For the Uchiha Clan, the death of Uchiha Kagami back then was a huge loss.
As a disciple of the Second Hokage, even if Uchiha Kagami couldn't become the next Hokage, he could at least have been part of the next Hokage's core team and become a high-ranking official without any issue.
Just like Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu, and the others are now.
If there were such a person in the upper echelons, they would be enough to serve as a representative and link for the Uchiha Clan within Konoha, fighting for the clan's interests.
The situation the Uchiha Clan faced wouldn't be as awkward as it is now.
This was originally an effect intentionally designed by the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, intended to make him a link between the Uchiha Clan and the Village, allowing the clan to better integrate into the Village, rather than being in a state of invisible confrontation with the Hokage faction as they are now, wasting the Village's internal strength.
But he just had to die.
His death not only caused the link between the Uchiha Clan and the Village to disappear, but it also meant that all the clan's past efforts and investments in him went down the drain, leading to the emergence of today's dire situation.
And now, Uchiha Itachi, whom Fugaku sent to Minamikawa Yuu's side, is also playing such a role, just like Uchiha Kagami once did.
However, after learning from Uchiha Kagami's lesson, Uchiha Setsuna felt that having just Itachi alone didn't seem sufficient.
More insurance was needed.
"Send more manpower?"
After thinking for a moment, Fugaku had to admit that it made a lot of sense.
If the connection between the two sides relied solely on Uchiha Itachi, it would be far too fragile.
A Ninja's career is full of accidents. What if one day Uchiha Itachi also died out there, just like Uchiha Kagami?
Although he was reluctant to admit it, such a scenario was indeed possible.
In every sense, they needed to add another layer of insurance.
"Let's send one more person."
Another clan elder spoke up: "He has already taken Itachi as a student. It seems inappropriate to continue sending people under the guise of being students."
"Then let it be in the name of a guard and attendant."
"Who should we send?"
This question plunged everyone present into silence.
Even if someone were sent as a guard, they would have to meet certain conditions.
Someone sent to serve as a guard for Minamikawa Yuu would not only need sufficient strength but also couldn't be too old.
Without enough strength and talent, they wouldn't be able to fulfill the role of a link, nor would they be able to occupy an important position beside Minato Namikaze and Minamikawa Yuu in the future.
If they were too old, it would also be impossible to cultivate enough trust and friendship.
To meet these conditions, such a person was not easy to find within the current Uchiha.
However, after a moment, they still found a candidate who met the criteria.
Uchiha Kagami's grandson, Uchiha Shisui.
As a descendant of Uchiha Kagami, there were few issues with his identity; compared to other Uchiha members, he would be more easily accepted by the Hokage faction.
Moreover, unlike the current four-year-old Uchiha Itachi, who had yet to show his talent, the seven-year-old Uchiha Shisui had already demonstrated superb talent as a Ninja.
If nothing went wrong, he would surely become an excellent Ninja in the future.
After Shisui's name was brought up, everyone present felt he was a good choice.
Thus, they prepared to make arrangements and find an opportunity to inform Minamikawa Yuu.
While the Uchiha Clan was deliberating, Minamikawa Yuu had already returned to Minato Namikaze's home.
His luck was quite good; when he arrived at Minato Namikaze's house, Kushina Uzumaki happened to be out.
At least he avoided some torment.
"Looking at you, it seems things went quite smoothly this time?"
Minato Namikaze looked at Minamikawa Yuu in front of him and spoke with a smile.
"It went quite smoothly."
Minamikawa Yuu nodded.
In front of Minato Namikaze, he recounted his experiences within the Uchiha Clan one by one, without hiding anything.
After Minato Namikaze finished listening, a look of appreciation appeared on his face: "As expected of Yuu."
"Although I knew you could do it, you did far better than I imagined."
Originally, he thought it would be enough if Minamikawa Yuu could use the Hokage election to persuade the Uchiha Clan not to pursue the matter regarding Kakashi.
He hadn't expected Minamikawa Yuu to over-deliver on the task.
Not only did he get them to drop the matter of Kakashi, but he even went a step further and got them to stand by his side.
With the support of the Uchiha Clan, his chances in the Hokage election were undoubtedly much higher.
Despite having confidence in himself, Minato Namikaze had to admit that Orochimaru was indeed a formidable opponent.
The difference in their growth time was too great.
When Orochimaru and his teacher Jiraiya became famous together and were known as the Sannin, Minato Namikaze was just an ordinary student at the Ninja Academy.
Within Konoha, the other party had been building his influence for many more years than Minato Namikaze, and the prestige and support he had accumulated were not weak at all.
