll need backup."
Fury tossed over another file. "Get in touch with the Uchiha Clan. Su Xiuyu's apprentice—Bobby, the mutant who controls ice. Codename: Iceman. If anyone can help you get through Arctic terrain, it's him."
Coulson grimaced. "Director… couldn't you contact him yourself? I don't think he's exactly thrilled to hear from me."
Fury waved the concern away. "Solve your own problems. That's leadership, Agent."
He rubbed his smooth scalp and sighed. "Honestly, between Su Xiuyu's land reclamation stunt and now this ice corpse mission, it's a wonder I haven't grown all my hair back from stress."
Coulson sighed too, then got to work. After some awkward negotiations and several rounds of redirection through clan contacts, he finally got a response.
---
"Iceman Bobby speaking," came the chilly voice over the comms. "Let me get this straight. You want me to dig a corpse out of an ice sheet in the Arctic Ocean?"
Coulson cleared his throat. "He's not a corpse. There's a good chance he's still alive."
Bobby's face contorted into disbelief. "Seriously? He's been frozen under ice for seventy years. Even if he was alive back then, he'd be a zombie by now."
"You don't understand. It's Captain America."
There was a pause.
"…You're telling me the person in that ice block is Steve Rogers?"
"That's right," Coulson said firmly. "And I believe he's still alive."
Bobby scoffed. "Listen, I know ice. Quick freezing might preserve cells. But natural freezing? No way. That kind of slow freeze turns all the water in your cells into jagged ice shards. You'd be mush. Medical science backs me on this."
"Still," he added after a moment, "I'll help. I want to see what someone frozen for seventy years looks like."
Coulson exhaled in relief. "Thanks. That means a lot."
"One more thing," Bobby said casually. "My teacher asked me to bring some people with me. That okay?"
"As long as they don't slow us down."
---
The Arctic Ocean was bleak and merciless.
Coulson and several SHIELD agents trudged across the endless white, battered by harsh winds and near-zero visibility. Their aircraft had been forced to land miles away due to the stormy weather.
Now, they faced an 18-kilometer trek on foot.
Coulson quickly realized he and his team were out of their element. Despite their best efforts, they were dragging behind.
In contrast, Bobby moved like he belonged in this landscape. Calm, relaxed—completely unfazed. And the trio accompanying him? Even more surprising.
Uzumaki Naruto, Karin, and Sasuke.
Coulson recognized them immediately. Their reputation preceded them. Each had a unique chakra signature, and their physiques were clearly on another level.
"Are you guys... ninjas?" one SHIELD agent asked in awe.
Naruto just grinned. "You could say that."
Coulson, panting hard, stumbled forward. "I appreciate the help... really."
The others didn't complain. But their pace was merciless.
After over three hours of nonstop marching, they reached their destination—a vast crevasse, dark and deep.
"This is it," Coulson said, checking the GPS. "The ice hole reported by the expedition team."
"We've got climbing ropes," one agent offered.
"No need," Bobby said with a small smile. He stepped forward and touched the ground.
Instantly, crystalline ice shot from the rim of the crevasse, forming a descending path like a spiraling staircase.
"Just don't slip."
Coulson sighed, shoving his climbing gear back into his pack. "Show-off."
They followed Bobby down, the cold deepening with every step. According to the equipment, they had descended over 200 meters.
Finally, they saw it.
A massive fighter jet encased in layers of translucent blue ice. The Nazi symbols were unmistakable.
"This your target?" Bobby asked, surprised by the size. "Looks ancient."
"We're not after the plane," Coulson replied, stepping forward. "We're after who's inside."
Bobby raised his hand. With a sweeping motion, the ice cracked and peeled away from the fuselage, freeing it from its frozen prison.
They moved carefully, prying open the cabin door.
Inside was a man. Unmoving, but intact. His iconic shield was strapped to his arm, as if ready to fight.
"Is that…" Bobby blinked. "That's really him?"
"Captain America," Coulson said softly, his voice catching. "We found him."
"…So, uh," Bobby muttered, poking the man lightly with a gloved finger, "is he alive?"
"I don't detect a heartbeat," Bobby said honestly. "But that doesn't always mean death. He's definitely preserved better than he should be. Maybe it's the serum."
Coulson crouched beside the man. "I don't care what the odds are. If there's even a 1% chance he's alive, we take him back."
"You really believe in this guy, huh?" Bobby said, half-teasing.
Coulson nodded, eyes unwavering. "He's a symbol. Not just for America—but for all of us. Hope. Resilience. If anyone could survive seventy years frozen in ice, it'd be him."
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