The Night of Childbirth!

The sun slanted westward.

After training for most of the day, Shinichi Hyuga took a quick bath, then silently returned to his room.

October 10th.

Glancing at the calendar on the wall, Shinichi Hyuga sat down in meditation, conserving his strength to recover the stamina and Chakra he had expended during training.

He had no idea whether the preparations he had made would be effective. This concerned his own safety, so he absolutely could not let down his guard. He had to remain fully alert.

While Shinichi Hyuga stood ready for battle, Konoha was also under tight security that night.

The Third Hokage sat in the Hokage's Office. Even though it was already "quitting time," he had no intention of leaving, quietly waiting for good news from his wife.

At the same time, Fugaku, who had previously received orders from the Third Hokage and Fourth Hokage to investigate Obito Uchiha's whereabouts, was also busy outside that night. Even at dinnertime, he had not returned home.

Although they had not caught Obito Uchiha after all this investigation, under Fugaku's leadership, they had indeed found traces indicating Obito Uchiha's presence.

And the place where Obito had left behind the most information was, surprisingly, Naka Shrine within the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Within the shrine stood a Stone Tablet passed down from the era of the Sage of Six Paths. The stronger one's Sharingan Dojutsu Power, the more clearly one could see the contents inscribed upon it.

Realizing that the other man's traces appeared most often and most frequently in this place, Fugaku Uchiha also understood that his suspicions might be true. Like him, the other man had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan!

This discovery immediately put Fugaku on edge, making him even more determined to track down the other man's whereabouts. That was why he had not even gone home for dinner.

Fugaku's wife, Mikoto, was the very picture of a virtuous wife and loving mother. Knowing her husband would not be returning for dinner, she began preparing a lunchbox early. After making dinner for her son Itachi, she entrusted her younger son Sasuke to Itachi's care and headed out to deliver Fugaku's meal.

Mikoto had complete faith in Itachi. Her eldest son was a genius in every sense of the word. When it came to looking after Sasuke, Uchiha Itachi sometimes did an even better job than she did as his mother.

The moon rose into the sky.

Uchiha Itachi sat in the corridor before the small courtyard with Sasuke in his arms. Gently patting Sasuke with one hand, he raised his head to look at the moon above.

"..."

Perhaps the Uchiha Clan's terrifying talent had manifested fully in Itachi. Perhaps it was a genius's sixth sense. In any case, Itachi sensed something unusual in the air.

"Sasuke, no matter what happens, your big brother will protect you!"

Looking at the bright moon in the sky, Uchiha Itachi murmured softly, his eyes filled with resolve.

"Waaahhh—"

"It hurts so much—"

Kushina's agonized cries became true "surround sound" within the cavern. At that moment, all she wanted was to drag her two girlfriends over and demand to know what they meant by saying that "giving birth doesn't hurt at all."

Kushina's voice even pierced through the thick rock walls at times. Even the Anbu ninja guarding outside could hear her clearly.

Inside the Delivery Room, Hizashi Hyuga and Daiki Hyuga could not help turning their heads slightly at the tremendous noise. However, they quickly refocused on their duties.

Activating their Byakugan, the two stood on opposite sides of the cave, taking in everything inside and outside the Delivery Room.

Several Anbu squad members gathered before the cave's stone gate, guarding the entrance.

"Um..."

"This is the first time I've seen Kushina cry out in pain like that."

"Is she really going to be okay?"

Standing beside the delivery bed, Minato Namikaze kept the seal stable with both hands. Seeing Kushina's pain-filled face, he could not help asking worriedly.

Though he was the Hokage, this was his first time accompanying someone through childbirth. With no experience to draw upon, he could only turn to Biwako for guidance.

"She'll be fine—"

"You should focus on keeping an eye on the Nine-Tails' seal!"

Unlike Minato's anxiety, Biwako was far more composed. Looking at Kushina's lower body, she spoke calmly.

"But..."

"This..."

Kushina's cries did not lessen, and Minato's face remained filled with concern.

"As the Fourth Hokage, don't be so flustered."

"A man would have died from the pain already, but women are strong!"

Even at a time like this, Biwako still had the mood to tease Minato. However, that was only on the surface. Fine beads of sweat had appeared on Biwako's face as well. Clearly, her nerves were stretched taut, and she was nowhere near as calm as she appeared.

Just then, the Nine-Tails began to stir. Minato had no time to speak, throwing himself fully into reinforcing the seal.

The Nine-Tails' resistance was incredibly powerful, and Minato felt it all too clearly.

So strong... The Nine-Tails is struggling to break free!

Minato gritted his teeth lightly.

Hang in there, Kushina!

Hang in there... Naruto!

Minato prayed silently, the worry on his face deepening.

Outside the cave.

Obito Uchiha stepped out of the void, silently appearing behind an Anbu ninja before pulling him into Kamui Space.

The next instant, he appeared before another Anbu ninja. With lightning speed, he seized the man's throat and ended his life in an instant.

In barely a dozen seconds, all four Anbu guarding the Cave had been killed by Obito Uchiha.

Casually tossing one Anbu corpse into the lake, Obito Uchiha slowly rose to his feet and looked toward the Cave, his eyes glowing crimson. Then his body gradually turned intangible and vanished into thin air.

At the same time, inside the cave.

"Daiki!"

Hizashi Hyuga, who had been quietly standing guard nearby, suddenly shouted his clansman's name. At the same time, his figure flashed as he swiftly arrived beside Minato.

"Yeah! I know!"

The instant Hizashi called his name, Daiki Hyuga had already rushed to the door, swiftly pulling a Kunai from his Ninja Tools pouch and gripping it tightly.

Although the battle outside the Cave had been silent, it could not escape the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan.

"What happened?"

As Minato struggled to maintain the seal, he asked Hizashi, who had suddenly moved closer behind him.

"Lord Minato, there's an intruder!"

"A young man wearing a Tiger-Striped Mask!"

The information was detailed enough: Tiger-Striped Mask, young man. Hizashi did not know Obito, but Minato could draw the answer from those details.

"Obito!"

Just as Minato froze for a moment, Kushina let out a cry of pain. Immediately afterward, the cry of a baby rang through the cave.

"Quick! Bring hot water!"

Biwako's voice brimmed with joy.

Hearing the baby's cry, Minato's face also lit up with delight.

"I'm a father!"

Joy surged over him like a tide. Even he was momentarily stunned by such tremendous news.

"Fourth Hokage!!!"

At that very moment, Hizashi's thunderous shout dragged Minato back to reality.

The next instant, Hizashi leaped into the air and struck a palm toward the space behind Biwako. The powerful force of the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm swept past the side of Biwako's head in an instant.

At some point, Obito Uchiha, wearing a mask and a Black Robe, had appeared in the Delivery Room. Without a sound, he had emerged behind Biwako and Tian Lu, reaching for their throats.

Yet Hizashi had seen through his movements. The instant Obito appeared and made his move, Hizashi launched a fierce attack.

"The Hyuga Clan..."

"Mudada—"

The Air Palm passed through Obito Uchiha's body and blasted into the ground, leaving behind a huge crater.

At the instant the Air Palm swept through him, Obito had been preparing to turn solid and deal with the two Medical Ninja first. However, Hizashi Hyuga swooped down from above, stabbing a Gentle Fist strike toward Obito Uchiha's brow.

His formidable taijutsu and terrifying reaction speed instantly closed the distance between Hizashi and Obito.

Obito kept his body intangible, allowing Hizashi to pass straight through him.

At that moment, his figure moved like a ghost, effortlessly passing through Biwako's body. The next instant, he became solid and reached directly for the baby in Biwako's hands.