Placing a bounty on a Genius with a Bloodline Limit from an enemy nation was nothing strange. In a world where information was the most lethal currency, marking a rising star for death was a standard tactical move.
But if that bounty reached one hundred million, it was very strange indeed, as the price was no less than that of the Kage of the Five Great Ninja Villages. The sum was a staggering $100,000,000$ Ryo, a figure that usually commanded the heads of legends.
Even for Wood Release, it was a bit too exaggerated. To the public, it seemed like a hysterical reaction to a ghost of the past.
So, the various forces immediately sought to verify the authenticity of the news. Every hidden village and rogue syndicate scrambled to confirm if Konoha had truly produced another monster.
Then, the Underground Exchange confirmed: It was true! The listing stood, authenticated by the dark bureaucracy of the shinobi underworld.
Although the Underground Exchange did not belong to any of the Five Great Nations, it also adopted a traditional mission system; it wasn't a place where you could just place a bounty on anyone simply by giving money. It functioned on a grim logic of feasibility and evidence.
Ninja Villages need credibility, and the exchange is no different. If a bounty was placed, it had to be backed by proof of the target's threat level.
To place a bounty, one must first provide intelligence on the target. For example, if you wanted to put a bounty on Asuma, you would have to specify his status as the Hokage's son, his strength as a Jonin, and his qualifications as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
Similarly, to put a bounty on Minato, one must explain Minato's strength and even his battle record. The details had to be meticulously laid out to justify the astronomical price tag.
So, even though spreading Minato's battle record would bring shame to Sunagakure, in order to kill this second coming of Hashirama, Sunagakure could only hold its nose and reveal the matter to the exchange. They traded their dignity for a chance at his life.
It was precisely because of this that the name Minato Namikaze became famous throughout the Ninja World! Overnight, his face was burned into the minds of every assassin across the continent.
"Konoha, Wood Release, eight years old—"
Hanzou looked at the intelligence, his gaze falling on the words 'blonde hair and blue eyes,' and he suddenly remembered the boy who had been beside Orochimaru earlier. The image of those calm, blue eyes haunted his thoughts.
Although the bounty had just been posted and there was no photo of the target yet, Minato's identity could already be confirmed. After all, it wasn't normal for a child of that age to appear on the battlefield. The timeline and the description were a perfect match.
No wonder that child looked so calm—
No, that wasn't calmness, but the confidence of being fearless! It was the absolute certainty of a predator that knew no equal.
"He's simply a monster!"
Hanzou spoke with emotion, while at the same time, he couldn't help but feel some regret in his heart. The missed opportunity felt like a weight in his chest.
Clearly, he had noticed something was wrong at the time, but because of his pride in his status, he had let such a monster with infinite potential go. He had allowed the spark to leave his chamber before it could be smothered.
If he had known this, he would have kept the other party there, no matter the cost! He would have turned the council chamber into a tomb.
Even if the opponent had the Flying Thunder God Technique, he was confident that with the speed of his Water Body Flicker, he could definitely subdue the opponent before they could react. A $0.1$ second delay would have been all he needed.
Land of Earth, Iwagakure.
In the Tsuchikage's office, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki looked at the intelligence in his hand without saying a word. The paper crinkled under his grip.
After a long time, he threw the intelligence onto the desk and sighed with melancholy. The weight of the future felt heavy in the small room.
"Konoha really never lacks these amazing geniuses—"
"The Wood Release of the First Hokage, the Flying Thunder God of the Second Hokage... this child possesses the strengths of both Hokage. Once he is allowed to grow up smoothly, I'm afraid it will be detrimental to our Iwagakure."
The secretary beside him had a tense face, clearly shocked by Minato's talent as well. "Being able to defeat Sunagakure's frontline troops shows that he has already formed combat power. It's hard to kill him head-on; the only way is assassination. This is probably why Sunagakure would rather lose face than list him on the exchange's bounty, right?"
Ōnoki's tone was complex: "Why didn't such a Genius appear in our Iwagakure?"
He was almost fifty now and worried all day about finding a successor. His own village seemed stagnant while Konoha flourished.
Looking at Konoha next door, there was Sakumo Hatake today, Tsunade and Orochimaru tomorrow, and now a Minato Namikaze has popped up. It was an endless parade of power.
This sharp contrast made him feel sour in his heart. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the aged leader.
"Lord Tsuchikage, I suggest sending our undercover agents in Konoha to eliminate him at all costs," the secretary said seriously.
Ōnoki shook his head: "There's no need. The protection for such a Genius won't be poor. How could Konoha not think of what we can think of? He is likely guarded by the best the Leaf has to offer."
"But we can't just let him grow, can we?"
The secretary looked anxious: "He's only eight and has this kind of strength. If it weren't for the intelligence from the exchange, no one would believe it if this were told. He is a $99\%$ threat to our future operations."
