Lately, Shinji has often found himself in hot water, mainly because the people of the Land of Wind are so enthusiastic! Other than being a bit poor, there's nothing wrong with them!
Of course, Shinji staying in the Land of Wind for four whole months has nothing to do with its affordability, the healthy bodies, or the sun-kissed skin of the locals!
He's simply waiting for the sandstorms to pass so he can head to Roran and collect the Dragon Vein's chakra!
The sandstorms in the Land of Wind are no joke, especially this season, raging day and night. Shinji has no desire to experience the misery of walking through a sandstorm with sand in his mouth.
"Well... there's a technique I can use to take you directly to Roran. Why not just let me take you there?"
Across from Shinji in the booth, a man with dazzling blond hair and bright blue eyes awkwardly suggested while glancing at the two healthy, tan-skinned women clinging to Shinji.
"Minato, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Using such a shortcut might save time, but it also robs you of the scenery along the way and the experiences of the journey. You might even miss beautiful flowers along the path~"
As Shinji spoke, he lifted the chins of the two women beside him, who boldly and warmly cuddled up to him. After all, this generous, creative, and handsome boss was worth getting close to.
The sisters felt that if they could complete this job, they would have enough money to return home and settle down with honest men!
"Uh..." The blond man, Minato Namikaze, also known as the fastest man in the ninja world, felt awkward. Shinji's words sounded philosophical, but his actions... were too sleazy!
Minato watched Shinji, unsure of what to say. This young man, whose identity was unknown but terrifying, had even undone the Reaper Death Seal!
Not only that, he could perform the Reanimation Jutsu with incredible precision, giving the reanimated greater strength than in life! However, Minato couldn't resist.
This wasn't ordinary Reanimation Jutsu. Shinji had added other binding techniques, making Minato unable to muster any resistance!
After being reanimated, Minato wanted to visit the village. Though Shinji didn't stop him, the moment Minato left Shinji's 500-meter radius, he would be forcibly returned to the Reaper's belly.
Additionally, Minato's summoning jutsu was sealed, preventing him from summoning any toads, as if his contract with Mount Myoboku had been broken.
Shinji explained that this was because the contract with the Reaper wasn't completely undone. His temporary freedom was just the Reaper letting him out for some fresh air, controlled by Shinji.
If he strayed from the Reaper's power, he would be dragged back. The inability to summon was because the Reaper's contract overrode his summoning contract.
Minato understood that borrowing the Reaper's power came with a price. It wouldn't be fair to the Reaper otherwise.
Ultimately, Minato had to give up on visiting Konoha and explaining the truth to the Third Hokage. He had heard that the Fifth Hokage was Tsunade.
From what he had gathered, Konoha was peaceful, so there shouldn't be any major problems.
Despite feeling wronged, Minato followed Shinji to uncover his true identity and purpose.
"Would you like to join us, young man? We have many lovely girls here."
"Yes, come and have some fun."
Hearing the women's invitations, Minato quickly declined. If Kushina found out, he'd be in trouble even in the afterlife.
"He can't."
Shinji's offhand comment made Minato freeze, his expression turning pained. Even the Yellow Flash couldn't take such a jab.
"I see..." The woman on the left covered her mouth in surprise.
"How unfortunate... Oh, I'm sorry, don't mind what we said. We didn't mean it." The woman on the right quickly apologized.
Minato adjusted his mood and smiled, explaining, "No, it's not like that. I have a wife whom I love dearly, and we have a child over two years old."
No sooner had he finished, hoping to salvage his image, than the women whispered to each other, making Minato hear things like, "A married man in a place like this? Men are all the same."
Standing up from the booth, Minato said, "Mr. Anri, I'm going out for some air..."
...
At the ruins of Roran in the Hokage world, modeled after the ruins of a country with a 5,000-year history, Minato felt a sense of desolation as he looked at the crumbling remains.
"Mr. Anri, didn't you say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step? Why are we here so quickly?"
"Minato, time is money, efficiency is life! Wasting time is like committing financial murder. Don't you understand such a simple truth?"
