"What is it, Coulson?" Kakashi asked.
He stood beside the table, phone held against his ear, while Natasha remained seated nearby.
Kakashi's expression changed almost imperceptibly as he listened.
Natasha immediately noticed.
She had spent years reading people. She knew how to recognize fear, anger, surprise, and uncertainty even when someone tried to hide them. Kakashi was usually difficult to read because his face revealed almost nothing, but she had spent enough time around him to recognize the small changes.
His posture had become still.
"What happened?" Kakashi asked.
Coulson's voice continued through the phone.
Kakashi's visible eyes narrowed slightly.
"Fury has been attacked?"
Natasha immediately straightened in her chair.
Nick Fury was not someone who was simply attacked. He was the Director of SHIELD.
If someone had managed to attack Fury badly enough that Coulson was calling Kakashi personally, then something was seriously wrong.
Kakashi continued listening. "And he disappeared?"
Natasha's eyes widened. Kakashi remained silent for several seconds.
Coulson spoke again. Kakashi's expression became colder. "Alexander Pierce has taken control of SHIELD?"
Natasha immediately stood. Alexander Pierce was one of the highest-ranking officials within SHIELD and had enormous political influence. If Fury had disappeared and Pierce had taken control of the organization, then the balance of power inside SHIELD had shifted almost overnight.
Moreover, Pierce according to Kakashi was one of Hydra Leaders, a terrorist organisation.
Kakashi listened again. Natasha could hear only fragments of Coulson's voice from where she stood, but she did not need to hear everything.
Kakashi's expression told her enough.
"What exactly has he ordered?" Kakashi asked.
There was another pause. "So you are telling nethat he had ordered the disbandment of the Avengers? And he wants the Avengers brought under SHIELD command?"
Natasha's expression hardened.
That was not a simple administrative decision. The Avengers had always worked with SHIELD, but they were not SHIELD agents. They were an independent team with their own leadership, their own resources, and their own methods of responding to threats.
Putting them directly under SHIELD would change everything.
It would give SHIELD control over where they went, what missions they accepted, and potentially even how they used their abilities.
More importantly, it would put Kakashi directly under the authority of Alexander Pierce.
Natasha looked at Kakashi. He remained completely calm.
"Coulson," Kakashi said, "how certain are you that Fury is alive?"
Coulson answered. Kakashi's expression did not change. "I see."
He listened for another few seconds.
"Do not make any unnecessary moves. Keep your people safe and stay away from Pierce until we know exactly what we are dealing with."
Coulson spoke again.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "Yes. I understand. Thank you for warning me."
Kakashi ended the call.
Natasha said,"So Fury has disappeared, Pierce has taken control of SHIELD, and he wants to disband the Avengers. A pretty bad day for you, i guess?"
Kakashi placed his phone on the table. "That appears to be the situation."
Natasha frowned. "You are taking this very calmly."
Kakashi looked at her. "I am thinking about whether this is actually a problem."
Natasha stared at him."Kakashi, someone attacked Fury, the Director of SHIELD has disappeared, and a man with enormous political influence and leader of an ancient terrorist organisation has taken control of the organization. He is now trying to put the Avengers under his authority. And you don't think that this a problem?"
"I know."
"Then how can you possibly say this might not be a problem?"
Kakashi folded his arms. "Because if Pierce is responsible for Fury's disappearance, then he has just made several mistakes."
Natasha's eyes narrowed. "What mistakes?"
"He has revealed himself and he is openly targeting us."
Natasha considered that. Kakashi continued, "If he were simply trying to take control of SHIELD quietly, he would not immediately move against the Avengers. He would spend months consolidating his position, placing his people in important positions, and slowly removing anyone who could challenge him."
"But he is moving immediately."
"Exactly."
Kakashi looked toward the windows. "That means either he believes he has already won, or he knows he cannot afford to wait."
Natasha's expression became thoughtful.
Kakashi formed a series of hand seals. He then placed his palm against the floor.
"Summoning Jutsu."
Smoke erupted across the room.
Natasha instinctively stepped backward.
When the smoke cleared, a small pug was standing on the floor.
Pakkun looked around the room. His eyes settled on Kakashi.
"What is it, Kakashi?"
Kakashi looked down at him. "It is time to act on our plans."
Pakkun's ears moved slightly.bThe dog seemed to understand immediately that this was not a normal summons.
He looked toward Natasha. Then back toward Kakashi.b"Things moved faster than expected?"
"Much faster."
Pakkun sighed. "I suppose that means we are going ahead with your plan."
Kakashi nodded. Natasha stared between them. She had been around Kakashi long enough to know that he kept his plans hidden even from the rest of the Avengers.
Natasha looked directly at Kakashi. "What plan?"
Kakashi turned toward her.
For the first time since receiving Coulson's call, his eyes curved into a smile.
It was not his usual amused expression. It was the kind of smile that made Natasha instinctively more alert.
Pakkun looked up at him.
Kakashi calmly replied, "Throw the world into chaos, of course and get rid of Hydra from the face of this world completely."
-----Author Notes---------
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