"My help? Well....what exactly do you need miss?" Minato asked, turning around to face her and scratching his head.
"My squad. Both of my teammates are dead. They died fighting the Mist shinobi. However, they say my jounin team leader made it out of the battle alive. It isn't confirmed but....I just think he had to have made it. He was skilled." The girl explained, pacing back and forth in the alleyway and shooting him an occasional stare.
"And...you want me to find him I'm guessing?" Minato asked.
"Yes. They're searching already, but they can't go to deep into the battlefield without stepping into enemy territory. The search parties would be killed. You however....you're the Yellow Flash, you're the unbeatable ninja everyone talks about. You could get in and out and be able to search for my sensei with no problems at all." The girl said, watching Minato's face with intelligent eyes.
"Girl, it's not that easy. The Mizukage might already have hold of him by now." Minato said, expecting her excitement to falter, but it did not.
"There's a chance that he isn't captured. He and the other Whirlpool squads! Maybe they're hiding out! We can never know until we try to find them! Please Yellow Flash! I need your help! You're the only one that can help me right now!" The girl was holding back tears and Minato could tell.
He watched her as she shook with emotion in front of him, flustered and pleading. How can I refuse this girl? She has such spirit. He closed his eyes and bowed his head, preparing himself to deliver his answer. Finally, his eyes met hers again.
"I cannot. I am sorry, but I am needed for other battles in the war. I cannot ignore the needs of many in order to go after one person, even if I may find more of your comrades along the way, Whirlpool shinobi. I hope you understand." Minato said, hoping he wouldn't upset her too much.
"I do understand. It was selfish of me to ask in the first place. Please forgive me, Yellow Flash." She bowed her head, a deep sign of respect to a higher authority.
Minato was shocked by her reaction, and guilt and sympathy overrode everything in his heart. She just wanted to see and protect her people. She just wanted the people she cared for to be safe. It was the exact same thing he wanted to do. He couldn't help but have admiration for the spirit she had shown when she had asked him to help her. He lifted her chin up with his hand.
"I know you think you have to be so respectful towards me, but really don't bother. And please...for the second time...call me Minato. Sheesh, some people never learn."
"If you say so....Minato." The girl replied, looking at him with those measuring eyes again.
"Haha, there you go. Where was all that slyness I saw before?" Minato asked, smiling when he saw her smile.
"Oh...it disappears when I'm looking at a very handsome person." The girl said, her lips still curved upward in a smile.
"Does it now? And who exactly might you be talking about?" Minato asked, stroking his hair and looking at her expectantly.
"Not you...of course. Now excuse me, I have to get back to my hotel room for dinner."
The girl began to walk away, leaving Minato slack jawed in her wake. Just before she blended into the crowd, Minato walked quickly after her.
"Wait a minute, I never got your name! Hey, Whirlpool shinobi, what's your name?"