After tasting Minato's carefully prepared dish, Shinji fell into a long silence. It was just a simple roasted rabbit, yet the meat was juicy, tender, and melted in his mouth, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
"Among professional chefs, I must admit, you're the best ninja-cook I've ever met!"
"Uh... hahaha, thank you for the compliment..."
Despite the awkwardness in Shinji's praise, Minato humbly accepted it, scratching his head with a sheepish grin.
Sitting on a wooden chair made by Master Minato, at a wooden table also crafted by him, and eating food he had cooked, Shinji couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
Master Minato was truly amazing and incredibly useful! Even if you searched the entire ninja world, you wouldn't find another tool as handy as him. He could cook, teach, serve as a bodyguard, and even act as a driver, all without complaint and for no pay.
Except for the fact that he wasn't a woman, he had no flaws.
"By the way, aren't you eating?"
Hearing this, Minato's expression stiffened.
"I'll pass... I'm not hungry."
You know I don't need to eat, right? With this reanimated body, I can't even digest food.
Even if I taste it, I'd have to spit it out later because my body can't process it!
Just as he finished his internal grumbling, Minato realized something was amiss. Glancing at his own body, his highly functional brain quickly began to work.
While Shinji was leisurely eating, he saw Minato taking out a kunai, ready to stab himself to see if he would heal. At that moment, Shinji nonchalantly spoke.
"I won't heal you, and remember, that body is my property. If you damage it, prepare to offer your wife as compensation."
Hearing this, Minato's hands froze, his expression becoming somewhat complicated. Why was this Mr. Anli always thinking about his wife?
Aren't the girls at the shops appealing enough?
Didn't you used to enjoy them a lot?
Sensing Minato's thoughts, Shinji showed a bit of melancholy: "They... don't feel like home."
Minato: ...
Mr. Anli, I ★★★!
...
Even after feeling his heartbeat again, Minato found it hard to believe.
Am I really revived? Is Mr. Anli that powerful? He not only controls the Reaper but can also bring me back to life?
"Are you an idiot? Didn't you notice the difference between now and when you were reanimated?"
"I was just so surprised to see you again, Mr. Anli..."
Minato laughed awkwardly. Though he felt excitement about being revived, he didn't dare show it too much.
Come to think of it, Mr. Anli seems even more powerful than I imagined.
"Did you not notice anything missing from your body?"
Hmm?
Minato frowned, sensing something wrong!
"The Kyuubi..."
"Yes! You're two centimeters shorter!"
Minato: ...!
What!!
"But don't worry, even being two centimeters shorter, you're still in single digits. It shouldn't make much difference."
As soon as Shinji finished speaking, Minato disappeared with a Flying Thunder God Technique, running to the forest to check his body.
Mr. Anli sure knows how to joke around. What does he mean by two centimeters shorter and still in single digits?
Even if I were two centimeters shorter, it would still be from a two-digit number starting with three to one starting with two! And it would still be a large number!
Hiding behind a tree, Minato carefully checked every inch of his body, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Turns out Mr. Anli was just joking. Almost scared me to death! Losing the Kyuubi is one thing, but this matter of a man's pride can't be compromised!
I'd fight him to the death!
...
Several minutes later, Minato returned, seeing Shinji playing with a small, dark red glowing glass bottle. His heart pounded.
No mistake, that's the other half of the Kyuubi I sealed inside me!
Trying to warn Shinji to prevent the Kyuubi from escaping again, Minato hesitated. Even the Reaper listened to Mr. Anli; what's a little Kyuubi to him?
People like him make others feel insignificant. If I had these abilities back then, handling the Kyuubi would've been a breeze.
That masked man who looked like Uchiha Madara would've been dealt with long ago. Kushina and I wouldn't have had to sacrifice ourselves, and Naruto wouldn't have had to bear that burden.
Suddenly, an idea struck Minato.
If Mr. Anli can revive me, maybe he can...
"Breaking the natural law of life and death, you are truly impressive. This revival technique is unheard of."
Flattery never hurts, Minato believed.
"Who said this is a revival?"
"Huh?"
Minato was stunned. Did he flatter the wrong way?
Isn't this called revival?
I've tested it! All my senses and organs, even... everything is back to normal!
"Mr. Anli must be joking. Though reviving someone might be easy for you, it's like a miracle to us."
"Though you've misunderstood, your current state isn't called revival."
Hearing this, Minato blinked in confusion.
"Really?"
"Really." Shinji nodded.
"Then what am I now..."
Shinji raised a finger to explain: "In simple terms, it's a combination of immature soul materialization and consciousness transfer. Though it looks like revival and you can live like a normal person, it's not true revival."
I can live like a normal person? Isn't that revival? Minato thought, though he didn't fully understand, he was sure he was alive now!
"Never mind, you won't understand. Just do your job properly."
"Uh... can I ask for a favor?"
Minato rubbed his fingers, "Just a small one."
"No, absolutely not."
Minato: ...
I just wanted you to spare Konoha and maybe deal with that masked man. I have no bad intentions! Why can't I speak now?
Seeing Minato, silenced by him, sitting at the table looking like a bitter wife, Shinji continued eating as if he didn't notice.
Not until Minato picked up his bowl and chopsticks did Shinji speak.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't eat? Can't even stick to your word as a man?"
Seeing Shinji's expression as if questioning his manhood, Minato quietly put down the bowl and chopsticks.
For the sake of man's pride, I'll wait for the next meal!
Ignoring Minato, Shinji glanced at the three kids eating silently, looking somewhat downcast.
"What's with you three? Is the food that bad? Even if it's not up to my level, it shouldn't be that bad."
As Shinji finished speaking, Minato's resentment deepened, feeling like an abandoned wife.
"It's not that, it's just..."
Putting down her empty bowl, Haku looked down, her voice tinged with regret, "…It's just a bit disappointing."
After finishing her meal, Karin slammed her bowl on the table in frustration: "Yeah! Gilgamesh was so unlucky! He got the elixir of immortality but a snake stole it! Unacceptable!"
Kimimaro nodded quietly, indicating he felt the same.
Minato also recalled the history lesson about the ancient hero-king. His noble end was admirable but hard for children to understand.
"Well, only the person involved would know their true feelings. History's few words can't convey that."
"How can we ask him then?" Karin pouted, dissatisfied with Shinji's answer. "Gilgamesh died thousands of years ago, right?"
"Of course." Shinji shrugged, then glanced at a familiar figure approaching, dressed in black biker gear, hands in pockets, looking displeased. "But... sometimes unexpected things happen."
At that moment, Minato, the vigilant bodyguard, stood up and positioned himself between Shinji, the children, and the newcomer.
Proud and arrogant.
From the first glance at the blonde man, Minato sensed this personality.
"Sorry, Mr. Anli, my mistake. This man is..."
Minato hesitated, not wanting bloodshed but knowing he couldn't disobey Shinji if he ordered it.
Seeing the blonde man's growing anger at Minato's words, Shinji shrugged and spoke with a hint of exasperation.
"You can try. If you're lucky enough to survive, I'll grant you a small favor."
"Huh?"
Minato was puzzled, but the answer became clear the next moment.
Countless weapons, shining golden and exuding a terrifying aura, appeared behind the man out of thin air!
Not knowing the technique, Minato felt immense pressure, sensing that any of those weapons could be lethal!
"Who allowed you to gaze upon me, mongrel!!"