The abandoned warehouse in Brooklyn had been reinforced with chakra barriers and sensory seals, but it still smelled faintly of rust and old machinery. Kakashi and his ANBU team had been operating in stealth for weeks, gathering intel and blending in with the chaos of New York City, yet tonight they were about to step into unfamiliar territory.
A soft ripple in the air signaled the arrival of others.
Agent Phil Coulson stepped through the reinforced doorway with precision, flanked by a small, highly-trained S.H.I.E.L.D. team. Their movements were careful, measured, but confident. Despite being ordinary humans by any natural standard, years of facing superhumans had honed them into dangerous operators.
Kakashi emerged from the shadows, his ANBU team flanking him like living silhouettes. Wolf, Cat, and Hawk had their masks in place, weapons sheathed, but the aura of lethal readiness radiated from them.
Coulson's gaze flicked to each masked shinobi in turn, his experience telling him these were no ordinary soldiers.
"Gentlemen," Coulson began evenly, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "We've noticed your… activities. Care to explain?"
Kakashi's single visible Sharingan eye gleamed under the dim light. "We are visitors. Observers. Our presence here is not hostile—so long as yours is not."
Wolf's voice cut low, calm but firm. "We are here under orders. Our goal is intelligence. Nothing more."
Coulson nodded, masking his surprise at their composure. "Intelligence, huh? You've already cleared out some local gangs, and some of our field units had… unfortunate encounters. Care to elaborate?"
Hawk shifted slightly, his tone deliberate. "Local threats were neutralized to secure resources and information. We do not seek to interfere in your conflicts—only to understand them."
Coulson's eyes narrowed slightly. He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You're hiding something. Those masks, your speed, your movement—none of it is normal. Who—or what—are you?"
Kakashi's posture relaxed just slightly, his voice even. "We are shinobi. Soldiers from a nation far removed from this world. Our methods are unfamiliar, our abilities perhaps… extraordinary."
Coulson's team exchanged subtle glances. They were used to extraordinary—aliens, enhanced humans, even magical artifacts—but these warriors were… different.
"Extraordinary how?" Coulson asked, his tone calm but probing. "Your energy signatures… they're unlike anything we've seen. You move faster than any human should, your weapons are precise beyond belief, and your coordination—synchronous. It's almost impossible to track."
Kakashi allowed a faint shrug. "We rely on stealth, training, and… natural skill. You may call it 'extraordinary,' but for us, it is survival."
Coulson's eyes flicked to the ANBU behind Kakashi. "And if I were to ask for your names, your country, your mission… would I get an answer?"
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed just slightly. "Names are irrelevant here. Our mission is to gather information and prepare. Beyond that… we answer only to our leader."
Coulson nodded slowly, filing away every word. "I see. And yet here you are, negotiating instead of attacking. That tells me something about your priorities."
Cat's voice broke the silence, calm but measured. "We need information about this world. About its people, its powers, its technologies. The same way you need to know who we are. There is mutual benefit in cooperation—if handled carefully."
Coulson allowed a small, approving smile. "Mutual benefit. I like that phrasing. You understand we can't just let strangers operate in New York unchecked. Information flows both ways."
Kakashi inclined his head slightly, the tone of his response neutral but firm. "Then we exchange knowledge. And leave hostilities aside—for now."
Coulson gestured subtly toward his team. "Good. We'll cooperate. But any aggressive actions, and I assure you… you'll regret it."
Wolf stepped forward. "Understood. The same applies to your team."
For a brief moment, the tension in the room was tangible, a delicate balance of observation and power. Neither side knew the full capabilities of the other, but both recognized that crossing the line could be catastrophic.
Kakashi's Sharingan flickered lightly. He sensed that this meeting was only the beginning. New York had more threats, and these humans—gifted or not—were part of the puzzle his leader, Itachi, wanted solved.
Outside the warehouse, the city roared, unaware that its streets now hosted forces from worlds beyond comprehension.And inside, two intelligence networks sized each other up, negotiating terms in a language that went beyond words.