Gotta say.
Nick Fury might not look so great, but his ideas are quite lofty.
This former Director of S.H.I.E.L.D seems to have forgotten that he didn't inform Uehara Naraku when he faked his death, and now he's having trouble, hoping Naraku can help gather information.
"Let's give it a try…"
Nick Fury's fingers hovered over his phone, and he finally dialed Uehara Naraku's number: "Let's see what Naraku's situation is like… at least we can determine that Naraku isn't part of Hydra, though we can't be sure if he's being deceived."
Yes.
At least Nick Fury can be certain beyond doubt that Uehara Naraku is not a member of Hydra, since his subordinate has always been rather lazy, hardly fitting the image of a spy…
Certainly.
The most crucial point is Naraku's relentless attacks on Hydra bases, even avenging Fury by killing Alexander Pierce, allowing Fury to confirm Naraku's identity.
Honestly.
There's no need to doubt Uehara Naraku.
Because Fury holds plenty of information, both overt and covert, proving Naraku's intel; he's not a Hydra member, nor does he belong to any faction. In S.H.I.E.L.D, Naraku was just someone trying to get by.
Uehara Naraku was perpetually on the verge of being fired…
If Fury hadn't been worried about Naraku's skills being dangerous if recruited by a terrorist organization, he would have fired Naraku long ago!
It's surprising that such a person accidentally acquired the elemental power of the Tesseract, ascending to Director during S.H.I.E.L.D's crisis, proving disastrous for S.H.I.E.L.D.…
In truth.
After Naraku took over as Director, he focused solely on attacking Hydra bases, neglecting how to deal with the council members of the World Security Council, allowing S.H.I.E.L.D's influence and power to drop to a minimum.
Now S.H.I.E.L.D resembles a caged tiger, displayed for show most of the time, occasionally unleashed by the World Security Council to bite.
At least…
That's Fury's perspective.
Or rather, that's what most people think.
Beep…
Beep…
Beep…
Fury stared at his phone, and it took over ten seconds for Naraku to answer, which made Fury feel a bit alert.
Why such a delay?
In the past, Naraku answered his calls almost immediately, within two or three seconds, fearing his superior would check up on him…
Today…
Something's off.
Ten seconds is ample time to arrange many things.
"Ha, I thought you wouldn't contact me again."
Naraku's somewhat despondent voice came through the phone. He continued slowly, "Director Fury, why didn't you choose to return to S.H.I.E.L.D after I saved you, but fake your death and leave us?"
"Because I need to uncover the hidden Hydra within…"
Fury gently tapped his leg while leisurely replying to Naraku's question, "Naraku, I thought you might at least want to catch up before asking me this question…"
"There's no need for that between us."
Naraku calmly interrupted Fury's words, continuing softly, "Director Fury, did you leave here to uncover spies within S.H.I.E.L.D… or were you afraid others might discover your identity as Hydra?"
"..."
Fury was silent for a moment, not directly answering Naraku's question. Instead, he said to himself, "Hmm, still so straightforward. This straightforward conversation style is nice; you've always been like this, asking directly what you want to know…"
"The answer?"
"I'll tell you next time when I have a chance."
After Fury finished speaking, he glanced at the call duration and suddenly decisively hung up his phone.
After a long time, Fury's fingers hovered over his phone.
Fury couldn't really judge if someone on Naraku's side was using their communication to locate him.
Naraku sounded like he was demanding an explanation, his speaking attitude wasn't great, yet it made Fury sure of one thing…
That is, Naraku is still exploitable.
After all…
Naraku was angrily questioning him about the fake death instead of wasting time catching up, which shows Naraku cares about his affairs.
This is an old subordinate who wants to know the truth.
If Naraku intentionally wasted time during the call, Fury would understand someone else might be trying to locate him through their communication.
Surely.
To ensure his own safety, Fury still chose to hang up because he got the answer he wanted.
That's Naraku's attitude.
Given the current situation, the United States' upper echelon and the World Security Council have been deceived, branding him, the former Director, as a Hydra spy.
Naraku also seems deceived, but he wants the truth instead of being deceived into being a White House and World Security Council pawn…
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.
Naraku glanced at his disconnected phone, the gloom on his face vanished without a trace, and the corners of his mouth even curled into a distressed smile.
"Such a hassle…"
Naraku set down his phone, shook his head helplessly, and picked up a glass of juice: "Why do so many people always trust me?"
"Sir, Fury's meaning…"
A Hydra agent cautiously approached and inquired, feeling like their superior was perhaps losing his mind somewhat.
After all, Fury hung up so decisively; it didn't seem he intended to maintain communication with Naraku, right?
"You don't understand our former superior."
Naraku chuckled and continued, "Firstly, his first rule is to prioritize his own safety, so he's timing the call to avoid someone using communication to locate him."
"Secondly, this should be his first call."
"Given that our outward appearance suggests we've been taken over by the White House and World Security Council, once he knows S.H.I.E.L.D's current situation, he surely won't dial my number."
"Now, Fury doesn't have any information, probably knows only he's been collectively hunted by all agents, deciding to get some news from me."
"I understand our former director very well."
"Now, he's likely already considering how to use me to slowly acquire intel."
"Once Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton contact him, Fury will learn from their mouths about my situation, learn that I, as Director, have been monitored by the White House and World Security Council…
"At that time…"
"He will continue to trust me as a supposed puppet."
"..."
The Hydra agent listened to Naraku's analysis and revealed a sinister smile: "Then we can find him and finish him off…"
"That would be too dull."
Naraku heavily placed his juice down: "Begin preparing the next step, start hunting Natasha and Clint who refuse to return for debriefing, and Steve Rogers who might soon escape…
Force them…
Make them unite with Nick Fury…
Push them until they have nowhere to turn, no home to return to. I'll secretly guide Fury to lead them to another country seeking refuge, in a nation hidden from all…
Let Hydra reveal ourselves to the entire Earth!"
"Earth is too small…"
"Whether S.H.I.E.L.D or the Avengers, they're all toyed with in my hand… I'm losing interest in continuing these antics here!"