Slam Dunk World, Sakuragi Hanamichi's Home.
Su Xiaoqi looked at the tidy and spotless room and laughed, "Hanamichi, you're really lucky to have a virtuous wife like Haruko."
Unlike the cheap rental apartment Hanamichi lived in in the original story, thanks to Su Xiaoqi's help, he was now wealthy enough to buy a small apartment outright.
"Heh heh heh..." Hanamichi scratched the back of his head and grinned, while Akagi Haruko blushed beside him.
Su Xiaoqi took out a skill card and handed it to Haruko. "Hanamichi said you don't like supernatural abilities, and I don't have anything particularly suitable for you right now. This skill card will help you strengthen your body."
*Punching through a telephone pole = "strengthening the body"*—sounded about right.
Haruko took the karate skill card (the same one Mōri Ran used) and smiled. "Thank you, big brother."
Not long after, Kuroba Kaito arrived, followed by Sakata Gintoki. However, the moment Gintoki entered, he made himself at home and started rummaging through Hanamichi's room, nearly getting himself kicked out in the process.
When Namikaze Minato appeared, everyone's eyes turned to the "dead man" wearing a white Hokage robe with the words "Fourth Hokage" written on the back.
But what no one expected was that the first thing Minato did after arriving was to take off his Hokage robe and grumble, "Whoever wants to be Hokage can take the damn job—I'm done with it."
Su Xiaoqi stepped forward and patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Once you're revived, we'll help you vent your frustrations. But for now, what's your current situation?"
"Let me check." After testing his abilities, Minato looked at Su Xiaoqi. "Just as you predicted—here, I'm alive, and my body is in the same state as before my death. But if I return to my world, my soul will still be trapped inside the Shinigami's stomach."
"So, strictly speaking, I'm still dead."
Su Xiaoqi nodded. "Do you want to revive now?"
Originally, Minato planned to use the Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) to temporarily "revive" himself and then find a way to fully restore himself in the Naruto world. But now, that wasn't necessary.
Minato took out a bottle labeled "Resurrection Elixir" and handed it to Su Xiaoqi. "I'll leave it to you."
This "Resurrection Elixir" was something Minato had obtained last night after spending all his points in the gacha. Unfortunately, Su Xiaoqi had been too busy with "important matters" to witness it firsthand.
But judging from the chat logs he checked this morning, Minato had been as happy as a 24-year-old child last night.
The "Resurrection Elixir" could indeed revive the dead, but it had a major flaw—it only worked on those who had just died, and it had to be poured on the body within an hour of death.
Su Xiaoqi took the bottle and grinned at Hanamichi. "Hanamichi, take us to a secluded spot. I'm going to kill Minato."
Everyone present, including Minato himself, twitched at his words. While that was the plan, the way Su Xiaoqi phrased it felt… off.
Hanamichi led them to a remote alley. Su Xiaoqi had the others wait outside while he and Minato went deeper inside.
"Minato, ready to die?"
Minato forced a smile at Su Xiaoqi's eerie grin. "Please make it quick. Don't torture me, and don't blow my body to pieces."
Su Xiaoqi laughed. "Don't worry, I'll let you experience Vegeta's death today."
The next second, Su Xiaoqi gathered energy at his fingertip and fired a Death Beam, piercing Minato's heart.
"Minato, you dead yet?" Su Xiaoqi asked, looking at the fallen Minato.
"Cough…" Minato spat out blood. "Sorry… not yet."
Su Xiaoqi nodded. "Want me to give you another shot?"
"Heh… no need. I think I'm about to go now."
As Minato's head slumped to the side and he breathed his last, Su Xiaoqi poured the "Resurrection Elixir" all over him. He had initially considered saving some for emergencies, but the bottle clearly stated that one bottle could only revive one person.
Ten seconds later, the "dead" Minato opened his eyes and looked at Su Xiaoqi. "I'm… alive?"
Su Xiaoqi chuckled at his dazed expression. "Here, you are. But whether you're fully revived or not, you'll have to test it yourself."
