Minato felt the test was just about done, and he was satisfied with the coordination between the three of them.
He casually threw a low-level ninjutsu. Shibi was very agile and used an Insect Wall Technique to block it in front of Nawaki, allowing Nawaki to snatch the bell.
"Congratulations, you passed."
Minato congratulated the three who were excited about grabbing the bell.
"Haha, as expected, I am the strongest. I even grabbed Minato's bell."
Nawaki stood with his hands on his hips, boasting shamelessly.
Perhaps Shino's sharp tongue was inherited from his father, as Shibi, whose presence had been extremely low until now, slowly said, "If Minato-sensei hadn't gone easy on us, you wouldn't have grabbed it at all."
This instantly deflated the originally happy Nawaki, who then pointed indignantly at him. "Shibi, if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."
"Alright, alright. Today's test is passed. Team Minato is officially established. Do you want to rest for a day, or do a mission immediately today?"
Minato interrupted Nawaki and looked seriously at the three little guys in front of him.
Well, they weren't that little; they were about the same age as him.
"Of course, we start taking missions today! I can't wait to experience the ninja life."
Nawaki's nature was always so impatient.
Seeing Nawaki's excitement, Minato revealed a helpless expression. His little wife was on the team.
Otherwise, Minato would definitely have let Nawaki try those D-rank missions dominated by fear, such as cleaning up the garbage in the river or cleaning public toilets, to let him experience the "wrong way" to start being a ninja.
After leading the three to the Hokage's office, Minato began to select a mission.
Considering their strength wasn't extremely powerful yet, Minato picked a C-rank escort mission.
However, this mission required escorting a batch of goods to the Land of Rain. Due to a shortage of manpower, it required two teams to execute it together.
This was perfect; he could pull Mikoto along to execute this C-rank mission.
As for the safety issue of Kushina being a Jinchūriki? With Minato there, Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't worried at all.
It just so happened that this mission was set to depart tomorrow. They could rest today and leave with the convoy tomorrow.
After dismissing the team and taking Kushina home, he found that Mikoto had returned early. Seeing that her class had just formed, she hadn't taken a mission immediately and chose to rest for a day instead.
This worked out perfectly. Tomorrow, they would go execute this C-rank escort mission together.
The reason he chose this troublesome C-rank escort mission was mainly that it was in the Land of Rain.
He hadn't seen that old pervert Jiraiya in a long time. Taking this mission as an opportunity, it would be good to go visit him.
However, this employer was lucky. To hire a Kage-level figure for protection with the pay of a C-rank escort mission, he was simply making a huge profit.
After explaining the situation to Mikoto, she agreed without hesitation.
Early the next morning, Mikoto went to find her three students before departure, while Minato naturally went to the mission's designated location—the Konoha gate.
At the Konoha gate, he found rows of cargo wagons already loaded. Some laborers and guards were ready and waiting, just waiting for Minato.
Minato walked over and told the employer about the situation with the other squad, then waited.
Fortunately, Mikoto and her team were quite fast. Not long after, she arrived with the Ino-Shika-Chō trio.
With everyone present, the employer arranged for departure.
"Ah, this is so troublesome. We have to run all the way to the Land of Rain. It's too far. It would be so much better to use that time to do D-rank missions at home."
As soon as they hit the road, Shikaku started complaining. As expected of father and son, they were equally afraid of trouble.
"It's good to go out and broaden your horizons. Sleeping in the village every day, aren't you afraid of getting moldy?"
Shikaku's good friend, Inoichi, teased from the side. He certainly didn't want to do those D-rank missions.
"Crunch, crunch."
Chōza didn't have time to talk; his mouth was stuffed with food. Anyway, for him, anywhere was the same as long as there was food.
"Sigh, I didn't expect that in just two years, Minato would become a team leader. What should I call you? Minato-sensei? Minato-senpai? Lord Minato?"
Shikaku tilted his head, looking at Minato with a helpless expression.
They were clearly the same age, but the gap between them was so large. He had tried desperately to catch up over the years, but he couldn't catch up at all.
"Call me whatever you want. I don't care about these things."
Minato shrugged indifferently.
"Hehe, as expected, calling you Minato is more comfortable. Calling you anything else feels like there's a barrier between us."
Inoichi chuckled and walked over to put his arm around Minato's shoulder.
During those years at the academy, he was the only one who chatted relatively well with Minato, and their relationship was close.
"You guys value lovers over friends. Ever since Kushina came along, you've been glued to her and rarely seek us out."
Shikaku ruthlessly roasted Minato from the side for his lack of loyalty.
"Haha, the feeling of being in love... you single dogs wouldn't understand."
Minato gave the three of them a look of disdain, then hugged Kushina and began to flaunt his affection right there in the open.
This caused everyone to roll their eyes in unison.
Perhaps feeling that flaunting affection with just Kushina wasn't powerful enough, Minato then pulled Mikoto in as well. The sight of him embracing both left the others overwhelmed with envy.
"This is simply insane! You even seduced my team leader!"
Shikaku pointed at Minato, cursing him for being shameless, truly shameless to the extreme.
Of course, deep down he was very envious. When will I have a girl to hold in my arms?
It wasn't just them who were envious; Nawaki and the others were also envious.
The gentle and considerate Mikoto, the lively and cheerful Kushina—most importantly, both were super beautiful women.
Who knows what good deeds this guy Minato did in his past life to find two such outstanding soulmates.
Nawaki sidled up and quietly poked Minato. "Minato, what do I have to do to attract a girl's attention?"
Seeing Minato so smug, Nawaki couldn't resist and ran over to learn from the master.
As Nawaki asked aloud, the others also pricked up their ears, pretending to be casual.
Even Shibi, that usually taciturn guy, quietly sent a bug onto Nawaki.
"Actually, you just need a face that is handsomely devastating. Then those little girls will come crying and shouting to throw themselves at you. But looking at your appearance... I estimate there's not much hope."
Minato pondered for a long time before uttering such a punchable sentence.
Nawaki, Shikaku, and the others: ...
Then, they all gave Minato the middle finger in unison, making Kushina and Mikoto cover their mouths and giggle endlessly.
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