Minato teleported just outside Tsunade's medical command tent. The smell of antiseptic herbs and burnt toxins lingered in the air. Inside, Tsunade stood over a metal tray layered with glass vials of varying colors, her face partially hidden behind a protective mask. Several bowls of crushed ingredients lay scattered around her, and thin wisps of smoke rose from a failed distillation attempt to concoct the antidote for the poison recently used by suna shinobi in their recent squirmish.
The poison Suna had devised was unlike anything she had encountered before. Every time she isolated its structure and created a neutralizing compound, the toxin shifted composition as if responding to the antidote.
Tsunade tore off her mask in frustration as the latest batch fizzled into useless sludge.
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath. "It changes again. That old dirt bag Chiyo, I did not expect one byakugan would change the stakes this bad. It will be a disaster for our shinobi to face them without antidote."
At that moment, Minato stepped into the tent, appearing just beyond the entrance after teleporting outside to avoid startling Lady Tsunade.
"Tsunade-san, please heal my student," Minato said immediately, his tone steady but urgent.
Tsunade turned sharply, eyes widening when she recognized him.
"Minato? What are you doing here? I thought you left with Uncle Kagami on that mission to investigate Sasori of the Red Sand."
Before Minato could answer, a sudden wailing drew her attention. A baby lying in a cradle near her workstation began crying loudly, disturbed by the noise and the smell in the air, Shizune who was attending the baby was not found she is likely tending to new injured shinobi.
Tsunade exhaled softly and crossed the room, lifting the infant into her arms. She gently rocked the child while glancing toward Kakashi's limp form in Minato's grasp.
"Tsunade-san, I am sorry to disturb you, but I do not have time to explain," Minato said. "I must return immediately."
The baby quieted slightly and extended his tiny hands toward Minato, curious at the new presence. The gesture caught Minato off guard for a brief second.
Tsunade smiled faintly as she adjusted the infant against her shoulder.
"Saruto, this is Uncle Minato," she said warmly. "You seem to like him."
Minato laid Kakashi carefully onto one of the available medical beds. Tsunade, still holding Saruto with one arm, leaned over to assess the injuries.
"Senju Saruto," Minato said quietly, glancing at the child. "That is a... unique name." said with a pause.
Tsunade snorted softly. "Blame your Jiraiya-sensei," she replied without looking up. "He insisted on it."
Even while cradling the baby, her hands moved efficiently over Kakashi's body, examining the new type of wound patterns and internal trauma.
"It looks like he received timely medical intervention before arrival," Tsunade observed. "That was you, I assume."
"Yes," Minato answered simply.
"I am glad I taught you to learn Mystical Palm technique," Tsunade said. "He will live without any issues. Leave the rest to me."
Relief briefly hit across Minato's face. "Thank you, Tsunade-san," he said. "I will take my leave."
He paused for half a heartbeat and looked at the baby. "Goodbye, Saruto."
The one and half year old infant giggled softly as Minato disappeared and clapped at the trick show.
~~
Moments later, Minato reappeared beside Pakkun, who had covered only about four hundred meters from where they found Kakashi. The ninja dog looked slightly winded but determined.
Minato's expression had returned to his usual colder and sharper look.
"You are slow," Minato said as a matter-of-fact. "Point me toward the scent."
Pakkun flattened his ears slightly in embarrassment before pointing with his nose toward the direction of the smell of Guy and the enemy scent he got from Kakashi.
Since Minato had already scattered Flying Thunder God kunai throughout the suspected region before leaving with Kakashi, he simply touched Pakkun and teleported to one embedded in the ground near the battlefield.
The battlefield still bore the scars of violent combat. Trees were split apart, earth cratered, and blood soaked into soil darkened. The scent of iron was thick in the air.
Pakkun immediately lowered his nose to the ground and began analyzing the area.
Minato did not move at first. His eyes fell upon what remained of Might Guy.
The body was barely recognizable. The blood had been drained extensively, leaving behind a husk that resembled dried parchment. The vitality that once radiated from Guy's presence was completely extinguished.
He walked toward the remains slowly, kneeling beside the body. His fingers brushed the Guy lightly.
The fury within him had intensified. It no longer mattered whether they were children or not. He would kill everyone involved.
Pakkun moved toward another scent trail and stopped near a severed limb lying approximately twenty meters away.
"Kakashi's arm," Pakkun confirmed quietly.
Minato nodded once and took Kakashi's arm and sealed it inside a scroll so it can be reattached. Pakkun continued analyzing the battlefield.
"I smell four individuals here. And other two individuals from there about 200 meters away," he reported as he pointed towards the direction.
Minato closed his eyes briefly and activated his chakra sensing technique.
The residual chakra traces allowed him to reconstruct portions of what had occurred. He assessed footprint depth, spacing, and stride pattern. From these details alone, he could approximate height, weight, and physical condition of the retreating shinobi.
"They did not clear the battlefield," Minato observed calmly. "They retreated quickly, likely in fear of my arrival. So, what Kakashi told makes sense."
Pakkun sniffed again. "They headed toward the nearest village," he said. "Probably hiding among civilians."
Minato's eyes sharpened. "They know that running in open terrain is meaningless against Flying Thunder God. It seems they are well aware of my arrival and my powers," he said.
He also considered Kakashi's sudden relocation. "Kumo possesses a space-time technique user," Minato murmured. "Otherwise Kakashi would not have been displaced so abruptly from here. "
Minato lifted Pakkun and flickered forward, moving with speeds that distorted the surrounding air. Without Pakkun's scent tracking, the pursuit would become inefficient within a populated area.
Within a second they reached the 2 footprint cluster two hundred meters away. The impressions were lighter, smaller likely that of 2 kids... So this is where one of the boy was commanding others on the front, Minato thought.
"They split into two groups and are moving quickly at full speed," Pakkun observed.
"They believe dispersal increases survival and making us choose which direction to go." Minato replied.
Without another word, Minato grabbed Pakkun securely and vanished again, teleporting through the network of kunai he had strategically scattered.
The nearest village emerged ahead, modest in size, situated near the borderlands. Civilians moved about unaware of the incidents that are about to happen.
Minato landed at the edge of the settlement and set Pakkun down.
"Guide me," Minato said quietly.
Pakkun inhaled deeply, filtering overlapping human scents.
"They entered separately," he confirmed. "It seems they are stationary. They have probably changed their clothes and scents into new ones."
Minato's face remained unreadable. "First let's go to the last spot and see," he said.
~~
A/N: The clash is getting closer minato has arrived at the village... Killer Bee is still flying towards the battlefield unaware of the arrival of Minato.
Let me know how do you feel about this arc.
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Fun fact: I don't sit down and think of next parts of the story... it comes to me in dreams.