Marvel: Starting As Hokage

"This is a fairy tale."

When Nick Fury heard Ethan's story, his first reaction was to think this.

"This is a mythical story that only their ninja culture knows."

After S.H.I.E.L.D.'s think tank scoured global mythologies and found no matching references, Nick Fury came to this conclusion.

But the Rabbit Goddess?

This method of naming seems to originate from Japan.

It seems that they still can't let go of their investigations into Japan!

However, as Ethan, who was portraying the figure of Minato Namikaze, continued to speak seriously, Nick Fury's inner opinion began to shift.

"The Sage of Six Paths sealed the Rabbit Goddess on the moon? How could that even be possible?!

The Ten-Tails? A colossal beast with ten tails? It sounds completely fictional!"

"The Sage of Six Paths divided the Ten-Tails into nine-tailed beasts. From that perspective, wouldn't the Sage of Six Paths be akin to a god of creation, capable of creating life from nothing? But how could such a god die of old age?"

These thoughts churned in Nick Fury's mind as he processed Ethan's words. When Ethan explained "Minato Namikaze's purpose for coming to New York," Nick Fury's eyelids twitched slightly.

Believe it all, or don't believe any of it!

This was the conclusion Nick Fury reached.

According to this "Minato Namikaze," the unified form of the nine Tailed Beasts—reforming into the Ten-Tails—was a world-ending threat.

If this were true and Nick Fury failed to believe or act, then if someone unsealed the nine Tailed Beasts and merged them into the Ten-Tails, wouldn't he have become complicit in the destruction of the world?

Whether or not he became an accomplice wasn't important. What truly mattered to Nick Fury was avoiding putting the world in grave danger.

After thinking it over, Nick Fury spoke to Natasha through his headset:

"Natasha, hand him the communicator."

Clearly, Ethan and the others were already aware that someone was remotely monitoring and guiding Natasha's actions. If S.H.I.E.L.D. continued to act in the shadows, it would only appear disrespectful.

Although Ethan, acting as Minato Namikaze, seemed calm and polite, Nick Fury wasn't willing to gamble on that.

He would rather take a slightly more complicated approach to eliminate this potential crisis at the source.

"You're the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

The slightly gentle voice on the other end of the line gave Nick Fury a small sense of relief. Someone with such a calm demeanor shouldn't easily create chaos, right?

Moreover, such a person might even open the door to potential cooperation with S.H.I.E.L.D.!

As this thought crossed Nick Fury's mind, his pupils widened slightly, and his breathing quickened for a moment.

However, Nick Fury quickly suppressed this abnormal reaction. Even Maria Hill, who stood beside him, didn't notice.

But Ethan did.

As a ninja, Ethan's senses were sharp and precise. The corners of his mouth curled upward slightly, amused by Nick Fury's unease.

Agitation was a good sign. It meant that the story Ethan had just spun wasn't for nothing.

"Mr. Namikaze, I'd like to confirm—are there really Tailed Beasts in this world?"

Perhaps it was Ethan's calm demeanor that emboldened Nick Fury, who decided to ask a critical question directly.

"Of course there are Tailed Beasts! Our First Hokage of Konoha once fought the strongest among the Nine-Tails and defeated it!"

Ethan replied with a respectful tone.

"The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox? Isn't that a mythical creature from Eastern folklore?" Nick Fury frowned. "And when exactly did the First Hokage of Konoha fight the Tailed Beasts? Why is there no record of this?"

"Also, didn't you say earlier that the Sage of Six Paths' seal remained strong even after countless years? Why then did the Nine-Tails appear to fight the First Hokage?"

Ethan had prepared answers for these questions.

He responded calmly, addressing each point in turn:

"You're conflating two different things.

Please don't confuse them.

Although both are referred to as nine-tailed foxes, the Nine-Tails in question is an enormous monster that cannot transform into a human form. They are entirely different beings."

"As for when the First Hokage fought the Nine-Tails, that occurred about five years ago.

You may have noticed a large-scale natural disaster, such as a catastrophic earthquake, during that time."

"And why hasn't this been made public? Naturally, because it was concealed.

If people across the globe learned about the existence of Tailed Beasts, even if the majority dismissed it as mere myth, there would inevitably be individuals who would attempt to find and unseal them.

And what would happen if someone accidentally discovered the location where a Tailed Beast was sealed and managed to unseal it?"

"No one is willing to shoulder that kind of consequence."

"Sometimes, the more people know, the greater the danger becomes."

"As for why the Nine-Tails was unsealed in the first place, that involves a traitor from Konoha. Unfortunately, I can't provide further details on that matter."

"The First Hokage successfully defeated the traitor, subdued the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, and re-sealed it here in New York, utilizing the remnants of the Sage of Six Paths' original seal."

"That's the general overview. Do you have any further questions?"

Ethan paused slightly, watching Nick Fury's reaction, curious to see what the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. would say next.