[Time-Space: Fourth Hokage Time: October 10, Year 51 of Konoha Unification Progress: 22%]
At the home of Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with his wife, Biwako.
"Kushina, since your due date is near, there are some things I need to explain. A Jinchuriki's seal weakens during childbirth. The previous Mito nearly broke the Nine-Tails' seal."
"So, for safety's sake, you'll have to give birth inside a barrier some distance from the village. I'm very sorry."
Kushina furrowed her brows, looking worried.
Beside her, Minato immediately reassured her. "It concerns the seal. I'll be there to protect you while you give birth."
Kushina smiled softly, feeling much more at ease.
"Minato, Anbu operative Taji and my wife, Biwako, will accompany you. Everything will be done in secret."
"At the same time, my Direct Anbu will guard the area outside the barrier and strengthen security."
Hiruzen's grave tone made Kushina worry again.
"Don't worry. I'll go ahead and get everything ready." Minato took his wife's hand and gently reassured her.
"Mm."
Kushina blushed slightly. She trusted her husband more than anyone.
She even completely forgot about Biwako, who was standing beside her.
"I'll take you there..."
"Kushina?"
"Huh? Yes! Thank you..."
Soon, Biwako led Kushina out of the village.
On the way, Kushina spotted her close friend Mikoto Uchiha out for a walk, holding a baby, and immediately perked up.
"Oh! How cute! Is it a girl?"
"A boy."
"What's his name?"
"Sasuke."
Even Biwako, who usually wore a stern expression, came over and smiled—a rare sight.
"It's the same name as the Third Hokage's father!"
Fugaku had chosen that name for his son? He must have wanted to show his respect!
"That's right. I hope he grows up to be an excellent shinobi." Mikoto rocked the baby, her hopes for him full of affection.
"Kushina, you're going to have your baby soon too, right? Have you picked a name?"
"We have. His name will be Naruto. He'll be classmates with Sasuke someday, right? You two will have to get along!"
Kushina stroked little Sasuke, unable to resist imagining the two children's future.
"By the way, giving birth... It really hurts, doesn't it?"
Mikoto teased her. "Haha, so there are things that scare you, Kushina? That's a surprise..."
The two wanted to chat a little longer, but Biwako hurriedly pulled Kushina away.
"We have to go, Kushina!"
No one noticed.
As soon as Kushina and the others left Konoha, a figure began quietly following them.
Several hours later.
Inside a secret sealing barrier, several kilometers from Konoha.
"It hurts so much!"
Kushina's piercing cries of pain rang out from inside.
"Um, this is the first time I've ever seen Kushina cry out in such agony,"
Minato said nervously as he maintained the seal.
The Fourth Hokage, who had cut his way through the entire Third Shinobi World War and conquered every Ninja Village with his reputation alone, was completely helpless, like a child, as he watched his wife suffer through childbirth.
That was what happened when you cared too much.
"It's all right. Just focus on keeping the Nine-Tails sealed."
"But... this..."
"You're the Fourth Hokage. Don't panic! Women are strong, so don't get distracted!"
As the labor continued, the Nine-Tails' seal grew weaker and weaker.
Minato had to spend a great deal of Chakra maintaining the seal and further suppressing the Nine-Tails.
"It's so powerful! The Nine-Tails is still fighting!"
"Keep going, Kushina!"
"Keep going, Naruto!"
Finally, a loud infant's cry rang out.
"Waaah~~~"
The delivery was over at last. Naruto had been born.
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"Haah, haah—!"
Kushina panted hard and slowly unclenched her hands.
"The baby's here!"
"Hahaha! From today on, I—I'm a father!"
Minato was overcome with joy and couldn't stop wiping away his tears.
"He's a lively little boy. Come, come meet your mother."
Biwako's expression softened as well. She carried Naruto over to Kushina.
"Naruto, I finally get to see you!"
Kushina was terribly weak, but seeing Naruto filled her with joy and relief. A glow of motherly love shone in her eyes.
"All right, get some rest now."
Biwako picked up the baby, ready to wash him.
Minato hurried to Kushina's side, took her hand, and asked with concern, "Are you all right?"
"Minato!"
"Kushina!"
They gazed at each other, their deep love filling the air.
It was as if the two of them were the ones truly in love, and Naruto was just an accident.
"All right. I know you've just been through a difficult labor, but I have to make sure the Nine-Tails is completely subdued."
Minato clapped his hands, steeling himself.
He was about to fully close the Eight Trigrams Seal and lock the Nine-Tails away.
But just then,
a scream rang out.
Minato looked toward the sound and saw that someone had attacked Biwako and the others and stolen baby Naruto.
"Lady Biwako! Taji!"
A black-clad man wearing a Tiger Mask held Naruto and threatened them:
"Fourth Hokage Minato, move away from the Jinchuriki. Otherwise, this child has only one minute to live!"
He actually made it through the strongest barrier here. Who is this guy...?
Minato had never been more tense. His wife was on one side, and his newborn son on the other.
Using a baby to threaten him was despicable!
The attacker, Obito, didn't waste time. He tossed Naruto into the air and deliberately jabbed at him with a Kunai, forcing Minato to move away from Kushina.
Minato had no time to hesitate. He could only use the Body Flicker Technique to rescue Naruto in an instant.
But the despicable Obito had already stuck several Explosive Tags to the baby's swaddling clothes and quickly set them off.
If those Explosive Tags went off inside the sealed chamber, even Kushina would be caught in the blast.
Minato had no choice but to use the Flying Thunder God Technique. He teleported away with Naruto to an unused wooden cabin outside the village and tore off the swaddling clothes.
Before the explosion, he rushed outside with Naruto in his arms.
The blast destroyed the entire cabin. Flying splinters even cut Minato's ankle, but fortunately Naruto was unharmed.
Minato didn't dare waste a moment. He took Naruto back to his home in the village.
After settling him safely, he immediately rushed to rescue Kushina.
But while Minato had been drawn away, Obito had already moved Kushina and released the sealed Nine-Tails from her body.
When Minato teleported back, he only just managed to save Kushina from the Nine-Tails.
The Nine-Tails had already been controlled by Obito's Three Tomoe Sharingan, reduced to a mindless killing machine.
"Naruto, is he all right?"
"Yes. Naruto's fine. He's somewhere safe."
"Thank goodness!"
"Minato, you have to stop that man and the Nine-Tails right away. They're going to destroy Konoha..."
"Whoosh—!"
Minato didn't bother trying to stop Obito. He immediately teleported Kushina home and gently laid her down beside Naruto.
"Leave it to me. Stay here with Naruto."
Seeing Naruto asleep in bed, Kushina stroked his little head and struggled to draw closer.
"Naruto!"
Overwhelming weakness and sorrow washed over her, and the strong-willed Uzumaki Clan woman burst into tears.
She wasn't crying for herself, but for the newborn Naruto, who was about to lose his mother.
Seeing his wife and child like this, Minato's heart twisted with pain. His expression darkened, his hands clenched into fists, and fury unlike anything he had ever felt surged through him.
"Bang—"
Minato opened the wardrobe and put on his handsome Hokage cloak.
"Minato, thank you!"
"Be careful..."
"I'll be right back. Wait for me!"
Minato murmured, then vanished in an instant.
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