Rather than being leaked, it would be more accurate to call it an inside theft.
Whether it was the Air Force, the Army, or the Navy, S.H.I.E.L.D. had already infiltrated them with undercover agents.
In The Incredible Hulk, it was through such covert means that S.H.I.E.L.D. successfully tracked down Dr. Bruce Banner and later listed him for the Avengers Initiative.
Now, the footage Stark had recorded was obtained in exactly the same way—quietly intercepted and delivered into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s hands.
The agent in charge of this project immediately reported the video to a Level Seven agent: Phil Coulson.
"Where did this come from?"
Coulson's eyes were locked on the computer screen, watching as Senju Haruto transformed the Ten Rings' weapons into mechanical lifeforms.
Forget seeing such a thing—he had never even heard of technology like this.
And judging from the strength of these mechanical beings, taking them down wouldn't be easy. Not at all.
"Intercepted from the Air Force. It looks like Tony Stark recorded it," the agent replied without hesitation.
"Stark?"
Coulson was caught off guard. That name was hardly unfamiliar to him.
After all, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s very founders had been a Stark—Howard Stark, Tony's father.
And Tony Stark himself was a certified super-genius, long on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s watchlist.
When he was kidnapped by the Ten Rings, it had rattled S.H.I.E.L.D. badly.
They had even been preparing to mount a rescue operation—no matter the cost, Stark had to be brought back alive.
But before they could act, Stark had already escaped.
And he'd brought this footage with him.
"Have we identified that man yet?" Coulson pressed.
Agents had been investigating ever since the video was intercepted, desperate to uncover Senju Haruto's identity.
The result? Nothing.
All they knew was that he possessed some kind of overwhelming supernatural power.
Not even his name was on record.
"Not even a name?"
Coulson clenched his jaw. This was the first time S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't even pin down the identity of a single human being.
"Director Coulson, what do we do now?" the agent asked nervously. Clearly, this was beyond him.
"Keep digging. Any surveillance feed, any scrap of footage—cross-check everything. The moment you find anything on him, you report to me immediately."
"As for the video…"
Coulson copied it to a secure drive, then left without delay, heading straight for the office of Director Nick Fury.
Knock, knock, knock.
Three raps on the door. A deep voice called back:
"Come in."
Coulson stepped inside. The room was quiet save for one presence—a ginger cat lounging lazily on the windowsill, basking in the sunlight. Every so often it stretched, yawned, and gave a proud little "meow."
Coulson couldn't help but envy the creature's simple life.
"Agent Coulson," Fury's low voice cut through his thoughts. "What is it?"
Fury trusted Coulson more than most. If Coulson came here with that look on his face, it wasn't over anything trivial.
"Director Fury."
Coulson shook off his thoughts and quickly inserted the drive into the computer on Fury's desk.
Fury raised an eyebrow as the video began to play.
But as the footage rolled on, his expression shifted—first confusion, then surprise, then shock.
By the time it ended, Fury was silent.
Even after the last frame, no words came.
If this wasn't some elaborate special effects hoax, then it meant the world as they knew it was about to change.
Still, Fury could glean some things from the recording.
Before becoming director, he had fought in plenty of wars. He recognized the men Haruto cut down as members of the Ten Rings—one of the most dangerous organizations in existence.
And Haruto had acted to save Stark and Dr. Yinsen.
From that angle, Haruto appeared to be on the side of justice.
The Avengers Initiative.
"Do we know who he is?" Fury finally asked, breaking free from his stunned silence.
Coulson shook his head. No name. No background. No trace.
"Should we reach out to Stark?" Coulson suggested. Since Haruto had rescued him, perhaps there was some connection. Otherwise, why get involved at all?
"Hmm."
Fury nodded, putting Coulson fully in charge of the matter. One way or another, contact had to be made.
Because this power was too great, too terrifying.
Fury even suspected Haruto might be the second-strongest being on Earth—second only to Captain Marvel.
"If we could persuade him to join the Avengers Initiative…" Fury's throat tightened.
Whatever price Haruto demanded, Fury would pay.
Because someone like that was far better as an ally than as an enemy.
For the first time in years, Fury felt his heart pounding with something new.
Desire.
And fear.
At the same time…
Far away in Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One also noticed this disturbance.
When Haruto had turned all those guns into mechanical lifeforms, she had sensed no trace of magic.
Nor did it resemble Susanoo or any other familiar ability.
"What is this power…"
The Ancient One furrowed her brow. For the first time, she felt as though she had reached the limits of her knowledge.
She could no longer read Senju Haruto.
What was worse—Haruto had never revealed such an ability before.
Did that mean he had other trump cards as well?
Other hidden techniques?
Like the Eye of Agamotto. Like the Cloak of Levitation.
"How many secrets is this man hiding?"
"And why did he save Stark?"
"He does not belong to this universe. He has no ties here."
The Ancient One pondered, then resolved to peer into the future with the Time Stone.
But to her shock, the moment she tried—
The pathway to the future was severed.
Cut off.