Minato Namikaze couldn't help recalling the battle scenes from earlier.
He had struck the Bashōsen with a Rasengan, yet there wasn't even a scratch.
What did that mean?
It meant the ninja tool in Kirito's possession was indestructible—or rather, Minato's current strength wasn't enough to destroy it.
Perhaps it was a weapon only Kage-level experts or higher could properly wield.
At that moment, Minato finally understood everything.
Kirito's identity was too strange—his secret techniques, the ninja tools he used, everything about him.
They were at least Kage-level, possibly even Six Paths-level.
The moment Minato realized this completely, he stopped resisting.
He simply sat down and allowed the black smoke inside the gourd to slowly corrode his body.
The corrosion wasn't fast, but Minato could feel his body becoming slightly more transparent every two hours.
It wouldn't be long before he completely faded away, leaving not even a strand of hair behind.
"I never expected to face death like this…"
Even as a genius with a smooth career and great fame, Minato had always understood one truth:
A ninja's destiny is to die on the battlefield.
He had simply never expected the day to arrive this early, and in such a bizarre way.
"My birthplace, Konoha… Hokage-sama… Teacher Jiraiya… all the comrades who fought beside me… Perhaps this is the moment I offer my life to the village."
"But I still feel guilty. The opponent I fought… his methods were too strange. He is a cloud shinobi. It's not impossible that he bears great hostility toward Konoha."
"When I encountered such an unusual enemy, my first instinct wasn't to report back to the village, but to defeat him."
"That was my negligence… and my arrogance…"
"I wonder how that kid will treat Konoha in the future?"
"If he truly intends to destroy Konoha… then the village is in danger…"
Minato sighed, filled with worry for the future of Konoha, for the Hokage, for his comrades.
But there was nothing he could do now.
The next moment, an image surfaced in Minato's mind.
Kushina.
He had married her during wartime, then immediately returned to battlefields.
He had promised her he would come back alive, that they would have children, and he would be a good husband and father.
Now it seemed that promise could not be fulfilled.
"Kushina… I'm sorry… I couldn't keep our agreement."
Sadness washed over him.
Without him, Kushina would be left alone. How would she face the world? How would she survive?
Just as he thought this, Minato's thoughts suddenly broke off.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked at his hands—he was stunned.
His entire body was no longer semi-transparent.
It was almost completely transparent.
His soul also felt faint, gradually weakening. His memories of Kushina were forcibly cut off.
His soul was peeling away from his body. When the last of his transparency spread, he knew he would completely disappear.
"Kushina…"
Minato whispered her name—
and prepared to accept death.
But then—
A voice exploded inside his mind.
"Hey, Fourth Hokage!"
Minato's blurred eyes snapped back into focus.
It felt like a dying man seeing water right before collapse.
"Who…?"
His voice trembled. He wondered if he was hallucinating.
"Brother, sorry about this. I'm the one who put you inside the Purple Gold Gourd. My name is Li Ke."
Hearing this, Minato realized he was not hallucinating.
But he didn't react with excitement. Instead, he calmly replied:
"Congratulations… You won… Li Ke… Thank you for telling me your name before I die."
Life and death were natural on the battlefield. Even though he lost, Minato bore no resentment toward Kirito.
Outside, Kirito held the Purple Gold Gourd. Though he couldn't see the inside, he could clearly sense the gourd's condition.
He knew Minato didn't have long—maybe four hours before completely disappearing.
Kirito thought for a moment.
"Aren't you curious why I called you the Fourth Hokage?"
Minato was silent, confused.
Without waiting for his answer, Kirito continued:
"After the Third Great Ninja War, Hiruzen Sarutobi's poor leadership causes massive losses to Konoha. But you—because of your remarkable achievements—will gain unprecedented prestige. You will replace Hiruzen and become the Fourth Hokage."
Minato didn't speak.
He knew those words were true. He knew he was close to becoming Hokage. His childhood dream was nearly within reach.
But what was the point now?
Sensing Minato's reaction, Kirito smirked.
"How about this, Minato? Let's make a deal. If the deal succeeds, I'll release you."
Minato's fading consciousness tightened. His gaze sharpened again.
He wasn't tempted by survival.
He was curious.
"What deal?"
Kirito smiled lightly outside the gourd.
"Minato Namikaze, I want every ninjutsu you've learned in your life, recorded in notes."
"As long as you do that, I'll release you."
Minato was silent for three seconds.
Then:
"Impossible."
Even now, his tone was firm.
Ninjutsu was the lifeblood of every village. Handing everything over was equivalent to betraying Konoha.
Minato would rather die.
Kirito wasn't surprised.
This was exactly the Minato he knew from the anime.
Threats wouldn't work. Death wouldn't work.
So Kirito changed tactics.
"As far as I know, you and your wife were just recently married. Are you really going to abandon her now?"
Silence.
But finally, Minato gritted his teeth:
"Kushina is strong. She won't lose her will to live."
"I believe she can continue on without me."
Kirito nodded. Kushina was indeed strong.
And if she knew Kirito killed Minato, she would probably chase him with a kunai until one of them died.
Of course, Kirito wasn't planning to crush Minato's resolve right away. He was testing him.
"Brother Minato, I respect your loyalty to Konoha and your will. But before you die, don't you want to consider the future of the Konoha in your heart? You know what I mean, right?"
Minato's head suddenly jerked upward.
He sensed something hidden in Kirito's words.
"What do you mean?!"
End of the chapter
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