A Wagered Duel

As he faced Ei Yano Yu, Minato was still considering whether he should use his young age as an excuse to pretend he had acted impulsively out of youthful hotheadedness when Kushina charged out before him.

An ominous dark-red chakra appeared around Kushina. Minato grew extremely tense and immediately stepped forward, placing a hand on Kushina's shoulder.

Minato decided against it. There were too many people here; this was not the place to start a fight.

Minato whispered into Kushina's ear, "Take your brother to Zhuyin JieJie first. Having Zhuyin JieJie treat him is more important."

Hearing that, Kushina dispersed the Nine-Tails Chakra and headed toward the stairway with Senju Chihiro.

Seeing Minato stop the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Hiruzen Sarutobi, standing on the second floor, nodded repeatedly.

His grand-disciple had done well. He knew what mattered.

In the Death Forest, they could do whatever they wanted. That place was a small battlefield, and on a battlefield, one could use any means necessary. The same applied in the Death Forest during the Chunin Exams; it was a trial that chunin had to experience. But the venue was different.

At the same time, Hiruzen Sarutobi found himself in a difficult position. Konoha Village's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had been exposed. There was no hiding it anymore.

He had no idea where the Cloud Hidden Village had obtained its intelligence, but they had specifically targeted the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Fortunately, Minato Namikaze had been decisive enough to swiftly crush the Cloud Hidden Village's plot.

He had discussed this Chunin Exams with Biwako. Both of them believed that they could not prevent Kushina from becoming a chunin.

If they kept suppressing Kushina and left her as a genin forever, her mind would sooner or later become twisted. Biwako had said that Kushina's violent temper was a manifestation of her pride and sensitivity.

Since Kushina would eventually have to take the Chunin Exams and reveal her strength, it was better to have her go together with Minato, so they could look after each other.

Now, it seemed that decision had been correct. Minato had indeed effectively prevented Kushina from losing control.

He did not dare imagine how chaotic ANBU would have been if Kushina had taken the Chunin Exams alone.

As for the exposure of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's identity... that was impossible to conceal anyway. Every village's jinchuriki would eventually be exposed.

As the head of the Senju Clan, Senju Takeoto was extremely excited when she saw another red-haired child.

She approached and directly summoned the Slug of Shikkotsu Forest.

"Lady Takeoto, is this... a child of the Uzumaki Clan?"

Kushina said anxiously, "Lord Slug, this is my younger brother. I recognize the gourd-shaped birthmark on his face. Please save him!"

Green medical chakra covered Uzumaki Shinmen's body, and the color of his face visibly improved.

Behind them, Haneina felt utterly helpless. What was she supposed to learn from this? She could not perform such an advanced ninjutsu as summoning the Slug Sage.

She knew Minato was doing his best to look after her, but unfortunately, some things simply could not be learned.

After treating him for over ten minutes, the slug said, "I have completed the initial treatment. This child's condition will not worsen, but for more meticulous treatment, Princess Tsunade should handle it."

Hearing this, Senju Takeoto said to Kushina, "Kushina, Chihiro, continue with the Chunin Exams first. I'll take your brother away and arrange for him to stay in the clan grounds. I will contact Princess Tsunade as soon as possible."

With that, Senju Takeoto did not remain in the observation tower any longer. She left with the unconscious Uzumaki Shinmen.

Minato comforted Kushina. "It's all right, Kushina. Zhuyin JieJie is a medical jonin. With her personally caring for him, he'll definitely be fine."

Kushina was deeply worried, but she also knew this was the only option.

Just as Senju Takeoto held Uzumaki Shinmen and was about to reach the entrance, a figure crackling with lightning suddenly crashed down in front of the doorway, blocking her path.

The Third Lightning Kage grabbed Uzumaki Shinmen and tore him from Senju Takeoto's arms.

"This is a participating genin from my Cloud Hidden Village! What do you think you're doing, Senju orphan?"

Those words were exceptionally domineering. First, he firmly established Uzumaki Shinmen's identity. Second, he mocked the Senju Clan's decline. Compared to its heyday, everyone in the current Senju Clan was an orphan, as though the clan had been wiped out.

