Chapter 15: Veil of Deception

In the confined space of the Red Room's control room, the atmosphere tensed as the Skrull's true form was revealed. The green-skinned alien, exposed by Azmuth's DNA scanner, wasted no time and lunged at Hunter with a flurry of attacks. Hunter, however, demonstrated his agility and combat prowess, parrying the Skrull's strikes with precision. With a chakra infused punch, Hunter managed to gain some distance between them. Taking the advantage of moment, Ezio joined the fray, attempting to counter the Skrull's brute strength with his finesse. Yet, the Skrull's physical prowess proved to be a formidable challenge, and Ezio found himself focusing on deflecting and dodging rather than launching his own attacks. Not wanting to kill the Skrull, the duo was left with very limited options.

Just as it seemed the Skrull might overpower the duo, Jiraiya, with a burst of speed, arrived on the scene. The legendary ninja swiftly executed his jutsu, summoning a dimensional pocket in the form of a toad's mouth beneath the Skrull, "Ninja Art: Toad mouth Trap" The Skrull, caught off guard, tumbled into the trap, momentarily immobilized.

Seizing the opportunity, Jiraiya swiftly followed up with a genjutsu, weaving an illusionary world around the Skrull's consciousness. The Skrull, trapped in a surreal dreamscape, was temporarily incapacitated.

Hunter, Ezio, and Aizawa, who had been observing the battle, exchanged glances. The sudden revelation had caught them off guard, but their quick and coordinated response had turned the tide in their favor.

Hunter, addressing the Skrull with a stern expression, questioned, "Who sent you, and why are you here?" The Skrull, still under the influence of Jiraiya's genjutsu, mumbled incoherently, unable to provide a coherent answer.

"Jiraiya make him submissive", Hunter ordered.

"I think he is not doing this completely out of his own will. May be someone is influencing him, that's why genjutsu is not working.", Jiraiya replied

Azmuth, having witnessed the entire confrontation, approached with a calm demeanor. "It seems we have an unwelcome visitor. Hunter, I suggest we secure him and proceed with caution. Skrulls are known for their shapeshifting abilities and infiltration tactics."

Hunter nodded, instructing Ezio and Jiraiya to keep a vigilant eye on the subdued Skrull. Aizawa, ever alert, maintained his guard. As the Red Room's control room returned to an uneasy calm, the mystery of the Skrull's presence lingered, prompting Hunter to delve into a new layer of the complex web that surrounded Aegis.

In the aftermath of the Skrull encounter, Hunter, Jiraiya, and Ezio gathered in a secluded corner of the Red Room's control room, engaged in a conversation laden with suspicion and uncertainty.

Jiraiya, with a furrowed brow, questioned, "When do you think Hiroshi was replaced, and where is he now?" His keen observational skills were at the forefront as he pondered the potential timeline of the Skrull's infiltration.

Hunter, arms crossed, contemplated the question. "It had to be during we captured the Red Room. That's when the Skrull must have taken Hiroshi's place." The revelation sent ripples of concern through the group, realizing that the Skrull had been operating within their ranks for an extended period.

Ezio, joining the conversation with his usual discernment, added, "The Red Room takeover provided the perfect chaos for the Skrull to make his move. While we were focused on the external threats, he could have easily replaced Hiroshi."

Aizawa, having overheard the discussion, approached with his characteristic stoicism. "The question now is not just when but who was the Skrull working for? What was his objective within Aegis? How much does he know and how much info or secrets was he able to transfer!" His analytical mindset cut to the core of the matter, seeking to unravel the motives behind the infiltration.

Hunter, deep in thought, acknowledged the complexity of the situation. "We need to find out more about the Skrull's allegiance and his mission. Jiraiya, do you have any ideas on his origin and connections?"

Jiraiya closed his eyes briefly before responding, "The Skrull's true identity remains unclear, but he wasn't acting alone. There are external influences, and we need to uncover them. From what I know most of the Skrulls work for Fury but not all of them. There is a small group of them around wanting a place… or rather planet to live."

Hunter with a hint to urgency said, "Interrogate the Skrull, I want to know how much info did he transferred, if my abilities are out, then we are in big trouble!"

Jiraiya said, "I will look into it. Just remember this to keep the secrets we may need to shut some mouths, depending on the result of this interrogation"

Ezio on the other hand retorted, "No innocent blood should be spilled, Jiraiya"

Jiraiya replied, "Ezio, innocent blood would not be spilled, if not necessary. But by innocent blood, do you mean human or alien, because by their perspective, they are correct, by our perspective, we are correct. Keep in mind Ezio, I don't want to have any loose ends. These ends will surely become huge problems later on. Trust me on this! I have my fair share of experiences."

