Outside the temporary hospital on the village outskirts, Minato, usually the picture of composure, now paced nervously in front of the delivery room, his fists clenched tight.
A few others stood nearby offering comfort.
"Hokage-sama, don't worry. Kushina-sama is in great health. There won't be any problems!"
"The one in charge is Lady Biwako."
"Biwako-sama is the Third Lord's wife. She's the most experienced midwife in the village!"
"Just wait here calmly for good news, Hokage-sama!"
Mikoto Uchiha, holding a baby in her arms, smiled, "When I talked with Kushina about this a few days ago, she wasn't worried at all—she was actually looking forward to it!"
"Thank you all for your concern," Minato took a deep breath and managed a forced smile. "I've been a bit unseemly."
At that moment, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane approached from the distance.
"Enough. Everyone, go guard outside!"
"There's no need to worry about Kushina's health. What you should be concerned about is the possibility of the jinchūriki losing control afterward!"
Minato's eyebrows slightly furrowed. Logically, he knew they had a point—but it still didn't sit right with him.
"Kushina won't lose control!" Minato declared firmly.
"As Hokage, you shouldn't let personal emotions cloud your judgment!" Koharu Utatane reprimanded.
"I also believe in Kushina's willpower," Homura Mitokado added, "but you must understand, during childbirth, a jinchūriki's control over the bijū drops to its lowest, weakening the seal—and that could let the Nine-Tails break free!"
Minato shook his head. "Kurama and Kushina are friends. It won't go berserk at a time like this!"
"That's hard to say!" At that moment, Danzo's hoarse voice came from behind him. "The idea of a bijū and a human being friends is hard to believe in the first place—who's to say this isn't just the Nine-Tails pretending to gain your trust?"
"Lord Danzo, you..."
"Moreover, Hokage-sama, you actually told an Uchiha about the jinchūriki's childbirth..." Danzo cast a cold, piercing gaze at Fugaku and Mikoto nearby. "That really wasn't very wise!"
Fugaku stepped in front of Mikoto protectively. "Lord Danzo, what exactly are you implying?"
Danzo coldly replied, "Madara Uchiha once controlled the Nine-Tails with the [Sharingan], and during childbirth, a jinchūriki's control over the bijū drops to its lowest. Having an Uchiha nearby at a time like this could very likely become the source of catastrophe!"
Fugaku was startled. In truth, someone from his clan had indeed made such a suggestion to him before—but he had firmly rejected it.
Even if he could control the Nine-Tails, Konoha's strength is too overwhelming to be overturned.
But why did Danzo know about this? Had his infiltration into the Uchiha clan really reached such a degree?
Thinking of this, Fugaku felt a chill in his heart and quickly defended himself, "You're overthinking, Lord Danzo. No one in today's Uchiha clan wields a Sharingan anywhere near as powerful as our ancestors'... excuse me, let alone rival Madara Uchiha's!"
Minato also stepped forward. "That's enough, Elder Danzo. Fugaku is my friend, and the Uchiha are an essential part of the village... Please don't speak like this again!"
"Hokage-sama, there's no need to be angry. I only came here today to offer a few words of caution." Danzo coughed lightly twice and calmly turned to leave. "Let's hope... tonight passes peacefully."
Seeing Danzo leave so easily, Minato's eyebrows slightly furrowed.
This guy stayed quiet for such a long time, yet today he suddenly showed up just to say something like this. It made Minato feel uneasy.
Fugaku approached this issue from another perspective.
Danzo, who was usually domineering and didn't even give The Third face, was actually driven off today with just a few words from Minato!
Guess chasing the Hokage title really pays off!
"Minato, sorry for causing you trouble!"
Minato gave a slight shake of his head. "Don't worry about it. Danzo-sama's attitude toward the Uchiha clan might be a bit sensitive."
That's a bit of an understatement... Fugaku sighed inwardly, then became serious again. "Let's go outside and join the other Anbu!"
...
Meanwhile, outside.
Looking at Konoha beneath the night sky, Mask stood in a black robe, his hands behind his back. "Sensei Minato, enjoy your final moments of glory as Hokage!"
Beside him, Black Zetsu seemed somewhat surprised. "Was it you who leaked the information about Nine-Tails possibly going berserk to Danzo?"
Obito calmly replied, "That's right."
Black Zetsu looked at him with a questioning gaze. "I thought you wanted to kill Minato and Kushina? If they become cautious, wouldn't your chances of success drop significantly?"
"I can't kill them anyway!" Obito said with calmness. "With that man in Konoha, even if the Nine-Tails rampages, I still won't have much opportunity to kill them! What I want to do is simply prevent him from becoming Hokage. Of course, if I get the chance to let him taste my pain, I won't mind at all!"
Black Zetsu said in surprise, "Rarely do you show such awareness!"
Obito responded, "I hate them, but I'm not stupid."
Is that so? I don't buy it... Black Zetsu thought skeptically, then asked, "Still, is it really okay to leak this information? Letting them detect our presence earlier might interfere with the final plan somewhat."
"Don't worry. Danzo wouldn't be foolish enough to reveal my existence. Also, I've prepared an excuse for him." Obito said indifferently. "There are plenty in the Uchiha who feel the same way I do!"
"This guy is truly ruthless, betraying the Uchiha clan like this!" Black Zetsu secretly marveled. He had originally planned how to continue pushing Obito further into darkness.
Now, however, it seemed there was no need for his interference. This guy had already completely fallen into darkness on his own.
Giving Konoha one last lingering look, as if trying to etch this peaceful moment into his memory, Obito closed his eyes. "Just wait quietly now!"
...
Outside the delivery room, besides Minato, only two advisors were waiting.
Suddenly, a spatial ripple spread out.
Seiki touched down lightly on the ground.
"Big brother Minato, sorry. I was at Orochimaru-sama's place tonight and got the message a bit late," Seiki said with an apologetic expression.
"You're not late at all!"
"Minato eagerly grabbed Seiki's shoulders, 'Seiki, Kushina is in your hands!'
Although this statement could be misunderstood, Seiki didn't dwell on it and solemnly nodded. 'I understand!'
Smiling, Seiki reassured him further, 'Even Kazekage was saved by me despite complications from premature birth and a difficult delivery. There definitely won't be any problems with Sister Kushina!'
Minato's expression eased slightly, though he already knew that.
Compared to Kazekage's situation, his was certainly much more stable.
With Seiki entering the delivery room, everything outside grew calm again.
In the night, Obito opened his eyes. 'Upperclassman has been restricted to the delivery room. As soon as the delivery begins, start the operation immediately!'"
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