Two Bargaining Chips

Naruto...

It came from the only serious novel Jiraiya-sensei had ever written. It was the protagonist's name, and also the name of Kushina's child, still unborn within her belly.

And tomorrow... was precisely the estimated date when Kushina's pregnancy would end and she would give birth.

He could not gamble, nor could he afford to!

In an instant, Namikaze Minato focused his gaze on Yun. "I want to know everything about Kushina's death!"

The Black Shadow formed by Uchiha Yun smiled and raised a hand. "The contract."

The contract descended. After picking it up and examining it, Namikaze Minato shook his head. "Why is there a time limit? And why are there five bargaining chips required?"

Uchiha Yun raised one finger and waved it. "The concept of 'everything' is too broad. The Exchange's rules deem the cost of knowing everything about Kushina's death too great. You cannot afford it."

"In other words, everything you currently possess—your ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu, and all your talents and bloodlines—is insufficient to pay for this information."

"Therefore, the space has offered everything within a single day, at the cost of five bargaining chips."

Everything? Too broad.

Who killed Kushina? The Nine Tails.

Who released the Nine Tails? Obito.

Then how had Obito survived? Madara Uchiha saved him?

And how had Madara Uchiha lived until now? Because he had used a delayed Izanagi? He had also bitten off a piece of Hashirama Senju's flesh. With the power of All Things gathered within him, he awakened the Rinnegan.

Then where was Madara Uchiha now? Dead.

How did he die?...

Such a broad concept as "everything" could begin with one person and unravel every secret of the Shinobi World, while Namikaze Minato's bargaining chips were clearly not enough.

At that moment, Namikaze Minato fell silent for a while. How to phrase his question had become an urgent matter requiring careful thought.

Who killed Kushina? No! A Jinchuriki would die once their Tailed Beast was extracted. The answer to that question would only lead to the Nine Tails.

Why would Kushina die? No, the answer only needed to be that the Tailed Beast had left her body.

Who caused Kushina's death? No. Knowing who it was would not help much. What mattered was the process, the enemy's intelligence.

Then...

"What abilities does the enemy who caused Kushina's death possess?"

As Namikaze Minato's words fell, the contract appeared. This time, only two bargaining chips were needed.

Across from him, Yun let out a breath and calmly looked at the Fourth Hokage.

Was this why he had become Hokage? Even so, he had only managed to squeeze out two items, and he had not asked for the enemy's identity or name—only the details of their abilities.

The word "abilities" was also broad, but it referred to intelligence on powers belonging exclusively to one person. Thus, the system had set the price at two copies.

By deducing events from those abilities, he could understand what had happened and make targeted plans. And with Namikaze Minato's confidence in himself, there was a high chance that he would capture the enemy after receiving the intelligence.

By then, he would learn the intruder's identity without paying any price.

"I accept the contract!"

As Namikaze Minato spoke, the contract transformed into a stream of light and vanished into the space.

After thinking for a moment, Uchiha Yun began providing the information.

"The person who caused Kushina's death possesses a Mangekyō Sharingan. Although he has only one, he has Hashirama Senju's cells within his body, allowing him to use its ocular ability frequently."

"His Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu is extremely powerful. Exactly how powerful would be another question. Likewise, because of the Hashirama Cells, he can use some Wood Release, though he clearly cannot compare to Hashirama Senju."

"Because of a Summoning contract, his Mangekyō Sharingan can control the Nine Tails. Furthermore, his ocular ability of intangibility allows any part of his body—or his entire body—to enter another dimension. During that time, attacks from the real world cannot hit him."

"Of course, genjutsu directed at his mind would still work. But using genjutsu against an Uchiha who has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and possesses Hashirama Cells would not be a good idea."

"Take note of one piece of intelligence: there is no interval between uses of his intangibility, and it lasts for five minutes each time. Moreover, he becomes tangible whenever he attacks. I believe that with the Fourth Hokage's neural reaction speed, you can seize such an opportunity."

"...Izanagi... Izanami..."

After those words ended, Namikaze Minato's heart could not calm for a long time.

So many abilities. Whether the Mangekyō Sharingan or Wood Release, each was a legendary power. It was simply... horrifying!

After a long while, Namikaze Minato narrowed his eyes. "Controlling the Nine Tails, the Mangekyō Sharingan, the First Hokage's power—every detail in this intelligence seems to point to the identity of the intruder. But... how could that be possible?"

Yun shook his head slightly. "That information... would you give me one more bargaining chip?"

Namikaze Minato glanced across the tabletop before looking at Yun. "Isn't it Madara? You cannot lie, yet you have not given me a clear answer."

Yun was somewhat speechless. Other than that foolish Seventh Hokage, none of those who became Hokage were idiots.

Even though the Namikaze Minato before him had been born a commoner and wore a smile as bright as the sun, he was no simple man after surviving the Shinobi World War.

"In fact, you know very well that if Kushina dies, your death will come with hers. Do you want to know this enemy's identity now? One bargaining chip is enough. I can tell you."

Namikaze Minato was not tempted. Instead, he shook his head slightly. "The information on so many abilities is already enough. The enemy's name is not important. Even if he is Madara Uchiha, it changes nothing."

"As for the death you mentioned, although this space shows it as truth, it should be based on the premise that I had not come here and had not received this information."

Hearing that, Uchiha Yun scratched his head. Two bargaining chips were still too few...

As Konoha's Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato possessed too many things Yun wanted.

Talent for space-time ninjutsu, neural reaction speed, Sealing Jutsu inherited from Kushina, which Kushina had inherited from Mito Uzumaki, and finally, the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, including Flying Thunder God: Second Step.

After pondering for a moment, Yun continued, "I do not believe Konoha has the ability to keep that person behind. And because of the Summoning contract, even with this intelligence, the odds that Konoha can protect the Nine Tails Jinchuriki Kushina are not one hundred percent."

"And Fourth Hokage... if Kushina dies, you will follow right after her. That is a choice you yourself would make. Your death, along with the chain reaction that follows, will cause Konoha to decline for more than a decade."

"Having experienced the Shinobi World War, you should understand very well that once Konoha—especially a prosperous village that has always been surrounded and attacked—declines among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, what kind of reaction will come from the starving wolves around it."

"The Third... is like an old, decaying tree. He cannot support Konoha's prosperity!"

"You may regard these words as bait."

That final sentence made Namikaze Minato's heart tighten. Since becoming the Fourth Hokage, this was also the first time Konoha had seen two Hokage existing at once.

With two Advisors, Danzo of Root, and his own excessively young age added in, it was itself a form of balance.

"Can you act to protect Kushina?"

Uchiha Yun shook his head slightly. "This is the Information Exchange. I will not personally take action. But within Konoha, there is a force unknown to you that can stop that person. And your request to that force will also have a positive impact on Konoha's future."

"This information concerns a question you care about, as well as a hidden force within Konoha. Therefore... two bargaining chips!"