Minato's figure appeared in a small alley within the capital of the Land of Fire.
Calmly stepping forward, Minato left a Flying Thunder God marking at every important location he reached. It was a habit that had allowed him to move swiftly between battlefields during the Third Great Ninja War.
At this point, he was already very close to Vice President Takumi Fujihara's residence.
Ten minutes later, after completing his mission and returning to deliver his report, Fujihara looked as if he had seen a ghost or deity.
"You've already completed the mission?" Fujihara asked with shock on his face. Even at a ninja's travel speed, since Minato had left previously, it should have still taken several more days for him to arrive and report back.
At this time, Minato should just be reaching the capital of the Land of Earth.
"This is the notebook from the Daimyo of the Land of Earth for you," Minato said, pulling out a notebook and handing it to the servant girl standing before Fujihara.
After personally verifying its authenticity, Fujihara's astonishment deepened further.
"Vice President Takumi Fujihara, if there's nothing else, I will return to the village and report back to Hokage-sama," Minato smiled politely before turning around and leaving.
Once he was gone, Takumi Fujihara slowly exhaled, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Now *that* is something extraordinary—a Konoha ninja through and through."
After exiting the estate, Minato returned again to the earlier alley.
He formed hand seals with both hands while expanding his sensory perception outward.
The use of the Flying Thunder God required a certain level of sensing ability—mainly applicable for short-distance teleportation.
However strong one's perception might be, it couldn't possibly span across multiple countries. Therefore, ultra-long-range movement via the Flying Thunder God relied on chakra resonance.
This principle worked on a mechanism similar to that of the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Whoosh!
Minato sensed the chakra resonance within his mark far away in Konoha. Activating the Flying Thunder God Technique, he instantly vanished.
...
In the next moment, the scenery before his eyes became incredibly familiar.
He had used the Flying Thunder God to teleport directly in front of his house.
Among all the marks Minato had placed in Konoha, the one near his doorstep was currently the closest.
However, instead of going home first, he formed another set of hand seals and teleported once more onto the main road of Konoha.
...
"Hehe, looks like we'll have to assign all future missions of this type entirely to you alone."
The Third Hokage chuckled as Minato walked into the office. Seeing Minato return so quickly, the Third already understood—he must have gained the ability for long-distance spatial movement.
Understanding how the Flying Thunder God worked and having previously received reports from Sakumo Hatake about Minato's sensing abilities, the Hokage wasn't surprised.
Minato gave a faint smile tinged with bitterness before replying, "Hokage-sama, unless there's anything else, I'd like to return now."
He had already missed a full week of training, and at this stage, time was extremely precious for Minato.
"You little training fanatic," the Third softly laughed. "But these few days, I'm afraid you won't have time for training."
Upon hearing this, Minato paused slightly, somewhat puzzled.
Sarutobi studied him for a moment before smiling. "Those two... are getting married."
"Huh?" He was startled once again. In the next instant, his sapphire eyes widened as he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. "You mean Senior Sakumo and Senior Junko Watanabe?"
Sarutobi nodded with a smile.
"So soon!?" Minato's heart trembled slightly. Although he already knew these two had been dating, from the end of the war until now, it hadn't even been three months — they'd moved so quickly?
Yet he soon let go of his surprise. These two were always meant to be together, just like him and Kushina. Even if time changed, the result would never change.
It wasn't just Minato who thought that way — many others felt the same. Even after the Third Hokage finished speaking, his eyes still held a hint of disbelief.
He understood Junko Watanabe's personality well. Though he had known she harbored feelings for Sakumo, he still hadn't expected things to develop so rapidly.
However, the marriage of these two could only be seen as a double blessing for Konoha, which had just risen from the aftermath of war.
"Kushina and your friends have already started preparing for their wedding. Given your long-standing friendship with those two, I'm sure you won't be able to avoid helping out," the Third chuckled.
Minato nodded. Along the journey, Sakumo had helped him greatly, and Junko Watanabe had done the same. Naturally, he was more than happy to lend a hand with this matter.
