Chapter 129:
"Project God-on-Earth?"
Inside the Hokage's office, Naruto exchanged a glance with Shikamaru and Sasuke, who stood on either side of him.
"We don't know much about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Project God-on-Earth, even within Hydra. The only thing we're sure of is that S.H.I.E.L.D. is trying to create a god."
This was the reward Naruto and Sasuke received for attending the opening ceremony of the Hydra Group—
An intelligence report about S.H.I.E.L.D.
Seeing the tense expression on Naruto's face, the Jar Merchant smiled and said, "But don't get too worked up. Creating a god isn't exactly easy."
"Creating a god... could this be related to the Ōtsutsuki clan?" Sasuke asked, frowning.
To the shinobi world, the Ōtsutsuki were essentially gods.
"Ōtsutsuki? Don't be ridiculous. According to intel sent back by Hydra agents embedded within S.H.I.E.L.D., their 'god' possesses at minimum: free flight, perfect defense, super hearing, super healing, super speed, super vision, energy absorption... basically, all abilities far beyond human limits. S.H.I.E.L.D. has given this entity the codename: Superman."
"No matter how you look at it, this is just too far-fetched," said a visibly shocked Shikamaru. "If S.H.I.E.L.D. really has created something like this, we might as well just surrender now."
"Hmm... Sasuke, what's your take?" Naruto turned to Sasuke beside him.
"...So far, the only organization we know of with close ties to S.H.I.E.L.D. is Umbrella. Whether this Project God-on-Earth is real or not, I'm going back to their underground facility."
"But according to the intel Yamato brought back, the elevator into Umbrella's underground base seems to have stopped functioning." Naruto picked up a report from his desk and handed it to Sasuke.
Sasuke glanced at the document and said, "No problem. I recorded the coordinates last time. With my Rinnegan, I can teleport in."
"Looks like your mind's made up..." Naruto said. "Be careful out there, Sasuke."
"Mm."
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Leaf Village, Boruto was complaining about how dull his life had been lately. With him were Shuyu and Sarada. As for Tentō, he had entered the ninja academy to begin training from scratch on how to become a shinobi.
"Hey, isn't that Dad?"
Hearing Sarada's voice, Boruto looked over and said, "That's definitely Uncle Sasuke. Looks like he's heading out... Don't tell me! He must be going on a mission! I remember Uncle Sasuke's missions are usually S-rank!"
"Yeah... Hey, Boruto, what are you planning now?" Sarada shot him a side-eye.
"Don't you want to go too? If we help Uncle Sasuke complete his mission, maybe the grown-ups will finally recognize our strength!"
"Forget it, Boruto. Let's not be a burden to my dad," Sarada said.
"A burden? No way..." Just as Boruto was about to argue, they happened to run into the Jar Merchant. "Hey! Jar Merchant, do you know where Uncle Sasuke's going?"
"Well..."
"This is for you."
Even though he'd made a fortune recently selling cards, Shunhi had never been the kind of guy to think he had too much money.
"Sasuke's heading to Umbrella's underground base to investigate something about S.H.I.E.L.D.," the Jar Merchant said without hesitation as he pocketed the cash. As for whether Boruto would follow him, or whether he might run into danger—those weren't things the Jar Merchant worried about at all.
What a joke. Even though Konoha currently considered S.H.I.E.L.D. its top terrorist target, the truth was, every single active member in S.H.I.E.L.D. was a double agent.
"Should you really be telling us this?" Shuyu asked, eyes fixed on the Jar Merchant. "Isn't anything involving S.H.I.E.L.D. top-secret?"
"You guys aren't outsiders," the Jar Merchant replied with a shrug.
Naruto's son, Sasuke's daughter, and Sasuke's older brother—how could they be considered outsiders?
"S.H.I.E.L.D.? I think I remember hearing about them..." Boruto thought of Mitsuki, clenched his fist, and then took off running in the direction Sasuke had gone.
"Hey! Boruto!"
"Let's follow him, Sarada," said Shuyu.
Umbrella's Underground Base
As Gray Wolf conducted his research, Red Wolf let out a bitter cry from the side. "Why the hell did I turn into a woman?!"
"...Could you shut up already, Jiraiya?" Gray Wolf sighed, putting down his work.
"Orochimaru! No normal man could stay calm after losing his little buddy! And now, how could I ever step foot in a women's bathhouse again?"
"You'd be better suited for a women's bathhouse now."
"You don't get it, Orochimaru! The thrill isn't in just being in the bathhouse—it's in peeking! That tension, that excitement—that's my inspiration!"
"Is that so..." Orochimaru stared at Jiraiya in silence. Of all people, this guy was the one he simply couldn't deal with.
Oddly enough, it was the first time Orochimaru had ever felt intimidated by Jiraiya.
"By the way, who's this guy? Is he with S.H.I.E.L.D. too?"
"What, you're already gathering intel for Konoha?" Orochimaru asked.
"Ahahaha, no way! You're overthinking it, Orochimaru." Red Wolf laughed awkwardly.
"Mitsuki is my son. He's also a member of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"I see, your son, huh..." Halfway through repeating it, Jiraiya suddenly froze. "WHAT?! You have a son?! Who's the mother?!"
When Gray Wolf didn't respond, clearly unsure how to explain, Jiraiya launched into his own theory.
After his death, Tsunade had drowned her sorrow in alcohol and gambling. Then she crossed paths with a reformed Orochimaru. Taking responsibility, she began monitoring him closely. Over time, emotions developed between them—and they had a child together.
"Damn it! Orochimaru, you took advantage of the situation!" Jiraiya pointed at him, then pulled Mitsuki into his arms. "Kid, from now on, I'm your second dad!"
"What are you even saying, you idiot?" Orochimaru muttered, shooting him a glance.
"You've got some nerve! Just tell me—is he Tsunade's kid or not?!"
"...Idiot."
That was the only word Orochimaru could come up with to describe Jiraiya.
Ignoring Jiraiya's obvious attempt to extract intel under the guise of bonding, Orochimaru returned to his research.
Thanks to Umbrella providing him with a dedicated lab, Orochimaru had made significant breakthroughs lately.
"Hm?" Orochimaru paused mid-experiment, his eyes narrowing at the person appearing on the monitor.
"So Sasuke's back already?" Orochimaru licked his lips in anticipation, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. Then he turned to Mitsuki and added, "And look—Boruto came with him."