Pursuing Red Skull

Kazuhiko Uchiha's battle ended in a complete victory, but Steve, who had headed to the base alone, had not fared quite so well.

With his peak-human physique and formidable Vibranium Shield, Steve easily charged into the base and sent the small squad of HYDRA soldiers stationed aboveground scrambling in terror.

Unfortunately, his luck did not last. This was Red Skull's home turf, after all. The remaining HYDRA battalion mobilized, using its overwhelming advantages in numbers and equipment to surround Steve in a broad plaza.

Steve was still only human. Even after receiving the super-soldier serum, he could not withstand the energy beams. He had no choice but to stop resisting and let the HYDRA soldiers bind him, take him alive, and bring him before Red Skull inside the base.

"Arrogance isn't exclusive to Americans, but I must say, you do it better than anyone."

John Schmidt, the leader of HYDRA known as Red Skull, walked over to Steve with a gleam of triumph in his eyes. A mocking smile spread across his face, which looked almost exactly like a red skull. "Even so, there are limits to what you can do, Captain."

"Schmidt, you're a madman," Captain America retorted fearlessly.

"Heh. The people who say that are merely jealous of my genius and want to deny everything I am."

Red Skull spoke with supreme arrogance, looking down at Steve, who had received the super-soldier serum. His voice took on a coaxing tone. "But we are different. We have transcended the ordinary. Join HYDRA, and let us..."

Before Red Skull could finish, Steve interrupted him with a soft laugh.

Remembering why he had chosen to become a soldier before receiving the super-soldier serum, Steve firmly rejected Red Skull's temptation. With a solemn expression, he said, "No, no, no. I'm still that little guy from Brooklyn."

Angered by his failed attempt to win Steve over, Red Skull punched him hard several times, knocking him to the floor. Then he drew his Magic-Energy Pistol, ready to end Steve's life.

Crash!

Just then, the sound of shattering glass drew everyone's attention.

Kazuhiko Uchiha stepped over the glass shards scattered across the floor. Looking at the startled Red Skull and Steve, he said calmly, "Looks like I arrived just in time."

"Not necessarily." A vicious gleam flashed through Schmidt's eyes as he immediately pulled the trigger at Steve. "Goodbye, Captain America."

Steve was not about to sit there and die. While the HYDRA soldiers were stunned by Kazuhiko Uchiha's entrance, he suddenly exerted his strength and dragged the soldier holding him in front of him, blocking Red Skull's attack.

Kazuhiko Uchiha gave the HYDRA soldiers no chance to react. His hands moved swiftly as he hurled ninja weapons, wiping out every rank-and-file soldier in the office in one go.

"Damn you!" Schmidt glared at Kazuhiko Uchiha in fury. Realizing the situation had turned against him, he snatched up a magic-energy submachine gun and fired wildly at both men as he fled deeper into the base.

"Steve, your shield."

Kazuhiko Uchiha tossed Steve the Vibranium Shield he had dropped nearby. Steve caught it, thanked him, and chased after Red Skull.

By then, the Allied soldiers led by Colonel Phillips had begun a full-scale assault on the base. Since Kazuhiko Uchiha and Steve had already eliminated large numbers of HYDRA soldiers, their advance went smoothly, and they soon fought their way into the underground base.

Just as in the movie, enemies inside the base blocked Steve's path, preventing him from catching Red Skull. He could only watch as Red Skull boarded the enormous black combat aircraft modified with magic energy-the Wings of the Valkyrie.

After Peggy and her squad of soldiers met up with Kazuhiko Uchiha, they headed over to look for Steve. Finding him surrounded by enemies, they immediately joined the fight and wiped out the remaining HYDRA soldiers.

Once the battle was over, Peggy found no sign of Red Skull's body and hurriedly asked, "Steve, where's Red Skull?"

"Red Skull got away. He's in that big plane." Steve pointed at the Wings of the Valkyrie, which had already started up and was speeding down the runway, and answered with bitter frustration.

Kazuhiko Uchiha had received no notification that the mission was complete. He was about to activate the Eight Gates Released Formation and carry out the final pursuit alone when Colonel Phillips's voice rang out from a distance.

"There's still a chance! Get in!"

An open-top jeep sped toward them and stopped at their side. Colonel Phillips pointed to the rear seats and shouted at Kazuhiko Uchiha and the other two, "Move, move, move, youngsters! The fight isn't over yet!"

"Colonel, you're something else." Steve gave Colonel Phillips a thumbs-up, and they all climbed into the back of the jeep.

Still going strong despite his age, Colonel Phillips showed all the skill of a veteran driver, pushing the jeep to racing speed. Just before the Wings of the Valkyrie left the ground, he brought the two men beneath its landing gear.

Kazuhiko Uchiha and Steve leaped high into the air, firmly catching the steel struts of the landing gear as the aircraft hurtled off the runway.

The Wings of the Valkyrie took flight, and its landing gear slowly retracted into the aircraft. Kazuhiko Uchiha and Steve rode the wheels up and made it safely inside.

Only a small squad of HYDRA soldiers remained aboard. The two men wiped them out with little effort, then followed the stairs inside toward the main cockpit where Red Skull was waiting.

Whoosh!

The moment they opened the door, a faint sound came from inside. Steve reacted instantly, raising his shield in front of him and blocking an energy beam fired from the magic-energy gun in Red Skull's hand.

Red Skull tossed his depleted weapon aside and glared at them, berating them in exasperation. "You possess extraordinary abilities! You should be creating a new world alongside me, not choosing to oppose me for the sake of those ignorant, useless mortals!"

"Red Skull, you really are a madman. Give up your plan to destroy the world." Steve naturally had no intention of accepting Red Skull's invitation. He rejected him outright and lunged at him.

Steve and Red Skull had both received the super-soldier serum, making them evenly matched in combat strength. However, Steve had received an improved version of the serum and had more combat experience than Red Skull, who occupied a lofty position. With the so-called protagonist's heroic plot armor added to the mix, Steve had Red Skull firmly pinned down after only a few dozen exchanges.

Kazuhiko Uchiha had no interest in joining their fight. His gaze rested on the Wings of the Valkyrie's control console-or, more precisely, on the Cosmic Cube glowing blue within it.