[Timeline: Fourth Hokage Era]
[Time Period: Year 51 of Konohagakure, October 10th]
[Unification Progress: 22%]
At the home of Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with his wife Biwako for a visit.
"Kushina, as your delivery approaches, there's something I must make clear to you. During a Jinchūriki's childbirth, the seal weakens—Lady Mito nearly unsealed the Nine-Tails during her delivery."
"So for safety's sake, we need to trouble you to give birth within a barrier some distance from the village. I sincerely apologize."
Kushina's delicate brows furrowed with some concern.
Minato at her side immediately reassured her: "Since it concerns the seal, I'll be right there protecting you during the delivery."
Kushina smiled gently, feeling at ease.
"Minato, ANBU member Taji and my wife Biwako will accompany her as well. Everything will be conducted in secrecy."
"At the same time, my direct ANBU will handle security outside the barrier to strengthen defenses."
Hiruzen's solemn tone made Kushina worry again.
"Don't worry, I'll head over early to prepare." Minato grasped his wife's hand, comforting her gently.
"Mm."
Kushina's face flushed slightly, trusting and believing in her husband more than anyone else.
She even completely ignored Biwako standing nearby.
"I'll be the one taking you there..."
"Kushina?"
"Ah? Yes! Thank you so much..."
...
Soon, Biwako was leading Kushina toward the village outskirts.
On the way, when she spotted her best friend Mikoto Uchiha taking a walk with a baby, Kushina immediately perked up.
"Ah! So cute! Is it a girl?"
"It's a boy."
"What's his name?"
"Sasuke."
The usually stern-faced Biwako also approached, smiling for once:
"The same name as the Third's father!"
She hadn't expected Fugaku to give his son this name—what a show of deference!
"Yes, I hope he grows up to be an outstanding shinobi." Mikoto Uchiha rocked the child, looking forward to it with clear doting affection.
"Kushina, you're about to give birth too, right? Have you picked a name?"
"Already decided—Naruto. He'll probably be classmates with Sasuke in the future, right? You two better get along!"
Kushina touched the tender Sasuke, unable to help imagining the two children's future.
"By the way, that childbirth thing—it's going to hurt a lot, isn't it?"
Mikoto Uchiha teased: "Haha, so even Kushina has things she's afraid of? How surprising..."
The two wanted to chat more, but Biwako urgently pulled her away.
"Time to go, Kushina!"
No one noticed.
The moment Kushina's group left Konoha, a figure had already quietly begun tailing them.
...
Several hours later.
Several kilometers outside Konoha Village, within a secret sealed barrier.
"It hurts so much!"
Kushina's piercing cries of pain echoed from within.
"Um, this is the first time I've seen Kushina scream in such agony."
Minato maintained the seal while speaking frantically.
This Fourth Hokage who'd killed his way through the entire Third Great Ninja War, whose reputation alone conquered all the ninja villages—seeing his wife's labor pains, he was as helpless as a child.
When you care deeply, chaos follows. Nothing more, nothing less.
"It's fine, just maintain the Nine-Tails' seal."
"But... this..."
"As the Fourth Hokage, stop panicking! Women are incredibly strong—don't lose focus!"
As the delivery continued, the Nine-Tails' seal loosened more and more.
Minato had no choice but to expend massive amounts of chakra maintaining the seal's stability, further suppressing the Nine-Tails.
"So powerful—the Nine-Tails is still struggling!"
"You can do it, Kushina!"
"You can do it, Naruto!"
...
Finally, a loud baby's cry rang out.
"Waaah~~~"
The delivery finally ended successfully. Naruto had been born.
"Huff, huff—!"
Kushina panted violently, slowly releasing her grip.
"He's born!"
"Hahaha! Starting today, I—I'm a father!"
Minato wept tears of joy, unable to stop wiping his eyes.
"He's a very energetic boy. Come quickly and meet your mother."
Even Biwako's expression softened considerably as she carried Naruto to Kushina's side.
"Naruto, I finally get to see you!"
Kushina was extremely weak, but seeing Naruto filled her with joy and relief, her eyes shimmering with maternal love.
"Alright, you can relax a bit now."
Biwako picked up the child, preparing to give him a bath.
Minato also rushed to Kushina's side, grasping her hand with concern: "Are you feeling alright?"
"Minato!"
"Kushina!"
The two locked eyes, thick affection spreading between them.
As if the two of them were true love, and Naruto was just an accident.
"Alright. Even though you just gave birth and it's exhausting, I need to make the Nine-Tails settle down completely."
Minato clapped his hands together, mustering his energy.
He prepared to completely close the Eight Trigrams Seal, locking down the Nine-Tails for good.
But just then.
A scream rang out.
Minato followed the sound, only to discover someone had attacked Biwako and Taji, snatching away the baby Naruto.
"Lady Biwako! Taji!"
A black-clothed figure wearing a tiger-striped mask grabbed Naruto threateningly:
"Fourth Hokage Minato, get away from the Jinchūriki. Otherwise, this child has only one minute to live!"
'To penetrate the highest-level barrier here... This guy... just who is he...?'
Minato's expression grew unprecedentedly grave. On one side was his wife, on the other his newborn son.
The enemy was actually using a baby to threaten him—absolutely despicable!
The attacker Obito didn't waste words. He immediately tossed Naruto up and deliberately thrust a kunai at him, forcing Minato away from Kushina.
The latter had no time to hesitate and could only activate his Body Flicker Technique, instantly saving Naruto.
But who'd expect the despicable Obito had also attached several explosive tags to the baby's swaddling clothes and quickly triggered them.
Based on those explosive tags' power, if they detonated inside the sealed chamber, even Kushina would be caught in the blast.
Minato had no choice but to activate Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting away with Naruto and flashing to an abandoned wooden cabin outside the village, ripping off the swaddling clothes.
He rushed out with Naruto before the explosion.
The blast destroyed the entire cabin, flying wood splinters even injuring Minato's ankle, though fortunately Naruto remained unharmed.
Minato didn't dare hesitate. He flashed back to his home in the village with Naruto.
After settling him safely, he immediately rushed to rescue Kushina.
But during the time Minato was diverted, Obito had already relocated Kushina and released the sealed Nine-Tails from within her body.
When Minato teleported back, he barely managed to save Kushina from the Nine-Tails' grasp.
The Nine-Tails had already been controlled by Obito's Three-Tomoe Sharingan, reduced to a killing machine.
"Naruto—is Naruto okay?"
"Yes, Naruto's fine. He's somewhere safe."
"Thank goodness!"
"Minato, you need to quickly stop that man and the Nine-Tails—they're planning to flatten Konoha..."
"Whoosh—!"
Minato couldn't spare time to stop Obito. He immediately teleported back home with Kushina, gently laying her beside Naruto.
"Leave it to me. You stay here with Naruto."
Looking at the sleeping Naruto on the bed, Kushina touched his little head, struggling to get closer.
"Naruto!"
Extreme weakness and grief surged up instantly. This strong-willed Uzumaki Clan member broke down in tears.
She wasn't crying for herself, but grieving that Naruto, just born, was about to lose his mother.
Seeing his wife and child like this, Minato's heart twisted like a knife. His eyes darkened, fists clenched, filled with unprecedented rage.
"Clang—"
Minato opened the wardrobe and donned that striking Hokage cloak.
"Minato, thank you!"
"Be careful out there..."
"I'll be right back. Wait for me!"
Minato spoke in a low voice and vanished in an instant.
...