Starting as the mastermind behind Naruto

Chapter 802 You said, can we obtain the Soul Gem by sacrificing our senior?

Milky Way Galaxy, Vormir Star.

This planet is where the Soul Stone is hidden.

When Uehara Naraku arrived on this planet, he was still distracted by watching Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama's massacre of the Corvus Glaive Squad's fleet: "Uchiha Madara... why does he seem to be getting stronger and stronger..."

This was not Uehara's illusion.

If someone like Madara Uchiha were given the opportunity to break through his limitations, his growth potential and speed of becoming stronger would be frighteningly fast. The main reason is that Madara Uchiha's willpower is just too strong…

However, Uehara Naraku quickly lost interest in the battle on Uchiha Madara's side, because the welcoming envoy from Planet Vormir floated unsteadily toward him...

Red Skull.

John Schmidt.

An old veteran of Earth's Hydra.

During the final battle of World War II, Red Skull was transported to Vormir by the Tesseract and became the Soul Stone's guide due to its curse, which granted him super knowledge and broad vision.

"Who are you?"

Red Skull's gaze fell upon Uehara Naraku, the uninvited guest. His eyes, set in their sockets, stared intently at him for a long time before he finally spoke, "Even the Soul Stone couldn't see through your presence..."

As the guide of the Soul Gem, Red Skull can determine the origin of anyone's soul, yet he couldn't discern Uehara Naraku's background!

This is a bit troublesome...

Because once you can't see his origins, you can't see through his intentions and nature.

"I didn't expect to see you here, John Schmidt..."

Uehara Naraku interrupted Red Skull, looking at him and saying in a deep voice, "Since you're speaking to a senior, please allow me to introduce myself!"

"I am Uehara Naraku!"

"The current Supreme Commander of Hydra!"

"This was also Mr. Schmidt's position seventy years ago..."

"I never imagined that one day I would see Mr. John Schmidt, the man we Hydra once worshipped, standing before me..."

"..."

Red Skull fell silent instantly.

Red Skull was slightly shocked. This young man, whom even he couldn't see through, was actually his junior.

certainly…

Red Skull definitely didn't believe in any of that nonsense about Hydra's beliefs, because he knew exactly what kind of people Hydra were...

However, this kid is definitely not a good person, spouting nonsense with such a straight face, seemingly wanting to kill him yet pretending to say nice things for some reason...

should…

They are definitely from Hydra.

Of course, it doesn't matter even if they're not one of them, because the Red Skull's job isn't to choose a master for the Soul Stone, but to guide anyone who might take it away...

Only in this way can he break the curse.

"John Schmidt..."

Upon hearing his own name, Red Skull still looked at Uehara Naraku with a hint of confusion in his eyes and slowly said, "Seventy years... I haven't heard this name for seventy years. That's longer than the time I've ruled Hydra..."

Too much time has passed.

Red Skull, who once served as the commander of Hydra, even finds it hard to recall those glorious and powerful years.

However, to Uehara Naraku...

It's clear that old Red Skull isn't really keen on admitting it...

After realizing what Red Skull meant, Uehara Naraku frowned slightly, then relaxed instantly, his face full of admiration: "But Lord Schmidt, seventy years have passed, and we have always remembered..."

"That memory is too distant."

Red Skull slowly shook his head, his words becoming increasingly enigmatic: "Although my thirst for Hydra remains, I have now transcended it..."

Yes.

Red Skull's desires remain.

However, the curse of the Soul Gem prevents the Red Skull from leaving.

Red Skull can only remain on this planet as a ghost until someone takes away the Soul Stone, at which point he will truly transcend!

Of course, you can't say that to Uehara Naraku... Who knows what the current Supreme Commander's attitude is towards his senior?

Putting aside other things...

Her acting skills are still solid.

Who the hell would believe that someone would still remember a leader who led Hydra to the brink of destruction? It's a miracle that no one is criticizing him behind his back!

Thinking of this, Red Skull's eyes rolled, and he calmly continued, "I never imagined that one day I would see my descendants come to retrieve the Soul Stone on this planet overrun by the dead. I thought you had long forgotten my existence. It was my fault back then..."

"Now, senior, you've seen it."

Uehara Naraku spread his palms, his face earnest, and said, "Hydra will not forget its predecessors. All our goals are for Hydra to rule the world. Although you, Mr. Schmidt, have chosen the wrong path, we will still not forget your struggles..."

Uehara Naraku raised his head and stared at the Red Skull, his eyes gradually becoming somewhat fanatical: "Lord Schmidt, what you couldn't do, we did. We have already ruled the entire Earth, even the entire Nine Realms, and the entire solar system..."

Now that we have the Soul Stone, we can use it to conquer other planets and make the name of the Hydra resound throughout the entire universe!

"..."

Red Skull's eyes began to wander.

Oh shit…

This little guy is really putting on a great show!

Upon hearing news of Hydra, Red Skull's usually calm and serene soul suddenly trembled. How had Hydra developed to this extent over the years?

What's going on?

How did Hydra become so powerful?

Was it his leadership that was the problem back then?

Or did they ultimately win the war back then?

For so many years, Red Skull has stayed on Vormir, and through his understanding of the universe, he has gained considerable knowledge and has long since stopped caring about Hydra's meager resources...

but…

When that little guy Uehara Naraku said that…

Red Skull calmly observed Uehara Naraku, whose face was contorted with fanaticism, and said indifferently, "So, you need the power of the Soul Stone?"

"Yes, absolutely necessary!"

Uehara Naraku nodded quickly, seemingly becoming excited upon hearing news of the Soul Stone: "Our current strength is insufficient to deal with several interstellar civilizations in the universe. Obtaining the Infinity Stones is the fastest way to increase our power!"

