At the speed of golden lightning, still under the soft morning light, Minato's clones crossed rooftops and streets like swift shadows, determined to find the only person capable of saving lives at that moment.
And then, finally, they saw her.
Tsunade.
The legendary Sannin was leaning carelessly beside her assistant, completely drunk, her body heavy and her gaze unfocused, while she was practically being carried by the young woman who kept complaining nonstop.
" Tsunade-sama… you need to stop this, for your own good! " the assistant said, out of breath, trying to keep her master on her feet.
But Tsunade only let out a lazy laugh, as if that were the greatest nonsense ever spoken.
" Nonsense… " she murmured, her voice slurred. " There's nothing better in the world than drinking… and gambling. "
The assistant shook her head, resigned.
She knew.
She knew she wouldn't be able to change her.
Since the death of her brother… and her beloved… Tsunade had sunk into that cycle of alcohol and betting, as if it were the only way not to face the pain she carried in her chest.
Tsunade raised a finger, as if she had just remembered something very important.
" Ah… I heard from the casino owners… " she said, far too excited for someone in that state. " That a new casino opened in a nearby town. "
The assistant's eyes widened.
" We'll go later, Tsunade-sama… but right now you need to rest! You spent the whole night drinking and gambling… and… " she hesitated, swallowing hard. " And the money is gone. "
The world seemed to stop.
Tsunade blinked slowly, as if she hadn't understood.
" Gone…? " she repeated, shocked.
Then, suddenly, her expression turned into pure horror.
" No… that can't be! There still had to be some left! "
The assistant shook her head firmly.
" There's nothing left. It'll take a while before more money arrives… "
For a moment, Tsunade turned so pale it seemed like she was about to faint.
She placed a hand on her chest.
" I… I'm going to have a heart attack… "
On top of one of the nearby houses, two of Minato's clones watched the scene in silence.
One of them moved first.
An intense yellow glow enveloped his body, and in an instant he disappeared, leaving behind only a mark on the roof — a seal, in case it was necessary to act quickly.
The other remained still, attentive, his eyes fixed in the direction Tsunade staggered, being carried by her assistant.
---
In that same village, far from the noisy streets and the bright casinos, there was a place where the sun barely touched.
The prison.
A cold, damp corridor, filled with the smell of rust and silence. There, locked behind thick bars, was an infamous criminal… a man who had murdered an entire family without remorse, before finally being captured by the village's ninjas.
Inside the cell, he seemed strangely calm.
He whistled a low melody, almost irritating, while casually spinning a small stone between his fingers, as if he were merely passing the time on an ordinary afternoon.
His empty gaze and relaxed expression made it seem as though he carried no guilt at all.
Then…
A sound echoed.
Clack.
The lock.
The criminal stopped whistling at that very instant.
His eyes narrowed, confused, as the cell door began to open slowly.
He lifted his head, surprised.
At the entrance, standing like an impossible shadow, was a man with yellow hair, wearing a white cloak that swayed gently, and along its lower edge were images of red flames, like living fire.
The criminal blinked, not understanding.
" Who… "
Before he could even finish the sentence, or even thank him for the supposed freedom, his mouth was violently shut.
A firm hand grabbed his face with crushing force, silencing any word.
The murderer's eyes widened in pure panic.
He tried to move, but the man didn't even seem to be making an effort.
And then…
A yellow glow exploded around them.
A flash as fast as lightning.
And in the next instant…
They vanished.
The cell was empty.
The corridor returned to absolute silence, as if nothing had happened.
---
At the hospital, inside the silent room where Minato lay motionless, the constant sound of the equipment was the only thing filling the air.
Kushina was beside the bed, her eyes red with exhaustion and fear. For a moment, she stared at the window, as if searching for some answer in the morning sky.
Then…
A yellow glow appeared.
Minato's clone materialized inside the room.
Kushina turned immediately, her heart tightening.
" How did it go…? " she asked, her voice low, almost afraid to hear the answer.
The clone looked at her and answered directly:
" We found her. "
Kushina's chest trembled.
Without wasting time, she glanced at Naruto, who slept peacefully, unaware of the despair around him.
Kushina created a clone of herself, leaving it there to take care of the little one.
Then, she took a deep breath.
Minato's clone extended his hand.
Kushina grabbed it.
And in the next instant…
A golden flash enveloped them both.
The world disappeared.
When Kushina opened her eyes again, she was standing on top of a house in that distant village, the cold wind blowing against her face.
Without hesitation, they quickly made their way to a simple hotel, where Tsunade had rented a room just to pass the time between drinks and bets.
They stopped in front of a door.
Kushina knocked firmly.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
From inside, a tired female voice responded:
" Who is it? "
Kushina lifted her head, steady.
" Kushina Uzumaki. "
For a moment, there was only silence.
Heavy.
Then the door slowly opened.
Tsunade's assistant appeared, surprised to see that woman there.
Kushina didn't waste time.
" I need Tsunade's help. "
The assistant blinked, confused, and stepped aside.
" Come in… "
Kushina entered.
And then she saw her.
Tsunade was sitting carelessly, holding a bottle and drinking straight from it, as if the whole world didn't matter.
The strong smell of alcohol filled the room.
Kushina stepped forward, her voice urgent:
" Tsunade… I need your help. Now. "
Tsunade slowly removed the bottle from her mouth, her lazy eyes half-lidded, and spoke with sarcasm:
" What game can I help with? I'll warn you now… I'm great at it. "
Kushina clenched her fists.
" It's not a game. "
The air changed.
" Minato suffered severe injuries… the other medical ninja can't treat him without risk. I… I'm asking you to help him. "
The bottle stopped halfway.
Tsunade froze.
For a moment, it seemed like something inside her had been struck.
But soon her gaze darkened.
She turned her face away.
" I can't do anything. "
Kushina felt the ground disappear beneath her feet.
Despair rose like venom in her throat, but she didn't let it show. She forced her voice to remain steady.
" You have to help! You're the only one who can! If you don't do anything… "
Her voice faltered for a second.
" Minato will die. "
The silence became suffocating.
Tsunade remained still.
Then, slowly, she spoke, coldly, almost without emotion:
" My condolences… "
She took a sip.
" Minato lived a short life. "