Outside the sealed cavern, near where Kushina was giving birth —
Ash and the Masked Man (Obito) each held the lifeless body of an ANBU operative in their grasp. The masked guards hadn't even realized how they died.
"Who goes first — you or me?" the Masked Man asked flatly, tossing aside the corpse like trash.
"I'll go," Ash replied, brushing dust from his Akatsuki cloak.
"My fight with the Fourth Hokage has dragged on long enough. It's time we settled things."
Without waiting for a response, Ash strode toward the cavern entrance.
"Wahhhh! Wahhhh!"
The cries echoed through the cave the moment Ash stepped inside. His expression shifted — the long-awaited child, Uzumaki Naruto, had been born.
"So that's the so-called 'Child of Prophecy'… Hmph."
His voice was cold.
"In reality, prophecies mean nothing."
This timing was perfect. With Kushina's seal weakened by childbirth… now was the best chance to release the Nine-Tails.
"Welcome, Naruto…"
Minato Namikaze — the Fourth Hokage — wiped tears from the corners of his eyes as he looked at his newborn son held by Biwa.
Kushina, exhausted, managed a weak smile from the bed.
"He's such a lively little boy," Biwa said warmly.
The Hokage's son — the future heir of the village.
"Kushina… I know you're tired, but we need to finish this. We must completely suppress the Nine-Tails again," Minato urged, though relief softened his tone.
"Ahhhh—!!"
Three screams burst through the chamber — Biwa and two medical-ninja collapsed instantly.
"Lady Biwa!" Minato gasped, shocked that anyone could infiltrate this secured place.
"Minato," a voice cut sharply from behind, "step away from the Jinchūriki."
"Otherwise… your son has one minute to live."
Minato spun around — his blue eyes widened.
Ash stood there — Naruto in his right arm, his left hand poised like a claw against the infant's skull.
Even for someone accustomed to killing, Ash disliked threatening a newborn.
But Konoha… and Minato…
They were enemies.
His hatred would not allow hesitation.
Minato's voice cracked.
"Ash… Why!? Why would you do this!?"
They had fought many times — neither able to overpower the other.
Minato respected Ash's unbelievable strength, especially given his age.
Ash smirked darkly.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm here for the Nine-Tails.
Don't pretend you've forgotten — you and I have no shared ground.
After everything Konoha has done…"
His voice hardened like ice.
"…I'll never let a chance like this slip away."
"How did he manage to infiltrate the barrier…?"
Minato gritted his teeth, analyzing the situation at lightning speed.
This was bad.
Ash's Mangekyō Sharingan glinted ominously — if he used it to seize control of the Nine-Tails, Konoha would be doomed.
Dozens of strategies flashed through Minato's mind — but none workable.
Ash's physical speed rivaled his own Flying Thunder God techniques. He was the first person Minato ever encountered who could keep up with him like that.
Suddenly—
"Ugh—!!"
Kushina cried out in agony as the seal drawn across her stomach lifted, glowing violently.
Cracks of scarlet chakra bled from the seal.
"No…! The sealing ritual isn't finished! This could kill Kushina too!"
Minato instinctively stepped forward to suppress the erratic seal—
"Don't move."
Ash's voice sliced through the air.
Minato froze — the slightest misstep now meant Naruto's death.
"Calm down, Ash…" Minato pleaded, voice tight.
"We can still talk—there must be another way."
Ash's expression didn't shift.
From within his left sleeve, a shuriken slid into his palm.
"You say 'calm'... I am calm."
His voice was terrifyingly composed.
Then—
Ash threw Naruto into the air.
Gasps and panic erupted.
It wasn't that Ash was cold-blooded.
He simply knew:
Minato would choose Naruto every single time.
And Ash needed that moment.
"Minato—!"
Kushina screamed, fighting through the pain, reaching desperately toward her child.
A golden flash —
Minato vanished—
"Got you!"
He reappeared holding Naruto protectively in his arms.
Ash smiled faintly.
"As expected of the Yellow Flash. Your speed really does live up to the legends."
But Minato's relief lasted only an instant.
A chilling sensation—
He looked down. Wrapped around Naruto's blanket was a tag-seal, glowing ominously — rigged as an explosive trap.
"—!"
Minato acted instantly, warping both himself and Naruto away via Flying Thunder God before it could trigger.
BOOM—
Except—
Only a harmless burst of smoke.
Ash never intended to actually kill Naruto.
Not yet.
He wasn't a monster — just a man with debts of blood to settle.
Naruto was still a baby.
Removing him now would serve no purpose.
...
TN:
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