Though it might seem like a long tale, the fight from just now had concluded in the blink of an eye.
After Minato Namikaze subdued the intruder, his gaze immediately fell upon the Konohagakure forehead protector. He approached and examined it more closely.
"Dousuke, why are you here?" Minato Namikaze asked, addressing Dousuke Okamoto, who stood frozen in place after being apprehended.
Before Okamoto Dousuke could respond, a voice calling "Minato!" echoed from the distance.
Minato Namikaze looked up to see Jiraiya, with his signature red jacket and long white hair, leaping from the rooftop towards him.
"Hahaha, Minato, so you were here after all! That Gamahara fellow is quite reliable." Jiraiya said as he landed beside Minato Namikaze.
Looking at his students, Jiraiya felt a genuine sense of happiness.
"Teacher Jiraiya, and Dousuke? How did you both arrive here?" Minato Namikaze asked in surprise, releasing his hold on the restrained Dousuke Okamoto.
"Well, let's head inside and discuss this properly. Dousuke, are you injured?" Jiraiya inquired, gesturing towards Okamoto Dousuke's neck.
Even though Minato Namikaze had halted his attack upon noticing the Konoha forehead protector, the sharp kunai had still managed to graze Okamoto Dousuke's neck.
"It's fine." Okamoto Dousuke's hands began to emit a soft green glow of healing magic as he placed them over the wound. The bleeding stopped instantly, and the injury began to mend.
Such a minor skin wound wasn't worth using full-fledged palm healing magic.
The brief struggle between Minato Namikaze and Dousuke Okamoto had already attracted the attention of the garden's inhabitants. Soon, a group of people dressed as samurai had gathered below Minato Namikaze's residence.
One of the men, clad in a kimono, called out to Minato Namikaze on the damaged roof, "Lord Minato, are you alright? We failed to detect the intruder and have caused you distress."
"My apologies, Mr. Nagaike. It was merely my teacher and a friend who have come to visit. I regret any alarm caused. Also, it seems our roof has sustained some damage, so repairs might be necessary," Namikaze Minato said with a smile and a slight bow of apology.
"Please, don't worry about it. I will arrange a new room for you immediately, Lord Minato," the man in the kimono replied. With that, he dismissed the assembled samurai and beckoned an elderly man, who appeared to be a butler, to his side, giving him a few quiet instructions.
The old man, having received his orders, waited for them to descend from the roof and then addressed them, "Lord Minato, please follow me. If you have any belongings, I will see to it that they are delivered to your new quarters."
"Thank you for your kind assistance, Butler Kitamura," Namikaze Minato said, bowing slightly to the old man in gratitude.
He then called out towards the interior of the house, "Obito, Kakashi, Rin.
It's alright now. Pack up the things we brought we'll be moving to new rooms."
Inside, the three figures who had been positioned in a swastika formation lowered the kunai they held.
"The crisis is over. Rin, you look after Fu. Obito, you can pack our personal items," Kakashi said, sheathing the ninja sword on his back.
"Kakashi, are you ordering me around? Why should I listen to you?" Uchiha Obito asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice as he glanced at Kakashi, who stood idly by.
"Teacher aside, I am the most experienced ninja on this team. In terms of mission experience, I have three more years than you. Is that sufficient reason?" Kakashi replied, placing his hands in his pockets and giving Uchiha Obito a cool, sidelong look.
"Obito! I'll help you tidy up," Nohara Rin offered softly, looking at the two boys who were bickering.
"Hey, Rin, don't move! I can handle these bags easily, just watch me!" Obito exclaimed, his demeanor softening instantly upon hearing Rin's words.
Packing a few bags was nothing; this idiot probably thought he could rebuild the entire house if Rin asked him to.
With Obito diligently working, the three quickly finished packing.
Kakashi exited the room first, followed by Rin, who was carrying a three-year-old child.
Bam!, "Oww!!".
Obito, the last to leave, bumped into the doorframe, laden with too many items.
He lost his footing, and his body tilted forward.
The belongings they had just packed tumbled out of the bag and scattered across the floor.
"Ouch, that really hurt," Obito groaned, clutching his waist as he slowly stood up.
"Obito, it's been so long, and you haven't changed a bit!" Okamoto Dousuke said with a smile as he emerged from behind Minato, looking down at the still-recovering Obito.
"Okamoto Dousuke, why are you here?" Obito took off his goggles and rubbed his eyes, double-checking to ensure that the person standing before him was indeed Okamoto Dousuke.
Seeing Okamoto Dousuke's appearance, Kakashi and Nohara Rin also exchanged surprised glances.
"Dousuke, have you come to support us?" Nohara Rin asked, her voice tinged with surprise.
Okamoto Dousuke looked towards Jiraiya, who offered a nod in response.
"You could say it's support," Okamoto Dousuke replied.
Seeing everyone had come out, Butler Kitamura announced, "Lord Minato, and everyone else, please follow me."
"Because of the disturbance just now, Mr. Nagachi has kindly provided us with new accommodations. Please come this way with Butler Kitamura," Namikaze Minato said, gesturing for them to follow.
After a short walk, everyone arrived at a new room.
"Lord Minato, should you require anything at all, please do not hesitate to call upon me or any of the other servants. I will take my leave now," Butler Kitamura said after ensuring everyone was settled in their new rooms.
Everyone gathered around the table within the room.
Nohara Rin gently laid the sleeping Fu aside and covered her with a warm quilt.
Namikaze Minato spoke first, "Teacher, judging from what you said earlier, did you and Dousuke come here specifically to see me?"
"It's all thanks to this brat," Jiraiya chuckled, affectionately patting the head of Okamoto Dousuke beside him.
"He's set his sights on learning the Flying Thunder God Technique, so I brought him to you, hoping you could offer him some guidance in your free time."
"Brother Minato, I sincerely hope you will guide me. Please!" Okamoto Dousuke said, shaking his head slightly to clear the lingering dizziness from Jiraiya's earlier pat. He then bowed respectfully to Namikaze Minato.
"Since you are eager to learn, I will certainly do my best to teach you. Rest assured! You are welcome to join our team temporarily during this period," Minato replied warmly.
As a forbidden ninjutsu, the technique was not typically shared with outsiders. However, Okamoto Dousuke, like himself, was a civilian ninja. Moreover, being personally brought here by his own teacher likely signified the Third Hokage's approval for Okamoto Dousuke to learn the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
Observing his disciple's earnestness, Jiraiya smiled contentedly. The task assigned by Tsunade was finally accomplished. Whether the boy could actually master the technique was another matter entirely, and no longer his concern.
"Minato, I'll entrust this kid to you for the time being," Jiraiya said, giving Okamoto's head another pat. "If you encounter any difficulties, don't hesitate to ask your senior brother Minato. Understood?"
"Yes, I understand, Teacher Jiraiya. Thank you for your hard work, and thank you, Brother Minato," Okamoto Dousuke said, raising his head to look at both of them.
After the topic of Okamoto Dousuke was settled, Jiraiya inquired further, "Minato, haven't you completed your mission yet? If my memory serves me correctly, you embarked on this mission a week ago?"
"Teacher, your arrival is perfectly timed. Had you not come, I would have been compelled to request support from the village today," Minato admitted.
"What's going on? Is this mission so challenging that even you are uncertain?" Jiraiya's brow furrowed with concern upon hearing Minato Namikaze's admission of almost needing to call for backup.