As time passed, more and more people gathered outside the delivery room.
First, Might Duy returned alone. Then, around dinnertime, Minato arrived with food.
After that, Nawaki came over with Kushina.
The waiting area outside was already full.
After Kawafune and Sakumo finished the dinner Minato had brought, they waited for several more hours.
At last, the delivery room doors opened.
"Mother and son are safe. Congratulations, Brother Sakumo."
Tsunade looked a little pale, with sweat still on her forehead. Clearly, the whole process had not been as easy as her smile suggested.
"Congratulations, Brother."
Sakumo excitedly gripped Kawafune's arm tightly.
"I'm a father! Hahaha!"
Everyone else stepped forward with their congratulations.
Sakumo laughed and chatted with them as well, and the atmosphere outside the delivery room was no longer so stifling.
"The process didn't go smoothly?"
Kawafune pulled Tsunade aside and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"It was very dangerous. The baby was in the wrong position, and there was severe postpartum bleeding."
"If you hadn't told me to prepare blood bags in advance, sister-in-law might not have made it this time."
Even as she spoke, Tsunade still felt a lingering fear. She did not dare imagine how terrible it would have been if Nayuki had died in front of her.
"So she's safe now, right?"
Kawafune stared at Tsunade as though he could not relax until he heard her say it herself.
"She's safe."
"Whew~"
Kawafune let out a long breath. Nayuki's cause of death had been dealt with; Kakashi would not grow up without a mother now.
"That's good. You worked hard."
Kawafune clasped Tsunade's hands, his gaze sincere.
"It was my duty. I'm going to take a bath. I feel awful."
Tsunade shook free of Kawafune's grasp and prepared to head to her office to