Hearing Minato's words, Dekai and Kamiyama Sohei also greeted Mokgetsu.
They didn't know each other before, but having fought alongside with Jinchuriki, they had forged a good friendship over those days.
"Minato, you're back. Has the front line battle ended?" Mokgetsu asked with a slightly surprised expression.
"It's not completely over; the Hidden Rock hasn't surrendered or signed a peace treaty yet, but we've driven their troops out of the Land of Grass. The war is considered to have reached a stalemate, and my mission is complete, so Jiraiya-sensei allowed me to come back early," Minato explained with a smile.
"It's only a matter of time before they're completely defeated. Konoha is definitely stronger," Dekai said with a chuckle.
The frequent victories over the Rock Ninja had given him plenty of confidence.
"I see. It's been tough on you, successfully keeping the enemy out of the Land of Fire," Mokgetsu nodded in approval.
As Mokgetsu had imagined, the war with the Hidden Rock had reached a temporary halt. If nothing unexpected happens, Minato will soon become the sensei for Obito and his group.
"Haha, Mokgetsu, weren't you also one of the hard-working ones? Thank goodness for your help during the Jinchuriki battle," Dekai laughed, patting Mokgetsu on the shoulder.
Dekai was deeply impressed by Mokgetsu's ninjutsu — a Fire Release technique that almost hurt the careless Five-tailed Jinchuriki and could independently resist the Four-tailed Jinchuriki's Lava Release for a short time.
"It's only because everyone worked together," Mokgetsu said with a cheerful smile.
"Oh, isn't that Minato? You're back!" A young female ninja with a single ponytail, looking very lively, brightened up upon seeing Minato and greeted him joyfully.
Beside her were two female ninjas around her age, also smiling and greeting Minato.
"Hello," Minato smiled and greeted back. Although they weren't very familiar, it's polite to respond when greeted.
"Minato, you're amazing! I read the latest Konoha Newspaper. You and Jiraiya-sama repelled the Jinchuriki together; you're truly Konoha's hero," the ponytail girl said, her eyes seeming to sparkle like stars as she looked at Minato with admiration.
"It wasn't just me and Jiraiya-sensei; many others contributed as well," Minato corrected.
Not to mention Mokgetsu, Dekai, and Kamiyama Sohei, who also faced the Jinchuriki together.
"Hey, who are you?" A black-haired, long-haired girl from the trio of girls noticed Mokgetsu's appearance.
"So Minato, you have a brother? Who's the younger and who's the older one?" Comparing the two's smiles, the black-haired girl asked curiously.
"I'm Habu Mokgetsu, not Minato's brother, nor his cousin, because we're not actual brothers or distant relatives," Mokgetsu explained skillfully.
After so many times, he had gotten used to it.
Minato remained calm and unfazed, as this was nothing new to him.
"Habu Mokgetsu, isn't that the ninja in the newspaper who teamed up with Jiraiya-sama against the Tailed Beasts?" The ponytail girl's eyes widened in surprise as she remembered the familiar name, looking at Mokgetsu.
"Indeed, that's Habu Mokgetsu," Mokgetsu confirmed with a smile and nod.
"You must be really tired coming back from the battlefield. How about we treat you to a meal?" The curly-haired girl clasped her hands together, inviting Minato and Mokgetsu.
The black-haired girl and the ponytail girl gave their curly-haired friend a thumbs up from behind, as if saying, "Well done!"
"Thank you for your kind offer, but I have some things to attend to later," Mokgetsu politely declined with a gentle smile.
If it were just about eating, he wouldn't mind where, but if he went, it certainly wouldn't just be a simple meal; it would involve chatting and probably drinking, essentially wasting time.
He's not devoid of desire, but at the moment, he had too many things to do, and even with Shadow Clones, he barely managed.
"Same here, but thank you," Minato also politely declined with a smile.
Compared to eating out, he preferred Mokgetsu's cooking. Having just completed his mission report, he was planning to head to Mokgetsu's house and take the dishes to Kushina; he had no time to have dinner with a few unfamiliar female ninjas.
"That's a shame; hopefully, we can have a meal together next time," the curly-haired girl said with a somewhat regretful look, but didn't press further.
The three girls waved goodbye to Mokgetsu and Minato as they left.
"That Habu Mokgetsu is quite handsome. How come I hadn't noticed him before?"
"He's handsome, but I still prefer Minato a bit more. It's a pity that he didn't accept."
"I, however, think Mokgetsu-kun is even more attractive. He's gentle and sunny, with an air of intelligence and sophistication."
Dekai and Kamiyama Sohei both stared at Mokgetsu and Minato with death stares.
"Sigh, I should never stand with you two. Maybe then a girl would talk to me too," Dekai sighed.
There were clearly three girls just now, but none of them paid attention to him; instead, they all chatted with Mokgetsu and Minato.
