Chapter 91

As Naruto stood before his parents, the warmth of their embrace enveloping him, Minato's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he observed the Nara boy standing by the side. With a gentle smile, he turned to Naruto, his voice filled with warmth.

"Naruto, why don't you introduce me to your friend here?" Minato's tone was casual, but there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes as he glanced at Kazuki, eager to hear Naruto's thoughts on his newfound companion.

Naruto's heart swelled with pride as he looked up at his father, a sense of validation washing over him. "This is Kazuki Niisan," he said, a bright smile spreading across his face. "He's been like a big brother to me, always looking out for me."

Kushina's eyes lit up with delight as she turned to Kazuki, pulling him into a warm embrace alongside Naruto. "Thank you, Kazuki," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "For taking care of our Naruto all this time, We're so grateful to have you in his life."

Kazuki's cheeks flushed with warmth at Kushina's heartfelt words, a sense of belonging washing over him as he returned her embrace. "It's been an honor, Kushina-sama," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "Naruto is like a little brother to me, and I'll always be there for him."

As Kushina released Kazuki from her embrace, her expression shifted to one of concern as she turned back to Naruto, her motherly instincts kicking in. "Now, Naruto, listen carefully," she said, her voice rapid-fire as she began to dispense advice. "Remember to eat your vegetables, study hard at the academy, and always listen to your sensei."

Naruto nodded eagerly, his eyes wide with excitement, as he absorbed his mother's words, knowing that her guidance would always steer him in the right direction. But as Kushina continued to speak, Minato's attention was drawn to a subtle change in the air around them.

"Kushina, dear, there's no need to rush," Minato interjected gently, his voice calm as he gestured towards the modified fuinjutsu seal. "The seal has been altered to sustain the chakra imprint indefinitely. We have all the time in the world."

Kushina's eyes widened in realization as she took in the subtle changes around them, her expression softening as she turned to Kazuki with a grateful smile. "You're right, Minato," she said, her voice filled with admiration.

Kushina led Naruto away to offer him some motherly advice, leaving Minato alone with Kazuki. The Nara prodigy's eyes gleamed with intelligence as he observed Minato studying the modified seal.

"It's fascinating how you've modified the seal to accommodate all this. I sure did learn a lot from all this. You sure are a genius, Kazuki," Minato remarked, genuine admiration coloring his words.

Kazuki nodded in appreciation, acknowledging Minato's praise. "Thank you, Minato-sama. I've put a lot of effort into understanding and improving the seal."

Minato's curiosity was piqued. "So, why did you come here? It's not just because Naruto asked you about the rumor regarding me being alive, right?" He inquired, his attention still focused on the intricacies of the fuinjutsu seal.

"That's correct, Minato-sama. I do have a purpose in wanting to meet you," Kazuki admitted. He had originally planned to have this conversation after making more preparations, but the urgency of the situation compelled him to seek assistance as soon as possible.

As Minato patiently waited for Kazuki to elaborate, the young Nara continued, his tone serious and resolute. "If you had a chance to come back to life at the cost of condemning another soul to eternal damnation, would you take it?"

Minato's expression froze, his mind reeling at the weight of Kazuki's question. "Kazuki, you shouldn't be joking about such matters," he cautioned, hoping that the young prodigy was merely testing his boundaries. But as he studied Kazuki's unwavering expression, he realized that the boy was deadly serious.

"You're being serious?" Minato asked again, his voice tinged with disbelief. Kazuki simply nodded, his demeanor unwavering.

"Let's say, for instance, that I believe you. There should be quite a few restrictions, right? And may I know how a child your age was able to come into contact with such advanced Kinjutsu?" Although Minato was grateful to Kazuki for taking care of Naruto, he couldn't shake the unease that lingered in the back of his mind. Why would a child discuss topics such as reanimation, and how did he gain access to such information? Yet Kazuki's face remained composed, offering no hint of doubt or hesitation, even as he spoke of the necessity of sacrificing another soul.

"You are right, Minato-sama, there are quite a few restrictions, the major one being the price to be paid to recover a soul from the Pure Land, as the connection of a deceased soul with the Pure Land cannot be severed without a hefty cost. But it's different in your case," Kazuki explained calmly, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity.

Minato's heart skipped a beat. The possibility of returning to the living filled him with a mix of hope and trepidation. He couldn't help but wonder if there was a feasible way for either him or Kushina to return and provide Naruto with the life he deserved.

Sensing Minato's unspoken thoughts, Kazuki continued, "I'm afraid the method I am currently studying is only feasible for someone in your condition, Minato-sama. As for Kushina-sama... I'm afraid I don't yet have that knowledge."

Minato's shoulders slumped slightly, a sense of disappointment washing over him. The thought that the proposed idea might not apply to Kushina weighed heavily on his mind.

"Well, kid, what makes me special? I'm sure I'm as dead as Kushina is, so where's the difference?" Minato queried, his curiosity piqued.

"The way you sacrificed yourself, Minato-sama, The Shiki Fujin, or Reaper Death Seal, is not as simple as we think. It holds more secrets than we can possibly imagine," Kazuki replied, his tone measured yet filled with conviction. "The Reaper Death Seal that you used is just a part of the complete technique. Let's talk about that at a later time. But what makes you special is that your soul never went to the Pure Land and has not been bound by the afterlife. Your soul is in a separate dimension, similar to limbo. So theoretically, it is possible to switch your soul with another, but the soul we use will be erased completely from existence forever, as if it never existed in the first place."

