Chapter 246 : Sir, You Wouldn't Want...
Namikaze Minato's expression turned serious. He looked at Uchiha Taiga, his voice low.
"What do you want to do?"
Uchiha Taiga smiled and waved his hand.
"Don't be nervous. I'm not after the Nine-Tails."
His tone was casual, as if comforting an overly tense friend.
Minato did not relax. His gaze remained sharp, and his body did not drop its defensive posture.
Nagato stood to the side, watching the scene in silence. His eyes fell on Minato, sizing him up.
He was somewhat curious about Minato.
Not because of his strength, nor his status, but because of his wife.
Uzumaki Kushina, the woman known as the Princess of the Uzumaki clan.
Ever since Nagato learned of his own origins, he had become quite sensitive to the Uzumaki surname.
There were very few people left in the ninja world with the Uzumaki name. After the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed, the clan members scattered in all directions. Some hid their identities, some married into other clans, and some simply vanished.
Uzumaki Kushina was one of them.
She married Namikaze Minato, became the Hokage's wife in Konoha, and also became Konoha's Jinchuriki.
Looking at Minato, Nagato wondered what was so special about this man that he could marry the princess of the Uzumaki clan.
He didn't ask, merely standing there and watching quietly.
Minato did not let his guard down because of Taiga's words.
Upon closer inspection, it was easy to see that he was already keeping an eye on his surroundings from the corner of his eye.
The layout of the laboratory, the position of the door, the thickness of the walls, the size of the windows—he took it all in.
He was calculating.
Calculating his chances of escaping if a conflict broke out.
"You must want something from me since you resurrected me."
His voice was calm, but his tone was firm.
"Although I am grateful that you gave me a chance to live another life, if you want the Nine-Tails, I cannot oblige."
His tone left no room for negotiation.
Uchiha Taiga shrugged.
"You're overthinking it. In my eyes, your value is far greater than the Nine-Tails."
Minato frowned.
He didn't understand what that meant.
What did he mean his value was greater than the Nine-Tails?
He was just a dead man who had been deceased for over a decade, a former Kage, an ordinary ninja.
What value did he have?
He couldn't figure it out.
"What do you mean?"
Minato's voice carried a hint of confusion.
Uchiha Taiga looked at him, the corners of his mouth curling up.
"Literally what it means."
Minato's frown deepened.
He didn't like this answer, but he didn't press the issue.
Because he knew that if the other party didn't want to say it, asking would be useless.
Seeing the atmosphere grow heavy from this exchange, Nagato spoke up at the right moment.
"Everything he said is true."
Minato looked at Nagato. He stared at those pure white eyes and that expressionless face, remained silent for a few seconds, and then spoke.
"Could you give me an explanation?"
Nagato looked at him. "Standing before you is the greatest genius of the Uchiha clan."
His voice was calm, as if reading a resume.
"The man who defeated the combined forces of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara."
Minato's eyelids twitched.
"The man who possesses all known Kekkei Genkai in the ninja world."
Minato's mouth parted slightly.
"The owner of the greatest mind in the ninja world."
Minato's expression had grown somewhat stiff.
He looked at Nagato, then at Uchiha Taiga, and finally spoke.
"Are you... talking about the same person?"
His voice was a bit dry.
Nagato nodded. "Believe me, his abilities far exceed your imagination."
Minato was silent for a few seconds. "It's not that I doubt your words."
His voice was cautious.
"It's just that what you're saying is too unbelievable."
He paused, as if digesting the information.
"Also, defeating Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara together... Are you talking about the two people I'm thinking of?"
Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi.
Uchiha Madara, the Asura of the Ninja World.
These two names had left far too many legends in the history of the ninja world. Their power was beyond ordinary comprehension; defeating even one of them would be an earth-shattering feat.
Defeating them both teaming up?
That sounded like a myth.
Nagato looked at him and nodded. He didn't say anything more, just gave a simple nod.
Minato found it hard to maintain his composure. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
Nagato spoke again. "Let me put it this way."
His voice was calm.
