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"Oh, Naruto, there's something important I need to tell you."
Minato Namikaze suddenly thought of something and looked at Naruto with a serious expression, saying, "It's about that Masked Man."
He should have explained this to Naruto from the beginning, but the warmth of the family reunion had almost made him forget this important matter.
"Masked Man?"
Naruto heard Minato Namikaze's words and immediately asked curiously, "Is Papa talking about the Masked Man from the Akatsuki Organization? Do you know him too?"
"Yes."
Minato Namikaze nodded and said in a deep voice, "Although his true identity is still unclear, that Masked Man was the culprit who attacked your Mama when you were born, released the Nine-Tailed from her body, and caused the tragedy of our family!"
"Ah?!"
Naruto heard Minato Namikaze's words, froze for a moment, then a surge of anger rose in his eyes as he said furiously, "So that guy killed Papa and Mama, making me an orphan! I should have killed him back then!"
If he had known earlier that the annoying Masked Man was the culprit behind their family's tragedy, Naruto would never have played any deceptive games with him—he would have used every possible means to eliminate him on the spot!
"Huh? Naruto, have you already met that Masked Man?"
Uzumaki Kushina didn't know that Naruto had met the Masked Man, nor did she know that his current strength could easily defeat him. She only knew that Naruto was temporarily helpless against his Space-Time Ninjutsu. So, upon hearing their conversation, she was greatly surprised and asked with concern, "Did that bastard do anything to you? Are you hurt, Naruto?"
"No, Mama, don't worry—I'm very strong now!"
Naruto comforted Uzumaki Kushina and then smiled smugly. "In a head-on confrontation, that masked bastard is no match for me at all. It's just that his phasing Space-Time Ninjutsu is a bit troublesome, and I haven't thought of a solution yet."
"Oh, right—he also seems to have an ability that allows him to revive from death. I don't know what that is," Naruto suddenly recalled and added, a glint flashing in his eyes.
Naruto still hadn't figured out how that masked bastard had "revived" from the Three-Tails' self-destruction. Precisely because he hadn't understood that ability, he hadn't been able to decide to fight the Masked Man to the death.
"Regarding that, I do know a bit."
Minato Namikaze heard Naruto's words and immediately explained, "That should be the Uchiha Clan's ultimate visual jutsu—Izanagi. Its ability is to turn any unfavorable events within a certain period into a dream, selecting only favorable events to become reality. The cost is that the eye used for Izanagi becomes permanently blind, which is why this jutsu is listed as forbidden by the Uchiha Clan."
During his lifetime, Minato Namikaze had a good relationship with the Uchiha Clan, and with his identity as the Fourth Hokage, he had access to many classified records. Thus, he had some understanding of Izanagi. Furthermore, he had "observed" Naruto's battle with the Masked Man the entire time, allowing him to infer this conclusion.
"Turn unfavorable events into a dream, selecting only favorable ones as reality… the Sharingan actually has such an ability!"
Naruto, though surprised, quickly showed a look of realization. "This jutsu makes the eye permanently blind after one use, which means a person can only use it twice at most?"
Although Izanagi's ability was incredibly overpowered, as long as one understood its effects and limitations, it wasn't impossible to deal with. In Naruto's opinion, it was even less troublesome than the Masked Man's Space-Time Ninjutsu.
"Theoretically, yes."
Minato Namikaze nodded, then added in a slightly strange tone, "However, the Sharingan is not a Bloodline Limit restricted to its original owner. Anyone who obtains an awakened Sharingan can transplant and use it. So, it's not impossible that the Masked Man has other Sharingan in reserve."
It was well known that the Sharingan could be used by anyone—essentially plug-and-play.
"This—"
Naruto said speechlessly, "Doesn't that mean that as long as that guy has enough Sharingan in reserve, there's no way to kill him?"
"Theoretically, yes."
Minato Namikaze nodded helplessly. Even he found this ability absurd. What made it worse was that this "cheat" didn't even require one's own eyes—others' Sharingan could be used as consumables.
That Masked Man claimed to be Uchiha Madara. Even if that wasn't true, he was definitely connected to him. And Madara, as a former leader of the Uchiha Clan, could very well have a large stockpile of Sharingan.
If he truly had dozens—or even hundreds—combined with his Space-Time Ninjutsu that made him intangible…
The difficulty of defeating him would be unimaginable.
