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"What difference does it make if you know? I still won't help you."
After Yoichi finished speaking, he noticed that Kushina was about to plead further, so he cut her off, saying, "It doesn't matter if I tell you. My dōjutsu can bring someone back to life as long as they're not completely dead. But if this dōjutsu is used on an Edo Tensei body, it can also restore life, a true resurrection. However, that consumes a great deal of energy.
Nawaki was just a low-level ninja, and even reviving him made me unable to use my Sharingan for a long time. If it were Minato, my Sharingan might go blind, so I won't agree to it."
This was, of course, an exaggeration. Even if the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan's power was completely depleted, it would eventually recover. But this was one of the Uchiha clan's most guarded secrets, something only those who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan could learn from the clan's stone tablet.
Kushina, an outsider, naturally didn't know this. Moreover, she had heard from various sources that Yoichi had paid a significant price.
It seemed likely that reviving Minato would consume a Mangekyō Sharingan, which explained...
Kushina couldn't stop thinking about it. She knew how important the Sharingan was to the Uchiha clan, especially Yoichi's Mangekyō Sharingan, which had turned the tide of war multiple times.
Such an important eye... Kushina realized it was impossible, which explained his outright refusal.
Besides, the only reason she and Yoichi had any relationship at all was through Mina, a fellow clan member. Their interactions were limited to the times when Yoichi had been in her sealing space.
"...I'll extract the Nine-Tails' chakra for you every day, Yoichi-kun."
"Do you think you can trade that for me reviving Minato? Kushina, your idea is too naive."
Yoichi clicked his tongue and said, "The Nine-Tails belongs to the village; you're just the container. Even going back to the Sage of Six Paths, the Nine-Tails was connected to the Senju and Uchiha clans. It was captured by Madara and later sealed by the First Hokage. What does it have to do with you, Uzumaki Kushina?"
Kushina felt a wave of shame wash over her as she hung her head low, her red hair almost touching the ground.
With that, she knew she had no hope left...
"I just... can't accept it. If Nawaki could be revived, why can't Minato even see Naruto?"
As she spoke, Kushina began to cry.
If not for Nawaki's resurrection and the negative influence of the Nine-Tails' chakra, Kushina might have eventually moved on from her grief, raising Naruto and watching him grow into a ninja.
But seeing someone revived before her gave Kushina hope, which was then magnified by the negative emotions from the Nine-Tails' chakra, increasing her feelings of resentment and darkness.
Now, reviving Minato was not only a wish of Dark Kushina but also something the real Kushina desperately wanted. After all, they were one and the same person; Dark Kushina was just a manifestation of Kushina's deepest desires.
"You're willing to give anything to revive Minato?"
Kushina suddenly heard these words and quickly looked up, hope rekindling in her eyes, even though they were filled with tears.
In her eagerness, Kushina asked, "Yoichi-kun, is there another way? If I can do it, I'll do whatever it takes."
"Anything?"
Yoichi repeated, then, after glancing at his strategy guide, he continued, "What if it costs you your body? If giving up your body could revive Minato, would you be willing?"
"My... my body?"
Kushina was stunned, feeling a growing sense of unease as she continued to ask.
"Exactly what you think. If you give up your body, Minato will be revived, and you three can be together again. Or you can search for another way to bring him back."
Yoichi reiterated, and after he spoke, Kushina's expression and gaze changed, filled with a mix of emotions as she looked at him.
Her affection for him dropped by twenty points in an instant, but this was her only option.
"If you're unwilling, then go back, defeat your dark self, and return to the village to raise Naruto properly."
Yoichi stopped talking after that, knowing that anything more would have little effect. The decision was now in Kushina's hands.
But this was the only glimmer of hope she had, like a lifeline thrown to a drowning person. Now, she had two choices: grasp the lifeline and survive or let go and sink.
After a moment of silence, Kushina got up and left without making a sound.
When she returned to her tent, Kushina lay there silently, unable to sleep as her thoughts clashed in turmoil throughout the night and into the early morning.