"When have you ever been approached voluntarily? I've really been influenced by those two." Kamiyama Sohei placed a hand on Dekai's shoulder and said.
He had fair skin and well-defined features. While not extraordinarily handsome, he could definitely be considered somewhat good-looking, but standing next to Minato and Mokgetsu, he seemed ordinary.
"Getting approached isn't necessarily a good thing. If Minato gets approached and Kushina sees it, without a proper explanation, she might sulk." Mokgetsu and Minato talked about times when Kushina chatted with him.
Once, Kushina had inquired with Mokgetsu about the situation at Minato's house when she wasn't around, whether any girls had come to see him.
Minato was relieved, thankful that he knew how to refuse politely; otherwise, Kushina's anger would not only be hard to appease but also make him heartbroken.
After a brief chat, the four separated, with Minato and Mokgetsu walking in the same direction because they were neighbors.
Upon returning home, Minato created a Shadow Clone to clean up while he went to Mokgetsu's house to help with cooking.
"It's really been a bother for you all this time." Minato said, washing vegetables with an apologetic expression.
He couldn't even stay for a meal and had to trouble Mokgetsu to pack a meal for him to take away. Just thinking about it made Minato feel very apologetic.
"We're friends, let's just call it mutual assistance. Besides, you and Kushina have helped me a lot with Fuinjutsu. She even taught me the Four Symbols Seal recently." Mokgetsu said nonchalantly, smiling.
"After learning it, I realized how powerful this Fuinjutsu is. If it weren't for Kushina, I probably wouldn't have been able to acquire such a high-level Fuinjutsu."
"The value of a jutsu lies in its ability to be learned. Mokgetsu, you have the talent for it. Kushina must have been really happy to teach you." Minato earnestly said as he carefully separated the vegetables.
He was a bit surprised at Mokgetsu's progress; he had already learned the Four Symbols Seal, a top-tier conventional Fuinjutsu.
To celebrate Minato's return, Mokgetsu specially made Kushina's favorite braised pork. Since it took a long time, they chatted while waiting.
"Compared to us humans, Tailed Beasts are truly blessed. They not only have enormous Chakra but can also use Tailed Beast Balls, a Ninjutsu of terrifying power." Mokgetsu remarked.
"Tailed Beast Ball…"
Mokgetsu's words brought Minato's thoughts back to the battlefield, where the dazzling white explosion and the deep crater it left were still vivid in his mind.
Minato's memories of battles with Tailed Beasts were so vivid not only because the Tailed Beast Ball was overwhelmingly powerful but because his girlfriend, Kushina, was also a Jinchuriki with the strongest Tailed Beast, the Nine-tails, within her.
The thought of such a terrifying creature residing inside his girlfriend made Minato sigh.
"Once the war intensifies, Jinchuriki will surely be sent to the battlefield." Minato was deeply worried.
Although Konoha hid Kushina well now, it was only to help her quickly control the Tailed Beast, turning it into a controllable military asset.
Minato knew very well the importance of Jinchuriki to a Ninja Village. Jinchuriki were not meant to be cherished; they were meant to be used in war.
In this incredibly chaotic situation, Minato couldn't guarantee that Konoha would always remain strong. One day, Kushina might have to go to war.
Moreover, her opponents would not be just anyone; they would be either other Jinchuriki or top-tier strongmen from enemy Ninja Villages.
"If only there were a jutsu with power comparable to a Tailed Beast Ball." Minato sighed at the thought.
The power of a Tailed Beast Ball was so immense that even his teacher Jiraiya, in Sage Mode, could only avoid it. If Kushina, without mastery of the Tailed Beast Ball, encountered a Jinchuriki who could release it, she would suffer greatly.
"Then why not develop a jutsu similar to a Tailed Beast Ball?" Mokgetsu jokingly suggested.
Minato was stunned by Mokgetsu's words.
"If we want to match a jutsu's power, directly mimicking and developing improvements should be the fastest way."
"Of course, I'm just kidding. The Tailed Beast Ball isn't something that can be easily mimicked." Mokgetsu said with a playful expression.
But Minato's eyes lit up, and he excitedly said to Mokgetsu:
"I think your idea is completely feasible, Mokgetsu. All jutsu are Ninjutsu. There's no reason only Tailed Beasts can use it; we can entirely develop a human version of the Tailed Beast Ball."
"Theoretically, it's feasible." Mokgetsu nodded.
"The Tailed Beast Ball is spherical and doesn't seem to involve the Nature Transformation of the five basic elements. So, we could start by creating an ordinary Chakra Ball to mimic it, and then…"
Suddenly inspired, Minato grew increasingly confident that human-made Tailed Beast Balls were indeed possible.
"I've packed the food for you, you should take it over soon." After Minato fell into contemplation, Mokgetsu handed the packed meal to him.
Only then did Minato realize he still needed to go to Kushina's place. He quickly thanked Mokgetsu and left his house.