Order had been fully restored in the village. Every member of the police force was on duty, maintaining order in the streets, and people were no longer fleeing in panic.
Just as Konoha gradually settled down, the images on the Sky Screen high overhead shifted rapidly once again.
Soft, warm yellow light spread across the screen as the scene changed to Konoha's secret delivery room.
In the image, Kushina Uzumaki lay pale-faced on a bed, having just given birth.
Yet her expression was tender, a satisfied smile on her lips as she quietly watched her husband before her.
Minato Namikaze crouched beside the bed, carefully wiping the sweat from her forehead. His eyes were filled with tenderness and concern, his smile pure and happy.
The two birth attendants beside the bed were carefully holding a tiny swaddled infant.
The little baby lay quietly with his eyes closed, soft and adorable.
He was their child, the precious baby Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had finally welcomed into the world.
At that moment, Minato truly stood at the very pinnacle of his life.
He had made his name young, his reputation resounding throughout the Shinobi World.
He had become Hokage, fulfilling his dream.
He had married the woman he loved, realizing his lifelong wish.
And now he had a child, too.
His career, his love, his family-everything was complete.
But just as the scene reached its warmest, most peaceful moment!
A shrill, agonized scream suddenly erupted!
Squelch!
Blood instantly splattered everywhere!
No one saw the figure lurking in the shadows. No one sensed the intruder's presence.
In a single instant, the birth attendants were killed before they even had a chance to react!
Warm blood stained the quiet delivery room red!
A figure abruptly appeared in the center of the image.
The