"You are on the right path."

A hint of relief appeared in Red Skull's eyes.

Only after leaving Earth did Red Skull realize what the Infinity Stones truly meant—the fastest way for Earth to overtake other interstellar civilizations…

Hydra…

It does have some merit...

It's unbelievable that the organization he used to rule still exists, and has even developed to this extent...

Red Skull had a vague feeling that fate was once again on his side, as long as he could break free of the Soul Stone's curse and leave Vormir...

As long as he leaves with this junior named Uehara Naraku and returns to Hydra, as long as he regains power in Hydra, as long as he becomes the leader of Hydra again…

The only problem now...

The main problem is probably getting the Soul Gem removed.

Generally speaking, Hydra members are mostly cold-blooded. Do they really have anyone important to them? Red Skull, for one, seems to think the scientists are the only ones important to him…

Don't let this little brat named Uehara Naraku's easygoing demeanor fool you; Red Skull knows that the reason this little bastard keeps saying nice things is because his senior has clues about the Soul Gem...

"If you want to receive, you have to give."

The red skull slowly floated up, staring at Uehara Naraku and saying in a deep voice, "You came here alone; there's no way you could have obtained the Soul Gem..."

Why?

"Because someone has to pay the price for it."

Seeing the surprised look on Uehara Naraku's face, Red Skull continued in a deep voice, "The Soul Stone holds a revered position among the Infinity Stones. It possesses its own unique intelligence, and it wants its owner to understand its power. Therefore, it demands sacrifices from those who wish to obtain it..."

As he spoke of this, Red Skull's gaze gradually became solemn, and he continued, word by word, "...Sacrifice the most important person. To obtain the Primal Stone, you must sacrifice the person you love most in order to gain its favor."

"..."

Uehara Naraku fell silent.

Red Skull thought he had sensed Uehara Naraku's weakness, but to his surprise, Uehara Naraku suddenly interjected, "Lord Schmidt, is it acceptable to sacrifice one's own predecessor?"

"Um?"

Red Skull still doesn't understand Uehara Naraku's thought process.

"Universal Guidance!"

Just as Red Skull was still wondering, Uehara Naraku suddenly reached out his palm, and a strange attraction suddenly grabbed Red Skull in his hand!

"Your Excellency Schmidt..."

Uehara Naraku's hand was tightly gripping the Red Skull's throat as he spoke earnestly, "Originally, I came alone, but now... aren't there two of us on this planet?"

"..."

Oh shit!

Red Skull instantly understood what Uehara Naraku meant!

This guy is a complete lunatic!

Or is it destiny that all Hydra leaders are madmen? How could such bizarre beings exist in the world... that they would actually want to sacrifice the guide of the Soul Stone!

"This is different..."

The Red Skull shook his head, retorting in a deep voice, "To the Soul Stone, I am its messenger, an existence belonging to it. This is tantamount to offering your treasure as a sacrifice in exchange for your favor. Would you be willing?"

"How will you know if you don't try?"

Uehara Naraku raised an eyebrow and continued nonchalantly, "Anyway, it's just sacrificing one senior for me. Killing you here will also prevent you from fighting me for control of Hydra..."

Uehara Naraku's hand suddenly locked around Red Skull's throat, and he continued softly, "Besides, Lord Schmidt almost led Hydra to the abyss by following the Third Reich back then... Now, sacrificing himself for the revival of Hydra is just a way to atone for his past sins!"

"..."

That little bastard!

Red Skull couldn't help but curse inwardly.

This little bastard only put on an act for less than ten minutes before revealing his true colors. Once he learned the whereabouts of the Soul Gem, he became so greedy and shameless…

As expected, Hydra is no good at all!

Ten minutes later.

On the high altar of Vormir.

Uehara Naraku stood on the altar, holding the red skull by the neck. He looked down into the bottomless abyss and then let go, throwing his senior whom he had just met off the altar!

"This is simply impossible!"

The red skull quickly floated back up, roaring at Uehara Naraku: "The wisdom of the Soul Stone will not tolerate your petty tricks..."

How will you know if you don't try?

Uehara Naraku once again grabbed him by the neck and threw the Red Skull down with force. Soul energy overflowed from his palm and quickly condensed into a jet-black spear!

Uehara Naraku grabbed the spear and hurled it at the Red Skull!

The former leader of Hydra was pierced through the body by a spear and pinned to the center of the underground altar by the spear!

"I told you, that's impossible!"

The Red Skull lay beneath the altar, roaring furiously as he desperately tried to lift his body, only to find that his soul was unable to break free from the spear!

"madness!"

Stop daydreaming!

"Ignorant and foolish!"

"You bastard, you have absolutely no chance of getting the Soul Gem!"

"..."

The curses and shouts of the Red Skull echoed from underground.

It seems that Red Skull, the Hydra senior who has been cultivating himself on Vormir for over seventy years, is still not quite mature enough. He actually feels angry about what his junior, Uehara Naraku, has done.

certainly…

No matter who it was, even the most composed person would find it hard to control their temper in this situation. This unexpected misfortune is truly infuriating...

"Won't this kind of sacrifice work?"

Uehara Naraku frowned unhappily.

After a long time, there was still no movement on Vormir. Only the Red Skull's hoarse curses echoed around the altar, giving people a sense of desolation.

This person…

How can you be so good at cursing...

Uehara Naraku ignored him, leaped to the highest point of the altar, sat in mid-air for a while to think, and then decided to choose the simplest method…

"Now!"

"Bring Ebony Maw's soul to Vormir!"

John Schmidt, Red Skull's real name!

If Red Skull saw Captain America coming to collect the Infinity Stones, would he ask whose son he was?

(End of this chapter)