Shinji, with a pained expression, made Minato fall silent again. He couldn't out-argue this guy! He gave up.
"Alright, let's go in. Your task is to undo the seal you left."
"Undo it?" Minato quickly objected, "No, Mr. Anri! The Dragon Vein's power is immense. If we disturb it, it could go berserk..."
"What are you here for?"
"Uh..." Minato was stunned. Shinji was right. He was here to handle it. If there were problems, he could reseal it.
...
Before the seal of the Dragon Vein, Minato, about to break the seal, asked again.
"Mr. Anri, what are you going to do with the Dragon Vein's power? You're not planning to use it to conquer the world..."
"Do I look that bored and idle? Do you know how troublesome ruling the world is? Do you know how much time daily administration takes? Do you know how annoying it is to deal with the people's issues and rebellions?"
"Uh..."
Minato was speechless, but Shinji had a point. Handling a village's affairs was already exhausting. Ruling the world would be impossible.
Managing the world well for longevity would be a grueling task.
"I admire those villains wanting to conquer the world. Even if they succeed, what then? Ruling poorly leads to chaos. Governing well ensures exhaustion. Conquering the world is just self-inflicted pain."
"Uh... you're right."
Nodding silently, Minato started undoing the seal he had set.
Shinji's reasoning made sense, but it contradicted everything Minato had learned over the years.
Continuing this conversation might shake his beliefs.
...
On a stone bridge, looking at the empty underground chamber devoid of chakra, Minato finally asked Shinji after a long silence.
"Mr. Anri, where did you put the Dragon Vein?"
"Why do you care? It didn't go berserk, did it?"
"No, I just thought that such immense chakra might affect you."
"Don't compare me to ordinary humans. The Dragon Vein can send people to parallel worlds. In this universe of countless parallel worlds, I am unique."
"Uh?" Minato, hearing about parallel worlds for the first time, asked, "What do you mean? What are parallel worlds?"
Shinji, not wanting to explain, handed Minato a basic book on quantum theory.
Thus, the first researcher of quantum theory in the ninja world was born!
...
At the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Birds.
Having read the book many times and understanding parallel worlds, Minato asked, "Mr. Anri, according to this book, there should be many versions of me in different parallel worlds. Why are you unique?"
"Because I'm awesome."
Minato: ...
"Minato, I forgot to tell you something. If you know the hand signs, you can undo the caster's control in the Reanimation Jutsu."
Minato was stunned. Why was Shinji telling him this? Wasn't he afraid Minato would escape?
"Stop looking at me like that. I'm not lying. I'm telling you because I'm satisfied with your recent behavior."
"Thank you, Mr. Anri!"
Minato quickly formed the seals, recalling them from his time as Hokage and studying the Forbidden Scrolls!
Five minutes later, with a sullen face, Minato stood before Shinji.
"Oh, I forgot to mention. The control can be undone, but my mental control and your contract with the Reaper can't."
Minato: ...
Shinji tossed a blank scroll and pen to Minato. "Alright, I taught you a trick. Now it's your turn. Write down the Flying Thunder God technique for me."
"Mr. Anri, I'd rather return to the Reaper's belly."
Shinji patted Minato's shoulder, "No rush. Write it down first. Your home isn't going anywhere."
Minato: ...
"Later, you can summon your wife to accompany you."
"I'll write! But you mustn't harm Kushina!"
"Relax, I'm not interested in a dead woman. I'd just have her do some chores."
"I'm done!"
"That was fast!" Shinji exclaimed, impressed by the speed of the Yellow Flash.
Before being pulled back into the Reaper's belly, Minato pleaded, "Promise not to harm Kushina! Please, Mr. Anri!"
Taking the Flying Thunder God scroll, Shinji gestured an OK sign, "Don't worry, I'm a gentleman. I have no interest in hot-tempered married women!"
What about those who aren't?
Minato wanted to ask but had no time. The Reaper's power wrapped around Shinji's blade began pulling his soul back into the Reaper's belly...