On the streets of Konoha
Uzumaki Miyuki, heavily pregnant, encountered Uchiha Mikoto who was cradling baby Uchiha Sasuke in her arms. Thanks to the improved relationship between Namikaze Minato and the Uchiha clan, Uzumaki Miyuki and Uchiha Mikoto had become quite familiar with each other.
Miyuki gazed at little Sasuke and asked curiously, "Mikoto, is it a girl?"
Mikoto smiled gently. "No, it's a boy."
"So cute! He looks as delicate as a girl," Miyuki remarked. "He'll definitely grow up to be handsome. What's his name?"
"Sasuke."
Sarutobi Biwako approached Miyuki's side and looked at the baby with a warm smile. "He shares the same name as Hiruzen's father."
As the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Miyuki's pregnancy had put all of Konoha on high alert. When she would give birth, the seal containing the Nine-Tails would be at its weakest, creating the possibility that the Kyuubi might break free. Additionally, being the Hokage meant Namikaze Minato was constantly busy and couldn't always be by Miyuki's side. This was why Sarutobi Biwako had taken responsibility for looking after her.
Upon hearing Biwako's comment about Sasuke sharing a name with the Third Hokage's father, Mikoto looked down at her baby with pride. "Yes, I hope he grows up to become an outstanding and powerful shinobi."
Mikoto then glanced at Miyuki's swollen belly. "Miyuki, you're about to give birth soon, right? Have you chosen a name yet?"
Miyuki smiled and gently touched Sasuke's head. "Yes, we've decided on Naruto. He'll be in the same class as Sasuke someday, so I hope they get along well."
"Miyuki!"
Uzumaki Kushina's voice called out. Miyuki, Mikoto, and Biwako all turned to look in her direction.
"It's Kushina. Is Sora back too?" Miyuki asked.
While Miyuki and Biwako continued to smile at Kushina in the distance, Mikoto's expression changed dramatically. She had come out for a walk specifically because Sora hadn't been in Konoha for several months. Now that he had returned, there was a possibility that ninja from the Konoha Defense Force might appear and apprehend her and Sasuke.
"I-I have to go home," Mikoto said hastily. "Miyuki, Master Biwako, I'll be going now."
Mikoto hurried away without waiting for a response. Miyuki and Biwako understood why she suddenly became anxious. In the Uchiha clan, merely mentioning Sora's name was enough to quiet a crying child.
Sora helped Kushina walk over to Miyuki and Biwako.
"Miyuki, Biwako-sama," Sora greeted with a polite nod.
Miyuki smiled. "Sora, you're finally back! If you hadn't returned, Kushina would have turned into a statue waiting for her husband."
Sora looked at Kushina with concern. "If I had known Kushina was pregnant, I definitely wouldn't have left."
Worried that Sora might feel guilty, Kushina quickly changed the subject. "Are Miyuki and Biwako-sama out shopping too?"
Biwako nodded. "Yes, there are about three months left before Miyuki gives birth. It's good for her to walk around. You must be due soon as well, Kushina."
When Sora heard "three months," a glint flashed in his eyes.
Kushina nodded. "Yes, I'm about a month behind Miyuki. I'm six months along now, so I have almost four months to go."
Biwako sighed nostalgically. "It seems like just yesterday you and Yahiko were still at the Jōnin Academy, and now you're both about to have children. Time flies so quickly. I'm really getting old. If Mito-sama were alive to see this, she would be overjoyed."
Miyuki and Kushina's expressions turned somewhat melancholic at the mention of Uzumaki Mito.
"Now that Sora has returned, have you chosen a name for your child?" Biwako asked.
Kushina's face lit up with a bright smile. "Yes! We've decided on Uzumaki Sonagi. Sora hopes our child will have smooth sailing on the path to achieving their dreams."
"That's a beautiful name," Miyuki praised.
Biwako glanced at Sora with mild surprise. Since Sora didn't have a surname, the child would take Kushina's surname, Uzumaki.
"Miyuki, have you decided on your child's name?" Kushina asked.
Miyuki nodded. "Yes, we've chosen Namikaze Naruto."
Kushina heard the name and made a guess. "Naruto... that must mean you want him to make a big impact."
"It does carry that meaning," Miyuki explained, "but there's an important reason behind it. Minato read Jiraiya's novel 'The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi' and was inspired by the protagonist's spirit of never giving up. The main character's name is Naruto, so Minato chose that name."
Kushina's mouth twitched slightly. Choosing a name from a book seemed somewhat hasty to her. In comparison, she thought Sora's choice was better.
The two women began chatting about their pregnancies while Sora waited patiently nearby.
Biwako approached him and asked, "Sora, when did you return?"
"I came back last night," he replied.
Biwako sighed. "Your timing is fortunate. Miyuki may need your help when she gives birth."
Sora understood exactly what Biwako meant. She wasn't suggesting he help with the actual delivery, but rather with containing the Nine-Tails should the seal weaken.
He nodded solemnly. "Miyuki is a member of Kushina's clan. I will naturally do everything in my power to help her."
After Kushina and Miyuki chatted for a while longer, they said their goodbyes, and Sora helped Kushina make her way home.
Meanwhile, within Kirigakure...
Zetsu looked at Uchiha Obito with surprise. "Are you really planning to do this?"
Obito's voice was devoid of emotion as he replied, "Yes. The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Uzumaki Miyuki, is about to give birth. At that time, the seal containing the Kyuubi will be at its weakest point. This is our opportunity."
"But," Zetsu questioned, "why not just capture the Nine-Tails? Why are you planning to have it attack Konoha?"
Obito explained coldly, "I intend to execute Project Tsuki no Me, which will inevitably make us enemies of the entire shinobi world. If we can destroy Konoha now, that would be ideal.
"The Third Great Ninja War has just ended, and Konoha remains in a vulnerable state. Two of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya and Tsunade, are no longer in the village. Sarutobi Hiruzen has aged and his strength isn't what it once was. Konoha's top combat powers are now limited to Namikaze Minato and Sora.
"Sora and Namikaze Minato are indeed formidable obstacles, but I plan to occupy them both while allowing the Nine-Tails to destroy Konoha."
Zetsu stared at Obito strangely. Was Uchiha Obito overestimating himself? Or was he underestimating the combined power of Sora and Namikaze Minato?
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