On the upper floors of the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, Kurogai observed Steve Rogers with his pale, glowing eyes. The vision told him everything he needed to know: Captain America had only just awakened, disoriented and struggling to make sense of the modern world. It was exactly like the final moments of Captain America: The First Avenger—Steve had been pulled from the ice, confused and out of place.
"So, he's just been salvaged," Kurogai muttered, his expression unreadable. "That means the shield… and the Tesseract… won't be with him right now."
The realization lit a spark in his mind. If those items weren't yet in Steve's possession, then forcing S.H.I.E.L.D. to bring them out was the better play. He didn't need to fight Rogers, only control him.
His eyes shifted from the Byakugan to the crimson whirl of his Sharingan. Space folded around him as Kamui activated, and he vanished from his vantage point.
Inside the ward, Steve Rogers stirred awake, blinking at the unfamiliar ceiling above him. For a moment, his memories were fragmented. He remembered piloting the Valkyrie, fighting the Red Skull, and steering the plane into the ice to save New York. The images bled together until his body jolted upright.
"This… this isn't a hospital," Steve murmured, scanning the room. The furniture was close, almost convincing, but something was wrong. His instincts as a soldier screamed deception.
"Where am I?" His voice sharpened as his eyes narrowed. He reached for the nearest chair, gripping its edge like a weapon. His body was coiled, ready to strike.
"That's a good question," came a calm voice from nowhere. "I can give you the answer."
Steve froze. "Who's there? Show yourself!"
The air shimmered. A figure materialized before him—a tall man with an otherworldly presence. Steve's chest tightened. That kind of entrance wasn't ordinary. It reminded him of the Red Skull wielding the Tesseract.
"Who are you?" Steve demanded. "Hydra? One of Schmidt's men?"
Kurogai's gaze remained cool. "My identity doesn't matter. What matters is yours. I need to borrow it."
Before Steve could react, Kurogai's Sharingan flared. The hypnotic pattern flooded Steve's mind. His body stiffened, then slackened, his resistance fading as his eyes glazed over. The same spinning sigil appeared faintly in his pupils.
Kurogai smirked. "Perfect. Let's begin."
With Kamui, he stepped back into the warped space, leaving Steve under his control.
"Captain! You're awake!"
A nurse hurried into the room, her eyes wide with relief. She moved to his side, speaking quickly. "After the war, we found you frozen. We brought you here, thawed you, and kept you stable."
Her act was flawless, but Steve—now driven by Kurogai's will—was not deceived. He studied her intently, then spoke in a firm voice.
"Stop pretending. You're no nurse. Bring me your superior. I want answers from the one in charge."
The woman faltered but quickly recovered. Trained as an agent, she masked her shock and nodded. "Understood, Captain. Please wait here. I'll get the director."
Moments later, the door opened again. A tall, dark-skinned man in a long coat entered, his single eye fixed on Steve with measured intensity.
"Captain Rogers," he said gravely. "I'm Nicholas Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. I know this is a lot to process, but I'm here to explain everything. I just ask that you listen calmly."
Kurogai, hidden within Steve's mind, had no patience for speeches. He guided Steve's voice, sharp and direct.
"You say you represent the government," Steve said. "If that's true, then where is my shield? And the Tesseract? Where are they now?"
Fury hesitated. "That's not the priority right now. First, we need to—"
"No," Steve cut him off, his tone stern. "It is the priority. If you really are who you claim to be, then you'd never covet those items. Prove your honesty. Return my shield. And the Cube—it's dangerous. Until I see it with my own eyes, I won't trust you. For all I know, you're Hydra."
Fury exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. Dealing with Steve Rogers was one thing. Dealing with a newly-awakened, suspicious Steve Rogers was another. Still, the Captain's paranoia wasn't entirely misplaced.
"Fine," Fury said at last, resigned. "If that's what it takes. Your shield is secure—I'll have it brought to you. As for the Tesseract, it's in this base, locked down in the lab. I'll show you both. But once you've seen them, I expect you to sit and listen."
Steve's eyes glinted strangely, the Sharingan pattern flashing faintly beneath the surface. A faint smile tugged at Kurogai's lips.
"It's done," he whispered.