"Is Sensei ho?" Minato finally returned to Konoha the next evening. He went straight to the Hatake Clan without stopping to see Kushina.
"The young master hasn't returned yet," the butler said, smiling warmly at Minato after not seeing him for a long ti. However, he quickly sensed that sothing was wrong.
"Is there sothing wrong? The young master should be in the Hokage's Office," the butler added without waiting for Minato to ask further.
"Okay, thanks."
Minato turned and left. He wasn't arrogant enough to place a Flying Thunder God Technique mark inside the Hokage's Office, so he had no choice but to rush there on foot.
Upon arriving at the Hokage Building, Minato had no trouble making his way inside. Before long, he reached the door to the Hokage's Office.
Bang bang~
He knocked and took a deep breath.
"Please co in," Tsunade's voice called from inside.
Minato pushed the door open and stepped in. Kawakaze was sitting casually on the sofa, while Tsunade was busy helping Shōta with paperwork.
"Minato, you're back!" Kawakaze greeted his disciple warmly, a smile spreading across his face as he noticed him.
"Sensei, Sensei's wife," Minato began respectfully, then added, "We were on our way back when the Third Mizukage kidnapped Nagato."
He wasted no ti delivering the news.
"What? Why did he capture Nagato?" Kawakaze's first reaction was concern for their safety. The tea he had been sipping instantly lost its flavor.
"Are you guys okay? Where are the others?"
"Where's Nawaki?" Tsunade asked, standing abruptly. Her gaze fixed on Minato, her fear of hearing bad news evident.
"We're fine. It was Nagato who traded himself for us," Minato explained. He understood Tsunade's imdiate worry for Nawaki.
They were siblings, after all, though that didn't an she didn't care about the rest of them.
"I'm glad you're all right."
"The Third Mizukage? Tell more," Kawakaze said, his expression montarily confused. However, he was confident that Nagato was safe for now and agreed with Minato's assessnt.
"It's like this," Minato began, collecting his thoughts before speaking. He recounted the key points while Tsunade and Shōta listened attentively.
"Our mission went smoothly at first. We annihilated the Anbu of Kirigakure and rescued the Yuki Clan."
"On our way back, we encountered the Seven Ninja Swordsn of the Mist. We killed them and obtained six of their swords."
"Then, while traveling back from the Land of Waves, we were attacked by the Third Mizukage, who appeared out of nowhere, we were no match for him, and he specifically demanded Nagato."
"It's strange—he didn't ntion the others, nor did he take the swords or the Yuki Clan. Also, he's a Jinchūriki."
Minato carefully recited all the critical information and went over it again in his mind to ensure he hadn't missed anything.
"That is strange!" Shōta remarked. "The Mizukage himself shows up, doesn't take the Ninja Blades, ignores the Yuki Clan, and lets you all live? Why?"
"Did you notice what his eyes looked like?" Kawakaze asked suddenly, an idea flashing through his mind.
"No, he never opened his eyes," Minato replied truthfully, shaking his head.
"I think I know what's going on," Kawakaze said, his tone growing firm.
"Nagato is safe. I'll go save him myself."
Standing abruptly, Kawakaze declared, "Daring to kidnap my disciple—You won't get away with this!"
Relying on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to cling to life, and still not learning your lesson? Don't let find you, old man!
"Are you sure you can go alone? Should we call Sakumo or Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked, turning her head toward Kawakaze.
Her concern was evident. It wasn't that she doubted his strength—she simply couldn't shake her uneasiness. If she weren't the Hokage and a Jinchūriki, she would have insisted on going with him. After all, she had taught Nagato dical Ninjutsu herself.
"It's only Kirigakure," Kawakaze replied, waving his hand dismissively, a sneer forming at the corner of his mouth.
If he hadn't gained the power of Wood Release, he might not have spoken so confidently. But now, with that ability, who in the world could challenge him?
"Okay, then be careful," Tsunade said, her tone softening as she rembered the power of True Several Thousand Hands.
"Alright, I'm leaving. Wait for good news from ," Kawakaze said, then vanished from the Hokage's Office.
"You look so pale. Let take a look at you," Tsunade said, turning her attention to Minato. She sat him on the sofa and began examining him roughly.
"Sensei's wife, I'm fine. I just rushed back in a hurry," Minato said awkwardly, unsure how to handle Tsunade's overwhelming care. It wasn't sothing most people could easily enjoy.
"Well, your internal injuries have mostly healed," Tsunade remarked after finishing her examination. "Rest well for the next few days."
She noticed traces of treatnt and guessed that Nagato had been the one to perform it.
"Okay, then I'll go check on Kushina," Minato said, finally rembering his fiery red-haired troublemaker.
"Little brat, go," Tsunade said, giving him a light slap on the back of his head. He was still young but carried so much on his mind.
"Goodbye, Sensei's wife," Minato said, stumbling slightly as he hurried out the door.
"Lady Hokage, will this affect relations between the two countries? After all, it hasn't been long since the war ended," Shōta asked cautiously.
He knew Nagato was Kawakaze's disciple and that he shouldn't have brought it up, but as soone with responsibilities, he couldn't ignore the issue.
"So what if there is an impact? Does Konoha fear Kirigakure?" Tsunade replied firmly.
Konoha might not hold the moral high ground in this matter, but Tsunade's attitude was unyielding—starkly different from Hiruzen Sarutobi's more cautious approach.
If Hiruzen were still in power, he would likely have stopped Kawakaze, and who knows what complications might have followed.
"It's good that you know what's going on," Shōta muttered, seeing Tsunade's determination. He chose not to say more; after all, soone stronger was there to bear the burden if things went wrong.
"Okay, let's continue," Tsunade said, returning to her desk to assist Shōta with paperwork.
However, her thoughts were sowhat scattered. She couldn't help but wonder if Kawakaze had already set off.
"Big Brother, I'm going to be gone for a few days," Kawakaze said, appearing in Sakumo's office using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Despite how often this happened, Sakumo had just grown used to it and remained calm.
"You're still willing to go out? Aren't you sick of being stuck in bed?" Sakumo teased, unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
"Nagato was captured by the Mizukage, and I'm going to Kirigakure," Kawakaze stated bluntly, not hiding anything.
"Why did they capture Nagato? Did the mission fail?"
Sakumo's expression changed drastically, concern washing over him as he imdiately thought the worst—that the mission had failed.
He didn't dare imagine the casualties that might have occurred.
"No, the mission has been completed. Minato and the others are on their way back. Nagato was probably captured because of his eyes," Kawakaze explained, easing Sakumo's worries.
"I'll go with you," Sakumo said imdiately, expressing his intention to join.
"No need. You have so much to take care of as a mber of the Anbu. I'm just a nobody. Besides, you trust , don't you?" Kawakaze replied, quickly refusing. He pointed out that it would be more convenient for him to go alone.
"You don't like your Big Brother slowing you down?" Sakumo said, giving Kawakaze a sideways glance.
"How dare I? I wouldn't feel at ease if no one were ho," Kawakaze countered, coming up with another excuse.
"Okay, you brat. Co back early, and I'll talk to Kakashi," Sakumo said with a sigh, deciding not to insist further.
"Well, I'm leaving," Kawakaze said, not bothering to notify anyone else, knowing it would be a hassle if more people wanted to tag along.
"Go ahead," Sakumo replied.
As soon as the words left Sakumo's mouth, Kawakaze disappeared.
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