Shi Xiu slowly shook his head and sighed before replying, "Minato's soul was sealed by the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. The Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu doesn't work on those whose souls aren't in the Pure Land."
When Kushina heard this, the light in her eyes dimmed. Rin, standing nearby, didn't fully understand what was happening—after all, her memories still ended with Kakashi piercing her chest. But seeing Kushina's grief, Rin went straight over and gently took her hand, softly comforting her. "Don't be too sad, sensei. Minato-sensei, he..."
Shi Xiu furrowed his brow and asked thoughtfully, "Kushina, is there any way to undo the Dead Demon Consuming Seal? Or some way to avoid the price it demands?"
Shi Xiu asked Kushina in the hope of finding a last-ditch solution.
If there really was no workable solution, then Shi Xiu could think of only two ways to try to avoid the price of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
One was Orochimaru's Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu. In the story, he had used it to transfer into a White Zetsu, which allowed him to retrieve "Konoha F4" and his arms from inside the Death God's stomach, then resurrect them with the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
The other option was Izanagi. This jutsu could turn every unfavorable outcome the user experienced while it was active—including death—into an illusion. Conversely, any favorable outcome would become reality.
However, both techniques came at a steep price. If even Kushina knew nothing about this, then he had no choice but to try using Izanagi himself.
After all, the Living Corpse Reincarnation Jutsu required him to change bodies. And because the human body rejected foreign tissue, he would have to keep searching for suitable bodies to replace it.
At Shi Xiu's words, Kushina shook her head gently, her voice filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry. I don't know how to avoid the price of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. I really am sorry..."
Shi Xiu lowered his head and fell into thought.
It seemed he had only those two options left to try, but he had brought just three White Zetsu from the cave.
Shi Xiu could still return and get more White Zetsu, but the thought of his own body turning into one of those things made him shudder. In the end, he decided to try Izanagi first and see what happened.
Even so, a trace of unwillingness remained deep inside him, and he couldn't help silently asking the system for help.
System, is there really no other way? Give me a suggestion!
The system fell silent for a brief moment. Time seemed to freeze, and each second stretched unbearably long. Just as Shi Xiu was nearly ready to give up and use Izanagi, a cold electronic voice suddenly rang out in his mind.
"This system is called the Immortality System."
Shi Xiu was confused. He had known that name from the very beginning. Was there some hidden meaning to it?
But after a brief pause, Shi Xiu seemed to grasp something important and began to ponder the system's words.
Immortality...! Those two words flashed through Shi Xiu's mind like lightning, and he suddenly felt a surge of excitement.
That's right! Immortality! That meant the system's function couldn't simply be to grant him endless years. Perhaps it could make not only his body immortal but his soul as well.
That way, even if he used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, he wouldn't have to worry about dying.
At the thought, an irrepressible surge of excitement and joy welled up inside Shi Xiu.
Without hesitation, Shi Xiu reached for the Death God Mask beside him and quickly put it on.
Then his hands fluttered like a pair of nimble butterflies as he swiftly formed Hand Seals.
Kushina, standing beside Shi Xiu, saw what was happening. Her face turned deathly pale, and she cried out instinctively, "Wait, Lord Shi Xiu!"
But Shi Xiu had already finished forming the Hand Seals. The towering apparition of the Death God appeared behind him, its hair hanging loose. It held a string of prayer beads in its left hand and a sharp knife in its right.
Shi Xiu took a deep breath and drew the sharp knife he had carefully prepared earlier from inside his clothes. Its blade glinted coldly.
Gritting his teeth, Shi Xiu plunged the knife into his abdomen and slashed. A wave of agony swept over him. His whole body trembled with pain, and he couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath.
At the same time, the Death God across from him slashed open its own belly in the same way.
A pale blue flame of a soul suddenly burst out of the Death God's stomach and fled at full speed like a wild horse breaking free of its reins.
Shi Xiu narrowed his eyes and swiftly formed Hand Seals, his movements smooth and seamless. Then he slammed one palm against the ground and shouted, "Impure World Reincarnation!"
At his cry, the soul flame reached the White Zetsu's head. Countless gray-white fragments appeared out of nowhere and swept toward the White Zetsu nearby as if alive. In the blink of an eye, they wrapped around it, forming a towering figure. When the light faded, everyone saw a blond man standing before them. He wore the iconic cloak of the Fourth Hokage, looking dashing and imposing.
"Minato! (Minato-sensei!)"
Kushina and Rin both cried out in astonishment at the sight of the man.
Rin gazed at Minato, then at the Hokage cloak he wore, her eyes full of admiration.
Just then, brilliant golden light suddenly burst from Shi Xiu. It shone like the blazing sun, instantly illuminating the entire space. The light formed a solid barrier and forcibly blocked the Death God's reaching hand.
Shi Xiu slowly turned to look at the Death God behind him. Though he wore a mask, everyone could still sense the confidence and composure in the slight curve of his lips.
"Looks like you came all this way for nothing!" Shi Xiu said softly, his tone tinged with faint mockery.
Miraculously, as soon as he finished speaking, the gruesome wound on Shi Xiu's abdomen began healing before everyone's eyes. It quickly returned to normal, without even leaving a scar.
The Death God stared at Shi Xiu, its eyes filled with anger. But in the end, it slowly turned into a wisp of black smoke and faded away.
Shi Xiu removed the Death God Mask and looked at Minato Namikaze.
Seeing that Shi Xiu was unharmed, Kushina was surprised, but soon breathed a sigh of relief.
Minato's consciousness returned. He looked around, and when he saw Shi Xiu, Kushina, and Rin, he said in surprise,
"Kushina! Rin! Looks like Lord Shi Xiu resurrected you with the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, too."