Marvel : Ms. Hyuga's journey

Before fully understanding the power of her opponent, Naori was reluctant to reveal her trump card too early. Though she couldn't kill the old creature, she still had to drive it out of New York to complete her mission.

In the following days, Naori used her Byakugan from a distance to observe the target area. The headquarters was highly secure, but small traces were always left behind—especially at night.

The building was a processing plant claimed to produce "washing powder." From the outside, it appeared simple, with only a small door guarded by two large men. However, every midnight, the door opened, and a blind man staggered out carrying a large bag.

Naori recognized this as Madame Gao's operation. Relying on her composure as a professional ninja, she knew that rash actions would only ruin her plans. She then devised a strategy.

Using her transformation technique, Naori disguised herself as a high school girl with curly hair and thick glasses—looking like a shy bookworm with a strong sense of justice. To kick off her plan, she decided to enlist the help of a trusted ally: Officer John.

John, a Black man born and raised in Hell's Kitchen, was one of the few honest cops in New York. His reputation for integrity made him distant from most of his colleagues, but it was precisely this that made him the perfect candidate for Naori's plan.

That afternoon, after ensuring her disguise was perfect, Naori hurried toward John, her eyes filled with practiced panic.

"Hey, Officer!" she called out, her voice trembling yet loud enough to get his attention.

John turned, slightly surprised. He looked at the bespectacled girl with careful consideration. "Yes, what's the matter?"

Naori glanced around, as though afraid someone might be listening, then slightly lowered her body. In a voice barely above a whisper, she said, "I know a place where they force disabled people to work making illegal goods. I think... it's really big."

John furrowed his brow, feeling this might be an absurd report. He was about to tell the girl to go home, but the fear on her face, coupled with her innocent appearance, made him hesitate. "Are you sure? Information like this should be reported directly to the police station."

Naori shook her head, her eyes misty. "But who can be trusted? I just want someone who truly cares to help..."

John's sympathy finally overcame his doubt. "Alright, show me the place. But we'll just take a look to verify if this information is true."

That night, near the factory

Naori and John hid behind an old building, two hundred meters from the location Naori identified as the processing plant. The building seemed small and shabby, but Naori knew there was a big secret inside.

"Is that the place?" John asked skeptically. "It looks like an ordinary building."

Naori nodded slightly, a faint smile on her face. "Look at its height. It's shorter than the surrounding buildings. Also, its electricity and water usage is unreasonable for something so small. I'm sure there's a large basement down there."

As they spoke, the small factory door opened. A thin man with a cane stumbled out, carrying a large bag on his shoulder. His steps were unsteady on the dark street.

John watched carefully. "Is he really blind?"

Naori snorted. "Why choose a blind person? Simple—blind people are rarely checked. Even if they get caught, their punishment is light. But they weren't born blind. This is bigger than you think."

John rubbed his face, confused. "This is too big for me to handle alone."

Naori looked at him sharply. "Then, are you sure you can trust your superiors at the police station?"

John fell silent, then nodded slowly. "Not everyone can be trusted. I know that."

John looked at Naori with a serious expression, full of respect. "Thank you for the information. Leave this case to us, the police. With your contribution, I'm sure you deserve the proper recognition."

Naori just gave a faint smile and shook her head slowly. "No need, sir. I'm only doing this as a responsibility of a citizen who wants to see her city safe."

John paused for a moment, impressed by the girl's humility. Her calm and sincere attitude motivated him even more to handle the case properly. He intended to make sure Naori received recognition, whether she accepted it or not.

However, what John didn't know was that the bespectacled girl before him was nothing but a shadow that he would never find again. After that night, Naori disappeared without a trace, as if swallowed by the darkness of New York City. Her identity remained a mystery, making John wonder if the girl had truly been real, or just a guardian spirit appearing to enforce justice.

A few days later, John finally reported to Director George, one of the honest police leaders. After hearing the report, the Director decided to act cautiously. A raid operation was carried out secretly to ensure no information had leaked.

That night was cold, the air heavy with tension as it filled the dark streets around the old factory. Police lights flashed red and blue, casting a dim glow on the concrete walls of the towering building. The SWAT team and armed officers hid behind tactical vehicles and debris, waiting for orders.

"All units, stay alert," Police Chief George's voice was firm through the radio. "Snipers, report your situation."

On the roof of a building not far from the factory, a sniper peered through his scope. "Target in sight. Two armed guards at the main door. I have visuals," he reported.

"Take them out. Don't give them a chance to warn," George ordered.

Pop! Pop! The muffled sound of gunshots rang out, and both guards fell to the ground, unaware of what had happened. Below, the main team moved swiftly toward the door, carrying breaching tools.

"Boom!" The steel door was forcibly opened, its sound echoing in the quiet night. The SWAT team rushed in, their weapons raised, moving like shadows in perfect formation.

Inside, the atmosphere turned into a nightmare. Dim lights flickered from the low ceiling, illuminating a vast and damp basement. There, dozens of people stood at long tables, working relentlessly. Most of them had vacant eyes—blind people forced to work, mixing chemicals and packaging white powder into plastic bags.

"All units, we're in," one officer reported through the radio. "There are a lot of workers here... most of them are blind."

However, before they could move further, the sound of shouting and heavy footsteps was heard. "Attack them!" one of the gang members yelled, raising an automatic weapon.

