When someone leaves, others arrive — such is life.
Thinking back, Mito had been gone for quite a while now, and Kawaki's life had returned to normal.
Still, whenever they happened to recall that kind-hearted woman, there was always a tinge of sadness.
Today, the setting sun once again wrapped Konoha in golden light.
"Did you hear? Mikoto's been admitted to the hospital?"
At the Hatake household, Kawaki brought up the topic over dinner.
"Yeah, she should be giving birth anytime now."
"Fugaku even seemed embarrassed when he came looking for me."
Lady Tsunade chuckled. The clan head truly dotes on his wife.
"Who could blame him? You're the Hokage after all."
"It's understandable that he'd be shy asking the Hokage herself to assist."
Kawaki lazily tossed a peanut into his mouth, looking completely at ease.
"What's the big deal anyway?"
"If it means pulling him closer, I'm more than willing to help out."
Tsunade teased, though by now their relationship went far beyond simple political maneuvering.
Words like "alliance" only cheapened what they had.
"Well said. He's about to become a father."
Sakumo poured himself a drink. A new generation meant the continued prosperity of Konoha.
"I'll drop by for the celebration too."
"No matter what, we've all gotten along pretty well these years."
Natsuki excelled at handling social etiquette, truly embodying the role of a matriarch.
"Fugaku's practically living at the hospital these days."
"He just doesn't want to miss it."
Tsunade found it both amusing and touching — everyone around Kawaki seems to be one of those husband-loving types.
"Of course. He'd probably keep Mikoto on a pedestal if he could."
Kawaki just couldn't understand how, in the original story, Fugaku let his wife die with him.
"You're not so bad yourself in that department."
"Keep it up."
Tsunade gave Kawaki a sly, flirtatious glance — even after all these years, the old games still worked.
"Ugh~"
Both Kakashi and Ginji shuddered in disgust.
"You've never been hit before, have you?"
Minato murmured under his breath. He knew better than to speak up.
"Looking for a beating?"
One glare from Lady Tsunade sent the two kids burying their heads into their bowls.
"Hahaha~"
Sakumo and Natsuki burst out laughing. This sort of warm family atmosphere really did the heart good.
"Hokage-sama flatters me."
Kawaki played along perfectly, clinking glasses firmly with Tsunade.
...
Two days later in the afternoon, while working in the Hokage's office, Lady Tsunade received an urgent call — she needed to rush to the hospital.
Mikoto was in labor!!
"No need to panic. Just sit tight and get ready to be a dad."
Tsunade patted Fugaku's shoulder outside the delivery room. Kawaki already stood beside him.
Shisui sat quietly nearby, watching the adults without a word.
"Please take care of her, Lady Tsunade."
Fugaku bowed slightly. Though he'd managed to get Lady Tsunade herself to come, he remained extremely nervous.
"I'm going in."
With an amused shake of her head, Tsunade turned and entered the delivery room.
"Come sit here."
Kawaki grabbed a seat, slapping the empty space beside him loudly.
"I can't sit still."
Fugaku barely touched the seat before jumping back up again.
Right now, he felt exactly like a nervous wreck pacing back and forth.
"Do you really still doubt Lady Tsunade?"
"I've been through this already — take a seat."
Kawaki got up and forcefully pushed Fugaku back into his seat.
"Sure, sure, I believe you."
Fugaku had no idea how to respond. It wasn't even about belief anymore.
"Do you want a boy or a girl?"
Kawaki thought he had uncovered some crucial secret.
"It's a boy—I already knew."
Fugaku clearly wasn't focused on chatting, glancing at the delivery room every few seconds like he was trying to will it open.
"Stop staring. Giving birth isn't like drinking water; it won't happen that fast."
Kawaki felt a little foolish—he'd momentarily forgotten this was the Naruto world, where checking a baby's gender was way too easy.
"Well, not necessarily. I heard some people give birth really quickly."
Fugaku had already done his research—so much so that he nearly got labeled as mentally unstable. How many people do you know who randomly ask parents how long their labor took?
"Whatever. What name did you pick for the kid?"
Kawaki decided not to argue further. There wasn't exactly a set timeline for something like this.
"Itachi Uchiha."
Fugaku finally paid attention, clearly quite satisfied with this name.
"Does it have any special meaning?"
Though not unexpected, "Itachi" didn't immediately strike him as a positive name.
"Eh… Not really any specific meaning."
"Just the name of a senior I greatly admired when I was younger."
"I hope my son can grow up to be as strong and respected as that senior."
Fugaku gave an awkward smile—he hadn't actually thought that deeply about it.
"I see."
Kawaki was speechless—so you're just borrowing names from other people, huh?
"My apologies for the lack of creativity."
Fugaku realized his oversight later but had no intention of changing it.
"Just because it's a name doesn't mean my son—Fugaku Uchiha's child—will live or die by it."
Time passed minute by minute, and the two exchanged occasional words here and there.
"Hasn't my disciple come out yet?"
Orochimaru moved so silently that he was right on top of them before anyone noticed.
"I wondered who it was. You startled me."
Kawaki hadn't expected Orochimaru to show up—it didn't fit his usual detached demeanor.
Guess he wasn't joking after all.
Over the years, there hadn't been a single child born with both Ice Release and Sharingan, and Kawaki had assumed this matter was long forgotten.
"Lord Orochimaru."
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"Not yet. It's an honor for Itachi to become your disciple."
Fugaku first blanked for a moment before finally regaining his senses.
That casual conversation at the dinner table—if Orochimaru hadn't brought it up now, he probably wouldn't have remembered.
"Honor might be stretching it."
"Just don't think I'm being too harsh in the future."
A faint smirk tugged at Orochimaru's lips. With Nawaki as a precedent, he had already learned his lesson.
Only a strict teacher could raise an outstanding student!!
"You can teach him however you like. Mikoto and I have no objections."
Fugaku himself had grown up enduring hardships, so he had absolutely no resistance toward discipline.
"Haha, good then."
Orochimaru hardly ever laughed like that—clearly, he was in a great mood today.
"Just don't go turning him into some kind of monster."
Kawaki just couldn't stand seeing Orochimaru happy without throwing in a few jabs—it just wouldn't feel right otherwise.
Yet the moment he thought of Itachi becoming Orochimaru's disciple, he couldn't help but laugh.
That unforgettable scene from the original plot—where Itachi instantly defeated Orochimaru with just one glare—was truly iconic.
"What qualifications do you have to talk about being a teacher?"
Orochimaru's laughter abruptly stopped as he glared at Kawaki with clear displeasure.
You're the one who ditched all your duties—who are you to talk?!
"All of my disciples are outstanding."
Kawaki shot back, sticking his neck out defiantly, oozing confidence.
"I'm not even gonna bother arguing with you."
With a swing of his sleeve, Orochimaru huffed off and sat on the opposite side.
There was no reasoning with someone so shamelessly thick-skinned—taking credit for everything like that.
"Facts speak louder than words."
Kawaki had the air of a triumphant victor coming home, wearing that classic "hit me" look.
"Ain't that right, Fugaku?"
Seeing that Orochimaru wasn't going to respond, Kawaki turned to Fugaku beside him.
"Cough cough~"
Fugaku noticed Orochimaru watching him pointedly, clearly trying to put him on the spot. There was no way he could answer comfortably.
Just as Fugaku was struggling to respond, the delivery room door finally swung open.
"Congratulations. Mother and child are both safe and sound."
Tsunade removed her blood-stained gloves, beaming with a smile.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Leaving the unanswered question hanging, Fugaku rushed straight into the delivery room without hesitation.
Son, you sure picked the perfect timing! Dad loves you!!!
...
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