After dinner, several people returned to their room, still tipsy from drinking.
Fu, only three years old, could not sleep. Maybe she napped too much during the day, or the smell of alcohol in the room bothered her. She screamed and fussed.
With no other choice, the group moved the drunken Jiraiya to the living room.
As they set him down, Jiraiya grabbed Rin's hand and mumbled, "Your hands are so slippery…"
Obito, standing nearby, turned green with jealousy. When no one was looking, he slapped Jiraiya's face twice.
Dosuke saw it from the corner of his eye. His mouth twitched, but he said nothing, pretending not to notice. He turned to prepare a hangover remedy.
After Dosuke fed Jiraiya the remedy, Jiraiya fell asleep beside him.
Early the next morning, Fu, who had slept plenty, ran around the house. Obito, ever the fool, chased after her.
The constant noise woke Dosuke. He opened his eyes, stared at the ceiling, and rolled over, annoyed.
* Where is Jiraiya? * he thought. The spot where Jiraiya slept was empty.
Unable to sleep, Dosuke sat up and got out of bed.
Slide.
The paper door opened. Thud.
A small figure with wheat-colored skin bumped into Dosuke's leg, lost balance, and fell to the floor.
"It hurts! Uncle! Brother Obito! Sister Rin! This uncle hit me!" The child covered her head with one hand and pointed at Dosuke with the other. Her big eyes filled with tears, and her mouth curved into a frown.
Uncle? * I am not that old * , Dosuke thought.
Rin hurried over and picked up Fu from the floor. She looked at Dosuke sheepishly. "Dosuke, she's just being naughty. Please don't mind her."
"It's fine," Dosuke said. He bent down to Fu in Rin's arms. "I'm sorry, kid. Are you okay?"
Fu saw Dosuke lean closer and burst into tears with a loud "Waaah!"
Dosuke froze. He stepped back, rubbing the back of his head. * I am terrible with kids * , he thought.
Rin rocked Fu gently, patting her back. Slowly, Fu's crying softened.
Obito walked over. "Uncle Dosuke? Hahaha!"
Dosuke glared at him. "If I'm an uncle, you'd better call me Uncle Dosuke from now on, Brother Obito."
Obito's face twisted like he had swallowed a fly. Dosuke's mood instantly brightened.
* Misery loves company * , he thought.
Seeing Fu's crying stop, Dosuke leaned toward Obito. "You know, Rin's really good with kids. I never noticed before."
Obito turned to look. Rin gazed down at Fu, rocking her gently. Her kind, maternal expression left Obito stunned.
Obito's face slowly twisted into a strange smile. Dosuke felt uneasy.
Luckily, Kakashi appeared. "Minato-sensei sent me to call you for breakfast."
After breakfast, Minato led the group.
They left Nagaike's house and headed toward Takigakure Village, following the map's markers.
With three-year-old Fu in tow, the group moved slowly.
Minato and Dosuke took the lead. Rin carried Fu in the middle, Obito protected Rin, and Kakashi guarded the rear.
Minato scouted ahead, while Dosuke stayed a step behind.
"Dosuke, do you know about the Flying Thunder God Jutsu?" Minato asked as they walked.
"A little," Dosuke said. "The Forbidden Scroll says it's an S-rank space ninjutsu created by the Second Hokage. It's a teleportation technique that doesn't require hand seals."
Minato nodded. "Exactly. The Flying Thunder God Jutsu uses markers to teleport instantly."
"To learn it, you must first master the sealing mark," Minato said. He handed Dosuke a special kunai. "I use these kunai as markers. My chakra senses the mark, activates the seal, and I teleport."
Dosuke studied the kunai. "Minato, if you have a kunai with the mark, can you teleport to it?"
Minato smiled. "It's not that simple. There's a distance limit and a chakra cost. If the mark is too far, your chakra can't sense it, so you can't teleport. Even if you could, the chakra drain might not be worth it."
"It's not just kunai," Minato added. "Any surface with the Flying Thunder God seal works."
"Dosuke, I'll teach you the sealing technique first. Once you're skilled, we'll practice sensing the mark."
"Thank you, Minato," Dosuke said.
Dosuke asked questions as they traveled. Time passed quickly.
"Let's rest here," Minato said when they reached a river. He glanced at the sun overhead.
Rin sighed in relief. She set Fu down and sat on the ground.
"Rin, use my backpack," Obito said, placing it under her.
"Thank you, Obito," Rin said with a sweet smile.
"No need to thank me. It's my job," Obito said, beaming.
Fu waddled over to Dosuke. "Bad guy, I forgive you. Sister Rin said you're here to help me, just like her."
Dosuke looked down at Fu, who stood like a little adult. He smiled. "Thank you for forgiving me. How about I cook you something tasty?"
Dosuke tucked away the Flying Thunder God kunai and a scroll with the sealing technique Minato had given him.
"Obito, start a fire. I'll catch fish," Dosuke said.
"Got it!" Obito replied.
"Kakashi, help me catch fish," Dosuke called to Kakashi, who sat alone in his black outfit and mask.
Kakashi didn't move.
"Kakashi!" Dosuke called again.
"Ninjas on missions avoid fires in the wild," Kakashi said. "They expose our position and invite trouble."
"Go, Kakashi," Minato said, sitting on a rock with a squinting smile. "I'll take responsibility."