Rat-tat-tat-tat! Gunshots exploded, ricocheting off the concrete walls. The SWAT team quickly took cover behind tables and large columns, returning fire with precision.

"Grenade incoming!" one of the SWAT members shouted as a grenade was thrown at them. With quick reflexes, an officer tossed it back toward the gang group. "Boom!" The explosion shook the room, sending dust and debris flying.

"Neutralize the enemy on the left!" George commanded through the radio, and the team quickly spread out, pressing the guards trying to escape. Pop! Pop! Pop! The sound of sniper rifles continued to ring out, taking down targets one by one.

Amid the chaos, some blind workers began to panic, running aimlessly, crashing into tables and equipment. "Calm down! We're the police! We're here to help!" one officer shouted, trying to calm them down.

One worker, an old woman with trembling hands, fumbled toward the officer. "Please... we... we have nowhere else to go..." she said in a hoarse voice. The officer immediately took her hand and led her out of the danger zone.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the room, a fierce battle continued. A gang member with a machine gun tried to shoot at the SWAT team, but before he could pull the trigger, Bang! A sniper's bullet stopped him.

"Safe area! Safe area!" one of the officers shouted. The team quickly moved to check the room, ensuring there were no remaining threats.

After the fight ended, more than a hundred blind workers were successfully rescued. They were brought out one by one, their faces full of confusion and trauma. On the other side, dozens of gang members were arrested, some killed on the spot.

Police Chief George stood at the entrance of the factory, observing the results of the operation. "Great work, everyone," he said to his team. However, the satisfied expression lasted only for a moment. "But this is just the beginning."

That night, the sound of sirens and police vehicles echoed throughout Hell's Kitchen.

However, amid the chaos, Naori remained in her hiding place. Her disguise and position as an observer kept her from intervening. This was not the time.

The news of the raid spread quickly. Over 5,000 kilograms of heroin were found, and a massive network under Madame Gao's control had been severely hit. However, Madame Gao herself was not found at the scene. Naori realized that this was only the beginning. With the loss of her headquarters, Madame Gao would surely appear in person—and when that happened, Naori would be ready.

…

One week after the massive raid that destroyed Madame Gao's network in Hell's Kitchen, Naori sat leisurely in a small café located on a busy street corner. The aroma of roasted coffee filled the air, and the soft clinking of cups on the table created a soothing atmosphere. Naori was enjoying a warm cappuccino with perfect foam, sitting in the corner, her back facing the glass wall that gave a direct view of the street.

On one of the television screens hanging in the corner of the café, the news broadcasted an astonishing amateur video: a man in armor flying through the air, launching a precise attack on a terrorist group's headquarters in Afghanistan. The media enthusiastically dubbed him "Iron Man," the new hero who was the talk of the world.

Naori watched the video with a thin smile. Although the general public could only guess the identity of the armored man, Naori already knew Tony Stark.

"So, Director Fury wasn't exaggerating when he said he's the 'future' of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division," she thought to herself. Sipping her coffee, Naori let her thoughts drift to the intriguing potential Tony possessed. "I can't wait to see what he does next."

That day, Naori was disguised as a plain-looking blonde girl, like an inconspicuous college student. However, one thing remained unchanged—her pale lavender eyes, a trademark of Kaguya Hime, made anyone who looked closely realize there was something special about her.

Though she appeared relaxed, Naori's vigilance remained high. She had already realized when she entered the café that she was being watched. A handsome young man with wavy black hair sat at a table not far from her, pretending to read the newspaper.

However, it wasn't his looks that caught Naori's attention—well, that too… but that wasn't the point! No one could hide their aura—his trained fighter's presence was palpable, and strangely, there was something familiar about it.

Naori smiled slightly as she swirled her coffee cup. "Finally, they sent someone," she thought. The young man was clearly no ordinary stalker. She was almost certain—he was one of Madame Gao's ninja emissaries. The bait had worked, and now the game had begun.

Naori calmly turned her gaze toward the young man. Without saying a word, she gave him a soft wink, a gesture that couldn't be misinterpreted. The young man was momentarily startled, but quickly responded. With a calm but alert step, he walked toward her and pulled out a chair in front of Naori.

Naori's smile widened, blending friendliness with danger. She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and then said in a sweet but piercing tone, "So, what's the deal? Madame Gao sent her loyal aide to meet a regular girl like me?"

The young man remained silent, trying to read Naori's intentions. There was a strange calmness about the woman in front of him, like a tiger hiding its claws. "Madame Gao sent me to deliver a message," he answered briefly, his voice deep and layered with caution.

Naori leaned forward, her chin resting on the back of her hand. "Oh? What kind of message? Does she want to meet, or is this a warning for me to stay out of her territory?"

The young man stared at her intently, trying to intimidate with the intensity of his gaze. But Naori remained unshaken, her smile still soft, while her lavender eyes—the hallmark of her—sparkled with unspoken threat.

"Madame Gao wants to invite you to talk," he finally said. "She respects... your contribution in uncovering her last operation."

Naori chuckled softly, her voice piercing. "How generous of her. Alright, tell her I'll come… when I'm ready."

The young man was taken aback by her response. Not many people spoke about Madame Gao that way. However, he simply nodded, stood up from his chair, and left the café without saying another word.

Naori leaned back in her chair, her smile deepening.