Chapter 44

Being bound to Xunjing was nothing to her. Her heart was already set on him anyway, and she did not believe Xunjing would harm her. Besides, if she could gain cheats and become stronger, why would she refuse?

"I agree too." Minato nodded decisively.

Minato hesitated for only a moment before making his decision. He raised his head and looked at Xunjing with firm resolve. "I'll go with you."

Xunjing was willing to reveal his trump card to him, on top of everything he had given without holding back before. Minato did not think this was something worth agonizing over.

"Fine, then I'll give you this opportunity."

Seeing that the two had made up their minds, Xunjing nodded. With a thought, two glowing runes condensed directly between his brows.

Minato and Kushina stared wide-eyed as the runes drifted before them. Xunjing said, "Touch them with your hands, then choose to agree in your minds."

"Okay."

Minato and Kushina fixed their eyes on the runes before them. Without hesitation, they reached out and touched them.

The next second, a voice appeared in both their minds, asking whether they were willing to form a contract with Xunjing.

After signing it, they would gain immense benefits, but they would also be constrained by Xunjing.

"Agree."

Having made up their minds long ago, Minato and Kushina immediately confirmed.

The runes instantly turned into light and entered their bodies through their arms.

In the blink of an eye, they reached the sea of consciousness between their brows and hovered there steadily.

Then, a massive flood of information poured into their minds.

The two had no choice but to close their eyes and absorb it with all their might.

Xunjing had given them quite a bit of information this time. There was the Space-Time Gate, the space within it, some information about the Pirate World, and even certain events from the Ninja World's future.

Of course, there was very little about the Ninja World's future. Only the crisis of the Uzumaki Clan's impending destruction, along with vague news that the Otsutsuki Clan would invade in the future.

It was mainly to give them a sense of urgency and make them train properly.

Xunjing did not intend to let them know any more than that.

Especially not the fact that Minato and Kushina had originally been a couple, or that Minato would become the Fourth Hokage.

Xunjing would never tell them.

Since this world had him in it, many things in the future would naturally change completely.

The only thing that probably would not change was that the Otsutsuki Clan would invade sooner or later.

That was not something he controlled, nor was it something the Ninja World controlled...

More than ten minutes passed.

Minato and Kushina finally finished processing most of the information and opened their eyes.

"Th-this is all real? Another world? The Pirate World? Devil Fruits? Great Swordsmen? Sea Kings? And the future of the Ninja World?"

Minato was somewhat dazed as he looked at Xunjing and asked.

Everything was simply too absurd.

Although he had boldly guessed at the secret Xunjing mentioned before, he had never dared imagine anything on this scale.

He had not expected the secret to be so enormous.

Xunjing now understood why this guy had acted so solemnly before, insisting on signing the contract before he would reveal his secret.

If he had not done that, Xunjing would probably have lost his life already.

He even felt that this alone might not be secure enough. He ought to have been ten times more cautious.

An indescribable surge of emotion welled up in Minato's heart, and his trust in Xunjing rose another four points, reaching ninety.

At that point, they were comrades who had entrusted each other with their lives. There was no way he could ever harbor thoughts of betrayal.

Tch, Minato is way too easy to win over.

Xunjing secretly laughed to himself. The more he looked at Minato's gratitude and loyalty, the more pleasing he found it.

"Xunjing, is the Land of Whirlpools... really going to be destroyed?"

"When will this happen? Does Grandma know?"

Kushina had just been immersed in the dazzling news of another world, her eyes practically spinning.

But the moment she heard about the Ninja World, especially the terrible news that the Land of Whirlpools and the Uzumaki Clan would be wiped out, she immediately panicked. All thoughts of another world vanished from her mind, leaving only concern for her family's safety.

Seeing Kushina's face, so anxious she was nearly crying, Xunjing smiled and stepped forward. He reached out and rubbed her head, softening his voice.

"Don't panic! To be honest, before my mother went to meet Lady Mito last time, she had already received intelligence that the Land of Whirlpools was about to be attacked."

"Lady Mito had even written the letter herself and delivered it to the current head of your Uzumaki Clan, Uzumaki Lu Ming, urging him to bring the whole clan to Konoha to take refuge for a while."

"But what happened? Uzumaki Lu Ming refused."

"What?!"

The moment Kushina heard that, she interrupted Xunjing, her tone anxious and sharp. "What is Grandpa thinking? What's wrong with coming to Konoha to lie low for a while? Does he have to wait until the entire clan is slaughtered before he's satisfied?"

"Oh?"

Xunjing raised an eyebrow slightly. "Uzumaki Lu Ming is your biological grandfather?"

"Mm!"

Kushina bit her lip and nodded, both furious and worried.

"Then it makes sense."

Xunjing nodded thoughtfully. "It's not that he doesn't want to leave. He probably can't leave at all."

"With such a huge clan, and the entire Land of Whirlpools involved behind it, how could he make that decision alone?"

"He must have his own difficulties. Don't blame him too much."

"And don't worry. Even if he refused, once confirmation comes that the Four Great Shinobi Villages are truly about to make their move, Lady Mito will naturally send people to rescue them immediately."

"For this matter, she even made a deal with our Uchiha last time."

"When that time comes, our Uchiha will also select elite members to help the Uzumaki Clan escape their predicament."

With the signed contract as a safeguard, Xunjing was not worried in the slightest that Kushina and Minato would reveal anything they heard today.

Anything involving his interests and secrets could not be disclosed to outsiders by either of them, not even a single word.

Even Uzumaki Mito herself would not be able to pry half a word from Kushina.

Kushina had things on her mind, but she did not dare tell Uzumaki Mito directly.

"Is that true?" Her eyes lit up, and the gloom on her face instantly vanished. Her voice was filled with surprise and expectation.

Xunjing nodded seriously. "Mm, I'm not lying to you."

But then he lowered his voice and cautioned her, "You can't tell Lady Mito about this, though, and don't ask her either. Even if you asked, she wouldn't be able to answer, since it involves some of my secrets. I hope you understand."

"In short, don't worry yourself sick. Everything will get better. Lady Mito and my mother will handle it properly."

"I'm telling you this only so you'll feel some urgency and settle down to train properly."

"You need to understand that Lady Mito cannot protect us for our whole lives. She and my mother will grow old someday."

"In the future, it will be up to us to hold up the sky for those who come after us and face all kinds of dangers."

At that, Xunjing turned to look at the thoughtful Minato beside him, his tone carrying a reminder. "That goes for you too, Minato."

"Don't waste your talent, and don't disappoint my expectations."

"I'll do my best to provide the resources and conditions you need to grow, but how far you can ultimately go will depend on you."

After hearing that, Minato nodded solemnly. "I won't disappoint you, Xunjing."

He paused, his gaze locking onto Xunjing. "I only want to confirm one thing—will an alien race called the Otsutsuki Clan truly invade the Ninja World in the future and destroy everything?"

"You... can see the future?"

This question was incredibly important to him. If it was true, then he needed to desperately improve himself now.

Xunjing nodded decisively. "That's right. It's true."

"This also involves the Sage of Six Paths, as well as the Sage of Six Paths' mother—the Goddess of the Crescent Moon. It's too early to tell you these things now. When the time is right, I'll explain every secret to you."

"I really can catch glimpses of certain fragments of the future, but they aren't complete."

He understood perfectly well that he had no ability to foresee the future. He was bluffing based entirely on memories from his previous life. Still, that was more than enough to fool the two before him.