"Listen, boy," his great-uncle had once told him, sake cup in hand. "A Kage's not meant to be your friend. The moment they put on that hat, their will becomes the village's will. Look at Hashirama and Madara. Best of friends, till one got that title."
In a sense, the leader of a village was hardly qualified to be a good person.
A Kage could not simply speak about emotions with a ninja clan; otherwise, the clan might have felt they were being fooled, or even suspected ulterior motives. Minato had played it smart, keeping things professional and focusing on the benefits to both the village and the clan
So, the interaction between him and the Uchiha went smoothly, and the feelings were just right—after all, he came with money. Masashi couldn't help but smirk at the thought. Money talks, even in the noble world of shinobi.
Afterward, Minato also visited the Hyūga clan.
Both major ninja clans agreed to a rotating system, ensuring that at any given time, at least fifty jonin could be mobilized in the village. With the Uchiha's unique abilities, the actual combat strength of these fifty jonin would be even greater. Not to mention, both clans could also provide more chunin.
As for special jonin, that rank was something created by the Hokage's office; the ninja clans didn't bother with such classifications.
Minato's actions did not face opposition from the former Hokage's council. The old men and women were practically falling over themselves in agreement, like parched travelers stumbling upong an oasis.
In the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha lost more people than in the first two wars combined, but the benefits gained were unprecedented.
After all, it was the third time, and winning three times in a row made Konoha renowned among the nations. The biggest wave of commissions in Konoha's history followed. From the recent situation, it was predicted that the total scale of this wave would be terrifying. Suna was only the biggest contributor—it had no choice since it was the first to surrender.
Even Danzō had said that if necessary, Root could spare some manpower. It wasn't just about seizing the chance to make money, but also about avoiding being caught in the crossfire.
The core of Konoha's ninja army wasn't the ANBU, and it was certainly not Root. The ninjas from these two organizations were just a small fraction compared to the vast number of regular ninjas who relied on missions for their livelihood.
The Third Shinobi World War differed from the second one in that it wasn't entirely driven by national interests. Some conflicts were caused by grievances between ninja villages, and the cost of these conflicts had to be borne by the villages themselves. Ninjas on missions had no income other than reimbursement for their expenses.
Expecting the daimyō to fund this part of the war was out of the question—"Why should we pay for you ninja villages to fight among yourselves for fame and missions?"
After fighting for years, not only were the individual ninjas desperate for income, but even the village itself was starving. No joke, anyone dragging their feet at this point would be quickly sidelined.
Danzō knew very well that if it came to that, he would be the first one to go. Thus, Konoha united as one and started focusing on missions.
Their only two real competitors were their old friends in the north—Iwa and Kumo.
Let's not even mention the highland barbarians, who would sooner crack a skull than look at a book. For them, every problem looked like a nail, and they were all too eager to play the hammer.
And Iwa ninjas were still holding a grudge; they were deeply unsatisfied with their loss.
In response to the Hokage's call, the Uchiha clan, aside from leaving behind the most basic defense forces, mobilized every ninja they could. This wasn't just about giving face to the Fourth Hokage—the Uchiha also wanted to make money.
The Hyūga had more people, so the Uchiha couldn't compete in numbers, but they could excel in quality.
Even Masashi attended the clan meeting this time, as it was about deciding who could leave the village.
"Did you hear? We're getting more high-ranking missions!"
"About time. We've been cooped up in the village for too long."
"Think they'll let me join the rotation?"
Masashi kept his face neutral. More missions mean more opportunities. But also more risks. Hm... but more money for food.
The clan quickly unified their thoughts and came up with the exaggerated slogan: One Uchiha can equal ten Hyūga.
Fugaku stood at the front, his stern face even more serious than usual. "The Hokage has requested our assistance in handling more high-ranking missions outside the village. This is an opportunity to showcase the Uchiha's strength and bring more prestige to our clan."
"However, we must be strategic in how we allocate our forces. We cannot leave the village undefended."
The discussion that followed was heated. Clan members argued over who should be sent out and who should stay behind. Masashi watched it all with amusement. Politics and posturing, as always. At least it's a bit entertaining today.
His eyes scanned the room, observing all the present clan members.
In one corner, he saw two particularly animated members, their faces flushed with anger as they jabbed fingers at each other's chests. Takeshi and Kenji, if he remembered correctly. Both jonin, both eager for the spotlight.
"I've been training for months for this opportunity!" Takeshi snarled, his Sharingan unconsciously activating in his agitation.
Kenji scoffed, leaning in even closer. "Training? I've completed twice as many high-rank missions as you this year alone!"
They were practically nose to nose now, there was hardly any space between them. Any closer and they might start making out right here in front of everyone. Now that would liven up this meeting.
He imagined the scandalized looks on the elders' faces if Takeshi and Kenji suddenly locked lips instead of trading insults. Thinking about it was so absurd that he had to stifle a chuckle.
