Chapter 104: Agony

The Shiraki Treasure Hunting Group returned to Konoha alongside Minato Namikaze, their excitement palpable as if they had stumbled upon a fortune. Everyone agreed and hoped that entering Konoha would lead them to the Uchiha treasure. At this point, even the biggest talkers sealed their lips tightly, not daring to utter a word, only drooling over the dream in their sleep.

A massive, translucent barrier enveloped the entire village—a sensory jutsu barrier. Anyone attempting to enter without proper techniques would trigger an alarm, followed by an unrelenting pursuit by the Anbu.

From afar, the battlefield from half a month ago, where the Nine-Tails had run rampant against two Iwagakure jinchūriki, still looked fresh. Vast swaths of trees lay toppled and charred, a testament to the overwhelming power of the Nine-Tails.

“By the way, just how strong is your wife? Why haven’t we seen her on the battlefield?” Shiraki asked, puzzled. Aside from Kushina’s brief appearance with her Adamantine Sealing Chains in the original story, her true strength remained unknown.

“Ah… hmm… she can probably transform into a seven-tailed form,” Minato estimated roughly.

“Only seven tails?” Shiraki’s mouth dropped open.

“Only? You can’t even imagine the power of the Nine-Tails. Pulling out seven tails is already incredibly difficult,” Minato said, somewhat dissatisfied with Shiraki’s phrasing.

“So you’re pulling at the tails? No wonder,” Shiraki nodded in understanding. Besides Yagura from Kumogakure, who could borrow the power of the Tortoise Island and the tailed beast's heart, all other jinchūriki suppress their tailed beasts and use their chakra to wrest control over the tailed beast’s chakra.

“No wonder? What do you mean?” Minato asked, confused.

“Why not try reconciling with the Nine-Tails?”

“That guy is extremely violent, bad-tempered, and has a terrible personality. His chakra is filled with hatred—there’s no way to reconcile.” Minato described the Nine-Tails as if recalling some painful memory.

“Hahaha, you say that like maybe when you and Kushina were, you know, ‘intimate,’ the Nine-Tails was behind your back saying you’re not as enduring as the First Hokage, and it left some psychological scars on you,” Shiraki joked half-seriously.

Minato shot Shiraki a dark look, murderous intent radiating from behind.

“...No way??? You guessed that?” Shiraki was dumbfounded. It was a wild guess, but after wandering around his own group, Minato suddenly pulled out a secret formula prescribed by Yakushi Ryō: “If you have any difficulties in the future, just say the word. I can cure anything!”

“Ahem… Actually, I’ve been working on a new technique recently. Sometimes the Rasengan’s power feels a bit lacking against enemies of the same level, and Wind Release’s cutting power is even weaker…” Minato offered this excuse to ease the awkwardness.

“Mix them together to make a Wind Release Rasengan, you idiot!” Shiraki casually suggested.

“Hmm?” Minato tilted his head, having only ever thought about making the Rasengan faster and bigger, never considering adding Wind Release.

“Stop the ‘hmm’. When have I ever tricked you?” Shiraki bought a cola from a vending machine by the roadside and drank it in one gulp. The group tried to imitate him, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t get the cola to come out and nearly tore the machine apart.

“Alright… we’ve reached Konoha. You guys wait outside for a bit. I’ll go inside and report first,” Minato said, standing outside the barrier.

“Go ahead, go ahead.” Shiraki felt a strange homesickness. If he stayed here for half a month, maybe he could complete another major mission by repeating two tasks. But the first thing to do upon entering the village was to have a bowl of Ichiraku ramen.

The Konoha forces gradually entered the village, leaving Shiraki’s mercenary group like country bumpkins seeing the city for the first time, marveling at everything, even trying to pull out the little figure hiding inside the vending machine.

---

After returning to the village, Minato immediately went to the Hokage’s office to apply for entry clearance.

“They cannot be allowed in! A bunch of disorderly mercenary ninjas—how disgraceful!” Danzo Shimura’s face was dark.

“If Danzo says so, then we won’t let them in,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said, shaking his head as he watched the mercenaries scrambling around the vending machines through a telescope jutsu. Letting them in could only lead to chaos.

“They are crude, yes, but… after all, they helped us. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to turn the tide of battle,” Minato pressed his lips together, unable to refuse letting guests into the village.