"Papa, the Space-Time Ninjutsu that Masked Man uses must come from his own Sharingan, right?" Naruto asked after a moment of silence.
"That's right."
Minato Namikaze nodded, then looked at his son thoughtfully. "So if he wants to use that ability, he must keep at least one eye. In other words, every time he uses Izanagi, he must replace the eye afterward. That period is the best opportunity to defeat him."
"However, his intangibility can buy him enough time to switch eyes. So ultimately, the key is still finding a way to counter his Space-Time Ninjutsu."
"I remember—you seem to have a way to deal with it, right, Naruto?" Minato smiled proudly. "So my earlier judgment wasn't wrong. The key to defeating that Masked Man lies with you."
Minato's analytical ability was as sharp as ever. Just from Naruto's question, he grasped the core issue and even reinforced his earlier judgment—while praising his son at the same time.
"Hehe!"
Naruto grinned proudly, then said more seriously, "I do have a way to counter it, but I can't use it at will—it depends on luck. However, that ability seems like it can be strengthened."
Naruto suddenly realized that the space-tearing slash from his katana, Infinity, originated from the ability Infinity Castle—and that ability could be enhanced.
Thinking of this, Naruto immediately summoned the system and checked Infinity's information:
[Equipment Name: Infinity
Equipment Effects:
One-Hit Kill: The curse poison from the blade spreads rapidly—even a scratch leads to death, with no antidote (Can be strengthened).
Lion King: The Beast King's soul sealed in the hilt grants beastification, greatly enhancing physical ability, recovery, and senses (Can be strengthened).
Demon Armor - Incursio: An infinitely evolving armor within the scabbard, offering powerful adaptability and defense. Enhances all physical abilities (Can be strengthened; erosion effect nullified).
Infinity Castle: A portable alternate-dimension castle within the blade, with infinite growth potential. Can be freely entered and exited (Can be strengthened; has a chance to release a space-tearing slash).
Indestructible Blade: Can absorb metal nutrients to repair itself (Can be strengthened).
Equipment Requirements: Host only.
Description: An indestructible blade with infinite possibilities.]
Naruto then checked the fourth ability in detail:
"Infinity Castle Strengthening Conditions:
Use equipment or materials with spatial attributes to strengthen this ability.
Melt intrinsic characteristics to specifically strengthen a chosen aspect (i.e., sacrifice spatial capacity to increase the probability of releasing a space-tearing slash)."
Naruto frowned thoughtfully, then explained everything to Minato, seeking advice.
Minato pondered briefly before responding, "First, gather spatial materials to strengthen Infinity Castle. Then gradually sacrifice its spatial capacity to enhance the slash."
"Adjust carefully—see if you can make the slash usable at will while preserving the ability itself."
"If not… then you may have to sacrifice Infinity Castle entirely and retain only the slash."
Though Infinity Castle was extremely useful, defeating the Masked Man was more important.
"Understood!"
Naruto immediately grasped the approach.
However, strengthening equipment required the Dimensional Forging Furnace—so he needed to regain access to it first.
"Big Fox, I have a question."
After returning from the sealed space, Naruto spoke mentally to the Nine-Tailed. "Is there any way to truly revive my parents?"
Naruto had lost interest in becoming Hokage and had been drifting without purpose. But after seeing his parents again, he found a new goal:
To bring them back to life.
Even if it required searching across countless worlds.
"Revival?"
The Nine-Tailed responded seriously, "There is indeed a way to revive the dead in this world—but the price is extremely high."
"There really is a way?!"
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Tell me—no matter the cost, I'll accept it!"
"It's the Rinnegan."
The Nine-Tailed spoke solemnly. "The Six Paths Sage—the legendary Hokage—possessed eyes known as the 'Eyes that Control Life and Death.'"
"They can not only create all things… but also revive the dead."
"However, since his death, no Rinnegan has appeared again. It remains a legend."
"Rinnegan…"
Naruto's gaze sharpened.
Now, he had a direction.
If the Six Paths Sage existed, then traces of him must remain.
And if traces remained—
Then the Rinnegan could be found.
"Big Fox… tell me everything about the Six Paths Sage."
The Nine-Tailed did not refuse and began recounting the ancient legend.
Their conversation was purely mental—only the two of them could hear it.
Even Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina, standing nearby, remained completely unaware.