The name "Naruto"... it wasn't chosen by chance. It came from the only serious novel written by Jiraiya—a story of perseverance and belief. In that tale, the protagonist bore the name Naruto. It wasn't just a name in fiction—it became the name he and Kushina chose for her unborn child, still nestled in her belly, still waiting to greet the world.
And the date: October 10th.
That was the day. The day she was expected to give birth.
Minato clenched his fist.
'I can't gamble—not with this. I really can't afford to gamble!'
In a blink, Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage, turned his gaze toward the mysterious figure in front of him—Uchiha Yun. Or rather, the Shadow Mode projection Yun had sent into the transaction space.
"I want to know everything about Kushina's death," Minato said firmly, his voice steady but burning with urgency.
Yun's shadow incarnation simply smiled. He raised his hand and made a subtle gesture.
"Contract."
A contract scroll materialized out of thin air, slowly descending into Minato's outstretched hand. He unfurled it with a flick of his wrist and furrowed his brow.
"There's a time limit," Minato murmured. "And the transaction cost is five chips?"
Yun raised a single finger and waved it with a knowing smirk. "The logic is simple. This answer involves an individual whose actions are woven into too many layers of the ninja world. The rules of the transaction space deem the cost of knowing everything about Kushina's death to be too high. You can't afford it."
Minato frowned, but Yun continued.
"That is to say, even with your current ninjutsu, your talent, your heritage, all of that together isn't enough to pay the price for this knowledge. So, the space imposed a time constraint... and raised the cost to five chips."
Minato's brows drew even tighter. "Why everything?"
Yun's expression turned grim. "Because Kushina's death isn't just a singular event—it's a chain of interwoven causes and consequences that ripple through the very core of the shinobi world."
Why did Kushina die?
Because the Nine-Tails was extracted from her.
Who stripped the Nine-Tails from her?
Uchiha Obito.
How did Obito survive?
Because he was saved by Uchiha Madara.
And how did Madara, a ghost of a bygone era, live on?
He used a delayed Izanagi, and fused Hashirama's cells into his body, awakening the Rinnegan. He summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, clung to life with its chakra, and plotted from the shadows.
Where is Madara now?
Dead.
How did he die?
That answer... would lead down another rabbit hole of secrets too deep and too vast to reveal in a single breath.
All of these threads—each one a vital piece of the puzzle—intertwined through time and bloodlines. And every thread led back to a singular identity. The system knew it. And it judged Minato's value not enough.
Minato stood in silence, the weight of these implications pressing down on his shoulders. But instead of surrendering to frustration, he began to think.
'Who killed Kushina?'
'No... the Jinchūriki dies when the Tailed Beast is extracted. That's a given.'
'Why did Kushina die?'
'Because the Nine-Tails was taken from her.'
'Who caused it?'
Knowing the person's name might not be as important as understanding how they did it.
Then—
"What kind of abilities does the enemy who caused Kushina's death possess?" Minato finally asked.
As the words left his lips, a new contract appeared before him—this time, the price was only two chips.
Across the space, Yun exhaled and studied the Hokage carefully.
'As expected of a man worthy of the Hokage's title...'
Rather than recklessly chase the identity, Minato focused on the enemy's abilities—their methods, their combat capabilities. That was actionable intelligence. That was a strategist's move. By knowing how the enemy operates, Minato could identify and counter him. The system acknowledged this reduced scope and adjusted the price accordingly.
Minato signed the contract without hesitation. It dissolved into the air with a glow, signaling the deal was made.
Yun's voice came, calm and meticulous:
"The man who caused Kushina's death possesses a single Mangekyō Sharingan. Despite having only one, he can use it frequently because his body contains the cells of Senju Hashirama."
Minato's eyes narrowed.
"His Mangekyō's hypnotic genjutsu is extremely potent, though just how strong remains unclear. With the Hashirama cells, he can perform some Wood-style—but he's not on the level of the original Senju Hashirama."
"He also possesses a summoning contract that allows him to control the Nine-Tails as though it were his personal summon."
Minato's breath caught slightly.
"And most importantly, the Mangekyō ability allows him to phase portions—or the entirety—of his body into another dimension. During this time, attacks in the real world cannot touch him."
"A powerful spatial ability," Minato murmured.
"Yes. But it comes with a flaw," Yun continued. "Every time he attempts to counter an attack, he must become physical for a brief moment. The window between his intangibility shifts is precisely five minutes."
"With your reflexes... you can exploit that moment."
Yun paused, then added one more warning.
"Also... he has knowledge of Izanagi and Izanami."
Minato stood still. His hands trembled slightly—not from fear, but from the realization of what kind of enemy had attacked them from the shadows.
Mangekyō Sharingan. Wood-style. The power of the First Hokage. Control over the Nine-Tails. Space-time ninjutsu.
All legendary abilities.
All in the hands of one man.
"This combination of traits..." Minato's eyes narrowed. "It sounds... like him. But that's impossible."
Yun tilted his head. "If you want to confirm the identity, I can tell you. One chip."
Minato didn't budge.
"It's Uchiha Madara, isn't it? You're not allowed to lie. But you also didn't state it outright."
Yun smiled bitterly.
Except for that idiot Seventh Hokage... every Hokage before him has been sharp.
Minato was no different. Though cheerful and kind, he was no fool. He had survived the Great Ninja Wars. He had risen from commoner to Hokage.
"Truthfully," Yun said, "you already know. If Kushina dies, your death will follow. That's the fate laid out by the system's predictions. Now, do you want to confirm this enemy's identity? One chip, and it's yours."
Minato shook his head.
"The enemy's name is irrelevant now. With this knowledge of his abilities, I can act. Even if it is Madara."
"And regarding my death... that prediction only applies if I hadn't come here. Now that I've gained this intelligence, the future can change."
Yun scratched his head, a bit exasperated. He was hoping to get another chip. But this Hokage… he was cautious.
"The truth is," Yun sighed, "Konoha may not have the power to stop this man. Because of the summoning contract, it's also uncertain whether you'll be able to keep the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki alive."
"And if Kushina dies... you will die. That is a choice you will make in the moment. Your death will cause a chain reaction. Konoha will fall into decline for over ten years."
Minato remained silent.
"You've seen the battlefield. You know what happens when a village weakens—especially one as rich as Konoha. The other Great Nations are vultures. And the Third Hokage? He's like a decaying tree—too old, too frail to carry the weight."
Yun leaned in.
"You can think of these words as bait."
Minato's heart tensed.
Since his appointment as the Fourth Hokage, Konoha had seen a power structure with two active leaders. Hiruzen, though retired, still held political sway. The elders—Homura and Koharu—both advisors. And then there was Danzo, whose Root operated in the shadows. Minato's youth, once a symbol of hope, now formed a check in the web of power dynamics.
"Can you protect Kushina?" he asked at last.
Yun shook his head slowly. "This is an intelligence transaction. I don't intervene. But... there is a power within Konoha, one you haven't yet realized. If you request it... it may help."
He paused.
"This information involves both something you care deeply about and a hidden force within Konoha. The cost... is two chips."
*****
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