Minato nodded, then vanished on the spot.
Soon after, Minato announced his revival in the group chat.
[Namikaze Minato: Everyone, I'm back. I've truly been revived!]
[Kashiwazaki Sena: Congratulations, Fourth Hokage!]
[Lu Linglong: On behalf of Xiaoqi and his family, congratulations on your revival.]
[Kuroba Kaito: Congrats!]
[Sakuragi Hanamichi: Congrats.]
[Namikaze Minato: Thank you, everyone. And especially you, @Su Xiaoqi.]
[Su Xiaoqi: No need to thank me. Killing you once was pretty satisfying, honestly. Where are you now, by the way?]
[Namikaze Minato: In Konoha—the exact spot where I died after using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.]
[Su Xiaoqi: What year is it in Konoha right now?]
[Namikaze Minato: Haven't had time to check yet.]
[Aizen Sōsuke: It seems we're about to dive into the Naruto storyline. I wonder if I could tag along this time.]
[Sakata Gintoki: ???]
[Aizen Sōsuke: What's wrong? Did I say something odd, Gin-chan?]
[Sakata Gintoki: No, no, it's not what you said, Aizen. It's just… the numbers don't add up.]
[Sakata Gintoki: @Nami, @Tokisaki Kurumi, @Himejima Akeno, why aren't you three saying anything?]
[Nami: What's there to say? Linglong already spoke for me.]
[Himejima Akeno: Ara~ Same here.]
[Sakata Gintoki: ???]
[Sakata Gintoki: @Su Xiaoqi, you bastard! What the hell did you do in the One Piece world?! Where's Kurumi?! Where's my Kurumi?!]
[Lu Linglong: She's still resting. She was… exhausted last night.]
[Sakata Gintoki: WHAT THE—@Su Xiaoqi, you dare face me in a duel?! Don't think just because you're a Super Saiyan now that I'm scared of you!]
[Su Xiaoqi: I'm literally right in front of you.]
[Sakata Gintoki: Oh, so that's how you wanna play?! Fine! You're dead meat!]
[Su Xiaoqi: What did I even do? And why do you believe everything they say?]
[Sakata Gintoki: That's right! Gintoki's lifelong principle is to trust every beautiful girl's words!]
[Su Xiaoqi: Whatever. @Namikaze Minato, you coming back?]
[Namikaze Minato: Of course. Now that I'm revived, there's no rush. Besides, I'm probably the poorest in the group right now—I need to earn more points to power up my son, Naruto.]
[Su Xiaoqi: Alright. Once you're back, we'll head to Shōhoku to regroup with the others.]
Shōhoku High School Entrance
Su Xiaoqi rubbed his temples as he watched the swarm of fangirls trailing behind Minato. They had been drawn in by his sunny demeanor and followed him all the way here.
"Minato, I get that you're happy and excited, but could you tone it down a little? At least try rejecting them?"
"Ahaha… I didn't expect things to turn out like this," Minato laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
Su Xiaoqi sighed, then turned to Gintoki, who was glaring daggers at him.
"I told you, nothing happened with those three. You're the one who refuses to believe me."
Gintoki snarled, "You think I'd believe you, you bastard?! You've got a track record!"
Just as he finished shouting, an angry female voice rang out from behind them.
"Su Xiaoqi! This time, I won't let you escape!"
"Huh?" Su Xiaoqi turned and saw the girl from the journalism club yesterday—what was her name again? Mariko?
Before he could say anything, Gintoki exploded. He whipped out his wooden sword and pointed it at Su Xiaoqi.
"Explain this one, you bastard! Who's this girl now?!"
Su Xiaoqi sighed deeply. "If I said I don't even know her, would you believe me?"
Gintoki roared, "Hell no! She even called your name! Who knows, maybe she's already carrying your kid!"
His outburst instantly drew the attention of everyone nearby. Su Xiaoqi became the center of hushed whispers and judging stares.
Su Xiaoqi cracked his knuckles and glared coldly at Gintoki. "You want a duel, you damn white-haired idiot? Fine. Let's do it."