Six people—three couples, three best friends, three wives—all gathered in Konoha Hospital.
Kazuyama Gekkō stood there grinning as he sized up the other four.
That expression immediately drew a response from both Minato Namikaze and Fugaku Uchiha.
"Bastard, what kind of look is that?"
"Kazuyama, your expression is seriously off."
One jab after another, and Kazuyama Gekkō was left speechless.
The three women couldn't be bothered with their antics. They simply moved aside and began chatting among themselves.
"So? You two brought Kushina and Mikoto for checkups, right?"
"Hehehehe?"
Kazuyama glanced over at Pakura, then beamed even more, this time with genuine joy.
Minato and Fugaku blinked in confusion.
What was this idiot grinning about? What's so funny?
"What the hell are you smiling at? And why does it look so perverted?"
"I'm warning you, if you don't start talking, I'm activating my Sharingan."
Fugaku had thought he'd matured since becoming a father—more steady, more composed.
He was wrong. Dead wrong.
All it took was one look at Kazuyama Gekkō to send his temper flaring. The guy had a talent for getting under his skin.
Minato, on the other hand, stayed calm as always, though he was clearly waiting for an explanation.
"What? You guys aren't happy?"
"Minato, aren't you about to be a dad?"
"Fugaku, didn't you just have a second kid?"
"Come on, this is something to celebrate! You gotta laugh!"
"Look at me—don't I even look like my hair is celebrating?"
"Hahahahaha!"
Wait, what?
Minato and Fugaku exchanged glances, then turned simultaneously to Kazuyama.
So that's why this guy's in such a good mood?
Ah, well—understandable.
"Didn't expect it, Kazuyama. You bastard, you're gonna be a dad? Not bad at all."
"Congrats, Kazuyama! You're gonna be a father! Damn, I need to catch up!"
Kazuyama stared at his two best friends as they congratulated him, blinking in confusion.
Wait a second… wasn't this supposed to be a shared celebration?
Why were they congratulating only him?
"Hold on… Minato, you're not gonna be a dad? Fugaku, you're not having a second kid?"
"Then why are you even at the hospital?"
Kazuyama's thoughts scrambled. He was instantly stunned.
That… couldn't be right. According to his timeline, wasn't now about when the future golden-haired prince and black-haired rebel were supposed to be conceived?
Did he mess up the math?
"I invited Fugaku to join a meeting on medical reform."
"Kushina and Mikoto came along because the new reforms will include expanded care for women and children."
Oh.
Completely dumbfounded, Kazuyama finally realized he'd gotten the wrong idea.
Sure, they were all clan leaders—but the Uchiha clan's numbers far outpaced the tiny Gekkō clan.
"Tsunade may be gone, but she left behind a full medical system. It just hadn't been put into daily use due to the war."
"Now we finally have a chance."
Thinking of Tsunade, Minato felt sincere gratitude. After reviewing the files she'd left behind, he had a newfound respect for her contributions to the village.
"But still, Kazuyama—congrats. You're about to be a dad."
Minato grinned, throwing an arm around his friend's shoulders. Fugaku crossed his arms, wearing the smug expression of a seasoned parent ready to dispense wisdom.
The moment they brought up fatherhood, Kazuyama couldn't help but break into a dopey smile.
What could he do? This was his first time becoming a father—across two lifetimes. He was ecstatic.
"Hmph. Since you're going to be a father, you'd better take that responsibility seriously."
"Look at my son, Itachi. Well-behaved, thoughtful, gifted."
"He'll surpass me one day!"
If Fugaku had a tail, it would've been pointing straight at the sky.
The smugness made Kazuyama's jaw tighten. He wanted to go full Seven-Tails and deck the guy.
Minato, meanwhile, burst into laughter.
Kazuyama's eyes lit up with mischief.
"You're right. My kid's gonna inherit the full might of the Gekkō clan."
"Transparent Escape Technique, check. I'll teach him Crystal Release too."
"He's gotta learn it. Transparency plus crystal—sneak up on anyone, give 'em a tap—bam, instant crystal statue!"
"Ahahahaha!"
And just like that, Kazuyama had unintentionally invented yet another incredibly inhumane combat method.
If no one could see him with Transparent Escape, every touch would hit its mark.
Minato and Fugaku's faces twitched in perfect unison.
Was this a classic case of bad parenting in the making?
Seriously, who taught their kid like that?
Before they could scold him, a slender hand reached over.
"Ow!"
"Pakura! Easy!"
"I'm fragile!"
Pakura, face dark with irritation, had Kazuyama by the waist—twisting his soft flesh in tight, painful circles.
"Chōmei! Quick! Focus your chakra! Paralyze the pain and start healing!"
"Kazuyama! Enough already! How many times have I told you—not to use my chakra and scale powder for this crap?!"
"Triple Boost!"
"Boss, your call!"
Lured by food, Chōmei eagerly activated his chakra and scale powder to help his partner endure Pakura's wrath.
Pakura didn't let up, her voice filled with fury.
"I'm telling you, if you even think about teaching our kid like that, you're dead!"
"I'll make sure you don't even get to step through the door again! Got it?!"
Kazuyama, his waist already numb, looked at the furious Pakura and instantly went quiet.
Yikes. His situation now was practically on par with Shikaku Nara's.
He couldn't understand it—why had Pakura, who used to be so gentle, changed so much after getting pregnant?
Of course, he later realized why.
For Pakura, childhood held no fond memories—just endless training and missions.
She wanted her child to grow up with a happy, peaceful childhood—and she sure wasn't going to let the child's foolish father mess that up.
From the moment she knew she was pregnant, Pakura had kept Kazuyama under strict watch.
"Hey hey hey, I was just kidding, just joking! Haha!"
"Calm down, Pakura, calm down."
"Come on, let's go get your checkup. If the doctors here aren't good enough, I'll take you to Tsunade."