A dark, enclosed space, with black qi swirling in the void.
Even the invisible air seemed like demonic faces, baring fangs and claws, ready to drag others' lives into hell.
Facing this situation, Minato Namikaze made his final decision.
"Kirito, I can agree to your conditions, but I cannot do something that goes against my principles. If you need Ninjutsu training, I can help you, but I can only teach you a portion of the Ninjutsu I've learned in my life, about thirty percent of my total knowledge."
Everyone must die, whether their death is as weighty as Mount Tai or as light as a goose feather.
At this moment, Minato Namikaze truly could not die easily, not for Konoha, nor for the entire battlefield.
He had to use his body as Konoha's last barrier, to block all attacks in the war for Konoha. Such a death would be fitting for a Konoha Ninja.
But to turn into a speck of dust in this place, unknown to anyone, would be meaningless to him and to Konoha.
Therefore, Minato Namikaze finally understood; he had no way to refuse this transaction.
It was good that Minato Namikaze was willing to speak, but Kirito felt a bit speechless, realizing that Minato Namikaze was quite cunning. What started as thirty percent…
Cutting off seventy percent directly—that was more than a little bit cunning.
"Lord Minato, please don't joke. Thirty percent of the Ninjutsu you've learned in your life? I'm afraid you'll just fob me off with some Substitution Jutsu and Clone Jutsu. I need at least eighty percent of your Ninjutsu."
"No, those forbidden jutsu are top-secret within Konoha, and I cannot betray the Village. Please understand… How about this, forty percent of the Ninjutsu I've learned in my life? That already includes many B-rank Ninjutsu."
"Lord Minato, you're about to become Hokage, don't be so stingy. Seventy percent, this condition is fair to both of us."
"Sorry, four layers at most."
Minato Namikaze's stubbornness resurfaced. No matter what Kirito said, he wouldn't budge, and eventually, Kirito became a bit frantic.
"Lord Minato, I don't oppose your convictions, but I also don't want to make a meaningless deal. One last word: sixty percent. This is my bottom line. You decide."
Kirito threw the purple gold gourd onto the ground, closed his eyes slightly, and rubbed his aching temples.
Let the bargaining end here. It was too much talk, and he couldn't go any lower; if he did, Kirito would make no profit at all, and this fight would have been for nothing.
As for Minato Namikaze's life or death inside the gourd, Kirito felt he couldn't care less.
In this dangerous Ninja World, self-preservation was paramount.
Just as Kirito thought Minato Namikaze would stubbornly refuse again, Minato Namikaze's words came into his consciousness.
The words were concise, not hesitant:
"Deal."
Inside the gourd, Minato Namikaze took out the paper and pen he carried in his Ninja vest.
With memories in his mind, he began to write and copy on the paper.
"I will give you what you want in written form."
Kirito: "How long will that take?"
"Don't worry, it will be quick."
About an hour later, Minato Namikaze was ready.
The next step was to get Minato Namikaze out of the purple gold gourd.
Release him again.
However, this was a bit risky. Although Minato Namikaze didn't seem like someone who would break a promise, they were still on a battlefield, and who knew what would happen next.
Would Minato Namikaze, once released, instantly kill him with a forbidden jutsu? This was a big problem.
Fortunately, during that hour, Kirito had made ample preparations.
He opened the stopper of the purple gold gourd, and at first, there was no unusual reaction.
Then he slowly retreated, about ten meters away from the purple gold gourd, his Earth Release hand seals already complete, ready to escape with Earth Release at any moment.
Only then did Kirito chant the incantation, and a wisp of white smoke drifted from the mouth of the gourd.
The spatial suction surged out like an underground fountain, and spatial power unleashed wildly like a flood breaking a dam. The space around the gourd's mouth showed significant distortion and vibration.
A figure emerged from the purple gold gourd.
The moment he came out, Minato Namikaze felt a sense of unreality, floating in the air, his limbs without any point of leverage.
However, as a Kage-level expert, Minato Namikaze quickly adjusted his state, bending his legs and spreading his palms, finally landing successfully.
He tried to stand up, but his body swayed involuntarily twice, and even his feet felt a touch of instability. At this moment, Minato Namikaze's face was sickly pale.
The corrosion inside the purple gold gourd was not just physical; more terrifyingly, it affected the soul.
No matter how powerful a person was, if they were attacked by such a method, they would likely be unable to recover immediately.
Thus, Kirito's worries seemed a bit excessive.
Minato Namikaze patted his head to clear it, tore off a few pages containing other information from the portable notebook he had prepared, and threw it toward Kirito.
"This is what you wanted."
Minato Namikaze would not go back on his word. Every Jonin had their pride, let alone Minato Namikaze, who was already a Kage-level expert. Such a person had no need to lie or deceive about such small matters.
Looking at the notebook in his hand, Kirito felt an indescribable emotion.
Minato Namikaze, though having just escaped death, didn't immediately flash away with the Flying Thunder God Technique. Instead, he fulfilled his promise openly and honestly, making Kirito's own caution seem overly reserved.
This notebook contained all the Ninjutsu secrets Minato Namikaze had mastered.
Now, with the boost from the Five Elements Release Techniques, Kirito's talent had become extremely high. Learning these Ninjutsu would undoubtedly greatly benefit him, and perhaps, in a short time, his combat power could advance to another level.
Just as he was about to say a few words of thanks, Kirito glanced at the notebook and was utterly stunned.
The Ninjutsu in the notebook were recorded in great detail, with sequential numbers 1, 2, 3 before each Ninjutsu, making it convenient for Kirito to learn.
However, Kirito saw the last page, and the last number was 48.
This meant that only 48 types of Ninjutsu were recorded.
Seeing this, Kirito really wanted to say to Minato Namikaze:
"Brother Minato, were you honest?"
End of the chapter.