When Fugaku Uchiha heard from the reporting Uchiha ninja that the meeting was about the next Hokage, his face turned pale.
The news came too suddenly, catching Fugaku completely off guard. His heart skipped a beat.
Among the candidates for the next Fifth Hokage, Chinya was the most qualified.
If Chinya became the Fifth Hokage, everything would be ruined. It would mean starting fresh after a complete collapse—something drastic would have to be done.
Fugaku's voice involuntarily trembled slightly with nervousness. "So... has the next Hokage been decided already?"
"It's confirmed. The Third will resume the position of Hokage."
Upon hearing that Sarutobi Hiruzen would become Hokage, Fugaku exhaled heavily in relief.
Although Sarutobi wasn't entirely trusting toward the Uchiha Clan, having him as Hokage was still better than letting Chinya, who deeply hated the Uchiha, become Fifth Hokage.
Fugaku wiped the sweat from his brow—he'd really been shaken up just now.
...
Inside the Ninja Hospital three days later.
Miyuki Uzumaki cradled Naruto, who had just finished drinking milk and fallen asleep, gently swaying him.
Looking at Naruto's sleeping face, Miyuki couldn't help smiling softly. But when her gaze shifted to Naruto's small belly, her eyes darkened.
The memory of Minato Namikaze taking Naruto from her arms and sealing the Nine-Tails inside him with the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style kept playing over and over in her mind.
Gently stroking Naruto's cheek, Miyuki whispered tearfully, "I'm sorry, Naruto... Mommy failed to protect you. I'm so sorry..."
She pressed her face against Naruto's, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.
Suddenly, there was a knock on Miyuki's hospital room door.
After wiping away her tears, Miyuki forced a faint smile. "Please come in."
The door opened, revealing Chinya and Kushina Uzumaki, whose belly had grown considerably large.
Kushina Uzumaki energetically greeted Miyuki, "Miyuki! We came to see you and baby Naruto!"
Miyuki replied softly, "Welcome."
Chinya helped Kushina walk over to Miyuki's bedside and sat down on a chair beside the bed.
Kushina looked at baby Naruto in Miyuki's arms and gently poked his cheek, laughing as she said, "Baby Naruto is really so cute!"
Miyuki murmured a quiet "Thank you" before asking, "Kushina, you're close to your due date now, right?"
Kushina nodded. "Yeah, about twenty days left. Once Sonagi is born, he and Naruto will definitely become best friends."
Miyuki pursed her lips without responding.
Looking around briefly, Kushina asked curiously, "By the way, where's Minato? Why didn't he come along—"
"Kushina!"
Chinya called out sharply.
He hadn't yet told Kushina what happened with Minato Namikaze. Moreover, judging by Miyuki's expression, she might still blame Minato for what had happened.
Kushina gave Chinya a puzzled glance, but Chinya shook his head seriously at her.
Kushina Uzumaki also realized something might have happened and quickly changed the subject.
Kushina Uzumaki continued chatting with Uzumaki Miyuki.
But Kushina noticed that Uzumaki Miyuki wasn't very enthusiastic, so she said to her, "Miyuki, then I won't keep you any longer. I'll come visit you again next time."
Uzumaki Miyuki replied, "Okay, see you next time, Kushina."
Chinya helped Kushina Uzumaki up and said to Uzumaki Miyuki, "Miyuki, please rest well. If you need help with anything, just send someone for us. Then we'll take our leave now."
Supporting Kushina Uzumaki all the while, Chinya left the ward with her.
Watching Chinya carefully protecting Kushina without letting go, Uzumaki Miyuki murmured, "I'm really jealous of you, Kushina."
Looking at Naruto in her arms, Uzumaki Miyuki's gaze gradually turned resolute.
After leaving the Ninja Hospital and returning home, Kushina asked Chinya, "Chinya, what happened to Minato Namikaze?"
Chinya nodded, "Yes, he fell into a coma because of the Nine-Tails' attack. Since no one knows when he'll wake up, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi has resumed serving as Hokage temporarily."
Kushina narrowed her eyes. "Chinya, there's more to this, isn't there? You wouldn't keep secrets unless it was really bad. Also, I sensed something strange about Uzumaki Miyuki—she looked guilty when looking at Naruto."
Sighing, Chinya answered, "I was worried telling you might upset your mind and harm the baby, so I planned to wait until after Sōnagi is born to explain some details. But since you've pressed me for answers, I'll tell you everything—but promise me you'll stay calm and think about Sōnagi!"
Knowing Kushina's personality well, Chinya truly feared how angry she'd become after learning the truth.
Kushina took a few deep breaths and said, "Okay, tell me everything, Chinya."
Chinya explained, "Minato sealed away the Nine-Tails by splitting its chakra; half of it was sealed within Uzumaki Miyuki's body, and the other half into Naruto's."
"What?! Are you serious?!"
Shocked beyond belief, Kushina tried to stand up immediately, but Chinya swiftly pressed her back down onto her seat.
Chinya broke into a cold sweat, exclaiming, "Oh my god, please stay calm! Think about Sōnagi!"
Kushina breathed heavily, anger surging through her. Chinya kept gently patting her back to help soothe her.
Kushina was still trying to wrap her head around it. "Why would he do something like this?!"
Thinking for a moment, Chinya replied, "Firstly, because he is the Hokage..."
Kushina cut in, furious, "What does being Hokage have to do with it?! Is sacrificing his own child what a Hokage is supposed to do? Why didn't he seal the Nine-Tails inside himself instead? Huh... You said 'firstly,' so what's the second reason, Chinya?"
After calming herself a little, Kushina motioned for him to go on.
Seeing Kushina had calmed, Chinya continued, "Secondly, it relates to his teacher, Jiraiya-sama."
Confused, Kushina asked, "Jiraiya-sama? But he isn't even in Konoha now. How is he involved?"
Chinya explained, "There's an old toad on Mount Myoboku who can see into the future. He once prophesied to Jiraiya-sama that the Child of the Prophecy would emerge among his disciples. This chosen child possesses earth-shattering power that could either bring unprecedented peace to this world or lead it to complete destruction.
Jiraiya believed that Minato Namikaze's child – who he assumed was Naruto – might be the Child of the Prophecy destined to become the savior of the Shinobi World.
Minato Namikaze believed him, which is why he decided to seal part of the Nine-Tails' chakra within Naruto."
Kushina Uzumaki interrupted, completely baffled, "You're telling me some toad can see the future? And what 'Child of the Prophecy'? What's all this nonsense about saving the world? Just because Minato bought into Jiraiya-sama's nonsense, he went ahead and sealed the Nine-Tails inside Naruto? That's insane!"
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