"Brother Minato, I'm here to heal your wounds. This is a potion I made myself," Okamoto Dousuke said to Namikaze Minato, his eyes curved into a friendly smile as he shook the bottle of slightly green liquid in his hand.
"You knew I was injured," Namikaze Minato said, acknowledging Okamoto Dousuke's confidence and the offered healing potion without argument.
Taking off his coat and the black long-sleeved shirt beneath, Minato Namikaze revealed his back, which was covered in burns. A deep knife wound, exposing the bone, marred his chest with a purple-brown discoloration.
Otherwise, given Minato Namikaze's capabilities, after dealing with the group of ninjas who ambushed him, he should have arrived directly at Hidden Waterfall Village much sooner.
As it was, he had reached Hidden Waterfall Village around noon the next day, indicating that Jiraiya must have assisted in treating his initial injuries.
"Brother Minato, you're so badly injured?"
"When Obito accidentally fell on you earlier today, I noticed your expression looked off and suspected you might be hurt, but I didn't realize the extent of your injuries," Okamoto Dousuke said with a slightly concerned expression.
I didn't expect the ninja in the ambush to be so formidable. Although Minato isn't yet the future Yellow Flash, he's already far stronger than the average Jonin.
If this was Nakajima Sodai's Team from Okamoto Dousuke's first mission, then there's a high probability they wouldn't have survived.
"The ninjas who ambushed us this time were definitely not ordinary. Their leader possessed a Bloodline Limit that allowed them to extract metal from the earth. It was something I had never encountered before. This time, I was careless and sustained a serious chest wound."
Okamoto Dousuke sat cross-legged behind Namikaze Minato, his hands glowing with a soft green light as he activated the Mystical Palm Technique, gently healing the burns on Minato Namikaze's back.
While using the Mystical Palm Technique, Okamoto Dousuke focused his chakra, carefully assessing the nature of Namikaze Minato's injuries.
Under the treatment, the burns on Minato Namikaze's back gradually faded, and his skin slowly regained its healthy color. Some fine sand and gravel particles were also expelled from the wounds.
This was caused by a large-scale detonating talisman, the explosion's aftermath.
As the skin on Minato Namikaze's back improved and the embedded debris was removed, Okamoto Dousuke took out his prepared medicine and gently applied it to the affected area.
He then placed a piece of sterile cloth over it, allowing Minato Namikaze to lie comfortably.
Next, he poured some of the green liquid from the healing bottle into his hand, manipulated his chakra to form a small sphere of water, and carefully pressed it against the wound on Minato Namikaze's chest and abdomen.
Under the precise control of his chakra, wisps of brown poison seeped out from the wound, drawn into the chakra-infused water sphere, where they were contained by Okamoto Dousuke.
Slowly, the slightly green liquid turned brown as no more poison was extracted from Minato Namikaze's injury.
Okamoto Dousuke carefully contained the poison ball, picked up a teacup from the nearby table, and slowly deposited the poisonous substance into it.
He then reactivated the Mystical Palm Technique, and Namikaze Minato's wounds began to heal at a visibly accelerated rate under the influx of Okamoto Dousuke's chakra.
Seeing the wounds close and the skin regenerate, Okamoto Dousuke wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead and ceased the Mystical Palm Technique.
"Brother Minato, the wounds have healed, but you still need to rest for a while," Okamoto Dousuke advised as he finished bandaging the area.
"Thank you so much for this time, Dousuke," Namikaze Minato said, putting on his clothes and moving his treated body, feeling a sense of relief and relaxation.
"It's no problem at all, it's what I do. You should get to bed early, Senior Brother Minato," Okamoto Dousuke replied, putting away the healing potion and the cup containing the poison before turning and heading back into the main room.
"Dousuke, how is your training with the Flying Thunder God Technique progressing?"
Hearing Minato Namikaze's question, Okamoto Dousuke turned back and answered, "I've basically mastered the fundamental sealing technique. I also have some theoretical understanding of the Flying Thunder God Technique. However, I'm still quite lost when it comes to the perception of the space. By the way, Brother Minato, do you think my technique is correct?"
After asking, he quickly walked back into the house.
Thump, thump, thump.
A moment later, Okamoto Dousuke emerged from the house, a kunai in his hand. A talisman was carefully wrapped around the handle.
Okamoto Dousuke handed the kunai to Namikaze Minato.
"Brother Minato, this is the Flying Thunder God Sealing Technique that I've completed myself. Please take a look."
Minato Namikaze took the kunai and gently ran his fingers over the sealing technique wrapped around its handle.
Looking at Okamoto Dousuke, who was sitting in front of him, he couldn't help but sigh in amazement. "What an unprecedented genius."
He had only taught Dousuke the very basics of the seal, and it had only been a few short days since then. Yet, not only had Dousuke grasped the sealing technique, but he had also already begun adapting the original Flying Thunder God Technique.
Even Minato himself had to dedicate significant time and effort to master it, and that was with the invaluable personal instruction of his girlfriend, Uzumaki Kushina, in advanced sealing techniques.
"Very good, Dousuke. Your Flying Thunder God Technique is fundamentally good. There are just a few minor adjustments that need to be made. Finally, you'll just need to sense the power of space to complete it."
"Everyone's Flying Thunder God Technique is unique. My version and that of the Second Generation Hokage are different in their own ways."
"I can only guide you in pointing out these few imperfections. The rest you will need to feel out for yourself and improve upon step by step," Namikaze Minato said, highlighting several areas for refinement in Okamoto Dousuke's Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Next, you must learn to perceive the power of space and connect the Flying Thunder God Technique with that spatial sense you develop, so as to achieve true teleportation." After saying this, Minato Namikaze handed the kunai back to Dousuke Okamoto.
"Okay, I understand. Senior Brother Minato, you should get some sleep early," Okamoto Dousuke nodded, took the kunai, and after a thoughtful glance at the seals on it, returned to the house.
After moving around a bit and his wounds having been treated, Minato Namikaze couldn't help but feel grateful for having a teammate as capable as Dousuke Okamoto.
Early the next morning.
The group finished their morning preparations quickly.
Knock, knock.
A gentle knock echoed at the door.
"My lords, I am the chef who has been serving your meals. Please open the door." Okamoto Dousuke instantly recognized the slightly timid voice of the chef from the previous day.
Upon opening the door, he found the same portly chef from yesterday standing there. Today, however, he was dressed in a pristine white chef's robe and holding a food box in both hands, similar in style to the previous one but noticeably larger.
Hidden Waterfall Village must have informed the chef to prepare extra food for our departure.
After taking the food box, Okamoto Dousuke thanked the chef.
As the chef turned to leave, Namikaze Minato called out to him, "Excuse me, please wait a moment. Would you be so kind as to inform Sir Shuiyou Jonin that we would like to request a visit with Master Takikage this morning?"
"Oh, oh, oh, oh! I understand!"
Hearing Minato Namikaze's request, the portly chef immediately assured him that he would deliver the message without fail.
After eating their breakfast and packing their belongings, Namikaze Minato and the others made their way towards the Hidden Waterfall Village office building.
In The Hidden Waterfall Village..
Office Building, inside the Takikage's office.
"Takikage-sama, it appears they are preparing to leave."