On the way home, Namikaze Minato apologized. "Ah, sorry, I didn't expect things to turn out like this."
Night Maple smiled. "Minato, you didn't lure me out on purpose, did you?"
Minato's face changed and he waved his hands. "Absolutely not. I just thought if I hadn't called you out, none of this would have happened."
"It's not your fault. This was bound to happen sooner or later."
"Even if you hadn't called me out, I would have gone out anyway."
Besides, coming out this time was completely a good thing.
First, it let Night Maple clearly grasp his current strength and roughly where he stands.
If it came to a real fight, he probably wouldn't be weaker than Kage level, right?
At worst, he'd be quasi-Kage.
And look at Kushina's small hand, quietly held in his own, already so natural.
According to the system, Kushina's favorability is already above 90.
There are so many things he can do with Kushina...
Walking ahead, Uzumaki Mito was all smiles. If she could match Night Maple and Kushina, that would fulfill one of her wishes.
"Minato, come have lunch at my house?"
"No, Old Madam. Night Maple, let's spar next time when we're free."
After speaking, Minato used the Body Flicker Technique and left.
Walking beside Night Maple and Kushina just now had truly wounded his heart.
Minato had liked Kushina to begin with, but Night Maple beat him to it and was already holding hands with her. Minato was hurting.
And you want me to eat?
I don't feel like it anymore.
[Ding, choices begin!]
[Choice 1: Dump Kushina and invite Namikaze Minato to Ichiraku Ramen. Reward: Ichiraku Ramen VIP top-up card ×1.]
[Choice 2: Let Namikaze Minato cool off on his own; people need to learn to grow. Reward: B-rank Ninjutsu: Water Release: Water Formation Wall (Suiton: Suijinheki).]
[Choice 3: Forcefully invite Namikaze Minato home for a meal so the boat of friendship doesn't capsize too badly. Reward: S-rank Sealing Technique: Yin Seal.]
The Yin Seal stores chakra over time, and releasing it unleashes a massive amount of chakra, enabling forbidden techniques and large-scale medical ninjutsu.
This technique was created by Uzumaki Mito; both Tsunade and Haruno Sakura can use it. It is essentially the prerequisite for Creation Rebirth and the Strength of a Hundred Technique (Byakugō no Jutsu). Without it, those techniques cannot be used.
For Night Maple, the Yin Seal is even more valuable.
Senju Hashirama's chakra was enormous to begin with. Add the Yin Seal and one man might match a hundred in chakra.
"Hey, Minato! Wait up!"
Night Maple spoke, then leapt and gave chase.
"Huh?"
Before Minato could react, Night Maple grabbed him from behind.
"Come on, don't be shy. Come eat at my place."
"This doesn't feel right..."
"What's not right about it? Ichiraku Ramen is always there. Missing one time won't hurt."
Not giving Minato a chance to speak, Night Maple dragged him toward the Uzumaki courtyard.
One hour later, in the Uzumaki courtyard, Night Maple, Minato, Kushina, and Uzumaki Mito sat in the dining room, ready to eat.
[Ding, you forcibly invited Namikaze Minato home for a meal. Congratulations, host, on completing Choice Three. Reward: S-rank Sealing Technique, Yin Seal!]
All the knowledge of the Yin Seal appeared in Night Maple's mind. Using it to store chakra would form a rhombus-shaped mark on his forehead.
He would study it carefully once he was back in his little house.
If he mastered the Yin Seal, then learned Creation Rebirth and the Strength of a Hundred Technique, he would be one step closer to his goal of becoming an all-round shinobi.
"Minato, eat up. Make yourself at home."
"Yes, Minato, dig in."
Uzumaki Mito felt Minato was a good child and very polite. Seeing he did not dare eat first, she hurried to place some dishes into his bowl.
"Minato, eat."
"Thank you, Old Madam!"
"No need to be so polite. Come by more often when you have time."
Seeing that Night Maple had not picked any dishes either, Kushina placed a piece of meat for him.
"Eat up!"
Minato watched with envy.
Having a girlfriend is really nice...
Minato was a genius with ninjutsu, but when it came to romance, he was a rookie.
The girl in his heart sat across from him, serving Night Maple with an intimate air.
It stabbed Minato right in the heart.
Why did I come here to eat?
Was my brain broken?
The meal had only just begun, yet Night Maple had already wounded Minato's fragile heart again.
Gritting his teeth, Minato resolved that he too would find a girlfriend.
By afternoon, Minato had long since left. They even agreed to face off in a week.
He said confidently that he was learning a powerful technique and that once he mastered it, he would give Night Maple a huge surprise.
A powerful technique?
Isn't that just the Flying Thunder God Technique?
Night Maple figured Minato was about to be heartbroken again.
He could use the Flying Thunder God Technique too.