Senju Takeoto took a breath before finally shaking off the Fourth Raikage's Lightning Release paralysis. "He is an orphan of the Uzumaki Clan. It is only right that my Senju Clan take care of him!"

"Hmph." The Third Lightning Kage snorted, and charged arcs of electricity filled the surrounding air. "He is clearly an orphan adopted by my Cloud Hidden Village. Why should I give him to you?"

Senju Takeoto's bearing was inferior to the Third Lightning Kage's, and she could only say, "I will find Princess Tsunade! Princess Tsunade will not allow an Uzumaki orphan to remain adrift outside!"

"Tsunade? Even if Tobirama Senju were here, he could not simply abduct a genin from our Cloud Hidden Village with nothing but words."

The Third Lightning Kage had every reason to be so domineering.

Back then, the Second Raikage and Tobirama Senju had been killed by Kinkaku and Ginkaku. The Third Lightning Kage had personally avenged them, killing Kinkaku and Ginkaku with his own hands.

The Third Lightning Kage handed Uzumaki Shinmen to the approaching Ei Yano Yu. Ei Yano Yu had intended to set Uzumaki Shinmen on the ground, but seeing that he was unconscious and unable to stand, he could only seize him by the collar and hold him up.

That scene enraged Uzumaki Kushina, and she was about to explode on the spot.

She jumped down from the second-floor corridor and rushed toward the entrance.

Minato hurried after her. Before he could stop Kushina, he saw the Third Hokage step in ahead of him and block her path.

Seeing the Third Hokage intervene, Minato was not relieved. Instead, he inwardly thought that this was bad.

"Kushina, I heard everything. Don't get worked up." Hiruzen Sarutobi pressed a hand on Kushina's shoulder. Seeing chakra still leaking from her body, he even added a Four Symbols Seal.

As the Ninjutsu Professor, Hiruzen Sarutobi's Sealing Technique was also highly accomplished.

After the Four Symbols Seal was applied, Kushina could no longer feel the Nine-Tails Chakra. Her entire body instantly weakened considerably, and she would have collapsed if Minato had not supported her.

Minato glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi. Based on the original story's description, Hiruzen Sarutobi would inevitably compromise at this point.

Uzumaki Shinmen was indeed wearing a Cloud ninja forehead protector and was registered as a Cloud ninja. Konoha Village could not simply demand a ninja from the Cloud Hidden Village.

The Third Lightning Kage dared come to Konoha Village because he knew Konoha Village could do nothing to him.

The Third Lightning Kage, who had killed Kinkaku and Ginkaku in the original story before ultimately dying under the siege of ten thousand Stone Hidden Village ninjas, was terrifyingly powerful.

The Cloud Hidden Village's dignity would not allow others to simply demand that they hand over one of their ninja, especially not a bloodline ninja with practical value like the Uzumaki Orphan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's appearance at this moment meant he intended to compromise.

Minato spoke before Hiruzen Sarutobi could, denying him the chance to define the matter.

"Ei Yano Yu! Our previous fight wasn't satisfying. Although I had the upper hand, there were too many distractions. Even if I won, I didn't truly beat you into submission.

"How about we have another wager match? The stake will be the red-haired child in your hands.

"If I lose, I'll acknowledge you as the strongest of the new generation. If I win, the red-haired child is mine."

Minato glanced at Jiraiya, who was walking over, and said:

"You know how it is—the Chunin Exams are full of shady dealings. My teacher is Jiraiya, so arranging the matchups is easy enough.

"If I don't want to, you definitely won't face me in the third round."

The moment Jiraiya heard that, he burst into laughter.

"The Chunin Exams have shady dealings? As expected of my disciple—you've yanked down the old man's underwear for everyone to see.

"It's just a little Chunin Exam. Watch your teacher arrange everything perfectly for you! You can pick any opponent you want!"

Shady dealings were shameless and unfair, but Minato had no other choice.

The Third Lightning Kage was covered in black lines. Were this master and disciple really this unreliable? This absurd?

"I agree!"

Ei Yano Yu agreed without much thought, and the Third Lightning Kage did not object either.

They both believed that not only would Ei Yano Yu not lose Uzumaki Shinmen, but he would also crush that blond brat, let Konoha know who the strongest of the next generation truly was, and let Konoha know that the Cloud Hidden Village was the strongest ninja village.