That night, with the arrival of the reinforcement troops, bonfires were lit one after another in the camp. The flickering orange flames cast long, dancing shadows against the canvas tents, momentarily pushing back the oppressive dampness of the Land of Rain. The wounded were systematically transferred to the newly built medical tents, and a hint of relief appeared on the fatigued faces of the defenders. They moved with a rhythmic, mechanical efficiency that spoke of long years spent in the dirt and blood of the front lines. Inside the command tent, all the Jonin had gathered. The air inside was thick with the scent of wet leather, map ink, and the heavy anticipation of high-level military strategy. Behind the long table at the front of the crowd, Homura Mitokado, dressed in the same black Ninja attire as the Sandaime, sat in the center. To his left were Sakumo Hatake and Jiraiya, and to his right were Orochimaru and Tsunade.
"Is everyone here?"
Homura Mitokado intertwined his fingers and announced in a deep voice, "I will now relay the following matters: First, I, Homura Mitokado, by order of the Hokage, will assume the role of overall commander of the Land of Rain battlefield starting today."
Hearing this, everyone was not surprised. The atmosphere remained professional and cold, as the transition of power during a wartime escalation was a standard procedure for Konoha. Such a position as overall commander would naturally be held by an elder with sufficient prestige. Homura Mitokado, as one of the two High-level Advisors, was capable of bearing such a heavy responsibility. He represented the direct will of the Hidden Leaf leadership, a steady hand to guide the chaos of the shifting borders. Of course, if there were any errors in the frontline command, only he could take the blame. It was a position of immense power, but it was also a seat placed directly under the executioner's blade should the campaign falter.
"At the same time, Jonin Sakumo Hatake will be responsible for the command of the northern front, Jonin Jiraiya will be the southern commander, Jonin Orochimaru will serve as the combat staff officer, and logistical medical affairs will be handled by Tsunade—"
Orders were conveyed in an orderly manner. The room was silent save for the scratching of pens on parchment as the various leaders noted their new sectors and responsibilities. It wasn't until the meeting adjourned, and only Tsunade and the other frontline commanders remained in the tent, that Homura Mitokado looked at the messenger Ninja: "Notify Genin Minato Namikaze to come here."
"Yes."
The messenger Ninja quickly left. The flap of the tent fluttered as he vanished into the rainy night. Soon, Minato was brought into the tent. He walked with a light, measured step, his expression a perfect mask of youthful innocence and disciplined respect.
"Advisor-sama."
Seeing Homura Mitokado, Minato politely nodded. His blue eyes were bright and clear, reflecting the flickering candlelight of the command center with a warmth that felt entirely genuine to those watching him.
"Ah! Long time no see, Minato-kun."
Homura Mitokado immediately forced a benevolent smile, a sight that made Tsunade's eyebrows twitch wildly. It was a rare, almost unsettling sight to see the stern advisor attempt such a fatherly expression. Compared to the strong-willed Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, also a High-level Advisor, had a much more rational personality, even to the point of being emotionless. He was a man of cold logic and hard numbers. When Danzo said it was for the Village, people mostly took it as a joke, but if Homura Mitokado said it, no one would ever question it. His commitment to the state was absolute and devoid of personal ego.
It was precisely because of this that even when facing Tsunade, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, he never showed her any kindness. He viewed her simply as a powerful asset with a volatile temper. On the contrary, due to Tsunade's somewhat unruly personality, he had even sided with Utatane Koharu and reprimanded her a few times. In all these years, when had she ever seen this Old Man smile so obsequiously? It was clear that Minato's value in the eyes of the village elders had reached an unprecedented height.
"I heard Sakumo's report. You almost completely annihilated an entire Sunagakure frontline unit by yourself."
Homura Mitokado waved his hand, signaling Minato to stand closer. He carefully scrutinized Minato, and only after confirming that Minato had no injuries did he nod with satisfaction. The boy was a miracle of efficiency, a weapon that didn't even chip its edge after a bloody slaughter.
"Truly gifted!"
"Advisor-sama, you flatter me," Minato replied, unperturbed by praise or criticism. Inside, Minato felt a surge of cold amusement. These elders were so easy to manipulate with a bit of talent and a polite smile. "Is there a mission you need to entrust to me?"
"Well—though it might be a bit troublesome for you, this mission indeed requires your help."
Homura Mitokado nodded. "The Sandaime has always advocated for peace. Although Sunagakure has been trying to instigate war, there isn't much deep-seated animosity between us and Hanzou. Fighting Sunagakure in the Land of Rain is truly a last resort."
