Chapter 213: Captain Hydra
"Although we had a bit of an unexpected hiccup along the way—who would've thought that crippled ninja was so powerful? Not only did he defeat two liquid robots, he even managed to escape... Still, he's badly injured. He might've already died out there by now..."
Red Wolf tilted her head back and let out a trademark villainous laugh.
Why hadn't the reinforcements promised by the Deputy Director arrived yet?
In fact, after learning of Gray Wolf's plan, Jiraiya immediately informed the S.H.I.E.L.D. Deputy Director Husky—who was also an undercover agent—and was told that Hydra would be sending backup. Jiraiya only needed to buy some time.
"Damn it!"
Unaware that Red Wolf was a double agent, Sarutobi Mirai naturally showed her frustration.
"Mirai, calm down," Kakashi said, pulling her back.
Earlier, within the village of Konoha—
Ichiraku Ramen, Branch No. 2
"...Is it really true, Shunhi? You can really bring people back to life?"
The muscular man in a bizarrely tight outfit with a prominent rear end gripped Shunhi's hand tightly.
"Of course it's true. I mean, you're already back from the dead, aren't you?"
Shunhi awkwardly tried to pull her hand away, but couldn't.
"That's amazing... If I'd known you'd joined such a powerful organization, I wouldn't have listened to that crusty old geezer."
"Alright, alright—your first mission is to go rescue your dear friend Kakashi. Go now, Captain Hydra."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Captain Hydra wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and set off with his shield in hand.
"...Even though the liquid robots still have the flaw of not being able to replicate memories, I'm confident that the cloned Gray Wolf will keep improving them. For someone like him, this kind of thing is nothing!"
While stalling for time, Jiraiya continued transmitting intelligence to Kakashi.
"Old—Red Wolf, shouldn't we be heading back?"
Gray Wolf cautiously suggested.
Jiraiya instinctively glanced at Kakashi. After receiving a nod, he replied to Gray Wolf, "Yeah, let's head back."
Kakashi had naturally realized that Jiraiya was deliberately stalling, which meant there was backup on the way. And if all he had to do was stall for time, Kakashi believed he could manage that.
The liquid robots, which had stopped moving, suddenly resumed their advance, closing in on Kakashi and Sarutobi Mirai.
"Mirai, hold them off as long as you can."
Though confused, Sarutobi Mirai nodded. "Yes, Sixth."
Just as she finished speaking, a shield ricocheted between the liquid robots before curving mid-air and heading toward the retreating Gray Wolf and Red Wolf.
"Watch out, honey!"
Gray Wolf reflexively shouted, pushing Red Wolf out of the way.
However, the shield's original target wasn't Red Wolf, but Gray Wolf—so his movement conveniently dodged the attack.
The shield returned to the hand of a man standing in the distance.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes and murmured as he looked at the tight-suited figure walking toward them: "So this is the backup Jiraiya mentioned..."
Scrambling to his feet, the disheveled Gray Wolf pulled Red Wolf up and stared at the man who had just attacked with the shield. "Who are you?! How dare you attack your king!"
"Captain Hydra. Steve Rogers."
Captain Hydra calmly walked up beside Kakashi, glanced at him and Sarutobi Mirai, then turned to face Gray Wolf and Red Wolf standing on the rooftop.
"Hydra!"
As a S.H.I.E.L.D. clone, Gray Wolf naturally knew of their arch-nemesis—Hydra.
"Sixth, what's Hydra? Are they powerful? Are they related to that Hydra Corporation in the village?"
Sarutobi Mirai whispered to Kakashi.
At present, knowledge about Hydra was limited to the upper ranks and elite jōnin of Konoha. As a chūnin, Sarutobi Mirai wasn't authorized to know.
"...Currently, Hydra and Konoha are allies, working together against S.H.I.E.L.D.—which is the organization backing the two people in front of you."
Kakashi gave a brief explanation. Though Sarutobi Mirai was still a chūnin, she had a high chance of being promoted to jōnin after this incident.
"Gray Wolf, since someone from Hydra has shown up, let's pull back."
Red Wolf said to Gray Wolf.
"Yeah."
Gray Wolf nodded.
Even if she hadn't said so, he would've suggested retreating. After all, he still didn't know that Red Wolf was actually working with the other side.
As Gray Wolf and Red Wolf withdrew, the liquid robots knocked down by the shield began crawling up and slowly dispersing.
"Good thing we left one behind..."
Kakashi muttered while glancing at the liquid robot disguised as Might Guy.
"Watch out!"
Captain Hydra raised his shield in front of Kakashi, blocking a sudden shockwave blast that erupted without warning from "Might Guy."
"He self-destructed..."
Sarutobi Mirai, hiding behind the shield, said with lingering fear.
"Thanks, Captain Hydra," Kakashi said, looking toward him. "Now, prove to me you're not a liquid robot."
"Huh?! But Sixth, he just saved us!"
Sarutobi Mirai looked at Kakashi in confusion.
"It's possible the enemy did that on purpose to lower our guard and make it easier to kill us."
Kakashi fixed his gaze on Captain Hydra.
"Heh. As cautious as ever, Kakashi." Captain Hydra wasn't offended by the suspicion. He leaned in close to Kakashi's ear and whispered, "Hail Hydra."
Ever since Hydra's dissolution, that phrase had become a secret code used by its members to confirm each other's identity. Only five people in Konoha knew this information: former Hokage Naruto, Kakashi, Tsunade, Hokage's aide Shikamaru, and his close friend Sasuke.
"Hm?"
Sarutobi Mirai looked at Kakashi, puzzled.
"It's alright, Mirai. He's one of us."
As Kakashi spoke, Sarutobi Mirai lowered her guard. "So what now, Sixth? Are we going back to the village?"
"Hmm..." Kakashi thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No. We have no idea how many liquid robots are currently infiltrating Konoha. Going back now would be walking right into a trap. We need to find more allies first."
"Allies... Oh! Sixth, what about Boruto?"
Sarutobi Mirai asked suddenly.
"Hmm... Right. The liquid robots can't mimic Boruto while he's training in Mount Myōboku."
Kakashi nodded in agreement.