Naruto: Aizen's Shadow in Konoha

As for Uchiha Fugaku. Although he falls short when compared to Aizen and Minato, Fugaku is nonetheless a well-respected figure in Konoha.

This year, Fugaku was appointed as the youngest elder of the Uchiha clan and also took on the role of vice-captain of the Konoha Police Force. Within the Uchiha clan, he wields considerable influence, and his standing in Konoha as a whole is notable.

Currently, Fugaku's strength is at the level of a top-tier Elite Jōnin. With his mastery of the Three Tomoe Sharingan and the secret techniques of the Uchiha clan, his combat power rivals that of an ordinary Kage candidate.

---

After delivering a brief inaugural speech, filled with the usual motivational rhetoric, Aizen stepped down from the stage with his trademark composure.

Minato and Fugaku immediately approached him.

"Congratulations, Aizen! You owe us a treat tonight!" Minato said, patting Aizen on the shoulder with a grin.

"That's right, Aizen! This time, don't hold back. We're expecting something top-tier!" Fugaku added, smirking mischievously.

"Sure, no problem!" Aizen replied cheerfully, his demeanor confident and relaxed.

As they chatted, Hiruzen approached the group with his usual calm authority.

"Lord Hokage!" the three greeted him in unison, bowing respectfully.

Aizen, ever the gentleman, smiled and said, "Lord Hokage, how about joining us for tonight's celebration?"

Hiruzen chuckled warmly. "No, no. You young people should enjoy yourselves without an old man tagging along. Celebrate and have fun," he replied, his tone light but tinged with wisdom.

After exchanging a few more words with the trio, Hiruzen left them to their plans.

Later that evening, Aizen and his friends gathered at one of the most exclusive restaurants in Konoha. This establishment was famed for its exquisite ambiance and extravagant offerings, a place far out of reach for most civilians.

When Minato entered the luxurious private dining room Aizen had reserved, his jaw dropped in amazement.

The room featured antique tables and chairs, intricate frescoes, and porcelain pieces that were clearly priceless.

"Aizen… isn't this a bit much? How much is this going to cost?" Minato asked, his voice tinged with both awe and hesitation.

"Relax, Minato. I doubt Aizen will have to spend even a single ryo on this meal," Fugaku said, settling into a chair with an air of calm confidence.

"No way!" Minato exclaimed, staring at Aizen in disbelief.

Aizen chuckled, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "Fugaku is right, Minato. Every time I eat here, I never have to pay."

"What? How is that even possible, Aizen?" Minato asked, still stunned as he took his seat.

Fugaku leaned back and smiled knowingly. "This restaurant belongs to the Yasui family. You might not know this, but Aizen allocates a significant portion of the medical scrolls produced by the Medical Corps to them. They're one of the biggest distributors in Konoha."

In Minato's stunned expression, Aizen elaborated: 

"The next generation of their family's head, Eiji Yasui, is someone you know too, Minato! Eiji used to be one of my subordinates, so I give his family a little extra consideration. 

To show their gratitude, the Yasui patriarch ordered that any property under their family's ownership should waive the bill for my consumption!" 

Finally understanding, Minato nodded in realization. 

"So that's how it is! By the way, Aizen, the medical scrolls from your department are incredibly popular! Last time, Kakashi told me he waited outside the medical department all night just to get a few…" Namikaze Minato said, his tone filled with awe. 

"Huh? Why didn't you tell me sooner? I'll make arrangements with the medical department tomorrow. When Kakashi comes to purchase scrolls, he won't need to wait in line, and there will be no purchase limits," Aizen replied, frowning slightly. 

"This… doesn't seem entirely appropriate," Minato hesitated. 

"What's inappropriate about it? When we established the scroll sales department, I specifically made arrangements for important individuals to skip the line and have purchase quotas waived. Otherwise, why do you think there's never a queue whenever you go to buy something?" Aizen said, rolling his eyes in exasperation. 

"Uh…" Minato thought for a moment. Every time he had visited the medical department, a medical ninja had guided him directly to what he needed. He had always thought it was just a tradition of the department. Turns out, it was special treatment! 

Suddenly, his face was filled with embarrassment. 

"Haha, Minato! So you never realized this?" Fugaku laughed heartily. "The first time I visited the medical department, I figured it out immediately." 

Minato's face grew redder with each passing moment. 

"By the way, Minato, since you're the vice-captain of the Shinobi Forces now, I've got a tip to help you gain some quick reputation. Coordinate with Aizen here—make it so that the ninjas under your command get discounts or priority for medical scrolls, treatments, or even assignments of medical ninjas to combat squads. Trust me, you'll establish yourself in the department quickly," Fugaku said with a sly grin. 

"Wait, what? That's possible?!" Minato exclaimed, his mouth agape in shock. 

"Of course!" Aizen replied with a calm smile. "Not long after the medical reforms, Fugaku came to me about this. His police force members have been enjoying those perks for quite some time." 

Minato froze, his gaze now fixed on Fugaku. 

"Haha, Minato, don't look at me like that. This is how things work. We all need Aizen's support from time to time. Tonight, let's just celebrate Aizen's promotion and success," Fugaku said, as jovial as ever. 

While Minato initially felt uneasy about such preferential treatment, he couldn't deny that it was… convenient. 

"Okay, maybe this isn't so bad after all…" Minato muttered, eventually succumbing to the practicality of it. 

Soon, Minato was fully on board, solidifying another "mutual agreement" with Aizen. 

After the three finished their discussions, the meal began. Exquisite dishes were brought out one after another, and the trio shared several toasts, their camaraderie filling the air. 

Amid laughter and celebration, the banquet came to an end. 

---

Despite the drinks from the previous night, Aizen rose early, showing no signs of exhaustion. 

After delegating tasks within the medical department to his staff, Aizen prepared to leave Konoha. With purpose in his stride, he headed towards the Sand Village, where his next plan awaited execution.