The Key to Changing One's Destiny

Minato Namikaze asked him what he wanted. To be honest, Shiba Seika wanted a great many things.

The Land of Rain was turbulent and impoverished—it lacked everything.

Shiba Seika couldn't find any way to learn a single B-rank or higher jutsu.

But reason also reminded him: he couldn't push the other party too hard.

If negotiations truly broke down, it might turn into a scene of "Me fighting Minato? Are you kidding?!"

If he could ignore everything, Shiba Seika would have killed Obito outright from the very start.

Unfortunately, he couldn't.

How to navigate this balance, how to secure maximum gains without burning bridges—that was an equally daunting challenge for him.

A flood of information raced through his mind. After careful deliberation, Shiba Seika finally spoke.

"Lord Minato Namikaze, since you say you've come to confirm the Land of Rain's stance, then I need a promise from you as well. I need you to draft a formal written statement acknowledging the Land of Rain's neutral status in this Great Ninja War, and pledging that any future cross-border missions from Konoha will be communicated to Amegakure in advance.

As long as you keep your word, we of Amegakure will not oppose Konoha.

But if you break your promise and send ninja into the Land of Rain without prior notice, we reserve the right to kill those Konoha ninja on sight.

And for kills caused by such reasons, the responsibility will not lie with us."

After deep consideration, Shiba Seika suppressed his inner greed and didn't ask for risky high-level jutsu like the Flying Thunder God.

Instead, he chose to demand a statement from Minato Namikaze.

He was exploiting Konoha's current predicament—unwilling to wage full-scale war with the Land of Rain—and the easily exploitable advantage of Minato's identity!

Shiba Seika hadn't forgotten that in the destined outcome, the two key figures behind his and the Akatsuki Organization's downfall were Hanzo the Salamander, the current leader of the Land of Rain, and Shimura Danzō of Konoha!

That was why so many of his death omens revealed by the system were tied to Konoha!

So what he was doing now was laying a trap for Danzō in advance!

He didn't expect this statement to stop Root's scheming, but with it, he could strike first—kill all Root ninja who entered the Land of Rain without authorization!

And he wouldn't have to worry about provoking all of Konoha over secret skirmishes with Root.

As for Konoha refusing to acknowledge it? That's where Minato's identity came in—

Minato Namikaze was currently the candidate for the next Hokage most favored by Konoha's upper echelons aside from Danzō, and the one Sarutobi Hiruzen held in highest regard!

When Shiba Seika spread this statement, he would make sure to heavily emphasize Minato's status!

Maybe he could even use it to stir up discord between Danzō and other Konoha higher-ups.

A two-birds-with-one-stone move!

This was the true key to breaking the shackles of fate!

For this, Shiba Seika willingly gave up a chance to extort jutsu.

More importantly: this condition wouldn't provoke Minato's resentment at all, ensuring maximum safety for himself and Konan in the moment.

Minato, lacking future sight, clearly couldn't foresee the statement's impact. He even felt a sense of relief.

Konoha, besieged on all sides, had no intention of attacking the Land of Rain. Acknowledging their neutrality wouldn't harm Konoha's interests—at least that's what Minato judged.

He couldn't possibly guess that an elder in his village who loved stirring up trouble worldwide would one day be furious enough to spit blood over this statement.

Right now, Minato even thought the other party was "quite reasonable."

He explained apologetically, "My promise may not represent the village's final will. Is it really okay to issue a statement in my personal name?"

Shiba Seika affirmed, "I have high hopes for your prospects. I believe you'll definitely become the next Hokage! Just issue it in your name. Consider this my bet on you."

Out in the world, identity could sometimes be self-proclaimed.

If I declare you the next Hokage in my propaganda, could Sarutobi the old fox jump out and hit me?

Besides, based on Shiba Seika's judgment of Sarutobi Hiruzen's character, once the influence fermented, the Third Hokage would likely choose to tacitly accept it.

After all, that Hokage had swallowed even the Kumogakure ninja openly kidnapping the Hyuga Clan's main family princess right inside Konoha for the sake of peace. Once the deed was done, he figured the Third would take the loss and accept it!

Minato clearly couldn't guess these malicious thoughts. At this moment, he even started to think Shiba Seika was a pretty decent guy.

"Do you have paper? If not, I can have my companion provide some."

Shiba Seika said, turning to look at Konan.

Konan obediently and silently pulled a sheet of white paper from her body and handed it to him.

Minato shook his head and said politely, "No need, I have a blank scroll on me."

After confirming Shiba Seika had no intention of extorting them, his whole demeanor softened considerably.

But Shiba Seika didn't let his guard down or neglect contingencies.

Seeing the other party take out a scroll, Shiba Seika casually handed the white paper back to Konan.

Yet the moment she took it back, Konan's fingers paused slightly.

The paper she'd given Shiba Seika was pure white.

But the paper returned now bore a small line of text—

Immediately use the Paper Butterfly to notify Nagato to come to the border forest!

Shiba Seika naturally knew that Minato Namikaze was a good person, but he couldn't stake his entire life and safety on the other party's goodwill and kindness.

The reason both sides were currently at peace was because Konan still had Rin under her control.

But once the hostage was released, they would have no means of self-defense against Minato Namikaze!

Fourteen-year-old Konan couldn't possibly be a match for the adult Minato, and neither could he.

So they needed to call for backup.

Then Minato Namikaze finished writing the scroll and tossed it over.

Shiba Seika caught it, confirmed its contents, and said, "Now, please follow us back to the border. Once we confirm you've left the Land of Rain's national boundary, we'll immediately release your companion."

This was naturally a delaying tactic, meant to buy time until Nagato arrived.

Whether fourteen-year-old Nagato could stop Minato Namikaze was unknown, but at the very least, he should be able to use the Rinnegan to mutually deter the other party.

"Hey, you bastard, the teacher already wrote what you asked for, so why won't you release Rin right now!?"

That was obviously Obito speaking, and Shiba Seika couldn't be bothered to respond.

He shot him a look that said "I don't want to argue with an idiot," which made Uchiha Obito grind his teeth in anger, yet he could do nothing.

Minato Namikaze's gaze swept over Konan beside him. His expression remained calm, but inwardly, he seemed to have guessed something.

"It looks like you have your concerns as well. Fine, then, as you say, we'll head back to the border together now."

But just then, Kakashi, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up.

What he said nearly ignited an internal conflict, forcing Obito to jump up and challenge him to a duel on the spot.

Kakashi asked, "Teacher, in that case, what about our mission?"

"You bastard Kakashi, you're still thinking about the mission at a time like this?! Rin is still in that paper woman's hands, you—you're nothing but a cold-blooded beast!"

Seeing Kakashi's indifferent expression, Uchiha Obito stomped his feet in fury, and Shiba Seika couldn't help but laugh again.

He hadn't expected there to be more entertainment.

At this point, he was no longer worried about Kakashi's obsession.

Because he knew that the one truly in charge here was Minato, and Minato had already agreed to their demands.

But watching Kakashi's current stubborn, twisted, and unreasonable demeanor, he simply couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth, and couldn't help but reveal a smile identical to Kirei Kotomine's.

This was truly—far too entertaining.