After a sleepless night, Kushina ate something and returned to the True Waterfall to face her dark self.
Sitting on the stone in the water, Kushina closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, she saw Dark Kushina.
As soon as Dark Kushina appeared, she scolded, "The chance to save Minato is right in front of you, and you're still hesitating!"
"Using such a filthy method... betraying Minato to save him, neither of us would want that. He'd blame me if he found out!"
Kushina shouted, quickly creating ten shadow clones, each forming a Rasengan and attacking Dark Kushina.
"It's useless. I am you. I know everything you know, and your attacks are weak and powerless to me!"
Dark Kushina replied, immediately using the same jutsu. Her ten shadow clones also formed Rasengans, and they clashed with Kushina's clones.
After a fierce collision, the shadow clones dispersed.
"If you don't want to use this filthy method to revive Minato, why didn't you refuse?"
Dark Kushina's lips curled into a smile as she looked at Kushina. "You want to bring Minato back, to have a happy life with your family. But you also want to preserve your purity, so you hesitated all night. Just give me your body, and I'll make the decision. I am you, and I can do it better!"
"Dream on!"
Kushina, enraged by Dark Kushina's exposure of her inner turmoil, attacked her in fury.
But their strength was equal, and without enough resolve, Kushina couldn't defeat her dark self, nor could she even accept her.
Days passed, and Kushina grew increasingly helpless and desperate.
Unable to revive Minato and unable to conquer her inner darkness, she feared that this growing darkness would eventually lead her to harm the village or Naruto.
Thinking this, Kushina's heart sank further into despair, but the scales in her mind began to tip.
One night, after another failed battle with her dark self, Kushina was more thoroughly defeated than ever. Exhausted from the prolonged struggle, she lost to Dark Kushina, who now stood over her.
"You're useless. You can't bring back Minato, you can't defeat me, and now you've been beaten by me. You can't make a decision, so give me your body. I'll make the choice for you!"
"Dream on!"
"You still think you can resist? And don't forget, I am you. I know what you're thinking."
Dark Kushina grabbed Kushina by the collar, grinning wickedly before throwing her into the lake.
"No..."
Kushina tried to struggle, but found she had no strength and could only sink helplessly to the bottom, gradually bound by the shackles of darkness.
However, even as she was enveloped in darkness, Kushina realized she had become like a tailed beast. Though she couldn't move, she could feel everything Dark Kushina did with her body.
She was still connected to her body's senses, but she couldn't control it or do anything about it, only watch as Dark Kushina took over.
"Hmph, you should have given me control long ago!"
After taking over Kushina's body, Dark Kushina nearly burst into laughter but restrained herself, remembering that Yoichi was nearby.
"No, I can't release the Nine-Tails just yet. That fox has ulterior motives, wanting to use me to break free... Dream on."
Dark Kushina quickly calmed down, knowing she had to hide her true intentions from Yoichi. Compared to the imprisoned Nine-Tails, that man was much more dangerous.
"Watch, Kushina. I'll revive Minato. Once he's back, your obsession will fade, and I'll live on in your place."
Dark Kushina muttered, and Kushina, shackled in darkness, heard every word clearly.
"No, I won't allow it! You can't use my body for this!"
But the real Kushina was powerless to resist. She had already lost to her dark self in their battle.
All she could do now was watch as Dark Kushina did whatever she wanted with her body.
After leaving the True Waterfall, it wasn't long before Dark Kushina sensed someone approaching.
It could only be that man. Realizing this, Dark Kushina grew wary but quickly adjusted her mindset, adopting Kushina's usual thoughts and emotions to face Yoichi.
Soon, Yoichi arrived at the True Waterfall and, seeing Kushina, noticed nothing unusual.
He tossed her a scroll and said, "This has enough supplies for half a month. The giant turtle is near the waters of the Land of Fire now. Stay here and train. I'll bring you more supplies every two weeks. Don't even think about sneaking back."
With that, Yoichi turned to leave.
But Dark Kushina called out, "Wait, Yoichi-kun."
