After the war ended, Minato Namikaze's steady performance earned him recognition as someone with Chunin-level ability, and he was awarded that rank. In a Shinobi Village, a Chunin was already qualified to serve as a squad leader and could begin leading a small team on missions. Although Minato had not been a ninja for very long, he had accumulated enough experience during the war. His performance had not been the most dazzling among his peers, but it had still won others' acknowledgment of his abilities.
As a combat ninja, Minato primarily carried out missions outside the village. In particular, Konoha Ninja Village had purchased new land from other nobles after the war and needed people to introduce its institutions to those areas. As a member of the new generation, Minato was assigned there to gain experience.
Just as he had during the war, Minato performed steadily. He could not be called outstanding, but he fulfilled his superiors' requirements perfectly. Although he did not earn distinguished service awards through exceptional achievements like some others, the accomplishments in his record continued to grow steadily. The former approach might lead to rapid advancement, but it also carried the risk of mistakes that would leave a blemish on one's record.
Minato's responsibilities required frequent contact with the logistics department, something he personally enjoyed because it allowed him to see Kushina often. He had originally thought that becoming a full-fledged ninja and getting busy with work would create some difficulties, but now he no longer had to worry about that.
When he returned from his latest mission, however, Minato unexpectedly received an invitation from Kushina, which surprised him somewhat. Thanks to their time at the Ninja Academy and their work assignments, he and Kushina knew each other very well, but they rarely went out together.