The Battle of New York came to an end.
After Akatsuki defeated the Chitauri, this massive alien army withdrew from the planet, making it feel like this organization had come just to do good deeds without asking for anything in return.
At least, Tony Stark thought so.
This was the organization his father, Howard Stark, had once joined, and his father had mentioned Akatsuki in the letter he left him.
Tony Stark knew relatively more about it. He glanced at Akatsuki, who had just left Earth through a black hole, then turned to the utterly confused Uehara Naraku.
"Uehara, you still don't know much about Akatsuki, do you?"
Tony Stark patted Uehara Naraku on the shoulder, his eyes a bit complicated. "You really are a lucky bastard… need me to give you an introduction to Akatsuki?"
Tony Stark's mood was genuinely a bit complicated.
Back when a member of Akatsuki descended to Earth to deliver him a letter, Tony Stark had still been kind of arrogant, really not taking that organization that looked down on him seriously…
And then, after this whole Battle of New York…
Akatsuki's army had steamrolled the Chitauri.
Tony Stark faintly wanted to have more dealings with this organization. The intel he'd gotten from his father's last letter made him really want to learn some things from Akatsuki.
Especially that legendary leader of Akatsuki, who actually made his father, Howard Stark, fill his words with admiration…
Now Tony Stark had personally seen Akatsuki's top brass invite their comrade Uehara Naraku to join them before leaving, which made Tony feel a bit regretful.
"Huh?"
Just the right amount of confusion showed on Uehara Naraku's face. He hesitated, looked at Tony Stark, and slowly nodded. "Sure… I still don't really get it… what exactly does this Akatsuki organization do? Director Fury also told me to join them."
At this moment…
Uehara Naraku's conscience twinged, just a little.
This guy Tony Stark was really too thoroughly fooled by him… he actually wanted to introduce Akatsuki to the very leader of Akatsuki?
This was really…
Too delightful.
Maybe this was a perfect chance to sound out what impression this playboy had of Akatsuki? That way he could judge whether his long-running plan had been working?
Besides…
In the future he could even use Tony Stark's impression to slowly decorate Akatsuki into the shape Tony wanted, earning more trust from Tony Stark and the Avengers.
Of course.
Uehara Naraku still couldn't help thinking: should he keep the fact that he was Akatsuki's leader buried in the bottom of his heart?
Before the true endgame arrived, he had to leave people with the impression that he gradually became the leader of Akatsuki, and wasn't the leader from the very beginning…
Otherwise, there might be casualties.
And when the day came that he had no choice but to reveal that moment, he'd better have Pepper book Tony Stark a health checkup, in case the guy's heart couldn't take it… No, wait, Tony Stark had shrapnel in his chest, his heart wasn't all that healthy to begin with!
Given Tony Stark's pride, if he found out the truth one day, he definitely wouldn't have the face to show up in front of Uehara Naraku…
"All right, the war's over."
Nick Fury's voice came through their comm channel. He spoke softly, "I'll be heading to New York right away. Find a place to sit down and talk… We have to talk, and it just so happens I've also got some intel on Akatsuki."
"One more thing!"
Nick Fury pinged Uehara Naraku again and issued his order: "Agent Uehara Naraku, you've retrieved the Tesseract, haven't you?
Before I arrive in New York, don't hand it over to anyone, no matter which General or which Secretary-General they say they're sent by!"
"Yes, sir."
Uehara Naraku slowly nodded.
"Thank you all for saving us from this crisis."
After expressing his gratitude with full solemnity, Nick Fury continued, "Captain Rogers, Special Agent Barton, Special Agent Romanoff, stay where you are and take charge of rescue operations. All field agents will follow your orders…"
The losses from this war were not small.
The entire Manhattan District of New York had turned into a battlefield, and of course there were inevitably casualties, with quite a few people still trapped under the rubble.
Steve Rogers voluntarily took over command of the rescue, and Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton naturally chose to follow Nick Fury's orders.
The two ace agents both had some vague guesses in their hearts…
Now that this war from outer space was over, S.H.I.E.L.D. would have to start reassessing the suspicious Superhero known as Captain America, Steve Rogers…
Before S.H.I.E.L.D. could fully clear Captain America Steve Rogers, some extremely classified information couldn't be shared with him for the time being…
As for the uncontrollable big guy, Hulk—once the war ended, he changed back into Dr. Bruce Banner, but Dr. Bruce Banner had no choice but to temporarily leave the bustling downtown area and go back to rest.
New York.
Inside a closed restaurant.
Uehara Naraku and Tony Stark were there, and Thor had also brought his younger brother Loki to join this little gathering.
Originally, Loki should have been taken into custody and interrogated on the spot by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s field agents. But Thor, in the name of Asgard, refused; he did not want to see Earthlings interrogate a Prince of Asgard.