The car drove all the way and soon arrived at the Sand Ninja Puppet Shop next to the Brooklyn Bridge.
"We've reached our destination."
Upon hearing the reminder from the driver, Kabuto replied modestly, "Thank you."
Kabuto then picked up his briefcase from the side and got out of the car. After glancing at the bustling pedestrians around him, his gaze finally fell on the sign of the Sand Ninja Puppet Shop.
Using his right index finger, Kabuto pushed up his glasses and then pushed open the door to enter the puppet shop.
Meanwhile, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who had brought Kabuto here picked up a walkie-talkie and said, "The target has entered the Sand Ninja Puppet Shop."
As Kabuto stepped inside, he immediately heard a voice in his ear, "Welcome to the Sand Ninja Puppet Shop."
Kabuto looked in the direction of the voice and saw a welcoming puppet doll standing at the entrance.
After taking a quick look, Kabuto turned his gaze and walked towards the service counter while observing the decorations inside the shop.
Inside the shop, there were puppets of all sizes, from small dolls of 30 centimeters to life-sized humanoid puppets, as well as some peculiarly shaped puppet items.
The moment Kabuto stepped into the puppet shop, he caught the attention of two people. One of them was the current leader of the Sand Ninja Squad, Pakura. Her gaze fell on the forehead protector on Kabuto's forehead.
In her memory, there was no forehead protector with this style in the ninja world. Instead, the emblem belonged to the organization that had sent her here – S.H.I.E.L.D.
On the other hand, Temari immediately recognized the man in front of her. He was the one responsible for communicating with Orochimaru.
If she remembered correctly, this man was from Orochimaru's group. She hadn't expected him to be recruited by Charles into this world as well.
As for the forehead protector on Kabuto's head, Temari had already figured it out, but she didn't pay it much mind.
Kabuto walked towards the service counter with his left hand holding a briefcase and his right hand placed over his chest, making a special gesture that only Sand Village insiders would use.
"Act like a stranger. You don't know me."
"I am a ninja dispatched by Lord Charles."
Kabuto had once infiltrated the Sand Village and learned the special communication gestures of the locals.
Temari and Pakura, seeing Kabuto's gestures, knew that he was a ninja dispatched by Lord Charles. They cooperated with him and started to play along.
Kabuto arrived at the service counter and spoke gently, "Hello, I am a wandering ninja from the Land of Fire named Kabuto. I have joined the organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. on Earth and become a ninja under their command."
As he spoke, Kabuto deliberately reached out and adjusted the S.H.I.E.L.D. exclusive ninja forehead protector on his forehead.
Seeing Kabuto's gesture, Pakura's voice turned cold as she spoke, "So, you are a wandering ninja who came to Earth."
"I wonder if the Leaf Village ninjas know about your betrayal of the Land of Fire and joining S.H.I.E.L.D."
Listening to Pakura's sharp words, Kabuto, however, remained unperturbed and instead smiled gently, saying:
"I am a wandering ninja. Although I am a citizen of the Land of Fire, I am not a ninja from the Leaf Village. Joining any organization is my freedom, and it does not violate the rules of any ninja village."
"Moreover, before coming here, I had already visited the Leaf Village's outpost in this area, and there were no issues raised by Charles Agency."
Upon hearing Kabuto's words, Pakura chuckled and said, "Since you are a wandering ninja, why not join our Sand Village directly and become a member of our base in this world."
Upon hearing Pakura's words, Nick Fury and Phil Coulson in the S.H.I.E.L.D. office even held their breaths.
Both of them were waiting for Kabuto's response. For a wandering ninja, the recruitment from a ninja village held great allure, especially one of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
It was akin to recruiting an ordinary or even weak civilian from a third-world country to become a high-level spy for one of the Five Permanent Members of the UN, with immense temptation.
At this moment, both of them were eagerly awaiting Kabuto's response. They desperately hoped that Kabuto would refuse, but they also knew that it would be difficult for the recently recruited Kabuto to resist this temptation.
However, if Kabuto agreed, then all the planning that S.H.I.E.L.D. had done regarding him would be meaningless.
However, Kabuto shook his head and said, "Thank you for the offer from the Sand Village, but I have already joined S.H.I.E.L.D. and have no intention of switching allegiance."
"And with my current strength, which is barely above that of a newly graduated genin from a ninja village, I am also curious why the Sand Village would take an interest in me."
From Kabuto's words, Nick Fury and Phil Coulson learned that under normal circumstances, Kabuto did not possess the qualifications to be recruited by a ninja village.
After all, the Leaf Village had not mentioned recruiting Kabuto before.
Pakura heard her request being rejected but didn't mind. She didn't answer Kabuto's question but instead said, "Since you are unwilling, then forget it."
After speaking, Pakura stood up and walked away from the service counter, saying to Temari on the side, "Handle this guy's matter."
After saying that, Pakura left directly.
"Alright, Teacher Pakura."
Seeing Pakura leave, Temari looked at Kabuto with some regret and said, "You missed out on a great opportunity, it's a pity."
However, Kabuto didn't feel regretful at all and didn't hesitate to refute, "Although I am not a powerful ninja, I still have my own ninja way."
"Just because I joined an organization recently, it doesn't mean I would switch sides just because someone tries to lure me."
"Such behavior goes against my ninja way."
Temari, however, sneered, "A wandering ninja with only genin-level strength dares to talk about his own ninja way. It's truly laughable."
For Temari, who had been deceived by Orochimaru together with the Sand Village, although they were now colleagues and comrades, her gaze towards Kabuto was still unkind.
However, although Temari was displeased with Kabuto, she wouldn't sabotage his mission because of it. They were all under Lord Charles's command.
But this kind of banter and venting was acceptable.
And such behavior also befitted her identity as a Sand Ninja Princess and a high-ranking ninja from a major village.