Natasha did not entirely believe Minato Namikaze, but she had transmitted everything he said back to S.H.I.E.L.D. through her audio device.
His words immediately sparked a flurry of discussion within S.H.I.E.L.D.
Then Nick Fury noticed an overlooked point. "Natasha, ask Minato Namikaze..."
Natasha did as instructed at once. Looking at Minato, she asked, "Mr. Namikaze, you said only Chakra could reveal the seal, but most New York gangsters probably don't have Chakra. So how are they looking for it?"
S.H.I.E.L.D. had coveted Chakra too, a power that sounded like it belonged only in fantasy novels.
They had once asked Minato Namikaze in earnest whether they could master a power like Chakra.
After hearing them out, Minato shook his head and flatly refused. "Not everyone can acquire Chakra. Even in Konoha, many people haven't been able to master it."
"Besides, we still can't trust you completely, so forget about Chakra."
Minato had been so firm in his refusal that S.H.I.E.L.D. had no recourse. Not wanting to anger him, it could only drop the matter.
Now, hearing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s question, Minato froze. Clearly, he had not considered it.
After thinking for a moment, he said gravely, "I don't know about that either. Perhaps they have some special method! That's why you have to let me join this investigation!"
"I'm certain the force operating in secret includes powerful people who possess Chakra. If they're hiding among the gangs, ordinary people like you would just be walking into a slaughter!!"
"Also, they seem to have developed some new Chakra techniques. I think it's very important for Konoha to investigate them thoroughly!"
Minato Namikaze had put on that entire act. Of course he knew how the New York gangs were searching.
The detectors had been personally handed to Kingpin by Wu Chen, the original body, to distribute to the bosses leading teams in different areas.
Each was a white crystal the size of a thumb.
The little white crystals had only one function: when they reached a particular area designated by Wu Chen, they would turn red.
Wu Chen had currently designated only one spot: a public bench in the very center of New York Times Square.
As soon as a gang member placed a crystal on that bench, it would turn red, and the force lurking in New York would learn that the Nine-Tails was sealed in New York Times Square.
As for where the Detection Crystals had come from?
The answer was simple: Wu Chen had created them with a Wish Card.
He had also used a Wish Card to create a large, glittering array that could cover all of Times Square, though it actually had no special function.
It was a sealing array he had created solely to suit the Nine-Tails' identity.
The sealing array, which had nothing but visual effects, had cost Wu Chen five hundred thousand dollars. Two manual refreshes had cost another two hundred thousand, leaving him with only 1.1 million.
The Detection Crystals cost ten thousand apiece. He had made 110 of them and had Kingpin distribute them to the gang squad bosses.
With that, the Nine-Tails' Attack might begin very soon!
Wu Chen looked forward to that moment, because it would undoubtedly give Minato Namikaze and Obito Uchiha a considerable increase in their role-playing progress!
With Minato Namikaze having said all that in such a firm tone, S.H.I.E.L.D. naturally found it hard to refuse.
After all, Minato had invoked Konoha, whose true strength was still unclear, and had also framed his request as a matter of concern for the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Refusing again might make him angry.
Humble little S.H.I.E.L.D. did not want that to happen.
"Oh, right, this counts as a mission too! Consider it a commission from S.H.I.E.L.D. As for the payment, give me whatever you see fit!" Minato reminded them. He still hoped to use this to boost his role-playing progress a little more!
"Understood!"
Although he had left the payment up to them, S.H.I.E.L.D. offered him five hundred thousand dollars, payable upon completion of the mission.
With that, Minato Namikaze's objective was achieved as well.
However, this meant they would have to make a slight change to the agents assigned to investigate.
Nick Fury had originally planned to send two agents skilled at infiltration into gang territory to investigate.
But now that they had Minato Namikaze's spatial ability, agents skilled at infiltration were not as important.
After all, Minato could zip straight to their destination, while the agents would have to walk.
So the agent going with Minato needed to be someone who could keep him placated and keep an eye on him.
In that case, who was better suited than Natasha, who had spent several days with Minato?
So Black Widow Natasha got a check mark!
Nick Fury scribbled on the assignment sheet.
After thinking for a few seconds, he added another name—Phil Coulson!
Natasha alone was not enough, so Nick Fury decided to send his trusted aide, Agent Phil Coulson, as well.
Phil Coulson was a level-eight S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, with a higher rank than even Black Widow Natasha Romanoff.