When Genma said he was about to head out on a secret mission, a glint flashed in Yusuke's eyes. He picked up his teacup and took a small sip, then replied without showing his feelings, "Is that so? What a shame." A shame that I won't be inviting you for tea again after this.
Yusuke had invited Genma for tea for a reason, of course: he wanted to use the Fourth Hokage's personal guard to find out when the Hokage's wife, Kushina, was due to give birth.
Looks like the Third and Fourth Hokage have already begun making preparations. Naruto should be born within the next few days, Yusuke thought.
Since he didn't know the exact location where Kushina would give birth, Yusuke could only wait until the Nine-Tails appeared, then rush to the scene as quickly as possible.
In Yusuke's ideal scenario, he would use the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style to seal the Nine-Tails' Yang Release Chakra back into Kushina, while preventing the Fourth Hokage from using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to seal away its Yin Release Chakra. He would then seal the Nine-Tails' Yin Release Chakra inside his own Yin-Yang Cursed Seal.
Looking at Shiranui Genma, Yusuke couldn't help thinking of the Flying Raijin Jutsu. If he could master that technique, things wouldn't be so troublesome.
If I get the chance, I should find a way to learn this forbidden jutsu, Yusuke thought.
While Yusuke was gathering information from Genma about the exact time Naruto would be born, the Third Hokage and the soon-to-attack Obito were also making their preparations.
Since Kushina was a Jinchuriki, the seal on the Nine-Tails inside her would weaken during childbirth. Its Chakra might leak out, or the Nine-Tails might even break free. The Third and Fourth Hokage agreed to set up a barrier at a secluded location outside Konoha, where Kushina could give birth.
The Third Hokage also assigned his wife, Biwako Sarutobi, to guard Kushina personally, and stationed a number of Anbu near the barrier.
At that moment, Obito slowly appeared before Danzo at a Root Organization base, emerging in a swirling vortex from the Kamui Dimension.
Several shinobi standing guard beside Danzo were horrified by the unexpected visitor's bizarre entrance.
Wood Release: Four-Pillar Prison Technique!
Secret Technique: Spindle Technique!
The two jutsu were used by Kinoe, a Root Organization shinobi, and an elite jōnin from the Aburame Clan. Kinoe was Tenzo, who had yet to leave the Root Organization—and who would later become known as Yamato.
Four wooden pillars rose around Obito, trapping him in their midst. Then thousands upon thousands of black insects poured from the Aburame jōnin's sleeves, forming a spinning spindle-shaped formation that shot toward Obito.
To Danzo and the Root Organization shinobi's astonishment, the insects passed straight through Obito's body. Obito took a few steps forward and walked through the wooden pillars as if he had no physical form.
"Who are you, and what do you want with me?" Danzo asked, watching Obito's strange abilities.
"My identity doesn't matter. What matters is that we can work together in a way that benefits us both," Obito said slowly.
Danzo gave a cold snort. "I won't work with someone whose origins are unknown. Unless you take off that mask and reveal who you are, there's nothing to discuss."
"Is that so? What a shame. I was hoping to talk to you about the Uchiha Clan and the new Fourth Hokage. It seems we won't have that chance," Obito said with a smile.
As he spoke, Obito activated Kamui and began slowly drawing himself into the space. He deliberately slowed the technique, betting that Danzo wouldn't be able to resist calling him back.
If Obito disappeared completely without Danzo saying a word, it would mean their negotiations had failed. But Obito believed that, given Danzo's nature, he would seize any opportunity to join forces with someone who could help him strike at his enemies.
"Wait," Danzo called, just as Obito's head was the only part of him still visible.
The corner of Obito's mouth curled beneath his mask. It seemed Danzo would cooperate with his plan after all.
Konoha Year 48, October 10, night.
A bright full moon hung high in the sky. On a hill overlooking Konoha, a figure wearing a black cloak and a mask suddenly appeared.
"Tonight will be a night to remember."
At that moment, Kushina was struggling through childbirth at a secluded, barrier-protected outpost outside Konoha. Assisting her were the Third Hokage's wife, Biwako Sarutobi, and another female medical ninja.
Nearby, the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, was frantic with worry. But there was nothing he could do except hold Kushina's hand, hoping to give her some strength.
After a long and painful ordeal, Kushina finally gave birth to Naruto. By then, Obito had already taken care of the Anbu guarding the barrier.
Kushina gazed tenderly at Naruto, who was still crying in Biwako's arms. Tears of joy welled in her big eyes, while Minato wiped at his own eyes with his arm, overcome with emotion.
Biwako smiled as she held Naruto out for Kushina and Minato to see, then prepared to take him outside for a quick wash.
But before Minato and Kushina could exchange more than a few words in the makeshift delivery room, screams suddenly came from the doorway—Biwako's and the other medical ninja's.
