In the vast lands of yellow sand not far from the Hidden Sand Village, Tianyuan slowly stood up from the ground. His chakra had finally recovered; it was time to return to the Hidden Leaf Village.
"Minato, it's time to head back," Tianyuan said.
"Alright. I'm counting on you, so be careful," Minato Namikaze replied.
Performing the Flying Thunder God Technique over such a vast distance was incredibly taxing on one's chakra. If one wasn't careful, the complete depletion of chakra could result in death.
This wasn't an impossible scenario. After all, even certain Forbidden Jutsu like the Shadow Clone Jutsu could lead to death if the user overextended their chakra reserves.
In the world of shinobi, chakra was inextricably linked to the physical body. Since chakra was a product of the fusion between physical cells and spiritual energy, it was vital to every ninja's life force.
This was also why a Jinchuriki would die if their Tailed Beast was extracted; the power of the Tailed Beast had essentially fused with their own physical energy. Of course, special constitutions were an exception,
such as the Uzumaki Physique or even the physique of Hashirama Senju. The abilities granted by such lineages were truly formidable.
"Don't worry, Minato. I know my limits," Tianyuan said as he placed his hand on Minato's shoulder.
In an instant, the two vanished from the desert.
Inside Tianyuan's room back in the Hidden Leaf Village, Minato and Tianyuan suddenly materialized.
"We're here." Tianyuan's face was slightly pale. Teleporting across such a long distance with the Flying Thunder God Technique was indeed a massive drain, far exceeding the distance from the village to where Kakuzu was in the Land of Rivers.
"Are you alright, Tianyuan?" Minato looked around at the architecture, which looked exactly like the style of their village. "Is this..."
"This is the Hidden Leaf Village. My home," Tianyuan said with a smile.
"We're actually back." Minato still looked as if he couldn't believe it.
"Yes, Minato, we're back. Why don't you open the door and see for yourself?" Tianyuan laughed.
Hearing this, Minato opened the door and saw the bustling streets and familiar environment where he had grown up. They were finally back.
"Thank you, Tianyuan. Perhaps I should go to the Hokage and report the situation myself?" Minato looked at Tianyuan with hesitation, concerned about his exhausted state. After all, Tianyuan did not look well at the moment.
"It's fine, Minato. I'll go with you to see the Hokage," Tianyuan said, offering a weak smile.
Tianyuan knew that his presence would lend more weight to the report regarding how they had overheard the news in the Hidden Sand Village and how they had managed to return so quickly.
"Alright, then let's go." Minato nodded, and the two headed straight for the Hokage Building.
It was time to inform the Third Hokage so the Hidden Leaf Village could begin its preparations.
In the Hokage's Office.
"Lord Hokage, Jonin Minato and Chunin Tianyuan are here to see you," an Anbu ninja reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Minato and Tianyuan?" Sarutobi paused, stunned.
That shouldn't be possible. The Hidden Sand Village was a great distance away. Even if Minato and Tianyuan had traveled at their absolute top speed, there was no way they could have returned to the Hidden Leaf Village so soon.
Could they be spies?
He dismissed the thought immediately. What spy would be so idiotic as to transform into Tianyuan and Minato just to walk right into the office of the Third Hokage?
This left the Third Hokage with many questions. Perhaps they had never reached the Hidden Sand Village at all, or something had happened along the way that forced them to turn back. Many possibilities swirled through his mind, leaving him somewhat confused.
Looking up at the Anbu ninja, Sarutobi said, "Let them in."
"Yes, Lord Hokage," the Anbu Jonin replied.
If he wanted to know what had happened, the most direct way was to ask Minato and Tianyuan. Guessing here was useless.
A moment later, Minato and Tianyuan entered the Hokage's office, and the Anbu ninja departed.
"Minato, Tianyuan, how did you return so quickly? Did something happen?" Sarutobi looked between the two. He was certain now these two were not imposters. Whether it was the aura of their chakra or the faint power they exuded, it proved they were the real deal.
"I imagine you have many questions, Lord Hokage. Allow me to recount the details of our investigation in the Hidden Sand Village," Minato said.
"Of course. I'm all ears," Sarutobi said, gripping his pipe as his expression grew serious.
"Minato, you tell it," Tianyuan added.
"Alright." Minato nodded and began to narrate their journey from the village to the Hidden Sand Village.
The story was relatively standard until he reached the part where he and Tianyuan had secretly infiltrated the Hidden Sand Village and overheard the Fourth Kazekage's discussion.
"What? Are you saying the Hidden Sand Village's ninja..." Sarutobi's entire body jolted in shock, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Yes, Lord Hokage. What we heard is absolutely certain. The advance force of the Hidden Sand Village is already heading toward the Hidden Leaf Village. We don't know exactly where they are at this moment," Minato stated.
"How could this be? Is the Fourth Kazekage planning to start another Ninja World War?" Sarutobi's gaze darkened. "If this is true, then our village must mobilize immediately."
Sarutobi spoke in a heavy tone. He believed that Minato and Tianyuan would never lie to him, especially regarding a matter of such gravity.
"But what about your return? According to your timeline, you should still be at the Hidden Sand Village right now," Sarutobi said, his eyes piercing as he looked at the two.
Teleporting over such a distance involved incredibly profound Space-Time Ninjutsu.
"It was the Flying Thunder God Technique," Minato explained.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique?" Sarutobi looked at Minato in disbelief. "Minato, has your mastery of the Flying Thunder God already reached such a level?"
"No, Lord Hokage. The one who brought us back using the Flying Thunder God Technique this time wasn't me it was Tianyuan," Minato said slowly.
"It's true," Tianyuan added with a faint smile.
"This... this..." Sarutobi pointed at Tianyuan, his face completely masked in shock.
At that moment, Sarutobi lost all the dignity usually associated with a Hokage. He looked like nothing more than a startled, scruffy old man.
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