"Therefore, the Sandaime intends to negotiate with Hanzou, hoping to ally with the Hidden Rain Village to resist Sunagakure's invasion. This requires sending someone to the Hidden Rain Village to discuss the relevant matters."
"Do you need me to go along?" Minato asked. He kept his voice steady, though he was already calculating the geopolitical ramifications of such a move.
"Yes."
Homura Mitokado nodded. "Because we are not yet clear about Hanzou's attitude, but this invasion by Sunagakure also shows that Amegakure does not have enough power to deal with external threats."
"So the Sandaime has decided, before the full-scale war begins, to send Orochimaru to the Hidden Rain Village to negotiate."
"I understand."
Minato nodded, without objection. His mind was already drifting toward the tactical advantages of the Hidden Rain's geography. However, he felt a little puzzled. It was just a simple matter, so why would a High-level Advisor explain it in such detail to him, a Genin? The level of transparency was unusual for a mere subordinate.
This is all to accumulate experience for you! Homura Mitokado thought to himself, looking at Minato's unyielding demeanor. With such strong mobility, and as someone destined to become Hokage, how could he not understand the battlefield situation? The advisor was grooming him, treating him like a successor rather than a child.
One person annihilating a hundred people—
And not just cannon fodder, but a vanguard unit performing a lightning strike mission, with Jonin accounting for a quarter of its strength! This was a feat of legend, a $100\%$ success rate in an impossible scenario. If Minato wasn't so young, he would truly wish to tie Minato to the Hokage's chair!
"Then I'll have to trouble you. The negotiation team will be led by Orochimaru, with you, Nawaki, and Uchiha Mikoto accompanying him. You'll depart tomorrow morning."
Homura Mitokado put away his smile and said seriously, "Hanzou is a cautious and suspicious person, and Amegakure is under constant martial law. Your primary task is to ensure your own safety, especially yours."
Minato nodded: "Understood!"
"Hmm—"
Homura Mitokado paused, then said somewhat awkwardly, "Also, there's another mission concerning the construction of the camp. You've seen the environment of the Land of Rain—"
Minato:
Seriously, are you going to fleece one sheep to death? Minato wondered silently. He was being treated as a combatant, a diplomat, and a construction crew all at once.
Homura Mitokado's tone was earnest: "The Land of Rain is often rainy and muddy. Fortifications constructed with regular Earth Release are easily eroded, and the humid environment is extremely unfavorable for the recovery of the wounded and the storage of supplies—"
Minato pondered for a moment: "I can construct Wood Release defensive barriers and watchtowers outside the camp, and plan several internal zones, but large-scale deployment will take time."
"No problem, you're truly a great help."
Seeing that Minato didn't refuse, Homura Mitokado's admiration grew even stronger. The boy's utility seemed limitless.
Then he paused: "By the way, I heard you can also cultivate crops?"
Before he finished speaking, there was a loud bang!
Tsunade slammed her hand on the table and glared at Homura Mitokado: "Old Man, are you never going to stop?!" The table groaned under the force of her strike, nearly splitting down the middle.
Jiraiya, seeing this, instinctively tried to mediate: "Hey, hey, calm down, Tsunade—"
"Get lost!"
"Alright—"
Sitting back down in his chair, Jiraiya looked calm as if nothing had happened, making Sakumo Hatake's eyelids twitch beside him. The dynamic between the Sannin was as chaotic as ever.
"Earth Release can prevent dampness just by painting it on houses. Do you have no one else working for you?!"
Tsunade was furious: "With the terrible food in this camp, Minato probably can't even get enough to eat, and you want him to grow food for you?!"
"Calm down, Tsunade."
Homura Mitokado rubbed his forehead helplessly, but his expression showed little surprise, as if he had long expected Tsunade's reaction. He knew how protective she could be over her younger subordinates.
"I didn't say I wanted him to complete it immediately. This is a long-term mission, and it's also for Minato's protection."
"Minato's Wood Release has already been exposed. His name will appear on black market bounties in no more than three days. In such a situation, are you comfortable letting him continue running around on the battlefield?"
"I don't need to elaborate on the importance of Wood Release, do I? Minato possesses the Flying Thunder God Technique. Is there anyone in this camp who can keep an eye on him?"
Hearing this, Tsunade slumped back into her seat. The logic was sound. Minato was now a high-value target for every enemy nation. Keeping him within the safety of the fortified camp while utilizing his unique abilities was the most pragmatic choice.
As if nothing had happened, she turned to Orochimaru and praised, "I've always said that Advisor Mitokado is meticulous and strategic, a pillar of the Village. See, I was right, wasn't I?"
Homura Mitokado: "—"
The true colors!!!
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