Minato stared at the scene for a brief moment, and before long he folded his arms around his chest, making his thoughts vocal.
"I have a feeling that this is just the start of something much bigger."
"Maybe so." Employing his sword as support, Gamabunta got up to his feet. "But for now, even as you prepare for the storm in the distance."
The Chief toad amidst his injuries and bleeding paused his lecture, taking up his kiseru for a smoke.
"You've got to still enjoy the quiet seas you currently sail."
Seeing the beat-up Chief break out into a short chuckle, Minato couldn't help but also respond with a smile.
"Thanks Bunta."
Gamabunta then sheathed his blade, favoring his ribs as he walked forward.
"Well then, it seems you can take care of things here on out. So I'll be taking my leave."
But before the Chief Toad could take his leave, he had to also bid his farewells to one last person.
And that odd individual was the red haired boy that currently stared at him with widened and ecstatic eyes.
'That's actually Gamabunta in the flesh.' Kagero felt his excitement rush to his brain like an uncontrolled flood of emotions.
His joy was well deserved, after all, witnessing a building sized toad was one thing. Watching it talk and smoke was another.
"Also— Kid I don't really know how you did it, but I saw you use the rasengan earlier."
'Darn!' Kagero swallowed hard, standing in wait for another series of interrogations.
But Gamabunta's next words were the direct opposite of his imaginations.
"Thanks for saving Minato." The Warchief froze his statement, thinking for a bit before reiterating it.
"Nope." He then pointed at Kagero with his Smoking pipe, a wide smirk stretching through the amphibian's lips.
"Thanks for saving the Village."
POOF!
Immediately following his words came an expansive cloud of white smoke that emanated in the air, replacing the towering Warchief.
"He's gone back to Mount Myoboku." Minato explained Gamabunta's disappearance to Kagero, watching the haze slowly vanish.
But his words seemed to just go through Kagero's hearing, as the Boy was completely immersed in his thoughts.
'I— saved the village huh?' Kagero questioned internally, holding onto his chest with half a smile.
'Why am I this happy hearing that?'
Maybe it was the fact that before now, his life had been comparable to a caged bird whose wings were broken beyond repair.
Maybe it was because loneliness had been his daily bread for as long as he could remember.
Or perhaps, it was for the sole reason, that gratification had long eluded him for years without end.
The answer for his joy? Even the confused boy had no idea.
And this very sensation would be one that he would encounter on his journey, times without end.
"Now then, I've got to finish up with the Ninatails." Minato glanced at Kagero, causing the latter to watch him with false confusion.
"I thought he was already dealt with?"
Lies.
Within Kagero's mind, it was all too obvious that Minato had only broken the contract upon Kurama, causing the Beast to slip into a temporary slumber.
But he had to at least pretend as though he didn't know every trick in the book, to prevent his suspicion from growing.
"Not yet exactly." Minato pointed down at the sleeping giant whilst they still stood atop its head.
"We've only managed to break the contract, but in order to stop the beast."
The Fourth Hokage seemed to swallow hard, his brows furrowing as he continued.
"I'll have to seal—"
BOOM!
Suddenly, before Minato could even finish his statement.
Like a descending plague of destruction, a gargantuan hand came crashing down on both ninjas, as a guttural roar rent the sky.
But both Kagero and Minato were swift, evading the Ninetails blow with a hasty leap into the air.
"Darn!" Kagero gritted his teeth. "He's gotten back up already?"
Their position was precarious, with no land beneath their feet they were like flightless birds ripe for the picking.
This very fact played within Kurama's mind, spurring him to raise his arm once more. His bloodied talons retracted swiftly, as he brought it forward.
But before his claws could rip through them both, Minato swung his kunai at the earth, holding onto Kagero as they blurred out with a flash.
They had evaded the attack, but they still had a devilish beast to worry about. One that now stared at them with a look so frightening, that it almost cut them to pieces where they stood.
'I managed to teleport out of there, but what else can I do right now?' Minato frowned, analyzing his current situation.
He couldn't summon Gamabunta for the fight, he was already badly injured. And his chakra was another worry.
He had expended most of it on his Giant Rasengan, and even more on his earlier teleportation jutsu. So he didn't have much chakra to spare.
Right now, there was only one solution.
'Maybe.' Minato's heart sank. 'Maybe I'll have to use that—'
"Minato!"
Kagero dragged the Hokage out of his musings, making the first thing Minato saw outside of his thoughts, a nervous smile on his face.
"I've got a plan!"
Kurama drew his arm forward, obliterating the earth where they formerly stood, but both Shinobi evaded his attack once more, perching themselves atop a nearby tree.
They then hid themselves surreptitiously, in a way that the beast couldn't easily sight them.
Minato's eyes hardened with seriousness as he responded to Kagero's words.
"You've got a way for us to stop the Ninetails?" Minato asked, watching Kagero reply with a nod, the Boy wide eyed.
What could he possibly be planning in a situation like this?
That was the yellow flash's current musing. But seeing as Kagero had saved him twice now.
He was sure he could at least give him the benefit of the doubt.
Letting out a breath, Minato asked, rays of hope gleaming from his eyes.
"So what exactly is your plan?"
Kagero stole a glance at the beast, and then back at Minato before finally saying.
"I need you to toss me at the Ninetails."
These words made the Fourth Hokage feel like fainting right where he stood.