Namikaze Minato's Arrangements

With Uchiha Fugaku taking the lead to state his position.

The heads of the other clans followed suit, expressing their willingness to dispatch clan ninjas to the Iwagakure front.

The final total reached 320 personnel. After a series of detailed clarifications and Utatane Koharu's tally, this included ten elite jonin, with twenty regular jonin and twenty special jonin respectively.

There were 120 chunin and 150 genin.

Of course.

This deployment to the Iwagakure front would certainly involve more than just these 320 clan ninjas; there were also the civilian ninjas of the village.

However, the arrangements for those ninjas had nothing to do with the various clans.

After all, as mere civilian ninjas, they didn't even have the qualifications to attend this meeting, so Sarutobi Hiruzen was solely responsible for issuing their orders.

Soon, the meeting drew to a close.

Sarutobi Hiruzen gave his final instructions: after returning, the clan heads were to immediately mobilize their promised personnel and gather at the Konoha gates no later than one o'clock in the afternoon.

Namikaze Minato would organize the troops, and once everyone had arrived, they would immediately depart to reinforce the front lines.

The arrangements were quite reasonable.

Not only did it give everyone time to prepare, but it even accounted for lunch.

"Aoba."

As Uchiha Aoba walked out of the meeting room and prepared to head home to pack his gear and ninja tools, Namikaze Minato called out to him from behind, saying, "Once we reach the front lines, you will stay with me and act under my command."

"However, you still need to explain this to Clan Head Fugaku."

"Understood, Captain Minato."

Uchiha Aoba nodded in agreement.

Namikaze Minato chuckled and said, "There's no need to be so formal with me."

"Come to think of it, you and the others are from the same graduating class, but because of your outstanding talent and status as a key protégé of the Uchiha Clan, you weren't assigned a jonin instructor after graduation like the others."

"You were always led by jonin from within the clan to help you grow."

"So, if you don't mind, how about you call me 'Sensei' from now on, just like Kakashi and the others?"

Uchiha Aoba blinked upon hearing this.

He couldn't help but feel that his luck had been inexplicably good lately.

Not only had his system panel integration progressed smoothly, leading to the successful awakening of the Mangekyo Sharingan, but he had also been assigned as a subordinate to Namikaze Minato by Sarutobi Hiruzen, and now the man himself was taking the initiative to build a mentor-student bond with him.

He really couldn't figure it out.

However, Uchiha Aoba certainly wouldn't refuse such a good thing.

Deepening his relationship with Namikaze Minato meant that his status in the village would be even more secure, even though he had already successfully passed his growth phase and didn't strictly need the other's protection anymore.

Still, anyone would know how to handle an opportunity to make their future life even better.

Thus, Uchiha Aoba smiled happily and said, "Minato-sensei, I look forward to your guidance."

"Good!"

Namikaze Minato also smiled with satisfaction.

"That is all I wanted to say. Go back and prepare, and remember to call Obito when you gather."

Uchiha Aoba nodded, and without further ado, he used the Body Flicker Technique to leave the Hokage Building.

Back home.

After getting everything packed and ready, and since there was still time, he went to pay a visit to Uchiha Fugaku.

Since it wasn't his first time here, Uchiha Aoba greeted the guards and made his way familiarly to the door of the study, knocking before entering.

"Senior Tayama is here as well."

After walking into the study and seeing the familiar figure, Uchiha Aoba waved and greeted him.

"Aoba, you've come at the right time. The Clan Head is currently organizing the personnel."

After Uchiha Tayama responded politely, he immediately added, "Furthermore, I have proposed that given your current strength, you will serve as one of my deputies for this deployment to the Iwagakure front."

A deputy?

Uchiha Aoba smiled and expressed his gratitude before shifting the topic: "Clan Head, and Senior Tayama, the reason I came to visit is to inform you about my arrangements for this deployment."

"After the high-level meeting concluded earlier, Minato-sensei approached me and asked me to act alongside him."

"Is that so?"

Uchiha Fugaku frowned at first, but then his expression shifted, filled with great joy.

As the head of a clan, how could he lack political acumen?

Rumors had already begun to circulate among the village's upper echelons that Namikaze Minato would become the next Hokage, which was why he had acted so decisively when Uchiha Aoba had subtly nodded to him during the meeting.

Now, hearing Uchiha Aoba's words and noting the change in how he addressed Namikaze Minato, he understood.

The future path of the Uchiha Clan was laid out entirely before his eyes.

It was secure; this time, it was truly secure.

Given Uchiha Fugaku's current temperament, after realizing everything, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Good! Aoba, very good!"

"I hope you work hard under Namikaze Minato."

"Clan Head, rest assured," Uchiha Aoba replied.

"Also, on the battlefield, remember to prioritize your safety."

Uchiha Fugaku gave one final, earnest instruction before signaling that Uchiha Aoba could leave.

"Clan Head, this..."

Uchiha Tayama watched Uchiha Aoba's retreating figure, his heart filled with doubt.

However, before he could voice it, Uchiha Fugaku raised a hand to interrupt: "I know what you want to say, but based on my understanding of Namikaze Minato, you are overthinking it this time. Namikaze Minato is different from the others."

On the other side.

After leaving the Clan Head's residence, Uchiha Aoba followed Namikaze Minato's instructions to go find a certain king of tardiness.

Uchiha Obito's residence in the clan grounds was located on the outskirts.

The reason was obvious.

At thirteen years old, he had yet to awaken the Sharingan; the only reason the clan provided him with a place to live was because he bore the name Uchiha and was a student of Namikaze Minato.

Had it been anyone else, the clan's higher-ups would have long ago sent them to the battlefield as cannon fodder.

When Uchiha Aoba arrived downstairs, he didn't knock on the door directly. This two-story building housed two families, and Uchiha Obito lived on the second floor.

He jumped onto the eaves and peered through the window to see if the occupant was home.

However, the scene that met his eyes gave Uchiha Aoba a powerful visual shock.

He saw Uchiha Obito holding a photo of Team 7 in both hands, covering Namikaze Minato, Kakashi, and himself, leaving only the adorable Nohara Rin in the center of the photo, who was making a peace sign.

Uchiha Obito's state at this moment was shy, coy, and mixed with an inexplicable sense of sleaziness.

He pursed his lips, leaning in to kiss the Nohara Rin in the photo.

Just as he was about to make contact, perhaps Uchiha Obito sensed the light from the window dim slightly.

He suddenly jolted.

He looked up and saw Uchiha Aoba staring at him with a look of utter contempt.

Uchiha Obito instantly turned to stone.