Chapter 4: Missing Wolf
Warning: minor swearing
Minato, Obito, and Rin began making their way to the outskirts of the village where the Hatake compound is located just as the sun became to set. Minato judged that they only have about one hour for sunlight and was he debating on whether his two students should join him. But decided to put a teleport seal on both of them so he can easily remove them from any danger.
The team decided to walk through the marketplace to see if Minato could hear some of these vicious rumors. After they're halfway through the market with no sign of ill feelings towards them. 'So, they only speak against Kakashi when we're not around, or perhaps when I'm not around,' he mental concluded as his gaze shifted side to side looking at the villagers around them.
Putting a hand on each of his student's shoulder he teleported them to the next alleyway in the shadows of a bar's open window were he finally thought he heard someone mention the name Hatake. Minato gave Obito and Rin the hand signal for 'stay' and 'keep quiet'. Slowly Minato edges his way closer to the open window. Through it, he could see a group of shinobi sit at the corner table near to him but couldn't make out any of their faces without being seen as he listens closely to their conversation.
"So, did you see where that damn wolf went?" One shinobi asked before taking a swig of his drink.
"Nah, the damn thing gave me the slip," the man to his left answered.
"I couldn't find him anywhere after it ducked under those roots in the tall grass," a kunoichi explained with a sign.
"Figures, that little runt always knows how to run," a second kunoichi drawled out.
"Well, what can you do it's a survival instinct," the first kunoichi sign hands up and shrugs.
"Jeez, who side are you on!" A different shinobi exclaimed before taking a long drag of his cigarette.
"Next time we'll get that little pup for sure," the second shinobi quietly declared.
"Any idea where he might have run off to?" The first kunoichi asked taking a sip of her drink.
"Nope, but I did nick it in the right leg with my kunai though, so it can't be that far away, the others are looking for it now," the first shinobi answered proudly.
"It's only a matter of time," the third shinobi drawled out in announce.
"You expect a wolf hunt to be easy, especially when the prey is so young," the second kunoichi commented sadistically.
"Ma, it just makes the game more interesting," the first shinobi responded with a joyfully cruel voice.
"So, what's the plan?" The second shinobi asked.
"Well if they don't catch the runt now then we'll just have to wait for someone to finds it or we'll have to regroup and go back out there to get the stupid thing, that runt's dangerous and we can't let it run around the village," the first shinobi answered in a commanding tone.
"It'll fetch quite a price I have to admit; are you sure that they're okay with this?" The second kunoichi questioned. Before adding "We don't want another incident as last time remember."
"How can I not for all those traps that are set in that area," the third shinobi shivered at the statement.
"Where did you guys lose sight of it?" The first kunoichi asked again.
"By the tall grass in the forest east of the village," the third shinobi answered.
"You serious you chase it all the way out there and you still lost the runt," the first kunoichi with a mocking laugh.
"Hey, have you ever been on that part of the forest lately do you know how overgrown that part of the forest is?" The third shinobi asked defensively.
"Yeah, no wonder you lost that little runt, in all that tall grass and those tall trees with all those hiding places, of course, you couldn't find him," the second kunoichi explained in agreement.
"Well, either way, we're not going to get him tonight or probably tomorrow either; we're probably going to have to wait a few days until it's spotted again," the first shinobi ordered, and the others agreed.
"Okay sounds like a plan, this time we'll be ready!" The second shinobi loudly exclaimed.
"Next time the wolf won't get away," the first shinobi declared giving an evil chuckle.
The group of shinobi soon left the bar, but Minato still couldn't see their faces since it was dark outside. Instead, he focused on remembering their chakra signatures just to be safe. Minato couldn't help the sick feeling in his gut from the group's conversation.
'A wolf hunt, why are they hunting a wolf, I haven't heard of attacks or sightings, something doesn't seem right.' Minato's mind was racing at all the information, after taking a deep breath he tried to piece the information together. 'Mentions of a wolf hunt, traps, the forest east of the village, but why did they mention Hatake; if there is a wolf could it be that they think Kakashi could track it for them or did I think they said Hatake when they said something else?' The blonde jonin grew more frustrated that he has more questions but little to no answers.
"Minato-sensei, did you hear anything that could be important to helping Kakashi?" Obito asked quietly when his teacher returned.
"No, just talks about a hunt for a wolf apparently," Minato drawled out still going over the information, knowing that he's missing something.
"We should hurry to Kakashi's house," Rin added looking at her Sensei.
"Yeah let's hurry," Minato replied as his two students followed close behind.
When the group finally reaching the Hatake compound nothing looked not of the ordinary. Minato, Obito, and Rin carefully enter the property preparing for any traps that might be set knowing the little Hatake. When they reach the front porch, Minato knew something was very wrong since the door was not locked in the window was wide open.
Obito pounded on the front door causing it to eerily open on its own making Obito glanced worriedly at his Sensei before yelling out, "Kakashi it's us where are you!"
"Kakashi are you here!" Rin called out in when there was no reply.
"Kakashi it's safe now, you can come out!" Minato tried hoping Kakashi was somewhere hiding in the house, but he too was only answered by silence.
'This isn't a good sign,' Minato thought to himself and prayed, 'Kakashi please be safe.'
Upon entering the young Hatake's house they noticed that the fireplace had a small fire burning and then their blankets on the couch and a thin layer of dog hair covering it. The strangest thing was that all the doors to the rooms were locked and sealed, so only Kakashi could walk around the house freely. Other than that, the house seemed completely normal, well it was until Obito found something in the corner.
"Minato-sensei, I found something!" The loud Uchiha shouted as he pointed the corner near the fireplace.
Minato and Rin approached the young Uchiha and noticed a fire poker laying on the floor with a small puddle of blood next to it. Minato expected the fire poker to find no blood on it, but he couldn't tell if the blood was human or not. But continued to look around, but there was nothing truly out of the ordinary besides one thing, Kakashi was not home.
"Obito, Rin, it's time for you both to go home I'll take care of the rest," Minato states firmly.
"But sensei..." Rin started then stopped hesitantly.
"Yeah, we want to help too," Obito agreed with Rin's unspoken refusal.
"I know, but things might be more dangerous than I thought just keep an eye out for him, understand," Minato order and the two students sadly nodded their heads.
"Okay then let's go home," Minato added with an understanding voice. The blonde looked back at the house as they left, he frowned in thought, 'where'd you go, Kakashi.'
A/N: I hope you all like this week's update. Good? Bad? Let me know what you all think? Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter and I hope you're looking forward to the next one.