Yoichi stopped and turned, asking, "What is it? If you want to see Naruto, I can bring you some photos, but you shouldn't go back until you've defeated your dark self."
"It's not about Naruto. It's about reviving Minato. I've decided. I want you to bring him back."
Dark Kushina spoke firmly. Unlike her weaker self, she didn't hesitate over such matters.
Once Minato was revived, the real Kushina would disappear, and Dark Kushina would take her place!
"Yoichi-kun, please. I want Minato to be revived, even if it costs me my body!"
After speaking, Dark Kushina bowed deeply, a ninety-degree bow.
"It's possible, but Kushina, how..."
Yoichi glanced at the strategy guide, silently marveling at how accurate it was, even predicting Dark Kushina's emergence.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes. To revive Minato, I'm willing to pay any price. This was my resolve from the beginning."
Dark Kushina declared, but the real Kushina, hearing this, felt even more helpless. She was trapped in the darkness, unable to do anything but watch as Dark Kushina used her body.
"Then go clean up. You're filthy. I'll come to you later."
Yoichi told Dark Kushina before temporarily leaving to prepare some things. Dark Kushina was even more dangerous than Kushina herself, so it was best to have a few cameras on hand to record the moment.
He also had some stimulating potions, a basic skill for any alchemist, which he kept on hand.
"Just watch, Kushina. I'll bring Minato back to life."
After Yoichi left, Dark Kushina spoke to the shackled real Kushina. The latter immediately protested angrily, "If you do this, Minato will never forgive you for using such methods!"
"Do you want to see Minato again? Do you want Naruto to have a father?"
Dark Kushina's words silenced the real Kushina. If not for the desire to see Minato again, she wouldn't be so obsessed with this.
"Don't forget, I am you. Do you still not understand why you lost to me?"
After that, Dark Kushina ignored her, letting her reflect in the darkness.
"How filthy..."
After being here for days, aside from washing her face and brushing her teeth, Kushina hadn't properly cleaned herself. Dark Kushina noticed this and frowned.
The real Kushina heard this and felt a mix of shame and anger. After all, they were the same person, so what was there to complain about?
Fortunately, the scroll contained all the necessary supplies, including a change of clothes. Though they weren't what Kushina usually wore, they fit well enough.
Dark Kushina found a secluded spot by the lake and began cleaning herself.
After washing, Kushina's skin became white and smooth again. Despite having given birth to Naruto, her body was still in shape, her legs long and slender, with a certain fullness to them.
Only her nipples were slightly darkened, and there was a tiny bit of almost imperceptible fat on her lower abdomen, noticeable only when she sat down. When standing, her stomach looked perfectly flat.
After cleaning up, Dark Kushina put on clean clothes and returned to the True Waterfall to wait.
"Kushina, are you ready?"
When Yoichi appeared before her, Dark Kushina couldn't help but feel a mix of shyness and fear. But she reminded herself that she was not the weak Kushina and said, "Yes, I won't back out."
"Alright then, let's go inside the tent."
With that, Yoichi wrapped his arm around Kushina's waist. Even this small action made Dark Kushina tense up.
But she held herself together and followed Yoichi into the tent.
The tent was spacious inside, with the mattress Kushina had been sleeping on, large enough for two.
Yoichi lifted Kushina and carried her to the mattress...
"Yoichi-kun, please be gentle..."
"..."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next morning, long after the sun had risen, Turtle Island finally quieted down.
Yoichi, drenched in sweat, slowly walked out of the tent, holding his aching waist.
Kushina was still sleeping inside, covered with a thin blanket, her brow slightly furrowed as she occasionally muttered, "Minato..."
"This time, I've really pushed myself to the limit. I never thought I'd need a few days to recover."
Though he said "a few days," Yoichi felt it might take four or five to fully recover. His waist already hurt, and as for Kushina, she probably wouldn't wake up until the evening.
He would need to feed her some water and food in the meantime, though fortunately, she had taken a stamina recovery pill earlier.
(End of Chapter)