Minato's Shock

Because a layer of purplish-black chakra armor stood between his fist and Seiichi's face.

It did not look thick, and on closer inspection, it was even somewhat translucent, but Minato could sense the astonishing defensive power hidden within it.

Bang, bang, bang... Another flurry of punches and kicks followed, with a kunai thrust thrown in for good measure, only for the kunai to snap.

"Young Clan Leader?"

Hearing that something sounded wrong with the clattering and banging in the reception room, Mai knocked at the door and called out.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it. Watch the entrance. Unless I give permission, no one is allowed in."

"Yes, Young Clan Leader!"

With a casual wave of his hand, Seiichi set up a Soundproof Barrier in the reception room.

He was using the Soundproof Barrier so often that it was practically becoming his signature ninjutsu.

Even though none of the ninjutsu he had mastered required hand seals.

Minato took the opportunity to dart backward, putting some distance between himself and Seiichi.

He casually tossed away the kunai, which was now nothing but a handle.

He began carefully examining the purplish-black, full-body chakra armor covering Seiichi, which even had a transparent visor over his face, protecting him from every angle without a single gap.

The two remained at an impasse for about a minute.

Seiichi moved first, raising his left hand and giving it a gentle wave. The armor dispersed, and only then did Minato notice Seiichi's eyes.

"Mangekyō Sharingan!!!"

Minato spoke in shock, his voice rising involuntarily until it almost cracked.

As Jiraiya's student and the grandstudent of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Minato's perspective and knowledge naturally differed completely from those of ordinary civilian ninja with no backing.

Besides, he had once had a student from the Uchiha Clan.

So, while he would not claim to know everything about the Uchiha Clan, he believed he knew seventy or eighty percent of the relevant information.

Thus, the Mangekyō Sharingan, the Uchiha Clan's ultimate pursuit.

It had also been the most prominently featured subject in the Uchiha records he had read, so naturally, he could recognize it at a glance!

Only then did he remember a taboo and hurriedly lower his head to avoid looking into Seiichi's eyes.

But a few seconds later, he raised his head again. Moreover, he boldly met Seiichi's eyes with his own.

"What? Aren't you afraid of my Sharingan Genjutsu anymore, or are you confident you can resist my genjutsu?"

Watching Minato gradually regain his reason, Seiichi let his eyes return to their usual black, then turned and sat back down at the tea table.

He poured away the two cups of tea that had already cooled somewhat and poured fresh, hot tea for both himself and Minato.

"I am confident, yes, but not in myself. I'm confident in you. You have no intention of attacking me."

Minato sat back down as well.

He, too, had realized what was going on.

If Seiichi had wanted to, Minato would already have lost while he was standing there in a daze, or even died.

So, since Seiichi had not intended to attack just now, the odds of him attacking next were not high either.

Taking into account what Seiichi had said at the beginning.

He knew that Seiichi's remark about wanting the Nine-Tails had merely been intended to provoke him into attacking, giving Seiichi an opportunity to demonstrate his strength.

Otherwise, with Seiichi's intelligence, he could not possibly have failed to anticipate the consequences of saying that outright.

Everything he had done had been to facilitate their upcoming conversation.

It seems Seiichi has some grand ambitions!

Although Minato no longer intended to fight, he still drank his tea with a deep frown.

He glanced again at the barrier Seiichi had just set up.

As a former star student of the Ninja Academy, the current Uzumaki Clan's Son-in-Law, and a current core member of the Konoha Hokage Lineage, any one of those identities would have allowed him to easily recognize that this barrier did nothing but block sound.

He did not know just how important the things they were about to discuss would be.

For Seiichi to need an additional Soundproof Barrier as a safeguard, even while talking in his own laboratory within his own clan grounds.

That genuinely left Minato a little unnerved.

The Minato of the present was not yet the Fourth Hokage whose name would one day resound across countless worlds.

Right now, he was merely an ordinary elite Jonin of Konoha, with nothing more than the ordinary title of "Yellow Flash"-truly "not worth mentioning."

"It seems you've figured it out. Just what I'd expect from the man I've picked as Konoha's future Fourth Hokage.

"So, as an apology for provoking you, I'll answer five questions unconditionally.

"Aside from certain very special secrets I cannot disclose, which I'll explicitly tell you I cannot discuss.

"Anything else, as long as I know it, I'll tell you without holding anything back, and I guarantee there won't be a single lie.

"A friendly reminder: I may know far more than you imagine. This is a rare opportunity, so think carefully."

Seiichi looked at Minato with a teasing expression.

Minato could not help rolling his eyes in response. It was supposed to be an apology, yet Seiichi had deliberately phrased it in a way that made him want to keep punching him.

How old are you, still playing these childish games?

Oh, only ten!

Then pretend I didn't say anything.

Minato looked at Seiichi, who sat before him with his arms folded across his chest and a face full of confidence.

His thoughts could not help drifting to a huge scroll among the Uchiha records in the Hokage's Office.

Minato still remembered opening that scroll and discovering a painting inside.

It depicted a man with long, spiky black hair. The hair behind him seemed to have been lifted by a light breeze, its ends drifting gently to the left.

His hair also obscured much of his face, leaving only a defiant left eye exposed.

It was a full-length portrait of a stern man with his arms folded across his chest, an Uchiha Gunbai on his back, and red armor from the Warring States period.

A line of writing had been left in the lower right corner of the portrait.

"In memory of my dearest friend, Madara Uchiha!"

It was said that the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, had painted it himself shortly before the end of his life.

Later, the Second's notes revealed that this was also one of the few things outside ninjutsu that the First had not only avoided botching, but had actually done exceptionally well.

So, even though the Second greatly disliked the painting, he had still chosen to preserve it.

Aside from sharing a surname and having the same arms-folded pose, Seiichi before him bore no resemblance whatsoever to Madara in the portrait.

Yet for some reason, Seiichi made Minato feel as though he were face-to-face with Madara Uchiha.

That's so strange!

I've never even met Madara Uchiha!

Minato leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and reached up to rub his temples, letting himself relax a little.

"What? Is coming up with a question really that difficult?"

"It's not that it's difficult. Mainly, you sprang all this on me so suddenly that it caught me off guard.

"Like you said, this opportunity is so precious that I don't want to waste it."

Seiichi pursed his lips.

Well, look at that. The way you put it, it's all my fault now.

"Then how about we forget it? Wouldn't want to put you on the spot."