"I see. So his goal is to become a hero, motivated by personal interest? That... makes sense."
"Natasha, do you think he's being sincere?"
After receiving Natasha's report, Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., asked her for her assessment of Zenkichi's true intentions.
"I believe he's telling the truth," Natasha replied. "But I'll need to stay close to observe him a while longer."
"I see. Fine. Once you're sure he poses no threat, report back to me. I plan to extend him an invitation—to join the Avengers."
Fury ended the call.
Meanwhile, Whiplash, now imprisoned following his defeat by Tony and arrest by the authorities, was about to encounter a dramatic twist in his fate.
While delivering lunch, a prison guard left a tray of food in his cell—seemingly ordinary until Whiplash noticed something unusual. The potatoes on the tray were fake; they were cleverly disguised time bombs.
He wasn't surprised.
As Whiplash quietly removed the bomb and examined it, he also noticed a note tucked beneath the plate: "These are your tools. Use them well."
With a dangerous grin, Whiplash activated the bomb and used it to destroy his cell door. Before the smoke even cleared, he'd overpowered the nearest guards in a blur of violent precision.
Not long after escaping, a transport arrived and took him to a secret underground base.
There, two familiar figures were waiting—Justin Hammer, CEO of Hammer Industries, and Obadiah Stane, the disgraced former executive of Stark Industries who had survived in hiding after the events surrounding the Iron Monger.
Obadiah had once been a key figure inside Stark Industries and retained intimate knowledge of its inner workings. Meanwhile, Hammer Industries had long been a struggling competitor to Stark's empire—perpetually outmatched by Tony Stark's genius.
But now, things had changed. Together, Obadiah and Hammer saw a rare opportunity.
After Tony Stark refused to share the Iron Man armor designs with the military, both men realized they could strike back. If they could reverse-engineer similar tech, or better yet, weaponize Whiplash, they'd gain massive influence—and wealth—by supplying their own suits to the government.
Unfortunately, neither company had engineers capable of replicating Stark's armor.
But Whiplash was different. His arc whip tech, crude as it was, had potential. Between Obadiah's insider knowledge and Hammer's funding, Whiplash could be shaped into something dangerous enough to rival Iron Man.
Originally, Hammer and Stane had no reason to work together. But after witnessing not just Tony Stark's power, but the emergence of Zenkichi, they felt the pressure of real power bearing down on them.
Faced with a mutual enemy, they formed an uneasy alliance.
Zenkichi, for his part, was well aware of these developments. Having knowledge of the original timeline, he suspected Hammer Industries would intervene and free Whiplash.
He let it happen.
It served his purposes. Whiplash and the people backing him would eventually become another set of enemies to test his strength. More importantly, stepping in without a valid reason could create unnecessary political trouble.
After spending a few days with Natasha Romanoff, Zenkichi's quiet life was interrupted by a visit from someone important.
Nick Fury himself arrived.
Natasha had informed him that Zenkichi might be someone worth recruiting. And so, Fury came in person—to see if the man could become a core part of his dream project.
If Zenkichi agreed to join the Avengers, then the foundation of the team would be solid. With someone of his power at the center, they could build around him with agents like Natasha and Clint Barton.
"First time meeting," Fury said, stepping forward. "I'm Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Zenkichi raised a hand, cutting him off.
"I'm not interested in S.H.I.E.L.D.," he said calmly. "Just tell me why you're here."
Fury didn't flinch. He got straight to the point.
"The Earth is facing threats—bigger and more unpredictable ones every year. We need a response team. Not under the UN. Not bound by politics. I'm forming an independent group of elite individuals to protect the planet."
"A free organization?" Zenkichi asked, arching a brow.
"Exactly," Fury said. "It's called the Avengers. No one gives you orders. You act freely—just be there when the world needs saving."
Zenkichi gave a faint smile.
"I like the idea," he said. "I'll join—on one condition."
"You contact me when there's a situation, and I choose whether to get involved."
Fury grinned. "A hero motivated by interest. That's very on-brand for you."
Zenkichi nodded.
"If that's settled, then we're done here. Natasha… you can stay if you want. Or go."
Natasha gave a wry smile. "As much as I'd like to stay, I'll head back. I wouldn't want to be a burden."
She could tell Zenkichi wasn't interested in her in that way—and she was smart enough not to overstay her welcome.
It stung. Her usual charms had no effect on him. That didn't happen often.
"Understood," Fury said, nodding. "We'll take our leave."
The visit was over. Zenkichi had accepted the invitation to join the Avengers, even if on his own terms.
And for Nick Fury, that was more than enough.
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