On October 9, Year 48 of Konoha, there was one day left until Naruto's birth and Minato and his wife's deaths.
The Hokage's office.
A handsome blond man was busily working, his face showing a hint of worry, tenderness, and happiness. He was the current Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
He was tender because his wife was about to give birth. He was happy because their life together would soon become even more complete. And he was worried because his wife was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
A Jinchūriki's seal weakened during childbirth, which could allow the Tailed Beast to break free. If a Tailed Beast left its Jinchūriki, the Jinchūriki would die. So he was extremely worried about his wife's safety.
A few days ago, he had written to his teacher's close friend, Tsunade of the Konoha Sannin, asking for help. He had asked Tsunade to help deliver Kushina Uzumaki's baby. With Tsunade there, even if something went wrong with the seal, she would be able to treat Kushina. Tsunade was also a powerful fighter in her own right.
Tsunade, who still hadn't fully recovered, had sent a letter back to reassure Minato. She said she would send back a clan member who had been living away from the village, and that he had a way to restrain Tailed Beasts.
Minato was completely baffled by the letter, but he could only trust that the help Tsunade had sent would be reliable.
"Alas, I can only hope nothing goes wrong."
He sighed and looked at the picture frame on his desk.
It showed Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and the three members of Team Minato: Kakashi Hatake, Rin Nohara, and Obito Uchiha.
"Obito, Rin. Your junior teammate is about to be born. If you were still here, you'd be so happy. Alas... If only you were still here... I'd better finish work quickly and go keep Kushina company."
"I'm leaving this mission to you. I trust your abilities. And your Wood Release can restrain Tailed Beasts. Even if something goes wrong and the Nine-Tails breaks free, you'll be able to minimize the damage."
Hearing Tsunade's instructions, Fei Shi was delighted. I didn't even know what excuse to use to go to Konoha. Haha.
"No problem. It's just the Nine-Tails, right? Leave it to me."
Seeing how swollen with confidence he was, Tsunade gave him a Fist of Love and warned him:
"Be careful! If something goes wrong and you're not sure you can handle it, just come back. With me around, no one will dare say anything to you. You're only eleven, after all..."
"Uh, all right. I'll be careful. But since you're so worried about me, Sis, why don't you come back to Konoha with me?"
Tsunade simply ruffled Fei Shi's hair and said softly, "Maybe another time. Oh, right. Take this necklace. The people in Konoha won't suspect you when they see it."
As she spoke, she took the necklace from around her neck and put it on Fei Shi.
"It's an heirloom from Grandpa... It means a lot to me, so don't lose it. Or else..."
Tsunade made a monkey-steals-the-peach gesture, then squeezed her hand. A series of cracking sounds came from her grip.
Fei Shi felt a chill shoot straight through him. He clamped his legs together and hurriedly promised, "Don't worry, Sis. I promise, I promise I won't lose it! Y-you can put your hand down. I'm still a kid! I'm still a kid, don't scare me, don't scare me."
"Then get going. Be careful on the way. Oh, right! Leave that Flying Moutai of yours behind!"
"No way! That's a treasure..."
"Get lost!"
"Sure thing!"
"Damn Big Fat Sheep! My liquor! My treasures!"
Fei Shi sat astride a Flying Pegasus that beat its wings and galloped through the sky. The Pegasus was black all over, with a broad, rounded back and powerful limbs. It radiated an imposing presence.
"Damn, I'm running low on stock. She only picks the good stuff and doesn't leave me a drop."
Fei Shi looked at the ten bottles of Flying Moutai and five bottles of Romanee-Conti left in his storage belt, along with a hundred or so bottles of ordinary liquor, and grumbled.
"I wonder how my family in the other world is doing."
He hadn't been an only child. He also had an older sister and a younger brother.
I wonder how Sis is doing. I wonder if she still blames me for beating her boyfriend until he ended up in the ICU. He was bullying you, so I was just sticking up for you. I wonder if my little brother misses me. Maybe not, since I used to bully you all the time. But was that really bullying? I was trying to make you man up and stop being such a crybaby, such a timid little wimp! You got me beaten with the Seven-Wolf brand belt all the time◣д◢.
Could I go back?
Ding. You cannot go back.
Never mind. No point thinking about it and making myself miserable. I should look ahead. Hey, the scenery in the Land of Fire is pretty beautiful. So many forests and farmlands. No wonder the other villages and nations are so fond of attacking Konoha. With resources this abundant, who wouldn't?
October 10, Year 48 of Konoha. Hidden Leaf Village, the Hokage's office.
"Why hasn't he arrived yet? Kushina's due date is almost here. Sigh."
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Come in."
"Lord Hokage, there's a... child at the village entrance. He says Lady Tsunade sent him. So I came to report it."
"A child?"
"Yes, around eleven or twelve."
Could Tsunade be joking? She sent a child over. No, Lady Tsunade wouldn't be so frivolous. Could this child really be that capable?
"Mm, bring him here... No, I'll go myself."
"Uh..."
"Show me the way."
Minato smiled.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
At the entrance to Konoha.
Fei Shi looked at the guards at Konoha's entrance. They weren't Kotetsu Hagane or Kotetsu; those two probably weren't grown up yet. He didn't recognize these guards.
His cheeks were a little flushed. Emm, he'd had too much to drink.
The two ninjas in front of him watched him closely, trying to figure out what was special about him that had earned him a connection to the legendary Sannin.
Just then, a voice came from the village entrance: "Are you the... young friend Lady Tsunade mentioned?"
Fei Shi looked toward the entrance. A handsome blond man with a smile on his face, dressed in a Hokage's cloak, was approaching. It was the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, Minato Namikaze.
Fei Shi studied Minato. He really did deserve to be called the little sun. He gave off a warm feeling.
Minato was studying Fei Shi at the same time. He was so young, and he'd drunk so much. He didn't seem very reliable.
"Yes, that's me. My name is Fei Shi. Greetings, Lord Hokage."
At least he had some manners... But could he actually help?
"I wonder if Lady Tsunade explained the purpose of your visit and how important it is."
Uh, he doesn't trust me. Well, that's understandable. I'm still just a kid—or rather, a kid with Kage Level strength.
"Ahem, Lord Hokage, don't worry. I may look young, which makes you uneasy, but Lady Tsunade sent me because she knows what I can do. Don't you trust her judgment?"
Minato didn't know whether to believe him or not. You didn't just look young—you really were young. Forget it. He'd better get the details straight.
"As far as I know, Lady Tsunade only had one younger brother, and he died in battle."
"We're from the same clan. You don't need to test me. My sister isn't a fool, either. My grandmother was Lord Hashirama's cousin, and my maternal grandmother was from the Uzumaki Clan—a cousin of Lady Mito. That makes me kin to the Hokage's wife, too."
"The Uzumaki Clan? No wonder Lady Tsunade sent you. In that case, you know the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu as well, right?"
Of course I do. I learned every jutsu from the Uzumaki Clan through the system.
"Mm, all of them. Otherwise, my sister wouldn't have sent me here."
Click!
Just then, the door opened, and a kindly old man in civilian clothes walked in.
Fei Shi turned toward the sound. It was Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of Konoha, a controversial figure who had sparked endless debate among netizens in his previous life.
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