When dealing with someone as powerful as Minato, no matter how much S.H.I.E.L.D.
trusted Natasha’s abilities, they would never dare place everything entirely on her.
Remote guidance was only natural, and Natasha understood and agreed with that.
So after hearing Nick Fury’s instructions, Natasha paused briefly before asking, “Mr.
Namikaze, is it alright if I call you that?” Alex smiled gently, “It doesn’t really matter how you address me.” “That’s good,” Natasha seemed to relax a little, “Mr.
Namikaze, if it’s convenient, could you tell me whether your village’s Second Hokage has created any new ninjutsu recently?
I’m a little curious…” The question was somewhat forced.
It was obvious she wasn’t really asking what she appeared to be asking.
Alex immediately understood the meaning behind it.
By specifically mentioning the “Second Hokage” and “recently,” she was trying to find out whether the Second Hokage was still alive and use that to judge Konoha’s strength.
A smile appeared on his lips.
His gaze shifted slightly as he looked toward the place where the criminals he had beaten earlier had been lying.
He found that the area was empty.
Everyone had escaped while he was taking Peter home.
Alex was not worried about this.
He had left a Flying Thunder God mark on Bald John.
No matter where that guy ran, as long as Alex wanted to, he could find him immediately.
For now, he could let the man relax a little.
Later, he would give him a surprise.
After looking away, Alex remained calm, as if he had not noticed Natasha’s intentions at all.
“Recently, no.
The Second Hokage has already retired.
These days, he mostly just trains chakra.” “I see…”, Natasha nodded.
The moment S.H.I.E.L.D.’s think tank heard that answer, they immediately became excited again.
“There’s an eighty percent chance that the Second Hokage is still alive.
If that’s true, then the Third Hokage is almost certainly alive as well.
We can’t determine the status of the First Hokage.” “In other words, Konoha Village has at least three more people as powerful as Minato.” “Is that all you’re paying attention to?
Doesn’t anyone care about ‘chakra’?” “Director Fury, please have Agent Romanoff ask what chakra is!” After receiving the instruction, Natasha paused, but instead of following it, she frankly introduced herself to Alex.
“Sorry!
I forgot to introduce myself just now.
My name is Natasha Romanoff.
I’m a Level Seven Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
This time, I’ve been ordered to make contact with you, Mr.
Minato.” “Although you stopped Abomination and Hulk from rampaging through the streets of New York, as protectors of this world, S.H.I.E.L.D.
still can’t be completely at ease about you.
At the very least, we need to know your purpose.” “You are one of your village’s highest combat forces.
Why did Konoha Village send you, their Hokage, to New York?
What exactly are you here for?” S.H.I.E.L.D.
calling itself a protector of Earth was barely acceptable.
After all, they had indeed contributed to peace on Earth.
As one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s senior agents, Natasha had her own judgment.
From the beginning of their conversation until now, she had clearly realized that if she wanted the respect of someone as powerful as Minato, then she had to offer the same level of respect in return, or even more.
The think tank’s analysis was not wrong, but equal communication could only exist when both sides had comparable strength and equal standing.
Clearly, when it came to top-level combat power, S.H.I.E.L.D.
was not equal to Konoha Village.
Under such unequal circumstances, if they wanted peaceful coexistence and equal dialogue, they first had to establish each side’s position.
And that position was each side’s purpose.
Natasha had already explained why S.H.I.E.L.D.
sent her to make contact.
Now it depended on how Konoha Village’s Fourth Hokage, Minato, would answer.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
treated a powerful organization differently from a powerful lone individual.
If Minato were only acting alone, S.H.I.E.L.D.
definitely would not be taking things this seriously.
They would still be polite, but there would never be a situation where one person made open contact while a large group guided her from behind the scenes.
Clearly, the Konoha Village that Alex had casually invented earlier had become one of his most important supports.
Now it depended on whether Alex intended to expose the lie or build it into something more complete.
If it remained only a lie, there was no way it could stay hidden forever.
One day it would be exposed.
So a decision had to be made.
After hearing all of this, Alex’s thoughts stirred, and he lowered his head as he silently weighed the gains and losses.
Very quickly, he reached a decision.
He would build up the lie and turn it into reality.
If that was the plan, then the matter of cleaning up Hell’s Kitchen would have to be pushed back a little.
If his only goal was squeezing a wealthy target, then he could indeed set up S.H.I.E.L.D.
right here.
And in order to keep a powerful person like Minato satisfied, S.H.I.E.L.D.
would most likely not refuse.