"All right, thanks for your efforts, Minato."
Hearing Sasuke's voice in his mind, Minato Namikaze understood that Kakashi had already handed over his ability. He also knew that there wasn't much time left for him to stay here and talk with Kakashi.
He seized the moment and said, "Kakashi, I don't know whether you'll be successfully resurrected, or whether you'll retain your memories of this place afterward. But as your teacher, I'll leave you with one last piece of advice."
"Don't try to investigate the person behind all this, and don't try to reveal any information about this place. Cherish the life you've regained—a life that wasn't easily won."
"He... is everywhere. You... take care of yourself."
Sasuke wore an amused expression.
It sounds like a warning, but really, he's worried I'll erase Kakashi's memories, so he's deliberately saying this where I can hear...
Unable to retain his memories?... Kakashi was stunned. Then he gripped the iron bars with both hands, his voice urgent. "No! Please don't do that!"
"Minato-sensei! I promise I won't investigate, and I won't reveal any information!"
"Please help me. Don't erase my memories!"
As he spoke, he sank helplessly to his knees, looking as if his soul had left his body. "At least... at least..."
"At least let me keep the news that Obito is still alive..."
Minato turned away, unable to bear it, and closed his eyes.
He had experienced this helplessness countless times during his time in this Soul Space.
Whether it was the changes in Konoha, the darkness among its leaders, or what Naruto had been through, he could only watch...
And yet... there was nothing he could do...
He wanted so badly to help Kakashi, but unfortunately, he was nothing more than a prisoner in the Soul Space himself.
In the end, only Sasuke could make this decision.
And they had no bargaining chips left...
Except for the Nine-Tails...
Interesting... Sasuke, who was watching them, found it all rather amusing.
Keeping Kakashi's memories was a trivial matter. The special rules of the Soul Space made it impossible for its secrets to be revealed anyway.
But why should he preserve Kakashi's memories?
Even though he hadn't intended to erase them in the first place...
His mischievous side wanted to see how Kakashi would live on after losing the Sharingan entrusted to him by his close friend, yet learning that the same friend was still alive. But why should he tell them that?
A moment later, Minato opened his eyes. "Kakashi has given his word. I believe you have ways to ensure he keeps it. If possible, please let him retain his memories. I'm asking you."
He had lowered his head...
If everything before this had been based on a more or less equal exchange, then this time, he had finally set aside the dignity he had once possessed as Hokage and the Yellow Flash of the Ninja World, bowing his proud head.
Sasuke's smile grew more amused. "All right."
It was really possible?... At the sound of the reply, the vacant look in Kakashi's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Thank you," Minato said sincerely.
At the same time, he knew he would soon have to leave. He gave Kakashi a gentle smile and waved goodbye. "Kakashi, I know you've been dispirited and slacking off lately. If Obito really is still alive, he might already have left you far behind."
"I know that once you hear this, you'll do everything you can to find him. But don't rush. Pull yourself together and keep working hard first."
"I'll always be watching over you."
"Goodbye, Kakashi."
Realizing that his teacher was about to leave, Kakashi looked up sharply. "Minato-sensei, will you come back someday?"
"Perhaps..." Minato replied with a smile. "But if you want to find out what the future holds, you have to stay alive until that day comes..."
By the time he finished, his figure had vanished...
"Sensei..."
Cell No. 1.
"All right." Sasuke looked at Kakashi's corpse. "It's time I kept my promise."
Minato nodded. "All right. I'm counting on you."
He also wanted to see how Sasuke would resurrect Kakashi.
Was it an ability of the Soul Space? Or some forbidden ninjutsu?
Surely... even if resurrection was possible, it would come at a great cost, wouldn't it?
Nearby, Kushina's eyes flickered as she wondered, Can he really do it?
Outside.
The Third Hokage had already left, while the Anbu were still searching everywhere for Orochimaru.
In a certain part of the forest, Sasuke's real body, which had been lurking underground the whole time, emerged. Then, with a thought...
Kakashi's corpse appeared in front of him.
Next, he pulled out a White Zetsu that he had captured and brought into the Soul Space. It had been playing hide-and-seek with Setsuna.
The White Zetsu stared blankly.
Ever since obtaining One's Own Life Reincarnation, Sasuke had secretly begun capturing White Zetsu.
The captures hadn't been difficult at all. In fact, they had been effortless.
Well, all it took was a word.
Thanks to his White Zetsu Constitution, Sasuke could sense the White Zetsu nearby. They also saw him as one of their own, so all he had to do was call them over with a thought, and they would come right to him.
And since White Zetsu weren't truly living beings, Sasuke imprisoned them in the Soul Space for Setsuna to play with and amuse herself.
Sasuke smiled cheerfully. "Hey, buddy. Look over here."
"Hm?" The White Zetsu turned around, only to meet a pair of scarlet eyes. Its expression froze, and its eyes transformed into a Mangekyo pattern.
Under Sasuke's control, it placed both hands on Kakashi's corpse and activated the ninjutsu.
One's Own Life Reincarnation!
A ring of blue chakra light appeared in the White Zetsu's hands, and the flesh on Kakashi's chest quickly knitted itself back together.
Ding!
It has been detected that Kakashi's soul is being pulled out of the Soul Space by some kind of force. Release it?
This was one of the Soul Space's rules.
Whether it was One's Own Life Reincarnation, Impure World Reincarnation, or even Rinne Rebirth, no one could pull out a soul imprisoned there without Sasuke's permission.
Yes!
With a thought from Sasuke, Kakashi in the Soul Space watched in astonishment as his body slowly began to turn translucent.
So I really am going to be resurrected...
An inexplicable sensation told him that his soul was about to leave this place. He... was going to be resurrected!
Outside.
Kakashi's wounds had all healed. His body had come back to life, and his heart had started beating again.
The White Zetsu, now completely drained of life, collapsed to the ground and turned into a pile of white sludge...
Contain White Zetsu!
Ding!
White Zetsu successfully contained!
White Zetsu contained Hashirama Cells. There wasn't much, but Sasuke had no intention of wasting any.
Realizing that Kakashi was about to wake up, he put away the White Zetsu's corpse, used the Levitation Technique, and sank underground.
A moment later.
Kakashi's eyelashes twitched, and he slowly woke. The sharp pain in his left eye made him grimace. His right hand instinctively went to his eye socket, and then he realized he had lost his left eye.
This...
He lowered his head in confusion and looked at the hole in his standard-issue armor. Then he reached behind himself and gently touched the spot on his back where he had been pierced...
It's real...
His standard-issue armor had been pierced straight through at this spot. That meant his heart had been pierced too. There was no way he could have survived, let alone come away without a wound.
I really did die just now...
And I really have been resurrected...
Everything that just happened was real...
It was all real!
Minato-sensei... Obito...
Cell No. 1.
He really can... Kushina stared in shock.
Then, as if she had thought of something...
She bit her lower lip and slowly turned to look at Naruto in another scene, her expression shifting again and again.
Seeing this, Minato sighed inwardly.
Was this another part of your scheme?
Sasuke...
Before you continue