"Okay, let me take a look."
Ding dong.
An email appeared in Natasha Romanoff's inbox.
Natasha opened the email and saw a photo of Bucky Barnes and Captain Steve Rogers embracing in reunion.
Clearly...
Something is definitely wrong here.
Either Bucky Barnes has betrayed Hydra, or Steve Rogers has betrayed The Avengers. Otherwise, how could they get along so well?
"Go check it out, Natasha."
The mood of Uehara Naraku was unprecedentedly low, and one could hear the depression in his voice: "Call Clint to investigate the issue with Bucky Barnes, and Captain Steve Rogers has some issues himself... You should still remember the defection of Special Agent Coulson and Special Agent Hill, right?"
"Hmm..."
"The reason for their defection was because they discovered that Captain Steve Rogers might be a spy Adolf Hitler planted within the Allies, using the Allies to eliminate Red Skull..."
"How is that possible?"
Natasha didn't know there was such hidden information behind it!
Uehara Naraku sighed softly and continued calmly: "After I became director, I checked S.H.I.E.L.D.'s archives, and it is indeed true...
Even if it's Hydra... or even if Director Fury suspects Hydra of trying to frame Captain Steve Rogers, we must get to the bottom of it."
This blame...
Bam, it landed right on Nick Fury's head!
No matter if the final outcome is that everyone believes Steve Rogers is affiliated with Hitler, or if Steve Rogers was framed by Nick Fury...
Uehara Naraku wouldn't lose either way.
Of course.
The worst-case scenario is that a few of them trust each other, believing all are their own people, and then attribute everything to those Hydra spies.
But...
What does that have to do with Director Uehara Naraku?
"I will get to the bottom of this."
Natasha agreed to Uehara Naraku's request, then asked, with some puzzlement and concern: "Speaking of which, Uehara, how are things on your end? I heard that apart from issuing a wanted notice for Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't given any similar orders..."
"If I don't act rashly, the White House and the World Security Council shouldn't be able to do anything to me, because I'm still an intern for Akatsuki, a member of this cosmic organization. This status should deter them from acting recklessly..."
While saying this, Uehara Naraku gave a self-mocking laugh: "However... both Director Alexander Pierce and Director Nick Fury were Hydra spies... they've already sent people to take over all S.H.I.E.L.D. affairs, so I can only follow their orders."
He.
Uehara Naraku.
Naturally avoids blame.
Natasha Romanoff certainly wouldn't think of these things; she gently spoke, soothing Uehara's emotions: "Just endure it for now, Uehara. Once we uncover the whole truth, there won't be any issues on your end..."
"...Alright."
Uehara Naraku grunted softly and continued: "Forget it, S.H.I.E.L.D. is just a department that can provide us with intelligence. The most important thing now is ensuring the independence of The Avengers; this is the only thing we can do now."
After saying this, Uehara Naraku's voice lowered once more, whispering: "Also, secretly investigate Director Fury, whether or not he's truly a Hydra spy..."
"And."
"If any internal S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel call you requesting that you return to headquarters or the base, do not comply with their demands!"
"The World Security Council has gone mad; they want to fully control S.H.I.E.L.D., fully control The Avengers, fully control everything in this world..."
"Furthermore."
"Don't tell Tony Stark."
"Because Tony Stark is under soft imprisonment at S.H.I.E.L.D., and he's learned the truth about Hydra's Bucky Barnes killing his parents. He may do anything to avenge them now..."
"As for..."
"Forget it, that's all."
"Everything relies on you now, Natasha."
The phone emitted a series of beeps, ending Uehara Naraku's call abruptly, leaving Natasha to helplessly shake her head and put away her phone.
This phone call conveyed an enormous amount of information.
Natasha stretched her fingers to massage her temples, then took out her phone, flipping through the numbers in her contacts to carefully consider whom she should call.
Steve Rogers?
Nick Fury?
Clint Barton?
There are three options, and two of them are unreliable now.
After pondering for a while, Natasha decided on the one person she could trust 100%: Clint Barton, who recruited her into S.H.I.E.L.D.
Regardless of investigating Nick Fury or looking into the issues of Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes, she needed an ally.
Now that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal affairs were controlled by the White House and the World Security Council, and Director Uehara Naraku was sidelined or even monitored, she could only seek allies on her own.
Just as Natasha finished her thoughts and intended to contact Clint Barton, she received a call from an internal S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, requesting her and Clint to report to headquarters immediately...
Uehara Naraku was right!
The World Security Council intends to detain these ace agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.!