Minato felt a chill run down his spine as Kazuki shared his theory of a possible resurrection plan. The more details he heard, the more he began to fear the young prodigy. He had aspired to become a Fuinjutsu Grandmaster in his lifetime and had conducted his own research on the Shiki Fujin. Yet, Kazuki's mastery of Fuinjutsu far exceeded his own, and the child's lack of hesitation when discussing such forbidden arts made Minato's blood run cold.

However, Minato quickly composed himself and considered the feasibility of the idea. While his moral compass would not allow him to condemn another life, the possibility of modifying Kazuki's idea sparked a glimmer of hope within him. Now that he could stay within this sealed space indefinitely, perhaps he could work with Kazuki to develop a modified method of revival that would not require the sacrifice of another soul.

"Well, you can forget about getting the technique from me while you remain dead, Minato-sama, but I don't mind sharing it with you once you come back alive." Kazuki stated matter-of-factly, swiftly putting an end to Minato's hopes. He knew that Minato would likely stall and search for alternative methods that didn't involve sacrificing another soul, but Kazuki had no qualms about such matters. He believed that there were individuals in the world who didn't deserve life, and erasing them permanently would be an added benefit.

Minato's expression darkened as he realized he couldn't study and modify the fuinjutsu as he had hoped. Furthermore, he remained skeptical about the feasibility of the supposed reanimation method.

"Kid, you sure are something. Although I don't believe such a method is feasible, the offer seems tempting. But I cannot possibly condemn another life to bring myself back," Minato stated firmly. His moral compass was unwavering, firmly rooted in the light side of morality.

Kazuki felt a twinge of frustration, but he knew he couldn't force Minato to see things his way. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Naruto and Kushina, who were engrossed in their conversation. If he couldn't convince Minato, perhaps he could persuade Kushina. As a protective mother, Kazuki knew that Kushina would do anything to benefit her son, especially if the person sacrificed was considered beneath human.

With an evil smirk playing on his lips, Kazuki began to formulate his next move, knowing that convincing Kushina might be the key to achieving his goals.

Minato felt a chill run down his spine as he followed Kazuki's gaze. "Kid, what are you planning?" he asked warily, sensing a shift in the atmosphere.

Kazuki's expression remained composed as he replied, "Oh, it's nothing, Minato-sama. At first, I wanted to show you an easier way, but it seems like you prefer to endure suffering. Sigh! I'm sorry, Minato-sama. I had promised little Naruto that I would help him meet his parents, but it pains me to think that I could only offer him a projection of their thoughts. As his loving big brother, don't you think it's my duty to fulfill my promise and help Naruto meet his parents in the flesh? But now that we have a disagreement, I can only hope to discuss the matter with Kushina-sama."

Kazuki's words dripped with sarcasm, and a mocking glint danced in his eyes. He was blatantly cornering Minato into agreeing, knowing full well that if Kushina were to get involved, Minato would have no chance of resisting. And even if, by some twist of fate, Kushina were to disagree like Minato, then Kazuki was prepared to resurrect Minato without their consent. After all, it was better to ask for forgiveness than to seek permission.

As Kazuki spoke, Minato's mind raced with a mixture of apprehension and disbelief. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more lurking beneath the surface of Kazuki's words and intentions. Yet, despite his misgivings, Minato couldn't deny the overwhelming desire to see his son, Naruto, reunited in the flesh.

"Kazuki, what exactly do you intend to discuss with Kushina?" Minato inquired, his tone cautious but tinged with curiosity.

Kazuki's smirk widened slightly, sensing a crack in Minato's resolve. "Oh, just the same proposal I presented to you, Minato-sama," he replied smoothly. "After all, Kushina-sama would surely want what's best for Naruto, wouldn't she?"

Minato's brow furrowed in thought as he mulled over Kazuki's words. He knew Kushina's unwavering devotion to their son, and he couldn't help but wonder if she might be swayed by the promise of a reunion, even if it came at a grave cost.

Minato felt a surge of conflicting emotions swirling within him. He knew the risks involved in Kazuki's proposition, but he couldn't ignore the longing in Naruto's eyes or the ache in his own heart at the thought of reuniting with his family. With a heavy sigh, Minato made his decision.

"Alright, Kid," he said, his voice resigned yet resolute. "I'll speak with Kushina. But know this: if she agrees to your plan, there will be conditions."

Kazuki's grin widened into a full-fledged smile, revealing a glint of triumph in his eyes. "Of course, Minato-sama. I wouldn't expect anything less," he replied, his tone dripping with satisfaction.

"You know, I really don't know what your true intentions are," Minato began, his voice tinged with a hint of skepticism. "But I believe that the love and care you showed towards Naruto was not fake. So, I'm willing to give your proposal a chance."

Kazuki's expression remained inscrutable, his gaze steady as he met Minato's eyes. He understood the wariness lingering in the former Hokage's words, but he also sensed a glimmer of trust beneath the surface.

"I appreciate your willingness to consider it, Minato-sama," Kazuki replied, his tone measured. "Rest assured, my intentions are solely focused on fulfilling Naruto's wishes and ensuring his happiness, and maybe a bit for my own selfish reasons, but trust me, you will thank me for it in the future."

Minato nodded, his resolve firming as he made peace with his decision. Despite the uncertainties ahead, he knew that he couldn't let fear or doubt dictate his actions when it came to his son's well-being.