Maybe I should suggest they take their 'discussion' somewhere more private. For the sake of resolving their differences, of course.
But no, as amusing as it would be to stir that pot, it wasn't worth the hassle. Better to stay out of it and enjoy the show from afar. Besides, there were more interesting things to focus on – like who would actually make the cut for these missions.
Masashi's attention shifted back to Fugaku, who was looking increasingly exasperated with the chaos unfolding before him. Time to wrap this up, oh great leader. Before our clan meeting turns into a brawl... or an orgy. Both I don't want to be part of.
At the end, they somehow finalized the roster.
There were fewer than thirty with the three-tomoe Sharingan. According to Fugaku's suggestion, aside from the high-level officers of the police force and those needed for internal defense, fifteen could be stationed at mobile posts, with one reserved as a temporary position during manpower shortages, and at least five jonin would be on missions outside the village at any given time.
Masashi was pleased—he didn't even have to fight for it; he made the list.
Seeing the clan so focused on making money was absolutely adorable. This is how it should be—this is the spirit a ninja clan should have.
Training in isolation wasn't enough; you also had to go out and fight people. How else could you put your skills to use?
Unfortunately, Masashi wasn't in the first batch.
However, Shisui was, as expected.
There was no choice; the first mission had to be a success, and 'Shisui the Teleporter' was a name that carried weight.
The next morning, four clan members, including Shisui, left for the Hokage's office, fully armed and with high spirits, under the eager gaze of the entire clan.
They would receive their mission and head out immediately.
After seeing them off, Masashi headed home instead of his usual training grounds. Since he could be called to leave at any time, he needed to ensure he was in the right condition.
"Masashi, you're home early!" his mother called from the kitchen as he entered.
His stomach responded to the cooking smells before he could even answer.
"Did you pack enough food?" she asked, already moving to pack additional onigiri. "I know how you get when you're hungry on missions."
Mom really knows what matters, Masashi smiled as she pressed a wrapped bundle into his hands.
His father, who had been maintaining some equipment in the living room, looked up. "Ah, good timing! I just got my hands on some new polish for kunai—supposed to prevent rust even in Kiri's humidity. We should check your gear!"
Father and his endless experiments with maintenance techniques, Masashi thought. At least half of them actually work.
Still, he dutifully followed to reorganize his gear. They spent the next hour methodically checking and maintaining his equipment, his father periodically breaking into detailed explanations about various polishing methods that Masashi only half-listened to.
After finishing their preparations, he went to his room to rest while waiting.
As dusk approached, a knock finally came at the door.
"Masashi! Time to gather!"
Masashi quickly got up, put on his shoes, opened the window, and jumped out.
In just a few moves, he leapt from the second floor to the front door. Shouting "I'm leaving" back to his house, he headed for the clan's entrance to meet with the person who had come to notify him.
At the gate, two other clan members were also fully equipped.
Yaku was waiting nearby.
"Yaku-sama."
"Looking energetic, Masashi."
Ever since that night at the bar, Yaku's attitude towards Masashi had noticeably changed.
Before, he had been all businesslike. Now, it was more like, "Kid, I've got my eye on you." The friendship and camaraderie between men were simple and predictable.
"I remember, you're skilled in Wind Release, right?" Yaku asked.
"Yes."
"Good, that's perfect. There's an A-rank mission from a noble in the Land of Hot Water, and only jonin can take it. Go to the Hokage's office and accept it."
The Land of Hot Water? It was said to be rich in hot spring resources and was an ally of the Land of Fire.
Of course, calling it an ally sounded nice, but its real function was to serve as a battleground between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.
It was also a battleground between Konoha and Kumo.
To the north of the Land of Hot Water was the Land of Frost, a subordinate of the Land of Lightning.
Both the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Frost had their own ninja villages, which essentially served as vassals of Konoha and Kumo, respectively.
Yaku gave a few more instructions before finally saying, "This is an escort mission, but from what I understand, there will definitely be shinobi attackers. The client claims they'll be from the Land of Hot Water, but if they show up, they'll definitely be from Kumo."
"Don't hesitate—kill them immediately. And make sure to leave evidence; the village will make the client pay extra."
"Understood. If both show up, we'll just kill them all for an even bigger bonus," Masashi smiled.
"Well, look at you, still joking around. I guess you're confident. But you know how ninja battles are—the roles of hunter and prey can switch at any time. And remember, your mission is to protect, which is different from a battlefield. The most important thing is to keep yourself safe."
Masashi nodded, acknowledging the advice. Keep myself safe, huh? Don't worry, self-preservation is high on my list of priorities.
He was mentally prepared. Or as prepared as one could be for the unpredictable world of ninja missions. I just hope the client won't be too difficult to deal with. Then again, when are they ever easy?
Konoha's service reputation was impeccable, which was why, despite being expensive, they always had the most commissions.
After bidding farewell to Yaku and the two other clan members, Masashi set off for the Hokage's office.