"Hmm? Tonight's operation?"
Ren was a little puzzled, but he didn't say anything. He just stood by and watched the two of them silently, waiting for them to continue speaking.
"Okay, then it's decided that Senior Fugaku will lead the team. I won't participate."
Minato said after a moment of thought. Fugaku didn't refuse either. He nodded and continued, "As for the time, it'll be after midnight."
"Hmm, right. Have all the personnel for the operation been arranged?"
Minato nodded slightly and continued to ask.
"They've been arranged. We'll gather fifteen minutes early. Don't worry, we'll definitely teach those Iwagakure Ninja a lesson this time."
Fugaku crossed his arms, his lips curled slightly upward, and a cold glint appeared in his eyes.
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this, Ren was still confused, not much better than Itachi, who was sitting quietly beside him. Just then, Fugaku suddenly looked at him and asked, "How about it, Ren? Do you want to participate in tonight's operation?"
"Huh?"
Ren was startled at first, but he quickly reacted and agreed after a moment of thought.
"No problem, but you two have to let me know the full story, right?"
"It's like this…"
After listening to Minato talk non-stop for a long time, Ren finally understood the whole story.
It turned out that those Iwagakure guys had been quite rampant recently. While the Land of Waterfall and Kumogakure were at war, they frequently provoked the Konoha Border Line. So, Minato and Fugaku discussed organizing a night raid to teach the Iwagakure Ninja an unforgettable lesson and curb their arrogance.
Thinking of this, Ren couldn't help but sigh. These Iwagakure Ninja were really too annoying. They wanted to provoke everyone they saw, and none of the other Four Great Nations could get along with them.
"Alright, then I'll participate too. It's been a long time since I've been in a group fight."
Ren's face was filled with eagerness. He had led subordinates for two months, always picking those teams with average strength, and the Jonin leading them were also average. The fights were never satisfying. Ren was already a little impatient for the night raid.
"Okay, the operation time is 3 AM. Gather fifteen minutes early at the Konoha Camp gate. You just finished a mission, so it's better for you to rest for a while now."
Fugaku stood by and reminded him softly.
"Alright, one last question before I go."
Ren looked at Itachi, who was beside him, and asked, "As for Itachi…"
"He'll be coming with us."
Fugaku's calm voice came out. Itachi didn't react much, but both Ren and Minato instantly became unsettled.
"Senior Fugaku, this is no laughing matter."
Minato rarely became serious. He looked at Fugaku and said in a deep voice, "I know."
Facing Minato, it was clear that Fugaku had no intention of backing down this time.
"I brought Itachi here to train him. What is a Ninja? I believe he can only truly understand after witnessing it with his own eyes."
Minato stopped speaking, but from his serious expression, it was clear that he was not going to give up so easily.
Just as the atmosphere in the tent became tense, Ren stepped forward, separating the two, and broke the silence.
"How about this, Itachi will come with me tonight. It's no problem for me to create some Shadow Clones to protect him."
Ren's mediation was very successful, and the atmosphere in the tent returned to normal. Ren walked up to Itachi and smiled, "Let's go, Itachi. We'll go rest for a while. It's not good to be sleepy during a fight."
Itachi blinked twice, then looked at Fugaku and said with some hesitation, "Father…"
"Go on. Don't cause your Brother Ren any trouble."
This time, Fugaku didn't refuse. He looked at the two of them and said with a smile.
"I understand, Father!"
Itachi immediately cheered up, then naturally extended his hand to Ren. The latter immediately understood and led the small hand outside.
"See you at midnight, Uncle Fugaku."
Watching the two leave the tent, Minato couldn't help but exclaim, "Ren and Itachi are still so close."
"Yes, Itachi is still so clingy to Ren."
If he didn't know it was impossible, Minato would have truly thought Ren and Itachi were biological brothers. Their friendship was something they had witnessed since the Full Moon.
"By the way, even with Ren protecting him, you still need to be careful."
Minato said seriously. Fugaku understood his meaning. After all, he was the one who suggested Itachi go to the battlefield, and since Itachi was his eldest son, he dared not be careless.
"Yes, I'll arrange it. As for Kumogakure, Minato, I'll leave it to you."
"Hmm."
Their battle here would surely alert the nearby Kumogakure. To prevent them from joining in, Minato would temporarily take Fugaku's place in guarding the Border Line, thereby deterring those Kumogakure Ninja.
While the two were talking, Ren and Itachi had already returned to the tent. Although Suzuki and the others were a little surprised that their captain brought back a child, they didn't pay too much attention, each holding a scroll and sitting on one side, studying, not disturbing each other.
"You haven't eaten yet, Itachi."
Ren picked up the bento box next to him and handed it to Itachi, then reached for the Ninja tool pouch at his waist.
"Eat quickly. Although it's not as good as Aunt Mikoto's cooking, it's much better than a Soldier Ration Pill."
"Thank you, Brother Ren."
Itachi took the food and was about to pick up his chopsticks when he noticed Ren leaning against the bed, eyes closed, resting. He couldn't help but ask, "Brother Ren isn't eating?"
"Me? I've eaten already. Don't worry about me."
Ren's lips parted slightly, and he said softly, while gently chewing the Soldier Ration Pill in his mouth. Itachi was different from him; at his age, it wasn't suitable to eat Soldier Ration Pills, as it wasn't good for his physical development.
"Oh."
After Itachi finished the bento in a few bites, he squatted by the bed, doing nothing but staring at Ren with wide eyes, making the latter's scalp tingle.
"I say, Itachi, if you don't rest, you'll be very sleepy during the operation after midnight."
Ren picked up the water cup next to him and said somewhat helplessly.
And the three people next to him, upon hearing Ren's words, immediately looked over with shining eyes.
"Captain, does the operation after midnight refer to…"
Suzuki scurried to Ren's bedside and asked excitedly. The other two also had inquisitive looks, seeming to find this operation more attractive than the scrolls in their hands.
"What, you three want to participate too?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
The few of them immediately nodded frantically, their excitement almost overflowing from their eyes.
"…Let me think."
Looking at the excited group in front of him, Ren couldn't help but get a headache. It seemed he had over-instructed them these past few months; they were all like battle maniacs, he really didn't know who they learned it from.
Forget it, I'll take them with me. Anyway, they're all protectors. I'll just take them to gain experience in the peripheral areas.
With the guards Fugaku assigned to his son and himself there, ensuring their safety shouldn't be a problem.