Dosuke walked beside Minato. Shadows stretched across the dirt path. He glanced at Minato. "What about your team's mission, Minato Jonin?" he asked.
Minato smiled. "Do not worry. I told Kakashi before I came. He will lead Obito and Rin to finish the task. And do not call me Minato Jonin. Call me Brother Minato. We are peers!" His voice cut through the gloom, steady and warm. As Jiraiya's student, he needed no formal titles.
Dosuke nodded. "Fine, Brother Minato. How did you appear in our circle?" His eyes were wide with curiosity.
"That was the Flying Thunder God Jutsu," Minato said. "It is a space-time ninjutsu created by the Second Hokage. If you want to learn it, I can teach you." His words hung in the air, sharp and tempting.
Dosuke stared at Minato. * He is kind, * he thought. * A commoner who will become Hokage. I will never match his charm. * The Flying Thunder God Jutsu was rare, a secret only the Second Hokage and Minato had mastered. Even Obito's Sharingan could not rival it. Dosuke's heart raced. * I want to learn it, * he thought. But the jutsu was locked in Konoha's forbidden scroll. Learning it was hard. Minato's skill with it had made him the Fourth Hokage, a ninja at the world's peak. Dosuke knew it would not make him the best, but it would help him grow.
"Brother Minato," Dosuke said, "Kakashi, Obito, and Rin are in my class."
Tatee spoke before Minato could answer. "Thank you, Minato Jonin. Without you, Dosuke and I would be dead. I will thank you properly in the village." Her voice was steady, but her eyes held fear's shadow.
Minato shook his head. "We are all from Konoha. Anyone would help. Do not worry about it." He paused. A silver-haired figure flashed in his mind. He shook his head again, pushing the thought away.
"Do not be humble, Brother Minato," Dosuke said with a grin. "Without you, I was ready to die fighting. Sister Tatee and I owe you. We will thank you with Obito and Rin." * This is my chance, * he thought. * I must get close to the future Hokage. *
The group moved fast, their steps crunching on the path. Tatee lagged on the left, her Byakugan scanning the trees. * Both are Sannin students, * she thought, touching her forehead. A chill ran through her.
The talk made Dosuke and Minato closer. The village's barrier loomed ahead, its seals glowing faintly. Minato stopped. "I must return to Kakashi and the others," he said. "Go treat your wounds. I will leave now." He handed Takuto to Tatee. With a flash of Flying Thunder God, he vanished.
Dosuke looked at Tatee. Her face was low. "Sister Tatee, we survived. Why are you sad?" he asked.
She lifted her head. "You are right. Death is the worst fear. We faced it. Nothing can scare us now." Her voice grew firm. She stepped forward with purpose.
At the village gate, Dosuke carried Soda on his back. He looked up. The gate's Konoha symbol gleamed between two ninja carvings. For the first time, he felt tied to this place. He took a deep breath and walked forward.
"Who are you?" a gate ninja asked. He eyed Dosuke and Tatee, their clothes torn, scars fresh. Soda and Takuto hung limp on their backs.
Dosuke realized he had no forehead protector. He had hidden it for the mission. He set Soda down and pulled a scroll from Soda's pocket. Okamoto Dosuke said to the two ninjas, "We are a team from a mission. We were attacked on the way back."
One ninja checked the scroll and Dosuke's forehead protector. Tatee removed her contact lenses, revealing her Byakugan's pale glow. The second ninja nodded. "Sorry. Without forehead protectors, we could not tell who you were." He returned their items.
"It is fine," Dosuke said. He lifted Soda. Tatee carried Takuto. They ran toward Konoha Hospital.
In the hospital's emergency room, Dosuke found empty beds. He placed Soda and Takuto down with care. "Sister Kino, get me some medicine," he called to a nurse.
Kino gasped as Dosuke grabbed her arm. She turned and saw him. His neat hair was messy. His clean clothes were ripped. Scratches covered his skin. Blood stained the bandage on his stomach, dark and dry. "Dosuke, what happened?" she cried. Her voice shook. "You were so tidy before!"
"I am fine, Sister Kino," Dosuke said. "My wounds are not bad. Just get the medicine." He stopped her panic. "Is Tsunade-sensei here? My teammates need her."
"Get to a bed, kid," a strong voice said. Dosuke turned. Tsunade stood tall, her eyes sharp with worry. She frowned at his scars.
"Teacher…" Dosuke started. Tsunade's gaze softened.
"You worked hard," she said. Her voice was heavy, like she wanted to say more but could not.