Then, he took his leave of the Third. Using the Body Flicker Technique, he appeared on the Main Road and then headed toward Sakumo's residence.
...
Hatake Sakumo was the current head of the Hatake Clan in Konoha. While the Hatake weren't an especially large clan, they still maintained their own family compound.
As Minato approached the entrance of the Hatake Estate, he saw that it had already been partly decorated. The guards recognized him and immediately allowed him entry.
"Minato, you're back?" As Minato neared the outside of Sakumo's home, he happened upon Mikoto, who had come from another direction.
Smiling slightly, Minato exchanged brief greetings with Mikoto before walking into Sakumo's room together.
At that moment, however, the people inside were just rising.
"You're back!" Seeing Minato walk through the door, Kushina instantly darted over and hooked her arm through his.
Minato smiled faintly, then turned his gaze to Junko Watanabe and Hatake Sakumo standing together, offering them his congratulations.
Both wore radiant smiles, replying almost simultaneously, "Thank you!"
"Where are you all off to?" Minato asked.
Beside him, Kushina immediately replied, "We're going to help Junko Onee-san pick out her wedding dress. Minato, you should come too!"
"All right." Minato never refused Kushina, naturally agreeing without hesitation.
...
Inside a bridal shop located within Konoha village.
Wearing a white wedding gown, Junko Watanabe gracefully stepped out from the fitting room. Her face flushed pink, her delicate features glowing with a beautiful blush, making her absolutely stunning.
Nawaki was completely entranced. Junko Watanabe possessed extraordinary beauty, and the pure white wedding dress further accentuated her innocent, ethereal charm.
Hatake Sakumo was similarly captivated. Only Minato's eyes remained fixed on Kushina, who was holding the train of Junko's dress.
He remembered how Kushina had looked on their wedding day — even lovelier than Junko was now.
"Am I beautiful?" Junko Watanabe asked sweetly as she approached Sakumo.
"Beautiful? You're absolutely stunning," Sakumo replied almost immediately, unable to hide his delight.
Hearing these words from her beloved, Junko smiled gently and slightly tilted her head.
But suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit her and she stumbled.
Before anyone could react, Junko started collapsing sideways—only to be caught instantly by both Hatake Sakumo and Minato.
"What happened to her?" Mikoto's expression changed immediately.
"Quick, take her to the hospital!" Kushina shouted anxiously.
Upon hearing this, Sakumo nodded and picked Junko up into his arms. In a flash, he dashed out of the bridal shop.
"What could have happened to Junko Onee-san? She doesn't seem like a delicate girl at all!" Kushina exclaimed in confusion, before grabbing Minato's arm and running after him.
Minato, however, stood frozen on the spot. The next moment, a sudden bright gleam flashed through his eyes.
"Let's go!"
He seized Kushina's hand and dashed off.
"What a bunch of hotheads."
Seeing them all run off directly, Mikoto muttered with an amused scold—they hadn't even settled the bill for the wedding dress yet.
She would have to stay behind and handle the aftermath.
...
Inside Konoha Hospital, Hatake Sakumo looked deeply anxious while Junko lay against his shoulder, still unconscious from dizziness.
"Doctor, what exactly is going on with her?"
The doctor standing before them glanced over Junko's medical report and actually smiled slightly before saying, "Congratulations, your wife is one and a half months pregnant."
Upon hearing this, Sakumo froze in shock. Behind him, except for Minato, Nawaki, Kushina, and the others were also stunned speechless.
In the next instant, everyone's face lit up with immense joy—especially Sakumo, who was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.
Sakumo reached out and took the medical report from the doctor's hands. On that page was a blurry image—a newly-formed little life inside it.
Minato watched quietly from behind. Kushina had just linked arms with him and gasped loudly in excitement.
"This is a hospital, please keep quiet," the doctor frowned slightly, causing Kushina to cut herself off abruptly.
Seeing this, Minato gave a slight smile.
"You're coming soon... Kakashi will be so eager to meet you..."
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