Furthermore, Orochimaru's many talents were also outstanding, and he possessed excellent leadership skills, enough to bear the title of Hokage.
Competing for the Hokage title against such an opponent, it was impossible for Minato Namikaze not to feel pressure.
"It's a good thing for the Uchiha Clan to support you, Teacher, but if not handled well, it could easily turn into a bad thing."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke up to remind him: "There might be many people in Konoha who don't want to see the Uchiha Clan integrate into the Village at all."
"If the Uchiha Clan supports you, Teacher, it might cause these people to become hostile toward you as well."
He wasn't talking about anyone else but the group led by Danzo Shimura.
If the Uchiha Clan supported Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others might not say much and might even be happy to see such a situation form, but Danzo Shimura and his lot would very likely become hostile toward Minato Namikaze because of it.
If things weren't handled well then, it would instead bring trouble upon them.
"Yes, I understand."
Regarding Minamikawa Yuu's words, Minato Namikaze smiled: "But no matter what, the Uchiha Clan is a part of the Village, aren't they?"
"The fact that they can support me shows that more people in the Village recognize me."
"In that case, what do I have to fear?"
Unlike ordinary people, Minato Namikaze's vision was undoubtedly higher.
He truly looked at problems from the perspective of the entire Konoha's situation.
Although the Uchiha Clan hadn't yet reached the point where they would be forced into a coup as in later generations, they were still faintly being ostracized by various forces within Konoha.
If this continued, internal strife within the Village would likely begin.
In this situation, their willingness to support Minato Namikaze precisely showed that they were willing to take the first step and try to integrate into the Village collective.
As someone who truly loved this Village, Minato Namikaze was undoubtedly happy to see such a good start.
"Is that so."
Regarding Minato Namikaze's attitude, Minamikawa Yuu was first surprised, then nodded and quickly understood.
This was the mindset of someone who truly loved Konoha.
Whether or not they could become Hokage, that heart that loved Konoha would not change.
People like Minato Namikaze, even if they weren't the Hokage, would still be willing to strive for Konoha until death without the slightest hesitation.
In this case, how could he not feel joy because of the Uchiha Clan's change?
Minamikawa Yuu was noncommittal about Minato Namikaze's mindset, but he could understand it.
"Regardless, the matter with Kakashi has been resolved."
In front of him, Minato Namikaze suddenly stood up and spoke with a smile: "The rest will depend on ourselves."
"Okay."
Minamikawa Yuu nodded with a smile and also silently stood up.
In the following days, everything returned to tranquility.
However, after this day, Minamikawa Yuu had an additional task.
Teaching Uchiha Itachi.
He was his student after all. No matter what he thought, since he was now his person, he had to take care of him.
At least he couldn't let him become the original problem child who exterminated his own clan at a young age, right?
There was a tradition of killing one's master in Naruto, after all.
Minamikawa Yuu didn't want to be living his life comfortably only to have his dear apprentice come to kill him one day.
Although he wasn't afraid, it would be quite troublesome.
After all, if that scene truly happened, it would undoubtedly mean there was a serious problem with how he taught his student.
In the original story, Fugaku's teaching of Uchiha Itachi was very problematic.
Taking him to the battlefield at a young age, forcing him to be a double agent, forcibly applying pressure, and so on.
A young child having to kill people, deal with the clan, the Hokage, the Root, and other places all day long, and also complete tasks as a Ninja.
It would be a wonder if he wasn't driven crazy.
Now that he was Minamikawa Yuu's student, he naturally had to change the teaching method.
For the first few days, he didn't do much, just took Itachi around various places in Konoha.
Young Itachi was very calm compared to children his age, but he was still too young and would eventually show his preferences.
Minamikawa Yuu found that the current Itachi seemed quite normal.
Aside from being very polite and not talking much due to staying in the Uchiha Clan for a long time, he wasn't much different from an ordinary child in other aspects.
He also had preferences, foods and snacks he liked, and things he was interested in.
It was just that because of his overly precocious thoughts, he couldn't play with children his age, and he was also very cautious about expressing his inner thoughts.
After figuring out Itachi's personality, Minamikawa Yuu began his teaching.
"Your body is too small and hasn't fully developed yet. Doing too much high-intensity training now will affect your future."
Looking at Itachi in front of him, Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly: "Instead of doing high-intensity training now, it's better to start with some other aspects of cultivation."
"In terms of techniques?"
Uchiha Itachi asked.
"No, other aspects."
Minamikawa Yuu said with a smile: "I've specially designed some courses for you."