“They’re just despicable mercenaries. Just pay them off and send them away. Look, they’re even relieving themselves everywhere,” Kurenai Yuhi covered her mouth with a handkerchief in disgust as she watched the scenes through the crystal ball, as if even one more glance would taint her eyes.

“But they only want to visit the village...” Minato could feel their longing for Konoha along the way—fierce and burning like a person in hell yearning for heaven. Their eyes revealed a deep desire whenever Konoha was mentioned, especially Akado.

“Minato, you must understand what a hidden village means. Hidden means secrecy. We won’t open the gates to a group of despicable mercenary ninjas,” Mito Uzumaki held the same stance.

Minato cast a pleading glance toward Shikaku Nara.

“Yawn~ That long-haired boy who claims to be a spy from Root and a wandering shrine maiden—what does Lord Danzo think?” Shikaku yawned lazily. Now in his forties with graying hair, he had spent countless sleepless nights directing Konoha’s battles, exhausting his mind and spirit. He only wished to report and hand everything over to his son Shikaku before retiring to spend time with his grandson.

“He’s not my man,” Danzo said, staring at the figure of Nonou in the crystal ball. She was the true wandering shrine maiden and was currently encoding secret texts using Morse-code-like cipher.

“Their intention is the Uchiha treasure.”

If that was the case, then they must not be allowed in—no flies allowed! Immortality, power, wealth, the secret to preventing hair loss—the Uchiha treasure belonged only to him.

“Continue to infiltrate them and extract detailed information about the Uchiha treasure,” Danzo later instructed.

“Since they aren’t Danzo’s men, I suspect their motives aren’t pure. Mercenary ninjas are driven solely by profit. Yet, they risk offending Iwagakure to help us. The only explanation is that they’re scheming something,” Shikaku deduced, proving his sharp intellect. Even without intelligence, he guessed their intentions.

Minato gaped, utterly unprepared for this outcome.

“Minato, come here,” Hiruzen called Minato over and whispered his path as Hokage into his ear: “You will be Konoha’s future guide. Sometimes, you need thicker skin. If that’s impossible, then be like me—find someone to carry the darkness, someone who can take the hit to the reputation.”

“Is there truly no room for negotiation?” Minato fell silent.

“En, issue them a two hundred million ryo check,” Hiruzen said without directly stating it.

---

“Why is it taking so long?”

“I bet they’re preparing a feast for us.”

“Could they be building a triumphal arch?”

“No way! So nervous! It’s the first time we’ve been this welcomed. Should we change into clean clothes?”

“Konoha’s ladies, here we come!”

The group’s longing for Konoha had almost reached desperation. They began washing their faces and shaving, even more meticulous than for a wedding.

At this moment, Minato stepped forward alone. Carrying the darkness himself... such matters must be handled personally.

“Hurry up, everyone’s waking up and getting ready. Really, just a simple welcome ceremony will do,” Shiraki hurriedly called everyone.

“Sorry…” Minato’s face was a bit sour.

“No need to apologize. We’re very patient,” Shiraki said excitedly.

“I mean... you can’t enter the village...” Minato said with difficulty.

“Not allowed in...? What do you mean?” Shiraki was stunned.

“Lord Danzo says you have ulterior motives... I have no power to let you in,” Minato shrugged, taking the blame willingly.

“Damn!!! That old man! Old and stubborn!…” Shiraki cursed loudly and decided to escalate their efforts once back, rushing to add more updates.

“Sorry, this is your due reward. It’s still early, find a place to stay,” Minato felt awkward about leaving them there and hurriedly used Flying Thunder God Technique to leave.

Immediately, the group cursed Konoha’s ungratefulness and betrayal.

“I will destroy Konoha!!” Akado was furious. He pushed through the crowd to the barrier, opened his mouth wide to unleash an attack, but after forming several seals, no one came to stop him. Embarrassed, he stood there awkwardly.

“If you don’t back me up, I won’t be able to wrap this up,” Akado looked over at Shiraki.

After a moment of thought, Shiraki waved his hand: “Damn it! Forget it, let’s go to the Land of Wind!”

“The Land of Wind? Going to help Sunagakure defeat Konoha and take the treasure? Good idea,” Akado said, easing the tension.

“This time, we’ll make Konoha feel pain!”

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