Shindai, Obito, and Kakashi followed Shisui Uchiha to the secure delivery chamber located outside Konoha Village.
Around the cave were Anbu wearing masks. Inside the cave was a seal barrier—its entry method known only to Minato Namikaze and Biwako Sarutobi.
Shindai's group and Shisui Uchiha's escort team were on guard duty at the entrance.
...
At Minato Namikaze's house.
Biwako Sarutobi had already arrived at Minato's home.
"It's about time to move her, Minato. Kushina."
Minato gently took Kushina Uzumaki's hand and smiled. "Let's go, Kushina."
Kushina tightly gripped Minato's hand. "Yeah! Let's go!"
Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and Biwako Sarutobi left their home and headed toward the delivery room outside Konoha Village.
On the way, they encountered Mikoto Uchiha, who was holding two-month-old Sasuke in her arms, with young Itachi Uchiha walking beside her.
Before Biwako could stop her, Kushina had already walked up to Mikoto and looked at adorable baby Sasuke curiously. "Is it a girl?"
Mikoto smiled happily. "It's a boy."
"So cute. Mikoto, what's his name?"
"Fugaku named him Sasuke."
Looking at baby Sasuke, Biwako Sarutobi commented fondly, "Same name as Hiruzen's father."
Mikoto nodded. "Yes. We hope he'll grow up to become an outstanding and powerful ninja. Kushina, you're about to give birth soon too—better pick a name early."
Kushina reached out and ruffled Sasuke's hair. "Already done! His name is Naruto. He'll be classmates with Sasuke someday, so you two better get along!"
Kushina then whispered softly, "Mikoto... I have to ask—does it really hurt a lot?"
Behind Kushina, Minato clasped his hands together, giving a pleading look toward Mikoto.
Minato hoped Mikoto wouldn't say anything that might scare Kushina—he wanted her to stay calm and enter labor in peace.
Seeing this, Mikoto immediately understood Minato's intention and replied, "Not too bad. No need to worry too much. Though, Kushina also has things she's scared of? That's quite surprising."
Biwako checked the sky and said, "We should get moving now, Kushina."
"Alright then, see you next we meet, Mikoto!"
After saying goodbye to Mikoto Uchiha, Kushina and the others continued on toward the outskirts of Konoha Village.
Biwako reminded her, "Kushina, your childbirth is top secret. Try to avoid any acquaintances during the transfer."
Kushina gave an awkward smile and apologized, "Understood. Sorry about that."
"And also, despite being far from the village, since this operation is top secret, try not to make too much noise once the contractions start."
Kushina Uzumaki nodded firmly, promising, "Yes! I'll definitely tough it out!"
Kushina Uzumaki and the other two arrived outside the delivery room.
Ha ha, you actually look the part, Shindai, Obito, Kakashi. For now, my safety is in your hands!
Kushina slapped Shindai's back teasingly until his eyes turned into the exact same dead-fish stare as Kakashi's.
Shindai gave Kushina a deadpan look and said, "Honestly, Sister Kushina, could you please stop touching me? It really hurts! Don't you know how strong your hands are?"
Before Kushina could respond, her expression contorted in pain, and sweat immediately appeared on her face.
Minato Namikaze, who was supporting Kushina, asked with concern, "Kushina, what's wrong?"
Kushina groaned through gritted teeth, "I... My stomach hurts so bad."
Shindai pointed at a puddle on the ground and exclaimed in shock, "It hurts this much? Sister Kushina, did you accidentally wet yourself from the pain?"
Biwako Sarutobi glanced at the puddle and replied seriously, "That's not urine—it's her water breaking. Kushina is about to give birth. Minato, quickly activate the barrier; it's time to start labor!"
"Right away!"
Panicking slightly, Minato hurriedly activated the protective barrier and helped Kushina into the cave's delivery room, where she lay down on the bed.
Biwako lifted up Kushina's abdominal clothing, revealing the sealing formula inscribed there.
She then told Minato, "Minato, keep the seal on Kushina's body intact."
Immediately, Minato performed a hand seal and placed his hands over Kushina's belly, starting to strengthen the seal upon her.
Then Biwako turned to Toci, an Anbu member assisting her, and commanded, "Toci, assist me with delivering Kushina's baby now!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
And thus, Kushina Uzumaki entered active labor.
"Ahh! It hurts so much!"
Watching Kushina writhing in agony, Minato felt both heartbroken and deeply anxious, "This is the first time I've ever seen Kushina scream in pain like this—is everything really okay?"
Biwako reassured him, "Everything's fine. Right now, your top priority is maintaining the Nine-Tails' seal."
Looking at the agonized Kushina, Minato felt as if his heart had been squeezed tightly, "But… like this…"
"As the Fourth Hokage, don't act so flustered! Men might have died from such pain already, but women are strong!"
Meanwhile, the seal across Kushina's abdomen started changing during her contractions.
This meant that the Nine-Tails was fiercely trying to break free from its prison.
Minato continued pouring all his effort into stabilizing the seal, preventing the Nine-Tails from affecting Kushina.
"You can do it, Kushina! Keep pushing—for yourself, and for Naruto!"
Minato encouraged both Kushina and the unborn Naruto.
Meanwhile, outside the delivery room...
Deva Path, Konan, Sasori, and Setsuna Uchiha stood atop a mountaintop.
Deva Path spoke coldly, "It has begun. It's time for us to move in. Tobi, use your Dojutsu to infiltrate and assassinate Minato Namikaze, then release the Nine-Tails. We'll take care of everyone else outside."
Setsuna Uchiha responded, "Alright! I understand!"
Shindai, unaware of these plans and listening to Kushina Uzumaki's screams from within, scrunched his face in discomfort. "Is it really this painful? I thought someone once said giving birth was just a matter of pushing hard and the baby just pops right out."
Obito retorted sarcastically, "Do you think childbirth is like taking a dump? Just push hard and it comes right out? Honestly, I can't believe you said that."
Kakashi replied dryly, "I'd bet whoever told you that was definitely not a girl."
As Shindai and the others were chatting, three figures suddenly emerged out on the water ahead.
Everyone turned their eyes toward those three mysterious figures.
Shisui Uchiha immediately shouted, "Who are you?"
Shindai got a good look at the three figures and froze completely.
Deva Path, Konan, and the damn Sasori!
Sasori made the first move. From the left arm of his Hiruko puppet, he fired a mechanized cannon loaded with multiple poison needle canisters.
The poison needle canisters scattered in all directions as the cannon launched them, releasing deadly needles as they burst apart.
[Poison Needle Barrage] rained down densely and indiscriminately, like a hail of shotgun pellets.
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