Hunter interviened, "Guys, calm down. We don't have to decide now. Jiraiya, get the information and Ezio, we won't know what we will do until we have the information. Get to work guys."

Hunter went to Azmuth and said, "Azmuth, try on making something like super soldier serum which has Skrulls shapeshifting abilities and their physical power."

"Hmm… though they do not have the best physique but I think I can make something out of it. I will notify you when I am done", replied Azmuth as he extracted some blood from the Skrull.

Jiraiya, fueled by the pursuit of answers, interrogated the Skrull with a relentless determination to uncover the puppeteer pulling the strings. However, the Skrull remained tight-lipped, hinting at a higher force orchestrating the infiltration.

Jiraiya, "Since genjutsu is not working, let's go with something old fashioned. I believe he knows something."

In the dimly lit chamber of Red Room's interrogation room, the captured Skrull squirmed uncomfortably as the gaze of Jiraiya bore into him with relentless intensity. Hunter, Ezio, and Aizawa observed, exchanging glances that conveyed a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

Jiraiya, with a sly grin, twirled a kunai between his fingers. "You know, my friend, I have a particular talent for extracting information. But you seem resistant. How about we make this a bit more interesting?" The Skrull remained silent, a stoic expression masking any signs of vulnerability.

Ezio, standing by Hunter's side, raised an eyebrow. "Jiraiya, I believe subtlety has its virtues. Perhaps a strategic approach to questioning would yield better results." He cast a knowing glance at Hunter, silently suggesting a more composed interrogation.

Hunter, arms folded, spoke with a measured tone. "We need to know who sent you, and why you replaced Hiroshi. Give us answers, and we might consider leniency."

The Skrull, sensing the collective gaze of his captors, hesitated before speaking. "I am but a pawn, ordered by a force greater than myself. My mission was to observe and report, not to engage in direct confrontation."

Jiraiya, unsatisfied with the vague response, cracked his knuckles. "Observing and reporting, huh? But you clearly attack our Hunter here, what should we make of this? Who's pulling your strings, Skrull?"

A tense silence lingered as the gravity of the situation settled in. Hunter, deep in thought, considered their next move. "Jiraiya, we need to track the source of this. Any ideas?"

Jiraiya, ever resourceful, cracked a subtle smile. "I have my ways. Let me follow the traces left by this Skrull, see where it leads us. I'll take a team of widows with me."

Hunter nodded in approval. "Go, but be discreet. We don't want to alert our enemies prematurely."

As Jiraiya and the widows prepared to venture into the shadows of the underworld, Hunter turned to Ezio and Aizawa. "We need to know why they targeted Hiroshi and who their puppeteer is. Keep a close eye on our unexpected guest here."

Ezio, ever vigilant, responded, "Agreed. We won't let any more surprises slip through the cracks."

Undeterred, Jiraiya embarked on a mission to track the residual traces left by the Skrull, leading him to the vibrant landscapes of Brazil. With a team of widows at his side, Jiraiya navigated the underworld, discreetly weaving through the community to gather intelligence.

In the bustling streets of Brazil, Jiraiya, accompanied by the skilled widows, moved like a shadow, blending seamlessly with the lively carnival atmosphere. As he communicated with Hunter through their secure channels, the conversation delved into the unfolding events and their implications.

Hunter's holographic projection materialized beside Jiraiya, the two figures obscured by the vibrant city lights. "Jiraiya, what have you found? Anything related to Hiroshi?" Hunter's voice resonated with a mix of urgency and concern.

Jiraiya, adjusting the brim of his hat, replied, "Hiroshi is still a puzzle, but I've discovered a manhunt led by General Ross for someone named Bruce Banner. It's not a coincidence. There's something big happening here."

Hunter, deep in thought, considered the connection. "Bruce Banner? That name rings a bell. We still need to figure out how Hiroshi fits into this puzzle. Any leads on who might be pulling the strings?"

Jiraiya, his eyes scanning the bustling crowd, hesitated before responding. "I've caught whispers about a name—Darkstar. Seems like a player in this game. But information is scarce, and guys seems to be highly on guard."

Hunter, skeptical yet intrigued, urged, "Darkstar? That's a name I'm familiar with. Gather more intel, Jiraiya. I need to know what else we're dealing with. I'll be joining you in Brazil. Wait for me."

Jiraiya nodded, a determined glint in his eyes. "Understood, Hunter. I'll dig deeper. We'll get to the bottom of this. See you in Brazil."

As the holographic projection dissipated, Jiraiya refocused on the task at hand. The carnival continued its lively dance, but beneath the festivities lurked a mystery that Jiraiya was determined to unravel.