You're Using Me as a Stepping Stone Now?

Nara Changwan led Minato Namikaze's team to their tent and asked with a fawning smile, "Minato, is there anything else you need? Just let me know!"

"Sorry for the trouble, Adviser Changwan. We don't need anything for now. Please, get back to your work."

Nara Changwan left reluctantly, disappointed that he hadn't gotten to say more to Minato Namikaze.

Minato Namikaze glanced at Asuma and Ebisu waiting in the distance, then at the impatient Obito. "Go on. You can see your classmates first."

Obito hurried off. Rin Nohara ran a few steps, noticed Kakashi was still walking slowly, then turned back, grabbed his elbow, and pulled him after Obito.

Minato Namikaze went to find Jonin Konoha Tsurugi first and ask about the situation at the front.

Konoha Tsurugi had been Jiraiya's classmate and was a veteran Jonin who had been among the strongest supporters of the three of them at Jonin Commander meetings.

By the time Minato had finished asking, he found that the situation at the front could only be called a shambles.

The Konoha Ninja posted near the front had to defend nearly a thousand kilometers of border. There were gaps everywhere, and the Defense Squads were suffering heavy casualties.

Minato went to find Kakashi and the others to see what his three students were doing.

In the woods beside the training ground, Minato saw many Genin from Obito's year—nearly twenty of them.

He stayed out of sight behind a tree trunk and watched what was happening.

Most of them had gathered around Kakashi and seemed to be urging him on.

The sight reassured Minato. He had long worried about Kakashi's state of mind. After White Fang died, Kakashi had shut himself off and made completing the mission his first priority.

For the sake of a mission, Kakashi