Ōnoki sighed slightly: "Go contact the exchange and add another fifty million to his bounty."
"Oh—!"
The secretary's eyes lit up: "As expected, you are the insidious one! You want to draw out the world's most desperate killers."
"Get out! This is wisdom! You blockhead!"
Two days later, at the Konoha camp.
Orochimaru found Minato, who was slacking off: "Your bounty has been updated, Minato-kun."
"Hmm?"
For a moment, Minato thought he had transmigrated into One Piece: "Can this thing even be updated?"
"Yes, two hundred and thirty million. It has already surpassed Lord Sarutobi. Congratulations," Orochimaru said with a chuckle. The $230,000,000$ Ryo price tag was a death sentence for most, but a badge of honor for someone like him.
"How much?"
Minato had a look of astonishment: "Why? I haven't done anything these past two days. I've just been building hospitals and napping."
"It should have been added by other forces. After all, except for Konoha, no one probably wants to see another god of shinobi appear."
Orochimaru smiled: "With a bounty at this price, I'm afraid as soon as you leave the Village, someone will immediately come looking for you. But it's not a big problem; after all, you've mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, so you don't need to use the main gate to leave the Village."
Mikoto looked at Minato with concern: "But this way, it wouldn't even be safe inside the Village, would it? Assassins are like cockroaches; they get everywhere."
"Actually, compared to Minato-kun, you and Nawaki are the ones who need to worry the most."
Orochimaru said indifferently: "As long as Minato-kun wants to leave, no one in this world can keep him. But with the two of you added, it's different. You are his anchor—and his weakness."
Hearing this, Mikoto's eyes dimmed. Her heart sank with the realization of her own inadequacy.
Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed the case.
Minato mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique and could go wherever he wanted. The reason he teamed up with them was only because he was worried about Nawaki. As a Chunin, she was only there to make up the numbers for taking on missions after being pulled in by Minato. She felt like baggage.
Thinking of this, she hesitated for a moment and opened her mouth, wanting to apply to leave the team. She didn't want to be the reason he died.
"It's the same."
Before Mikoto could speak, Minato spoke up first. His voice was firm, leaving no room for her self-doubt.
"Hmm?"
Orochimaru's eyebrows rose slightly, and he said with a half-smile, "Minato-kun, you don't have to be so polite. Although I'm too busy to take care of Mikoto, in this situation, I really can't trouble you anymore."
"Nawaki is one thing, but Mikoto is neither kith nor kin to you—"
"But we are teammates, right?"
Minato looked at Orochimaru somewhat speechlessly. His internal thoughts were far less polite than his public face.
While saying he was too busy, he was also being falsely polite here. He was now certain of Orochimaru's intentions. This snake was pushing him into a corner for its own amusement.
This guy was indeed playing matchmaker!
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the anxious Mikoto, whose beautiful face was filled with unease. Her eyes were wide, pleading for a reassurance she felt she didn't deserve.
So beautiful!
Minato hesitated for less than a second before making a decision. His modern sensibilities and cold pragmatism aligned perfectly.
If meat is delivered to your mouth and you don't know how to eat it, you might as well go eat shit!
"As long as Sister Mikoto doesn't mind the trouble brought by my bounty, then my teammate can only be Sister Mikoto."
Such a great beauty, with the added bonus of being Sasuke's mother—if it were the original Minato, it might be one thing, but as a modern transmigrator, how could he remain indifferent? The opportunity for a powerful Uchiha link was too good to pass up.
Minato looked at Mikoto and gave his signature gentle smile: "Speaking of which, I haven't asked for Sister Mikoto's opinion yet."
"I have no objection!"
Mikoto blurted out subconsciously. Her heart gave a sudden, violent throb of relief.
With Minato's strength in kicking Kato Dan away, even without the Flying Thunder God, she wasn't worried about encountering any danger. She trusted his power implicitly.
Not to mention that she herself didn't mind the bounty. She was an Uchiha; danger was her birthright.
And it was undeniable that after spending this time together, she indeed had some feelings for Minato in her heart. He was a sun she couldn't help but orbit.
Only because of the relationship between Minato and Kushina, she had always kept her position correct, without the slightest thought of crossing the line. She was a woman of honor.
But since guessing that Minato didn't just like Kushina alone, she couldn't help but have some different feelings in her heart. A door had opened, and she found herself stepping through it.
Seeming to feel that she had appeared too eager, Mikoto's cheeks turned slightly red, and she hurriedly tried to cover it up: "—After all, we are teammates. We have to look out for each other."
"In that case, alright."
Orochimaru looked at Minato, and after the two exchanged a knowing look, Orochimaru turned to leave. His yellow eyes glinted with satisfaction.
"Then I'll leave Mikoto to you, Minato-kun."
Hearing this, Mikoto's face turned even redder. The implication was as thick as the humid air of the Land of Rain.
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