Those words were like an invisible needle, piercing precisely into the sole weakness of Namikaze Minato's entire body.
It was not his heart, nor his brain, yet it made him feel more suffocated than a stab to any vital point.
Minato's body stiffened abruptly.
A violent wind whipped up sand grains, lashing against the energy wall of the soundproofing barrier and producing a rustling sound that made this area feel even more dead and desolate.
He stared fixedly at Baishi, his eyes once so blue like the sky now holding only bloodshot red veins and surging shock and anger.
"What... do you want to do?"
Minato's voice squeezed out from between his teeth, every single word carrying a cold tremor.
Baishi did not answer his question, merely shifting his gaze away from him and looking toward the distant skyline.
His tone remained indifferent, as if stating a regulation completely unrelated to himself that had long since been written in the case files.
"Konoha's pension and security regulations for the families of heroes were personally formulated by the Second, continuously refined through the Third Shinobi World War, and serve as the cornerstone for the village to maintain public sentiment and pass down its will."
"Among them, it is explicitly stipulated that the prerequisite for enjoying the highest-level 'S-Rank Martyr's Family Member' treatment is that the ninja sacrificed in a mission or for protecting the village, and that their political status is pure, with no records of defection or actions endangering the village's safety."
Baishi turned his head back, his gaze landing once again on Minato's face.
"The treatment Comrade Kushina currently enjoys is precisely this highest specification. Her life and Naruto's upbringing have received the village's highest-priority security. Everyone in the village regards her as a hero's wife, offering her the