Kakashi's shadow clones had become a nightmare for HYDRA.
They appeared without warning, completed their assignments, and disappeared before most of their targets even understood what was happening.
Government agents, politicians, military personnel, influential businessmen, intelligence officers, and even people living completely ordinary lives were being eliminated across the world.
Some had been deeply embedded inside governments for decades, while others had built convincing lives as harmless citizens. They went to work, attended social events, raised families, and acted like ordinary members of society while secretly answering to HYDRA.
None of that mattered anymore.
Kakashi's clones were hunting them.
The terrifying part was not that Kakashi had somehow obtained a list containing the identities of almost every HYDRA operative. Even with SHIELD's and Tony Stark's resources, that would have been nearly impossible. The terrifying part was how he was obtaining the information.
Through man's best friend.
Dogs.
Many of the HYDRA agents who had spent years pretending to be good, respectable members of society kept dogs in their homes. They believed their pets were nothing more than loyal companions that could never betray them. They spoke freely around them because they never imagined that an animal could become an intelligence source.
Some of Kakashi's summoned ninja dogs had spent hours building an information network with these dogs.
Dogs already living in Hydra agent homes had unknowingly become witnesses to conversations that should never have been spoken aloud.
A HYDRA operative could encrypt his computer. He could destroy documents. He could use a secure telephone. He could even memorize information instead of writing it down.
But he rarely suspected the dog sleeping beneath the table while he discussed HYDRA operations.
Kakashi had exploited that weakness ruthlessly. One by one, the hidden Hydra network had begun collapsing.
And now he was ready to strike at someone far more important.
Baron Wolfgang von Strucker.
Strucker was one of HYDRA's major leaders, and according to the information Kakashi had gathered, he was operating a secret facility deep inside a forest in Europe. The location had been deliberately chosen because it was far from major cities, surrounded by dense woodland, and protected by several layers of security.
But Strucker had made one mistake. He had trusted his people. And his people had dogs.
Kakashi was in the avangers towers as he cordinated everything.
Tony looked through the lenses of his helmet. Below, the HYDRA's base was almost completely hidden beneath the trees. A few buildings could be seen between the branches, surrounded by fences, guard towers, vehicles, and armed patrols.
"Well, I have to admit, this place is surprisingly creepy. If someone told me there was a secret organization performing illegal experiments down there, I would believe them without needing any evidence."
Natasha adjusted the weapon in her hand. "That is because you have been involved in enough secret organizations to recognize the scenery."
Tony looked toward her. "I prefer to call it professional experience."
Steve spoke to Kakashi through the earpiece. "What do we know about the facility?"
Kakashi said, "Strucker has been using leftover energy from the Tesseract for experiments."
Tony glanced towards the security. "Please tell me we have a better plan than walking through the front door."
No reply came from Kakashi.
Kakashi touched his earpiece. "Avengers, are you ready?"
Steve raised his shield. "Ready."
Tony's armor powered up. "I have been ready for the last five minutes."
Natasha checked her weapons. ""I am ready."
Logan gave his claws a slight extension. "I've been ready since we got here."
Bruce looked toward the compound. Then he took a deep breath.
His body began to change. The transformation was almost instantaneous.
Green skin replaced human flesh. His muscles expanded, his clothes tore apart, and the Hulk emerged with a roar that echoed through the forest.
"HULK SMASH!"
Tony looked toward him. "I suppose that answers Bruce's readiness question."
Hulk charged down the hill.
The HYDRA guards noticed him immediately.
Alarms began screaming throughout the compound. Red lights flashed across the buildings.
Soldiers rushed toward the outer gates with rifles in their hands.
"What is that?" one of them shouted.
Another soldier looked toward the approaching green giant.
"I don't think that is a man."
Hulk crashed through the first defensive barrier. The metal gate folded around him.
The HYDRA soldiers opened fire. Bullets bounced harmlessly from his body.
Hulk grabbed one of the armored vehicles and threw it across the compound.
Steve charged forward immediately. His shield flew through the air, striking one soldier after another before returning to his hand.
Tony took to the sky and fired repulsor blasts toward the defensive towers.
Natasha moved between the trees, firing her guns.
Logan simply walked directly toward the gunfire. Bullets struck him, blood keaded from his wounds but he kept walking.
The soldiers stared at him in disbelief. "What the hell is he?"
Logan reached the first soldier and slammed him into the ground.
Tony flew over the compound and fired several repulsor blasts.
Tony suddenly stopped moving. His helmet turned toward one of the buildings.
"Kakashi."
Kakashi focused his camera feed toTony.
Tony's voice had lost its usual joking tone. "You should see this."
Kakashi immediately saw what Tony was seeing.
Inside the facility were several scientists, HYDRA soldiers, and equipment connected to a strange energy source.
But Kakashi barely noticed any of it.
His eye had locked onto two people standing inside the laboratory.
A young woman with long brownish-red hair. And a young man standing beside her.
Kakashi froze.
He knew them. He had seen them before.
Not in this universe. In another universe.
A timeline where everything had gone terribly wrong. A timeline where he had encountered Wanda Maximoff and Pietro Maximoff.
But they were standing here. Alive.
They looked younger and apparently working with HYDRA.
-----Author Notes---------
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