Chapter 33: Even If Fate Wanders in Turmoil
Although they didn't know the strength of SpongeBob and Patrick, the fact that they were S.H.I.E.L.D. members meant they couldn't be underestimated.
For Uchiha Itachi, recovering the ransom was a trivial task—he could have easily done it alone. However, Shunhi insisted on sending three people for the mission, which made Itachi grumble a little.
His guess was that Shunhi was deliberately trying to build synergy between him, SpongeBob, and Patrick—likely as preparation for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s real objective.
If that was the case, then this mission would be his chance to get closer to the core of S.H.I.E.L.D. and uncover its true purpose. So this mission absolutely could not fail—not only must it succeed, it had to be done flawlessly.
"What are you two good at?"
As he leapt from branch to branch, Itachi asked the person beside him—SpongeBob, who was carrying Denki in his arms. He didn't ask Kushina because she often spaced out mid-thought, staring blankly with drool at the corners of her mouth.
"I'm good at the Spiral Flash Super Round Dance Howl Style Three—aka Flying Thunder God Technique. Patrick's good at sealing techniques."
SpongeBob answered cheerfully, lifting Denki slightly to prevent him from slipping.
"...Are you the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze?"
Itachi suddenly stopped mid-leap and asked. SpongeBob's answer had been too obvious. In Itachi's memory, only the Fourth Hokage had ever used such ridiculously long names for jutsu.
"How did you know?!"
Snapped out of her thoughts, Kushina interrupted before Minato could come up with a flimsy denial.
"The Spiral Flash Super Round Dance Howl Style Three—only the Fourth Hokage could come up with a jutsu name like that."
Then the one good at sealing techniques—Patrick—must be Minato's wife, Kushina Uzumaki.
"Minato, how many times have I told you—don't give your jutsu such weird names. See? This time we got exposed because of that dumb name."
Kushina complained, and Minato could only keep smiling on the outside while swearing inwardly.
Originally, Flaming Cloud Evil God had only been suspicious, but after Kushina's outburst, he was now completely sure of Minato's identity.
Still, Minato didn't dare argue with Kushina.
Mainly because, in the past, when Kushina hit him, she still held back. But now that she knew SpongeBob wouldn't actually die from a beating, she showed no restraint whatsoever.
Itachi's mouth twitched slightly. Turning the current Hokage and his wife into Sponge and Starfish—S.H.I.E.L.D. really was an evil organization. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel slightly relieved.
"That's right, he is the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and I'm his wife, Kushina Uzumaki. You already know who we are, so who are you?"
Kushina directly revealed her and Minato's identities while staring at the masked man in front of them.
She had never liked masked men—after all, it was a masked man who had caused the Nine-Tails incident.
Although Minato didn't want to sour their relationship with Flaming Cloud Evil God, Kushina was still his wife, so he naturally stood by her.
Minato subtly blocked Flaming Cloud Evil God's escape route.
Faced with the joint pressure of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, even Itachi began to feel overwhelmed. He sighed and removed his mask.
If it was Minato and Kushina, then maybe—just maybe—they could become allies.
Itachi trusted in Minato and Kushina's love for the Hidden Leaf, especially since their son, Naruto Uzumaki, was now the Hokage.
"You're... Uchiha Itachi?"
Minato frowned. The man in front of him gradually merged with the image of the young Itachi he remembered.
"That's right. It's me."
Itachi said as he put the mask back on.
Back when Minato was still alive, Itachi had only been a child. Now, he was someone who could go toe-to-toe with Minato.
"Why do you get to look like a normal person?"
As expected, Kushina still cared most about appearances.
"...I don't know."
"In any case, I hope you two can help me deal with S.H.I.E.L.D."
"I suspect the Fourth Great Ninja War was orchestrated by S.H.I.E.L.D. to cover up their true agenda."
"Not only did it shift the entire ninja world's attention away from them, it also revealed the world's remaining true powerhouses."
"You've met Shunhi, the Deputy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., right?"
"Before all this, he was just a regular guy who couldn't use chakra—but now, he's not only Deputy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., he also knows the Flying Thunder God Technique..."
Itachi shared his suspicions with Minato and Kushina.
"That's right, that's right—and Shunhi is also good friends with Obito."
"Then maybe the Nine-Tails incident was also Shunhi's doing."
The Nine-Tails incident was a sore spot for Kushina. That night, she lost her husband—and her life.
She had never been able to forgive Obito. Even knowing he'd been manipulated like a fool, she still couldn't let it go.
"But... don't you think you're overthinking this a little?"
Minato tried to say something, but his opinion carried no weight. Kushina ignored him entirely.
"Didn't expect that thick-browed, big-eyed Shunhi to betray the Leaf too. Minato, you must feel the same way, right?"
At the end, Kushina suddenly turned to Minato.
"Ah... uh... yeah, that's right."
Minato hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose to go with the flow. Kushina nodded in satisfaction and lowered her tiny fists.
"In short, what I want to do now is infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D. and send intelligence back to the Leaf."
"Let Naruto and Sasuke take down S.H.I.E.L.D."
Itachi said. He firmly believed S.H.I.E.L.D. possessed terrifying strength. After all, they were the true masterminds behind the Fourth Great Ninja War—and they had even managed to control him, Minato, and Kushina.
"Is Naruto doing okay now?"
"I don't agree with letting Naruto take down S.H.I.E.L.D."
Minato and Kushina spoke in unison.
"Naruto is now the Seventh Hokage of the Leaf," Itachi first explained to Minato, then turned to Kushina. "Though I hate to admit it, Naruto's already stronger than all of us."
"But..."
Kushina wanted to object, but was cut off mercilessly by Minato.
"Kushina, Naruto is the Hokage now. I believe in his ability to protect the Leaf."
Minato said.
"What, you want him to end up like you? Sacrificing himself for the village? And don't forget—Naruto isn't just the Hokage. He's also a husband and a father."
Kushina's words made Minato fall silent. After all, he had left Naruto all alone after the Nine-Tails incident. He still felt guilty.
"Itachi, I trust you. Minato and I will help you."
"But I don't want to see Naruto die protecting the village."
"I don't want our whole family to become 'loyal martyrs' of the Leaf."
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