"He is currently conducting an experiment that has reached its final stages."
Minato was confused.
He looked at Nagato, waiting for him to continue.
Nagato went on, "If all goes well, his laboratory will recreate the nine Tailed Beasts."
Minato's eyes widened drastically.
"Huh?"
His mouth hung open, his jaw practically dropping to the floor.
Recreate the nine Tailed Beasts?
Those were Tailed Beasts, not toys.
Every single Tailed Beast possessed world-destroying power and served as the ultimate weapon for the major ninja villages.
Such things could be recreated in a lab?
He felt like his brain wasn't quite processing this.
Nagato looked at him, his expression unchanging.
"You don't need to understand too much. You just need to know that he has already perfected the artificial Tailed Beast technology."
He paused, glanced at Uchiha Taiga, and then looked back.
"So the Nine-Tails sealed inside you is mostly just for reference to him."
Minato fell silent. He stood there, looking at Uchiha Taiga, then at Nagato.
Finally, he managed to squeeze out a sentence.
"I-Incredible."
His voice was dry, carrying an indescribable tone.
There was surprise, shock, and an inexplicable sense of defeat.
When he was alive, he thought he was already very strong.
The Flying Thunder God Technique, the Rasengan...
He thought he stood at the pinnacle, but now it seemed he wasn't standing high enough.
Uchiha Taiga coughed dryly.
"Alright, Nagato, you don't need to say all that."
His tone was casual.
"He doesn't understand."
Nagato was left speechless.
He looked at Minato's bewildered face, then at Taiga's smiling face, and closed his mouth.
He realized his entire speech had basically fallen on deaf ears.
Minato stood there, still looking a bit dazed.
He really didn't understand.
Artificial Tailed Beast technology, recreating the nine Tailed Beasts, completing it in a lab—these concepts were far too advanced for him.
When he died, the ninja world's technology was still stuck at the level of kunai and shuriken.
Hearing about these things now gave him the illusion of having traveled through time.
Uchiha Taiga looked at him and spoke again. "I'm not interested in the Nine-Tails or its chakra, but I am very interested in how the Nine-Tails gained sentience."
He paused, looking into Minato's eyes.
"Now, do you understand?"
Minato thought for a moment, then nodded.
"I see."
His voice carried a sense of realization.
"So you only brought up the Nine-Tails because you want to figure out how it possesses intelligence?"
Uchiha Taiga nodded.
"Exactly."
Minato was silent for a moment. "In that case, I can let you communicate with it."
His tone was sincere.
Uchiha Taiga nodded.
"Sure, but not right now."
Minato looked confused.
Uchiha Taiga asked, "How about working for me?"
His tone was casual, as if discussing a trivial matter.
Minato was surprised again. He looked at Uchiha Taiga, his eyes widening slightly.
Was he really being this direct?
He thought the other party would beat around the bush, test his attitude in various ways, and slowly guide him to the main topic.
But Uchiha Taiga didn't. He just stated his demand directly, without any buildup.
Minato remained silent for a few seconds before voicing his thoughts.
"Can I refuse?"
His tone was cautious.
Uchiha Taiga looked at him, the corners of his mouth curling up.
"It would be best if you didn't. I generally don't like it when people refuse me."
Minato was speechless. He looked at Taiga's smiling face, thinking to himself: *If you put it like that, how am I supposed to refuse?*
His mouth twitched, but he didn't say anything.
Uchiha Taiga spoke again.
"So, to save us both some face, I personally suggest you agree."
Minato took a deep breath, his expression turning serious. He looked at Uchiha Taiga with a heavy gaze.
"And if I don't agree?"
Uchiha Taiga looked at him, his smile unchanging.
"Then I'll just have to use your wife to threaten you."
His voice was still casual.
"Sir, you wouldn't want to never see your wife again, would you?"
Minato's expression changed instantly, turning completely solemn.
"Please, by all means, let me work for you!"
His voice was loud, his tone firm, without a single trace of hesitation.
Uchiha Taiga laughed.
"That's more like it."
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