"Since you put it that way, I won't stand on ceremony with you."
The gentle smile faded from Minato Namikaze's face, replaced by a solemn and grave expression.
He turned and walked towards the large sand table map at the center of the Command Center.
Under the dim light of the oil lamp, flags representing Kumogakure and Konoha were stuck into the map, interlocking like dog's teeth, forming a fragile stalemate along the border between the Land of Hot Springs and the Land of Frost.
"Although peace talks with the Hidden Cloud Village are on the agenda, friction on the border has never stopped."
Minato Namikaze's finger pointed to the western side of the map, a rugged mountainous region adjacent to the Land of Frost.
"Small-scale clashes, ambushes, and probes happen every day."
"To gain the initiative at the negotiation table, we must have absolute control over the Battlefield."
"Every mountain path, every canyon, every dense forest where troops could hide must be known intimately."
Aokawa's gaze followed his finger, listening quietly.
He knew this was the real reason he had been summoned in the dead of night.
Minato Namikaze sighed, a trace of unmasked weariness in his voice.
"The war with the Land of Earth's Iwagakure has drained too much of our energy."
"Some of the experienced Chunin and Jonin under my command have been transferred to the other front."
"The rest are engaged in direct confrontation with Kumogakure on the main Battlefield."
"Now, I can only dispatch some Genin squads, fresh out of the Ninja Academy, to carry out these terrain reconnaissance missions."
Minato Namikaze turned his head to look at Aokawa.
"You know as well as I do, these youngsters lack experience."
"In sensitive areas near the Land of Frost, if they encounter elite Kumogakure patrols, the consequences would be unthinkable."
"Therefore, I've divided the reconnaissance area into several sectors. Each sector needs a sufficiently powerful Ninja to protect them from the shadows and make decisions for them at critical moments."
Aokawa understood.
He was to be a babysitter.
Minato Namikaze's tone shifted, and his expression became somewhat troubled.
"For most sectors, I've already arranged personnel."
"It's just... there's one squad that's a special case."
He extended his finger and circled the westernmost sector on the map, the one deepest into the no-man's-land between enemy and friendly lines.
"This area is the most dangerous. The Ninja in charge of this squad is Asuma Sarutobi."
Hearing that name, Aokawa's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's son.
"Originally, I didn't approve of him going to such a dangerous place."
Minato Namikaze's voice carried a note of helplessness.
"But you know Asuma's personality. He's eager to prove himself on the Battlefield, to shed the halo of being the Hokage's son."
"When tasks were being assigned, in front of everyone, he volunteered... I couldn't show too much favoritism."
"What's more troublesome is that Sarutobi Shinto, who had been looking after him, was severely injured protecting him on the last mission and is still unconscious in the medical camp."
Minato Namikaze looked into Aokawa's eyes, his tone unprecedentedly serious.
"I've thought long and hard, weighing it repeatedly. I want to entrust this most dangerous sector to you."
"The squad you'll be responsible for is Asuma's."
"Given your strength and judgment, I believe only you can command the situation, complete the mission while ensuring their safety."
This was no longer a request, but an entrustment.
Aokawa nodded. Although he didn't want to take on this babysitting-type mission, he couldn't refuse.
Putting aside the fact that Minato Namikaze was the Battlefield commander-in-chief, just considering that he had been teaching him Sealing Techniques recently and had given him leave despite the manpower shortage, he couldn't bring himself to refuse this favor.
Minato Namikaze picked up a scroll from the table and handed it over.
"This contains the specific mission objectives and information on your squad members."
"Your mission is not just to map the terrain."
"You need to detour west around the long and narrow Kazegake Valley, cross the Land of Frost border without alerting anyone, and scout a suspected newly built Kumogakure supply depot. No need to destroy it, just confirm its exact location."
Aokawa reached out and took the scroll; it felt cool to the touch.
"I understand." He didn't ask further, simply agreeing calmly.
"Assembly time and location?"
"Five o'clock tomorrow morning, at the entrance of Camp Three."
Seeing him so straightforward, Minato Namikaze's last bit of worry dissipated.
"Wait!" Aokawa, who had turned to leave, suddenly looked back.
Minato Namikaze looked at him, puzzled.
"This is a storage Seal I developed based on Sealing Techniques for storing Sage Mode Chakra." Aokawa took out a scroll and handed it to Minato Namikaze.
"You actually know about Sage Mode Chakra?" Minato Namikaze exclaimed in surprise.
"Lord Orochimaru provided some materials, plus I can sense the energy in the air." Aokawa fabricated casually.
He wasn't afraid of others knowing he could use Sage Mode.
His strength had grown by now, and the Caged Bird Seal issue was mostly resolved. He wasn't afraid of covetous eyes.
The phrase 'a treasure invites thieves' only applies to the weak.
He had received so much consideration from Minato; it was only right to give something back.
Moreover, it's never wrong to improve relations with the future Hokage.
Minato Namikaze glanced at it and said delightedly, "My Sage Mode endurance has always been poor. With something like this, it could greatly extend my combat time."
"Aokawa, thank you!"
"Compared to the consideration you've shown me, Watergate-sama, this is nothing," said Aokawa.
"Just call me Minato, no need to be so formal."
Aokawa laughed heartily, "Then I'll be presumptuous, Minato."
"Mhm, you should go rest now. You have a mission tomorrow..."
...Stepping out of the brightly lit Command Center, the cold night wind blew against his face.
Aokawa walked, slowly unrolling the scroll in his hand.
Under the moonlight, lines of neat handwriting came into view.
[Third Reconnaissance Squad]
[Lead Ninja: Asuma Sarutobi]
[Member: Shiranui Genma]
[Member: Ebisu]
Aokawa's gaze swept over these familiar names without pausing.
There, was another name.
[Attached Support: Anko Mitarashi]
The name Anko Mitarashi gave Aokawa a slight surprise.
He put the scroll away, his gaze turning towards the distant darkness.
Orochimaru's Disciple, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's son.
Add to that a future Special Jonin, Shiranui Genma, and an elite instructor, Ebisu.
The squad Minato Namikaze had assigned him could indeed be considered 'luxurious' in terms of configuration.
He just wondered if these young people, each with their own background and pride, would cause any trouble when brought together.
But that had nothing to do with him.
His mission was simply to ensure their safety and complete the reconnaissance.
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