The Squad's Mission

The next day, Minato Namikaze arrived at the Hokage Office early.

"Lord Hokage."

Hearing the familiar voice, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at the youthful Minato Namikaze.

Speaking of which, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been very satisfied with this grand-disciple of his. Whether in strength or character, he stood among the finest of the village's younger generation.

What was more, he had mastered the Second Hokage's famed signature technique, the Flying Thunder God Technique, and was in a relationship with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki. All of this left Hiruzen Sarutobi with an excellent impression of Minato Namikaze.

It was precisely because of this that, when Hyuga Yang had approached him through the Sarutobi Clan, he had not refused. He had agreed to let Hyuga Kazuya join the Hokage faction and become Minato Namikaze's student.

Whether for the Hokage faction or Minato Namikaze's future, they needed to win over the Hyuga Clan. Of course, Hyuga Kazuya's talent was also enough to make Hiruzen Sarutobi willing to grant this favor.

Taking a puff from his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi said kindly, "What is it, Minato?"

"Lord Hokage, I want to take my squad on a mission."

Hearing that, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help but frown. But when he considered Kakashi and Hyuga Kazuya's strength in Minato's Squad, his furrowed brow gradually relaxed.

"Have you decided what kind of mission you want to take?"

It was only Minato Namikaze. Other ninjas naturally did not have the privilege of freely choosing missions, but the young man before him was his grand-disciple and one of the village's finest young talents, so Hiruzen Sarutobi specifically asked him.

"Lord Hokage, I want to take my squad on missions farther away."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat taken aback, but he quickly understood why.

"Is it because of Kakashi?" As he said this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened as well, though he quickly composed himself.

Minato Namikaze nodded without speaking. After all, this was not a good thing for the village, and there was no need to deliberately bring it up.

Setting down his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the mission list on the desk and searched through it one by one for missions with distant routes.

After a long while, his gaze stopped on one particular mission. But when he saw that its proposed rank was S-rank, he could not help considering how dangerous it would be if Minato's Squad carried it out.

After thinking for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that if Minato handled this mission, it would be relatively easy. There might not even be any need for combat.

They only needed to arrive at the mission target in advance, leave behind a Flying Thunder God formula, and wait for an opportunity to act.

Considering that even if the mission failed, Minato Namikaze knew the Flying Thunder God Technique and could bring the squad back safely, Hiruzen Sarutobi settled on this mission.

Using the number on the mission list, Hiruzen Sarutobi found the mission scroll and handed it to Minato Namikaze.

"This mission is S-rank. The objective is to investigate which faction purchased a large quantity of weapons, then handle it as you see fit."

As Minato Namikaze opened the scroll and read the mission details, Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered that Minato's Squad also had a "Genin"-rank ninja who had only just graduated from the Ninja Academy.

He searched the mission list again and found a B-rank mission that was on the way, assigning it to Minato's Squad as well.

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi hand over another mission scroll, Minato Namikaze was somewhat surprised.

"This is?"

"A B-rank mission. Don't forget that your squad has someone who just graduated," Hiruzen Sarutobi said teasingly as he took another puff from his pipe.

Minato Namikaze nodded and accepted the mission scroll. Clearly understanding Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning, he began reconsidering the difficulty of the S-rank mission.

After seeing the mission target, Minato Namikaze, like Hiruzen Sarutobi, felt that while this mission was S-rank for other ninjas, it was not very difficult for him.

"How is Kakashi?"

Minato Namikaze, who had been thinking over the missions, felt his heart tighten at Hiruzen Sarutobi's question. Not daring to look him in the eyes, he could only pretend to continue studying the mission as he answered.

"He's doing very well. He's no longer hung up on the issue of missions and companions."

He understood that his answer could have a huge impact on Kakashi, perhaps even determine Kakashi's future.

Add a little more weight to the scales.

"At yesterday's dinner, Kakashi performed very well. I'm confident I can guide him properly." As if he had made up his mind, Minato Namikaze lifted his head as he spoke, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi with firm and confident eyes.

"That's good." Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled happily, and even the tobacco in his pipe seemed to taste more fragrant.

Minato Namikaze scratched his head in confusion, not knowing why the Hokage was smiling so happily.

After waiting for a while and seeing that the Third Hokage had no further instructions, Minato Namikaze put away the two mission scrolls. After bidding the Third Hokage farewell, he hurriedly left.

Watching Minato Namikaze leave the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi's favorable impression of him grew by several points after their conversation.

In truth, he had his own channels for observing Kakashi, so he knew Kakashi's recent condition very well. He was also pleased to see Kakashi emerge from his gloom.

His earlier question had merely been intended to observe Minato Namikaze's reaction. Regardless of whether Kakashi's heart would turn toward Konoha, if even his teacher was someone willing to abandon him, then the outcome was easy to imagine.

But Minato Namikaze's answer and reaction had greatly satisfied Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Perhaps I can let him become a Hokage candidate and build up some experience."

"Then become the Fifth Hokage?"

Thinking of Orochimaru becoming the Fourth Hokage and Minato Namikaze becoming the Fifth Hokage, with both of them being people he valued, the smile on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face deepened, and he became even more hopeful for the village's future.

"I wonder if Orochimaru has obtained any new intelligence recently while monitoring Root."

As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up Orochimaru's latest report from the desk and began reading it carefully.

After leaving the Hokage Building, Minato Namikaze considered whether to gather the squad early and set out on the mission ahead of schedule. After all, if they arrived earlier, he could leave behind Flying Thunder God formulas in advance. But after thinking it over for a moment, he decided against it.

Kakashi had only just experienced his father's death. They had agreed on three days later, and suddenly moving it up might affect his emotions. Since part of the purpose of this mission was for Kakashi's sake, it was better to let him rest for a few more days.

Even if he did not reach the destination in advance to leave behind Flying Thunder God formulas, Minato Namikaze did not believe he would fail the mission.

Because he had confidence in himself!

Besides, this mission was not actually as important as it seemed.

Ordinary weapons were merely an added benefit to ninjas and could not create an absolute advantage.

Therefore, it did not matter to Konoha which ninja village or faction had bought them.

Konoha simply had a habit of investigating such matters thoroughly. As for what to do afterward, that depended entirely on the judgment of whoever carried out the mission.