Night of the Nine-Tails Begins

Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally noticed the killing intent in Danzo's eyes, but he glared back without the slightest fear.

Danzo had already gone mad. To become Hokage, there was nothing he would not do.

Yet Danzo did not lash out in the end. He did not even utter that classic line, "You will regret this, Hiruzen," and simply slammed the door as he left.

Of course, it was absolutely impossible to make Shimura Danzō stop. He would never tolerate the thing he had pursued for most of his life slipping away before his eyes.

He had missed an opportunity once in his youth. No matter what, he would not miss another one now.

For that, he could pay any price.

"If the other families won't do, then I'll start with the Shimura clan!"

"As long as I can become Hokage, every sacrifice will be worth it!"

Genya did not know that Shimura Danzō had nearly gone insane. And because of Shimura Danzō's attempts to recruit people from the Mitokado and Utatane clans, Sarutobi Hiruzen had also broken with him. The Konoha F4 had directly split into the F3 and Shimura Danzō.

However, something neither particularly major nor minor also happened during this time.

Uchiha Sasuke was born.

Uchiha Sasuke was about a month older than Little Blondie. Upon receiving the news, Uchiha Genya knew that the Night of the Nine-Tails was drawing near.

There was one thing that caught Genya's attention slightly: the naming of Uchiha Sasuke.

As one of the highest-ranking figures in the Uchiha, Genya naturally attended the feast celebrating Uchiha Sasuke's birth. When Uchiha Mikoto went into labor, he also arranged for Security Division elites to guard the surrounding area.

With the Security Division nearly having Konoha in the palm of its hand, aside from necessary surveillance by the Anbu and Root, no one was foolish enough to stir up trouble at a time like this.

Holding his newborn son, whose skin was still somewhat wrinkled, Fugaku showed a rare smile on his long face.

"The Third Hokage's father, Sarutobi Sasuke, was an outstanding ninja. I also hope my son can become an outstanding ninja like the Third Hokage's father."

"This child will be called Sasuke."

Hearing this, Genya could not help raising an eyebrow.

Fugaku did not say that because he disliked Sarutobi Hiruzen and wanted to take advantage of him by becoming his grandfather.

It was a signal of political alignment.

Didn't Shisui have a gratified smile on his face after hearing those words?

Fugaku still had not given up on his fantasies.

Perhaps he saw how the Uchiha had been acting so boldly lately without any reaction from Konoha's higher-ups, and thought the Uchiha's spring had arrived—that he would soon take office as Hokage.

Unfortunately, he still had not realized that struggle was not a dinner party. Blood and sacrifice were required to achieve the final result.

All greatness had to be forged through sacrifice.

But that was unimportant. Now that Uchiha Sasuke had been born, the next step was to let all of Konoha—and even the entire Ninja World—truly witness the Uchiha's real power.

Itachi took his younger brother from his father. A rare, precious smile appeared on his mature-for-his-age face.

"Sasuke, my little brother."

"I will make sure you grow up safely."

Hearing that, Genya glanced sideways at Itachi but said nothing.

As the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Kushina's due date was kept strictly confidential.

Let alone the Uchiha, not many even among Konoha's upper ranks knew about it.

Genya could only roughly estimate when the Night of the Nine-Tails would break out based on Uchiha Sasuke's birth date.

On this day, Konoha Village was no different from usual. Many people had not even realized that disaster was about to strike them.

Namikaze Minato and Sarutobi Hiruzen personally led teams of Anbu and Sealing Squad members, sealing off the area around a secret maternity ward outside the village so tightly that not even water could pass through.

This was because Uzumaki Kushina was not only the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato's wife, but also the village's crucial Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

During childbirth, the seal on Kushina's abdomen would be at its weakest. Even the slightest outside interference could cause the Nine-Tails to go berserk.

Though this matter seemed extremely well concealed, they did not know that someone had already obtained the information in secret—and even had the ability to silently bypass the Barrier Squad's seals and appear at Kushina's delivery site.

On a large tree outside the village, space slowly warped.

A man wearing an orange mask and a black robe patterned with red clouds slowly emerged, looking down at Konoha Village below.

Only one scarlet Sharingan was exposed beneath the mask.

"Konoha... and Teacher Minato. It is time for Konoha to repay what it owes Rin."

Night fell completely.

Namikaze Minato was currently inside the maternity ward, anxiously staring at Uzumaki Kushina lying on the bed before him.

"Ah—!"

Uzumaki Kushina's face was pale, and her forehead was drenched in sweat.

Labor had begun.

Namikaze Minato was here because the Nine-Tails' seal would loosen during childbirth, requiring a ninja proficient in Sealing Technique to assist.

As Kushina's husband, Namikaze Minato was undoubtedly the best candidate.

"Kushina, don't push too hard right now. If you use up too much strength at this point, the Nine-Tails may take the chance to break through the seal."

Sarutobi Biwako, who was delivering the baby, continuously reminded Kushina of the necessary precautions from the side.

She had also been an excellent medical ninja in her youth and was quite experienced in such matters.

"Ah! It hurts so much—!"

Though he had heard that childbirth was extremely painful, Little Pepper's state still worried Minato.

The Uzumaki Kushina who normally feared neither heaven nor earth was showing such a vulnerable side now.

"Is she really all right? Kushina, she..."

Biwako was focused on delivering the baby. Without even raising her head, she said:

"Focus on the Nine-Tails' seal. Don't get distracted!"

After being scolded, Minato shrank back slightly, feeling even more depressed.

Being Hokage was truly stifling. Anyone could come over and scold him.

Minato had already made up his mind that once Kushina gave birth, he would resign from the position of Hokage.

Watching Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, and the Uchiha fight and argue with each other every day had become tiresome to him as well.

In reality, he did not have any authority at all. Only a few Anbu members and his student Kakashi were willing to listen to him.

Being Hokage was not even as good as being an ordinary ninja living freely.

Of course, this was definitely not the time to think about such things.

The urgent task was to focus on the seal. He absolutely could not let the Nine-Tails escape.

Once a calamity like the Nine-Tails escaped, all of Konoha would suffer devastating destruction.

Just then, the seal suddenly shook violently.

Minato quickly cast aside his stray thoughts, increased his chakra output, and firmly suppressed that evil power.

Kushina's voice gradually became hoarse.

Suddenly.

"Waaah~"