Chapter 47: The Pact of Trust

As they approached the banks of the Naka River, Gin suddenly stopped in his tracks. A wave of new information surged into his mind.

Kushina blinked, confused. "What happened?"

"Nothing serious," Gin smiled, collecting his thoughts. "The shadow clone I sent with Minato just relayed back. He found a training spot. Let's go—it's just ahead."

In minutes, they sprinted through the forest, covering more than a kilometer downstream until a secluded clearing opened up beside the river.

"Hey, Minato! We're here!" Gin called, waving to the figure waiting in the distance.

"Welcome," Minato smiled in return. "Nice place, huh? So, what's the training plan?"

Minato's expression showed curiosity and inexperience—he'd only learned what the Academy had to offer.

"We'll begin with chakra control, hand seals, and foundational physical conditioning. Ninjutsu can wait. Once the fundamentals are solid, everything else becomes easier."

"Huh?" Minato looked surprised. "I get the seals, but physical training? Isn't that what we already do at the Academy? And how do we train chakra control?"

Gin chuckled. "What they teach there barely scratches the surface. The physical conditioning I'm referring to is derived from the Uchiha clan's core curriculum—refined and adopted across their advanced and preschool classes."

He stepped forward. "Enough talk. I'll show you. Watch closely—this is the foundation you'll be building."

With practiced ease, Gin began demonstrating precise movements—fluid transitions of stances, controlled breathing, and bursts of strength executed in flawless rhythm. The techniques were a fusion of Uchiha methods and principles from Rokushiki—Six Powers—augmented by his unique ability: God Rewards the Diligent, which granted feedback and improvement after each repetition.

As he moved, he explained each step in detail. Minato and Kushina watched intently.

Finally, Gin stopped. "Well? How much did you catch?"

"I got it all!" Minato and Kushina answered in unison, their eyes shining with determination.

"Excellent. Let's see how you perform."

They got to work. Unsurprisingly, their execution lacked precision at first—memorizing movements was one thing; mastering them was another. But with a patient Gin guiding them through shadow clones, they began improving steadily.

While the clones assisted, Gin retreated to the edge of the clearing and began his own training. His regime combined physical techniques and vitality-enhancing exercises, made more potent with special pills condensed from Sea King meat—each one equivalent to a pound of pure nourishment.

[You trained in Basic Physical Skills. Basic Physical Skills +6.]

After ten reps, he felt fatigue settle in. Swallowing a pill, he let the warmth spread through his body, relieving pain and exhaustion.

Once recovered, he returned to Minato and Kushina, who were now performing with visible progress.

"Not bad," Gin nodded. "Both of you have sharp instincts and good physical potential. Keep working—one or two hours a day, every day."

Minato nodded, but Kushina groaned. "Every day? For hours? That's insane—it'll kill me! Isn't there a less painful way?"

Before Gin could answer, Minato chuckled. "You're lucky, Kushina. Most people would beg to learn techniques like these. It's a rare opportunity."

His sincerity touched Gin—Minato's favorability rose another two points to 90. Meanwhile, Kushina rolled her eyes.

"So serious. I was just whining," she muttered. Then looked at Gin with curiosity. "There is an easier way, right?"

Gin didn't answer immediately. He closed his eyes and activated his Observation Haki, scanning the area. Sensing no one within a few hundred meters, he erected a soundproof barrier that enveloped the entire clearing.

Only then did he speak, his voice low and resolute.

"There is a shortcut. But it comes with a cost: trust. What I'm about to offer is tied to a deep secret—mine. In exchange, you'll gain immense benefits, but... you'll also be bound to me in a certain way. No pressure. You can refuse and continue with normal training."

Kushina raised her hand without hesitation. "I trust you. Whatever the deal is, I'm in."

Minato considered for only a second before nodding. "I trust you, too. Let's do this."

Gin nodded approvingly. "Then I'll share this with you."

From the center of his forehead, two glowing runes materialized and hovered before them.

"Touch the rune and agree in your heart. That's all it takes."

Without pause, Minato and Kushina reached forward.

As they touched the rune, a voice echoed in their minds:Do you accept a pact with Gin? You will receive great power but must follow his will to a degree.

Yes.

The runes dissolved into streams of light, entering through their hands and lodging themselves in the center of their consciousness. Information flooded their minds—about the Space-Time Gate, the Pirate World, the power of Devil Fruits, and, more importantly, the looming fate of the Ninja World.

The destruction of the Uzumaki Clan.The rise of the Otsutsuki threat.A future that might still be changed.

Ten minutes passed before they opened their eyes again.

Minato looked stunned. "Is that… all true? Another world? Pirates? Sea Kings? And… the destruction of the Uzumaki clan?"

Gin nodded. "That's why I needed your trust. It's not a joke. You two need to be prepared."

Minato's favorability rose to 94. He looked at Gin with newfound respect. "Thank you—for trusting us."

Kushina's eyes were wide. "Is it really going to happen? The destruction of the Uzumaki Clan? Does Grandma Mito know?"

Gin approached and gently placed a hand on her head. "Yes, Mito-sama knows. She's already contacted your clan's patriarch—Aminari—to bring everyone to Konoha. Unfortunately, he refused. But don't blame him. The decision isn't his alone. And even if he doesn't act, Mito-sama has a backup plan. She's made arrangements with the Uchiha. When the time comes, we'll act."

Kushina's heart pounded. "So... we can save them?"

"We'll try," Gin said quietly. "But you can't tell Mito-sama any of this. The contract forbids sharing these secrets with anyone. Not even her."

Kushina bit her lip, but nodded. "I understand."

Gin stepped back, his tone firm. "Now you both know what's at stake. The world won't wait. Mito-sama won't be around forever. When she's gone, who will protect what matters? You need to be ready—to bear that burden."

He turned to Minato.

"You especially. You've got the mind and the spirit. I'll provide what you need—resources, guidance. But your future is in your hands."

Minato straightened, his eyes burning with purpose. "I swear I won't let you down. I'll become strong enough to protect this world."