Minato and Kushina looked toward the sound. A masked figure in a black cloak had appeared in the room. In his arms was Naruto, who had just been born.
"Fourth Hokage, step away from the Jinchuriki," Obito threatened, holding Naruto in his right arm.
"Otherwise, this child has only one minute to live."
Obito's words sent a chill through Minato. Kushina had just given birth, and the seal controlling the Nine-Tails inside her had loosened. She needed his help to restore it.
The Nine-Tails thrashed inside Kushina. As the seal weakened, black cursed markings spread from her abdomen up to her face.
"Ah!"
At Kushina's cry of pain, Minato immediately turned toward her, forcing himself to stay calm.
When Minato still didn't move away from Kushina, Obito took out a kunai and held it against Naruto's neck.
Seeing that their enemy seemed about to harm Naruto, Minato hurriedly said, "Wait. Calm down first."
Obito gave a cold laugh. "I'm calmer now than I've ever been."
With that, Obito tossed Naruto high into the air.
Minato was horrified. He immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to snatch Naruto out of the air, but before he could feel relieved, he noticed several lit explosive tags stuck beneath Naruto's swaddling clothes.
In an instant, Minato activated the Flying Raijin Jutsu and teleported to a spot he had prepared in advance. He pulled off Naruto's swaddling clothes and managed to protect him just before the explosive tags detonated.
But as a result, Kushina—now helpless to defend herself—was left unguarded. Obito used his space-time transfer ability to take her to a waterfall near Konoha.
Obito used a sealing jutsu to suspend Kushina by her outstretched hands between two rock faces, about seven or eight meters apart. He watched her calmly.
Though this woman had once been his teacher's wife and had treated him very well, Obito no longer hesitated. Ever since Rin had been killed by Kakashi, there had been nothing left in this world for him.
Obito activated his Sharingan and used his powerful visual prowess to control the Nine-Tails inside Kushina through the seal. The beast's foxlike pupils changed into Sharingan.
By then, the seal keeping the Nine-Tails under control inside Kushina had grown weaker and weaker. Under Obito's command, the beast unleashed its power and finally broke through the seal restraining it, bursting out through the seal on Kushina's abdomen.
At this point in time, the Nine-Tails was still whole, and it was much larger than the one inside Naruto in the original story. The Nine-Tails inside Naruto had only half of its full Yang Release Chakra. During the Nine-Tails Incident, the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, sealed its other half—its Yin Release Chakra—inside himself with the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
Beneath the full moon, the Nine-Tails threw back its head and roared, its nine tails—each dozens of meters long—swaying wildly.
Kushina, now stripped of the Nine-Tails, was even weaker. Obito released the sealing jutsu holding her up, and she fell onto a rock below.
An ordinary Jinchuriki might already have died at this point. But Kushina was an Uzumaki, a clan known for its vitality, and she was among the most gifted of her clan. So although she was weak, she showed no signs of dying.
"As expected of an Uzumaki. You really are tenacious," Obito said slowly, looking at Kushina, who was still alive. At the same time, he made the Nine-Tails swing a claw at her, now unable to move.
With a crash, the Nine-Tails' tremendous force sent up a cloud of dust. But Kushina was already in Minato's arms. He had arrived just in time using the Flying Raijin Jutsu. He had left a Flying Raijin mark on her earlier.
After saving Kushina, Minato immediately used the Flying Raijin again to take her back to where Naruto was waiting. He gently laid her down beside Naruto.
Looking at his wife and child on the bed, Minato clenched his fists.
"Minato, thank you. Be careful," Kushina said softly. She knew that, as the Fourth Hokage, Minato had to return to the village and face the mysterious enemy.
Minato took the white Hokage Haori from the wardrobe and put it on. This would be his first battle defending the village as the Fourth Hokage!
"I'll be right back!"
Konoha was still peaceful. Though it was late, the bustling streets were filled with pedestrians, and no one had noticed the danger about to descend.
Yusuke, sitting with his eyes closed at home, suddenly sensed a powerful and evil Chakra appearing in the village.
"He's here!" Yusuke's eyes snapped open.
In a northern part of Konoha, a gigantic beast with nine tails and the appearance of a fox suddenly appeared. It began destroying everything around it, and in an instant, numerous buildings were reduced to rubble and many villagers were killed in the chaos.
Seeing the Nine-Tails Obito had summoned in the distance, Yusuke activated the barrier he had set up at home. After telling his family not to go outside, he headed for the square in the Uchiha Clan Compound. In a crisis like this, the Uchiha Clan, as members of the Konoha Military Police Force, would surely go to help.
The Uchiha shinobi had already gathered in the square at their compound, preparing to head to the front lines and fight the Nine-Tails.
"All Uchiha shinobi, listen up! You are to remain within the Uchiha Clan Compound tonight. No one is to leave!"
As always, thanks for your support!
This week's chapters are mainly about the story of the Nine-Tails Incident!
Before you continue