Tomo nodded in response to Mayu's comment.  "I agree.  It's almost certainly coming from physical contact with the beast.  I can't understand why it affected our Sensei so much more quickly-- this child managed to walk home, while she collapsed partway here-- but the creature is clearly dangerous."  He paused for a moment.  "The squad leader is unconscious.  We really should have a chain of command for situations like this, but we don't.  So here's where I see everyone doing the most good."<br/><br/>He pointed to each shinobi in turn as he spoke.  His voice was clipped, emotionless, and precise.  First, the medi-nin hunched over her patients.  "Mayu, you're the only one who has a chance of saving them.  We all know that no matter what, you have to stay here to take care of them.  Momo too, so that you won't be without protection.  And in an emergency he could carry them, right?"  Tomo looked outside at the massive dog, leaving unsaid the implications of Hero's theory-- if the 'disease' was related to the monster's reproductive cycle, then the patients could quickly become dangerous in their own right.<br/><br/>"Myself, I'm no medi-nin.  But I do have a Kekkei Genkai which makes physical contact, and presumably infection, completely impossible.  I can go back to the cave and try to find out if the monster is still alive.  If it is...  Well, it survived an attack from a Jounin.  We'll call that the worst-case scenario.  But at least I could find out for certain, and perhaps learn where it's going, if anywhere.  I'm not too sure about this part of the plan; I think it's mostly based on my desire to be doing<em>something</em>, which isn't wholly rational.  I could also stay here.  If the problem really is a single object or two that the monster implanted in them, I have a technique that could help a lot.  But I admit I don't have the medical knowledge to use it effectively."<br/><br/>"Hero...  I see two options."  He pointed at the pile of medicinal herbs.  "Those things are more effective when they're fresh, right?  If you can grow plants rapidly, can you mass-produce some of that?  Alternatively, you could go back to Konoha or at least send a message.  Backup-- medical or combative-- would be really useful for either of our problems here."<br/><br/>He spread his hands, palms up, as he finished speaking.  "And that's all I have.  Better ideas are very welcome."